Benjamin Franklin Elementary Mathematics and Science School
December Edition Charlotte L. Matthew, M.Ed., Principal Dr. Ramona J. Perkins, A.P.
Principal’s Message Kwanzaa! Kwanzaa celebrates the seven principles of Nguzo Saba (the seven principles of African Heritage). These seven principles comprise Kawaida, a Swahili term for tradition and reason. Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the following principles, as follows: *Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race. *Kujichagulia (SelfDetermination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves. *Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems, and to solve them together. *Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together. *Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. *Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. *Imani (Faith): To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. Although Kwanzaa honors African heritage in AfricanAmerican culture, in my opinion,
its principals are traditions that should be followed by all cultures year round. Kwanzaa is observed from December 26 to January 1st.
Important Dates December brings many exciting field trips and activities to BFE. Don’t miss our sixth annual International Day 12/6/13. Our ESL department continues to go Beyond Expectations each year! Plan to take the walking tour of City Park’s Celebration in the Oaks at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, December 4th, see all of our marching units, cheerleaders, majorettes, and drill team and also our “Be a Part of the Plan” school tree and Girl Scout tree. Students taking pictures with Santa on 12/5 can wear their holiday attire! Even with the excitement of the upcoming holidays, our students must focus on second quarter exams as the end of the quarter is December 20th. When we return from the holidays on 1/6/14 we will be in countdown mode until our State Testing for students in grades 3 through 8. Students should work online on Compass, IXL, and Kid/Teen Biz to keep their minds sharp.
Holiday Wishes The holiday is a good time to visit museums and other historical and cultural aspects of our great city. The more historical and cultural experiences our students have, the better students they will be! As we approach the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, take time express the joy, peace, love, and hope of this holiday in your day to day activities. I hope all of our families have a fantastic holiday filled with the wonder of the season. I continue to be blessed by my Baby Ben family and wish everyone all the joys of this wonder filled season and the very best for the coming New Year.
What’s Happening In December 2013 Benjamin Franklin Elementary Mathematics and Science School Sunday 1
Monday 2
15 Instructional Days in December
Saints VS Seahawks 7:40 PM-Away
Tuesday 3
Wednesday 4
PTO Executive Board Meeting 5:30pm/Jefferson Library
SFA Visit
Special Cheerleader Practice 3:45 – 5:00
LACUE Conference
LACUE Conference
Garden Club
Marching Units Perform @Celebration in the Oaks (Meet at 6:00)
Thursday 5
SFA Visit
Santa Pictures
International Day-11:30
Principal Meeting in BRLA
RECYCLE TREAT DAY
Tulane GNOSEF
Brownie Troop Meeting 3:30 to 5:15pm
LACUE Conference
Majorette Practice 3:30-5:00
Saints Dress Down
Pamela Morris’ Observation in PK
Robotics Practice Crochet Club 3:45-4:45
Friday 6
Saints VS Panthers 12 PM DOME
Pamela Morris’ Observation in PK Daisy Girl Scout Meeting 3:45-5:00
Social Savvy’s Christmas Party 3:30-4:15 Special needs field trip to City Park Children’s Hospital Caps for Kids Hat Day - $1.00 Donation
15
16 Social Studies/ Science Quarterly Exams
Saints VS Rams 12 PM Away
Majorette Practice 3:30-5:00 Tulane University Science Lab Tour 7/8th grade Gifed
22 Saints VS Panthers AWAY
23
29 Saints VS Buccaneers/NOON
30
Cooperative Economics
10
DARE Fifth Grade Celebration McGruff is in the building
PTO Christmas Meeting 5:30pm Jefferson Cafeteria Pre-K Gifted Field Trip to Mr. B’s 17 Social Studies/ Science Quarterly Exams
12 SRI Testing – Grades 2-5
13 ELA Quarterly Exams
Math Minds with Dr. Thompson Cheerleaders 3:45–5:00 McGruff is in the building
Basketball @ Singleton
N.O. Fire Department Pre-K Learn not to Burn Demo
Girls – 9:00 Boys – 9:45
18
Mathematics Quarterly Exams
19
Yoga Club 3:30 – 4:45
Garden Club
Grade Verifications Due in Office
OPSB Board Meeting
Ms. Willard’s Math Workshop
Holiday Program
Crochet Club 3:45-4:45
Academic Games Christmas Party 3:30 – 4:45
Creativity
Academic Games Practice at Haynes Academy
Crochet Club 3:45-4:45
Pre-K & K Field Trip to Clearview Mall
New Year’s Eve
Brownie Troop Christmas Party
RECYCLE TREAT DAY
Majorette Practice 3:30-5:00
31
Dads Duty Day Title II Workshop
Girl Scout Junior Troop Meeting 3:30-5:00 pm - 3rd Floor PDC
Student Council 3:30 - 4:30
Daisy Girl Scout Christmas Party 3:45-5:00
Christmas Eve
14 ELA Quarterly Exams Saints Dress Down
Yoga Club
Majorette Practice 3:30-5:00
3rd Grade Field Trip to Mint and Cabildo
24
Purpose
11
Academic Games Practice at Haynes Academy in Metairie Basketball @ Singleton Girls – 11:15 Boys - 12:00
Hanukah Ends 9
Brownie Troop Insectarium, IMAX & the Aquarium Field Trip
Brownie Community Service Project ends today
Yoga Club 3:30 – 4:45 8
FIRST Lego League State Competition
Robotics Practice
Robotics Practice Academic Games 1st Semester Awards Ceremony 7:00 p.m. at Christian Brothers
Saturday
7
Cheerleaders 3:45–5:00
Student Council 3:30 - 4:30 25 Christmas Day
26
1
2
Faith Kwanzaa Ends
Kwanzaa Begins
20
End of Second Quarter
Saints Dress Down Day RECYCLE TREAT DAY Brownie Troop Meeting 3:30- 5:15
21 Daisy & Brownie Troop New Orleans Bowling Field Trip 11:00-3:00 pm
District Wide Staff Holiday Party 27
Unity
28 Self-Determination
3
Collective Work &
Responsibility
4 Return to school Monday, 1/6/14