March Newsletter 2023
Ben Franklin Middle School
From the Desk of Mrs. Hanson
The month of March is here and moving quickly! We have been busy these last few weeks completing registration for the 23-24 school year. A special thanks to our school counselors who put in lots of time meeting individually with many of our students to ensure they had the selection of course they desired for next year!
When we return from spring break our building will be resetting some common area expectations including the hallways and cafeteria. These expectations are not new to Ben Franklin, but our staff and students have agreed that we need to communicate and teach more clearly our expectations, and how we will follow up. You will continue to see a behavior of the week in our morning announcements as we focus in on these areas. I want to be clear this is a reset and clarification for all, but not a consequence for all. Our hope is to clarify these expectations during back to school next year.
I have so enjoyed glimpses of spring in some of the recent days. Here is hoping for more spring days ahead soon! Being from southern South Dakota, the snow doesn't stick around quite like it does here in Fargo. A shout out to the amazing custodial crew here at Ben who cleared so much snow last week to make sure we could open after the remote learning day.
Speaking of remote learning days, Ben Franklin students and families rocked it! I was so impressed at the attendance and engagement from students as I bopped around to different zoom classrooms. I certainly hope we see spring and not snow, but feel confident that if needed we can all learn effectively remotely.
Enjoy a well deserved spring break. If you are traveling, be safe, and we will see you soon!
Principal Hanson
Last week I learned, that when you go into work early on a remote learning day, you just might come home to your garage being "plowed shut" and have to do some emergency snow blowing to park the car! Principal Hanson
School Out Days- March 13-17
DEADLINE for ordering YEARBOOKS is Friday, March 31st.
7th & 8th Grade Youth Risk Behavior Survey/Youth Tobacco Survey
Students in grades 7-8 will be asked to fill out a questionnaire that takes about 45 minutes to complete. Doing this survey will cause no risk to students. The survey has been designed to protect student privacy. No student or class will ever be mentioned by name in a report of the results. The results of the survey will help establish trends over time that can be utilized in school planning and curriculum development.
We would like all selected students to take part in the survey, but the survey is voluntary. No action will be taken against the school, you, or your child if your child does not take part. Students can skip any questions they do not wish to answer. In addition students may stop participating in he survey at any point without penalty.
The survey will be available in the front office for you to preview if you desire. At this time, if you decide you do not want your child to take part in the survey, we will have you sign the attached form. Form for Denial of Parental Permission
NOTE: If you would like to have an electronic Microsoft Word version of this document emailed to you, please contact Mark Winkelman at mrwindkelman@gmail.com
- 7th Grade will be taking the survey in Advisory on March 27th
- 8th Grade will be taking the survey in Advisory on March 24th
2023 Summer School for Middle School
Greetings parents,
Believe it or not it is time to start thinking about summer school. All students are welcome to sign up for summer school. School recommendation letters will be sent later this spring for individual students. Here is the current information which can be found at fargosummerschool.com.
MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAMS
- For additional details, please refer to the 2023 Summer School MS/HS Program Book.
Reading, Math, Science, and Social Studies classes are offered to students entering Grades 7 and 8 for the next school year. Students must sign up for 2 courses.
- Dates: June 8–29, Monday–Thursday (and Friday, June 9th)
- Locations: Ben Franklin, Carl Ben Eielson, Discovery Middle Schools, and Virtual
Middle school students are also able to register for music programs.
Register through Summer School PowerSchool
Registration closes May 25th
For more information, please contact:
Arati Heath
701-446-3210
heatha@fargo.k12.nd.us
Remote Learning for Future Snow Days (if needed)
Any additional snow days this year will be remote learning days for all Ben Franklin students. During remote learning days we will follow our regular class schedule with teachers zooming with students to start each class period to provide instruction. Students will then have work to complete independently.
Attendance will be based on student attendance to zoom meetings and/or work completion.
To access remote learning students will be logging into their Canvas account and teachers will have zoom links and other information posted to their class pages.
Please have a conversation with your child about the importance of bringing their PLD (computer) home and other materials they may need each night as we finish out winter and look toward spring
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
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- Join us for our next meeting on April 3 at 6pm in library!
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
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