What a fun-tastic week the students, parents and staff created at Bennett! You couldn't help but notice the student's excitement as they trailed in with experiments and display boards and later cheered for their egg to survive the 70 foot fall. Family Science Night was a HUGE HIT. A big Bennett cheer goes to Karen Dawson and Amy Doran, Young Scientist Week Chairs, who have been planning and organizing this event since September. Thank you to the Bennett Science Team - they have worked since January to put together the many hands-on activities. Thank you to the Bellevue Fire Department (Crossroads Station #3), Bellevue Police Department (CSI Unit), City of Bellevue Stream Team, City of Bellevue Recycling, Issaquah Salmon Hatchery, Northwest Biodiesel Forum, Pacific NW Herpetological Society, and the Robotics Teams from Highland Middle School, Interlake High School, and International School for sharing their expertise. Thank you to the many parents and staff members who volunteered during science night and throughout the week!

It is only through the efforts of the many committed parents and dedicated teachers that we are able to provide such a variety of enriching programs and events such as Young Scientist Week. While the opportunity to volunteer as committee chairs for next year will be available later this spring, officers for next year's PTSA Executive Board are being sought for election at the next PTSA meeting Tuesday, April 1^st at 7PM. We encourage you to be informed, be involved and be connected so that together we can continue to make Bennett the strong educational community our children are fortunate to benefit from.

PTSA Committee News

CAN YOU FIND THE ORANGE BUCKETS ?

As part of Bennett's emergency preparedness, the school has Orange Buckets in each of the classrooms, the library, music portable and the gym. These Orange Buckets are carried by the teachers and staff each time the school is evacuated for a safety drill or in the event of a real emergency. The Orange Buckets contain first aid kits, whistles, safety vests, flash lights and other emergency supplies. They also contain the laminated cards that are placed on the school doors to indicate 'all clear' or 'additional help needed'.

The Orange Bucket contents are maintained by the PTSA Health and Safety Committee and the Safe and Civil Schools Committee. The Orange Buckets are inventoried and updated each year.

Keep your eyes open for the Orange Buckets. They are an important part of Bennett's emergency preparedness.

Cleaning Supplies Drive

Our cleaning supplies drive to benefit the Eastside Women's Center at the Redmond YWCA is continuing!.

The YWCA housing programs in East King County offer safe, affordable housing and support services for homeless women and families. YWCA staff members partner with residents to develop and work on self-sufficiency plans to help them reach their goals and build better lives.

Every variety of cleaning supplies are needed! This drive will be ongoing throughout the remainder of the school year, so next time you are at Costco, pick up an extra item and drop it off in the box outside the office. The Social Concerns Committee thanks you!

Hopelink's End Summer Hunger

Last week's coin drive for Hopelink's "End Summer Hunger" program was a HUGE success! $1589.63 was raised to support this incredibly important campaign, helping to ensure that local children are provided with healthy meals this summer. Thank you to everyone who was able to participate, and a big congratulations to the 3rd and 4th graders for raising over $400 each! Your efforts paid off! Hope you enjoyed those doughnuts!

From The Office

Note to Parents:

o Summer school information is available in the school office

o Please check the lost and found for any missing clothing articles

o Relocation Plans- Please be sure to fill out a form available in the office if your child is not attending Bennett or is leaving the Bellevue School District for the 2008- 09 school year.

o Going on vacation for more than 3 days? Please remember to fill out a pre-arranged absence form available in the office.

o Don't forget our attendance line-- 425-456-4801

Here comes the WASL!

The Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) will take place April 14^th through April 30^th. Students in grades 3-5 will be assessed in reading and mathematics with the addition of writing for 4th and science for 5th. These two weeks will demand a great deal of student energy. To help your child be at his/her best, we offer the following recommendations:

Be sure your child gets plenty of sleep throughout the two weeks (8-10 hours a night should suffice)

Be sure your child gets a healthy breakfast every morning (small snacks will be provided each day during a break)

Have your child wear comfortable clothing

Make sure your child gets to school on time

Please do not schedule early dismissals or appointments for your child

We appreciate your help.

Principal's Post
by Chris Thomas

Student Attendance

As much as possible, it's important for students to be present and on time to school. We have approximately 180 days to help each child grow as much as possible and "spotty attendance" can stand in the way of them reaching their potential. Also, teaching students how to have a good attendance record will help them succeed in life. Parents, if your child has a good attendance record (an average of 1 or less tardy/absence a month), nice going. If not, please do your best to help your child improve. Thanks!

Librarian's Corner
by Jean Bolivar

WOW! We have added 479 new titles to our library collection since January thanks in a large part to your generous donations.

You can take a look at these new books from your computer.

Here's how....

Go to http://weblibr.bsd405.org click on Bennett.
When the catalog opens it will show the "simple" screen.
Click on the "Explore" tab along the top.
A screen with several icons will open.
Click on the "New Books" icon.
And voila...479 new books to browse.

Remember...parents are more than welcome to open a library account and check out these books plus any others in our collection.

Community Service Announcements

Attention Teachers and Parents ! SEEDS OF COMPASSION is a 5 day event being held in Seattle (April 11th-15th) with the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Andrew Meltzoff, Daniel J. Seigel, John Gottman, and many more luminaries in the fields of academic, social and emotional development. On Monday Mar. 17th a full lineup of live broadcast and web streaming channels will be announced. This will allow you to participate regardless of your location. Tickets/Passes are available for sponsors at every level. Please visit www.seedsofcompassion.org for complete info. Any futher questions contact Cynthia Coron: c.coron@comcast.net

The Bennett Foreign Language Program (BFLP) is seeking a Secretary and Treasurer to serve on next year's parent run board. The BFLP has had the privilege of serving our community by offering Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and French classes. We have professional teachers, supportive parents and eager children. If you are interested in serving on next year's board - please contact Alison House at alihouse@comcast.net.

2008 Lake Hills Soccer Club recreational fall league registration opens April 1st.

Registration for Recreational Fall Soccer for kids age 5-18 starts April 1st. For the competitive player age 12-18, Club Select tryouts start March 19th. Please visit our web site at www.lakehillssoccer.org for detailed program information and online registration. No internet access? leave a message on voice mail at 425-643-1029 and a registrar will contact you. Scholarships are available.

Washington State History Museum

Coming soon to the Museum...
The West the Railroads Made exhibition

On view April 13, 2008 through Jan 24, 2009

The Great American West may have been opened up by ox-drawn wagons, but it was the railroads that created the West as we know it today. Bringing infrastructure, trade, and a slew of newcomers, railroads connected the modern world to the West and the West to the modern world. From the 19th century to the present, The West the Railroads Made traces the role railroads played in shaping the image and reality of this part of the country. The exhibit features artifacts and photographs, including railroad ephemera.

News from The PTA Parent Magazine

10 Ways Parents Can Help Teachers

Teaching academic skills is a tough enough task for teachers. Emotional, social and spiritual development should be focused in the home. You can help teachers and create a better learning environment for your children by following these tips:

Create a smooth takeoff each day. Give your child a hug before she ventures out the door and you head to work. Look her in the eye, and tell her how proud you are of her. Your child's self-confidence and security will help her do well both in school and in life.
Prepare for a happy landing at the end of the day when you reconvene. Create a predictable ritual such as 10 to 20 minutes listening to your child talk about his day-before you check phone messages, read e-mail, or begin dinner. That way you are fully present to listen, and your child has a touchstone he can count on between school and home.
Fill your child's lunchbox with healthy snacks and lunches. Have dinner at a reasonable hour and serve a healthy breakfast. A well-balanced diet maximizes your child's learning potential. Check out www.pta.org for ideas.
Include calm, peaceful times in your children's afternoons and evenings. Maintain a schedule that allows them to go to school rested, and if they are sick, have a system in place so they are able to stay home.
Remember it's your children's homework, not yours. Create a specific homework space that's clutter-free and quiet. Encourage editing and double-checking work, but allow your kids to make mistakes, as it's the only way teachers can gauge if they understand the material. It's also how children learn responsibility for the quality of their work. Get more homework tips online.

To read more, visit PTA's "10 Ways to Help Teachers."

Innovative Schools
If you would like to see what innovative schools are doing (maybe yours is one of them) you can go to www.publicschoolinsights.org. This site, hosted by the Learning First Alliance, provides success stories of public school programs that are helping students succeed. Parents can share success stories from their own schools and districts, too.

Bellevue Schools Foundation (BSF)

SPRING FOR SCHOOLS BENEFIT LUNCHEON IS FAST APPROACHING!

Save the date! Bellevue Schools Foundation Spring for Schools Benefit
Luncheon will be held on Thursday, June 5, 2008 at Meydenbauer Center.
Parents, community members and business leaders gather to celebrate our
success and support Bellevue schools and students.

Last year, over $480,000 was raised for schools from this event. While the
luncheon is free, you will be given the opportunity to make a financial
pledge of $200 or more at the event. Every dollar raised at Spring for
Schools will provide our students with a world-class education,
strengthening our schools and community. To attend, simply register online
at www.bsfdn.org/register.

Opportunities for Parent Involvement

** VIP Lunch Club ** - Thursdays from 11:45 - 12:30 (indoors). Contact Regina Feinberg, Bennett's Speech and Language Specialist at feinbergr@bsd405.org, 425-456-4840

** Playground Volunteers ** - Before school & during lunch recess. Younger siblings are welcome. Contact Margie Landreth, Bennett's Office Manager landrethm@bsd405.org or 425-456-4800

** Staff Appreciation Coordinators are needed for the following classrooms ** - Tews, Norby, Bauman, Stewart, Silver-Hill. Contact Mary Kay Westmoreland, PTSA Staff Appreciation Committee Chair, thewestmorelands@hotmail.com, 425-653-1641.

Information about VIP Lunch Club: Every Thursday, Bennett students are invited to our VIP lunch club. The students meet together for lunch and conversation and then we play group board games. Favorites are Apples to Apples Jr., Whoonu, Kids on Stage and UNO! Invitations are made by the Bennett teaching staff and participation is optional. Lately, new students come by and ask if they can participate! This is a special treat for those kids who want the opportunity to enjoy peer activities in a smaller, quieter setting during lunchtime. The kids are making connections with other kids, listening and taking turns. They are learning to be good sports and practicing not having to always be first! It's a lot of fun! We rotate our 1st and 2nd graders and our 3rd-5th graders. Most kids end up coming once or twice each month. With volunteers kids could come more often.

Information about Playground Volunteer Opportunities: Bennett has two fantastic staff members who cover the entire playground before the bell rings and during recess. More adults equal safer students and children making smarter choices. Parent volunteers on the playground make a significant difference with their presence alone. If you are able to commit as frequently as once a week or as infrequently as once a month - we need you! Volunteer to help before school (8:40-9:05) or during lunch recess (11:40 - 12:35).

Information about Staff Appreciation Coordinators: Facilitate appreciation activities from the class during Staff Appreciation Week (May 19th - 23rd). Plan a luncheon for the Bennett teachers and staff along with other staff appreciation coordinators from the same grade level. Luncheons remaining are:
   March - Kindergarten team
   April - Fourth grade team
   June - all coordinators

The Friday Flyer Newsletter | Bennett Elementary PTSA 2.3.22

www.bennettelementary.org | TheFridayFlyer@yahoo.com

Editor: Denice Malone

Information contained in directories, newsletters, or membership lists published by The Friday Flyer may not be used for solicitation, commercial, political, ideological, or any other purposes not consistent with the Washington Congress of Parent and Teacher by-laws.

The Friday Flyer is a bi-weekly newletter distributed via email. Articles need to be submitted to thefridayflyer@yahoo.com by the Wednesday before publication Articles may be edited for content.

The following are publication dates for the remainder of the school year:

Apr 18, May 2, May 16, May 30, and Jun 16

Bennett PTSA Executive Board 2007/08
Marian McDermott, Co-President, ma_mcdermott@hotmail.com 425/653-1235
Sue Bentsen, Co-President, sue@bentsen.us  425/644-5005
Vanessa Swanson, Treasurer, vswan@lynden.com  425/641-6626
Heather Gibbs, Co-Treasurer, heather@thegibbs.us  425/746-3483
Kris Moazez, Secretary, krism@mmpunion.com  425/643-8396
Clay Dawson, VP Education, clayd43@msn.com  425/643-6298
Alison House, VP Fundraising, alihouse@comcast.net  425/653-5411
Michelle Ball, VP Community, michball@winisp.net  425/564-8315

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Bennett Elementary PTSA | 17900 NE 16th Street | Bellevue | WA | 98008