Dear Heritage Families,
We’ve had a fantastic first full week back with our students! It’s been a busy and exciting time as students have completed all five cycle days, allowing them to attend each of their specials—Art, Music, P.E., and Media.
This week, our 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders completed their Reading MAP assessments. Next week, 2nd and 4th graders will take theirs. In addition, all students in grades 2–5 will take their Math MAP assessments. Please help your child be at their best by ensuring they get a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast—this helps them show what they know and be ready to learn.
Next week, we will also conduct our first fire drill of the school year along with a second safety drill. These monthly practice drills are essential to ensure everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher or reach out to the front office. We are here to support you and your child every step of the way.
ONE TEAM, ONE COMMITMENT.
Take care,
Ms. Woodrich
Heritage Principal
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August
- Monday, August 25th- PTO Meeting (6:00pm @ Bennington Library)
- Thursday, August 28th- Picture Day
September
- Monday, September 1st- No School Labor Day
- Friday, September 5th- Spirit Day
- Wednesday, September 10th- Early Dismissal at 11:40am
- Monday, September 22nd- PTO Meeting (6:00pm @ Bennington Library)
- Wednesday, September 24th- Early Dismissal at 11:40am
- Friday, September 26th- Fun Run
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Congratulations to Jesse in 1st grade and King in 4th for being this week's Heritage Heroes! Jesse was caught being Kind by giving up his swing to a friend on the playground and King was caught being Kind by being inclusive and including everyone at recess. We are so proud of both of you. Keep up the good work! |
Beginning next week each grade level will be assigned a day to have morning assembly with our specialists teachers. Morning assemblies will take place in the gym.
The schedule will be as follows:
Monday: 5th Grade
Tuesday: 1st Grade
Wednesday: 2nd Grade
Thursday: 3rd & 4th Grade
Friday: Kindergarten
If you see your child's grade level moving towards the building on their assembly day, do not be alarmed as this is a planned morning activity. If you have any questions please reach out.
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- The elementary school day begins at 8:05 A.M.
- Students will be let in the building at 7:45 for breakfast and/or clubs.
- Walking Club and Reading Club begin at 7:45.
- Supervision for students begins at 7:50 outside of the building. Please do not drop off prior to this time unless they are attending breakfast or a club at 7:45.
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ALL students will be let in the building at 8:00.
- Beginning the first full week of school, K-1 will enter through the east side of the building. Grades 2-5 will enter through the main doors.
- The elementary school days ends at 3:07.
- Below is a map to help guide everyone for drop off and pick up.
Please refer to this map to know where to drop off and pick up students every school day. The parking spots are for any parents who would like to park in the front and walk up to get their child. If you are pulling up to get your child(ren) please stay in your vehicle and we will send all students to their appropriate cars. This makes our drop off and pick up more efficient for all.
If you have children that are in multiple grades we ask that they dismiss where the youngest sibling dismisses. For example, if you have a 4th, 2nd, and Kindergarten student. The 4th and 2nd grader will walk to the Kindergarten loop to dismiss with the younger sibling. Please also make sure to communicate this with the classroom teacher prior to the first day of school.
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- If your child is going to be absent from school, arriving late, or leaving early, please contact the Heritage office at 402-238-2095 OR email both your child's classroom teacher and the secretary, Ms. Carissa, at carissajohnson@bennps.org.
- If there is going to be a change in your child's normal transportation going home, please call the office or email the secretary (carissajohnson@bennps.org) PRIOR to 2:00pm.
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We will not be having lunch visitors until AFTER Labor Day to allow students to get used to the routines and procedures of the cafeteria. Thank you so much for your help with this! |
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Students are invited to eat breakfast and lunch at school daily, and may enjoy our cafeteria options or bring a lunch of their own.
Elementary meal prices are $2.05 for breakfast, $2.95 for lunch, and $0.60 if they wish to purchase a milk to have with their lunch from home (milk is included with the cafeteria meal).
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Heritage will have many opportunities to volunteer and assist our wonderful staff and students! In order for family members to volunteer they must complete the volunteer application process. There are multiple levels for which families can volunteer. There are different expectations and procedures for each level. The levels are:
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Level I: NO contact with children, working in areas such as the office, but not directly with any children.
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Level II: This level works with children but in a supervised manner. This would include opportunities such as being a room parent, lunchroom parent volunteer, classroom presentations from parents, or with the book fair. Parents will complete the application process but will NOT have a background check. This is for volunteers who will NOT be left unsupervised with children.
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Level III: This is for field trip volunteers. Any volunteer that may be alone with children will first complete the application process and then have a background check by the district. Level III applications need to be submitted to the school office a minimum of two weeks prior to the field trip to ensure ample time for a background check to be completed.
As you start looking ahead, it may be of benefit for you to complete this process if you have a desire to be a room parent or accompany the class on a field trip.
We would love to have as many volunteers covered and ready to go to properly be prepared for anything or any activity our classrooms may be doing in the future. Now is the time to get prepared for the wonderful activities we have planned throughout the school year.
All applications must be submitted to the Heritage Elementary office and must have an official signature of the person applying to be a volunteer and the level they are volunteering for. Attached is the Volunteer Application.
If you have filled out a volunteer form and/or completed the background check last year, you do NOT need to provide a new one. The form is good until your student moves to middle school or out of district.
Please let our office know if you have any questions or you can email me at kwoodrich@bennps.org. |
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Purchase your PTO Memberships for 25/26 and enter to WIN: Purchase your 25-26 PTO MEMBERSHIP on the PTO website today or through the MySchoolBucks App, complete the checklist items on our Membership Drive checklist from our PTO Flyer and return to PTO for a chance to win a $25 AMAZON gift card! Membership Drive lasts through the month of August.
And don’t forget to join us at our first meeting of the year! Click on the image below for more information about our meeting location and our virtual meeting option.
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2025 FUN RUN Fundraiser: Be on the lookout for information on the FUN RUN Fundraising program on our Facebook page starting in September. This will detail the prizes, incentives and experiences that students will be eligible for this September!! This year’s theme is “Out of This World” and more information is available HERE.
Adopt the Lounge: Let’s STOCK THE LOUNGE for our Heritage Staff! The PTO is switching things up this year - instead of asking each grade to take a month to collect donations, we are asking each classroom to take a specific week throughout the year to donate. And in September, we are starting with our 5th Grade classes! Please see the schedule below for the week your class is asked to bring a donation for the lounge:
- Week of 9/2 - 9/5 - Mrs. Nightingale’s Class
- Week of 9/8 - 9/12 - Ms. Jensby’s Class
- Week of 9/15 - 9/19 - Mrs. Ellison’s Class
- Week of 9/22 - 9/26 - Mrs. Salcedo’s Class
There are several ways to donate!
1) The PTO created an Amazon Wishlist for easy purchase options which will be sent directly to the PTO. Just click and pay! 2) If you prefer to donate funds you can scan the Heritage PayPal QR code below to donate funds directly. Just notate “Adopt the Lounge – TEACHER NAME” in the text field.
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3) A SignUp Genius has been created if you prefer to shop while out and about. Click on the link HERE to sign up to purchase specific items for the lounge and then contact heritageptooutreach@gmail.com to coordinate a donation drop off!
Thank you for helping to support our amazing Heritage staff!
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Crumbl Birthday Volunteers Needed: We are in need of volunteers to help spoil our Heritage staff during their birthday months! Please consider signing up to write a special message to our staff and help distribute those messages along with Crumbl cookies once a month. Sign up on our Signup Genius by clicking HERE. |
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Spirit is POPPIN at Heritage: We are looking for volunteers to help with our Friday Spirit Day popcorn. Don’t know how to work a popcorn machine? That’s ok - we have very easy instructions and can offer assistance if needed. If interested in signing up for a Spirit Day popcorn shift, please click HERE to access the Signup Genius. |
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Baker’s/Kroger Partnership : We have been approved as a Community Rewards partner with Baker’s/Kroger Supermarkets! This is an exciting opportunity to exercise passive fundraising to funnel donations to Heritage. All you have to do is designate “Heritage Elementary PTO” (Org#: NU711) in the rewards section of your Shopper’s account - a portion of every transaction will be donated to Heritage on a quarterly basis!
Casey’s Cash for Classrooms : Did you know that you can turn those easy pizza dinner nights into DONATIONS for Heritage Elementary?!? Heritage is now partnering with Casey’s Cash for Classrooms!! Another fantastic example of passive fundraising!! Create a Casey’s account (or log in if you already have one) on the Casey’s app. Navigate to “Preferences” and then “School Donations”. Add “Heritage Elementary School” (verify the address is in Bennington) and convert your pizza, gas, and donut dollars into donations for Heritage.
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All information regarding upcoming Bennington community events, sports camps, and activities are posted on our district website, and shared through the weekly district newsletter, the Badger Update.
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Notice of Non-Discrimination
The Bennington Public School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, disability, race, color, religion, veteran status, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, or other protected status in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Students: Mr. Dan Bombeck, Director of Student Services, 11620 North 156th Street, P.O. Box 309, Bennington, NE 68007 (402) 238-3044 ( dbombeck@bennps.org). Employees and Others: Dr. Matt Blomenkamp, Assistant Superintendent 11620 North 156th Street, P.O. Box 309, Bennington, NE 68007 (402) 238-3044 ( mblomenkamp@bennps.org). Complaints or concerns involving discrimination or needs for accommodation or access should be addressed to the appropriate Coordinator. For further information about anti-discrimination laws and regulations, or to file a complaint of discrimination with the Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education (OCR), please contact the OCR at 601 East 12th Street, Room 353, Kansas City, MO 64106, (800) 368-1019 (voice), Fax (816) 426-3686, (800) 537-7697 (telecommunications device for the deaf), or ocr.kansascity@ed.gov.
Title IX
The Bennington Public School District is committed to offering employment and educational opportunity to its employees and students in a climate free of discrimination. Accordingly, unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation of any kind by District employees, including, co-workers, non-employees (such as volunteers), third parties and others is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated.
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