Principal’s Letter of Welcome to Parents

Dear Parents,

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Benjamin Franklin Elementary School for the 2009-2010 school year, our 102nd year providing quality education to the children of Keene!  This Parent-Student Handbook has created to provide you with as much information as possible in an easy-to-use format. We hope you find it helpful and welcome your suggestions for future revisions.

Our school bears the name of one of our country’s most thoughtful and visionary founding fathers, a man who understood the important human values of education, equality, hard work and respect.  Our vision is to see the Benjamin Franklin School community proudly unite around a shared vision of excellence.  All of the staff at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School are deeply committed to excellence and to providing a safe school environment in which all members of the school community learn, play, and grow. 

We have many exciting and educationally stimulating experiences planned for your children.  The staff members have been working hard, many of them throughout the summer, to prepare for the start of the new school year.  A description of many of these programs begins on page thirteen of this handbook. 

Our school goals this year will center on two important citywide initiatives begun last year.  The first is the implementation of the Everyday Mathematics program in grades 1, 3 and 5.  The second is to re-energize our social curriculum, the Responsive Classroom, in grades K, 2 and 4. 

Another goal is to continue to improve students’ attendance rate and reduce the tardiness rate. The first and most important component of any child’s success in school is simply to be in school, and on time.  Although on average our attendance rate is around 95%, there is always room for improvement.  Your help in this effort will be critical and your reward will be that your child will be far more likely to enjoy many years of school success!  A special thanks to Dave Conant and Ron LaClair for making sure that the school is clean and healthy for your children’s arrival.

We value the importance of communicating with you.  We believe that your child’s success at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School is dependent upon our school-parent partnership.  I urge you to work closely with your child’s teachers, to take time to become actively involved in our school, and to become an active member of the Parent Teacher Council.

If after reading this handbook, you still have questions please do not hesitate to contact the school at 352-1712 or e-mail me at wharris@sau29.org.

Again, welcome to Franklin School!

Warmly,

William W. Harris
Principal


 
The Mission of the Keene School District

The mission of the Keene School District is to provide students with the tools to become productive and responsible citizens in an ever-changing world.


Vision Statement

To see the Benjamin Franklin School community proudly unite around a shared vision of excellence.


The Mission of Benjamin Franklin Elementary School

Benjamin Franklin Elementary School - a community dedicated to working together to encourage positive learning experiences, self-worth and respect for others, through a vibrant and caring environment, thus promoting responsible citizens for the future.


The Philosophy of Benjamin Franklin Elementary School

We believe that:

If your child is not learning the way we teach, we shall teach the way he or she learns -  by providing experiences to develop your child to his or her fullest potential both socially and academically so that he or she will become a healthy, happy, responsible member of society.


Keene School District Administration

William Gurney, Co-Superintendent of Schools, 357-9004
Wayne Woolridge, Co-Superintendent of Schools, 357-9005
Brenda Finn, Assisatant to the Superintendents, 357-9002
Meredith Cargill, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, 357-9003
John Harper, Assistant Superintendent for Business, 357-9009
Catherine Reeves, Director of Special Education, 357-9001
Paul Cooper, Director of Human Resources, 357-9007
Thomas Remillard, Director of Building and Grounds, 352-8919
Maureen Wells, Director of Food Services, 357-9011

34 West Street
Keene. NH 03431

All Central Office staff can be contacted via e-mail using the person’s first initial followed by their last name attached to @sau29.org.  For example, Mr. Gurney’s email is:  wgurney@sau29.org


Keene Board of Education
   
Kathleen O’Donnell, Chair, 357-6103
Kristin Blais, 352-2567
Carol Brown, 352-0123
Carter Chamberlain, 357-8762
Christopher Coates, 358-0471
Neil Donegan, 357-3827
Carl Panza, 352-9955
Donald Parker, 357-0997
Amy Speas, 352-5297
Shannon Sullivan, 682-9082 

34 West Street
Keene. NH 03431

Carol Brown is the Board’s liaison to Franklin School