The Franklin Flyer

Mark Your Calendars:

February 13: Open House - 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

February 14: No School

February 16: D64 Science Olympiad Closes

February 17: No School

February 27: Spring Conferences - 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

February 28: No School/PTA - Dance with my VIP

March 24 - 28: Spring Break - No School

April 18: No School

May 26: No School

Absences

Please 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.

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

Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade Lunch: 11:35 - 12:30

4th and 5th Grade Lunch: 12:05 - 1:00

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

Wednesday Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade Lunch: 11:05 - 12:00

Wednesday 4th and 5th Grade Lunch: 11:35 - 12:30

Half-Day Kindergarten Hours

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

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

Franklin is hosting author Dean Robbins on February 19th for all 2nd and 3rd grade students!

Book orders are due February 13th!

Order here: https://www.thebookstall.com/dean-robbins-visits-chicago-area-schools

Science Olympiad 2025! If you are a fourth or fifth grader, now is the time to make plans to participate in this year’s Science Olympiad which takes place on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Information, along with the ONLINE registration form, are available on the District 64 Science Olympiad Web Page. Registration is from January 31 - February 16.

STREAM Night Registration opens Monday, February 3, 2025

Please remember to complete the

Google Form to RSVP

Ramadan

If your student is observing fasting during Ramadan, Franklin provides an alternative, quiet location where they can spend the lunch portion of the lunch/recess hour. If your child would like to use this alternative space during lunch while fasting, please email their homeroom teacher to make arrangements.

We are in the process of exploring a new mass communication system for our staff and families, and we want your input! We invite you to participate in a brief survey that will help us assess and improve our communication tools and strategies.

Your feedback is invaluable in creating a more effective communication system. The survey will only take about 5-10 minutes to complete. By sharing your thoughts, you can help us enhance the connections within our schools and community. Thank you for your participation!

Winter Recess Gear

As more consistent winter weather approaches, please ensure your child brings appropriate gear to school each day, including winter boots, a coat, gloves, a hat, and snow pants. We strive to have outdoor recess whenever possible, and students without winter boots will need to stay on the blacktop during recess. Please remember to label all of your child's winter gear with their first and last name. Thank you for helping keep our students warm and prepared for the season!

Chess-Ed is excited to return to Franklin to provide lunchtime chess instruction this Spring. The 10-week program runs from 02/19/2025 to 04/30/25 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://2024-2025franklinchess.eventbee.com/. Register by 02/16/2025 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 Spring!

Community Green Team

More than most holidays, Valentine’s Day creates a lot of excess trash. This year, consider sending electronic cards, using recycled paper, or choosing valentines that can be recycled--such as those without internal batteries (cards that talk or sing!), metal, plastic, glitter, or foil. It's also easy to upcycle artwork into valentines! Have students pick art they have already created and turn it into a valentine: add a message or cut into a heart shape. Avoid giving plastic trinkets and other items that quickly end up in our landfills and waterways. We've only got one Earth; let's show her some love this Valentine's Day!

Lunch at Franklin

District 64 partners with Quest Food Management Services to provide a high-quality hot lunch program for grades full-day kindergarten through 8th grade. Students who need to go home for lunch must bring a note from a parent to the homeroom teacher each time this need arises; the parent must pick up the student at the school office. On return, the student and parent must report to the office and sign back in before returning to class.

Peanut/nut-safe lunch tables at the elementary schools are designated for allergic children and their friends who opt to abstain from those products. Arrangements at the middle schools are handled on an individual basis to accommodate student needs. Peanut butter and other peanut products may be consumed freely by non-allergic students in each lunchroom. To promote disease prevention, parents are requested to enclose a hand sanitizer wipe in their child’s lunch or backpack for use before eating.

Information on free lunch/milk waiver is available at the bottom of the Pay Student Fees page.

Parents are discouraged from routinely delivering lunch to the office from local restaurants; lunches brought to the office should be reserved for emergency situations, such as a forgotten lunch. Please refrain from sending or dropping off any soda or energy drinks for your students. Thank you for your cooperation.

When Entering The Building

When a parent or guardian arrives to Franklin with or for a student, dropping off items or for a meeting, when ringing the doorbell, please state your name and your student(s) names to support our safety procedures.

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.

Issues with A School Device?

If you have are having issues with your student's device at home, please complete a ticket.

https://d64.incidentiq.com/guest/NPV6SRUK/d64-family-tech-support-ticket#top

Payments to School - My School Bucks

Park Ridge-Niles CCSD 64 employs My School Bucks as its payment platform for families. Most

purchases for students, including field trips and student orders. Directors can be found here.

For the health and safety of our students and community, no pets are allowed on school property. We realize the beautiful weather increases the amount of families who are walking to and from school. However, we ask that you please leave your dog or cat at home. Properly identified service animals are always permitted.

Please take a moment to review the contacts section of your ParentPortal. Any adult who has approval for after school pick-up or emergency pick-up for illness/injury should be listed. Franklin staff will not release students to adults who are not listed on the ParentPortal.

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.

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

Appreciation Spotlight

Thank you to Colleen Russell for again successfully coordinating our many room parents, and to those room parents for organizing activities for our kids to spread love around the school!

Save the Date for Night of the Stars 2025!

We’re so excited to be able to showcase the many talents of our Franklin stars! Mark your calendars for the following dates and look out for an email from Dr. Williams next week with details on how to sign up for performances and volunteer to support the event.

• Tryouts: Wednesday, April 9, 2:40 - 5:00 PM - Franklin Gym

• Rehearsal: Wednesday, April 23, 4:00 - 7:00 PM - Emerson Middle School

• Night of the Stars: Friday, April 25, 6:30 - 8:30 PM - Emerson Middle School

Get your tickets for the Winter Dance with My VIP! | Friday, February 28th 6 - 8 PM

Get Ready to Boogie at Franklin’s Winter Disco Party!

Join your Franklin friends for a groovy night of dancing, dazzling lights, and non-stop fun! Strike a pose at our funky photo booths, enjoy light refreshments, and dance the night away!

When: Friday, Feb. 23, 6-8 PM

Where: Franklin Gym

Theme: “Disco Fever” – Get ready to sparkle! Dress in your best retro disco look—think bold colors, sequins, bell bottoms, and funky accessories!

Important Details:

• Tickets are available now through the PTA Membership Toolkit: https://www.franklinpta.com/

• Tickets are $20 per student & VIP, $5 for each additional student

• Each household may invite one adult V.I.P., with the exception of volunteers

• This is not a drop-off event—students must be accompanied by their adult V.I.P. for the duration of the event.

• Only current Franklin students may attend.

• The dance will still be held even though it is on a non-student attendance day.

Space is limited for this event so we suggest you purchase your tickets as early as possible. Please send questions regarding the dance to camille.decicco@gmail.com.

Pizza Monday Server

4th/5th grade Pizza Monday Server Spots Available!! The number of spots and dates available are listed below. Please reach out to Lorena at jazzn1@live.com to reserve a spot as a first come first serve basis. Thanks!

1 spot: 3/10, 4/28, 5/5

2 spots: 3/17

3 spots: 2/24, 3/31, 4/14, 4/21

Staff Lunches

The PTA offers teachers and staff members an option to purchase lunch on Mondays from Spuntinos via franklinpta.com. Families are always welcome to show their appreciation for a staff member by purchasing a Monday lunch on their behalf. If this is something your family is interested in doing, please refer to the PTA website for more information.

Questions about teacher and staff lunches can be directed to rebeccavanpoucke@gmail.com.

STREAM Night

STREAM Night coordinators are looking for parent volunteers to run one of three stations: light boxes, snap circuits, and laser level hockey from 4-5pm. Please sign up for volunteer opportunities at franklinpta.com.

Please send questions regarding STREAM Night to vwilson@d64.org.

D64 Science Olympiad 2025

The District 64 Science Olympiad is a morning filled with science and engineering challenges in an Olympic-type format. Students in 4th and 5th grade work in teams to represent their schools in events: Egg Drop, Aerodynamics, Mystery Box, Rubber Band Catapult, and Structures. "Winning teams" receive first, second, or third place medals. All students receive a special Science Olympiad certificate and souvenir. The event date is April 4th, 9-11 am at Emerson Middle School. Registration opens Jan. 31 and closes Feb.16. Please visit the link below for more information on registering your student. If you have any more questions or would like to volunteer to be a coach, a judge, or the head coordinator for the Egg Drop event, please contact Brennan Young at youngbrennan12@yahoo.com.

https://www.d64.org/learning/science-olympiad

Yearbook

Yearbook is in need of pictures for the following: Please note that each folder link is different. Do not place multiple event photos in one folder.

• Band/Orchestra. Please use this email address to directly send photos of kids in band/orchestra. notification.photos.360067192@treeringphotos.com

• International Night. Please use this email address below to directly send photos from international night to the folder in TreeRing. notification.photos.360068141@treeringphotos.com

• Boy Scouts. Please use this email address below to directly send photos of boy scouts/troops to TreeRing. notification.photos.360067290@treeringphotos.com

• Girl Scouts. Please use this email link below to directly send photos of girl scouts/troops to TreeRing. notification.photos.360067788@treeringphotos.com

• 100th Day of School Kindergarten: Please use the link below to directly send photos of your Kindergartener dressed for the 100th Day of school. notification.photos.365948909@treeringphotos.com

• 100th Day of School 1st Grade: Please use the link below to directly send photos of your 1st grader dressed for the 100th Day of School. notification.photos.359189746@treeringphotos.com

Yearbooks are still for sale until mid-April. Please use the following link to purchase.

https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=101411067007226

Staff Lunches

The PTA offers teachers and staff members an option to purchase lunch on Mondays from Spuntinos via franklinpta.com. Families are always welcome to show their appreciation for a staff member by purchasing a Monday lunch on their behalf. If this is something your family is interested in doing, please refer to the PTA website for more information.

Questions about teacher and staff lunches can be directed to rebeccavanpoucke@gmail.com.

Missing out on info? We have a FACEBOOK page!

We post reminders, updates, recognition, answer questions &

Help make this community stronger! Join us at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071259407924
Or scan the QR code. MUST BE A PAID PTA MEMBER TO JOIN.

Spirit Wear Deal!

• This week only, save $10 on all Camelbak water bottles and $10 on all pajama pants! Don't miss this opportunity to save! Shop at https://1stplace.sale/30637

  • 2/17 - 2/23: $8 off all long sleeve tees

  • 2/24 - 3/2: 25% off all bags

Rainbows for All Children provides peer groups for kids in 1st - 8th grade. These groups provide a safe space for them to share their experiences associated with loss of a loved one and/or a changing family dynamic due to divorce, deployment, etc. Trained facilitators help encourage communication while identifying, navigating and discussing feelings amongst the group. Our next session begins on Tuesday, January 14th, 2025. This free program meets every Tuesday, from 5:30 - 6:30 pm, at the Park Ridge Community Church.

Please use this Google Form link to register your child/children and/or to be added to our communications list. Any general questions or interest in volunteering to become a facilitator, please contact rainbows64@att.net . For more general info please visit https://rainbows.org/

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YWOBWEERhlRwR0oLRee2bU1j89cOg4Qp7jEB0yCnS-E/edit