August 26, 2013
Re: School Updates and
Information
Dear BFCS Gilbert Parents,
We are starting to settle in to our new campus routines. It had been an exciting adventure these past
two weeks! We will continue to make
modifications as projects are completed and construction work comes to a close.
As far as after-school traffic goes, we are going to stick with the current
plan of north-side pick-up for groups and south-side single child pick-ups for
now. This seems to be the plan that keeps the greatest percentage of traffic
off of Val Vista Road and also moves through the process more quickly than the
other plans we have tried.
Here are some guidelines that
will make the after school pick-up process run smoothly:
1. Talk to your students about watching and being
ready to load as soon as you arrive to the pick-up zone. The aides are there to keep your children
safe and keep traffic moving, but it is the responsibility of the students to
watch for their rides and be prepared to load in a timely manner.
2. If
your students are not ready and the line is waiting, you will be asked to move
on and drive around the loop again.
3. If you are picking up a
group, please try to have your vehicle ready to load from the driver’s side of
the vehicle. It really is unsafe for
students to walk around to the passenger side of the car where there may be
moving vehicles passing in the other lane.
4. Once the single student
pick-up line has begun to clear, we can allow single pick-up cars to cut across
and avoid the round-about.
5. Do not leave your car unattended
in the pick-up lane.
6. Before stopping to load,
drive forward as far as you can in order to make room for as many loading cars
as possible.
7. Put cell phones away in the
parking lot.
8. Be attentive, be patient,
watch the aides for directions.
Remember, our dismissal time
is now 3:15pm. It does take time for the
line to start moving once the students are released from class. We will work to move cars through the process
as quickly as possible!
Any remaining students still waiting
after first 15-20 minutes will be moved to outside the main entrance under the
portico and may begin calling home to locate rides. Please be on time to pick up your children.
The band and orchestra
programs will begin on Monday, August 26th. Advanced Orchestra will take place daily in
room 8 from 7:45-8:15am. Beginning
Orchestra takes place in room 8 every Monday-Thursday from 3:20-3:50pm. Due to ongoing construction projects,
Beginning and Advanced Band will temporarily practice together every Monday-Thursday
from 3:20-3:50pm on the stage. All students in band and orchestra will be
released for pick-up to the south side main entrance.
If you choose to leave a
sibling to wait for a band or orchestra student, they will be asked to wait
outside near the main entrance under the portico. Please keep in mind that BFCS does not
provide after school care for siblings and students. Please discuss and make arrangements for your
student in this situation. Unless accompanied by a parent, students are not
permitted to work on homework while waiting for rides. Picnic tables are not yet available for
parents to sit with their children, but will be in the future. We are working on it!
Construction updates… The
playground construction is generating much excitement these days! We are all
anxiously awaiting its completion. I
have been told that the major portion of the grading and clean-up of the site
is almost complete. This means that the
ground will soon be ready! There are
also still workers coming into the school at night who are completing finish
work. Touch-ups and final projects are
included in this process. Construction
crews are not invited to enter the building each day until the students have
left the building.
Part of this finishing
process includes installing our campus security system. Our buildings are designed to have a single
entry point. Very soon, you will
discover that the exterior doors will remain locked during the school day. If you would like to enter the building, you will
be required to sign in at the office and be buzzed through the security doors.
Thanks for your patience and
help!
Mrs. Diana M. Dana
Principal
Benjamin Franklin Charter
School Gilbert Campus
13717 S. Val Vista Dr.
Gilbert, AZ 85296
Office: 480-632-0722
Fax: 480-632-8716
Web:
http://www.benjaminfranklincharterschool.com
“Educating Arizona…One
student at a time!”TM
