The Franklin Flyer

Mark Your Calendars:

September 4: Labor Day - No School

September 5: PTA - Pizza Monday Parent Volunteer Sign-Up @ 9:30 AM

September 7: PTA - Community Conversations @ 6:30 PM, First PTA Meeting of the 23-24 year @ 7 PM at Franklin

September 8: PTA - Last day to submit Back to School photos for the yearbook

September 11: PTA - First Pizza Monday

September 12: PTA - Room Parent Sign Up @ 9:30 AM

September 18: Picture Day

September 21: Fall Conference Sign-Up Opens for Parents @ 4:00 pm

September 28: PTA - Back to School Bash 5-7 PM @ Franklin

September 30: Judi McCarthy 5K Memorial Run/Walk 9 AM @ Franklin

October 17: Fall Conference @ 4-8 pm

October 24: Fall Conference @ 4-8 pm

October 26: Fall Conference @ 4-8 pm

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 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.

Franklin Office Hours
School office hours are from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

School Hours

School Hours (M, T, Th, F): 8:50 am - 3:30 pm

Wednesday School Hours: 8:50 am - 2:40 pm

Half-Day Kindergarten Hours

Kindergarten Hours (M, T, Th, F): 8:50 am - 11:35 am

Kindergarten Wednesday: 8:50 am - 11:05 am

You can find frequent updates or snapshots from our days at Franklin on Facebook and Instagram! Follow us at

Facebook: facebook.com/FranklinD64

Instagram: franklin.d64

All billing or tuition questions can be answered by the District 64 Business Department. The Business Department can be reached at:

District 64 Office

847-318-4300

8200 Greendale Ave,

Niles Il 60714

Next week Franklin is participating in Safety Week. Each year schools need to complete the necessary safety drills to fulfill requirements to the Illinois State Board of Education. We will complete our first Fire Drill, Tornado Drill, Bus Evacuation, and Hard Lock Down. Two additional Fire Drills will be completed later in the school year. Teachers lead their class in age-appropriate conversation regarding the purpose and importance of these drills to keep all students safe at school.

A communication on lockdown drills went home to all families this past week. You can find a copy of that communication here.

Picture Day

Franklin's Picture Day is September 18th. Information on ordering school pictures from Color Portraits can be found below. If you have any further questions please contact Claire at claire@colorportraits.com

On September 7th at 6:30 pm in the Franklin LRC, Mrs. Williams and Ms. Burke will be available to have open conversations with any Franklin community members on ideas on ways to continue to build and grow at Franklin. This is a time to discuss topics related to the school or community. We ask if you would like to discuss the academic progress or concerns of your student, that you reach out to schedule a private time to meet.

Chromebooks

As a reminder, each Franklin student will be issued an iPad (grades K-1) or a Chromebook computer (grades 2-5) as part of the District’s one-to-one digital learning program. Students will receive their devices during the first week of school. Your child will also be assigned a Google account to access Google Apps for Education and other digital resources at school and to explore further concepts introduced in class at home. The devices and their applications are technology tools that provide all students access to digital content and higher levels of individualized instruction.

You can find more information about the 1:1 Initiative, Chromebooks, and the other technologies available to our students here.

Drop-off of Student Items/Lunches

If your student forgets something at home, an adult may drop off items at the Franklin front office. Our front office staff will message the classroom for your student to pick up these items during a break in student instruction. The teacher will send the student to the office when it works best in the classroom schedule.

Visiting Franklin

All visitors to Franklin must have a valid state ID or driver’s license. Identification is entered into the Raptor identification system. This process only takes a short time to complete. Once you have clearance, the office staff will print a visitor pass for you and attach it to a lanyard you must wear throughout the building. The office will hold your ID until you return to the office and return the lanyard. We appreciate your support as we proceed with this district-mandated safety procedure for the safety of our students.

Student-Parent Handbook
Franklin Elementary School and all District 64 schools follow policies and practices reviewed and implemented by the District 64 Board of Education. Please review the D64 Student-Parent Handbook before the start of the school year.

From Your PTA

PTA membership registration for this school year is now open at franklinpta.membershiptoolkit.com. This year we are introducing a new Household Membership for $15 for two adults, or you can still join with one adult for $10. After paying and registering for your PTA Membership, please go to our Facebook School PTA group and request to join. You can also easily access the group page by using the link and QR code found in the confirmation email sent to you after registration. If you have any questions about membership or any of our updates, please reach out to us at info@franklinpta.com.

Thank you to our volunteers!

School supply kits don’t arrive on their own. Thank you to Liz Feighan Kelly (and the whole Kelly crew including Hannah, Liam, and James) as well as Zrinka Davis and Chris Kueppers for organizing and distributing all of the kits to their respective classrooms on time for this year’s supply drop-off. As this is Liz’s last year at Franklin, we’d also like to recognize and thank her for managing our school supply program SINCE 2016!

Rain or shine Mr. Mark is always there to safely cross our children to school. In February he’ll have been with our Franklin family for 10 years! Thank you Lauren Haugeberg and the families who made sure our very own Mr. Mark felt special on his birthday!

Join us for our first PTA meeting of the year on Thursday, September 7

We are so excited to kick off the 2023-24 school year at Franklin. At our first meeting, we’ll share information about all of the planned events and activities for the year, review our budget, provide guidance on when and how you can volunteer, and answer any questions. This year we’re excited to return to some in-person meetings so join us in person for this first meeting in the Franklin library at 7 PM. We’ll also broadcast the meeting through Zoom for anyone who can’t join in person.

Say Cheese!

We want your back-to-school pictures in the yearbook! The deadline to submit photos is Friday, September 8. There are a few ways to submit photos:

1. TreeRing App: Download the app and log in to your existing account or set up a new one. Then scroll down to Share Photos in the middle of the page and add pictures in the "Back to School" folder.

2. TreeRing website: Click on this link to be taken directly to the “Back to School” folder.

3. Email: Send your photos to notification.photos.298362828@treeringphotos.com, just attach the photos you want to include.

And it’s never too early to order your yearbook, you can cross something off your list AND get a 10% discount if you order by October 31. (If you get prompted for a passcode, use 101411067007226)

Please reach out to franklinyearbook@gmail.com with questions.

Each year Franklin designs a t-shirt featuring the year’s school theme, this year’s motto is Finding Joy in the Journey. Each grade wears a different color of shirt to represent their school and grade with pride. Students wear their shirts to the annual Raise Craze final assembly, Field Day, and Spirit Fridays. Families have the option of buying these t-shirts for $7 through the PTA Membership Toolkit. The PTA welcomes our newest Kindergarten class by paying for a shirt for every Kindergarten student. Grade-level t-shirt orders close on Sep. 8 after which no other orders can be accepted.

Volunteers needed: We are looking for a few volunteers to help sort and distribute the t-shirts on Friday, Oct. 6 from 1-3 PM. Sign up through the PTA Membership Toolkit.

Pizza Mondays are back!

Orders will close on September 5th for Block 1 of Pizza Mondays, and pizza service will begin on Monday, September 11th. If you would like to volunteer to help serve pizza, please register in our Membership Toolkit starting Tuesday, September 5th at 9:30AM. Students who are participating in Pizza Mondays will be served pizza as they enter their lunch area. We do recommend sending 1-2 sides and a drink with your child on Pizza Mondays. Questions can be directed to info@franklinpta.com

Room parent sign-ups open Sep. 12th

Each homeroom will have four room parent roles (two Head Room Parents and two Party Support Parents) available for signup on Tuesday, September 12 at 9:30 AM.

• Head Room Parents organize and are present for the class Halloween and Valentine’s Day parties, and also purchase homeroom teachers’ gifts with funds collected from the class families through the PTA Toolkit. The two Head Room Parent Coordinators hold the roles for the entire school year.

• Party Support Parents coordinate with the Head Room Parents on party activities, crafts and games needed for the Halloween and Valentine’s Day parties. Party Support Parents also attend the class party they signed up for. There will be two Halloween Party Support Parent roles, and two Valentine’s Day Party Support Parent roles (4 parents total present at each party).

Sign up for Room Parent roles through the PTA Membership Toolkit on Sep. 12th, 9:30 AM.

Register or volunteer for the Judi McCarthy 5K Memorial Run/Walk on Sep 30

Registration is open for our inaugural 5K at Franklin in honor of a dedicated former Franklin teacher, Judi McCarthy. Franklin students and family members who want to participate in the 5K can register in the PTA Membership Toolkit for $10 per person. Your $10 fee includes a shirt and water and light snacks will be served at the end of the event.

The PTA would like to thank our event sponsors Jewel-Osco and Pan's Mushroom Jerky for their generous support of the Judi McCarthy 5K Run/Walk! Any others who are interested in sponsoring this or another PTA event can reach out to vp@franklinpta.com.

Chess-Ed

Chess-Ed is excited to return to Franklin to provide lunchtime chess instruction this Fall. The 10-week program runs from 9/13/23 to 11/15/23 and takes place on Wednesdays. Students in grades K-3 will have Chess class from 11:00AM-12:00PM (lunch) while students in grades 4-5 will have Chess class from 11:30AM-12:30PM (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 https://2023-2024franklinchess.eventbee.com. Register by 8/30/23 to take advantage of the 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 Fall!