Here are some quick updates:

Spirit Day coming up next week on Thursday 5/29!

COLOR WARS

HeadStart and TK: PURPLE

Pre-School: BLUE

Kindergarten: PINK

K/2 Success: TYE-DYE

3/5 Success: WHITE

1st Grade: YELLOW

2nd Grade: GREEN

3rd Grade: BLACK

4th/5th Grade: RED

The grade level with the most SPIRIT will have an ice cream party on Friday 5/30.

PTSA Rainiers Game Ticket Handout

Wednesday 5/28 @ 9:30-9:45am, Thursday 5/29 @ 3-3:20pm and 5:30-6pm (at the Family night event).

Field Day Volunteers Needed!

We are looking for ten volunteers for Franklin's Field Day on June 16th. We need both AM and PM volunteers. Thank you so much for considering!

Testing!!!

Thank you for your support from home during this busy testing season.

Family Night on Thursday May 29th 🫶

Family night is this upcoming Thursday. Please join us for a fun night of activities, information, and much more.

Looking for summer programs?

Registration is open for weekly programs available to TPS elementary school students this summer. Programs are similar to Beyond the Bell – run by Parks Tacoma in Tacoma’s schools. Financial assistance is available.

Get more information: Summer Beyond the Classroom - Parks Tacoma

Tooth Fairy experience for grades K-2

We are excited to host the Tooth Fairy to Franklin on June 11th at 2:30 PM. If you want your K-2nd grade student to participate in the experience, we encourage their attendance on this day! They may even get a prize! 🦷🪥🧚🏻‍♀️

Have a wonderful and safe weekend Franklin families!

-The Franklin team

Please bring charged laptops to school. 🙂

Please keep personal electronics at home.

Reminder, no sharing of food due to allergies

Permission slips if your student walks home.

1st grade filed trip Tacoma Nature Center - May 14th

3rd grade field trip LeMay car museum - May 19th

PTSA Final members meeting - May 20th

Mental Health Awareness Assembly for Tk-5th - May 27th

May 2025

May 1- Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May 1- Jewish American Heritage Month

May 1- Better Hearing and Speech Month

May 1- Mental Health Awareness Month

May 1- National Physical education and Sports Month

May 4th-11th- National Music week

May 6th-12th Nation Nurse Appreciation Week

May 5th-9th- Teacher/Staff Appreciation week

May 6th- National Teacher Day

May 11th- Mothers Day

May 16th- National Bike to school day

May 20th- Armed Forces Day

May 26th- Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL

Inclusiveness: "I include others"

Here a few safety precautions we have for this school year both at Franklin, and throughout Tacoma Public Schools:

Safe campus

As you know, student safety is out top priority. We have measures in place to ensure a smooth transition to class for students while maintaining safety. Breakfast will be eaten in the classrooms. We ask that parents and guardians say their goodbyes at the front gates of the school. We cannot allow families or guests in the classroom/building unless it has been pre-arranged. Once again this is part of our safety measures.

Volunteers

Volunteers are welcome. To volunteer in a classroom, it must be arranged with the teacher beforehand. All volunteers must complete a background check before volunteering. Volunteers must check in at the office and always wear a visitor's sticker or lanyard.

Late arrivals

If your student arrives after 8:50, please come with them to the main office. You can ring the bell and the front office will let you in. The front office will then ask you to sign in and will give your student a tardy pass. We ask that you then say your goodbyes to your student at the front office.

Visitors and Volunteers

We truly appreciate your willingness to volunteer at our school and are grateful for the strong partnerships we have with our families. Volunteers play a vital role in supporting our students and staff, and we want to ensure that all expectations are clear so everyone can have a positive experience.

As a reminder, here are the key guidelines for all volunteers:

1. Sign-In Procedure: Please make sure to sign in at the office each time you volunteer. This helps us maintain a clear understanding of who is in the building for safety and security purposes. You will also be given a visitor badge that identifies you.
2. Stay at Your Designated Spot: Volunteers are expected to remain at their assigned location. Please do not gather in areas not assigned to you – we work hard to know where all visitors are at all times
3. Respect for Classroom Spaces: Volunteers should only be in classrooms by pre-arrangement from the teacher. Please respect the learning environment and follow the teacher's instructions during your visit.
4. Adhere to District Conduct Guidelines: It’s important that all volunteers follow the district’s guidelines on appropriate conduct while in the building. This ensures that we maintain a professional and respectful atmosphere for students, staff, and guests.
5. No Photos of Other Children: To protect privacy, we do not allow for photos of students or classroom settings.

We are committed to providing a safe and positive learning environment for our students, and your cooperation in following these guidelines is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions or need clarification, please don’t hesitate to reach out directly to me.

Tacoma Public Schools shares weather-related scheduling impacts in a number of ways, including email, calls and texts directly to you. You can make sure your contact information is up to date by checking ParentVUE. Get directions to update your account here: ParentVUE Help - Tacoma Public Schools

If you need help updating your information, contact our Franklin Front office.

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday

• School starts at 8:40
• NO valet effective April 14th 2025!
• Students will line up on teacher designated white lines on the blacktop as early as 8:35
• Teachers will pick up their students.
• Students will have breakfast and begin class.
• School ends at 3:10.

Wednesdays

• School starts at 9:40 on late starts.
• NO valet effective April 14th 2025!
• School ends at 3:10.

School bus safety
Please help us keep children safe on the school bus by talking to them about what to do while riding the bus, including:

• Stay seated while the bus is moving
• Follow the bus driver’s instructions
• If there is a seat belt, keep it fastened
• Keep bus aisles clear
• Don’t toss anything out of a bus window or wave hands out of the window

Thank you for your help, which will keep buses running on time and create a safer environment for all students.

Valet at drop off and dismissal ended right after Spring Break 2025!!!!

In response to Tacoma City not in agreement nor supporting our school having a valet system, and safety concerns during arrival and dismissal, Franklin Elementary will no longer operate a valet system. The Tacoma School District and City of Tacoma believe that eliminating the valet program will result in less driver confusion and congestion in front of the school, improve safety for students walking and biking to school, and eliminating the need for staff to interact with moving vehicles. This will go into effect after Spring Break, April 14th. We appreciate your patience as we navigate this new plan.

*Attached below is a picture of our valet updates and map for parking.

• Before school you may drop off your student in the valet loading zone however, your vehicle must continue to move as NO parking will be allowed in this zone. Your car must not be unattended and must keep moving after your student has left the car. Staff will not be available to assist students out of cars.
• Crossing will be available if your student is crossing the street in the front of the school campus.
• After school, please do not use the loading zone. You must park in the city parking available or our school parking lot.
• Families with ADA needs will have spaces available at the front of our old valet loading zone.
• Staff will release students after school upon seeing their trusted adult. NO releasing of students to waiting adults in a vehicle. (unless ADA accommodation has been made)

Families of elementary school students can soon register for the next session of Beyond the Bell, fun and engaging after-school programs in our school.

Beyond the Bell activities run from when school gets out to 5:45 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Our students can participate in after-school programs through the Beyond the Bell program. Registration starts Aug. 26 on a staggered school schedule. Get more information on our school's website under the "Programs & Activities" menu.

Please enter through the side handicap main entrance door and ring the bell. A YMCA staff member will answer and check your student in.

Our schools have skilled counselors who can help with academic, career and social-emotional guidance. If your child needs support beyond what a counselor can offer, TPS also has exceptional mental health partners who provide services at schools. School counselors can assist with referrals to our partner agencies.

Find behavior health resources here.

Take a look at the back-to-school welcome guide for information about how our Health Services team can partner with you to keep your child healthy.

Email: franklin@tacoma.k12.wa.us

253-571-1400

Report an absence in ParentVUE

FranklinAttendance@tacoma.k12.wa.us

School Phone: 253-571-1400

Franklin Elementary School

Address: 1402 S Lawrence St, Tacoma, WA 98405