Weekly Message - Tustin Unified School District

BARBARA BENSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
http://www.tustin.k12.ca.us/benson
Norma Lemus, Principal
California Distinguished School
THE BENSON MESSAGE
September 24, 2012
No School … Wednesday, September 26 th
BENSON NEWS
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
Thank you to all our Benson families who attended Back to School Night! We had a great turnout… although
it may have seemed light to some of our families. Please keep in mind that our enrollment is down from last
year… we are down 2 general education classes and 1 SDC class.
COFFEE WITH THE PRINCIPAL
It was exciting to meet, informally, with some of our Benson parents last week. I thoroughly enjoyed our
visits!! I will be continuing Coffee with the Principal in the months to come… hope to see you!!
LUNCH APPLICATIONS
In order to qualify for the lunch program, you must submit a NEW APPLICATION EACH YEAR. If you haven’t
turned one in, please do so immediately. Last year’s applicants—you have the same status as 2012-2013
through October 11, 2012!
If you do not reapply, you will be removed from the lunch program.
New applicants—please be patient as your application is being processed by Nutrition Services. If you
need to call and check on your status, the number is 730-7301, x-342.
Note: you may also complete a Lunch Application on our Benson website. The turnaround is much faster than
a paper application.

(more) BENSON NEWS
LUNCH AND BREAKFAST PROGRAM
Benson Elementary School will be serving breakfast during the 2012-2013 school year. The cost is $1.50 and
will be served during the morning recess at 9:45 AM. Research shows that students can focus on learning if
provided a healthy breakfast. This “second chance breakfast” during the school day will give students who
need it, a burst of energy, if for some reason they did not have the time or resources to eat breakfast at home
before coming to school.
Students will continue using the point of sale lunch system for breakfast as well. Parents are encouraged to
send money in for the week or the month and students can deduct the necessary amount each day, straight
out of their account, for breakfast and lunch. It is so much safer than having them carry loose change in their
pockets during the school day. If students qualify for the free lunch program they automatically also qualify for
free breakfast as well. Simply remind your student to go through the line during recess. If you are sending in
money, by cash or check, put it in an envelope with your student’s name and their teacher’s name, return to
the office and they will be all set to go!
UNIFORM WAIVER FORMS
We strongly encourage every student to wear the Benson uniform with pride to help unify our student body. In
an attempt to encourage more families to send their student in uniform, we allow denim as an option and allow
Free Dress every Friday. We also sell BEAR WEAR with our school logo that can be worn as part of our
uniform program. Benson PTO shirts may also be worn as part of the uniform.
It is our hope that students coming to school each day can all focus on their learning and not worry about what
is most fashionable at the time.
If you’ve given it some thought after reading the “Benefits of Uniforms” handout that is available on our
website and you still do not want your student wearing the school uniform on Monday through Thursday, you
must pick up a uniform waiver form from Mrs. Lemus in the front office. Also keep in mind… students not
wearing the uniform must still follow the TUSD dress code outlined in the first day packet (Benson School
Procedures).
ABSENCES
Just a friendly reminder to call or e-mail the office each day your child is absent. If you phone or e-mail in the
absence(s), you do not have to send a note when your child returns to school.
VOLUNTEER HOURS LOG
Each Benson family is encouraged to volunteer at our school in a variety of ways throughout the school year.
Volunteer logs went home with each child. They are bright yellow forms. Please use these to document the
number of hours that you volunteer both in and out of the classroom. Keeping track along the way is an easy
way to do it. We collect these forms at the end of each month or trimester to help us keep track of all the
fabulous support our parent community offers during the school year. We then highlight this information in our
School Site plan and other communication with the community. These forms are also available on the website
with drop downs for your convenience. Thank you!
LEAP PROGRAM
The criteria for LEAP has not changed. The LEAP program is for students in grades 2-5, students must
be At-Risk in Reading, and must be recommended by their teacher. The LEAP program has been cut
from 60 students to 50 students this year. LEAP invitations have been sent home to qualifying students.

PTO NEWS
ONLINE SCHOOL FUNDRAISING
Raising money for our school has never been easier! And now, you can even participate without spending ANY
ADDITIONAL MONEY and by making use of WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY SPENT. Please visit Benson's new
website and click on the channel bar called "Fundraising." In it, you will see how to link your store loyalty
cards, turn in ink cartridges and Capri Sun juice drinks, and even how to "like" things on Facebook in order to
get credit for our school. Every little bit counts, so please stop by the Fundraising section of our site to see how
you can help
.
SAVE THE DATE!
Please join us for our first Family Fund Night of the year on Wednesday, October 3 rd , at Pizza Shack. Come
between 11am-9pm and Benson will receive 50% of all sales on regularly priced pizzas. So bring your family,
friends and neighbors and enjoy some of the best pizza in town while raising money for your school. Look for
and print our flyer on our new Benson website at www.tustin.k12.ca.us/benson. See you there!
ART MASTERS . . . MEET JOAN MIRO
Art Master Students were recently introduced to abstraction and Surrealism through the art of Joan Miro, the
famous 20 th century Spanish painter. After viewing slides of his colorful and imaginative art, students were
challenged to create imaginary shapes of their own, and then to use them in creating an imaginary space.
These student works are truly creative!
PTO MEMBERSHIP
Thank you again to all our Benson families that are supporting PTO!!! We sincerely appreciate your support!!
Once again, I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that when you become a member of
PTO… you may participate at ANY LEVEL! We understand that many of our families have busy schedules.
Just by supporting PTO as a member and supporting Benson with your $25 membership fee is AWESOME!!
Our goal is to get 100% membership… and remember… you get a PTO t-shirt with your membership!! Mrs.
Lemus
YEARBOOK SALE!
Welcome back! Let's get the year, and this year's yearbook started! You may purchase your yearbook between
now and September 21st for the lowest price… of only $22.00. Yearbook purchases can be made throughout
the year, however the price will be going up. Order forms will be sent home, but you may also print your own
form online by following these steps: Across the top, "PTO," from the pull down menu "Yearbook," then on the
left hand side "Yearbook Information." Thanks in advance for the support!
PTO SURVEY
We had a great turn out for our first PTO Meeting of the year. To keep this up, we would like to survey our
parents about the best time to have our monthly PTO meetings. Please take 2 minutes to complete our survey
regarding PTO Meeting once a month. Please click: SURVEY MONKEY. Or, cut and paste the following into
your address bar: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/M8CV3X7
PTO MEETING REMINDER - Special Guest: Dr. Greg Franklin, TUSD Superintendent
On Tuesday, October 16th, we will have a special guest on our PTO meeting agenda. Dr. Greg Franklin,
TUSD Superintendent, will be here at Benson to give us information about Measure “S”.
The PTO meeting will begin at 8:20 am, following student drop-off. Join us before the meeting at 8:00 am for
Munch & Mingle ...for refreshments and friendship. Please consider making this important meeting a part of
your monthly routine.

SAFETY
Pedestrian Gate Hours
Daily – Except Early Release Days
Early Release Days
6:00 am -8:00 am OPEN 6:00 am -8:00 am OPEN
8:00 am – 3:00 pm Closed During
8:00 am – 1:30 pm Closed During
School Hours
School Hours
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm OPEN 1:30 pm – 6:00 pm OPEN
Thank you to all our Benson parents for your understanding and support in our efforts to keep ALL our Benson
students safe and for sharing our basic belief of putting student safety “first”. You are WONDERFUL!!
SPEED LIMITS! ON ELIZABETH WAY AND PARKING LOT
REPEAT BLURB
Please keep in mind the speed limit on Elizabeth Way is 25 MPH and in the Benson parking lot is
5 MPH. The Highway Patrol does enforce the speed limit on Elizabeth Way with random speed checks.
Please help us keep everyone safe by observing the speed limit. Thank you!
“ENTER” DRIVEWAY
We will continue to improve the safety procedures at the driveway entrance. Thank you, in advance, for
supporting our efforts to keep all our students safe and for respecting the adults on Drop Off Duty and Pick Up
Duty.
• ONLY a RIGHT turn into the driveway is available.
• NO LEFT TURN into the driveway. LEFT turn into the driveway will NOT BE AVAILABLE.
Orange cones will be set up on the left side of the
driveway to remind everyone …
Again, thank you for helping us keep
our children safe!
STUDENT COUNCIL
First of all, I would like to commend all of our candidates who ran for Student Council this Fall!! Everyone did a
great job of campaigning and with their speeches. You should all be very proud of your students!!
Congratulations to the Fall Student Council for 2012: Haily Adams, President; Charene Bailey, Vice-President;
Travis Davies, Treasurer; Joey Mena, Secretary; Anthony Salazar, Postmaster; Kristina Rivas, Odette Moran,
Ethan Williams, Spirit Chair; Connor Bailey, Shannon Kelly, Haley Ockey, Member at Large.

OTTER POPS FRIDAYS
Every Friday, we will be selling Otter Pops for $1.00.
5 th GRADE NEWS
All proceeds will go towards the 5th grade class party & promotion.
Bring your spare change & look for the Otter Pops sales every Friday out front after school! Thank you for
supporting our 5 th graders!
$1
OUTDOOR SCIENCE SCHOOL
Thank you to all our 5 th grade parents that attended the 5 th grade Outdoor Education Science meeting last
Wednesday!!
For those of you that were not able to attend the meeting, a letter was sent home with your Outdoor Science
School balance. GREAT NEWS this year…. The cost has gone down to $180!!!! This is about 1/2 of what
the cost has been in the past.
Benson is now going to High Trails Outdoor Science School. Here is the link to learn about High Trails
Outdoor Science School (OSS)…. http://www.dirtyclassroom.com/schools.html#Support. Other Tustin schools
that use High Trails are Orchard Hills, Tustin Ranch, Guin Foss, and Nelson.... they all love High Trails!
Benson 5 th graders will be going to High Trails Outdoor Science School … January 8, 9, 10, and 11… at Camp
Nawakwa … 4650 Jenks Lake Road East, Angelus Oaks, CA 92305.
For more information you may also go to the High Trails website. www.dirtyclassroom.com.
RECYCLING NEWS
RECYCLING DAY NEWS
Our first Can Drive will be held on Wednesday, October 3rd. Please drop off your cans and 1 & 2 liter
plastic bottles at the EXIT end of the school parking lot between 8:00am-8:30 am. As a reminder, no milk
cartons are accepted, and we appreciate receiving your cans and plastics in separate bags!
Remember our “Read and Recycle Program” is a daily event. Please drop off your newspapers at any
time into the bins located at the EXIT end of the school parking lot.
We collect General Mills “Box Tops” for Education in the office daily. Each student that brings 25 Box
Tops to Mrs. Mayer in the office will receive a treat. It’s CASH FOR TRASH!
Our recycling efforts include ink jet cartridges, laser cartridges and cell phones. They are collected
daily in the office.