April-June Newsletter

April 2025

• April 1st – Q3 Report Cards Issued

• April 2nd – Virginia School Board Association Art Show, at TGC

• April 3rd & 4th - 7th Grade Field Trip to P&HCC

• April 3rd – Q3 Parent-Teacher Conference Night, 3-5:30 pm

• April 3rd – School Board Winter Student Recognition Night, FCHS Auditorium, 6 pm

• April 4th – School Librarian Appreciation Day

• April 7-11th – Assistant Principal Week

• April 8-May 2nd – FCPS Division Art Show

• April 10th – Q3 Flight Night, 6pm West Hall Gym

• April 11th – Beads & Bubblegum School-wide Event

• April 11th – 2 Hour Early Dismissal

• April 14th-18th - Spring Break – School Closed for Students & Staff

• April 22nd – School Bus Driver Appreciation Day

• April 23rd – National Administrative Professionals’ Day

• April 24th – Choir Spring Concert - East Hall Auditorium, 6th grade - 5:30PM, 7th & 8th grades - 6:30PM

• April 29th – 7/8 grade Band Concert, 6:30 p.m., BFMS West Gym

May 2025

• May 1st – 6th grade Band Concert, 6:30 p.m., BFMS West Gym

• May 1st – School Principal’s Day

• May 2nd – School Lunch Hero Day

• May 2nd – Progress Report Cards

• May 5-9th – Teacher Appreciation Week

• May 7th – School Nurse Day

• May 15th – National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony, 6 pm, West Gym

• May 16th – 8th grade Dance @ TGC, 6-8 pm at TGC

• May 22nd – 6th Grade Jaguars Field Trip

• May 23rd – 6th Grade Trailblazers Field Trip

• May 26th – Memorial Day - School Closed for Students & Staff

• May 28th – 6th Grade Navigators Field Trip

• May 29th – 6th Grade Gators Field Trip

• May 29th – Q4 Flight Night, 6pm West Hall Gym

• May 30th – 6th grade Incredibles Field Trip

June 2025

• June 2nd – 7th Grade Field Trip to NC Zoo

• June 3rd – 8th Grade Field Trip to Carowinds

• June 4th – 6th Grade Team Activity Day

• June 5th – 6th Grade Field Day

• June 5th – Last Day of School (2 Hour Early Dismissal)

• June 6th & 9th – Teacher Workdays

• June 6th – FCHS Graduation

4/2- Girls Soccer-5:00 / Softball-5:00 Track-4:45

4/7- Girls Soccer-5:30 / Softball-5:30

4/9- Track-5:30

4/10-Boys Soccer-5:30 / Baseball-5:30

4/21-Girls Soccer-5:30 / Softball-5:30 / Baseball-5:30

4/23-Girls Soccer-5:00 / Softball-5:00 / Track-4:45

4/28-Baseball-5:30 / Boys Soccer-5:30

5/1- Boys Soccer-5:30 / Baseball-5:30 / Track-4:45

Math Counts

MathCounts is a national program that helps middle school students improve their math skills through competitions and coaching.

For the MathCounts School Competition, the following students were our top performers - Eli Booth, Abigail Stubbs, Carter Walls, Julianna Hatch, and Will Slocum - formed the core of the school team for the Chapter Competition. Representing the team were Eli Booth, Abigail Stubbs, Carter Walls, and Amy Song, with Will Slocum as the alternate. Each team member also competed individually.

At the MathCounts Chapter Competition in Lynchburg, our team included Eli Booth, Amy Song, Abby Stubbs, Carter Walls, Heidi Tate, Shania Flora, Brenton Busker, Will Slocum, Evan Tolley, Ryan Shilling, and Brett Wimmer. In the Team Competition, Eli Booth, Amy Song, Abby Stubbs, Carter Walls, and alternate Will Slocum secured an impressive 3rd place overall.

The club is led by Mrs. Jennifer Hatch and Mrs. Emily Griffen, who were honored for their leadership and dedication.

Wrestling Achievement

The Virginia State Folkstyle Championships were recently held on the campus of Roanoke College. Athletes must qualify for this prestigious tournament by placing among the top four at a state qualifying event, which was recently held at Glenvar High School.

We are proud to recognize two outstanding students from our BFMS wrestling team for their accomplishments. Congratulations to Dakota Farrell, who earned 5th place in the 150-pound weight class, and Ayvree Holt, who also earned 5th place in the 125-pound weight class. Both athletes demonstrated perseverance, skill, and determination throughout the season, and we commend them on this impressive achievement. These athletes are coached by Mr. Zach Brooks.

On Monday, March 24th, Franklin County High School freshman Mattox Jalbert returned to BFMS to share his passion for science with Ms. Jill Doty’s classes. As a student at both FCHS and the Roanoke Valley Governor’s School, Mattox introduced middle schoolers to the world of frequency waves and demonstrated a program he created to predict genetic outcomes using Punnett squares. He even guided students in writing their own code, making for an engaging and hands-on learning experience. His visit was an inspiring glimpse into the exciting possibilities of science and technology!

Odyssey of the Mind is a global program that challenges students from kindergarten through college to use creativity and problem-solving skills. Teams tackle a variety of challenges, from designing mechanical devices to bringing literary classics to life. They compete at local, state, and international levels, with thousands of teams from the U.S. and around 25 other countries participating.

This program encourages students to think outside the box, work together, and develop innovative solutions without fear of criticism. It fosters both critical and creative thinking, helping students grow into confident problem-solvers.

Benjamin Franklin Middle School held OM team tryouts in October 2024. Seven students were chosen for the team. This year the Piedmont Regional Competition was not held and the region was combined with the Tidewater OM Region. Franklin County Odyssey of the Mind teams were invited to compete.

We are thrilled to share that our BFMS Odyssey of the Mind team recently traveled to Newport News for the Tidewater Regional Competition and proudly placed third! The team members were Evelyn Bowman, Amelia Dillon, Anthony Gray, McKenna Katsilianos, Thad Schweitzer, Carter Walls, and Courtney Walls. Congratulations to our talented team! BFMS was the only team from FCPS to attend the Odyssey of the Mind Competition.

Read Across America & Agriculture

The 2025 theme for Read Across America, "Explore New Worlds Through Reading," encourages literacy and cross-disciplinary learning, including agriculture. At Benjamin Franklin Middle School, educators connected reading with farming through "Outdoor Farm, Indoor Farm" by Lindsey Metcalf.

Inspired by the book, 7th graders will maintain their outdoor school garden and explore hydroponics, growing plants without soil. This hands-on project fosters curiosity, sustainability, and scientific learning. Supported by the local Women's Farm Bureau, this initiative highlights the power of community in education.

Seventh graders set out on a math adventure to uncover the magic of pi! Using their steps, they measured circles on the soccer field, discovering the famous 3.14 ratio. Then, with Oreos and string, they confirmed it again - learning never tasted so good! Hands-on fun made Pi Day unforgettable!

On Thursday, March 27th, the BFMS campus was buzzing with excitement as students participated in BFMS Ag Day 2025!

Seventh graders had the incredible opportunity to explore the world of agriculture through hands-on experiences. From Ag Mechanics and Tractors to Livestock, Horticulture, and Vet Science, students engaged with experts and learned about various ag-related careers. Interactive stations covered Agribusiness/Farm Credit, Agronomy, Small Animals, Forestry/Wildlife, FFA, and the Farm Bureau, offering a well-rounded look at the industry that sustains us all.

It was a fantastic day of learning, discovery, and appreciation for the hard work behind farming and food production. Thanks to everyone who made this event a success!

BFMS Summer School is designed to give students extra support in English and Math to help them succeed. Taking place on the BFMS campus, the program runs for three weeks: June 16th-18th, June 23rd-26th, and June 30th-July 3rd. Participation is by invitation only, with 15-20 students per grade level, ensuring focused instruction for those who need it most. This is a great opportunity for students to strengthen their skills and get back on track for the upcoming school year!

1. Help your student keep a consistent sleep schedule for several nights before the test.

2. Encourage consistent and healthy eating.

3. Exercise with your student or play games to help relieve stress or pre-test jitters.

4. Let your student know you believe in him/her and support him/her.

Attention BFMS Parents: Capture your child's memories in a book that has no filters and can't be erased! Yearbook pre-orders are going on now. Remember, the only way to guarantee a yearbook is to pre-order one.

Make sure to order your child's yearbook ASAP. Once they're sold out, that's it. We can't order more. Order yours today!

Current Status:

We are excited to share that Phases 1-5 of our renovation project are now complete! The only exception is the East Hall Auditorium, where work is still in progress.

Looking ahead, Phase 6 (Part 1) will begin on Monday, April 7, 2025. This phase will focus on additional West Hall classrooms as well as the school counseling office. Once the school year concludes on June 5th, Phase 6 (Part 2) will commence, covering major areas such as the main office, lobby, west cafeteria, kitchen, west gym, and locker rooms.

School Safety:

The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and faculty remain our top priority. We have increased safety patrols around construction zones and are working closely with contractors to ensure that all necessary precautions are in place. Additionally, we are fortunate to have continued support from two School Resource Officers - one from the Rocky Mount Police Department and another from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office - to help maintain a secure campus.

We appreciate your patience and flexibility as we navigate these important improvements together. While traffic patterns will remain unchanged, occasional delays may still occur during morning drop-off, afternoon pick-up, and school events. Thank you for your ongoing support as we improve our school for the future!