1. Back to School Night
Mrs. Benak’s Class

2. About Me
I have been a part of the Castle family over the past 5 years.
Experience in grades: 1, 2, 3, 5, and Title 1
Family, Travel, Sports, and Work

3. Times to know!
School starts at 8:20, anytime after 8:20 students need to go to the office and get a late slip.
Wednesdays are early out days → 1:35
If something comes up and you will be late in picking up your student please call the office and let them know. 15 minutes after dismissal, someone will contact you about your student.
We participate in PE every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Library → Tuesdays at 12:05

4. Behavior/ Home Folder
Students bring folder to school everyday and color in their BEHAVIOR code.
At the end of each week, please sign to acknowledge your student’s behavior.
Look at the rules and colors to figure out my remarks.
Important papers will be sent home in this folder.
Tests will be returned in the folder and can be fixed and returned for a better grade if desired.

5. Home Folder (cont.)
Please use the Resource Page to get ideas and tips to help your students in a certain area (math fact games, high frequency words, fluency activities, etc.)
Anything that you complete from the Resource Page is just for extra practice, it is not required but it is encouraged!
Located in the Home Folder
If you desire more help and support with homework, please talk to me.

6. Our Homework Philosophy in 2nd Grade
As 2nd grade teachers we believe that students should only have about 20 minutes of homework every night. We want that 20 minutes to be them reading to or with you and filling in their reading log. Any other activities and practice you want to do with your student is completely up to you!
We want our students to come to school ready, excited, and eager to learn every day, and not worry about loads of homework that becomes boring and dreadful. The only thing we ask is for you to send your student to school prepared and ready to learn with a rested mind and body!

7. Homework We encourage students to read EVERY night.
Students are to write the TITLE of the book, read it, then write one sentence about the book (use sentence frames above).
Students should use their LIBRARY books EACH week to fill in the log.
If they need extra reading material, please ask and I can send books home.
Feel free to use the spelling words on the bottom to practice with your student before Spelling Tests on Friday (practice ideas on The Homework Resource Page)

8. Extracurriculars
Library is on Tuesdays, please help remind your students to return books each Tuesday. Extra checkout is available for AR and fluency.
Please take care of books from library, if any damages (water, markings, etc.) are found we will politely ask you to pay for the book.
We are one-to-one technology so each student has their own ACER laptop. We ask you to help us teach the student’s proper internet behavior.
Please feel free to check out my WEBSITE that has links and sites for the student’s to use at home!
Go to the Castle website, click on teachers
Find Jennifer Elliott-Benak click it
Click on Student Links and enjoy!
Links also on Resource Page

9. Websites (cont.)
Lexia Core 5: a great website for students to go on and work on specific reading skills.
They can log on at home and I will get their progress
Type in my
The username and password is their lunch number!
Spelling City
Students can work on their spelling words with fun games and activities.

10. Extra Notes Birthdays Water Snacks Cafeteria/Lunch
You are welcome to celebrate your student’s birthday in my classroom, just clear it with me previously. Birthdays are typically celebrated 15 minutes before our dismissal time. YOu are welcome to send a snack/treat for the class to enjoy with your child or drop it off in the office. Please avoid sending cupcakes and cookies that have colored icing as they stain the carpet and children's clothing.
Water
PLEASE only send water with your student.
Easy open and close water is preferred.
Snacks
You can send snacks, but students will only be allowed to eat them at lunch.
Students receive a healthy snack at recess on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday!
Cafeteria/Lunch
Parents are not allowed to eat lunch in the cafeteria with their student. You will have to sign your student out if you want to eat with them.

11. Communication Please download the app Remind
This is continual communication between you and I about your student.
I will send out mass reminders about Honor Hour, field trips, forms that need to be returned, library books, etc. and you can respond back if needed.
Download the app, follow the directions, and join my class→ 2nd Grade
Enter the # 81010

12. The Giving Tree Please feel free to look at the post-it’s on the tree.
If you want to contribute, grab a post it, and send the item on the post-it to class at some point in the next week!
Take as many post-its as you want!
Any donations are GREATLY appreciated!

13. Thank you for coming!! Benak’s Brainiaks Shirts Shirts are $10
We were them on Honor Hour Days, Spirit Days, and Field Trips
Pre-order your shirts! Sign up in the back!
Any questions or concerns please save for another scheduled time, next session begins at 7:00!
If you haven’t filled out any of the papers that have been sent home, please fill out tonight!
I’m looking forward to a great year!!