
The Franklin Flyer
November 18, 2022
Mark Your Calendars:
November 7-30: PTA Spiritwear Sale
November - December 6: Toys for Tots Donation Drive
November 21-25: No School - Thanksgiving Break
November 29: Pizza Day, Book Club, Volleyball and Gift Collection
December 1: PTA Meeting @ 7 pm
December 2: Trimester 1 Report Cards Sent Home
December 12 - 16: Winter MAP Testing
December 23 - January 6: Winter Break
January 9: School Resumes
Absences
Please remember to call in or email absences by 8:45 AM. You can call our student absence line (847) 318-4390 (ext 1) is available 24 hours a day or email Mrs. Linda Berleth at lberleth@d64.org.
If the absence is illness related, please also make sure to include Franklin's nurse, Mrs. Queta Karstens, at qkarstens@d64.org.
During the Thanksgiving season, I want to express my gratitude to our Franklin community. Thank you to our parents and guardians for your support of our school and for partnering together to support our students. Thank you for your commitment to ensuring their success and our success.
On behalf of the Franklin staff, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. I send you best wishes for a holiday season filled with loved ones, health, and happiness!
Best wishes,
Kristin Williams
You can view the current Franklin COVID-19 cases on the Franklin COVID-19 Dashboard found here. The dashboard is updated at the end of the day, Monday through Friday.
Holiday Sing
Franklin's Holiday Sing will be on Thursday, December 22nd.
Our concerts will be the following times:
9:30 - 10:30 - All Kindergarten, 3rd, and 4th grade students
1:30 - 2:30 - All 1st, 2nd, and 5th grade students
Class Pictures
We will have our Franklin class pictures to distribute to those who have ordered them in late January or early February. We will notify in the Franklin Flyer once they have been distributed.
Devices at Franklin
In the Student-Parent handbook, it states that all communication devices (e.g. phones, smart watch, GPS tracker, etc.) must be kept in the students locker during the school day. Cell Phones and electronic devices will be asked to be powered off and kept in students' lockers. Please refrain from calling students during school hours. If you need to speak to your student or have an urgent message, please call the Franklin office. We can support you in reaching your child.
Spelling Bee
Have you heard the BUZZ? The D64 Spelling Bee is back! Please see our D64 Spelling Bee Website for further details and links to registration forms. Contact spater@d64.org with any questions about the Franklin Spelling Bee.Anyone Entering Franklin
All parents/guardians/visitors to Franklin must have a valid state ID or driver’s license. These will be entered into the Raptor identification system. This process only takes a short time to complete. Once you have clearance, a visitor pass will be printed and attached to a lanyard that you must wear throughout the building. The office will hold your ID until you return to the office and return the lanyard that was given to you. We request that you please be patient with staff as we proceed with this district-mandated safety procedure.
Student-Parent Handbook
Franklin Elementary School, along with all District 64 schools, operates following policies and practices that have been reviewed and implemented by the District 64 Board of Education. Please review the D64 Student-Parent Handbook before the start of the school year.
CHESS-ED WINTER SESSION
Chess-Ed is excited to return to Franklin to provide lunchtime chess instruction this Winter.
The 10-week program runs from 11/30/22 to 2/22/23 and takes place on Wednesdays
from 11:05 am to 12:00 pm (during lunch). The program is open to students in all grades
and of all chess abilities (including those in full-day and half-day Kindergarten).
Professional instruction will include the basics for beginner and novice players and build
with opening theory, middle game planning, and end game combinations for continuing and
advanced students. Playing chess improves memory, uses analytical and critical thinking
skills, teaches problem solving, responsibility, sportsmanship, social skills and more! The
benefits of chess last a lifetime!
To register, please go to www.2022-2023franklinchess.eventbee.com. Register by
11/16/22 to take advantage of lowest available fee. For more information about the
program, please refer to the program flyer. Chess-Ed is looking forward to working with
your CHESS ENTHUSIAST this Winter!
PTA Updates
Book club is on Fridays during lunch 11:35 am–12:25 pm
January 13th- March 17th 2023
We will again be using books hand-selected for each grade level. The books will have
relevance to the students and offer excellent discussion opportunities for their groups.
● We are emphasizing that it should be the student's choice to participate in book
club: we want to ensure that students who take part in the book club are committed
to reading the book and positively contributing to the discussions and activities.
● A $30 fee per student that will cover the costs of the books, materials, and
activities.
● Groups will be limited to facilitate the best discussion environment. We can have as
many groups per grade level as we have parent leaders!
● You can still sign up to be a book club leader. Responsibilities include facilitating book
discussion, and planning supporting activities, crafts, and/or games to go along with
the book(s). Book club chairs will select reading materials and distribute them to
leaders. Each group leader will be given a stippen to spend on supplies needed for
extra activities. Students will also eat lunch together during book club. Group size will
be limited to 10 children per group. Sign up at franklinpta.membershiptoolkit.com
Pizza Monday ordering is opening up on November 29th-December 19th in membership
toolkit. We can not accept orders after 12/19. Thank you for understanding!
If you ordered pizza for block 1, you need to order again for block 2. If you do not purchase
pizza by 12/19 there will be no other opportunity to sign up for pizza day for the remainder
of the year.
You must be a PTA member to order pizza through the PTA sponsored pizza days. You can
join the PTA, and order pizza at franklinpta.membershiptoolkit.com.
A few important things to note:
● Hot lunches ordered through my meal order are not available on Monday’s. If you
do not participate in the Monday Pizza lunch program, then you will need to pack a
lunch.
● 2 kinds of pizza are offered- cheese and gluten free cheese. 1,2, or 3 slices can be
ordered.
● Drinks only for Monday’s can be ordered through my meal order.
● All sides must be packed from home.
● Pizza day is every Monday of in school attendance.
BLOCK 2 PRICING
1 slice $71.00
2 slices $112.00
3 slices $154.00
The PTA is once again organizing a holiday gift collection drive for each of the amazing
Franklin teachers and staff members. If you would like to contribute money to a class gift, or
towards a gift for another teacher or staff member you can do so at:
Franklinpta.membershiptoolkit.com
The Holiday Collection will close on 12/14/22, giving our elves enough time to purchase
and deliver a gift before winter break.
A $10 contribution is recommended, but we would welcome your contribution at any level.
For those classrooms with co-teachers, please consider contributing to both teachers.
All of the information needed to contribute and how to allocate will be in membership
toolkit when you log on to contribute.
All home room teacher gifts will be purchased by the head room parents after the
collection closes and the money is allocated.
Thank you so much for showing your appreciation for the wonderful teachers and staff at
Franklin this Holiday Season!
Franklin PTA is excited to offer an intramural volleyball program. The overall GOAL of
the program is to introduce the sport of volleyball in a fun way. This will be a co-ed
program and open to all students in the 4th and 5th grades.
Volleyball registration is open on 11/29 at 9am until teams are full
● Sign up at the PTA Store on Membership Toolkit Franklinpta.membershiptoolkit.com
● Volleyball season will run 8 weeks: January 30th -March 24th
● 12 players max per co-ed team; two teams for each grade
● 4th grade practice and games will be Mon or Wed between 6:30-8:30pm
● 5th grade practice and games will be Tues or Thurs between 6:30-8:30pm
● Franklin will compete against Field, Roosevelt, Washington and Carpenter teams
● $30 fee includes T-shirt, pizza party, league supplies
Franklin PTA is also offering financial scholarships. Please contact the Franklin
Principal, Kristin Williams, by Monday, 11/28
If you have any questions or want to help coach, please contact the Franklin PTA V-ball
Coordinator, Courtney Bowles at courtneyblum@gmail.com
The Franklin Elementary School holiday sale is on! Choose from hundreds of designs and
garments, including a new line of gifts for parents, grandparents and relatives! All orders
placed in November are GUARANTEED delivery before the holidays. Shop Now!
Save 20% on every single item in the store and get free shipping on orders over $75! We've
added exciting new options, including:
● Workout Hoodies
● Puffer Vests
● Letterman Jackets
● Lightweight 1/4 Zips
● Pajamas
● Scarves
Calling all Franklin Falcons, we need your help!
Franklin, as well as other D64 schools, is excited to participate this holiday season in the Toys
For Tots Collection Drive! This is the Drive’s 75th Anniversary, let’s make it the best one yet!
Toys for Tots is a top-rated charity which provides toys, books and other gifts to less
fortunate children.
Beginning today, if you would like to purchase a toy for a child of any age in need, consider
shopping at the Amazon Wish List below for fast and easy ordering to the "Franklin Toys for
Tots Collection House", where all purchases will be delivered directly to our collection site. If
you purchase a gift elsewhere, just message us, and we will reach out to you to arrange for a
drop-off or pick-up. All gifts should be new and unwrapped. The collection will end on Tuesday, December 6th.
On Saturday, December 10th, all of the toys collected will be brought over to Carpenter
Elementary School. Save the date, decorate your car, and join us there for a parade which
starts at Carpenter at 9 am and ends at the Park Ridge Police Station. There, a semi-truck will
be waiting for us to fill with all of the toys collected for the Drive!
This is truly such a wonderful event where we can each help put a smile on a child’s face this
holiday season! Any and every item can help make a difference!
Thank you in advance for your participation!
Any questions, please email Carolyn at 2013nch@gmail.com.
There will be a collection box in the vestibule by the front office.