It's the Half Day Before Christmas Break

On the half day before Christmas Break, Jagger said to me

We’ll see you back to school in January!  

Merry Christmas!

#fpacgilbert #bfcsgilbert #countdowntochristmasbreak

2 Days Before Christmas Break

It’s 2 days before Christmas Break and Jagger said to me

Get ready for all of tomorrow’s Christmas parties!

#fpacgilbert #bfcsgilbert #countdowntochristmasbreak

3 Days Before Christmas Break

It’s 3 days before Christmas Break and Jagger said to me

Santa is starting to read the lists of who is nice or naughty!

#fpacgilbert #bfcsgilbert #countdowntochristmasbreak

4 Days Before Christmas Break

It’s 4 days before Christmas Break and Jagger said to me

Friday is Ugly Sweater Day so don't forget to get ready!

#fpacgilbert #bfcsgilbert #countdowntochristmasbreak

5 Days Before Christmas Break

It’s 5 days before Christmas Break and Jagger said to me

Start thinking about books to read over break 

from A to Z…

#fpacgilbert #bfcsgilbert #countdowntochristmasbreak

6 School Days Before Christmas Break

It’s 6 school days before Christmas Break 

and Jagger said to me

The Kindergarteners will sing today oh so adorably!

#fpacgilbert #bfcsgilbert #countdowntochristmasbreak

7 School Days Before Christmas Break

It’s 7 school days before Christmas Break and Jagger said to me

At tonight’s Band and Orchestra Concert I will be!

#fpacgilbert #bfcsgilbert #countdowntochristmasbreak

8 School Days Before Christmas Break

It’s 8 school days before Christmas Break and Jagger said to me

Have you seen all of the ornaments on the school’s Christmas tree?

#fpacgilbert #bfcsgilbert #countdowntochristmasbreak

9 School Days Before Christmas Break

It’s 9 school days before Christmas Break and Jagger said to me

Good luck to all of the Jaguars in today’s Spelling Bee!

Box Tops Help!!!

Box Tops Help!!!

The semester is coming to an end, and we are way behind in our Box Tops goal!! 

Our goal this year is to earn $2,500 in Box Tops. We currently have in $520 and are getting ready to mail in another $250 of Box Tops… but we are still $1,730 short!

This year we are working towards a new slide for the students.  If we don’t bring in all of the funds this year, we will have to roll it over to next year.  Which also means we won’t get the slide this year…

Check out https://www.boxtops4education.comfor coupons for products with Box Tops AND for sweepstakes that you can enter!  And check out the Box Tops app for your phone so you can scan in receipts on the go to earn Box Tops for the school!

The very last day of Box Tops collection is February 22, 2019.  

So please clip those Box Tops!!!

10 School Days Before Christmas Break

It’s 10 school days before Christmas Break and Jagger said to me

The countdown begins on the FPAC blog, come and see!

Yearbook Cover Contest Voting

It's time to vote for your favorite yearbook cover entry!

Kids have worked hard and many colored pencil and crayon have grown shorter!  But the results are phenomenal!  

Click on the link below to choose your favorite entry out of the nine pictured.

Voting for the yearbook cover contest ends on Thursday, December 6, 2018 at 6pm.  Only one vote per person.

Click here to vote on your favorite yearbook cover entry

There's still time for HARKINS!!!  
And YOU can get your 2019 Harkins items early!!!

FPAC is taking orders for the Harkins Loyalty Cups, Popcorn Perks and $25 gift cards!

If you are planning on going to a Harkins theater anytime in 2019, would you consider purchasing your Harkins Loyalty Cup, Popcorn Perks or even a gift certificate from your FPAC?

The students will be coming home with order forms... please fill it out and return it to the front office with your payment no later than Tuesday, November 13th. All forms will be collected after school on Tuesday, November 13th and the order will be placed before we go onto Thanksgiving Break.  
All orders will be delivered the week after Thanksgiving Break.

Cash and checks accepted. Please make checks out to FPAC- Gilbert.  
Card payments accepted in the mornings before school. Please contact Linda Wheeler (fpacgilbert@gmail.com) to arrange to meet.

Thank you for your support!

Campus vs. Campus... the results...

This year Gilbert and Crismon campuses went head to head in our first ever Canned Food Drive Challenge!  So how did we do?  Let’s give you the stats!

Gilbert campus brought in about 1,600 pounds of canned food... 

which came out to 2.82 pounds per student.

Crismon campus brought in about 2,400 pounds of canned food... 

which was 3.34 pounds per student.

Congratulations to the Crismon Falcons!  They won this year’s Canned Food Drive!

Great job to all of the students at both campuses!  You all really showed amazing teamwork!

So as promised... the winning school principal and FPAC president got to pie the losing principal and president!  Both campuses were able to see the pieings!  The kids were very excited!

Thank you to Mr. Baker, Crismon principal, and Mrs. Beale, Crismon FPAC president, for energizing your students!  And for coming out to the Gilbert campus for our festivities!

And also as promised... because BOTH campuses brought in over 1,000 pounds of canned food... both principals kissed a pig!!!

Thank you to the Hellmann family for bringing Crinkles the pig for Mrs. Dana and Mr. Baker to kiss!

Until next year Crismon campus!  Gilbert wants that plaque!  👍😂

#fpacgilbert #bfcsgilbert #bfcscrismon #jaggerwashere #cannedfooddrive #kissthepig

Who’s going to win???

WOW!  Great job Jaguars!  

We really rocked this first ever 

Campus vs. Campus Canned Food Drive!

Join us Wednesday morning, November 7 to see if the Gilbert Jaguars or the Crismon Falcons come out on top!  Losing school principal and FPAC president will get pied by the winning principal and FPAC president!

Also on Wednesday morning, come see if Mrs. Dana kisses the pig!  Because she’ll kiss that cute little piggie if we collected more than 1,000 pounds of canned food!

Can’t wait to see everyone there!

It's time for HARKINS!!!  

And YOU can get your 2019 Harkins items early!!!

FPAC is taking orders for the Harkins Loyalty Cups, Popcorn Perks and $25 gift cards!

If you are planning on going to a Harkins theater anytime in 2019, would you consider purchasing your Harkins Loyalty Cup, Popcorn Perks or even a gift certificate from your FPAC?

The students will be coming home with order forms... please fill it out and return it to the front office with your payment no later than Tuesday, November 13th.  All forms will be collected after school on Tuesday, November 13th and the order will be placed before we go onto Thanksgiving Break.  

All orders will be delivered the week after Thanksgiving Break.

Cash and checks accepted.  Please make checks out to FPAC- Gilbert.  

Card payments accepted in the mornings before school.  Please contact Linda Wheeler (fpacgilbert@gmail.com) to arrange to meet.

Thank you for your support!

Campus vs. Campus Canned Food Drive

The Campus vs. Campus Canned Food Drive is in full swing!

I don't know how the Crismon Falcons are doing right at the moment... but it looks like the Gilbert Jaguars are doing GREAT!!!

Keep bringing those canned foods in so we don't get behind!  The canned food drive goes until the end of day Friday, Nov. 2.

Remember, it's the highest average pound/student that will win!  And the school principal and FPAC president who don't win will get pied by the winning principal and president!  And Mrs. Dana and Linda Wheeler (Gilbert FPAC president) do NOT want to get pied!

Also... if we hit 1000 pounds in canned food, Mrs. Dana will kiss a pig!!!  So make sure to bring in those cans!

Thank you!!!

THANK YOU to the parent volunteers who came in to help during the Fall Festival... and those parents who were able to donate to the class baskets!

And a HUGE THANK YOU to the FPAC members, who worked many hours putting together the Fall Festival!

Without all of our volunteers, the Fall Festival would not have been possible!

Scholastic Book Fair

The time has come for our annual Scholastic Book Fair!!!

Starting today, October 24th until November 1st you can order directly from our online Scholastic Book Fair!! Follow this link to start shopping! 

   

We still need volunteers

Fall Festival is coming and we still need volunteers!

Help us by giving your time to help set up, run a game booth for 30 minutes, bake cupcakes, judge the costume parade, help in the book fair, or help clean up.

Without our volunteers we cannot have our Fall Festival!  If you have a teen who needs service hours, we would love to have his or her help as well!  FPAC loves to sign for service hours for a job well done!

Please use the link below to sign up to volunteer.

Click here to sign up to help at the Fall Festival

Fall Festival is coming!!!

The Fall Festival is coming!!!

Fall Festival is our biggest fundraising event of the year!  Through Fall Festival, FPAC funds activities such as Art & Music Masterpiece; Mother/Son Tourney; Daddy/Daughter Dance; Field Day; awards for poetry recitation contest, spelling bee and geography bee; teacher appreciation and so much more!!!

On Saturday, October 27, 2018 from 1pm-4pm here at BFCS- Gilbert, we will be having our annual Fall Festival!!!  Come and enjoy the Spooky Hallway, the rock wall, game booths, the Scholastic Book Fair, silent auction and raffle and for the first time... food vendors!!!

That's right!  We're mixing it up this year and would love for more parents to enjoy the festival with with children this year and we are bringing in a few food trucks!

Posters for the poster contest are due Tues, Oct 16 to the office.  A winner from each grade will be announced Fri, Oct 19... winners will get a free wristband for the Fall Festival!

Classroom basket information went home with your child before Fall Break started.  If you have misplaced the sheet, look for that info a little later today on the blog!  Classroom baskets are part of our silent auction and help us raise funds.

Also coming up... wristband pre-sales!!!  FPAC will be selling wristbands next week (Tues am/pm, Wed am/pm, Thurs am/pm and Fri am) along with raffle tickets!  FPAC can accept cash, check and cards.
Wristband presale- $8
Wristband the day of the event- $10
Regular raffle ticket sheet- 25 tickets for $10
Special raffle ticket- $5 each

Special raffle ticket???  What's that???

This is our special surprise!  This is why we asked if you attended the Ice Cream Social... 
FPAC is so excited to announce that we will be getting 20 1-day passes to DISNEYLAND to raffle!!!  We will group them in 5 groups of 4 passes!!!  That's 5 chances to win!!!  As always with all of the raffles, you do not need to be present to win... so even if you aren't able to attend the Fall Festival, you can still get your special raffle tickets!!! 

So get ready to enjoy the Fall Festival!!!  We look forward to seeing you there!!!

Campus vs. Campus Challenge

Gilbert campus is teaming up with Crismon campus on Oct 29-Nov 2 to do a 

Campus vs. Campus Canned Food Drive Challenge!!!

The food drive will benefit ASCEND in Chandler, which supports families in Chandler, Gilbert and other surrounding communities.

The school that brings in the highest average pounds per student wins!!!  The school principal and FPAC president who doesn't win may be getting a PIE IN THE FACE!!!  And yes... EVERYONE will get to see that!!!

AND if we (Gilbert campus) bring in more than 1,000 pounds of canned food, Mrs. Dana will KISS A PIG!!!

So are we ready???  OK Gilbert Jaguars!!!  Let's show the Crismon Falcons our game face!

When:  Oct 29 - Nov 2, 2018
Where:  Bring your canned food items to the school... we'll have collection boxes near the double doors that go out into the courtyard.

Clothing and Household Goods Drive

Fall Break came and went... Did you go through your closets to get rid of the clothes that don't fit, or the items that are hiding in the corner that you just don't really want... now where should you take these items???

BRING THEM TO THE SCHOOL!!!

On October 17, 2018, FPAC will be hosting a Clothing and Household Goods Drive!  We get $$$ for pounds of items that get donated!  AND... Sunshine Acres benefits by getting the items so they can either recycle and use in their facility or they sell in their boutique to help fund what they do!  It's a win, win win!!!

So bring your items on Wednesday, October 17, 2018 and FPAC will have some canopies out front where you can drop off your items!

National School Parent Group Day

Sept 27, 2018 is National School Parent Group Day!  

And today I would like to honor those who are giving their time and talents to help make the school experience for your child AMAZING!

Franklin Parent Advisory Council (FPAC) is the parent group at the elementary level of Benjamin Franklin Charter School... and the Gilbert campus has an amazing group of people who have volunteered to help keep our school fabulous!

A couple of hours a month is what they give of themselves... and they are rewarded with a lot of smiles from the students and a feeling of a job well done.

I am thankful for the time that these people put in.  Even though they are only putting in a few hours a month, those few hours make a huge difference in the lives of the students

If you see one of these ladies, please thank them for all that they do!

FPAC 2018-2019
Leann Brewer
Vita Clawson
Courtney Fisher, FPAC secretary
Kimberli Hatch
Faith Hough
Rose Mendoza
Danielle Michaelson
Belinda Olbert
Christina Shankel
Pindi Sparks, FPAC treasurer
Courtney Strom, FPAC vice president
Kari Vanderpool
Cynthia Wood

I'd like to say THANK YOU to them, for they have truly enriched my life and I get the privilege of calling them my friends!

If you would like to learn more about being on FPAC or volunteering, please contact an FPAC member or email FPAC at fpacgilbert@gmail.com

- Linda Wheeler, FPAC president

Mother/Son Dodgeball Tournament

Here it is!  It's time for our Mother/Son DodgeballTourney!  

DODGEBALL!!!

So all the mothers, mother-figures and men who wear the mother-badge with pride, bring your boy Jaguar (or perhaps even a girl Jaguar who might want to play) and come socialize for a bit!

Wear your comfy clothes and sneakers (no tank tops or short shorts), sport your favorite sports team, bring your game face and come have some fun and enjoy some root beer floats!!!

Sign up to donate root beer or ice cream for root beer floats... or come and help serve the root beer floats! We can definitely use your help! If you have a teen who would like to earn service hours, we would love to sign their sheet for a job well done!

Date: 09/17/2018 (Mon.)
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm MST
Location: BFCS- Gilbert gym

Click here to donate root beer, ice cream or come volunteer!

Were you at the Ice Cream Social?

Hey there Jaguars!

So... did you go to the Ice Cream Social in August?  FPAC has a favor to ask...

We're working on something amazing, so if you were at the Ice Cream Social we are asking you to click on the link below and sign in... sign in yourself, any adult that came with you, sign in your children.

FPAC is very excited about this possibility, but we just don't want to spill the beans yet!  
I PROMISE IT'S THAT AMAZING!!!

Please sign in if you were there... please sign in if you brought a canned food but were not able to make it... please sign in if your child made a card... please sign in if you spoke to your child about good food choices... please sign in if you scooped ice cream... please sign in if you helped to set up or clean up...

Thank you SO MUCH!

Click here if you attended the Ice Cream Social

Daddy/Daughter Dance was awesome!

Thank you to everyone who came to the Daddy/Daughter Dance last night!  It was so fun watching everyone dancing and coming out to get ice cream floats!  

If you post any pictures and like to use hashtags, please use hashtags 

#bfcsgilbert #fpacgilbert #jaggerwashere

so that everyone can see all of the smiling faces!

Daddy/Daughter Dance

It's time for our Daddy/Daughter Dance!

So all the fathers, father-figures and women who wear the father-badge with pride, bring your girl Jaguar (or perhaps even a boy Jaguar who might want to dance) and come socialize for a bit!

THEME- Wear your favorite CARTOON t-shirt and jeans (dress code still applies) or dress up for date night with your favorite Jaguar!

Sign up to donate root beer or ice cream for root beer floats... or come and help serve the root beer floats! We can definitely use your help! If you have a teen who would like to earn service hours, we would love to sign their sheet for a job well done!

Date: 09/10/2018 (Mon.)
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm MST
Location: BFCS- Gilbert gym

Use the following link to sign up...
Click here to sign up to donate ice cream, root beer or volunteer at the Daddy/Daughter Dance

Box Tops Sweepstakes

Enter this sweepstakes to DOUBLE our Fall earnings!

And remember... this year all monies earned through Box Tops will be going to purchase more playground equipment!

Click on the link below to enter the sweepstakes for a chance to DOUBLE our Fall earnings check!  You can enter once a day through September 30, 2018 (Limit one entry per person/email address per day)

Click here to enter the Box Tops sweepstakes!

FPAC Facebook and Instagram!!!

You've asked for it and here they are!!!  FPAC now has a Facebook page AND an Instagram account!

Don't worry!  The blog isn't going anywhere!  We'll still keep it up and keep the Calendar-At-A-Glance updated... but we want to make it easier for you to get FPAC information!

Like us on Facebook to see FPAC updates!  Follow us on Instagram to keep up to date on FPAC!

Click here to LIKE FPAC on Facebook!!!

Click here to FOLLOW FPAC on Instagram!!!

And don't forget!  The school also has Facebook and Instagram pages you can like and follow to keep updated with!

Like the school on Facebook!

Follow the school on Instagram!

Art Masterpiece help!

Hey hey hey Jaguar parents!

We have 2 teachers who do not have parents signed up to do Art Masterpiece this semester.  Mrs. Ballard (4th grade) and Mrs. Guzman (5th grade) are in need of amazing parents to present Art Masterpiece sessions!

Art Masterpiece is done once a month on a Friday afternoon for 20-30 minutes.  FPAC provides all of the information, so you only need to present it to the class!  It's a great way for you to have some fun in the classroom, and the students really look forward to these sessions!  If you have never done Art Masterpience, don't worry!  FPAC will work with you before hand if you need it!

The months in the Sign Up Genius correspond to these months...
Month 1- September
Month 2- October
Month 3- November
Month 4- December

Is there any reason why you couldn't help with 1 or 2 sessions?

If you have questions, please contact the Art & Music Masterpiece chair, Dani Michaelson at fpacgilbert@gmail.com

Click here to help with Art Masterpiece

Parent-Teacher Conference teacher lunches

During Parent-Teacher Conference week (Sep. 4-7) the BFCS staff and teachers are here early and stay late so they can talk to you, the parents!  So let's take something off their minds....we’re going to provide lunch for them those days!  

FPAC needs your help by either helping to set up or clean up, or to provide delicious food for our amazing teachers and staff!  Please use the link below to sign up to help with the lunches during Parent-Teacher Conference week!

Please make sure to have your food items at the school no later than 10:30am.

Monday- NO SCHOOL!  Labor Day!

Tuesday- Taco Tuesday

Wednesday- Soup, Salad and Baked Potatoes

Thursday- Sunday Picnic and Potluck

Friday- Football Friday Tailgate Party

The teachers and staff are so grateful for your generous donations of time, food and effort!                                       

Thank you for helping our teachers during this busy week!

Click here to sign up to help with teacher lunches!

Dinner Night Out

Dinner Night Out

Monday, August 27th we are having a Dinner Night Out fundraiser at Soda Rush AND Barro's!  These businesses will be donating a portion of their profits to us!!!  FPAC will use these monies for items that the school wants and needs.  Previous items that the school has received include a water cooler for the nurse's office, umbrella shades in the courtyard, and eclipse glasses! 

Visit one or both of these businesses on Monday!

Soda Rush is located at the northwest corner of Gilbert/Ray.  Enjoy a tasty soda from 3-close!

Barro's Pizza is located at the southwest corner of Val Vista/Ray.  When you go in, mention Benjamin Franklin Charter School anytime from 10:30am - 10:00pm!!!

Ice Cream Social- We need volunteers!

Are you ready?  It's almost time for that sweet, melty, obey gooey goodness called 

ICE CREAM!!!  

Come and enjoy ice cream and the company of other Jaguar families!

When: Monday, August 20th, 6-7:30pm

We are in need of parent and/or teen volunteers!  
Please use the following link to sign up to help!

Click here to sign up to help at the Ice Cream Social!

Also at this year's Ice Cream Social...

UNIFORM EXCHANGE- Bring in old uniform shirts and exchange them!

CANNED FOOD DRIVE- This year we are integrating a community service project into our Ice Cream Social by bringing canned foods to benefit the Chandler Food Bank.  We will also have card stock and markers on-hand so that students can make cards of well wishes to families in need and receiving baskets of food from the Chandler Food Bank.

We also encourage you to take a few moments to have a conversation with your kids about healthy eating.  Ideas to incorporate could include the food pyramid as well as the need to eat fruits and vegetables in their daily meals... a simple conversation where your child can walk away with at least one fact about healthy eating habits.

I see what some of you are thinking... why are we bringing up healthy eating on the blog post about the Ice Cream Social???  You can let your kids know that even though ice cream is at the top of the food pyramid, it's the smallest segment of the food pyramid and is by no means the foundation of what we eat... (see... there is a method to the madness!  LOL)

Can't wait to see everyone at the ICE CREAM SOCIAL!!!

Ice Cream Social and Canned Food Drive

Are you ready?  It's almost time for that sweet, melty, obey gooey goodness called 

ICE CREAM!!!  

Come and enjoy ice cream and the company of other Jaguar families!

When: Monday, August 20th, 6-7:30pm

We are in need of parent and/or teen volunteers!  Please use the following link to sign up to help!
Click here to sign up to help at the Ice Cream Social!

Also at this year's Ice Cream Social...
UNIFORM EXCHANGE- Bring in old uniform shirts and exchange them!

CANNED FOOD DRIVE- This year we are integrating a community service project into our Ice Cream Social by bringing canned foods to benefit the Chandler Food Bank.  We will also have card stock and markers on-hand so that students can make cards of well wishes to families in need and receiving baskets of food from the Chandler Food Bank.

We also encourage you to take a few moments to have a conversation with your kids about healthy eating.  Ideas to incorporate could include the food pyramid as well as the need to eat fruits and vegetables in their daily meals... a simple conversation where your child can walk away with at least one fact about healthy eating habits.

I see what some of you are thinking... why are we bringing up healthy eating on the blog post about the Ice Cream Social???  You can let your kids know that even though ice cream is at the top of the food pyramid, it's the smallest segment of the food pyramid and is by no means the foundation of what we eat... (see... there is a method to the madness!  LOL)

Can't wait to see everyone at the ICE CREAM SOCIAL!!!