Ben Franklin January Newsletter
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.
UPDATED INFORMATION
Citizenship Test as a Requirement for Graduation
YEARBOOKS
Yearbook orders can be paid online in SchoolPay or by bringing cash or check to the main office. The cost is $15. To ensure that your student will receive a yearbook at the end of the year, it must be ordered and paid for in advance. The deadline for ordering a yearbook is Friday, February 11, 2022.
Fargo Public Schools Accepting Nominations Beginning January 17 for Teacher, Administrator, and Support Staff of the Year Awards
Parents and community members are invited to nominate a Fargo Public Schools teacher, administrator, or support staff member they feel serves our students with excellence for consideration of a yearly recognition award. Online instructions, forms, and the application process can be found at: www.fargo.k12.nd.us/StaffRecognitionProgram.
Nominations will be accepted online January 17 – 28, 2022.
The District will award the following this spring:
Teacher of the Year Award − awarded to a certified staff member
Administrator of the Year Award − awarded to a principal, assistant principal, director, or coordinator
Support Staff of the Year Award − awarded to an educational support staff member, custodial/maintenance department staff member, or nutrition services staff member
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
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).
If a 2-hour late start is declared, we will start school at 10:55am and students will go right to their period 3 class. The doors to the school would open at 10:00am.
For more information please see the school cancellation process on the Fargo Public Schools website.
Bus Delay Notification Process
RE: Bus Route Adjustments if Valley Bus experiences a Bus Driver Shortage:
In the rare event that Valley Bus does not have enough staff to cover all the school bus routes for Fargo Public Schools, Valley Bus would implement a “delayed bus route plan” rather than canceling routes. This plan could be used in either a morning route or an afternoon route.
Delayed Bus Route Plan– The “delayed bus route plan” would have the drivers cover for the missing driver after they have completed their assigned route. This would cause the identified route to be delayed by 15 to 30 minutes. Families would be notified the day of the delay by email, text, and voice messaging. Morning route delay notifications will occur between 5:30-6:30 am and after-school delay notifications will occur by 1:00 pm if a driver shortage occurs. This means students may be standing at their bus stop for additional time or they may be returning home up to 30 minutes later than normal. Each route affected would cause a delay for both the elementary and secondary students riding that bus.
The Bus Delay message will only be sent to the affected route and it will say the following:
“Attention FPS families of Bus Route ###. Today, [Monday, October 9, 2021], your morning route will be 15-30 minutes later than normal. Your principal has been notified of your late arrival. “
Or
“Attention FPS families of Bus Route ###: Today, [Monday, October 20, 2021], your after-school route will arrive home 15-30 minutes later than normal. Students will be supervised at their home building until the bus is available.”
Since communication with families is based on what was entered into the FPS PowerSchool System, we asked that each family review their listed emails and cell phone numbers in the Parent PowerSchool Portal. Please update if needed by calling your child’s main office. This type of communication may be used for other situations that cause significant bussing delays.
Students will be excused in the morning if they arrive late to school due to the delayed busing. The buildings will implement a supervision plan for students if the after-school bus is delayed.
Please remember if you decide to drop your student off at their building more than 15 minutes before school the students will wait outside. Please make sure they have dressed appropriately for the weather.
Parents can check their child’s pick-up time using the “bus route by address” options on the FPS Website at https://www.fargo.k12.nd.us/Page/165.
Although the 2021-22 school year has been challenging, the transportation department and staff at Valley Bus are responding to these challenges and working hard to keep students safe. We thank families for their patience and trust as we navigate staffing challenges.
Please contact your child’s school if you have any questions.
Dr. Grosz & Mrs. Eidsness
Associate Superintendent of Fargo Public Schools
COVID-19 MASK POLICY UPDATE
As of November 10, masks are strongly encouraged (not required) for all individuals in school buildings during non-instructional hours and district facilities that are not schools. This recommendation is subject to change based on the guidance being provided for general community events. In addition to other mitigation strategies including but not limited to screening, testing, and handwashing, universal masking will continue to be required for all students, staff and visitors in school buildings during instructional hours.
In accordance with updated guidance from Fargo Cass Public Health, effective Monday, January 17, 2022, masks will be recommended (not required) in all Fargo Public School buildings at all times. Universal masking will still be utilized inside all Fargo Public School buildings during instructional hours until January 17, 2022.
Masks will still be required for all riders and drivers on FPS transportation, including school buses and activity buses due to a federal requirement.
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.
Hello Ben Franklin Families! Join our PTA!
Join Ben Franklin Middle School PTA! Go to the Ben Franklin Website and click on Parent Teacher Association under the Quick Links. Our PTA meets every other month in the library at 5:30pm. Here are the dates:
Donate to Friends of Ben Franklin!
The Ben Franklin Middle School PTA sponsors students’ field trips, special events, teacher appreciation items, and special classroom needs requested by teachers and staff. In order to support these needs, we must raise funds annually. Normally, we sell magazines or other goods, and the BFMS PTA gets part of the money raised, while the rest of the funds go to the fundraising organization. This year, we decided to take a more direct approach and ask for direct donations through this new link on SchoolPay. By donating to Friends of Ben Franklin, you send money directly to the BFMS PTA to be used at Ben Franklin or for programs supported by the school and its PTA. There is no “middle man” – no third-party fundraising organization to pay. All of your donated money stays with the school!
The BFMS PTA is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and your donations are tax deductible. Check with your employer to see if they match non-profit donations to double the benefit of your donation.
Donations to Friends of Ben Franklin will be accepted at any time throughout the year, and anyone can donate! You can find the links at the bottom of this page. The suggested donation amount is $10 per student, but please give as you are able. The small additional transaction fee at checkout comes from SchoolPay. Thank you for your help with this new program. Go, Wildcats!
To donate, go to https://sites.google.com/view/bfmsptafargo/home
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 Taylor Savageau, 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