Ben Franklin Newsletter

Dear Ben Franklin Families,

Although a short week, it was a busy week at BF! In addition to the 2nd grade Carboard Challenge culminating event on Wednesday, the Coin Wars concluded on Friday. The winning grade level will be announced this upcoming week and receive a pajama day as well as extra recess and a popcorn treat supplied by the our PTO! Thank you to all who were able to contribute to this fundraiser!

Respect is something that we integrate in all we do throughout our school. However, this upcoming week is the Week of Respect where we provide additional activities and experiences for students to really highlight this important pillar of character. Check out the themes that have been identified for each day of the week and please encourage your child to participate.

Hope to see you this weekend at the PTO's Fall Fest on Sunday from 1:00-4:00 and that you all enjoy the weekend!

Sincerely,

Geoff Hewitt

Principal

On Wednesday, October 2nd, our 2nd graders had were able to showcase their innovative games that they had created out of cardboard the previous week. Students worked collaboratively to design games and then to construct them while utilizing their problem-solving and critical thinking skills. As family members visited the APR to see all creations, they enjoyed playing the students' games and the students enjoyed sharing their designs as well as the prizes that many had made for participants! Check out a few pictures from the event below...

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!

Coin Wars: The coin wars have concluded and the coins are being tallied! We look forward to announcing the winning grade this upcoming week. The winning grade will receive a pajama day with extra recess and popcorn!!

Fall Fest is scheduled for Sunday, October, 6th from 1-4pm at Ben Franklin School. The annual event is open to all families and offers a variety of activities for our students. There will be a Magic Show in addition to craft stations, games, prizes, pumpkin painting, craft stations, mummy wrapping of Mr. Hewitt and more! Please click here to access the flyer for more details.

Dine to Donate at Candela Brothers - Dine to Donate: Wednesday, Oct. 9th from 11am to 9:00pm Please come on out and join us for the next dine to donate at Candela Brothers! A very generous 20% of the proceeds goes to BF PTO. See the attached dine to donate flyer for details! Flyer coming next week!

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.

Save the Dates:

• PTO Meeting: Monday, October 21st at 7:00 pm on Google Meet (Link to join - https://meet.google.com/pmu-idga-rgn)... no in person meeting

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

Just a couple weeks ago we held our 2024-2025 Back to School Night. The format that we opted to use this year was a change from the previous year. The evening provided an opportunity for staff members to provide presentations or to set up tables of information that could be shared. Being a new format this school year, we are looking for feedback. We hope that you will take a moment to complete this brief survey - https://forms.gle/kFUoTNRisZbtLZgH9 Thank you!

Join the Lawrence Township Education Association (LTEA) for the second annual Meet the Candidates Night on October 8, 2024 from 7-8 pm at Lawrence High School (LHS).

Use the QR code or click here to register.

See this flyer for more information.

Can’t attend? Join the live stream here.

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:

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

6 - Fall Fest (PTO event), 1:00-4:00 at BF

7-11 - Week of Respect (Click link to see each day's theme!)

8 - LTEA Meet the Candidates Night, 7:00-8:00 pm at LHS

9 -

• Walk/Bike to School Event at BF, 8:10-8:45 am (arrival)
• PTO's Dine to Donate at Candela Brothers, 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
• Board of Education Meeting at LHS, 7:00 pm

11 - 3rd Grade Kids in Nature, special science program during school day with TCNJ

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

15 -

• School Pictures (PreK-3)
• PTO Clothing Drive - Drop-offs begin (will run through January 13, 2025)

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)

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)

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

7-8 - School Closed, NJEA Convention Weekend

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

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 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