BFCCPS PCO announce 4th & final Grant Award

The PCO proudly announces our fourth and final Faculty Grant recipient, Julie Bradley!  She was approved for a $593.50 grant (partial funding) towards a Movement Regulation Station.

"This grant will support the implementation of a Movement Regulation Station in the Physical Education gym to promote students’ physical, emotional, and behavioral well-being while maintaining active engagement in learning. 

The station will include low-impact movement options such as a walking pad, a stationary or under-desk bike, slam balls, and balance and resistance tools. 

These resources allow students to remain physically active when they require a brief self-regulation break or when safety considerations limit participation in traditional PE activities."

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18UmMANgZ8/

BFCCPS PCO announces 3rd Faculty Grant Recipient

via BFCCPS PCO:

"The PCO proudly announces our third of four Faculty Grant recipients, Rebecca Nestor! She was approved for a $593.50 grant (partial funding) towards triple beam balances for density instruction.

"As we examined our MCAS test results this year, we continue to see students struggling with the concept of density. This struggle spans multiple classes and remains consistent over consecutive testing cycles. Density is a critical foundation for understanding broader Earth science concepts, including how differences in density drive convection currents and influence the behavior of oceanic vs. continental crust.

BFCCPS PCO announces 3rd Faculty Grant Recipient

Currently, our science department is unable to provide consistent lab-based density instruction. We own six triple beam balances; however, all six are broken and nonfunctional. Without working measurement equipment, students cannot accurately determine mass, calculate density, or observe the relationship between density and material properties. Teachers are forced to rely on simulations or teacher-led demonstrations, which do not provide the direct experience students need to master this topic.

Because density is an abstract and mathematically driven concept, students learn best when they can physically experiment, measure, and record results themselves. Access to working balances will allow students to collect real data, observe patterns, and apply those concepts to models of Earth systems."

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BFCCPS capstone project conducts a Circus Show to benefit Circus Up - MARCH 22

Circus Show to benefit Circus Up - MARCH 22

"Reminder that Nora's Circus Capstone is this Sunday!

All the info is at this link. https://sites.google.com/view/noracirque/capstone?authuser=0

We hope to see folks there!!"

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BFCCPS capstone project conducts a Circus Show to benefit Circus Up - MARCH 22 (Date changed)

From Nora Clement

For my BFCCPS capstone project, I am working to create a circus show that will act as a fundraiser for the organization, Circus Up.  

I will be hosting the circus show at my circus studio, Eastern Acrobatics and Circus at 28 Eliot St Natick, MA. The show is great for all ages and will be happening on Sunday, February 22nd at 2 PM 

Unfortunately, the heat broke at the venue. The event is being rescheduled to Sunday, March 22nd at 2 PM . We will be selling tickets at the door for $8 per person and free for kids under 3. 

Please use https://form.jotform.com/260254295503151  to register for the event.

All of the profits will go to the Circus Up group that works in the greater Boston area to help under-served communities have access to circus, regardless of financial status, physical ability, or other impediments.

I hope you join us in celebrating circus arts, supporting Circus Up, and assisting the families and communities they support.

Thank you,

Nora Clement

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/1EEzYiAvCn/

Initially posted for the Feb date - https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/02/bfccps-capstone-project-conducts-circus_0145171246.html

BFCCPS' PCO 2nd Faculty Grant Award Announcement

BFCCPS' PCO 2nd Faculty Grant Award Announcement

"The PCO proudly announces our second of four Faculty Grant recipients, Janine Bartsch! She was approved for a $488.50 grant towards 5-grade biography books.

"Fifth Grade needs biography books on very specific people for a long-term biography project. They ask for my help every year. I spend my normal operating budget on other fictional books kids really want to read. I want to get a grant that will cover the purchase of the biography books the fifth-grade team needs. Outside the fifth-grade biography project, the books can be enjoyed year-round by the rest of the school."

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DZz1E3t5F/

Farmers Market awareness for BFCCPS Capstone Projects via Grant

Farmers Market awareness for BFCCPS Capstone Projects via Grant

"The PCO proudly announces our first of four Faculty Grant recipients, Beth Kaplan!

She was approved for a $325 grant to rent a booth at the Franklin Farmer's Market for our Capstone students.

"I am requesting a grant for $325 to rent a booth at the Franklin Farmer's Market to support the Community Service Pillar of our school.

This grant would allow us to rent a table for the Grade 8 students to use for their Capstone projects- both to provide awareness of their causes and to raise funds to support those causes. "

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/1SaSTDLJWB/

Save the Date: BFCCPS multicultural night - March 26

Save the Date: BFCCPS multicultural
night - March 26

Save the date for Multicultural Night hosted by the ELPAC. 

All members of the BFCCPS community are invited and welcome to come! Tour around the world learning about different cultures.

Join us March 26th from 6-8 PM

Shared from - https://www.bfccps.org/apps/events/event.jsp?eREC_ID=5205369&d=2026-03-26

Benjamin Franklin Educational Foundation has a matching gift opportunity through April 20

matching gift opportunity through April 20

A generous BFCCPS family has issued a challenge: they will match every donation that the Benjamin Franklin Educational Foundation receives between March 9 and April 20, 2026, up to a total of $5,000.

This means your gift of $25 becomes $50, and $100 becomes $200. If we meet this challenge together, we will raise $10,000 to jump start our first major area of focus: revitalizing our sports and recess fields.

You can read more about the matching gift challenge and donate here: https://app.smore.com/n/k1ybh

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/1DhAxMeLqs/

BFCCPS shares results of Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair - MSEF for Middle School

We are thrilled to share the results of the recent Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair - MSEF for Middle School.  

The students listed below will now incorporate feedback from judges in preparation for the Middle School State Fair which takes place May 9th at Clark University:

BFCCPS shares results of Massachusetts Science & Engineering Fair - MSEF for Middle School

• Romir Iyer "Using Python Code to Diagnose Genetic Disorders" 2nd Place and Citadel securities Innovation Prize
• Dishita Noolu "Does a natural bandage infused with healing and antibacterial ingredients promote faster skin recovery than a regular store bought bandage" 2nd Place and Lemelson Early Inventor Prize
• Shanvika Kandanuru "The Casein Polymer Project" 2nd Place and Sandra Nasrawi Award
• Mansha Khatri and Poorvi Rajaboyina "Freezing of Different Water Types" 2nd Place and Aparna Narvane Memorial Award
• Anagha Balagurumoorthy and Shreya Kirikera "Investigation of Pharmaceutical Waste in Public Water Systems" 3rd Place
• Aagam Shah and Chittesh Patel "Selective Capture of Harmful Pathogens Using a Mucin Based Trapping Mechanism'' 3rd Place

Many thanks to Mrs Nestor and Mr Pontes-Macedo for supervising students throughout this process.

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What's happening in Franklin, MA: Saturday, March 7, 2026 ???

Saturday, March 7

9:00am Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

10:00am Volunteer Income Tax Preparation with VITA (Franklin Public Library)

10:00am Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:00am 2026 Franklin Polar Plunge (Beaver Pond)

10:00am    Winter Farmers Market (Fairmount Fruit Farm)

10:30am Irish Dance Showcase! (Franklin Public Library) 

2:00pm High School Musical (Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter)

2:00pm ESOL Volunteer Tutor Training (Franklin Public Library)

7:00pm High School Musical (Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter)

8:00pm Karaoke at The Raillery (Raillery Public House)

For additional details on Library events -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

***  Town Meetings today   ***

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Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Friday, March 6, 2026 ???

Friday, March 6

• Regular curbside trash/recycle schedule for this week
• Free overflow bags at DPW Admin building, 257 Fisher St
• Hours added at Beaver St Recycling Ctr  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/reminder-regular-curbside-schedule-for.html

10:00am Knitting Group (Franklin Public Library)

1:00pm Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

6:00pm Ken Barney (live music) (Lafayette House)

7:00pm High School Musical (Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter)

7:30pm Garnet Rogers - Special FRIDAY Show (ticketed concert) (Circle of Friends Coffeehouse)

Library & Senior Center events

For additional details on Library events -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

For additional details on Senior Center events ->   

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

Note: Senior Center checking on why their events are suddenly being shown as "All Day". You can use the monthly newsletter for specific program/event times

***  Town Meetings today   ***

Franklin School Committee - Policy Subcommittee Meeting

Friday, March 6 Time: 8:15 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03062026-2169

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Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

Charter School to perform High School Musical 3/6 (1 show) & 3/7 (2 shows)

Charter School to perform High School
Musical 3/6 (1 show) & 3/7 (2 shows)

WELCOME TO TECH WEEK and please join us for one of three shows this weekend!

There's still time to order well wishes to the cast and crew, place business ad or order tickets in advance!

Three shows this weekend. We hope you'll join us!

Tickets - https://www.bfccps.org/apps/s/?s=12777

Integrated Monitoring Review of Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct an Integrated Monitoring Review of Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School during the week of March 9, 2026. 

Each school district, charter school, vocational school, and virtual school undergoes an Integrated Monitoring Review every three years. The areas addressed during an Integrated Monitoring Review are organized into two groups, known as Group A Universal Standards and Group B Universal Standards.  

DESE

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School will be undergoing a Group A monitoring review that focuses on special education student identification and special education eligibility timelines; Individualized Education Program (IEP) development; programming and support services; procedural requirements for suspensions and equal opportunity. For additional information please also see Integrated Monitoring Parent and Family Orientation.

The process includes interviews with district staff and administrators, a review of student records, policies and procedures, and school building visits. The process may also include parent/caregiver, student and teacher focus group meetings to gather additional information. Interpretation will be provided, if needed.

The Department will also send a parent survey, in multiple languages and formats, as needed, to parents /guardians of special education students to gather key information on the special education processes and procedures.

Parents/guardians and other stakeholders may call Charles Agong, Monitoring Review Chairperson, at (781) 338-3753 or Charles.O.Agong@mass.gov to request a telephone interview. If anyone requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.

Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the charter school with a report that includes information on further actions that may be required. The public can access the report at https://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/default.html.

BFCCPS Information Session on Saturday, Feb 7 now virtual due to weather

Due to weather predictions for tomorrow, Saturday February 7th please note that the previously planned Information Session is moving to a virtual format.  

BFCCPS Information Session on
Saturday, Feb 7 now virtual due to weather

**There is no in-person event at our school campus tomorrow.**

We apologize for any inconvenience, but wanted to communicate this change in plans as soon as possible for the safety of our student tour guides and you all of our prospective community members.

Families who have RSVP'd and families who have applied for enrollment have received meeting details via email.

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/17CuGctB3U/

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School: Winter 2026 Capstone Projects Highlight reel (video)

On behalf of everyone at BFCCPS, I wanted to thank you all for making the time to visit recently for our Capstone Projects. We truly appreciate you making time in your busy schedule to hear directly from our students and we know that they and their families are so grateful for your support. 

At BFCCPS, we often refer to Capstone as the embodiment of the four pillars of our school's mission (Parents as Primary Educator, Character Education, Community Service and Classical Education) as this project requires all four elements to be successful. 

I've prepared what I hoped would be a brief highlight reel, but in the end it runs about 41 minutes.

Video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zPm-R2TyJM

Congressman Jake Auchincloss poses with Stella Juncker.
Stella had reached out to the Congressman as part of her HEPA filter project

A photo gallery from the four days can also be found here. 

Thank you once again,

Joanne Basile

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School

Communications Coordinator

jbasile@bfccps.org 

Note: I did have the opportunity to witness in 2 of the 4 days of presentations. I am putting my write up summary together to share soon.

BFCCPS - cancels school for Tuesday, Jan 27, 2026

Dear BFCCPS Community,

BFCCPS - cancels school for Tuesday, Jan 27, 2026

We apologize for the late notice, but BFCCPS has made the decision to cancel school for tomorrow, Tuesday, January 27th. This decision follows a significant worsening of weather conditions over the past few hours, during which several districts in our region also announced closures.

Because our students, faculty, and staff travel from multiple communities, closures in neighboring districts indicate that roads in some areas may not be cleared. For safety reasons, we must take these regional conditions into account.

Please note that Capstone Presentations originally scheduled for tomorrow will now take place on Tuesday, February 3rd at 12:00 p.m.

Thank you for your understanding and flexibility. Please stay safe, BFCCPS, and we look forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday.

Heather Zolnowski

BFCCPS Executive Director

BFCCPS enrollment lottery scheduled for Feb 25, 2026 at 1 PM

BFCCPS enrollment lottery
scheduled for Feb 25, 2026 at 1 PM

Save the Date!

The enrollment lottery for the 2026-2027 school year takes place on February 25th at 1pm.

There's still time to apply for enrollment, but be sure to do so before February 11th at 4pm when applications will close!

Learn more and apply online at www.bfccps.org

Shared from ->   https://www.facebook.com/share/1DMH8U1Qkj/

Tiered Focused Monitoring Review Scheduled at BFCCPS with DESE's Office of Language for Jan 2026

During the week of January 16th the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) Office of Language Acquisition (OLA) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Benjamin Franklin Charter School. 

The Office of Language Acquisition reviews each district’s and charter school’s ELE program every six years to monitor compliance with federal and state English learner education laws and regulations. Areas of review will include English learners’ student assessments, identification of English learners; what programs English learners are placed in, parent and community involvement, curriculum and instruction, student support services, licensure requirements for faculty, staff and administration, program plans, and evaluation and recordkeeping. 

In addition to the virtual visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The district will send a survey to the parents of students whose records the review team examines. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s English learner education program. Survey results will be reviewed by OLA and they will contribute to the monitoring report. 

Parents and other individuals may call David Parker, Office of Language Acquisition Review Chairperson, at 781-338-3466 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, DESE will make the necessary arrangements.

Tiered Focused Monitoring Review Scheduled at
BFCCPS with DESE's Office of Language for Jan 2026

Within approximately 60 business days of the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the charter school with a report with information about areas in which the

 charter school meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the charter school requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The report will be available to the public at https://www.doe.mass.edu/ele/cpr/.

About the Benjamin Franklin Charter School

The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School's mission is to assist parents in their role as primary educators of their children by providing students with a classical academic education coupled with sound character development and community service. Our mission is supported by four distinct, yet interconnected pillars that provide for a collaborative, rigorous education for all students. These pillars guide, direct and define the school in all it does.