March - Unit 5

MCLEAN COUNTY UNIT
DISTRICT 5
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 6
BE N JA M IN
B ROA DCA S T
MARCH 2014
WELCOME, BENJAMIN FAMILIES
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Dear Benjamin Families,
ISAT
ART SHOW
2
2
SCIENCE FAIR/
FAMILY SCIENCE NIGHT
2
GROWL WINNERS
3
CARNIVAL
3
EVANS JR.
HIGH INFO. FOR
5TH GRADERS
4
CALENDAR
5
We are so fortunate to have many
volunteers at Benjamin. Each day, I
see parents at Benjamin helping in
the classroom, the IMC, the office,
and throughout the rest of the
school. We also have parents who
volunteer through the PTO, classroom parties, PBIS celebrations, the
chess tournament, and other
events. Please know that we appreciate all that you do for Benjamin students and staff! Thank you
for investing your time and efforts
in our lives!
This winter, Benjamin received a
donation of about 25 trees from a
local tree farmer who passed away.
The next time you are at Benjamin,
check out all of our new trees. We
are excited to see new growth/leaves
on these trees when spring arrives!
Sincerely,
Marlys Bennington
Marlys Bennington
Principal
[email protected]
KINDERGARTEN PRE-REGISTRATION
Pre-registration for all 2014-15 kindergarten students will be held at Benjamin on Tuesday, March 18,
2014 at 9:30 A.M. and 1:30 P.M. You may attend either session.
Students must be 5 years of age on or before September 1, 2014, to attend kindergarten this fall. Preregistration numbers are important, as they help to determine how many sections of kindergarten we will
plan to have next year.
Please bring a copy of your child’s birth certificate and any kindergarten dental, physical, and immunization records that you may have.
Please bring your future kindergarten student with you, if you can. Your child will have an opportunity
to meet some of the kindergarten teachers, meet other future kindergartners, and participate in some
learning activities.
If you are unable to attend either session on March 18th, please call the school office at 557-4410.
Please share this information with neighborhood families who do not currently have a student attending
Benjamin Elementary School. Thank you.
Student Council News
The Student Council is providing peppermint Smencils to all the 3rd – 5th graders to help
“stimulate their brain” and to help them prepare for the ISAT tests.
Spring Smencils will be on sale March 17-21, before school in the lobby. They will sell for $1.00
each. Smencils look great in Easter baskets! Email Mrs. Aper or Mrs. Lee if you would like to order
one! (Please use the photograph left, if possible!)
Due to Smencil sales, there will be no Spirit Stick sales in March.
Future council meetings will be Tues. March 4th and Tues. April 1st after school in the IMC.
BENJAMIN BROADCAST
Page 2
LATE STARTS DURING THE 2013-2014 SCHOOL YEAR
Again this year, Unit 5 will implement
14 Late Start Wednesdays, which
ing, writing, or math mini-lessons.
These books are available for staff to
Save the Date!!!
will have all students arriving one
hour later than regular school start
borrow to enhance the effectiveness of
their lessons. Staff members were
times. Elementary schools will start
also given some time to review our
When: Monday, April 7th 6:308pm
at 9:45 A.M. on these days. Transportation pick up times will run one
Interactive Read-aloud and Comprehension Toolkit resources.
hour later on these days than on regular days.
Late Start Dates:
During our February Late Start, Mrs.
Stevens, our literacy coach, shared
75 books that can be used for read-
Mar. 19th
What: Benjamin Bears’ Art Show
Where: Benjamin Gym and Cafeteria
Watch for details
coming soon!
April 9th & 30th
May 14th
Ms. Traynor
Illinois Student Achievement Testing (ISAT) - March 2014
From March 3rd-14th, our teachers will be giving the annual state ISAT tests to students. Because of the importance of these tests, we ask your cooperation with the
following:
 Please make sure your child comes to school on time so that classes will not be
interrupted.
 Try to rearrange doctor and dental appointments so that they are NOT scheduled
in the morning.
 Please make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep (9-10 hours).
 Please make an extra effort to make sure our child gets a good breakfast.
 If your child wears glasses, please make sure he/she has them at school.
 Remind your child not to worry about the tests, and express your confidence in
his/her ability to do well on the tests. This is a time for your child to show how
much they have learned.

Encourage your child to do the best he/she possibly can on the
tests.
Your child’s individual results will be available next fall.
Thanks for your attention to this important part of the school year!!
Science Fair and Family Science Night
Coming to Benjamin on April 15th from 6-7:30 PM
Join us for an evening of science! Science Fair projects by 4th and 5th graders
will be on display, as well as demonstrations and hands-on activities. Some of
the planned activities include: geocaching, astronomy, physics, engineering, rain simulator, and much more! Be sure to mark your calendars for
this fun and educational event for the whole family!
Congratulations to
Mrs. Wall and her
husband on the
birth of their first
child, Delaney Mae
Wall on February
26th. “Laney”
weighed 8 lbs. 2 oz.
and is 22” long.
Mother and baby
are doing well!
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 6
Page 3
MUSIC NEWS
Congratulations to our
Chorus students for a
great performance at the
February 15th Bloomington
Thunder Hockey Game!
Upcoming Musical
Performances:
All performances will be
held in the auditorium at
Normal Community High
School (not West) on Raab
Rd. From Benjamin, go
west on Ireland Grove
Road. Turn right and go
north on Towanda Barnes
road. Take a left on Raab
Rd. The High School will be
on your right.
gram
7:30 p.m. Chorus Concert
Thursday, May 1, 2014
5:15 p.m. K/1st Grade Program
ISAT Testing for
6:15 p.m. 4th Grade Pro-
3rd, 4th, and 5th
grade students will
JANUARY GROWL WINNERS
take place March
Congratulations to the follow- Tyagi (2G), Stephen Robinson
ing students who were our
(2K), Ojas Shah (2K), Colin
January GROWL winners:
Kowalczyk (2V), Tate Schwerin
(2V), Madelynn Alley (3LC),
Ishita Ravi (PE Delveaux),
Rahin Hameed (3LC), Brooke
Dominic Taulbee (PE
Macke (3HC), Payton Tomman
Delveaux), Malik Kisitu (PE
(3HC), Vivek Abraham (3G),
Myers), Isha Madanu (PE My- Drew Farmer (3G), Jenna
ers), Gavin Micheals (KF),
Smith (3P), Kylee Thomason
Lauryn Price (KF), Sam Bar(3P), Donovan McAllister (4C),
rett (KLL), Anthony Montalta Jordan Voegele (4C), Drexel
(KLL), Austin Chiesi (KPL),
Douglass (4G), Ellie Pascavis
Hayley Michels (KPL), Payton (4G), Isabella Ramsaroep (4R),
Gosnell-Roberts (KW), Prathik Katie Svitchan (4R), Sean
Musuku (KW), Owen Reel
Avery (4S), Brandt Ridgway
(1A), Faith Tomman (1A), Wal- (4S), Anushka Limaye (5G),
ter Olson (1G), Natalie Thom- Wesley Dazey (5G), Ella Fletchason (1G), Page Lowery (1S), er (5J), Lanie Heier (5J), KenGanesh Pathi (1S), Ivan Byrd nedy Coe (5L), Andrea Romero
(2F), Alyson Perschall (2F),
(5L), Addison Gruener (5S),
Jakob Moline (2G), Maahi
and Hailey Haggerty (5S).
These students celebrated by enjoying a pizza party with Mrs. Bennington
on Wednesday, February 12th!
How does a Benjamin Bear receive a
GROWL? GROWLS are earned by
going above and beyond our expectations in the areas of respect, responsibility, or safety. These are important behaviors that will allow them
to become successful adults.
3rd-14th. Please
keep this in mind
when scheduling
appointments.
Thank you.
Each month, two students from each
class will be drawn from all of the
GROWL winners from that month.
These students will be rewarded with
a pizza luncheon with the principal.
They also receive a GROWL certificate. We hope to recognize quality
character in many of our students
throughout the year.
THANK YOU …THANK YOU…THANK YOU!
Jump Rope for Heart 2014
Many thanks to all of our Benjamin students and families who helped collect donations for the American Heart Association. Our school
raised $9,307.00 this year for Jump Rope for Heart. Your generosity will help make a difference in the lives of many people who suffer from
heart disease. We truly appreciate all Benjamin families.
Respectfully,
Jo Myers
Todd Delveaux
Evans Junior High will be having their 6th grade Orientation Night on Thursday, April 24th at 6:30 P.M. Information will be presented about the sixth grade curriculum, as well as sports/club opportunities and general
information regarding Evans. The Evans PTO will also be there to disseminate information and to sell Evans’
spirit wear. All of our 5th grade students and parents are invited to attend.
Later this spring, the Evans Guidance Counselors will visit our 5th graders at Benjamin to share information
and answer questions. Also, in May, our 5th grade students will visit Evans during the school day. They will
be partnered with a current 6th grader and will visit that student’s classes. All of these experiences help
prepare our 5th graders for starting junior high in August.
As the weather (hopefully) becomes warmer later this month, we will begin lining up outside during the
morning duty time, 8:25-8:40 A.M. Students riding the bus will line up on the north side of the school, and
students dropped off in cars will line up on the south side of the school. Teachers will be on duty on both
sides, beginning at 8:25 A.M.
SAVE THE DATE: BENJAMIN BEAR CARNIVAL - FRIDAY, APRIL 11TH FROM 5-8 P.M.
Here is how you can help:
*Contact us if your business would like to make a donation to our basket raffle or sponsor a game.
*Send in baskets or containers that could be used for our basket raffle.
*Email us any fantastic ideas that you might have for the carnival!
Please send your donated items clearly labeled, "Carnival Donations." Continue to check the school webpage for
updated carnival information.
We hope you can join us for a night of fun on Friday, April 11, 2014, from 5:00-8:00 P.M.!
Ebony Nebel & Heidi White
[email protected]
Benjamin Mission Statement
The Benjamin Bear community will educate and empower all students to be proactive
leaders.
We are on the web! www.unit5.org
MCLEAN COUNTY UNIT
DISTRICT 5
Benjamin Elementary School
6006 Ireland Grove Rd
Bloomington, IL 61705
Beginning with the 2014 – 2015 school year,
Illinois law requires ALL students entering
school at ALL grade levels (K – 12) to show
proof of receiving:
2 (full) MMR vaccines
Phone: 309-557-4410
Attendance: 309-557-4459
Fax: 309-557-4511
E-mail: [email protected]
I M P O R T A N T
NEW IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ILLINOIS SCHOOL
STUDENTS!
D A T E S
Mar. 3rd-14th
3rd, 4th. & 5th Grade ISAT Testing
Mar. 4th
3:30-4:15 P.M. Student Council Meeting
Mar. 5th
3:30-4:30 P.M. Chorus
Mar. 6th
3:30-4:40 P.M. Chess Party
Mar. 10th
6:30 P.M. PTO Meeting in IMC
Mar. 12th
3:30-4:30 P.M. Chorus
Mar. 18th
9:30 or 1:30 Kindergarten Pre-Registration—Cafeteria
Mar. 19th
9:45 A.M. Late Start
Mar. 19th
3:30-4:30 P.M. Chorus
Mar. 21st
Last Day Before Spring Break
Mar. 24th-28th Spring Break
2 varicella (chicken pox) vaccines
The Hepatitis B series of 3 vaccine requirement moved from 5th grade to 6th grade.
The Tdap requirement also continues requiring ALL students entering 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th,
11th and 12th grades to receive:
1 Tdap vaccine
Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year
students entering 6th and 12th grades will be
required to receive:
1 dose of meningococcal vaccine (6th
grade)
2 doses of meningococcal vaccine (12th
grade)
UNIT 5 STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED
TO START SCHOOL WITHOUT THE REQUIRED
IMMUNIZATIONS!
The physical exam requirement is the same –
a new exam dated within the past year is required for:
Mar. 31st
School Resumes
April 1st
3:30-4:15 P.M. Student Council Meeting
Early learner programs
April 2nd
3:30-4:30 P.M. Chorus
Kindergarten
April 7th
6:30-8:00 P.M. Benjamin Art Show
6th grade
April 9th
9:45 A.M. Late Start
9th grade
April 9th
3:30-4:30 P.M. Chorus
April 11th
Progress Reports Sent Home
April 11th
5:00-8:00 P.M. Benjamin Carnival
April 14th
PTO Meeting in IMC
April 15th
Science Fair/Family Science Night
April 16th
3:30-4:30 P.M. Chorus
April 18th
No School—Board Holiday
April 23rd
3:30-4:30 P.M. Chorus
April 24th
6:00 P.M. 6th Grade Orientation at Evans Jr. High
Make an appointment NOW for a physical
and immunizations! Avoid the rush.
No appointment cards will be accepted in
place of a completed physical exam form
and immunization record.
The McLean County Health Department is
now accepting private health insurance for
adult and child immunizations as
well as Medicaid. Call today for
an appointment: 888-5455.

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