Ben Franklin Newsletter

Dear Ben Franklin Families,

Students are certainly settling into the school year as we have completed our first full week of school and routines are being set and new friendships are developing. It was a busy week as students experienced the first fire drill and security drill of the year. We will practice drills each month and I will be sure to notify you when a drill has been practiced. Students handled these first drills very well this week!!

You may have noticed that our school banners have begun to be installed on the light posts in the large parking lot as well as in the bus loop. They clearly display our newly designed mascot as well as our school colors brightly. I would like to thank Jen Baldassari and Steven Prentiss for all of their work in putting together the logos and banners as well as our facilities department for installing many of them this past week.

We are very much looking forward to seeing families on our Back to School Night this upcoming week! I have included more detailed information about the night in this newsletter, but if you have any questions please feel free to reach out. Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Geoff Hewitt

Principal

This year's PreK-3rd grade Back to School Night will begin at 6:00 pm for PreK-1st grade families and 7:00 pm for 2nd and 3rd grade families. The purpose of this evening is to allow families time to visit their child's classroom, meet their child's teachers, and to learn about academics and procedures.

Please note that this is not an evening for specifically discussing your child. Individualized conversations about children can be done separately through communicating with your child's teachers through the use of email, phone, or scheduling a time to speak privately. Of course, we will also have conferences taking place November 21, 22, 25, and 26.

Below are links to specific Back to School Night schedules for each grade level/band of grade levels:

• PreSchool (6:00-7:00)
• Kindergarten & First Grade (6:00-7:00)
• Second Grade & Third Grade (7:00-8:00)

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to your child's teacher, the main office, or to Mr. Hewitt (ghewitt@ltps.org). We look forward to seeing you!

The Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC), an advisory group of community stakeholders interested in the education and welfare of children from preschool through grade three, as outlined in N.J.A.C. 6A:13A-1.2 is being launched! This council is being convened by our school district to strengthen our commitment to early childhood education.

What is the ECAC?

The ECAC is an initiative aimed at supporting and enhancing early childhood education in our district. It will serve as a collaborative platform where educators, parents, and community members can come together to share insights and make recommendations that will shape the programs and services for our young learners. The council will focus on various areas, including curriculum development, family engagement, and community partnerships. Our goal is to ensure that all children have the best possible start in their educational journey. The ECAC will be made up of a diverse group of individuals dedicated to improving early childhood education within our community.

How You Can Help...

We are currently seeking community members who are passionate about early childhood education to join the council. If you are interested in joining, please complete the interest form by scanning the QR CODE. For more information, feel free to contact Egnita Pardo at epardo@ltps.org.

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

Coin Wars: Monday, Sept. 16 thru Friday, Oct. 4th - Please consider sending in your loose change or even paper bills. The winning grade will receive a pajama day with extra recess and popsicles!!! Please click here to see the flyer.

PTO Meeting: Monday, September 16th at 7pm in person at BF & on Google Meet
Please join us for our first PTO meeting of the year! Children may attend. There will be a coloring table available for the kids. There will also be an option to join via Google Meet. Here is the link to the Google Meet - https://meet.google.com/njy-jcsp-mrb

Dine to Donate at Chuck E. Cheese, September 20th from 3:00-10:00 pm - Enjoy time with family and friends while also support the PTO!

BF Ice Cream Social: Wednesday, September 25th from 6-7:30pm - This event is a great time for kids to meet and spend time with their new classmates, as well as for families to visit the school and meet other BF families! Mr. Hewitt and some teachers will be in attendance to help serve the sundaes!

Save the Dates:

• Fall Fest: Sunday, October 6th
• PTO Meeting #2: Monday, October 21st
• Trunk or Treat: Saturday, October 26th

BF PTO Website: www.bfpto.org

Email: bfptorocks@gmail.com

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.

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

Link to LTPS District Calendar (2024-2025)

September

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 in BF Library or join through Google Meet - https://meet.google.com/njy-jcsp-mrb)

19 - PreK-3 Back to School Night, 6:00-8:00 pm at BF (see details above in this newsletter)

20 - Dine to Donate (PTO fundraiser) at Chuck E. Cheese, 3:00-10:00 pm

22 - Fall Equinox

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

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

28 - Voter Registration Drive at LHS

October:

3 - School Closed, Rosh Hashanah

6 - Fall Fest (PTO event)

7-11 - Week of Respect

9 -

• Walk/Bike to School Event at BF, 8:10-8:45 am (arrival)
• Board of Education Meeting at LHS, 7:00 pm

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

15 - School Pictures (PreK-3)

21 - PTO Meeting, 7:00 pm

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 , evening

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

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

31 - Parade, 2:00 pm