Ben Franklin May Newsletter
A letter from Principal Martin:
Good morning Ben Franklin Parents,
I am excited that Kirstin Hanson is joining Ben Franklin Middle School as our new Principal.
For thirty-four years, I have been blessed to serve in this fantastic district and school. Any success that I enjoyed came from the collective efforts of students, parents, and staff… all of whom are the absolute best. I have benefitted from the contributions of many, and know that you will offer the same support to Mrs. Hanson as she takes the reins of Ben Franklin Middle School on July 1.
Thank you for entrusting Ben Franklin Middle School with your children, and thank you for the privilege to serve.
Administration Assignment
Fargo Public Schools announces the assignment of Kirstin Hanson as the principal of Ben Franklin Middle School. She will assume the position for the 2022-23 school year on July 1 from Shane Martin who will retire at the end of the 2021-22 school year.
Kirstin Hanson currently serves as the assistant principal at Rapid Valley Elementary School in Rapid City, South Dakota. She began her education career on the Rosebud Indian Reservation at Todd County Middle School in Mission, South Dakota as an eighth grade social sciences teacher. She then served as a fifth grade reading and social studies teacher and high school math teacher in the Winner, S.D. school district. While at the Winner school district, she was the head girls golf coach, assistant competitive cheer coach, and head basketball cheer coach. She completed administrative internships at Colome Elementary School and Winner High School.
Hanson holds a Bachelor of Science in social sciences with teaching from Black Hills State University and a Master’s in education administration from South Dakota State University. She also holds professional administrator certification.
A quick message from Mrs. Kirstin Hanson, new BFMS Principal on July 1st, 2022
While I was very much hoping to make a trip to Fargo to meet you all before the end of the year, spring weather in the Dakota’s had different plans! So, before you all depart for what I hope will be a restful and fun filled summer vacation, I wanted to take a moment to tell you all how very grateful I am to have the opportunity to serve and learn alongside your school community as your incoming principal! My family and I plan on making the move to Fargo in mid-June so that I can hit the ground running July 1st. Stay tuned for more information over the summer on opportunities to meet and discuss all things, Ben Franklin.
Kirstin Hanson
School field trip to F/M Redhawks game on Monday, May 9th!
Good afternoon Ben Franklin Parents and Guardians,
We are pleased to announce an upcoming School field trip to F/M Redhawks’ game on Monday, May 9th!
- Students and staff will be attending!
- Game start is 11am.
- Students and staff will walk to Newman Outdoor Field during period 2. Please contact the school if your child has transportation needs.
- Games can last up to three hours – at the conclusion of the game we will return to Ben Franklin and conclude the day in afternoon classes.
- Ticket includes cost of a lunch consisting of an all-beef hotdog, chips, and soda. Please contact the school if your child has special dietary restrictions. Concessions will be open to students.
- Weather has been extremely unpredictable so please DRESS for WET or COLD or HOT WEATHER. Wear comfy shoes! We will attend unless the game is canceled!
- The stadium has a new clear-bag policy. Fans will be prohibited from bringing purses, bags, backpacks, cinch bags or fanny packs, unless medically neccessary. Fans will be allowed to enter with clear totes made of plastic, vinyl or PVC, clear plastic one-gallon resealable bags, or a small clutch purse approximately the size of a hand.
- Rainout/cancellation will not be made up this school year.
- The Ben Franklin PTA sponsors the all-school RedHawks game for the entire school to go to every 3 years. We were unable to go the past two years due to Covid, so we are going this year.
- The PTA has funded this fieldtrip with a $10 reserved ticket for each Ben Franklin representative attending.
- If you would like to donate to the Ben Franklin PTA – Please go to https://sites.google.com/view/bfmsptafargo/home
Sports Physicals for next year:
Anyone planning on participating in any sports next year…now is the time to get your physical. You need a new one every year, If you get one done now it will be good for the whole next school year. Sanford Health and Fargo North High School are teaming up. Don’t wait until August to get your Sports Physical. See our providers and staff at Fargo North High School! Sports Physicals will be done Monday, May 9th after school beginning at 4pm. Access the forms on North HS April newsletter on North HS homepage.
Yearbook order has been placed.
The yearbooks have been purchased. If you are still wanting one and didn’t pre-order one, there will be a few extras to be purchased on the last day of school. We are not keeping a list- it will be a first come, first serve on the last day of school.
Support the PTA by having pizza!
Middle School Summer School 2022
Middle School Summer School 2022 is for Every Student!
MS Summer School 2022 has classes offered for every student entering 7th and 8th Grade.
MS Summer School is from June 6th-28th, and from 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM
MS Summer School has classes offered in:
-Targeted Reading
-Exploratory Reading
-Targeted Math
-Exploratory Math
-Exploratory Social Studies
-Exploratory Science
Choose from:
Hybrid Learning: On-campus M-Th with virtual Fri, or
Virtual Learning: Virtual M-Fri
Go to Fargo Summer School 2022 for all registration information,
or contact your MS office or Counselor for more information.
Registration closes May 25th.
FREE SCHOOL MEALS EXPIRING JUNE 2022
A waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has enabled schools across the nation, including Fargo Public Schools, to provide all students free meals since the COVID-19 pandemic first disrupted K – 12 education in March of 2020. The free school meal benefits will expire after the last school day of the 2021 – 2022 school year.
What does this mean for families? In the fall of 2022, meals will return to paid-for status. Families will need to pay full price for student meals or fill out an application to qualify for free or reduced price meals. Applications for the 2022-2023 school year will be available starting July 1, 2022. Applications will be available on the Nutrition Services Department website after that date and will be shared at the start of the 2022-23 school year with families.
Reminder to parents about morning drop off times:
AFTER SCHOOL REMINDER
We ask that parents make transportation arrangements for students who don’t ride the bus or have their own transportation to be picked up as close to 3:40 p.m. as possible. We lock all doors to the locker bays and academic wings at 3:50 p.m. every day. After 3:50 p.m. students will not be allowed to enter these areas.
Students are asked to wait in the foyer doors to be picked up and not be hanging around in the building after 3:50 p.m. unless they are involved in an after school activity.
21-22 Parent Climate & Culture Survey - V1
Ben Franklin Middle School and Fargo Public Schools are currently conducting a parent survey and would like your input.
The results will be used to improve the environment and relationships at your child’s school.
The survey will end on Friday, May 13th; we hope you are able to take it.
To complete the survey, please select the survey link above or go to the Fargo Public Schools website.
This survey is anonymous, takes no more than 5-8 minutes to complete, and is smartphone compatible, too.
Thank you for your input!
Special Education Parent Advisory Council
Fargo Public Schools (FPS) is forming the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) and is currently accepting applications from parents of students who receive special education services.
General membership is open to any FPS parents/guardians of students currently attending FPS. FPS seeks the following four parent/guardian volunteers for membership of the FPS SEPAC, with the following requirements:
- A person who lives in the FPS District and who is a parent or legal guardian of a student directly receiving special education services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP), 504 Plan or is in the referral process within a FPS school, but not employed by the FPS district.
The role of SEPAC members is to provide insight and support to the SEPAC in the understanding of parent/ family issues and perspectives, and to attend all regular meetings and special meetings as requested.
Read more about the Special Education Parent Advisory Council.
PLEASE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION UPDATED IN POWERSCHOOL!
Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2022
Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2022 is open online at www.fargo.k12.nd.us/registration on February 1, 2022. Your child must be age 5 by July 31, 2022 to attend school in the fall.
Registration is a two-step process:
STEP ONE: REGISTER ONLINE
STEP TWO: SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION
Upload or bring the following documents to your child’s school by August 25 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
CONNECT & SUPPORT COUNSELING
Fargo Public Schools (FPS) is committed to our mission: Educating and Empowering All Students to Succeed. While school counseling services are always available in the buildings, additional clinical counseling is available to support the mental wellbeing of students and staff through the Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding. In partnership with Together Counseling, the Connect and Support Program provides counseling services for coping skills, wellness strategies, time management, family conflict, and stress reduction.
The Connect and Support Program is available to any K - 12 student or district employee and offers 30-minute tele-health sessions with a professional counselor before or after school or during an off-period. Sessions are customized to the needs of each client and are intended to be short-term, not exceeding ten sessions annually. The sessions are completely confidential and free of charge to Fargo Public Schools students and employees.
To set up an appointment, contact Tina, the Together Counseling Provider Relations Coordinator, at 701.404.0997 or tinaj@togethercounselinggroup.com.
Educating and empowering all students to succeed includes supporting and enhancing the social and emotional wellbeing of Fargo Public Schools students and staff. We are grateful to partner with Together Counseling to provide these services to our school family.
ATTENDANCE 446-3610
Research shows that attendance is the SINGLE most important factor in school success.
FIRST STEP: Always call or send a note when your student will not be in school.
- A parent/guardian must call the attendance office to report a student absence by 9am. If no phone call is received, the student will need a signed note excusing them when they check in to attendance upon return.
- Students coming to school after classes have begun or who are returning to school after an appointment, must stop at the Attendance Office for a return slip. They need a signed note to check in unless we have already received a phone call.
- If you know in advance that your student will be absent, please send a signed note to attendance including student name, grade, date and time of absence, parent name and phone number and reason for absence.
- Absence for family vacation- A note needs to be turned in to the Attendance office prior to the absence. Students must arrange for homework before the absence. The students is responsible for makeup when they return to school.
SECOND STEP: Early release passes
- Students leaving during the day must pick up a release slip from the Attendance Office by 9am. Their signed note from home must include student name, grade, time of release, reason and phone number. Students will be excused to meet their ride at the time listed on the note. Parents do not need to enter the building.
- Any absence not verified by phone or note will be considered unexcused.
PARENTAL/FAMILY COMMUNICATION
Communicating with parents and families is always our goal at Ben Franklin Middle School.
You may subscribe to Ben Franklin's Newsletter and Daily Announcements on our website by going to “Content E-Alerts” on our website. Parents/guardians can sign up to receive alerts about new Daily Announcements, Newsletters, etc., for each school your students attend. E-Alerts are sent to users who have subscribed to a homepage or website section of interest. You will receive an email notification that content has been modified.
You may also want to add our school calendar to your personal calendar. This will help you stay informed about all the activities that are happening at Ben Franklin.
Ben Franklin Cycle Days Calendar
IMPORTANT CONTACT NUMBERS
Ben Franklin Main Office
Main Office - 446-3600
Shane Martin, Principal - 446-3604
Jennifer Olson, Assistant Principal - 446-3605
Cory Holten, Dean of Students/Activities Director - 446-3606
Jaime Dougherty, Administrative Assistant - 446-3607
Sue Berg, Office Assistant - 446-3608
Laura Jacobson, Activities Secretary - 446-3609
ATTENDANCE OFFICE
Ann Buerkley - 446-3610
COUNSELING OFFICE
Stacey Penoncello, Registrar/Secretary - 446-3611
COUNSELORS
Lannette Christmann (A-G) - 446-3612
Patti Bathie (H-N) - 446-3613
Sarah Klimek (O-Z) - 446-3614
STUDENT SERVICES
Jamie Benson- Student Wellness & Family Facilitator - 446-3666
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER
Officer Bloom, SRO - 446-3619
SCHOOL NURSE
Ellen Sondreal, School Nurse - 446-3640
NUTRITION SERVICES
Shelly Kosienski - 446-3717
Ben Franklin Middle School
Jennifer Olson, Assistant Principal
Cory Holten, Dean of Students/Activities Director
Website: https://www.fargo.k12.nd.us/benfranklin
Location: 1420 8th Street North, Fargo, ND, USA
Phone: 701-446-3600