Dear Heritage Families,
Our students have been working hard this week as they continue to build stamina and adjust to the daily routines of the school day. Each day, they focus on living out our Badger expectations: being Respectful, Responsible, Safe, and Kind. We’ve had many Heritage Heroes recognized this week — and some of the best acts of kindness come when students do the right thing, even when no one is watching.
Looking ahead, we will have our first early dismissal day on Wednesday, September 10th. Students will be dismissed at 11:40 AM. On early dismissal days, students participate in Badger Time, a special opportunity to build community across classrooms and grade levels. It’s a wonderful way for students to connect and foster relationships beyond their own class.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher or contact 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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September
- 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- Glow Fun Run
October
- Friday, October 3rd- Spirit Day
- Wednesday, October 8th- Early Dismissal at 11:40
- Thursday, October 9th- Picture Retake Day
- Tuesday, October 14th- Parent-Teacher Conferences 4:00-8:00pm
- Wednesday, October 15th- Parent-Teacher Conferences 4:00-8:00pm
- Thursday & Friday, October 16th-17th- No School
- Monday, October 27th- PTO Meeting (6:00pm @ Bennington Library)
- Friday, October 31st- Trunk and Treat
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Congratulations to Alex in 5th grade, Elliana in 5th grade, Kendrick in 3rd grade, Mr. Scherer, Callan in 1st grade, and Madalyn in 1st grade for being this week's Heritage Heroes! They were all caught being RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, SAFE, and KIND. We are so proud of all of you. Keep up the good work! |
- 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.
- 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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If you plan to come visit during lunchtime, please let the office know by 9:00am if you are going to purchase a school lunch so we can prepare enough food. Lunches are $4.90 for adults, and no change can be given. You are more than welcome to bring food from home, but please NO fast food. Thank you! |
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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Calling all ROOM PARENTS! If you are interested in becoming a Heritage Room Parent or being a Supporting Room Parent (not serving in the classroom) we want you! Simply follow the steps below to sign up:
- Purchase your 25-26 PTO MEMBERSHIP
- Create or update your account on the PTO Directory in Membership ToolKit and check the box to either be a Room Parent or Support a Room Parent
- Verify with the Heritage office staff that you have completed your Volunteer Background Check forms (Level II) to serve as a Room Parent.
The deadline to sign up is TODAY Friday, September 5th. After that our Outreach Coordinator will email all Room Parents for a virtual meeting to discuss the upcoming events in the classrooms!
FunRun Fundraiser : Our 2025 FunRun kicks off next Friday, September 12!! Register your student on the Pledgestar Platform. For returning families, if you use the same email address as last year, all of your donor contacts will be automatically imported. Our goal this year is $30,000! Please check your student's Friday folder on September 12 for more information, or check out our Facebook Page. Lots of exciting incentives are coming for our students and staff and we appreciate all of our Heritage families participating in this important fundraiser to help support our Heritage community!
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 9/8 - 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 a few 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) 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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We Want Your Photos for the Yearbook! As the school year kicks off, we want to see all of those first day smiles, Fun Run festivities, and holiday happiness! Please share your photos with our Yearbook committee by uploading them to our Yearbook site HERE. We have folders for each class and please add some notes to help us identify the students and what the activity is. Group photos are encouraged! |
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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. |
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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Hello!
Fall gym registration is now open! If you are interested in using Bennington gym space you may register your team using this link!
Fall Activities Sign Up - Aug. 25 - Start Date September 2 - End Date October 24
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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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