
* Thursday, August 27 from 6:00-8:00 PM (you can stop by before our first home football game at 7 PM)
* Burton Senior Center 3410 South Grand Traverse, Burton
* Suggested donation is minimum $10 for adults (kids eat free!)
Thank you Burton Rotary for supporting our kids!!

* The Board reviewed and approved the Bentley Community School District Student/Parent Handbook School Year 2026-2027, which you can see at the link below:
https://aptg.co/d5Cm3v
* The Board reviewed the state-mandated Standard Response Protocol so staff and students use clear, unified language during schedule shifts:
■ HOLD: Clear the halls and stay in classrooms (e.g., medical emergency).
■ SECURE: Get inside and lock outside doors (e.g., nearby off-campus incident).
■ LOCKDOWN: Locks, lights, out of sight (e.g., immediate threat in building).
■ SHELTER: Tornado–move to shelter area
■ EVACUATE: Move to a safe location (e.g., fire).
* Policy 8330 First Reading: Reviewed guidelines regarding Directory Information and student record updates, which you can see at the link below:
https://go.neola.com/bntl-mi/policy/policy-manual/po8330
● The Board received an update on district numbers as we work to ensure every local student is accounted for and supported.
● Note - Thursday, August 27th is a big day…
■ First home football game vs. FCCA @7PM
■ Bentley Little Bulldogs Learning Center Back to School Night from 4:00-5:30 PM
■ Burton Rotary’s Ice Cream Social Fundraiser at the Burton Senior Center from 6:00-8:00 PM to raise money for scholarships to graduating seniors
You can see this whole post on our website at
https://aptg.co/cPn-4S

Bus stop information has been updated and sent via email to all parents who have had their transportation requests processed. More coming this evening. If you did not receive a "Waypoint" email, then your request has not been processed yet or your contact information is incorrect. Be sure to check your email junk/spam folders! For more information see our Transportation page.
https://www.bentleyschools.org/page/transportation

Dear Families,
Welcome back! We are thrilled to have your students with us for another great school year.
As we settle into our new routines, we need to make a few adjustments to our bus schedules. While your bus stops will likely remain the same, the pick-up and drop-off times will shift around for the rest of the week as new transportation requests are processed.
Here is what to expect over the next few days:
Each day, around 6pm, we will email you the revised bus times for the following morning.
The first official time changes will take effect this Wednesday.
We plan to have all the wrinkles ironed out and a more permanent schedule in place by next Monday.
This is also a reminder to all parents that if we do not have accurate smartphone numbers AND email addresses in ParentVUE, you will NOT be able to receive bus stop information. Please take this opportunity to ensure that this information is accurate as soon as possible!
Thank you for your patience as we get our routes perfectly dialed in for the year ahead!
Wishing you a wonderful week,
The Transportation Department

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.

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

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

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.

● 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

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










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!

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


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.
Free Bentley Community Resource Fair: Power Down & Play
Wed, June 10 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM @ Bentley High School 1150 N Belsay Rd - Rain or Shine
Free dinner, free sports physicals, free gunlocks, inflatable obstacle course, games, many community resources and giveaways (books, outdoor games, and more). Come join the fun! Questions? Call (810) 591-9120

Dear Parents,
You are invited to a football player/parent meeting on June 2nd from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the High School Media Center.
This meeting will cover important information about the upcoming season, team expectations, and schedules. Your attendance is highly encouraged to support your athlete’s success.
Thank you,
Jimmy Stabile
Head Football Coach

On Thursday, May 21st there will be the final informational meeting for the 2026 marching season. The full practice and performance schedule as well as more band camp information will be distributed at this meeting.
The meeting will be held in the BMS cafeteria at 5:30 pm.
Please email Mrs. Nolan with any questions:
mnolan@bentleyschools.org
This is your 2026 Burton Memorial Day Parade Reminder!
When: Monday, May 25th, 2026
Report: Be to the band room by 11:30 a.m.
Wear: Red marching band shirt, black pants or short, black socks, black shoes
**Seniors: If you want to wear your cap and gown you can! I saw there is a giveaway or something happening if you wear your cap and gown.**
Leave for parade line up: The bus will leave the band room at 12:00 p.m. to take us to the parade line up. Parade begins at 1:00 p.m.
After the parade: The bus will bring us back to the band room around 2:30 p.m. Please have a ride ready to pick you up.
Thank you for representing the Bentley Marching Band at the Burton Memorial Day Parade!
Please contact Mrs. Nolan with any questions:
mnolan@bentleyschools.org
~Mrs. Nolan
It was especially inspiring to see our 6th Grade Band. We started the year with 14 students learning from scratch, and in January, 10 more brave souls joined them to start their musical journey. Watching them develop under Mrs. Nolan’s direction—from those first notes in 6th grade to the impressive skills of our 8th graders—is truly a gift.
Want to hear the magic for yourself? Click the link below to access our Google Drive. The songs are numbered and include the grade levels in the titles:
Songs 1–8: Our 6th grade beginners!
Songs 9–10: A fantastic 6th & 7th grade mix.
Songs 11–16: A powerful blend of 7th & 8th graders.
Song 17: Our 8th grade finale.
"Jam" Tracks: Check out the high-energy performances from our after-school music club, The Rock Dawgs, led by Mr. Nolan!
Beyond the music, what really stood out tonight was the culture. Whether it was a full band piece or a brave solo, duet, trio, or quartet, these kids showed what a real team looks like. When someone hit a wrong note or "goofed," their peers weren't judging—they were cheering them on.
They truly recognize that learning is a process, and they collectively root for each other. How awesome is that?!
Bravo to all our musicians!
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mqXirLbST5VkOw0_xYMjv5eK4jFbPd0K?usp=drive_link









This week, our ears were treated to beautiful melodies during the two music concerts at BMS, but our eyes were in for a treat as well! We are so proud to showcase the incredible talent of our 8th-12th grade artists whose work was featured in our concert gallery.
From striking paintings to sculpture to multi-media, these students have poured their creativity and passion into every piece. A huge thank you to our wonderful art teacher, Mrs. Buckley, for her tireless work in organizing and showcasing this beautiful collection.
Art is more than just a hobby; it’s a vital way for students to express their unique perspectives, build confidence, and connect with the world around them. As Pablo Picasso once said:
"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."
Want to see the talent for yourself? Click the link below to browse the full art gallery of work displayed this week! Pro-tip: In the gallery, double-click an image to view it full screen, then click the "i" icon to see the artist’s name and grade!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/9AYPNMdP4RtgZuDd7
#BMSArt #BHSArt #StudentArtists #CreativeYouth #ArtEducation #SupportTheArts








A huge shout-out to our incredible middle school baseball and softball athletes who spent their Saturday morning giving back!
The team kicked things off at City Hall, where they geared up with gloves, bags, and "garbage grabbers" provided by the Mayor’s office. Before hitting the streets, the group took a meaningful detour to visit the Veteran’s Memorial to pay their respects and reflect on the importance of service.
Armed with their gear and plenty of team spirit, they headed back toward campus to clear out litter and get our school grounds looking sharp for spring. It’s inspiring to see our athletes leading by example—showing that being a great teammate means taking care of the community we call home.
Saturday's team included: Baseball Coach Frank Linseman with athletes Eli Rose, Gage Pouillon, Nathan Rodriguez, Liam Hyde, Sebastyn Knox, Tristan Smith, and Arron Williams; Softball Coach Brittany Nimmo, and athlete Karmyn Buckler; and extra helpers Athletic Director Todd Schultz, Bentley Alum and volunteer athletic announcer Paul Remington, Bus Driver Tina Coron, and Superintendent Kristy Spann.

