"We do not see alumni as a part of Franklin’s past, but as an integral part of Franklin’s present and its future. Students do not just pass through Franklin; they are Franklin and always will be. Being a Franklin alum is an unchangeable, lifelong relationship."

– Delores Winfield

• Alum creates link between the deaf in Texas and Mali
• Give to the Franklin Future Fund
• Buy Office Depot, Support Franklin

• Link to Franklin High School site

Franklin Dance Team Fish Fry

Friday, December 5, 2008
High school cafeteria
3:30 – 7:30
$7 per plate, includes one drink

Menu: Southern fried catfish, creamy macaroni & cheese, seasoned green peas, with homestyle potato salad, bread, homemade desserts.

Band/Choir/Orchestra/Art Students Winter Concert

December 12, 2008
School Auditorium
7:00 pm

Christmas is not too far away, and students are eager to celebrate the holidays. This year, Franklin’s Band, Choir, Orchestra, and Art students – along with surprise special guests – will be presenting their annual Winter Concert on December 12, 2008 in our school’s auditorium at 7:00 pm. Artwork from our outstanding students will be displayed in the foyer for all to view. Students, parents, teachers, family, and friends are welcome to attend this free concert to celebrate the holiday season with the Franklin family. Refreshments will be served after the concert.

Faculty/Alumni Holiday Party

Saturday, December 13, 2008
7:00 – 10:00 PM
Benachi House (in Mid-City near the race track)
2257 Bayou Road, New Orleans, LA 70119

5th Annual Benefit Concert for the Daniel Price Memorial Scholarship Fund/NOCCA

Tuesday, December 23, 2008
House of Blues New Orleans
6:00 – 'til

Franklin alum Daniel Price, '93 was killed five years ago, and his family – including Daniel's brother, Steve Price, '91 and his wife, Sarah Abbott, '93 – formed a scholarship fund in his name. Each year, they host a concert to benefit the scholarship fund, with proceeds going toward a scholarship for a graduating NOCCA visual arts student and to fund various programs for current NOCCA students of all disciplines.

Patron Party
6 - 7:30
Food, open bar, and a very special performance by New Orleans legend Irma Thomas
Tickets $125

Main Event
8pm - 'til
An amazing all-star lineup: Kermit Ruffins, Troy Andrews and Orleans Avenue, John Boutte, ReBirth Brass Band, and Rockin’ Doopsie and Jonathan Batiste
Tickets $30

More info about Daniel Price and the fund can be found at www.danielpricememorial.org and www.nocca.com/institute/dp.php, or email Sarah Abbott.

Franklin Alum performed at Carnegie Hall

Seventeen-year-old pianist and Benjamin Franklin Charter High School graduate (2007) Ronald Joseph performed at Carnegie Hall in July for the program From the Top at Carnegie Hall, which captures performers aged 8-18 in their first performances at the venue. The episode featuring Joseph, entitled Music Is Where The Heart Is, aired on WYES-TV/Channel 12 Sunday, August 24, 2008.

Ronald Joseph's aptly chosen performance piece was Mardi Gras, the second movement from Richard Danielpour's The Enchanted Garden. Last year Mr. Joseph completed his studies at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), which has an exclusive relationship allowing Benjamin Franklin students to take creative and performance arts courses there. Mr. Joseph studied at Julliard during the post-Katrina diaspora and plans to attend Syracuse next year.

Benjamin Franklin High School names new principal/CEO

Benjamin Franklin High School’s governing board, Advocates for Academic Excellence in Education, Inc. (AAEE), is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Timothy G. Rusnak as the new Principal/CEO effective July 1, 2008. Duris L. Holmes, President of AAEE, said, “Our search committee did a tremendous job in identifying a stellar pool of talented educators from which Dr. Rusnak emerged as the unanimous choice of the committee and the board of directors. Dr. Rusnak brings exceptional experience, enthusiasm and commitment to this position. We believe that he will be an asset not only to Ben Franklin, but to our public school system and community as well and look forward to working with him for many years to come.”

Read the full press release (PDF) >>

Franklin alum commits to create links between deaf communities in Austin, Texas and Mali

Elizabeth Dupont’s Mali project with UT Reed was highlighted at the University Conference for Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) at Tulane in March 2008. She was asked (the only student) to present at the CGI Mid-year meeting in New York where she met with Bill Clinton and the Nobel Peace laureate winners from IPCC.

Read about the CGI initiative >>Read Lizzy's Mali Blog >>

Is it time for your REUNION?

The Alumni Association provides $200 seed money to get you started. In return the Alumni Association asks for two things:

• That your class provide an updated address, phone and email list for your classmates to our database chairman, Heidi Charters ’75, following your reunion.
• That someone from your class write an article about the reunion to be published in the Alumni Newsletter. The article should be emailed to Carl Indest ’79.

To request the seed money, email the treasurer, Diane Allison ’79. To have your information put on this website, email the information to the Development/Alumni Director, Christy Cowart Read ’89.

Also, the school will pay for the printing and mailing of one invitation or postcard for your reunion. Email the Development/Alumni Director, Christy Cowart Read ’89 or call (504) 286-2615 for more information.

Give to the Ben Franklin Future Fund

Since we are now a charter school, which is essentially an independent public school, the financial disparity between our state revenues and what it actually costs to run our school is even more apparent. CLICK HERE for more information about the fund and for ways you can contribute.

Now, you can choose electronic distribution of the Benjamin Franklin POST. technical questions

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