January 2009 - Volunteer Bulletin

PLEASE record all of your volunteer hours! When you do any volunteer work for the school, always check in at the front office, get a name tag and SIGN in and out of the ORANGE binder - VOLUNTEER SIGN-IN BOOK. If you don't have a page in the book, take a blank from the front of the book, complete necessary contact information and put it under the appropriate A-Z tab. Sign in on your page EVERY time you volunteer. If you volunteer at a remote location, you can email your hours to us, or log them in on your next visit to the school. If you've already volunteered this year, please add those hours to your page. Volunteer Parking Passes are in the front of the notebook. Stick one of these on the dash of your car when you are volunteering.

OLD NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINES NEEDED
Mr. Parauka’s classes use old magazines for their spring projects.  If you have some to donate, please drop them at the office by March 15th.  Questions?  Email Mr. Parauka at
john_parauka@benfranklinhighschool.org

ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION NEEDS VOLUNTEERS!
The Ben Franklin Athletic Association is looking for volunteers to help w/ the following events:

• Year-End Athletic Banquet
• Falcon Feast
• Falcon Fest

For more information, please contact Patty Barnes at plbcpa@fmbcci.com or 504.481.3817.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR BENJAMIN FRANKLIN’S ANNUAL SPEECH & DEBATE TOURNAMENT:
Benjamin Franklin’s Speech and Debate Team is hosting its’ annual tournament February 6, 2009 and February 7.2009.  Students from the state area will be competing in the hopes of winning and qualifying for both the NOCFL City Qualifying Tournament and the Louisiana High School Speech League’s Tournament of Champions.  Franklin students do not compete, as they are the hosts, however proceeds from the tournament go toward the expenses involved in these championship tournaments.   Key to the success of the tournament is community judges and food.  Throughout the two days, food is provided free of cost to judges as they give of their time without pay.    We are hoping that parents can assist us by either judging, or providing foods.    A schedule below shows the times of the events.   Even judging one round would be of help.   A brief judging session will be held for anyone wishing, or a brief orientation can be given before the rounds they will be judging.   Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.  Please feel free to contact Barbara Fontenot at either barbara_fontenot@benfranklinhighschool.org or her office:   304-3411.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday

1:00 – 4:00 p.m.                    Student Congress:  Library
3:00 - 4:00 pm                       Registration: Cafeteria
4:00 - 5:30 pm                                   Round I:   Duo, Duet, Debate
5:30 - 7:00 pm                                   Round II:  Duo, Duet, Debate
7:00 – 8:00 pm                                  Round III:  Debate
8:00 - 9:00 pm                                   Round IV:  Debate
Saturday
7:30                                 Extemp Draw:  Library
8:00 -   9:30  am                    Round I:  Individual Events
9:00                                        Extemp Draw            
9:30 – 11:00 am                    Round II:  Individual Events
11:00 – 12:15                        Semi Finals:  Duo, Duet,
Quarter Finals:  Debate,
12:15                          Extemp Draw                        
12:45 – 2:15              Semi Finals:   Individual Events
2:30                                      Finals:  Duo, Duet, Semi Finals:  Debate
3:30                                        Extemp Draw                                    
4:00 – 5:30 pm                      Finals:  Individual Events
5:30 – 6:30 pm                      Finals:  Debate

BFHS COFFEE SHOP?
A Survey was done prior to the Christmas Holiday asking the student body for thoughts on reopening a book store here at Franklin.  We received a large number of requests for also establishing a coffee shop if at all possible.  I am presently working on the details of where we could possibly have a coffee shop location.  I have a lot of items left over from Prom last year such as cushions and end tables for the kids to possibly sit on pillows and study and chat. We are asking if  there are any parents who may be interested in helping us reestablish  the book store and/or a coffee shop for the students. Dr. Rusnak says there may be some federal compliance regulation issues regarding the serving of food/drink during breakfast and lunch-these would have to be taken into consideration. Rachel Becker, German Club Sponsor has agreed to also help us with this activity.
Please contact Suezanne Calvert, Business Manager suezanne_calvert@benfranklinhighschool.org or Rachel Becker Rachel_becker@benfranklinhighschool.org if you can be of any help or have any thoughts.

SAFE TEENS EVENT
Safe Teens New Orleans (STNO) is a coalition of public, private and parochial school parents in the New Orleans community concerned about the safety of teenage children.  The major goal of STNO is the dissemination of information to parents concerning teenage alcohol and drug use and abuse as it relates to health and legal issues. 
The group has been dormant since Katrina, and there is a great interest and need in getting the organization functioning again.  The goal of the organizers for the rest of the 2008-09 academic school year is to have a Community Forum at a local school auditorium with a Psychologist, a Doctor, a Lawyer and a High School Guidance Counselor.  The goal of this forum would be to have these professionals talk to parents to help them understand the health and legal issues as related to underage drinking and drug use.  It is hoped that the forum would attract 300-400 parents and would generate interest in the STNO organization so that a fully functioning group could work in the next school year. 
To pull off this Forum  in late MARCH, we will need help!  If you are interested in helping to re-start SAFE TEENS, please email Nancy Adams  nancyadams1@cox.net.

Revised 1/29/2009