February Newsletter 2023
Ben Franklin Middle School
From the Desk of Mrs. Hanson
Happy February!
We have some very exciting things happening in the months ahead as we push into the second half of the school year.
With first semester finalized student progress reports are available for families to view in PowerSchool. Parent teacher conferences are coming soon and will provide you an opportunity to check in with your child’s teachers on their progress this year if you have any questions or concerns. Conferences will be held at Ben Franklin on Tuesday, February 7th and Thursday, February 9th from 4:15-8:00pm. These conferences will be open house style, no appointment necessary, unless your child’s teacher contacts you via email stating otherwise. We hope to see you there!
I am honored to announce to the school community that Mr. Nick Hawkins has been hired as a Discipline Assistant at Ben Franklin! We are so lucky to have Mr. Hawkins in this position where he will be working to support students, staff, and families in providing accountability for student behaviors. His role will also have him connecting with students to discuss their goals, aspirations, and to develop plans for their success. He has hit the ground running and is already an incredibly important member of the Ben Franklin family.
Registration is underway this month with our current 8th grade students meeting with their counselors in the coming weeks to finalize their registration for next year. Other grade levels will begin registration soon. Current 7th grade students will register for classes starting on February 27th, and current 6th grade students will begin their registration the following day. Please have conversations with your child about their course selection for next year during this time of registration. The courses they choose to enroll in will affect staffing for the 23-24 school year for encore classes and music selections. We want to get the most accurate count during registration to ensure we can provide the staffing needed for all students to have opportunities to attend the courses of their choice. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s counselor.
Winter student activities are underway! Please make sure to check the morning announcements as other activities will be starting soon. You can also find information about middle school activities on the Ben Franklin website. We highly encourage all students to get involved in clubs and organizations and to try new activities and to try new opportunities. Statistics show that students who engage in other activities benefit and have higher achievement overall. If you have questions you can reach out to Mr. Matthew Quintus the Ben Franklin Activities Director.
Since our return from the holiday break, we have seen an increase in students having their cellphones and earbuds with them in class. A reminder to all students and families that the current expectation is for student cellphones to be turned off and in their locker throughout the school day. Students should be aware if they have their cellphone or earbuds, and they are seen by staff, these items could be taken until the end of the period, day, and possibly for parents to pick up in the office for multiple occurrences. More and more research is showing the effects of cellphones and checking notification on the developing brain, and we want to ensure your child is focused on school and instruction while they are in school each day.
Thanks for all you do to support Ben Franklin!
Mrs. Kirstin Hanson
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).
Ben Franklin Scholastic Book Fair!
Dear Parents and Families
Get ready! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming our way (YAY!). Choosing their own books empowers kids and inspires them to become Bolder, Prouder, and Stronger Readers. AND—as always—every book they buy earns rewards for our school.
Here’s what you need to know about the Fair, which will take place in the Ben Franklin Library Feb. 6-9 from 8:10am – 4pm. On 2/7/23 and 2/9/23 we are also open during Parent/Teacher Conferences.
This year, say goodbye to cash and hello to eWallet—your child’s digital payment account. Before the Fair, set up eWallet for worry-free, cash-free purchases. Anyone can contribute! Share each child’s eWallet so friends and family can add funds and give your kids more books to enjoy.
If you can’t make it to the Fair, then shop at our school’s Online Book Fair. All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. Your online orders will also benefit our school.
Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with eWallet and online shopping:
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/benfranklinmiddleschool1
Happy reading!
Monday, Feb 6, 2023, 08:15 AM
Ben Franklin Middle School, 8th Street North, Fargo, ND, USA
Upcoming Events
February 7, 2023
- Parent Teacher Conferences 4:15-8pm
February 9, 2023
- Parent Teacher Conferences 4:15-8pm
February 17, 2023
- No School
February 20, 2023
- Staff PD- No School
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 PTO would like to say thank you to those of you who volunteered to help with the school dance! The gym looked great and the dance ran smoothly. Also, thanks to those of you who helped with the spelling bee. We're all part of this PTO and we all appreciate your work! The next meeting will be Monday, Feb. 6th at 6pm in the library at Ben. We will discuss conferences, spring activities, the budget and next year's board among other things. We'll also have a visit from the FPS recruiter... and candy!
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