November 2009

Play ball! The pennant races have been won. The final scenes of America’s favorite past-time is about to be played – Phillies vs. Yankees. The Jazz season is under way with “pre-season games.” The Salt Lake Bees players have moved to warmer climates and will continue to practice their skill. The Grizzlies hockey team has started their seasonal sport. The Salt Lake Real is in this year’s final competition. I still marvel that I can sit in the comfort of my home and view sports games hundreds if not thousands of miles away. May we not lose track of the daily modern miracles in which we participate. Imagine what will be available to our children as they mature.

November is a month of transition. From warm to cold. From short pants and short sleeves to long pants and long sleeves and on occasion, a coat and sweater. This month is also the time where we transition from the first semester to the second each with fifty-nine days. From watering our lawns to shoveling our sidewalks. From eating salads and fresh fruit to enjoying a warm bowl of soup, chili, or stew.

Changes are a normal part of life. Babies who could not walk last year are being corralled by parents so they won’t wander out of sight. Students who found school “easy” last year may be struggling this year as the teaching/learning process increases in difficulty.

As daylight shortens and the temperature cools, winter must be lurking around the corner. As the mornings become colder, some students may come to school without warm clothing. I know that parents would not permit their child to walk to school without some kind of coat or sweater, but somehow some students will be able to do so. As new coats and sweaters are purchased to keep the warmth in and the cold out, please write your child’s name somewhere on the clothing. The label on the neck is always a good location. Too many lost items are placed in the “lost and found” on a daily basis. Our “lost and found” shelves are located in the hall east of the multi-purpose room.

Students have been cooperative about entering the school via “their recess doors.” Even during the wintertime this procedure should continue. The only time this would change would be if it is raining or snowing just before school starts. Students may then use the front doors at 7:50 am to come into the multi-purpose room and sit quietly until the bell rings. A large green poster will be placed on the front doors when it is an “INSIDE DAY.”

If your child needs to stay inside during recess or noon, please send a note making this request. During recesses, student may be asked to move out into the hall in order to provide supervision. During lunch, students may again be asked to sit quietly in the hall outside their homeroom class or in the hall by the office – those who have notes, that is. Please encourage your child to take books or work to either situation. A written note needs to be dated for the number of days you wish your child to stay in during recess. Parent notes are only good for the week in which they are written.

If you are thinking that our elementary school has many rules and regulations, you are correct. In addition to the daily classroom instruction of your child there are many peripheral concerns that need to be addressed on a regular basis. Our campus will only operate smoothly for our seven hundred students if we continue to have the support of our caring and informed parents. Most of the time, clarification of why things are done a certain way or clarification of a misunderstanding continues to strengthen this support.

This month has another busy calendar – sound familiar? SEP/Parent Teacher Conferences are on the 23rd and 24th, different “short days,” different “no school” days, and Thanksgiving Recess.

Campus security is always an important entity in the concept of public education. Knowing that children are safe “coming to” and “going from” school as well as safe at school are frequently reviewed procedures. In the last two months we have had two successful exit drills. We can exit our building in two minutes and have every student and adult accounted for in less than five minutes.

Thank you for your participation in our yearly PTA membership drive. Should you still wish to join, envelopes are available in the front office.

Our fundraiser, with your participation, was very successful. Despite the fluctuation in our economy, your continued support of this important lifeline of this campus. These funds will be re-directed back to your students and to Bennion by way of extending and enriching the curriculum.

Our school’s web page is currently under construction but should be up and running in a couple of weeks.

As we enter the season of thanksgiving and appreciation, may we acknowledge what we have, why we have it, and how we got it. And then the challenge – what we need to do to preserve it. In Cervantes’ “Don Quixote” the Don tells his attentive squire Sancho Ponza “…every man is a sum of his own works.” Powerful insight. Easily said. Lifelong challenge.

Granite School District and its schools are not responsible for information obtained through links to non-school, non-district sites. Please contact school or district web site staff if you are concerned about a link to a non-school, non-district site.

Site last updated November 9, 2009 | Webmaster