The Franklin Academy
Weekly Update Newsletter - May 9 th - 13 th
WISHING ALL MOTHERS A WONDERFUL DAY!
M = Magical
O = One-of-a-kind
M = Magnificent
MOTHER's DAY TEA
"Where did YOUR mom learn to be the best mom ever?"
Children say the funniest things...
Brooks-"At College."
Cameron- "Working at the Day Care."
Clara- "At work."
Demir- "When riding a bike."
Emmett- "Taking care of me and my sister."
Kellen- "In Bellingham."
Juniper-"While riding on her Peloton Bike."
Lukas- "At work."
Lua- "At my house taking care of us."
We congratulate you on all your accomplishments this year and in years past. All of us at The Franklin Academy will miss you, but we are excited for your future as you journey into high school.
You make your Mother proud!
CELEBRATING 8th GRaders
During May, we will be acknowledging our 8th graders by House each week. Starting us off this week is the Ershig House.
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose."
- Dr. Seuss
ELIZabeth (ZZ)
"Way to go ZZ! We are so proud of your hard work and dedication! Love Mom, Dad, and Emmett"
Beatrix
"Congratulations, Beatrix! We are so glad you are our daughter! Love, Mom and Dad"
ELIZA
"Congratulations, Eliza! We are so glad you are our daughter! Love, Mom and Dad"
Ignatius (iggy)
"Congratulations, Iggy! We are so glad you are our son! Love, Mom and Dad"
Sean
Andrew
Aria (Sunny)
"Aria, your hard work and positive energy make us proud! Congratulations! Love, Mom, Dad, and Diego"
Jeremiah (Remy)
A few words from your wonderful teacher Mrs. Smith:
Why I love this group:
They are quiet, responsible and competitive... We want to win the house competition and we are indeed winning...
They like to play chess, knit and coding....
They are incredibly patient with each other and willing to help me with anything...
They are funny and I love listening to them joke around with each other...
They are WAY smarter than I am and I truly have felt blessed to be in their presence....
Fridays have always been my favorite as it is "game day" and I can really just kick back and be completely entertained and impressed by these kiddos... their wit, ability to lead, and their intelligence ...
Overall, I guess you can tell I absolutely adore each and every one of them and will be sad when it is over...
Reasons I love:
ZZ - Sooo smart - exploding kittens a complicated card game, she had never seen before - won within 5 minutes against people who had played before
Iggy - super competitive - willing to do WHATEVER it takes to win -
Eliza- super knitter and always willing to help - both her and her sister can recite Edgar Allen Poe poetry --- ahhh my love language
Bea- thank god she cut her hair so I could tell the difference between her and her sister
Remy - the most patient kid ever, also responsible for the design of our auction project
Andrew- always smiling!! and a dedicated student
Sean- always ready to talk about cars and also ready try to beat someone at our house's favorite game " iron snout"
Sunny - the girl who claims "teachers and I ALWAYS butt heads" - well you won this one over with your wit, energy and GIANT smile
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
ART WALK DOWNTOWN - May 6th - 20th
THINKING SESSION - May 10th 6:00 - 7:30 PM
PALS MEETING - Tuesday, May 10 at 8:00 AM
Uniform Closet - OPEN - Tuesday, May 10 from 8:00 - 8:30 AM, or online anytime: https://tfa-pals-store.square.site/
- TIPS: MAKING THE HIGH SCHOOL TRANSITION - Monday, May 16th
- "NIGHT IN TOKYO" DANCE - Friday, May 20th - at Markell Hall from 6:00 - 9:00 PM
- PALS FINAL OPERATING COMMITTEE MEETING - Monday, May 23rd 6:30 PM
- LAST DAY TO CHECK OUT LIBRARY BOOKS - Thursday, May 26th
FREE DRESS DAY - Friday, May 27th
- NO SCHOOL - Monday, May 30th - Memorial Day
- HOUSE COLORS DAY - Wednesday, June 1st
- FAMILY FUN NIGHT - Friday, June 3rd! More info to come; mark your calendars!
- USED BOOK SALE - Saturday, June 4th at Holly Hall from 9-3
- ALL SCHOOL LIBRARY BOOKS DUE- Monday, June 6th
- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL- FIELD DAY! - Thursday, June 16
THINKING Session
The Future of Franklin Academy Community Discussion
Tuesday, May 10th from 6:00 -7:30 PM on Zoom. (The link is here).
We believe the future of The Franklin Academy is bright!
Join us for a community discussion, facilitated by Greg Bamford of the nonprofit organization Leadership+Design, about your hopes for the future of The Franklin Academy.
This discussion will be used to help inform the development of a possible new mission statement for The Franklin Academy, as well as to help the school better understand what families would like to see for the future of the school. No preparation is required!
20th Annual JOG-A-THON
Tips: Making the High School Transition Meeting
On Monday, May 16th from 2:30 to 3:10 PM, The Franklin Academy is hosting an opportunity for previous students (alumni) to support our soon-to-be graduating 8th Graders by answering any of their burning transitional questions. Basically, it's an informal opportunity for previous students to provide some insight/tips/wisdom to our soon-to-be 9th Grade students.
This event is called Tips: Making the High School Transition (informal informative panel). This will be hosted outside the school in our grass field with panel members.
REQUESTS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
PALS UPDATE!
Parents Actively Lending Support (PALS) - the parent-led organization supporting The Franklin Academy. Click below to see the current volunteer needs identified by PALS.
May Morning Greeters:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C45A8AB2DA5FA7-morning5
JOG-A-THON Helpers:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0c45a8ab2da5fa7-jogathon
Last Day of School - Field Day Volunteers:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C45A8AB2DA5FA7-last1
Help set up for or sell books at our used book sale in June!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C45A8AB2DA5FA7-library1
ADDITIONAL NEEDS:
PALS needs lots of small lightly used toys/fidgets/small items for preschool through 4th grade kids at Family Fun Night. Please drop off in the bins at each building entrance. Thank you!
PALS final OC (Operating Committee) meeting in person on May 23rd at 6:30PM, Markell Hall. Everyone is invited!
SUMMER opportunities
2022 Summer Camps!
Download here: Summer Camp Registration Form
Have Questions? Please contact Violet Lord, vlord@thefranklin.academy
The Franklin Academy Summer Math Program
The Franklin Academy's Summer Math Program is back!
Dates - Saturdays:
- July 16 & 23
- August 6 & 13
Time - 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
For: 4th to 8th graders
Cost: FREE! To all Franklin Academy students registered for the following year.
Please get in touch with me if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Ole Hedahl, M.Ed.
Math & Coding Instructor
ohedahl@thefranklin.academy
The Franklin Academy NEWs
creative art with Ms. Simpson
Collaborative Enchanted Garden Door
Miss Rachel Simpson put together the Enchanted Garden Door with all the K-8th grades in Art classes, for the Children's Art Walk that's this Friday, May 6th, 2022.
All students helped create watercolor paintings of the following things that we collaged onto a paper-mache door: leaves, vines, plants, flowers, caterpillars, cocoons and butterflies! We also have 10 different classes of students art that will be on display for K-8th.
The 22nd Annual Children's Art Walk starts this Friday between 5-9pm, located inside the Saturna Capital windows (1300 N. State Street) and inside the entrance of the YMCA (1256 N. State Street) buildings in downtown Bellingham. All families are welcome to join us in this wonderful community event that includes 2,000 students art from various schools in the Whatcom County, and it's all at the art walk in downtown Bellingham.
The artwork will be up on display until May 20th. You can find out more info, the press release, and a pdf map on their site: https://www.alliedarts.org/childrens-art-walk-2/
Creatively,
Ms. Simpson
Enchanted Garden Door - Click on the picture
Exploding Books - Click on the picture
The reading corner
MAY the 4th be with you!
THANK YOU!
MAY the 4th at Village Books was a huge success for The Franklin Academy! There was a whopping $2,616.02 in purchases and 20% of that is $523.20!
It warms our hearts to see families getting beloved books from an independent bookstore, which supports our wider community, our school community, and at-home literacy! It’s a win on all fronts.
If you missed our library fundraiser, you can still help us out by buying a book from our never-ending wishlist! https://www.villagebooks.com/wishlist/537
Next week we’ll start focusing on getting school library books returned and missing/damaged copies replaced, but for now, we will just bask in the glow of literacy!
Happy Reading,
Mrs. Snyder and Mrs. Samuel
Words from Chaplain Aaron
Believe it or not, we are nearing the end of the school year (crazy, I know). In the Chapel, this means we have one more unit, and one final week for reflections on the year.
Starting next week, we will begin a 5-week discussion on Generosity. In the column below, you will see the question we will be pondering each week. I invite you to use these questions as a discussion point with your student(s), and look forward to hearing about your conversations.
We plan on using our school's core commitment "I will reflect" as a filter for our discussions. My hope is that as we do so we will be prompted to reflect on the abundance of resources we have (time, wealth, etc.), and will grow in gratitude. With gratitude, generosity finds motivation and action. Proverbs 11:25 says, “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” As we venture into generosity, my hope is that we will find this verse to be true.
As always, let me know if you have questions or thoughts. And, let me know how I can be of service to you and your student(s). Thanks for allowing me to serve this great community!
~Aaron
*Character Development focus: Generosity
Week of May 9: What does it mean to be generous?
Week of May 16: What gets in the way of being generous?
Week of May 23: How can I be generous with my resources?
Week of May 30: What does gratitude have to do with generosity?
Week of June 6: How can we be generous in expressing gratitude?
Week of June 13: Chapel Reflections
*Core Commitment: I Will Reflect
Consider the meaning of life, what you believe, and your place in the world and in existence. Learn about your own mind, spirituality, and personality and how to get the best from yourself. Learn about others – what they value and what you can appreciate. Talk less, listen more. Question what you hear and read. Embrace the beauty of art, of science, of mathematics, of ideas, of true friendship, and of our world. Learn about history, that we may raise ourselves. Extend your awareness. Strive for knowledge moderated by wisdom.
acknowledgements
5th grade Chapel Service Guild
We received this thank you from a neighbor after the 5th grade Chapel Service Guild project.
The 5th graders assembled flower bouquets and delivered them to the immediate neighbors of the school. It goes to show you that a simple act can have a lot of meaning.
Thanks to our Chapel Guild chairperson Christy, and to the 5th graders for an awesome service project!
Track and Field
Track Results
Female qualifiers and their events:
- Adelle O. for the 400m, long jump, and the 4x100m relay.
- Adrianna E. in the long jump, 4x100m relay, and 4x200m relay.
- Tea L. in the long jump, 4x100m relay, and 4x200m relay.
- Audrey B. in the 400m, 4x100m relay, and 4x200m relay.
- Maeve C. in the 4x200m relay.
- Sydney H. in the high jump.
- Kasia K. in the mile
- Grace D. in the mile
- Marin L. in the 800m
Male qualifiers and their events:
- Odin O. in the 400m and 4x100m relay
- Sean L. in the mile
- Andrew M. in the 4x100m relay
- Kaveer D. in the 4x100m relay and shot put
- Christian L. in the 4x100m relay and long jump
- Lassen R. in Discus
Come to the Championship Meet next Tuesday, May 10th at Mt. Baker to watch some truly talented athletes!
Danialle Segebart, M.Ed
Spanish Teacher
Track & Field Coach
The Franklin Academy
Social Studies grade 6 - Greek Theatre masks with Ms. Bull
Click on the image below to explore where some of these plays took place!
6th Grade Greek Theater Masks
Cinco De Mayo
First grade news from Mrs. Brewin
Here's what we've been working on the last little while:
- in math we wrapped up our study of telling time by doing a time quiz. Then we started working on geometry. Today we talked about the names of shapes and learned the vocabulary words sides and vertices.
-in science we were introduced to our new ladybug larvae! We have about 10 larvae and we're going to be observing the ladybug life cycle as they change from larva to pupa to adult ladybug.
-in reading each student chose a biography to read and we're going to be doing a little biography project about their chosen person. Ask your student who they are reading about!
-for our chapter book read aloud, we're continuing to read The Wild Robot Escapes. We will often stop to make predictions, ask questions, visualize what is happening, and make inferences.
-in social studies we did a Kahoot to practice the locations of the 7 continents and the 5 oceans. If you haven't seen Kahoot before, it's a game where questions are projected on a screen and teams or individuals answer questions on their own device. The kids really enjoy it!
-in writing we are working on poetry. Last week we wrote acrostic poems using our names and put them on a cool rainbow. It's called a "Rainbow Name-bow." We also read the book Quick as a Cricket and began learning about similes. Then we started writing simile poems that describe ourselves.
-we also continued to learn about synonyms and we made our own "Synonym Rolls" that show a word and many other words that have a similar meaning. We also got to eat mini cinnamon rolls for inspiration :)
Veritas Media produced the video above with the support of admissions from the "FOR YOUR EYES ONLY" Gala & Auction. It's a delightful reflection of our community.
Know a Family Interested in Our School?
Our school grows with parents/guardians enthusiastically sharing our school program and community. If you know someone interested in learning more about our program or wanting to set up a virtual tour, please encourage them to reach out to:
Natalie Bennett, Admission Director
360.733.1750
Helpful information
PE Shirts
We wanted to send a reminder that all PE shirts and uniform sales are made via the link below through PALS, with all payments being made online rather than through either front desk at Robin or Markell.
https://tfa-pals-store.square.site
Anything purchased will be delivered to your child's classroom. As a reminder, the used uniforms can vary in size due to wear and shrinkage, so it's best to come in and try them on. We are working to add more uniform store availability for working families, hopefully in the evenings (by appointment).
AMAZON SMILE
If you shop at Amazon.com, this is a great opportunity to raise money for Franklin Academy. Sign up at Amazon Smile and 0.5% of your purchase price will go towards the FA Annual Fund. Here’s how:
1. Go to Amazon Smile
2. In the “pick your own charitable organization” box type in Franklin Preschool
3. Click on the Bellingham Franklin Academy (may still be listed under St. Paul’s Episcopal School through the summer)
4. Very Important! Please make sure whenever you shop on Amazon you go to the Amazon Smile webpage. If you shop on Amazon.com we won’t receive the donation.
Past newsletters
The Franklin Academy
Email: fnews@thefranklin.academy
Website: https://thefranklin.academy/
Location: 1509 East Victor Street, Bellingham, WA, USA
Phone: (360) 733-1750
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FranklinAcademyBellingham/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel&eid=ARBJZqnuWM2fzJSJOXO6X6qVO60w_ijnQdCgtmUFYZCSwnd0NO7wI_Jgq5_odVo2A3bLV76Yg91UH5TB
The Franklin Academy Points of Contact
Melanie Hurley, Associate Head of School, mhurley@thefranklin.academy
Dawn Regier, Administrative Assistant Markell Hall, dregier@thefranklin.academy
Rachel Lee, Administrative Assistant Robin Hall, rlee@thefranklin.academy
Natalie Bennett, Admissions Director, nbennett@thefranklin.academy
Katie C. Dement, Development Director, kcole@thefranklin.academy
PALS (Parents Actively Lending Support) pals@thefranklin.academy
After School Care Supervisor Violet Lord vlord@thefranklin.academy