2000 58th Avenue S, Fargo, ND 58104
Telephone: 701.446.4000 Fax: 701.446.4099
January 3
Happy New Year!!
I hope everyone had a wonderful vacation!
It’s cold and snowy so please have your child bundle up! Generally, schools in the
area go outside unless the temperature with wind chill is colder than -15 below. As
you know, temperatures can change from one lunch period to another so we will
keep an eye on the weather and make decisions based on the conditions at the time.
While there may be times we stay inside even if it’s not -15, please make sure your
child is dressed for the weather!
On a safety note, thanks to everyone who is using caution in our drop off/pick up
loop! Please use the south loop and drop students at the curb so no one needs to dart
into traffic. I appreciate everyone slowing down and helping us keep students safe!
Sincerely,
Ms. Schafer
School resumes
January 9-13
Spirit Week! A list of the
scheduled days is included in this
newsletter.
January 10
PTA Meeting in the Bennett
Library at 6:30 pm. All are
welcome!!!
January 16
No school in honor of Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr.
Fargo Public Schools 2017-18 Kindergarten
Registration
Fargo Public Schools Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2017
opens online at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/registration on
February 1, 2017. Child must be age 5 by July 31, 2017 to
attend school in the fall.
S.O.A.R.
How far will Talon Flame fly once
holiday reading minutes are
tallied?! Stay tuned for Bennett
students’ amazing results next
month!
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Once online registration has been completed, families MUST bring the following
documents to the school their child will attend to finalize their child’s registration:
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Child’s certified birth certificate
Child’s current immunization record
Document (i.e. current city utility bill or bank statement) that includes parent/guardian
name and address to verify the correct neighborhood school
Registration can be completed at home online or at computer kiosks in the office at all
Fargo Public school buildings on the following dates:

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February 27, March 1, 3 – 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
February 28, March 2, 6 – 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
If you do not know which school your child will attend, call 701.446.1043 or check online at
www.fargo.k12.nd.us/boundarymaps.
Fargo Public Schools Accepting Nominations for Teacher,
Administrator, and Support Staff of the Year Awards
Parents and community members are invited to nominate a Fargo Public
Schools teacher, administrator, or support staff member they feel is
serving our students with excellence for consideration of a yearly recognition award.
Online instructions, forms, and application process can be found at:
www.fargo.k12.nd.us/staffrecognitionprogram.
Nominations for each award may be sent January 9 – 27, 2017.
The District will award the following this Spring:
Teacher of the Year Award − awarded to a certified staff member
Administrator of the Year Award − awarded to a principal, assistant principal, director
or coordinator
Support Staff of the Year Award − awarded to an educational support staff member,
custodial/maintenance department staff member, or nutrition services staff
member
Page 2 of 6
Our Chimes students ROCK!!
Bennett Hand Chimes students rang their “bells” for the
Salvation Army at Hornbacher’s grocery store on 32nd Avenue
Monday, December 19. Their songs could be heard
throughout the store! Thanks to Mr. Dahl for finding a creative
way for students to perform and do some community and
service! (Thanks, too, to the PTA for purchasing an additional
chimes set!)
MAP Testing
Listed below are the dates/times students in grades 2-5 will have their Winter math and reading MAP (Measure of
Academic Progress) testing January 6-20. MAP tests are also taken in the fall and spring and help staff determine if
students are making the expected gains. Test results also help us see if there are certain parts of the school curricula
that need extra attention.
Reading
Time
Monday
1/2
Tuesday
1/3
Wednesday 1/4
Thursday 1/5
Friday 1/6
8:20 – 9:45
Hanson(math)
9:45 – 11:15
1:00- 2:30
Drege
Math
Time
Monday
1/9
Tuesday
1/10
Wednesday 1/11
8:20 - 9:45
Greff
Fosberg
Ringdahl
11:15 – 12:25
Dent
Jordan
Belgarde
1:00 - 2:30
Welle
Mari
Lura
Thursday 1/12
Friday 1/13
Drege
9:45 - 11:15
Varriano
Gast
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Reading
Monday
1/16
Tuesday
1/17
Wednesday 1/18
Thursday 1/19
Friday 1/20
8:20 - 9:45
Greff
Ringdahl
Fosberg
Hanson
10:00 - 11:15
Gast
11:15 – 12:25
Dent
Jordan
1:00 - 2:15
Welle
Mari
Time
No
School
Varriano
Belgarde
Lura
Ringdahl
Spirit Week-January 9-13
Winter Spirit Week
January 9-13, 2017, we are celebrating ourselves and promoting positive actions towards one another. Each day will
have a theme that we also get to “dress up” for at Bennett. Please do your part to have fun and also try to display
these positive behaviors!
 Monday, Jan. 9th- “Hat’s Off to You!”- Tell 2-3 people something you appreciate about them
today.
 Tuesday, Jan. 10th- “Bennett Rocks!” (Crazy/Punk Hair) - Write on a snowflake (to be displayed in
the hallway) telling about something that someone from Bennett has done for you to make
your life better.
 Wednesday, January 11th- “Sock it to them…with great Manners!” (Crazy/Fun socks) – Make sure to
use your best, respectful manners towards others today.
 Thursday, Jan. 12th- “Kindness...Pass it On!”-(Wear blue kindness shirt or a blue shirt) -Do something
kind or helpful for 1 or 2 others today.
 Friday, Jan. 13th- “Bennett Spirit Day”-(Wear your Bennett or favorite college gear! )-Do something to
show respect to our Bennett adults and/or classmates today.
(Thanks to Mrs. Balluff, Bennett School Counselor, for arranging Spirit Week!!)
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Lice
Head Lice…never a topic we like to discuss, but something about which we need to be informed, especially during
times when students are wearing winter hats!
The Fargo Public Schools policy regarding head lice (Administrative Policy 4780): Exclude from school until
treated and determined to be non-communicable (no nits). Children should be treated for lice as soon as possible.
Close contacts should be checked frequently for two weeks. Head to head contact with other children should be
discouraged.
Due to the low risk of transmitting head lice at school and to maintain confidentiality, notification letters will NOT be
sent to parents of classmates and classrooms will NOT be checked. Head lice is considered a nuisance, but not life
threatening.
Current guidelines from the ND Department of Health: Recommend children not be excluded immediately from
school when head lice is found. Our school nurses are contracted through Fargo Cass Public Health, who follow the
guidelines from the ND Department of Health.
Fargo Public Schools has chosen to continue to enforce a “no nit” policy, which is more stringent than the guidelines
followed by Fargo Cass Public Health.
What do I need to know? Head Lice (Pediculosis Capitis) is transmitted through prolonged close head to head
contact. Transmission is more likely to occur between family members, overnight guests, and playmates that spend a
lot of time together.
What are head lice? Head lice are small insects (less than 1/8 inch long). They range in color from read to brown,
black, yellow-tan, or gray-white. Head lice live on blood they draw from the scalp and lay tiny, gray/white eggs
(known as nits) on a hair shaft near the scalp. The warmth from the scalp is needed for the eggs to hatch. Head lice
are not know to spread disease.
Who is at risk for head lice? Head lice infestations occur in all socio-economic groups and are not an indication of
poor hygiene. They can affect anyone.
What are the symptoms of head ice? Many people who have head lice do not have symptoms at all. The most
common signs include itching of the skin on the scalp or neck where lice feed. Nits are glued to hair, commonly
behind ears and at, or near, the nape of the neck. Scratching, especially behind and around ears and at the nape of the
neck, may lead to open sores and a bacterial infection that may cause swollen lymph nodes.
How soon do symptoms occur? Symptoms appear when a live louse is present.
How are lead lice spread? Head lice are spread most commonly by direct head to head contact. Additionally, people
can spread head lice by sharing combs, brushes, hats, blankets, or sheets with others. It can be spread only by live lice
and not nits.
When and for how long is a person able to spread head lice? Nits (head lice eggs) can live for up to 10 days
without a host, adult head lice can live for two to four days without a human host.
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How is a person diagnosed? Diagnosing head lice is done by identifying the presence of live lice or nits within ¼
inch of the scalp. Identification of eggs and lice with the naked eye is possible; however, the use of a hand lens or
microscope may help to confirm the identification.
What is the treatment? Over-the-counter treatments and prescriptions that kill lice and most viable nits are available.
Follow the directions on the label. Re-treat nine days after initial treatment if not otherwise specified on the product
label. Contact your health-care provider or local public health unit for more information.
What can be done to prevent the spread of head lice?
Follow these steps to prevent the spread of head lice:
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Avoid sharing headgear, coats, hats, hair ornaments, helmets, headphones, combs, brushes, towels, and
bedding.
Coombs and brushes should be washed in hot water (130 degrees) for 10 minutes.
Items that cannot be washed should be bagged and stored for two weeks.
Provide separate storage areas for clothing so that personal articles of one person do not touch the personal
articles of another.
When an infestation is found, check the hair and scalp of all household members and treat only those who
have lice and those who share the same bed with the infested person.
Parents are encouraged to check their child periodically for head lice. If you are concerned your child may be infected
or you need help in identifying head lice, please contact a health care professional, school nurse, or public health
department.
Please contact your school nurse with any questions.
For additional information about head lice, head lice removal, school exclusions, etc., contact the ND Department of
Health, Division of Family Health at 800-472-286 or www.ndhealth.gov/head-lice/
Resources:
American academy of Pediatrics, [Pediculosis Capitis]. In: Pickering LK, ed. Red Book: 2009 Report of the
Committee on Infectious Diseases. 28th ed. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2009: [495-497]
North Dakota Department of Health, (2012). Head Lice: A Lousy Problem. Division of Family Health. pp 1-30.
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