BECOME A BENTLEY BULLDOG!
Get smart and have fun doing it! Small class sizes - Amazing staff
PreK - 12th Grade:
Bentley Little Bulldogs: Free Preschool for 4-Year-Olds
Barhitte Elementary School: Kindergarten to 5th grades
Bentley Middle School: 6th-8th grades
Bentley High School: 9th-12th gradesAcademics:
Advanced Placement, American Sign Language, Dual Enrollment, Early Middle College, Genesee Career Institute, Yearbook, and more!Co- and Extra-Curricular Opportunities:
Cooking, Marching Band, National Honor Society, Robotics, Skeet, Student Council, Tabletop Games, Theater, and more!Athletics - Genesee Area Conference:
Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cheer, Football, Power Lifting, Softball, Track, and Volleyball.
ENROLL OR REGISTER NOW FOR 2026/2027!
For More Information:
Click: https://www.bentleyschools.org/page/enrollment-and-registration-information
Call: (810) 591-9100
Scan: QR code
Bus stop information has been sent via email to all parents who requested transportation this year.
Be sure to check your spam folders! For more information see our Transportation page.
It was another exciting week of learning with our Barhitte summer school students. They started the week with a visit from MichiganScience Center. The students were challenged to build a structure that would hold up to a variety of weather and they then tested their structures. They also learned about States of Matter which included making slime. Later we used handbells to play some patriotic songs and continued making toys children would have played with long ago
Our Barhitte summer school students ended their time with water balloons, games, and a cool treat on a hot day
Dear Families,
Welcome to the start of a new school year! We are thrilled to have your children with us, and we are very happy to be able to provide transportation for our students.
To give you a glimpse into our daily operations, we are currently routing approximately 400 students across two different time frames (elementary and secondary) using three buses. Our ultimate goal is always to get your kids to and from school safely and in the shortest amount of time possible.
Creating these routes is a complex process. Every time a new student is added, adjustments must be made to the entire route. When designing these schedules, we have to carefully balance several variables, including:
Student Age: Providing safe, door-to-door service for our youngest learners (preschoolers and kindergartners).
Location Safety: Evaluating whether a pickup is on a busy main road (like Belsay or Lapeer) or a quieter secondary road (like Rinn or Roberta).
Medical Accommodations: Ensuring strict adherence to accommodations for students with medical needs.
Our biggest challenge in creating solid, consistent routes at the beginning of the year comes from families registering their children after our August 18 deadline. Because route creation is a highly connected and time-consuming process, every late addition impacts the pickup and drop-off times for everyone else.
Because of these ongoing adjustments, our final routes are not quite ready to be sent out today. However, you will receive your child's specific route details via email by Sunday afternoon.
We kindly ask for your patience, grace, and understanding as we smooth out our routes over the next 10 days or so. It is very much a process, but things will settle into a predictable routine soon.
Thank you for your partnership and understanding as we work to get everyone to school safely.
Sincerely,
Todd Schultz, Operations Director
Barhitte Elementary Open House
Join us to kick off an amazing school year! Meet your teachers, explore your classroom, drop off supplies and reconnect with friends.
When: Wednesday, August 19, 2026 from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Parents - Please make sure you have registered your child online before the open house. Enrollment information can be found at www.bentleyschools.org. All new and returning students need to be registered. Thank you!
WELCOME BACK, BULLDOGS!
The wait is almost over, and we are excited to welcome our students and families back to Bentley Community Schools for another incredible year!
There is still time to Enroll and Register.
https://www.bentleyschools.org/page/enrollment-and-registration-information
Schools of Choice Deadline: August 27, 2026 at 12:00 PM
https://www.bentleyschools.org/page/schools-of-choice
Mark your calendars with these dates to get ready for the start of school.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL KEY DATES
Get ready!
Wednesday, Aug 19: Open House | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Monday, Aug 24: First Day of School (K-12) — Half Day!
Thursday, Aug 27: Last day to register for School of Choice
Thursday, Aug 27: Bentley Little Bulldogs Learning Center (Preschool) Open House
Monday, Aug 31: First Day of Preschool
UPCOMING 4-DAY WEEK SCHEDULE
Enjoy extra time to recharge during our initial start-of-year schedule!
Week 1: Monday, Aug 24 – Thursday, Aug 27
Week 2: Monday, Aug 31 – Thursday, Sep 3
Week 3: Tuesday, Sep 8 – Friday, Sep 11
UPCOMING HOME ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS
Come out and support our Bulldog athletes at our upcoming home games!
Thursday, Aug 27: Varsity Football vs. FCCA (Home Opener!)
Thursday, Sep 3: JV & Varsity Volleyball (Home Opener!)
Friday, Sep 4: Varsity Football vs. Byron
Let's make this year the best one yet!
Drop a comment below with what your student is looking forward to most this year!
#BentleyBulldogs #BulldogPride #BackToSchool2026 #BentleyCommunitySchools
Before these Kindergartners start an exciting new year as 1st graders, they enjoyed one more time together as a class at Miss Cobb's annual end of summer "play date". There was lots of hugging, smiles, and fun!
Some of our Barhitte students headed back to school early for 2 weeks of summer school and are doing lots of collaborative learning! They continue to learn about our great country including making toys children would have played with in the past. Mr. Ron from the GISD came. He brought the "Indi" robots for the students to program and practice with. We are very thankful for this awesome resource and his experienced guidance to promote problem-solving thinking!
ONLINE ENROLLMENT & REGISTRATION IS WORKING AGAIN.
https://www.bentleyschools.org/page/enrollment-and-registration-information/
If you are still having issues, please call (810) 591-9523.
In case you missed this week’s Regular Board of Education meeting…
● The Board approved the hire of several people: Michele Prainito, Krystal Bugbee, and Nate Minnoy.
○ Michele is joining the District as a school social worker with 13 years of experience. She loves kids and knew from a young age that connecting with students in this capacity is how she wanted to make a difference in the world.
○ Krystal is joining the District as a lead teacher at Bentley Little Bulldogs. She has worked with young children for years, and specifically as a lead GSRP teacher for the last three years. She also loves young children and helping them thrive–she’s especially excited about our nature-based program.
○ Coach Nate is joining the District to lead the Boys Varsity Basketball team. People who know him all concur that he connects readily with youth! He is looking forward to building the program starting with elementary students.
● The Board also approved the installation of fencing at Barhitte Elementary, adding another layer of security for our students, which is funded through state grant money for safety.
● We took a quick peek at our updated policy website, which you can see at the link below:
https://go.neola.com/bntl-mi/policy
You can also see this post (and all the other ICYMIs) on our website at:
https://aptg.co/sKsfPg
● The Board approved the hire of several people: Michele Prainito, Krystal Bugbee, and Nate Minnoy.
○ Michele is joining the District as a school social worker with 13 years of experience. She loves kids and knew from a young age that connecting with students in this capacity is how she wanted to make a difference in the world.
○ Krystal is joining the District as a lead teacher at Bentley Little Bulldogs. She has worked with young children for years, and specifically as a lead GSRP teacher for the last three years. She also loves young children and helping them thrive–she’s especially excited about our nature-based program.
○ Coach Nate is joining the District to lead the Boys Varsity Basketball team. People who know him all concur that he connects readily with youth! He is looking forward to building the program starting with elementary students.
● The Board also approved the installation of fencing at Barhitte Elementary, adding another layer of security for our students, which is funded through state grant money for safety.
● We took a quick peek at our updated policy website, which you can see at the link below:
https://go.neola.com/bntl-mi/policy
You can also see this post (and all the other ICYMIs) on our website at:
https://aptg.co/sKsfPg
School carried on an extra couple weeks for some of our Barhitte students, but although lots of learning in core subjects took place, it was also tons of fun including STEM challenges, Reader's Theatre, T-shirt decorating and more. Much of our learning centered around our awesome country (especially our flag). We ended by completing our collaborative puzzle, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and popsicles. We will return with more fun learning experiences when summer school resumes in August. Happy summer vacation and happy 250th birthday, America!
The Barhitte summer school students enjoyed a fantastic field trip to Rollhaven!
Members of Bentley’s FIRST Robotics Teams helped hand out water to runners and walkers at the Burton Memorial Day 5K.
What a perfect day on the course!
Today marked the Bentley Board of Education’s First Annual Golf Outing, and we couldn't have asked for a better turnout or more beautiful weather at the stunning Sugarbush golf course!
We had 17 foursomes hit the greens, enjoyed some delicious lunch and dinner, and wrapped things up by raffling off some incredible prizes. Most importantly, every dollar raised today will go directly toward funding scholarships for our graduating seniors!
A Huge Thank You To:
* Our Generous Sponsors & Donors – Your incredible support makes a lasting impact on our students' futures.
* Our Amazing Golfers – Thank you for bringing your A-game and great energy to the course.
* Our Hardworking Volunteers – This day wouldn't have been possible without your time and dedication behind the scenes!
Want to see the highlights?
Click the link below to check out all the photos from today’s fantastic event!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/m1BH1X8sgPCC5Ee36
#CommunityFirst #SupportOurSeniors #SugarbushGolf #EducationMatters #GolfOuting
Today marked the Bentley Board of Education’s First Annual Golf Outing, and we couldn't have asked for a better turnout or more beautiful weather at the stunning Sugarbush golf course!
We had 17 foursomes hit the greens, enjoyed some delicious lunch and dinner, and wrapped things up by raffling off some incredible prizes. Most importantly, every dollar raised today will go directly toward funding scholarships for our graduating seniors!
A Huge Thank You To:
* Our Generous Sponsors & Donors – Your incredible support makes a lasting impact on our students' futures.
* Our Amazing Golfers – Thank you for bringing your A-game and great energy to the course.
* Our Hardworking Volunteers – This day wouldn't have been possible without your time and dedication behind the scenes!
Want to see the highlights?
Click the link below to check out all the photos from today’s fantastic event!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/m1BH1X8sgPCC5Ee36
#CommunityFirst #SupportOurSeniors #SugarbushGolf #EducationMatters #GolfOuting
🎉☀️ That's a wrap on another amazing school year! ☀️🎉
Our Barhitte staff traded in their teacher clothes for inflatable costumes and sent our Bulldogs off to summer in style! From dinosaurs to unicorns and everything in between, there were lots of laughs, smiles, high-fives, and unforgettable memories as we celebrated the last day of school together.
To our incredible students: thank you for filling our halls with your energy, curiosity, kindness, and laughter all year long. We are so proud of everything you've accomplished!
Have a safe, fun, and adventure-filled summer. Keep reading, keep exploring, and don't forget to come back and visit us!
❤️🐾 Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog! 🐾❤️
#LastDayOfSchool #BarhitteBulldogs #SummerStartsNow #InflatableTakeover #BestDayEver #MakingMemories :::
If you missed the newest edition of our Bentley Barker, you can check it out by clicking on the link below:
https://aptg.co/448jvJ
Read about our big Community Resource Fair tomorrow; our fabulous nature-based preschool; happenings at Barhitte Elementary, the Middle & High Schools; sports; and more!
https://aptg.co/448jvJ
Read about our big Community Resource Fair tomorrow; our fabulous nature-based preschool; happenings at Barhitte Elementary, the Middle & High Schools; sports; and more!
Dear Bentley Families,
As we look ahead to a bright future for our schools, I want to share some exciting updates regarding a positive shift in our leadership structure for the upcoming school year.
Like many school districts across the state of Michigan navigating shifting enrollment trends, Bentley is proactively adapting to ensure we provide the strongest, most cohesive educational experience possible for our students. While adjusting to these trends comes with its own unique set of challenges, it also opens the door to incredible opportunities for growth, alignment, and unprecedented consistency across our buildings.
As shared in our newsletter two weeks ago, Middle School Principal Mr. Bednarski is officially retiring. We are deeply grateful for his years of dedication to Bentley and wish him the absolute best in his next chapter!
With this transition, I am thrilled to announce that High School Principal Mr. Justin Dickerson will be stepping into an expanded role to serve as the principal for both Bentley Middle School and Bentley High School. Given that our two buildings are separated only by a parking lot, this close proximity makes it incredibly easy for him to be a highly visible, active, and engaged leader across both campuses every single day.
Recently, Mr. Dickerson shared the powerful story of Bentley High School’s ongoing transformation. The formula behind our recent success (including a noticeable decrease in negative behaviors and a rise in academic achievement) comes down to three foundational pillars that Mr. Dickerson will now bring to our entire 6th–12th grade community:
• Structure: Creating clear, predictable, and supportive environments where students can thrive.
• Discipline: Cultivating focus, respect, and a shared commitment to excellence.
• Personal Accountability: Empowering students to take ownership of their choices, actions, and education.
To ensure that every single one of our 336 students in grades 6-12 receives the individualized attention and support they deserve, Mr. Dickerson will be backed by a phenomenal leadership and student-support team:
• Dean of Students Keith Edmonds will continue to provide vital leadership and behavioral guidance across the buildings.
• Teacher and Coach James Stabile will expand his impact by serving half-time at Bentley Middle School. Mr. Stabile will specifically focus on supporting our middle school students socially and emotionally, ensuring they feel safe, valued, and motivated every day.
There is profound strength in a unified campus. By aligning our middle and high school leadership, we are bridging the gap between these pivotal grade levels. Our committed staff across both buildings is looking forward to the positive changes that this streamlined consistency will yield for our families.
Downsizing and restructuring require agility, and the seamless alignment we are gaining as a result is going to yield incredible outcomes for our kids. I am genuinely excited for the opportunities that lie ahead for Bentley.
Please join me in offering a warm, enthusiastic welcome to Mr. Dickerson as he takes the helm of our secondary schools! Together, we are building a stronger, more united Bentley.
Warmly,
Dr. Kristy Spann
Superintendent
As we look ahead to a bright future for our schools, I want to share some exciting updates regarding a positive shift in our leadership structure for the upcoming school year.
Like many school districts across the state of Michigan navigating shifting enrollment trends, Bentley is proactively adapting to ensure we provide the strongest, most cohesive educational experience possible for our students. While adjusting to these trends comes with its own unique set of challenges, it also opens the door to incredible opportunities for growth, alignment, and unprecedented consistency across our buildings.
As shared in our newsletter two weeks ago, Middle School Principal Mr. Bednarski is officially retiring. We are deeply grateful for his years of dedication to Bentley and wish him the absolute best in his next chapter!
With this transition, I am thrilled to announce that High School Principal Mr. Justin Dickerson will be stepping into an expanded role to serve as the principal for both Bentley Middle School and Bentley High School. Given that our two buildings are separated only by a parking lot, this close proximity makes it incredibly easy for him to be a highly visible, active, and engaged leader across both campuses every single day.
Recently, Mr. Dickerson shared the powerful story of Bentley High School’s ongoing transformation. The formula behind our recent success (including a noticeable decrease in negative behaviors and a rise in academic achievement) comes down to three foundational pillars that Mr. Dickerson will now bring to our entire 6th–12th grade community:
• Structure: Creating clear, predictable, and supportive environments where students can thrive.
• Discipline: Cultivating focus, respect, and a shared commitment to excellence.
• Personal Accountability: Empowering students to take ownership of their choices, actions, and education.
To ensure that every single one of our 336 students in grades 6-12 receives the individualized attention and support they deserve, Mr. Dickerson will be backed by a phenomenal leadership and student-support team:
• Dean of Students Keith Edmonds will continue to provide vital leadership and behavioral guidance across the buildings.
• Teacher and Coach James Stabile will expand his impact by serving half-time at Bentley Middle School. Mr. Stabile will specifically focus on supporting our middle school students socially and emotionally, ensuring they feel safe, valued, and motivated every day.
There is profound strength in a unified campus. By aligning our middle and high school leadership, we are bridging the gap between these pivotal grade levels. Our committed staff across both buildings is looking forward to the positive changes that this streamlined consistency will yield for our families.
Downsizing and restructuring require agility, and the seamless alignment we are gaining as a result is going to yield incredible outcomes for our kids. I am genuinely excited for the opportunities that lie ahead for Bentley.
Please join me in offering a warm, enthusiastic welcome to Mr. Dickerson as he takes the helm of our secondary schools! Together, we are building a stronger, more united Bentley.
Warmly,
Dr. Kristy Spann
Superintendent
As shared via MLive two days ago, Belsay Road was closed a short while ago for the next two weeks due to construction at the railroad crossing. Here is a link to the article:
https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2026/06/busy-stretch-of-belsay-road-in-burton-to-close-two-weeks-for-railroad-crossing-repair.html
We were hopeful this morning when it was still open that it would remain so for a couple of days. Alas, that is not the case. The closure began. So our purple bus was likely a little late this afternoon and will be tomorrow.
https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2026/06/busy-stretch-of-belsay-road-in-burton-to-close-two-weeks-for-railroad-crossing-repair.html
We were hopeful this morning when it was still open that it would remain so for a couple of days. Alas, that is not the case. The closure began. So our purple bus was likely a little late this afternoon and will be tomorrow.
🌱🦋 Spring Science in 3rd Grade 🦋🌱
Spring has been full of discovery, excitement, and a little bit of magic!
Our 3rd graders began by researching and selecting seeds they wanted to grow. After learning about the conditions plants need to survive, students carefully started their seeds in baggies with damp paper towels and placed them in our classroom window. Watching those first tiny sprouts emerge was so exciting and helped bring our science learning to life!
While we patiently waited for our plants to grow, another amazing science adventure arrived—our Painted Lady caterpillars! Students became butterfly experts, researching everything they could about the butterfly life cycle and documenting each stage in their science journals. They eagerly observed the caterpillars grow, form chrysalides, and eventually transform into beautiful butterflies.
Our butterflies decided to make their grand entrance over Memorial Day weekend, so when we returned, we were thrilled to find them ready to explore the world! After caring for them for a few days, we gathered outside and released them into the wild.
From tiny seeds to beautiful butterflies, our students experienced firsthand how living things grow and change. Science isn't just something we read about—it's something we get to see, wonder about, and experience together.
Spring science is the best! 🌱☀️🦋
#BarhitteBulldogs #SpringScience #PaintedLadyButterflies #FutureScientists #LearningInAction
