First graders at Benton Elementary have been studying the four seasons. Last week they visited the L.C. Bates Museum to learn how clouds are formed and the role the Sun plays in creating our seasons. Students also visited with John Meader of Northern Stars Planetarium, joining him inside his inflatable planetarium to learn about types of clouds and how the Sun affects our weather and seasons on Earth. These young scientists also viewed some of the constellations they can find in Maine’s night sky.
Last spring, Benton Elementary third graders participated in the Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program. Since 2002, this company has been providing free cabbage plants to third graders across the country, with a mission to teach kids where their food comes from and inspire a love of vegetable gardening. Each third grade student was sent home with their own cabbage plant, and they were encouraged to plant it and watch it grow throughout the summer. This fall, eight incoming fourth graders returned with their harvest. The largest cabbage, raised by Lexi Day, weighed an astounding 14 pounds! Congratulations to this group of next-generation gardeners!
Flu Vaccine Clinic paperwork is coming home with your child today. The Benton Elementary clinic will be held on Tuesday, October 24th. Please return to the school by Monday, October 16th.
Second graders at Benton Elementary have been learning about the life cycle and metamorphosis of a butterfly. Kaitlyn Paulette’s students observed a caterpillar as it created its chrysalis and transformed into a beautiful monarch butterfly. Last week they released their winged friend and all waved farewell as it fluttered out into the world.
At Benton Elementary, Rachel Carpenter’s sixth graders are participating in weekly “Teamwork Tuesday” activities to practice working together as effective teams. Recently students worked in small groups to discover things they have in common with one other, recording each on separate index cards. Next each team used their collections of cards, along with their engineering skills, to see who could build the tallest tower. Teammates collaborated, got creative, and had loads of fun, all while strengthening the bonds of their classroom community.
Benton Elementary Parent/Teacher Conference sign-ups will be going home with your child today. Please sign up for conferences, which will be held during the evenings of October 4 and 5. We will have our Scholastic Book Fair, Darling's Ice Cream Truck for a Cause, a Mum Sale, and other events going on in the building. We hope to see you there!
It’s harvest time for Benton Elementary’s Garden Club! Librarian Amanda Delorie has gathered vegetables and prepared several tasty treats for students, including beets, tomatoes, peppers, peas, green beans, and eggplant. This week fifth graders enjoyed Mrs. Delorie’s homemade pesto, made with fresh basil from the school’s garden. Yum!
Kellie Paisley-Hopper is joining our Benton staff as our new assistant principal. Mrs. Hopper began her teaching career at Benton Elementary in 1997, and has taught fifth and sixth grade for the past 26 years. She is delighted to be stepping into this new leadership role, and is excited to be working alongside the staff and students of Benton during the 23-24 school year.
We look forward to seeing you tonight at the Benton Elementary Open House from 4 PM - 6PM, 9/5/23. We will have a Passport/Scavenger Hunt activity, updated Story Walk, and treats for those that attend. See you then!
Benny the Bulldog greeted Benton students and bus drivers on our first day. He went shopping for our Open House on Tuesday, and it looks like he picked up some treats! Thank you, PTO, for making our first day even more special.
Good evening and welcome back to school! Our elementary students start school this Wednesday, August 30th. Our staff returned today and have a day full of workshops tomorrow. We will be ready for your child on Wednesday morning. Please remember that student drop-off this year is at 8:15 AM. The school will not be open for early drop-offs. Our school day begins at 8:30 AM. Dismissal for walkers will begin at 2:50 PM. Please let your child's teacher know what your end-of-day plans are so they have everything prepared. Email or Remind works very well. Also, an important packet will be going home with your child on their first day. Please take some time to complete it and return as soon as possible.
We are very excited to welcome your student back to school. Welcome back!
Sincerely,
Mr. Wedge
Attention Benton Elementary Families:
The PTO would like to remind you about the free family event night! Please join us at 6pm in the Williamson Center. The evening show will be different then the assembly the kids will attend during school hours. Guaranteed to be fun for all!
Sample his show on YouTube: https://youtu.be/86FYGTmE1CU
Can't wait to see you all there!
P.S. I heard rumors that there may or may not be a special appearance from Benny the Bulldog
This is an important message for Benton families who drop students off prior to 8:15 AM. To support families with childcare issues, we have allowed families to drop children off between 8:05 and 8:15 AM. We have minimal adult support during this time as teachers are preparing their classrooms. Students are expected to be on their best behavior if they arrive between 8:05 and 8:15 AM, or the privilege of an early arrival will be revoked. Please do not drop off your child between 8:05 and 8:15 AM unless absolutely necessary. Please do not drop your children off prior to 8:05 AM for any reason as students are not allowed in the building and are not permitted to wait outside the entrance. Thank you for your support in this as we need to keep SAFETY as our top priority.
This is a reminder that MSAD49 students will not have school tomorrow, January 23, as we have a scheduled Teacher In-Service Day. We look forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday!
We have an early dismissal (noon) on Thursday, December 22nd followed by our Holiday Break. Students return on Tuesday, January 3d.
The Benton PTO is excited to announce we have created a volunteer sign up form for our 9th annual Craft Fair on December 10th. This is a HUGE fundraising event for our PTO. We appreciate any help you are able to contribute as this fair couldn't happen without volunteers like YOU!!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080C49A5AF28A7FF2-benton
Benton Elementary School will be sponsoring a Christmas Giving Tree for our students during the holiday season. If you feel that your family is in need of assistance, please complete the below form.
https://forms.gle/Mja6mYrdVuNtueyD9
Thank you, New Balance, for donating 40 pairs of New Balance shoes and 40 items of New Balance apparel! The total value is $2,880. Our students are fortunate to have this generous donation.
Please show your support on November 8th! Yes on 1
https://www.foxbangor.com/news/item/new-school-vote-coming-to-ballot/