January Newsletter 2023
Ben Franklin Middle School
Message from the Principal
It's hard to believe that January has already arrived, and with it so many happenings at Ben Franklin Middle School. Before I get in to all that is to come, I hope you all had a restful and fun filled holiday break. All the staff at Ben are truly wishing you all the best in the year ahead.
All students in grades 6-8 will be completing NWEA Map testing during the month of January. This test is valuable for a couple of reasons; first, it will give teachers information on how they can better support your student in their classes and second, results from this test will help us determine course placement for the 23-24 school year. Students will be tested on their reading and math skills, and these tests will occur in their regular English and Math classrooms. Testing dates are:
Reading: January 9th-13th
Math: January 17th-20th
Please assist us by making sure your student is in attendance during these dates if possible. Students will be talking with their teachers about their goals with the test, so make sure to ask about those conversations at home!
The end of 1st semester will be here before we know it, and with it progress reports on student learning. Student progress reports will be live in PowerSchool soon after the semester ends. We will send out a separate email when the reports are available, and will include resources for you to better understand Evidenced Based Reporting and how to understand reports in case you have questions. Teachers, of course, are the experts, so please reach out to them with any specific grading questions you might have.
As we enter the new year, we begin to turn our sights to the coming school year as well. Registration for courses for the 2023-2024 school year will begin with 8th grade at the end of January, followed closely by 7th, and 6th. Incoming 5th graders will also be registering later this spring. We do not anticipate major changes to the Ben Franklin Program of Studies for the 23-24 school year, so please review and have conversations with your child about their interest in courses. As always, we want students to be as sure as possible of course selection, as that registration information will ensure the school has the proper staffing to provide your student the courses they want and need. More specific information will be coming from our school counselors as registration gets closer.
And finally, we are looking forward to many wonderful activities coming up this month. A reminder that our End of Semester Dance for students in grades 6-8 will take place on Friday, January 13th from 4:00-5:30 in Gym 1. We also have several winter sports starting as we return from the holiday break.
Our behavior of the month for January is going to be gratitude, showing those around you appreciation. I want to give my thanks to you all for sharing your children with us each day, and being the biggest supporters of Ben Franklin.
All my best,
Kirstin Hanson
Principal
Ben Franklin Middle School
The Weather Outside Has Been Frightful! --Cabinet Column from Dr. Gandhi
Cabinet Column - For Cryin' Out Loud
Fargo Public Schools has already had two school closures due to inclement weather this winter. Understandably, the FPS community has questions about school closure procedure, such as: What is the driving force behind inclement weather decisions? How and when are inclement weather decisions decided? Why do we cancel school before considering distance learning? and What is the plan for the rest of the year?
Find out the answers to all of these questions and more in this Cabinet Column by FPS Superintendent Dr. Rupak Gandhi.
Virtual Learning Days/Snow Days
See above for information on how inclement weather decisions are made. As we return from the break, staff will be preparing students for the expectations of virtual learning days in case they are needed. Below is some of the need to know information about virtual learning!
Middle School
Follow Normal Period Schedule
- Ben Franklin 8:55 a.m. - 3:40 p.m.
Zoom each class Period:
- Check in and Direct Instruction from Teacher (depending on class direct instruction might vary)
- Remainder of time for students to work on assignment completion & teacher available via zoom for support
- There is no requirement to zoom or provide tasks with your advisory class on virtual learning days.
End of Semester and Student Progress Reports
For classes that are implementing EBR (Evidence Based Reporting) your child will receive a score of 4, 3, 2, or a 1. If you have any questions or concerns about your child's score in a particular class, please reach out to the teacher of that class.
Regarding the middle school Guidelines for Success (Be Responsible, Be Safe, Be Respectful and Have a Growth Mindset), your child will receive a C (Consistently demonstrates skill), I (Inconsistently demonstrates this skill) or R (Rarely demonstrates this skill and academic progress is affected).
There will be a separate email to all students and parents/families when the progress reports are viewable as well as instructions on how to locate these reports in PowerSchool.
Below is a sample of what the progress reports will look like.
Evidenced Based Reporting Support for Parents/Guardians
Exception to Attendance Petition
One of the major questions asked is: If I have already filled out a petition for my child to attend Ben Franklin and it was approved for last year, do I have to fill one out for this year? The answer is, no. You need only fill out one petition once per child for the building.
Here is access to the Registration/Open Enrollment/Petition Process on the FPS Public Website.
You will find links to the Administrative Policy 6710-Attendance Boundaries as well as the links for the elementary, middle school and high school petition forms. Please note that there are deadlines for the submission of these forms.
Those completing the petition process must complete the appropriate form and submit it to the requested school. Petitions are accepted based upon the class size of both the assigned and requested school. Petitions are accepted at certain times of the year for the following school year based upon the program level.
Elementary Petition Form (May 1 submission deadline)
Middle School Petition Form (January 31 submission deadline)
High School Petition Form (January 31 submission deadline)
It is important to note that you are to submit the petition to the requested school by the deadline. For those who are requesting a high school, it must be submitted to that high school.
Petition requests for Ben Franklin will receive a written response by February 15th that details the enrollment granted or the enrollment denied. It is important that you fill out an appropriate petition form for each child. We do need to have a separate form for each child and each level (elementary/middle/high).
2021-2022 Annual Report
Fargo Public Schools is committed to serving our families and community patrons. As evidence of this commitment, we are showcasing the qualities and services of our school district and providing a wide array of information in the FPS 2021-22 Annual Report.
This report aims to familiarize families and the community with Fargo Public Schools by sharing details such as enrollment, staffing, and budget numbers and providing overviews of student services and assessment data. Thank you for your continued support as we serve the citizens of Fargo by providing students an excellent educational experience. You can access the full document at this link.
Winter Reminders
Ben Franklin Families,
As the weather begins to change we wanted to pass along the reminders below about student morning drop-offs, afternoon pickups, and also possible inclement weather days.
Before School Reminder
The main school doors (entrance #4) opens at 8am. Students will not be allowed in the building until 8am as we do not have supervision for students until that time. Please drop off students after 8am.
Dressing for Weather Conditions
Please have a conversation with your student about wearing appropriate winter clothing for the weather conditions. This is a tough one for some middle school students, but we want to do our best to encourage all to make safe choices and to dress warmly. If your student is in need of winter gear, please have them make an appointment with student services.
After School Reminder
Students are dismissed from their final class at 3:40 each day. If your student does not ride the bus, please make transportation arrangements for them to be picked up as close to 3:40pm as possible. All doors to locker bays and academic wings are locked at 4pm each day. After 4pm, students will not be allowed to enter these areas. We do ask that students who are waiting after 4pm do so in the main stairwell foyer (entrance #4).
In Case of Inclement Weather
Please remind your student to bring their PLD home each day in case of inclement weather and a potential virtual learning day.
Parking Reminders
Due to Ben Franklin's location in a residential area, pick up/drop off can become quite congested for parents and bus drivers. Please follow street signs directing areas where you can and cannot park to ensure traffic can flow easily.
Please do not pull up to drop off your student in the cross walk area. This creates a line of congestion so that busses are unable to reach the bus loop for students to arrive. There is additional space along 8th street, if you are headed south, to pull to the side and drop off your student without blocking passing traffic.
We all have the same goal and that is for all of our students to arrive at school safely. Thanks for your patience out there!
Inclement Weather
When our winter weather hits, Fargo Public Schools maintains close communication with officials of the U.S. Weather Service, local government, and neighboring school districts in order to make decisions regarding inclement weather and other emergency situations that are in the best interest of the safety of our students, staff and parents. The decision to hold classes is based on the general weather conditions which exist for the majority of Fargo students.
If school is in session, and a parent decides that a student should remain at home due to weather conditions, that decision will be respected by the school. Parents should use their own judgment in determining if the weather is suitable for their children to make the journey to school. It is always up to parents to make the final decision about whether or not to send their student to school if they believe weather conditions present a safety issue. The absence for the day would be considered an excused absence.
If school is called off, parents will be contacted via the automated phone, email and text system based on the contact information supplied to the school office(s). Parents are encouraged to update contact information with the school on a regular basis so we have up to date contact information. This can be done through PowerSchool or by calling the school office. School cancellation information will also be broadcasted via local media, and will be posted across our website and social media sites (Facebook and Twitter).
If weather or a situation develops during the day, and it is determined that an early dismissal is in the best interest of the students, parents will be contacted via the automated phone, email and text system based on the contact information supplied to the school office(s). Parents are encouraged to update contact information with the school on a regular basis so we have up to date contact information. This can be done through PowerSchool or by calling the school office. School closure information will also be broadcasted via local media, and the information will be posted on our website and social media sites (Facebook and Twitter).
For more information please see the school cancellation process on the Fargo Public Schools website.
Upcoming Events
January 13th, 2023
- End of 1st Semester
- End of Semester Dance 4:00-5:30 pm
January 16, 2023
- No School
January 17th, 2023
- 2nd Semester Begins
February 7, 2023
- Parent Teacher Conferences 4-8pm
February 9, 2023
- Parent Teacher Conferences 4-8pm
Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2023!
Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2023 opens online on February 1 at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/registration. Your child must be age 5 by July 31, 2023 to attend school in the fall.
Registration is a two-step process:
STEP ONE: REGISTER ONLINE
Complete online registration forms at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/registration. For assistance, please contact your child’s school to schedule an appointment to complete in-person. Masks are required for all visitors.
STEP TWO: SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION
Upload or bring the following documents to your child’s school by August 28 to finalize registration.
- Child’s certified birth certificate
- Child’s immunization record with 5-year shots
- Document (i.e. current city utility bill or bank statement) that includes parent/guardian name and current address for verification
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.
If you need help in PowerSchool (Fargo Public Schools online registration software), please call 701.446.1006
FPS Delayed Bus Route Plan 2022-23
If a driver shortage occurs, Valley Bus will notify affected riders of select routes by a voice call, email and/or text message to the contact information on file with the school. The message will instruct the rider that their original route pick-up time will run one hour late. An example would be if a student were to be picked up at 7:55 a.m. at 12th Ave. South and 7th Street, the new time would be 8:55 a.m.
Parents can check their child’s pick-up time using the “Bus Route by Address” option on the FPS Transportation website. Please make sure your contact information is up-to-date in PowerSchool
Attendance
Research shows that attendance is the single most important factor in school success. Attendance is located next to Student Services or by calling Mrs. Buerkley at 446-3610.
Absences: Parents/guardians are reminded to call the attendance office at 446-3610 to inform us of your child’s absence before 9:00 a.m., the morning of the absence. Feel free to call the attendance number at any time, 24 hours a day, to leave a message. You can also email our attendance office at bfattendance@fargo.k12.nd.us. This message should include the student’s name, ID number, grade, the date(s) and reason they will be absent. If no phone or email contact has been made, the student must present a written excuse, signed by his/her parent to the attendance office when returning to school. Any absence not verified by phone or note will be considered unexcused.
Tardiness/Returning to School: Students coming to school after classes have begun or returning to school after an appointment must stop by attendance for a return slip. They need a signed note or doctor’s note to check in unless we have already received a phone call.
Ben Franklin PTO
The Ben Franklin PTA has now become a PTO through a vote at the October 3rd meeting and a year’s worth of discussion. As a PTO, Ben Franklin’s parents and teachers now control the bylaws and funds. You may still sign up through SchoolPay for the volunteer contact list but no longer have to register or pay dues to join the parent-teacher group. All current Ben Franklin parents/guardians and staff are automatically considered members of the PTO. We are all part of the BFMS community, after all. Welcome to the Fargo Ben Franklin Middle School PTO!
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/fargobfmspto/home
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/499729788375094/?ref=share_group_link
Email: fargobfmspto@gmail.com
Titan Replacing NutriSlice for Menus
ENTRANCE TO THE BUILDING DURING SCHOOL HOURS
Fargo Public Schools is pleased to announce that we use the Raptor Visitor Management System in all of our schools to strengthen our program of campus safety for students and staff. Part of keeping students and staff safe is knowing who is in our buildings at all times, and the Raptor system will allow us to do so. The Raptor system will allow us to better screen visitors, contractors, and volunteers in our schools to provide us with a safe environment for our students and staff.
Visitors should enter the main doors #4 by ringing the doorbell. Upon entering the school building, visitors will be asked to present an ID, such as a Driver’s License, which can either be scanned or manually entered into the system. If a parent or guardian for any reason does not have a US government-issued ID, the school staff member can use any form of identification and manually enter the person’s name into the Raptor system. Once entry into the building is approved, Raptor will issue a badge that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of their visit. A visitor’s badge will not be necessary for those who visit our schools simply to drop off an item in the office or pick up paperwork.
Lockers
School Nurse
The Nurse is a support staff that works with medication issues, consultations and safety issues. The school nurse will not diagnose medical issues.
Hours -typically 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Monday-Friday
If you have questions call Nurse Ellen Sondreal @ 446-3640.
Health Information needs to be completed yearly online. Since little of the information on this card may change from year to year, the data is stored and you will simply be doing an update of this information as needed. Please remember that our school nurse needs permission to administer Ibuprofen, Tums, or Tylenol (Acetaminophen). If you wish this to be an option, please indicate this online.
Emergency Care Plan: If your student has a health issue that will require more than standard first aid care, a special form called the “Emergency Care Plan” will need to be completed by a parent/guardian and signed by the student’s Health Care Provider. These forms will be available at registration from the school nurse and are on line as well.
Medication at School: Daily medication, short-term antibiotics, and OTC medications: A “Medication Administration” form must be completed by a parent/guardian and signed by the student’s Health Care Provider. Medications brought to school must be in their original containers.
Self-Administration Medications: If a student needs to carry a medication on them while at school a “Medication Self-Administration” form must be completed by a parent/guardian and signed by the student’s Health Care Provider. If a student needs an Asthma inhaler, make sure they have their inhaler with them. The “Medication Self-Administration” form should be brought to school as soon as possible. Medication forms also need to be renewed each school year.
All required forms are also available on the Ben Franklin website under “Quick links - District Forms – Medication Forms” or at this link below: http://www.fargo.k12.nd.us/Page/446
Canvas Support For Parents/Guardians
Evidence Based Reporting Support for Parents/Guardians
Parental Communication- E-Alert Directions
Content E-Alerts are sent to users who have subscribed to a homepage or website section of interest. You will receive an email notification when newsletters, daily announcements or School Board agendas are posted.
Click here to sign up and begin the process of setting your subscriptions.
Content E-Alert Directions: In order to provide the best possible communication between our district and your household, we request that you complete 3 easy steps to sign up and subscribe to E-Alerts for sites and sections that you find relevant.
Click the link above to sign up and begin the process of setting your subscriptions.
Step 1 - Enter your First Name, Last Name, and Email Address
Step 2 - Select the areas of Fargo Public Schools that you wish to receive notifications
Step 3 - Click Sign Up at the bottom of the page
You will receive an email that will contain a link to verify your account. You may unsubscribe at any time by using the Unsubscribe Link at the bottom of the email notification.
STAY CONNECTED!
Ben Franklin has several helpful links that can be found on our webpage at https://www.fargo.k12.nd.us/benfranklin
You will find links for:
· Monthly Newsletters
· School Calendars
· Daily Announcements
· PowerSchool & SchoolPay Logins
· Student Handbook
· School Menus
· District Forms
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please contact our school office at 701-446-3600.
Mrs. Kirstin Hanson
Principal
6th Grade Principal
Ms. Jennifer Olson
Assistant Principal
8th Grade Principal
Mr. Matt Quintus
Assistant Principal/ Activities Coordinator
7th Grade Principal