Ben Franklin Newsletter

Dear Ben Franklin Families,

As we continue to navigate through the recent tragic event within our district community, it’s important to come together and support one another. These times remind us of the strength we find in unity. We are fortunate to have such a close-knit community with such care and support.

Being the fall season, temperatures fluctuate quite a bit. Students will continue to go outside as much as possible for recess, activity time with their classes, and for different lesson experiences. Please be sure to label tags on clothing items, water bottles, lunch boxes, and other items that could easily be left behind as children move throughout their day.

Sincerely,

Geoff Hewitt

Principal

Students and staff members are encouraged to wear PINK on Thursday, October 24th and donate to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. where over 80% of all donations go directly to the fight against breast cancer. If you would like to donate, please do one of the following:

• Visit this site - https://fundraise.nbcf.org/fundraiser/5883456
• Send cash in an envelope marked "Fight Against Breast Cancer" in your child's backpack
• Drop-off cash at the main office

We will continue to fundraise through Thursday, October 31st.

We are looking forward to celebrating Halloween on Thursday, October 31, 2023 this school year. Students will have classes in the morning and the afternoon will be dedicated to classroom celebrations (organized by the classroom teacher) followed by a parade in the front of the school beginning at 2:00 pm. If you plan to attend the parade, please be sure to plan ahead as parking will be challenging! The students will parade in the front of the school, therefore, to keep everyone safe, no parking will be available in the loop out front.

Costumes:

• Students should be able to bring/carry their costumes to school with them that day and carry them on their own
• Time will be provided for students to put their costumes on prior to the parade and staff members will be available to assist students in putting on simple costumes
• Parents will not be able to come into the building during the class celebrations or prior to the parade. *Classroom coordinators will be able to come into the building to assist with setting up celebrations
• Please note - students will not be able to carry weapons such as swords, sticks, poles, etc. as part of their costumes. Please do not send these props to school.

Students Who Do Not Celebrate Halloween...

We realize that not all families celebrate Halloween. If you would prefer that your child not participate in the classroom festivities or the parade on Thursday, October, 31st, please be sure to let your child's teacher know. We will be providing fun-filled activities for your child during the afternoon (in place of the classroom celebration and parade). We want to be sure that all students enjoy the day!

The first student green team meeting of this school year was held on Friday, October 18th in the art room with Ms. Jennifer Skorupa. Student representatives have or will be introducing a fall sustainability choice board that will be coming home with all K-3 students to work on with their families. Be sure to look for this coming home!

Ben Franklin Elementary is excited to announce we are currently pursuing River-Friendly School Certification. River-Friendly is a NJ state-wide certification focused on promoting clean water and a healthy environment through voluntary action by individuals and institutions. To achieve certification, Ben Franklin needs to teach lessons about water quality, water conservation, and wildlife and provide local connections for students.

Many students recently learned about stream creatures that can help determine water quality, called macroinvertebrates, in their local Little Shabakunk stream. From this lesson, the students learned how pollution on land can impact aquatic environments so the land needs to be kept clean for these creatures to survive. In addition, third graders learned about native and invasive plants from a local TCNJ professor, Dr. Lauren Madden and her students. The third graders had a chance to see the ways in which native plants and their root structures help secure soil and keep our rivers healthy and safe, while also combating climate change. By identifying features of native and invasive plants, the third graders have a chance to make good decisions about keeping their environments healthy and safe.

Ben Franklin has enjoyed learning about River-Friendly topics. See how River-Friendly your home is by taking a resident survey here. If you earn enough points you can get a cool yard sign to display your dedication to environmental protection. We thank Mrs. Colleen Schantzer for promoting this initiative within our school!

This is a reminder of the NJ Department of Health flu vaccine requirement for school attendance. The requirement states "The current seasonal influenza vaccine is required every year for those children 6 months through 59 months of age. Children who have not received the flu vaccine by December 31st must be excluded (not allowed to attend child care/school) for the duration of influenza season (through March 31st), until they receive at least one dose of the influenza vaccine or until they turn 60 months of age." (NJDOH) Link to this requirement.

If needed, please provide verification of the vaccination to Nurse Calkin at bcalkin@ltps.org if you have not already.

We do keep a Lost and Found area outside the entrance to our All Purpose Room. It is quickly filling up with sweatshirts, jackets, water bottles, etc. To help avoid items from ending up in Lost and Found please be sure to label items with your child's name. Any items labeled will be more easily and more quickly returned. Thank you!

The Lawrence High School will be hosting a "Paint N Pumpkins" event on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 in the Commons Area at LHS from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. This event is for Grade K to Grade 3. Parents/Guardians are asked to stay and assist their children during the event. This is not a drop off event. Click here to see the flyer regarding this event.

PTO Meeting: Monday, October 21st at 7:00 pm on Google Meet (Link to join - https://meet.google.com/pmu-idga-rgn)

Trunk or Treat - Saturday, Oct. 26th from 6:30-7:30pm

We are excited to announce Trunk or Treat! This event is open to Ben Franklin families only and it is free! If you love Halloween and putting a smile on children’s faces then this is the event for you! For more information on being a decorated Trunk and to sign up, please use this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0C4AAAA622A2FE3-51599424-bftrunk

Clothing Drive - This year's clothing drive will begin in mid-October and run through mid-January. Click on the link to see the flyer for more information.

Dine to Donate at Shake Shack: Wednesday, November 6th from 11:00 am to 9:30 pm Please come on out and join us for the next dine to donate at Shake Shack! A very generous 25% of the proceeds goes to BF PTO.

Meet our Amazing PTO Executive Board Members:

Executive Board Members:

President: Megan Coopersmith

1st Vice President: Petra Crevier

2nd Vice President: Lindsay Walsh

Recording Secretary: Ilana Hernandez

Corresponding Secretary: Nicole Bottrel

Treasurer: Kristen Paladino

BF PTO Website: www.bfpto.org

Email: bfptorocks@gmail.com

Handbag BINGO!

The LTEF Handbag BINGO tickets went on sale yesterday to the public! Here is a link to the webpage with more information - https://www.ltefnj.org/events-fundraisers If you plan to purchase tickets, please visit this site - https://events.humanitix.com/ltef-s-handbag-bingo-fall-2024 The event will be held on Friday, October 25th and doors will open at 6:00 pm at the West Trenton Volunteer Fire Company.

Lawrence Has Talent Event

Save the date! This 2nd Annual event is scheduled for April 4, 2025! Details to follow in the future from the LTEF.

The Lawrence Township Public Schools will be hosting an Elementary School Community Conversation on October 29, 2024 at 6:00 pm. Save the date! The event will be held at Slackwood School and be open to all families. Please RSVP here by 10/25.

We have opened the feature in Genesis that allows you (as the parent/guardian) to mark your child absent. This allows you to use the app or the website to simply go into the system and mark an absence for the day or for a day in the future that you know your child(ren) will be absent. Here are the directions for utilizing this system.

Please know that the Ben Franklin Attendance email and phone line do remain active, however, we encourage you to take advantage of this "Notify Attendance Office" feature for a more direct and immediate response. Should you need any assistance or have questions about your parent portal account (link to parent portal), do not hesitate to contact our front office staff at (609)671-5540.

In an effort to continually improve safety and security within our district of all members, the district has set up a Tip Line. Please check out this brief (1 minute) video to learn more about the purpose of the Tip Line and how to access it: Tip Line Video

Link to LTPS District Calendar (2024-2025)

October:

21 -

• Charleston Wrap Fundraiser (PTO) (Oct. 21st-Nov. 4th)
  
• PTO Meeting on Google Meet, 7:00 pm (link to virtual meeting - https://meet.google.com/pmu-idga-rgn)

22 - Paint a Pumpkin at LHS Cafeteria, 6:00-8:00 pm

24 - Wear Pink to Show Support of Fighting Breast Cancer (click here to donate)

25 -

• BF Spirit Assembly (during school day) - ALL students and staff members encouraged to wear spirit wear and/or wear blue and white!
• LTEF Handbag BINGO at West Trenton Firehouse Ballroom , 6:00-10:30 pm

26 - Trunk or Treat at BF, 6:30-7:45 pm

27 - Trunk or Treat at BF, 6:30-7:45 pm (Weather Date)

29 - Elementary Community Conversation, 6:00 pm at Slackwood School

31 -

• Halloween
• Costume Parade, 2:00 pm at Ben Franklin (PreK-3)

November:

1 -School Closed (for students), Staff Professional Development

2 - Daylight Savings (Clocks turn back one hour)

5 - Election Day

6 - Dine to Donate (PTO fundraiser) at Shake Shack, 11:00 am - 9:30 pm

7-8 - School Closed, NJEA Convention Weekend

12 - Veterans' Day Assembly at BF (during school day)

13 - Board of Education Mtg., 7:00 pm at LHS

18 - PTO Meeting, 7:00 pm (Google Meet link to follow)

19-23 - Scholastic Book Fair (PTO event)

21-22 - Early Dismissal Days (K-3 students dismiss at 1:20 & PreK students dismiss at 1:40), Conferences

22 - BF Spirit Assembly (during school day) - ALL students and staff members encouraged to wear spirit wear and/or wear blue and white!

23 - PTO Turkey Trot & Teacher Experience Raffle at BF

26-27 - Early Dismissal Days (K-3 students dismiss at 1:20 & PreK students dismiss at 1:40), Conferences

28 - Early Dismissal Day (K-3 students dismiss at 1:20 & PreK students dismiss at 1:40), Thanksgiving Recess Begins

29-30 - School Closed, Thanksgiving Recess