The Roadrunner
Ben Franklin Elementary School
September 2020
Dear Families,
Having the children back in our classrooms has been quite enjoyable to say the least. The staff continues to work hard to establish new routines that involve wearing masks, washing hands more often, and practicing physical distancing. The staff and students are handling all of the changes like true champions. We greatly appreciate all of you who have done your part by keeping your child(ren) home when displaying two or more symptoms (and also the phone calls we have received just to double-check if needed). We want to ensure we remain face to face as long as possible (our goal is the entire year) so please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep them home if they are ill. During this time, it is best to err on the side of caution.
We want to thank all of those who are following our Turn Lane guidelines when picking up your child(ren). It is important that all families follow the guidelines to ensure safety for all staff and students. It takes a team effort to have the Turn Lane cleared out by 3:05 (yes, it only takes 5 minutes of your time when the rules are followed). Remember the following:
* Pull all the way forward (even if you are picking up a kindergarten student- they will find you).
* Do not exit your vehicle in the turn lane, it is only for "stop and go", if you need to exit your vehicle, park on the street
* All eyes on the road, no cell phone use in the turn lane. We had a near accident due to a distracted driver.
A reminder that school-issued devices should only be used for school-related assignments, not personal use (as per the Device Expectation plan attached below). If there is not an assignment due that requires the use of a device, the device should remain in their backpack unless being charged for the night. Downloading apps without the teachers request, is not approved. Teachers will reach out to families who have received notifications of apps being downloaded and ask for them to be deleted. We appreciate your help in monitoring your child(ren) while using technology.
Please continue to be safe! We love having our students back!
Covid-19 Related Absence Information
Mask Up
Fall Conferences
Due to COVID-19, Ben Franklin teachers will hold “Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences” to meet with you and your child to focus on setting goals for this year. Conferences are scheduled for Tuesday, October 6th, and Thursday, October 8th from 4:00-7:00 pm, and Friday, October 9th from 11:40-4:00 pm. Our goal is to have 100% participation. Conferences are a valuable time to learn about your child(rens) progress (academically and socially) and their goals for the school year. The conference form was included in the email that shared this newsletter. Please download the form to access the conference links. Additional information about conferences is provided on the form.
Breakfast Reminder
We spent the first couple of weeks greeting students on the blacktop to show them where to go when they arrive. By now, students should know where to go when they arrive between 7:40-8:00, they may enter the building upon arrival (only if they are eating breakfast). Reminder~ The doors for breakfast will remain locked until 7:40 am. Your child should remain in the car until then, a bell will sound at 7:40 to indicate the doors will open.
Students eating breakfast will enter their assigned door. Since our younger siblings know where to go now, their siblings should enter at their assigned door.
KIndergarten- Door #14
1st & 2nd Grade - Door #13
3rd, 4th & 5th Grade - Door #12
In an effort to keep the number of students who attend breakfast at a safe number that allows us to maintain social distancing guidelines, please use the following guideline:
Please note, seating charts have been created for students who arrive between 7:40-8:00 & 8:00-8:15 based on family response to the Breakfast survey.
7:40 am - 8:00 am~ for families who have a less flexible work schedule and need to arrive by 8:00 am.
8:00 am - 8:15 am ~ for families who have a morning routine/work schedule that allows for arrival within this timeframe.
8:15 am- 8:25 am ~ for families who have a morning routine/work schedule that allows for arrival within this timeframe. A Grab-n-Go breakfast can still be offered at this time if needed.
If your child will not be eating breakfast at school, plan to arrive as close to 8:20 as possible as students wait on the blacktop until the bell rings.
September 23 - 1:30 Dismissal
September 25 - No School-Professional Development
October 1- Annual Parent Title 1 meeting 2:00-2:30 (request meeting link if interested)
October 9 - 11:20 Dismissal Parent/Teacher Conferences
October 21 - 1:30 Dismissal
October 26th Picture Retake
October 22-23 - No School
Title 1 Information and Documents
The Annual Title 1 Parent Meeting will be Thursday, October 1st, 2020. Due to Covid restrictions, the meeting will be held as a virtual event. If you are interested in attending. Please contact the office by Wednesday, September 30th. A link to the meeting will then be shared with those who make a request.
As a “School-wide Title I School” we are required to provide parents with information about a variety of things dealing with the successful operation of our school. This mailing includes many pieces of information that may be of interest to our parents.
Included in the mailing are the following:
Dispute Resolution Policy/Procedures Document.
Ben Franklin Title I School-Parent Compact.
Ben Franklin School and Family Engagement Policy.
The meeting minutes from our Annual Title Review Meeting held in May of 2020.
Ben Franklin Staff List
Ben Franklin Schoolwide Continuous Improvement Map
Agenda for Parent Title Meeting, Oct. 1st, 2020
The Schoolwide Continuous Plan includes the goals, strategies, and activities that will drive our instruction over the course of the next 5 school years. This plan has been designed to help our students meet State standards and guide the systematic improvement of our school. You may request to see the qualifications of any staff member by contacting our office. I can report that all teachers have had the appropriate training and hold a current, valid teaching license. Likewise, our paraeducators meet or exceed the requirements for their positions.
Distance Learners Distribution Days
Please go to Door #1 from 9:00am-11:00am on the Distribution days. The materials will be placed on a table near the front door. Please take the materials labeled for your child, there is no need to ring the door unless you need assistance.
Distribution Dates:
September 30
October 14
October 28
November 25
December 9
January 6
February 3
February 17
March 3
March 24
April 7
April 21
May 28 -Materials Returned
Daily At Home Covid-19 Screening
Covid-19 Resources
Reminder:
In the event of a COVID-19 case in a face-to-face classroom: individuals identified as close contacts within the school setting will receive a notification, which will be sent by your student’s school/Grand Forks Public Schools on behalf of Grand Forks Public Health. If an individual is not notified, the individual was not considered a close contact. Close contact is defined by the CDC as, “anyone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 48 hours before the person began feeling sick until the time the patient was isolated.”
School Meals -- Free and Reduced Application
Even though meals are being offered to our families at no cost until December, it is still important to complete the Free & Reduced application.
An application is available online at https://www.gfschools.org/Page/8333, or download the form below, fill it in, and submit it to the Wilder Office. After the application has been reviewed by the Child Nutrition Department, you will be notified by letter of your status. All information is confidential - names are never disclosed. A copy of the application will also be sent home the first day of school.
Information from our School Nurse
Ben Franklin Elementary Vision
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