Bennett Woods Weekly Updates

2650 Bennett Road Okemos, MI 48864

(517) 706-5100
Noelle Palasty, Principal
Jen Rapson, Administrative Assistant August 20, 2019
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BACK TO SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE​: Meet, Greet & Treats​ –

Join our staff on ​Wednesday, August 21st​, to meet your child’s teacher​ and other Bennett Woods
staff, ​visit your classroom​, tour the school and celebrate the beginning of a great year together.
Classrooms will be open 5:00 – 5:45 followed by an optional social time in the cafeteria until
6:30pm

A treat (made possible by BW Family Council) will be available in the cafeteria.

Volunteers Needed:​ Family Council is looking for parents/grandparents/friends to work small, short
shifts on the night of Open House to welcome students and families.​ ​Click here to sign up!

Classroom Placement​: ​Classroom lists were emailed. If you did not get a class list or are a new
student you may contact the office and Mrs. Rapson can provide you the name of your child’s
teacher. We will have the information at the Open House on Wednesday, Aug. 21​st. If you are unable
to attend the Open House, you may call the main office.

If you have moved and are no longer planning to attend Bennett Woods,
please contact the main office as soon as possible. (706-5102)

~ ~ HELP NEEDED​ ~ ~
We are looking for individuals that would be interested in working in our lunchroom/playground from
11:25 - 1:30 for the 2019-20 school year. Please contact Sohair Mahdi for more information
(sohair.mahdi@okemosk12.net)

We are also looking for classroom aides. If you are interested in this position, please email Noelle
Palasty (noelle.palasty@okemosk12.net).

CARLINE PROCEDURES:
With a new school year, it will be important that we are patient in the carline as our younger students
and new families learn the routines. ​CLICK HERE to review the traffic pattern and procedures​.
The system works well as long as ​all parents​ follow some basic principles. We also encourage
students to ride the bus if this service is available to you!

Required​ - a sign with your child(ren)’s name(s), placed in the front window (passenger side) during
pick up. (Please share with grandparents and babysitters!)

First Day of School Tips

The first day of school for all students is Monday, August 26​th​ (8:50 – 12:00). This day tends to be
congested so students that walk or use the carline may start to arrive after about 8:35am.
When students arrive they will enter the building and sit in a designated area in the hall by grade
level. ​ ​If you are planning to stay with your child or walk them to class, we will need you to wait on the
red brick until the first bell rings. We do not have enough space in the hallways to accommodate
parents during the morning routine.​

The first bell rings at 8:45 to signal that children may proceed to their classroom. Instruction begins
at 8:50. All students are dismissed at 12:00 on the first day with no lunch served.

**Kindergarten​: Some special activities are planned for our new Kindergarten students. Please
refer to the letter from your Kindergarten teacher outlining the first-day schedule and events.

The first full day of school is Tuesday, August 27th, 8:50 – 3:45. Breakfast and hot lunch will be
served to begin the first full day of school.

Despite the fact that we have a good size parking lot, we still do not have enough spaces to
accommodate the entire school! Please be advised that Kindergarten parents are required to attend
a portion of the first day with their child/ren. Please allow yourself plenty of time and, if necessary,
please park in the church parking lot located east of Bennett Woods.

Supervision

During the first week of school, the staff will be meeting students at the busses to ensure that
students can find their classroom and teacher! After school, students are escorted to the busses
and/or carline by staff. Carline supervision is provided until approximately 3:55 when all students
should be picked up. After the first week of school, we have a rotation schedule and our 4​th​ grade
safeties also provide morning supervision and support!

**Kindergarten students are provided direct supervision in the carline after school by Kindergarten
staff.

Lunch Schedule
Kindergarten: 11:45 (12:05) - 12:25
1​st​ grade: 11:25 (11:45) - 12:05
2​nd​ grade: 12:10 (12:25) - 12:50
3​rd​ grade: 12:45 (1:00) - 1:25
4​th​ grade: 12:25 (12:40) - 1:05
**Please note that the times in parentheses are designated release times for each grade level to go to recess.
Students may stay in the cafeteria as long as needed to finish eating.
BREAKFAST/LUNCH MENUS are available online and contain detailed nutrition information.

Tidbits

● Early Release (1:50) Wednesday Dates​: Sept. 18, Oct. 16, Nov. 20, Dec. 11, Jan. 29, Feb. 26,
Mar. 25, Apr. 22, and May 20 ​*Early Release Activities are available at a low cost to families that
register in advance. For information go to ​www.okemosonline.com​ or contact Kelli Guthrie at
706-5021.
● Please help us by talking with your child ​before school​ about after school care arrangements,
playdates, etc. If you have a complicated schedule, create a system such as colored wrist bands
for bus or carline days or attach a schedule to the backpack.
● In case of an emergency​, please call the front office. Please do not leave same-day schedule
changes on the teacher’s voicemail or rely on email. At times teachers are not able to check
email/voicemail during the day or there is a guest teacher in the classroom.
● Schedule Changes​: All after school schedule changes MUST be made in writing to the teacher.
Please do not ask your student to verbally communicate a change to the teacher. The request will
not be honored unless it is in writing or you have communicated directly with the teacher.
● If you are picking your child up after school, ​please note that main entrance doors will remain
locked until 3:45. Please use the carline or wait outside on the red brick​. ​It can be distracting
to staff and students when parents are standing outside the classroom doors at the end of the
day.
● COMMUNICATION​:​ In an effort to be economically responsible a great deal of communication
occurs through the website (​www.okemosk12.net​) and/or email. A weekly email will be sent from
the office on Saturday and posted to the Bennett Woods website. ​Please notify the office if you
are not receiving the emails​.​ In addition, please notify the office if you ​do NOT ​have access to
email or the internet and a hard copy of the information will be provided for you. (Jen Rapson,
706-5102).
o Useful website information:
▪ 2019– 2020 District School Calendar
▪ Bus Routes/Schedules
▪ Suggested Classroom Supply Lists, Medication & Volunteer Forms (Parents/Forms)
● Pets​ ​– We know you love your pets and consider them to be part of your family. However, in the
interest of safety, we ask that you do not bring dogs or cats onto the school grounds or into the
school. Under special circumstances, a teacher may prearrange a pet visit.
● Please make teachers and the office aware of any unique needs related to ​joint custody
situations​.
● Parent and Volunteer Check-in/out Policy​: ​We welcome our visitors and volunteers but require
you to sign in at the office each time you visit our school. Signing in enables us to know who is in
the building and also to locate visitors and volunteers in case of an emergency.
● Please take a moment to review the 2019-20 ​Elementary Parent/Student Handbook​. ​A
complete copy of the handbook can be found on the Bennett Woods website.
● TOYS​: ​Students are not to bring toys, electronic devices, excessive jewelry, playing/trading cards
and other items that may distract from learning except under the direction of the classroom
teacher!
● FAMILY COUNCIL is our Parent Organization:​ ​Family Council is our parent
organization and all parents are invited to be involved! Our Family Council is an essential
organization and supports our school in many ways. Watch for more information and
opportunities to get involved!
● MICROWAVES​:​ While we do have microwaves available in the cafeteria, we are asking for your
support and cooperation as we limit the use of them to 2nd ​ ​ – 4​th​ grade students only and request
that heating take no more than 60 seconds. We find that our younger students are not able to
safely use the microwaves and we do not have the staff to accommodate all the reheating needs
while helping with milk, lunch containers, etc. A thermos is a great way to send warm items in
your child’s lunch. *F​ or safety reasons, please do not send glass containers in lunch boxes.
Thank you!
● Specials (Art, Music & PE) Schedule​: ​Again this year, art, music and physical education
classes will all be 45 minutes and will be scheduled on a three day A, B, C rotating schedule. (i.e.:
Mon - Art, Tues - Music, Wed. - PE; Thurs - Art; Fri - Music, etc.) and a A, B, C, D rotation for 2nd
grade (Art, Music, PE, Exploratory) Students will go to special area classes at the same time
each day. Your child’s teacher will communicate their individual schedule and the specific time for
their specials. Please note that specials instruction has been scheduled on every full day for the
 entire year. There will be no specials instruction on half days or on early release days. There will
be no changes to our schedule. If school is canceled due to inclement weather or for any other
reason, we will maintain the schedule. ​Since PE will fall on different days each week, you
might find it helpful for your child to wear gym appropriate shoes each day or leave a pair
of shoes at school​.
● MEDICAL CONDITIONS:
If your child has ​a life-threatening medical condition​, please be sure to have the doctor complete
the ​Medical Information Action Plan​, provide us with any necessary medication AND the
Prescription Medication Authorization​ form signed by the doctor. It is essential that we have this
information on file! The Medical Information Action Plan and Prescription and ​Non-Prescription
Medication​ forms can be found on the building website/For Parents/Forms.
● Suggested Supply Lists​: ​Suggested grade level supply lists can be found on the Bennett
Woods website: www.okemosk12.net. If purchasing any of these items is a hardship for you or
your family, please know that we will ensure your child has the necessary items/materials.

BREAKFAST/LUNCH INFORMATION
Breakfast is available for purchase or free/reduced for qualifying students starting at 8:30 AM​.
Students that ride the bus that wish to eat breakfast are able to pick up breakfast and eat it in the
classroom.

Students may purchase (free/reduced for qualifying students) hot lunch or bring their lunch and
purchase milk. More information regarding lunch can be found on the district webpage and will be
sent home on the first day of school. Information and menus will also be posted on the website.
Please look for Food Service under the Departments heading which is located along the top
navigation bar. ​A new application is required every year.

For information on free/reduced lunch please visit our website (​ D

​ epartments/Food Service)​ : ​Use our
secure online application (​www.lunchapp.com​) or you can get a paper application from our website
or school office.
IF you are NEW to the district and received Meal Assistance from your previous school, you MUST fill
out a NEW Application - benefits do NOT transfer automatically.