Dear Ben Franklin Families,
I hope this message finds you well! As we head into another busy and exciting week, I wanted to share some important updates with you. First, conferences will be starting next week, and we encourage all families to sign up and participate. These conferences provide an excellent opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, celebrate their achievements, and address any questions or concerns. Please look for the sign-up information from your child’s teacher.
In addition to conferences, we’re excited for the PTO Book Fair beginning this week. The fair will be open during school hours for classes as well as during conferences, offering a wonderful selection of books for all ages. It’s a great way to encourage your child’s love of reading while supporting our school’s PTO. And don’t forget about the PTO Turkey Trot and Fun Run next Saturday! This event is a fun and festive way to come together as a school community, and we look forward to seeing many join in the fun, whether by running, walking, or cheering on participants.
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to celebrating these events with you.
Sincerely,
Geoff Hewitt
Principal
LTEF Announces Fall Grant Recipients
Lawrence Township Education Foundation (LTEF) visited Ben Franklin (and all LTPS schools) on Monday, November 11th to share the good news with staff members that their grants had been awarded! This was followed by the recipients being invited to the Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, November 13th. Thank you to all staff who submitted grant proposals to make this all possible! At the Board of Education meeting, the LTEF awarded a total of $46,354 in support of 26 innovative programs throughout LTPS for its Fall 2024 grant cycle!
We thank the LTEF for all they do for our schools! Check out the pictures of the BF recipients as well as the large photo of all the recipients who were able to attend the Board of Education meeting!
Thanksgiving Food Drive
Ben Franklin is collecting donations for our annual food drive to help those in our BF community who need a little extra support this time of year.
*If you are interested in receiving a food donation this Thanksgiving, you may reach out to Mrs. Umbach at 609-671-5545 or email mumbach@ltps.org*
Please send your donations to school between Monday, November 4th and Monday, November 18th.
- Pre K and Kindergarten: canned fruits or vegetables, applesauce, canned sweet potatoes, stuffing.
- First Grade: pastas and sauces, macaroni and cheese, rice, canned or dried beans.
- Second Grade: tuna, peanut butter, jelly, soups, nuts, tea, coffee and cranberry sauce
- Third Grade: cereal, sugar, canned juices, turkey gravy, pancake mix
**If you would prefer to give a monetary donation instead, please send it in an envelope marked “Thanksgiving Drive.” We will take care of purchasing food items with these funds.
Please call or email Mrs. Umbach at (609)671-5545 or mumbach@ltps.org with any questions.
Day of the Dead & AP Spanish Students
AP Spanish high school students from LHS came to BF on Wednesday, November 6th to work with our 2nd grade students in collaboration with the 2nd grade art lesson, "Sugar Skulls". The high schoolers read a story, taught Spanish words, taught about Spanish culture, and buddied up with 2nd graders to create a craft! Lessons were planned with the high school students and their Spanish Teacher, Alyssa Katz. They were then shared with the 2nd grade classes that helped tie together the Calaveras lesson done in art with Ms. Skorupa! This was a great experience for all students and adults involved!
On Tuesday, November 12th, Ben Franklin students and staff members recognized and honored Veterans for their service and sacrifices. Each grade level prepared a song or a poem to perform for our honored guests in a school-wide assembly. The Veterans were then presented a certificate from our school to demonstrate our gratitude and appreciation. We thank all Veterans!
Ben Franklin Election Results are In!
On Tuesday, November 5th all Ben Franklin students and staff members voted to determine which cause they would pay tribute to and write letters in support of come January 2025 as a way to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. The ballot consisted of Veterans, Meals on Wheels, First Responders, or the Elderly in Nursing Homes. Each class came to the APR where they cast their votes with Mrs. Offery, Mr. Hewitt, and Mrs. Umbach. The votes were then tallied by Mrs. Schantzer's students and the selection was announced... come January, our students will be writing letters to our Veterans!! Thank you to Mrs. Smoots for her efforts in beginning this process with the leadership assembly held at the end of October. She then worked collaboratively with Mrs. Offery to bring the idea of a school-wide vote for all students to learn from to fruition.
Thank you to all who participated in the latest Dine to Donate at Shake Shack and to those who participated in the Charleston Wrap fundraiser!!
PTO Meeting: Monday, November 18th at 7:15 pm on Google Meet (Link to join - https://meet.google.com/yjp-dezv-vcv) ***Please note the 7:15 pm start time this month!!***
Scholastic Book Fair: November 20th - November 26th
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Ben Franklin! Our Friends & Family Event will be on Saturday, November 23rd, from 11am-1pm. Friends & Family of BF Students are invited to attend and shop the fair. Please consider volunteering during our shopping hours. The biggest need at this time is for our Friends & Family Event. Click here to volunteer or email Kristen.L.Paladino@gmail.com with your availability.
All volunteers will get a credit towards the goal of having 12+ hours of volunteering to earn the grand prize of your child/children having lunch with Mr. Hewitt during the school year (only for BF students)!!
3rd Grade Sponsored Staff Appreciation Lunch: Thursday, November 21st
The first staff appreciation lunch of the year will be a "Friendsgiving" sponsored by third grade families on Thursday, November 21st.
We have about 90 staff members to serve, so if you can, please use the Sign Up Genius link below to volunteer to bring in needed items or, if you prefer, donate toward the lunch cost. There's no contribution too small and cash or checks can be sent to school in an envelope marked "3rd Grade Teacher Lunch/PTO mail". You can also send contributions through Venmo to @Krista-Gervon and add “3rd-grade teacher lunch” in the notes section.
There is also the option to volunteer with set up and clean up on the day of the event.
Sign Up Genius - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F49AFA82CA0F58-52308134-3rdgrade
Please feel free to email Krista Gervon (kgervon@gmail.com) with any questions and thank you, all, for your support!
Turkey Trot and Fun Run! - Saturday, November 23rd from 10:00 am to 11:00 am
The BF PTO will be hosting a Turkey Trot one-mile fun run at Ben Franklin Elementary School!! To register for the Turkey Trot visit, https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094CAAA92CA5FBC52-50581552-turkey#/ All registered runners will receive a finishing medal.
Teacher Experiences will be sold at the Turkey Trot and Fun Run! Do not miss this student favorite where students have a chance to win time with BF staff doing an array of special activities! Raffle tickets will also be sold on Thurs & Fri at the book fair leading up to the Turkey Trot. Winners to be drawn at conclusion of Book Fair event (1 pm)! This will be the only time this year where Teacher Experience raffles are offered.
Spirit Wear: Orders due by Monday, November 25th!
Spirit Wear sales are now OPEN!!
*Spirit wear order forms were sent home in your child’s backpack and included spirit wear information (order forms, sizing chart, etc.). The order form can also be accessed through this link https://bfpto.org/sale/ *Cash or check is strongly preferred and can be returned in your child’s backpack.
Clothing Drive - This year's clothing drive will run through January 13th. Click on the link to see the flyer for more information.
AmeriKick Kids’ Night Out: Saturday, December 7th, 5:30 pm – 8:15 pm
Need a night out? AmeriKick’s Sensei Vince and the PTO have you covered! Drop the kids off at AmeriKick for an evening of martial arts including pizza, drinks and refreshments! Please see the flyer for more details and use the QR code within the flyer to register!
BF PTO Website: www.bfpto.org
Email: bfptorocks@gmail.com
Lost and Found
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!
Attendance - Genesis Portal
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.
LTPS Tip Line
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)
November:
18 - PTO Meeting, 7:15 pm (Google Meet link - https://meet.google.com/yjp-dezv-vcv)
20-26 - Scholastic Book Fair (PTO event)
21-22 - Early Dismissal Days (K-3 students dismiss at 1:20 & PreK students dismiss 1:30-1:40), Conferences
21 - PTO Sponsored Staff Luncheon (Thank you 3rd Grade Families for Hosting!)
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 and Fun Run! (10:00-11:00 am at BF) & Teacher Experience Raffle
- Scholastic Book Fair, 11:00-1:00 pm (Teacher Experience Raffle drawing at 1:00 pm)
25 - PTO Spirit Wear Deadline!
26-27 - Early Dismissal Days (K-3 students dismiss at 1:20 & PreK students dismiss 1:30-1:40), Conferences
28 - Early Dismissal Day (K-3 students dismiss at 1:20 & PreK students dismiss 1:30-1:40), Thanksgiving Recess Begins
29-30 - School Closed, Thanksgiving Recess
December:
3 - Student Photo Retakes with Photo Haven
4 - 3rd Grade Music Concert, 7:00 pm
6 - End of 1st Trimester
7 - AmeriKick Kids' Night Out, 5:30 pm - 8:15 pm
11 - BOE meeting, LHS at 7:00 pm
12-13 - PTO Holiday Shop
13 - 1st Trimester Report Cards Posted in Genesis
16 - PTO Meeting, 7:00 pm (Google Meet Link to follow)
20 -
- BF Spirit Assembly (during school day) - ALL students and staff members encouraged to wear spirit wear and/or wear blue and white!
- Early Dismissal Day (K-3 students dismiss at 1:20 & PreK students dismiss 1:30-1:40), Winter Recess Begins
21-31 - School Closed - Winter Recess
January 2025:
1 - School Closed - New Year Day
2 - Students return!
