Latest news
December 23 - January 3
Winter Holidays
January 18
MLK Birthday, schools closed.
January 22
End of second marking period.
January 25-26
Professional Days, schools closed.
February 1
Report cards distributed.
February 15
Presidents' Day, schools closed
March 1
Professional Day, schools closed
March 30
End of third marking period.
March 31 - April 5
Spring Holiday, schools closed.
April 13
Report cards distributed.
Links:
National PTA
Maryland PTA
Join PTA
Thanks for visiting BMS PTA.
Ongoing volunteer opportunities are available through BMS PTA.
Your help is required to continue the success of BMS PTA in our efforts to support the teachers and students of our school.
You can find the latest news in the BMS newsletter. Click the BMS button at the top of this page to visit your school web site.
Communication is the key to success at Bennett Middle School.
Please make sure that you have a current phone number on file with the school,
so that you can receive the latest updates from the school and PTA through the phone messaging system.
BMS PTA Collects
Your everyday shopping can support the efforts of BMS PTA. We collect Box Tops and Campbell's labels. At the end of the school year, our PTA will be rewarding the students who collect the most Box Tops and Labels. Students should submit their collection to the school office in a bag marked with their name .
Rewards can add up fast if we all do our part. Last year we collected over $350 worth of Box Tops for Education. With the points earned from the Campbell's label program, we can receive fitness and sports gear or educational equipment. Please show your support for our school by starting your collection today.
Health and Wellness
It is important for children to come to school emotionally and physically healthy. Studies have shown that children’s physical well-being has a significant effect on their learning and long-term success. When children are well-rested, well-nourished, and physically fit they are more ready to learn.
Children need to be physically active not only at school but also at home. Demonstrate the importance of physical activity by making exercise both a personal and a family habit. Take a family walk around the block each night after dinner. Schedule a weekly game of touch football in the park. Encourage your children to take advantage of local sports facilities. Or simply park as far away from store entrances as possible. Regular exercise will make the whole family healthier. Plus, exercising as a family is a great way to spend time together.
Media and Technology
Media messages from television, movies, music, and the Internet are a daily part of our children's lives. While electronic media can open up new worlds of rich learning experiences to children, they can also convey messages about violence, sex, commercialism, stereotyping, and other themes that worry parents.
When children are exposed to images and messages they do not understand and are unable to interpret, parents will want to intervene. For example, when children see smoking, drinking, and drug use in the media, parents will want talk about it with their children and guide them in taking a critical look at how cigarettes, alcohol, and other drugs are portrayed.
Here are a few other suggestions on how parents can protect their children from harmful topics conveyed through electronic media:
- Learn about the kinds of media and technology your children are using.
- Talk with your children about their media choices.
- Check their understanding of the messages and images they encounter.
- Make media choices together—decide what your family will and won't view.
- Encourage sensible and thoughtful use of screen time for your family.
- Consider ages and needs of your children, and set clear rules and expectations for all family members.
10 Ways for Parents to Help Teachers
1. Create a smooth takeoff each day. Give your child a hug before she ventures out the door and you head to work. Look her in the eye, and tell her how proud you are of her. Your child's self-confidence and security will help her do well both in school and in life.
2. Prepare for a happy landing at the end of the day when you reconvene. Create a predictable ritual such as 10–20 minutes listening to your child talk about his day—before you check phone messages, read the mail, or begin dinner. That way you are fully present to listen, and your child has a touchstone he can count on between school and home.
3. Fill your child's lunchbox with healthy snacks and lunches. Have dinner at a reasonable hour and a healthy breakfast. A well-balanced diet maximizes your child's learning potential.
4. Include calm, peaceful times in your children's afternoons and evenings. Maintain a schedule that allows them to go to school rested, and if they are sick, have a system in place so they are able to stay home.
5. Remember it's your children's homework, not yours. Create a specific homework space that's clutter-free and quiet. Encourage editing and double-checking work, but allow your kids to make mistakes, as it's the only way teachers can gauge if they understand the material. It's also how children learn responsibility for the quality of their work.
6. Fill your child's life with a love for learning by showing him your own curiosity, respecting his questions, and encouraging his efforts.
7. Fill your home with books to read, books simply to look at, and books that provide answers to life's many questions. The public or school library is an excellent resource.
8. Be a partner with your child's teacher. When you need to speak to him or her in reference to a specific issue with your child, do it privately, not in front of your child. Make a point never to criticize your child's teacher in front of your child.
9. Set up a system where routine items are easily located—such as backpacks, shoes, signed notices. Create a central calendar for upcoming events to avoid the unexpected.
10. Tuck a "love note" in your child's lunch bag to let her know how special she is. Knowing they are loved makes it easier for children to be kind to others.
From www.pta.org
