Bennett Bear Business Newsletter

We LOVE visitors and volunteers serving on our campus. McKinney ISD elementary schools will welcome visitors and volunteers back into the building starting on Monday, August 29th. As a school family, our Bennett staff will be spending the first two weeks of school getting to know our students, build relationships, and establishing routines.

We encourage parents to use these two weeks to complete your criminal background check for the 2022-2023 school year. Here is the link to complete your annual criminal background check: https://webserv.mckinneyisd.net/workspace/.

Thank you for sharing your BEAR with us each and every day. We look forward to seeing YOU visiting and volunteering in the building starting on Monday, August 29th.

We love our DOGS just as much as we love our BEARS. McKinney ISD prohibits dogs on school property during arrival and dismissal for the safety of our pets and our school community. Thank you for helping keep our canine friends and BEARS safe!

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress authorized spending that allowed schools to serve free meals for all students. Those funds are not authorized to continue for the 2022-2023 school year. As a result, McKinney ISD must return to charging for school meals and offering free and reduced-price meals based on student eligibility. Starting on August 1st, we will begin processing applications for meal benefits. Paper applications in English and Spanish will be available at all schools and the link for online applications are: http://www.mckinneyisd.schoollunchapp.com/. If filling out the paper version, families can return the form to the school office, school cafeteria (after the first day of school), or to the MISD Food Service Office.

The application will determine a child’s eligibility for free and reduced-price meals and may assist in the determination of eligibility for other state or federal benefits. Only one application needs to be completed per household. Schools will notify the household of the child’s eligibility. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) administers school nutrition programs in Texas and offers an eligibility calculator at www.SquareMeals.org/ProgramEligibility.

Decisions regarding payment for school meals are made at the national-government level, not by the school nutrition team or TDA. For full-price and reduced-price students, funds can be loaded into the student accounts at https://www.MySchoolBucks.com.

The student meal prices for the 2022-2023 school year are as follows:

*Elementary Breakfast Full Price - $1.25

*Elementary Breakfast Reduced Price - $0.30

*Elementary Lunch Full Price - $2.85

*Elementary Lunch Reduced Price - $0.40

*Secondary Breakfast Full Price - $1.25

*Secondary Breakfast Reduced Price - $0.30

*Secondary Lunch Full Price - $3.10

*Second Lunch Reduced Price - $0.40

Sincerely,

Jason Vickery

Food Service Director

McKinney ISD

Desk: 469-302-6365

jvickery@mckinneyisd.net

Upcoming August Events for Our BEARS:

Tuesday, July 26th:

*Kindergarten Screener Day for Incoming Kinder Students - by Scheduled Time

*PTO Spirit Wear available for purchase in the Bennett Cafe - ONLY Cash or Check will be accepted for payment

Friday, August 5th:

*Find Out Who Your Child's Teacher is Going to Be

*Teachers will Email Families Their Welcome Video at 3:00PM

Monday, August 8th:

*Bennett Blast Off - Come & Go Event

*New Families attend from 6:30PM-7:00PM

*Returning Families attend from 7:00PM-7:30PM

*Join PTO, purchase spirit wear, and sign up to volunteer in the gym

Tuesday, August 9th:

*PTO Sponsored Chalk the Walk - 7:00PM

*Everyone is welcome to come to school to decorate the sidewalk for our BEARS

Wednesday, August 10th:

*1st Day of School

*Doors open and breakfast begins at 7:15AM

*Students arriving from 7:15AM-7:30AM will meet in the Bennett cafeteria

*Parents & students walk to their classrooms on the 1st day of school from 7:30AM-8:00AM

*Parents stop by the Bennett cafe after you drop off your student in their classroom for PTO "Tears & Cheers"

*8:00AM - Tardy bell rings and live Morning Announcements begins

*Join us at the flagpole at 8:30AM for our "14th Annual Flag Raising Ceremony

*3:07PM - Dismissal begins - please be patient as the safety of our BEARS is our #1 priority

Thursday, August 11th:

*K-2nd grade students arriving between 7:30AM-7:50AM will walk down to their classrooms and sit in the hallway with a teacher on duty

*3rd-5th grade students arriving between 7:30AM-7:50AM will go to the gym and sit in their class line with a teacher on duty

*7:50AM - a bell will ring and all K-5th grade students will walk to their classrooms and unpack

*8:00AM - Tardy bell rings and live Morning Announcements begins

*3:07PM - Dismissal begins - please be patient as the safety of our BEARS is our #1 priority

Friday, August 12th:

*Bennett Spirit Day - Wear Bennett/Lego/Spirit Attire

*PTO Board Meeting - Virtually - 10:00AM

Tuesday, August 16th:

*PAWS-itivity Tuesday - Wear an inspirational shirt

*Alpha Supply & Say Hi Event at Webb Elementary - 5:00PM-7:00PM (offered twice this week - pick one)

Thursday, August 18th:

*Alpha Supply & Say Hi Event at Webb Elementary - 5:00PM-7:00PM (offered twice this week - pick one)

Kindergarten Color Week #1 - Join Us in Wearing the Designated Color of the Day

Monday, August 22nd:

*Kindergarten Color RED Day

*3rd Grade Alpha Begins

*MCLASS Testing Window Opens for K-2

*Beginning of the Year (BOY) MAP Reading Window Opens for K-5th

Tuesday, August 23rd:

*Kindergarten Color WHITE Day

*PTO/Principal Fundraiser "Believe Kids" Kick-Off

*K-2 Fundraiser Kick-Off - 8:15AM

*3-5 Fundraiser Kick-Off - 9:00AM

Wednesday, August 24th:

*Kindergarten Color YELLOW Day

Thursday, August 25th:

*Kindergarten Color GREEN Day

*4th & 5th Grade Alpha Begins

Friday, August 26th:

*Kindergarten Color BLUE Day

*4th & 5th Grade Alpha Day

*BOY MAP Reading Window Closes for K-5th

Kindergarten Color Week #2

Monday, August 29th:

*Kindergarten Color ORANGE Day

*3rd Grade Alpha

*4th & 5th Grade Safety Patrol Begins

*BOY MAP Math Window Opens for K-5th

*Welcome Visitors & Volunteers in the Building

Tuesday, August 30th:

*Kindergarten Color BLACK Day

*PTO Sponsored Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students) 1st Semester Kick-Off - 6:00PM-7:00PM in Bennett Cafeteria

Wednesday, August 31st:

*Kindergarten Color PURPLE Day

Thursday, September 1st:

*Kindergarten Color PINK Day

* 4th & 5th Grade Alpha

*BOY MAP Math Window Closes for K-5th

Friday, September 2nd:

*No School for Students

*Wear Your Favorite Color at HOME

*Staff Development Waiver Day for Staff

Monday, September 5th:

*Holiday for Students & Staff

*No School

August Birthdays:

1 - Paulina, Durham

2 - AnaBelle

4 - Elinor, Bryson, Oliver, Donald

5 - Ethan, Gerry, Finn, Easton

6 - Tyler, Emory

7 - Sara, Thomas, Myra

8 - Nicolas, Akshaj, Cameron, Caroline, Annabelle

9 - Anaya, Julian, Amelia, Ms. Lane - Secretary

11 - Z'narriehh

14 - Adesewa

15 - Callyn, Ezra

16 - Caleb

17 - Kingston, Lela

18 - Raylan, Eliana

19 - Daniel

20 - Ms. French - 4th Grade Teacher

21 - Ms. Gore - 4th Grade Teacher, Ms. Miranda - School Nurse

22 - Charity

23 - Juliette, Jonas

24 - Jonathan, Brooklyn, Ms. Blazek - Kindergarten Teacher

25 - Allison

26 - Hannah, Ian, Hensley, Ashley

27 - Kaden, Alice

28 - Ms. Androlowicz - STC Aide

30 - Vivian, Jack, Kimberly

Interested in volunteering in McKinney ISD for the 2022-2023 school year? Volunteer applications are being accepted for the upcoming school year. McKinney ISD requires all volunteers complete the required volunteer process each school year.

All volunteers with McKinney ISD agree to a background check each school year prior to beginning volunteer duties. McKinney ISD is dedicated to making sure that all students have the opportunity to learn and grow in a safe and secure environment.

The volunteer application process is just one effort used by the school administration to help make our schools safe.

VOLUNTEER APPLICATIONS MAY TAKE UP TO TWO WEEKS TO BE PROCESSED.

To apply, click the link below and select the School or schools of your choice. An email account is required for notification purposes. Once your volunteer application is processed and the criminal background check is complete, you will receive an e-mail notification regarding your application from the MISD Human Resources department.

McKinney ISD substitute teachers serve an essential role in our classrooms. They keep the learning moving forward when a teacher can not be in the classroom. At Bennett, we are thankful for all of the substitutes that serve our BEARS.

If you have ever considered serving as a substitute, now is a great time to apply! We are looking for people who are committed to the students and families in our district. Many of our Bear parents find that it is a wonderful and rewarding way to be connected to the educational process and to our school. Substitutes in MISD can choose if they would like to work at only one level campus (elementary, middle, or high) or they can work at campuses across all levels.

Applications are processed on a continuing basis through the fall semester.

For details on the application process and to get started, please visit:

https://www.mckinneyisd.net/human-resources/substitute-opportunities/

Substitute Opportunities | McKinney ISD

Substitute Opportunities. Substitutes are an important part of the daily operations of the school day. We truly appreciate our substitutes and are grateful for your contribution to our students and teachers.