Ben Franklin Newsletter

Dear Ben Franklin Families,

It was great to welcome students back into Ben Franklin this past week and to see the hallways and classrooms buzzing with excitement for the school year. Students have reconnected with friends and begun to build new friendships as they become familiar with new routines and schedules.

We look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday, September 19th for our Back to School Night. The evening will allow families (adults and students) to visit the school and learn about daily routines, curricula, and to see the spaces in which your children spend their days while at school. Details of the evening will be coming out soon, however, please be sure to mark your calendars. The school will be open from 6:00 through 8:00 pm.

Please know that you are welcome to reach out at any time throughout the school year with questions. Here is the link to all our staff members for this school year. Staff members can be reached through email and/or through TalkingPoints. Directions for and information about TalkingPoints can be found here.

We look forward to a wonderful school year partnering with you to support your children!

Sincerely,

Geoff Hewitt

Principal

Now that we are a couple of days into the school year, you may have questions or may be looking for additional information about our school and procedures. Most answers can be found in our Ben Franklin Student and Caretaker Handbook. If you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out to your child's teacher or our main office. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.

If your child's dismissal plan is different on a given day, please send in a written note with your child's name, the date, the change in dismissal plans, and your signature. A separate note must be sent each time your child's dismissal plan is different. In order to ensure the safety of your child, one note covering multiple days will not be accepted. If you need to change dismissal plans during the day, please call the main office at 609-671-5540.

Safety of all students and adults is our top priority. Detailed procedures can be found here on our website as well. Please be reminded to follow these procedures to ensure safety for all:

Arrival (8:10-8:45 for K-3 students and 9:25-9:40 for PreK):

• Family members will need to allow staff members to bring students into the building. If a parent/guardian has a need to enter the building, please be sure to go to the main office by being walked in by a staff member on duty or buzzing at the main entrance of our school. Parents/Guardians are not permitted to enter the building without going through the main office.
• Walkers and Bus Riders enter the building through the Main Entrance of the school. Please do not walk students to the side entrance where cars are unloading.
• Car Line Safety -
• Please be sure to follow traffic patterns and direction of staff members on duty. Do not drive around cars in the car line unless directed to do so.
• Please be sure students are set up to exit on the sidewalk side of the car. Crossing through the line of traffic is dangerous for all involved.
• Staff are there to help, there is no need for adults in cars to get out of the vehicle when dropping off.

Dismissal (8:20-8:40 for all students, PreK-3):

• We will begin dismissing students at approximately 3:20 pm
• Walkers (anyone who has parked their vehicle and is walking to the school to pick-up) will be able to greet their child at the doors by the modulars (left end of the school when facing the building)
• Car Line Safety -
• Traffic should only make a right into the parking lot. Vehicles coming from the other direction should plan to drive past the entrance and then turn around to then enter the parking lot with a right-hand turn.
• Please be sure to follow traffic patterns and direction of staff members on duty. Do not drive around cars in the car line unless directed to do so.
• When leaving the parking lot, please follow the signage provided... no left turns out of the big parking lot.

We GREATLY appreciate your patience and adherence to these expectations in order to make our arrival and dismissal procedures as smooth as possible while keeping everyone safe.

If you ever need to pick up your student early from school, please be sure to do so by 3:00 pm. Any students being requested to be picked up after 3:00 pm will be dismissed through our typical dismissal procedures beginning at 3:20 pm.

The Lawrence Township Public Schools welcomes you to the 2024-2025 school year! There are a lot of exciting initiatives happening in our district's communications office. Check some of them out here! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_auZI9VB5Y

Also, stay tuned for upcoming opportunities for Community Conversations providing an opportunity to hear more about our district and to ask questions in an open forum. Dates and times to follow in future newsletters and communications.

Please take a moment to complete the application found at our website, LINK HERE. This is a process that MUST be completed EACH school year. If the process is not completed, your child will be charged for a full price lunch in the cafeteria. Please reach out to the main office by calling (609)571-5540, by emailing ddelgado@ltps.org or ltennant@ltps.org, or by stopping by for assistance.

Students are able to have both breakfast and lunch at school (PreK-3). Here is a link to our food service provider's page on our website where menus can be found. In addition, here is a link to put money on your child's account along with contact information for any questions you may have. Please know that there is a fee for adding money on account digitally, however, you may also drop-off cash or a check to our main office to be added to your child's account.

LTPS Has a New Mobile App!

Downloading the app will allow you to access important information quickly and easily from anywhere you have your phone! Information includes News, Lunch Menus, Talking Points, Parent Portal, Referendum Updates, PaySchools Central, District Calendar, and more!

Scan the QR code or click here to connected with LTPS when you’re on the go!

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

LTPS will be hosting a Voter Registration Drive on Saturday, September 28th at the high school, visit this article for more information.

Our LTPS Athletic Director, Mr. Anthony Ammirata, has shared an opportunity for students in PreK through 8th grade to participate in Lacrosse! Here's a link for fall lacrosse clinics in Lawrence Township:

https://lawrencelacrosseclub.teamsnapsites.com/fall-clinic-2024-program-info/

Link to LTPS District Calendar (2024-2025)

September

15 - Start of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)

16 -

• PTO Coin Wars Begin (Sept. 16-Oct. 4)
• PTO Meeting, 7:00 pm at BF (in person)

19 - PreK-3 Back to School Night, 6:00-8:00 pm at BF

22 - Fall Equinox

25 - Ice Cream Social (PTO sponsored), 6:00-7:30 pm in BF All Purpose Room (APR)

28 - Voter Registration Drive at LHS