Welcome to
Benjamin Franklin
Elementary School

Franklin Students Read with the Stars!

An annual tradition at Franklin is the Reading With The Stars program, featuring several area famous adults who generously give of their time to read to Franklin students and talk about what their professions.  Joining the adults were several Bethel Park athletes, who also shared their love of reading with the younger students.

Please click here to see a list of the adult Guest Readers and photos from all of the classrooms.

Franklin Welcomes Representatives from Our Sister High School in China!

Franklin was pleased to host the visiting delegation from the school district's sister high school in Shanghai, China--Xing Zhi High School.  We welcomed a 16 member delegation of administrators, teachers and students from China, who got a chance to see how an American elementary school functions.  It was a great opportunity for us to meet new friends and learn about education and culture in China!

Please click here to see more pictures from the delegation's visit.

Winter Weather Doesn't Stop Walking Club

Winter weather and cold temperatures do not slow down physical activity for Franklin students on days when they can't get outside for recess.  Students are excited to participate in the Walking Club to ensure they're getting enough exercise during the school day.  Students walk around the perimeter of the gym after lunch to get in those extra steps.  So even when the weather doesn't cooperate, Franklin students are still committed to do their part to stay fit!

Franklin Celebrates 100th Day of School

Franklin students started the 100th Day of School on Thursday, February 14 in fine fashion, by entering the lobby through a giant 100 made out of a refrigerator box by Substitute Teacher Milana Capuzzi (Mrs. Capuzzi's daughter)!  Members of the Fourth Grade String Ensemble serenaded the students as they walked into the 100th Day of School.  It was a great way to celebrate!  Thank you, Miss Capuzzi, for sharing your creativity with us!

Please click here to see more pictures from the morning

Second Grader Performs National Anthem at Two BPHS Athletic Events

Congratulations to second grader Michaela Isenberg, who was chosen by Bethel Park Athletic Director Amy Williams to perform the National Anthem for two Bethel Park High School athletic events.  Michaela sang the National Anthem before the January 16 Wrestling Match and she will perform the Anthem again before the January 24 Girls Basketball Game.  She was recommended to Ms. Williams by Physical Education Teacher Mrs. DeCarlo, who knows talent when she hears it!  Michaela may be too young for "American Idol," but she could easily be Franklin's!

Steely McBeam Visits Franklin

Spirit Week is always a great week at Franklin, and the last day was special because Pittsburgh Steelers mascot Steely McBeam paid a visit to all Franklin classrooms.  In fourth grade, Steely signed the spelling tests of the students in Mrs. DeGregorio's room!  The students came to school showing their hometown pride, dressed in either Steelers colors, Penguins jerseys or black and orange for their favorite school!  Thanks for visiting, Steely!

Click here to see more pictures from Steely's visit!

Four New Classrooms are Ready for Learning!

A special Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held on December 10, to officially open the four new classrooms at Franklin!  New spaces were created for two music classrooms downstairs under the gymnasium, as well as a Speech and Language Classroom and an Instructional Support Classroom upstairs near the gym.  Finishing touches are still being added to the renovation, but the rooms are open and ready to go!  All of the Franklin classrooms got a special tour of the new spaces!

Please click here to see pictures from our Grand Opening!

Franklin Students Send Stockings to American Soldiers

Franklin students continue to send care packages to American soldiers on a monthly basis.  In November the students packed up toiletries, wrapped them in red Christmas stockings and sent them to the soldiers with hand-made holiday cards and paper snowflakes, so the soldiers would have snow for Christmas.

Please click here to see more photos from the project!

Strike Up The Band!

In celebration of Red Ribbon Drug Free Schools Week at Franklin, the Bethel Park High School Marching Band paid!  The band performed some songs from their 2007 halftime shows and encouraged students to make healthy choices in their lives--like playing musical instruments!  The beautiful day was made even brighter with the band's performance.  Thank you for visiting!

PRIDE Conducts Poster Contest During Red Ribbon Week

PRIDE of Bethel Park sponsored a poster contest in all Bethel Park Elementary Schools during Red Ribbon Week.  The contest was open to third and fourth graders and the posters had to portray a drug-free message.  Franklin's winners were Angelo Demertzis and Rachel Wanamaker.  The winning posters were displayed at Bethel Park Stadium during the last home football game of the season an d the winners received a Wal-Mart gift card.  PRIDE is a group of high school students who are devoted to drug prevention and education among their peers and elementary students.  They promote a positive, healthy lifestyle through community service, outreach activities and educational performances.  For more information about PRIDE and its activities, go to www.prideofbp.org.

Happy Halloween!

Franklin loves to celebrate the holidays!  And we don't think Halloween is just for students.  Please click here to see some pictures of how the staff embraces the Halloween spirit as well!

Principal Visits Kindergarten Classes

A beginning of the school year tradition at Franklin is a visit to all of the Kindergarten Classes by Principal Shirley Dickinson, who reads the story, "Little Quack" to the kindergarten students.  The story is about a young duck and the challenges and excitement he faces as he grows up and gains more independence.  The Kindergarten students can relate to the story as they begin their educational journey!

Hugs, Not Drugs!

Franklin students celebrated the last day of Red Ribbon Week by bringing in their favorite teddy bear or stuffed animal to school to show their support for Hugs, Not Drugs.  Franklin welcomed our Police Pal, Officer Righatti, to Franklin to talk about the importance of staying away from drugs and things that will harm us.  Thank you, Officer Righatti, for caring about us!

Franklin Staff Leads County-Wide Inservice Day Workshop

Franklin staff members Dr. Dickinson, Mrs. Bock and Mrs. Luzader presented a workshop at the Allegheny County-wide Inservice Day on October 8 at the South Park Elementary Center.  Their workshop was called "Meeting the PA Standards through Cooperative Problem Solving Activities," and almost 60 teachers attended one of the two sessions offered that day.  Activities included building a Tower of pasta, a Marshmallow Bridge and a Cottonball Catapult as part of a Science Rodeo.  After reviewing the PA Science Standards and Assessment Anchors to prepare students for the PSSA Science Test, teachers also participated in an animal tracks activity.  The session was well-received, with the participants thanking the Franklin presenters for their varied approach to teaching science through inquiry and scientific literacy.

Please click here to see more pictures from the day.

Students Support American Troops by Making Fall Treat Bags

The Franklin PTO has adopted a Military Unit stationed in Iraq.  The Unit is based out of Fort Lewis, Washington and there are 280 soldiers in the Unit.  Each month, Franklin students are sending the soldiers care packages.  In October, two third grade and one fourth grade class worked together to send fall treat bags to the soldiers.  Students put candy in zip loc bags and made fall cards featuring leaf designs made from rubbing of real leaves under the paper to create a pattern.  The students also put a brief message of encouragement on the inside of the cards.  Way to go!

Throughout the year, the PTO is collecting items such as socks, toiletries, silly string, snack bars and wrapped candy.  If you are interested in learning more, please contact Gena DeIullis at 412-854-3693 or gena2431@verizon.net.  Thank you for your support!

Please click here to see more pictures of the project!

Franklin Second, Third and Fourth Graders are excited to use Search Plus in the school library, because it helps them to learn more about the books in their library.  For instance, Search Plus can tell them the name of the author who wrote a particular book, the number of copies of that book in the Franklin Library, the book's call number and it can even tell the students if the book is on the shelf or has been checked out!

Cafeteria Earns Six Black Diamonds from Health Department!

The Franklin Cafeteria passed the most recent inspection by the Allegheny County Health Department with flying colors!  The cafeteria received six black diamonds, which is the highest honor bestowed by the ACHD and is awarded for exceptional conditions of sanitation, temperature control and having a certified manager on staff.  Congratulations to cafeteria employees Joan Bagley, Linda Fleck and Eva Szymkowiak and custodian Jim Cloud for their outstanding efforts in food safety and storage, proper preparation temperatures and cleanliness of our kitchen!  The Diamond Award is nothing new for the Franklin Cafeteria--in 2005, the cafeteria earned five diamonds and a Safety Award from the ACHD!