Benfer Elementary School

______BOBCAT BULLETIN BENFER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FEBRUARY 2013

DATES TO REMEMBER: February 7 – Fun Run 8:30 Kindergarten and 5th grades 9:30 3rd and 4th grades 10:30 1st and 2nd grades February 14 -Valentine’s Day Parties 2:15 p.m. (AM PK/EC 10:15) Fun Run pledges due today February 20- Group Pictures February 22 – Go Texan Day! Moms and Muffins 7:15-7:45 a.m. February 26 - Open House 5:30 -6:30 p.m. Classes on First Floor (EC-2nd, Art, PE, Music) 6:30-7:00 p.m. PTO meeting and Jump Rope Club Program in Gym 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Classes on Second Floor (3-5)

February 28- CIDC Meeting 3:30 in Library

Fun Run! Thank you for supporting the PTO Fund Runners fundraiser. Our goal is to raise enough money for a third laptop cart. When the pledges come in, we will let you know if we reached our goal. Special thanks to all of the parents and family members who plan to come out to cheer our students on during the Fun Run. We appreciate your support!

Go Texan Day! All our Bobcats can wear their western gear and hats to school on Friday, February 22nd! No spurs or toy guns/weapons please.

Rodeo Art Winners! Our Bobcats created beautiful pictures during art class with Mr. Hunt for the Rodeo Art program. Artwork from the following students was selected for the Klein ISD Rodeo Art Show at the Klein Multi-Purpose Center. All of our artists are winners!!

5th Grade Micah Carpenter Red Ribbon Emily Foger Red Ribbon Olivia Houston Red Ribbon Abigail McMurray Red Ribbon Lan Nguyen Red Ribbon Annette Saavedra Red Ribbon Iliyan Sunasara Blue Ribbon

4th Grade Morgan Marie Browning White Ribbon Cohen Dearman Red Ribbon

3rd Grade Isabelle Lewis Red Ribbon Nena Macnojia Red Ribbon

2nd grade Regan Crouch Blue ribbon Spelling Bee Winner is Sifaat Khawaja! Sifaat Khawaja was the champion speller and will represent Benfer at the KISD Spelling Bee on February 12th at the Klein Multipurpose Center. Ian Johnson is the runner up. Congratulations to our outstanding Benfer spellers!!

Grade level spelling bees were held in December. The ten best spellers in third, fourth, and fifth grade were selected to be in the Benfer Spelling Bee on January 10th. Benfer 2012-13 Spelling Bee Contestants:

3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade Rahinna Mohammed Kennedy James Sophia Sagar Nena Macnojia Joseph Torres Isha Maknojia Andrew Huynh John Shin Tabitha Barker Juliette Flash Bradley Gibbs Ian Johnson Cassie Hanson Jacob Trevino Lan Nguyen Harrison Pham Megan Brusaw Alex Burton Toliver Bryant Abby Loch Mia Ohrabka Georgia Long Luis Angulo Sifaat Khawaja Isabelle Lewis Linh Nguyen Cady Gibbs Dillon Neeley Thomas Castillo Katherine Perry

Valentine’s Day Parties Our Valentine’s parties are scheduled for Thursday, February 14th. All parties will begin at 2:15 p.m., with the exception of morning Pre-K/EC that will begin at 10:15 a.m. Our PTO and room moms have planned special treats for our students. Please do not send candy, other food, or balloons to school. Special thanks to all of our moms and dads who volunteer during holiday parties!

Thank You, PTO Benfer teachers and staff want to say a special "Thank you!" to all of our parents for supporting the PTO fundraisers! Every penny goes to help the children at Benfer. This year you provided funds for the library and a second laptop computer cart! In addition, your generosity funds the Christmas and Valentines parties, paid for student field trips, and provided enrichment programs for our students. Thank you for all you do to make Benfer a special place for our children and families!

Lost and Found Has your child misplaced a coat or jacket? If so, please check the lost and found rack in the cafeteria. Write your child’s first and last name in all jackets so we can return them when found. When coats are left in the hallways or on the playground and the owner cannot be found, the coats are hung in the cafeteria. Although students are frequently reminded to look through those items for missing jackets, we still have many that have not been claimed. Unclaimed clothing is donated to NAM in January and at the end of the school year.

Attendance Please send a note to your child’s teacher if he/she has been absent. As stated in the Student Handbook on page 23: “In the event a pupil is absent from school for any reason, he is required on his return to school to bring a written excuse signed by his parents as to why the child was absent. A student must present a note from his or her parent or guardian within 5 days after the absence or it becomes categorized as an unexcused absence. It is recommended that the date(s) of the student’s absence be included in the signed parent excuse.” Please provide Doctor’s notes within 5 days after the absence.

Custody Issues Reminder – Parental Responsibility Please assist us in the handling of custody related issues. It is the responsibility of the parents to provide the principal a certified copy of the court order affecting any other person’s right to their children. Should you have any questions, please call Dr. Loraine Lambert, Principal at 832.484-6000. German Festival Tickets for the 42nd annual Klein German Festival, scheduled for March 1, 2013, at Klein Oak High School, will go on sale at every school in the Klein district, Klein administration buildings, and at Trinity Lutheran Church, starting Monday, February 4, 2013. The price of tickets is $8.00 for adults and $4.00 for children in grades 5 and under. There is no charge for preschool children accompanied by their parent or guardian. Dinner will be served from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m.

An evening of German food, with German music and exhibition dances performed by students from Northampton Elementary School and Trinity Lutheran Church School, as well as professional performances by The Henry Tannenberger German band will be featured. The Klein Oak High School Men’s Choir will also perform.

All tickets will be handled by advance sales only. Tickets will not be available at the door and there are only a limited number available.

Boystown Social Skills February 4 – Listening 1. Look at the person who is talking and remain quiet. 2. Wait until the person is through talking before you speak. 3. Show the person that you heard them by nodding your head.

February 11 – Having a Conversation 1. Look at the person. 2. Use a pleasant voice. 3. Ask questions. 4. Let others talk.

February 18 – Accepting Compliments 1. Look at the person. 2. Use a pleasant voice. 3. Say "Thank you."

February 25 – Appropriate Voice Tone 1. Listen to the level of the voices around you. 2. Change your voice to match. 3. Watch and listen for visual or verbal cues, and adjust your voice as needed.