2004 Friday Flyer 1 31st

Dear Bennett Families,

If you are even a little interested in the local and state politics in Washington, now is your opportunity to put in your 5 cents or sit back and listen while many of your questions are answered! February 12th is PTA Focus Day in Olympia. The day has been set aside by legislators from each district to meet with PTA members and officers. As Bennett parents this also means YOU! Many Bennett parents are already signed up to ride the free bus to Olympia and get involved this election year. The bus ride will include a mini-overview of what the important PTA issues are and where the Bellevue PTA stands on each issue. Please email Dennis Gerlitz at dgerlitz2@comcast.net if you would like to take this amazing trip to Olympia.

Chinese New Year was a big celebration at Bennett. The multicultural committee had a big turnout for this fun, all school event! Thank you so much to the families and students who participated in the celebration and we look forward to our next multicultural event in March.

As Young Scientist Week approaches March 22 - 26th get your experiments going and don't forget to order your display board (information is available on line at www.bennettelementary.org). Family Science Night needs lots of volunteers so please add you name to the volunteer sign-ups when you see them in the school. Please encourage your student, no matter how young or old to do a science experiment. These are fun to do and especially fun to share with their friend and family at Family Science Night on March 24th!

Thank you to the PTSA office cleanup crew! Yeah, the office is actually accessible and organized by committee. If you are missing any serving dishes from staff appreciation luncheons, please check in the teacher’s kitchen.

Our next PTSA meeting is a board meeting but all PTSA members are invited to attend. We will be doing some brainstorming on the future direction of our fundraising efforts. There are so many methods of fund raising and we want to make sure that we commit our time and energy to the most fun and profitable events. Please join us in the library on Tuesday, February 10th at 7:00pm. Childcare is provided.

Thank you again all of the volunteers who make Bennett so special. We couldn't do it without you!

Sincerely,

Kristine Keski

PTSA Co-President

PS. We are looking for a Spring Social Coordinator. Please call or Email Dawn

Kuipers if you are interested in coordinating the spring sock-hop, scheduled for May.


Bennett Sweatshirts	2
Friendship Week	3
School Open Enrollment	3
Art Cart	3
Bennett Calendar	4

Inside this issue:

Calendar

February 10: PTSA Board Meeting

February 16– 20: Mid-Winter Break

March 9: Multi-Cultural Afternoon,

General Membership Meeting

March 17: Skate King Social

March 22-26: Young Scientist Week

March 24: Family Science Night

April 12-16: Spring Break

April 20: PTSA Board Meeting

From The Editors

Editors: Karla Ostlund and Janan Carter

We are pleased to serve as editors of The Friday Flyer this year.

Send submissions to thefridayflyer@yahoo.com. Please do not send formatted text produced in a word-processing document. It’s easiest if you just type the information directly into the body of your email program. Please advise us of any specific formatting request in your email.

The deadline for the next issue of The Friday Flyer is February 6th, 2004.

ART CART

With PTSA funding, the Young Author Committee has put together an ART CART to encourage excellent and diverse art in the student’s YA books. We have a nice assortment of pens, colored pencils, markers, paints and paint brushes, a few fancy scissors and a corner cutter and paper cutter. In setting up the cart there are a few more things we could use:

*Quart and gallon freezer bags

*Plastic jars (recycled)-to hold small items

*“Moochie” packages (plastic carton form rice paper covered ice cream)-to mix paints

*Odds and ends of art supplies (interesting papers, pens, scissors, etc.)

If you wish to donate any of these items, you can bring them to the Bennett Office Attention: Sandy Eschen or Kris Young. Thank you so much!

Foster Parents Needed

Foster parents are needed to provide a caring home for abused & neglected children.You will receive a monthly salary plus expenses, support & training, and the enjoyment of watching kids grow in your care.For more information, please call Sheri at Seattle Mental Health Foster Care, 206-860-5638 ext. 4048, or email: SheriL@smh.org

Sheri LeDue, M.A.

Seattle Mental Health

Foster Care Licensor/Recruiter

(206)860-5638 ext. 4048

OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD FOR THE 2004-05 SCHOOL YEAR

will be January 12 – February 13, 2004.

Open Enrollment is the annual process for district residents who wish to apply for enrollment at a school outside their attendance area.

Only district residents may participate in Open Enrollment.

Open Enrollment applications received by the Student Placement Office during the Open Enrollment period (Jan 12 – Feb 13) will not be prioritized by date. However, the deadline for submitting applications is February 13, 2004.

Late applications will not be considered for Open Enrollment.

If a student is currently open enrolled at a school, a new application to continue at that school is NOT necessary.

Open Enrollment application forms may be obtained from any school office.

For more information, call the Student Placement Office (456-4200).

Reflections Wrap-up

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the students who participated in this year’s National PTSA Reflections arts contest. The theme, I am really happy when . . . inspired kids to generate some really fabulous art, literature, music, film and dance. Judges from outside the school chose one third of the entries to go on to the district level and be displayed at Crossroads mall.

Congratulations to Isaac Worley from Mrs. Gervais’ class who is the district finalist in primary photography and Morgan Malley from Miss Kampman’s class who is the district finalist in intermediate photography. Their work will go on to the state level. Congratulations also Joshua Eversole who received Honorable Mention in primary music, Amirah Nathani who received Honorable Mention in primary visual arts, and Mara McDermott who received both Honorable Mention in intermediate visual arts and the People Choice award. Way to go!

Next year’s theme was announced at the awards ceremony. It is “A different kind of hero.” We hope to have lots of participation, so be thinking ahead about what kinds of things you might like to do, and start your projects early. Look for more information to come home this spring, and keep your eyes out for the official packet and entry form the first week of school next fall. Thanks again for all your participation and support.

Mary Worley and Carol Losi, Reflections chairs.

FRIENDSHIP WEEK

The week before Mid-Winter Break is Friendship Week at Bennett.

On Wednesday, February 11 we offer crafts in the Library for all interested students. This event is funded by the Student Service Team. We could certainly use your hands (and hearts) to supervise and help at the craft tables.

We have 2 sessions 11:45 to 12:10 for the intermediate students and 12:10 to 12:30 for the younger students. If you are available to help out please e-mail Sandy Eschen at eschens@bsd405.com or call 456-4823.

If you can’t make it that day but you would be willing do some cutting to prepare for our crafts, leave Sandy a message either place and she will send supplies home to you.

Thanks for helping make Bennett a “friendly” place!

BENNETT SWEATSHIRTS!!

If you haven't had a chance to get one, they are still available! Here's what I've got:

Adult Size Hooded: Small, Medium, Large & XLarge

Adult Size Zippered w/hood: Large & XLarge

Youth Size Hooded: Small, Medium

Adult Size "Graduate Of" Hooded: Small & Medium

Note: Youth Large size is equivalent to Adult Small

I am overstocked on the Zippered large & XLarge so please consider this style!! I need to sell all of this stock before placing a new order so get one now!

Come on, show your school spirit and get a BENNETT BULLDOG SWEATSHIRT today!!

Please call or email Dawn Kuipers @ 643-6343 or Jozwiak1@msn.com

Parent Resource Fair

Keynote speaker, Seattle Times Columnist Jan Faull, will be at Lake Washington Technical College to address the issue of anger management between parents and their children. In addition, various agencies and companies from around the community will be there to provide students with information about their products or services.

Keynote from Noon to 12:45 Christina Harter, Career Specialist

Wednesday, February 4th, 11am to 1pm in the East Wedge Family Workforce Development Center

Lake Washington Technical College 425-739-8385 Fax:425-739-8116