Benjamin Franklin Middle School Student/Parent Handbook 2016-2017 | Page 21

Upstanders
Upstanders is a leadership group. Their goals are to reduce harassment, intimidation, and
bullying (H.I.B.) by trying to establish a culture where bullying is not tolerated by staff or
students. They participate in poster campaigns, group discussions, role plays and media
analysis to become experts on the topics of bullying and relational aggression in middle
school. The emphasis is on the power of students being “upstanders” by standing up and
speaking up when they or their peers are being bullied, both online and offline. The 7th and
8th graders serve as school ambassadors and role models for the BFMS community at large,
as they help foster acceptable social norms in our school.
Yearbook Committee
This group meets to make decisions and contributions to the annual BFMS yearbook.
Students will learn how to create layouts, design pages and photograph important school
events.
A Note About After School/Evening Activities:
Many activities feature events like dances and concerts that take place after school and into
the evening hours. Prior to any evening activity, and for purposes of safety and
convenience, parents are required to complete a form that provides information regarding
how your child will get home from the event, and phone numbers at which you can be
reached that evening. Please remember that participation in these activities is a privilege.
Such privilege may be revoked at any time by the school administration for poor student
behavior or other good cause.

SUPPORT SERVICES
Information about the following services is available: Intervention & Referral Services
(I&RS), Child Study Team evaluation, Section 504 evaluation, speech correction,
counseling, psychological evaluation, learning disabilities support, assistance for truant
students, home tutoring, resource room and remedial instruction, English as a second
language and others. Please feel free to contact our guidance department to avail yourself
of these services or discuss any concerns you may have about your child at any time or
refer to Regulation 2460.1 Special Education – Location Identification, and Referral, which
is available on the Board website.
Guidance Counselors
Ms. Klein counsels Grade 6 and Grade 8, Mr. Smith counsels Grade 5 and Grade 7.
The guidance counselors’ primary task is to assist students in having a productive and
positive experience at Benjamin Franklin Middle School. They help students make choices
and decisions relating to their personal, social and academic growth. However, at least one
guidance counselor will be available at any time during the day if you need assistance or if
you need someone with whom to talk. In the beginning of the year, you may have a
conflict in your schedule or may decide to drop or add a course. In order to do this you
must see your guidance counselor. However, you must do so before September 26th.
Any changes after this date must be approved by the Principal.
17