Franklin Falcon Flyer
December 20, 2018
Wishing You Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
I want to take this opportunity to wish you a joyful holiday season and a Happy New Year. I hope you enjoy the time off school with your family and friends. We look forward to seeing all of our students back in school on Monday, Jan. 7th.
I hope to see many of you tomorrow at our Holiday Sing. The students have been practicing their songs and are excited to perform for all of you. For students in AM KDG - 5th grade please enter and exit through our circle drive doors. For PM KDG you will enter through door number 10 on the side of our building from the staff parking lot. There will be "relaxed parking" on Manor street on Friday and parents may also park in the staff parking lot.
Best,
Dr. Claire Kowalczyk
HOLIDAY SING is TOMORROW
9:00 AM Kindergarten & 1st Gr
10:00 2nd Gr & 3rd Gr
11:00 4th Gr & 5th Gr
3:00 PM KDG in the auditorium
2018-19 5Essentials Survey
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey will be completed by staff, students, and parents in January. New this year, ISBE has extended student participation to include students in grades 4-8. Results will provide information to schools in five areas: instruction, environment, leaders, teachers, and families. Research shows that schools rated highly on three or more of the five essentials are 10 times more likely to make substantial gains in math and reading.
Staff will complete the survey at our District-Directed meeting on Wednesday, January 16. Our parent community complete the survey during the first two weeks of January.
Students will complete the survey between January 7-18. Parents were notified about the survey in December and were asked to return an opt-out form if they would prefer that their child not participate. More details about this and our survey schedule will be shared soon.
The survey will take no more than 20 minutes to complete. All responses are completely confidential. Teachers will be emailed a unique username and password to log-in and take the survey. Teacher names or other unique identifiers will never be connected with individual responses or used in any report. Aggregated data will be shared with parents and the general public on our school’s report card.
Data from this report will be used by our district and our school to help inform our school improvement planning efforts and to provide a picture of our school’s performance beyond test scores. It will not be used as a component in administrative or staff evaluation.
Enter the Franklin Yearbook Cover Contest!!!
This year's theme is
Ready, Set, Fly
A Few rules:
(1) Use bright markers only (no color pencils or crayons)
(2) Cover size is 8 1/2 x 11 (color the whole page)
(3) Include slogan “Ready, Set, Fly” and "Franklin School 2018-2019" somewhere on the front and your name/classroom number on the back.
(4) Bring your artwork to the office by Friday, January 18, 2019
Any questions, email franklinyearbook@gmail.com
New Year's Resolution: Be READY to Learn - Be to School on Time
A high rate of tardiness can impact your child’s success in school. Being on time is essential for your child to connect with teachers and classmates, and prepare for the start of the school day. We appreciate your assistance with emphasizing on-time arrival at school. As a reminder, this information is included in District 64’s Parent-Student Handbook:
Elementary School
All students are expected to be seated at their desks and ready to work at 8:50 a.m.; PM Kindergarten students are expected at 12:40 p.m. (12:15 p.m. on Wednesday). When arriving after 9 a.m., parents are asked to accompany the student to the office to check in.
To help students learn about responsibility, the staff tracks and monitors unexcused tardy arrivals at school. To assist students and parents in correcting this problem, a sequence of escalating interventions is followed after three unexcused tardies. These range from calls home, parent letters and conferences at school, detentions, tardy contract, and possible legal action against parents.
MAP results will be sent home the week of Jan. 7th
Calling All Young Authors!
District 64 Young Authors Guidelines
Are you an aspiring young author ready to share your work with others? The Young Authors Contest is an independent, voluntary at-home project for students interested in writing and publishing their work for others to read. See below for details.
Maximum of two authors/illustrators per manuscript (must be in same grade & school). Students can only collaborate on one manuscript.
Written piece must be an original fiction short story—maximum 20 pages, no poetry, no graphic novels, no nonfiction/informational text.
Illustrations may be used to enhance the story.
Content must be appropriate for peer audience.
K-2 students may hand in a handwritten story.
Dictated books may be typed or handwritten by an adult, but the story must remain in the student’s own language.
3rd - 8th grade students must hand in a typewritten manuscript.
Students must complete their manuscripts without any teacher input.
Manuscript must have a substantial cover (like a report cover) with 8 ½ x 11 paper securely attached.
Cover Page must include: Title, author’s name, grade level, school, homeroom number and teacher name, optional: illustration.
Manuscripts that do not meet these requirements will be returned to the author.
Important Dates for 2019
December 19, 2018--Guidelines shared via School Email blast!
Friday, February 8—All manuscripts collected at the buildings.
Friday, March 1—Winning building manuscripts (1 per grade level) delivered to district level coordinator.
Wednesday, March 13 —District winners are announced and invited to May School Board meeting and the State Young Authors Conference.
Wednesday, March 20—District winners interested in participating in State Young Authors Conference* must submit registration forms, if the conference is scheduled.
*Saturday, May 18—State Young Authors Conference at in Bloomington-Normal, IL. *Funding from the state has been cut for the conference, so it is only tentative at this point. If the conference happens, District 64 will send one winner per grade level.
Monday, May 20—D64 School Board Student Recognition.
Please contact your school’s Young Author Coordinator with any questions.
Carpenter: Ms. Kathleen Loftus kloftus@d64.org
Emerson: Ms. Katherine Contreras kcontreras@d64.org
Field: Ms. Melanie Moon, mmoon@d64.org or Ms. Meghan Philippsen mphilippsen@d64.org
Franklin: Ms. Natalie Schuetz, nschuetz@d64.org
Lincoln: Ms. Franny Keyes, fkeyes@d64.org
Roosevelt: Mrs. Handlon,thandlon@d64.org or Mrs. Tina O’Donnell codonnell@d64.org
Washington: Tina DeCicco tdecicco@d64.org
District: Ms. Meghan Keefer, mkeefer@d64.org
INLINE SKATING UNIT in PE after WINTER BREAK
Information about our Unit - January 7th-18th
2nd-5th Grades Only
Our inline skating unit starts on Monday, Jan. 7th (the day we return from winter break)
The district DOES have inline skates and equipment for students to use (except helmets) but students are allowed and encouraged to bring their own IF they have it.
The P.E. department is no longer able to provide helmets for students in grades 2nd-5th for the inline-skating unit. According to the new District health guidelines the students need to have their own helmet to participate. Skates, wrist, elbow, and knee pads are available, but it is much easier and quicker if your child has his/her own.
All equipment that is brought to schools needs to be carried in a cloth bag (nothing paper or plastic) and the student name printed clearly on all pieces of equipment.
All equipment is kept at school for the two week unit, (January 7th-18th).
Introduce: rules, safety, equipment, procedures, skates on and off, free skate, competitions, dance off’s, limbo, forwards/backwards, “t” stop, toe stop, figure eights, swizzles.
*Bike Helmets for sale at Lutheran General Children’s Hospital for around $12.00.
Wednesdays from 10am-3:30pm or call for an appointment (847) 723-9484
Library News for January
Tournament of Readers for grades 4/5:
The winning teams will be decided early January when we are back from break.
If your team is a winner, or your student has read 20 books you need to be aware that Franklin is scheduled for battles at the Public Library on Mondays.
The teacher / student battle will be happening in February!
Exact schedules will be coming soon, and all info will be posted on http://www.franklinlrc.com/tournament-of-readers.html.
What we are working on in January:
K/1: Our learning lab time is over, but it sure was fantastic! We will be doing more read alouds and the students will get to learn about 3-D printing this month.
2nd: We needed a little more time for our electronic quiz boards, but the students are so excited about them. Make sure to ask them all about it!
3rd: This month 3rd grade is having a debate. They will research 1 animal, and try to convince the class why their animal would be the winner. During their debate, the class will be active participants, making votes on which animal should come out on top.
4th:/5th: We are working on 3D printing this month. The students can choose to enter a keychain competition. Students can make their own keychain, and voting will take place for the best design. Winners will be able to print an item of their choice on the printer.
Sweetheart Dance - Tickets Now On Sale
International Night Volunteers, Table Hosts and Performers
The PTA is looking for volunteers, table hosts and performers for 2nd Annual International Night, Thursday February 7th, 6:30-8:00.
Volunteers - 1 more co-chair needed and volunteers need for sub-committees
SETUP, DECORATIONS & “INTERNATIONAL WEEK”
Check-in table
Purchase balloons (maybe tablecloths if needed)
Morning announcements
Recruit students to showcase their country
Coordinate students
Create script (questions kids answer)
Work with Mr. Villarreal to coordinate recording
Create flyer
Copy & distribute
RSVP & Passports
Google RSVP – create & monitor RSVP
- Design & Assemble passports for all that RSVP
- extra blank passports for non-rsvps
- Host the “welcome/passport table”
- Purchase loot bags/stamps
Tables & Communications
Recruitment tables
Monitor Google form
Communicate guidelines & answer questions
Collect expense reimbursement and approve
Are they within budget?
Do they have receipts
Promote on Facebook and in weekly newsletter
Send info to communication secretary
Plan layout (# of tables & performance)
Make Table Signs, setup tables and submit event setup request
Music/performers/raffle & refreshment tables
- Recruitment performers
- Monitor Google form
- Create schedule for performers
- Create diverse playlist of international music to play in gym
- Familiarize with PA music system & mic in gym
- Organize raffle
- Refreshment table
HOST A TABLE
Click here to complete table host form:
PERFORMANCE AT EVENT
Click here to complete performance form:
Thank You-
Franklin PTA
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
Jan. 7 - School resumes from Winter Break
Jan. 7-18 Inline Skating Unit for grades 2-5 students need to bring their own helmets
Jan. 7 - Great America Reading logs go home
Jan. 7 - 5 Essentials Survey
Jan. 7 - Inline skating unit starts
Jan. 15 - Spelling Bee in FR Auditorium
Jan. 15 - 31 Registration to participate in Night of the Stars
Jan. 23- 5th to 6th grade transition meeting for parents and students at EmersonFeb. 1 - Sweetheart Dance in Franklin Gym 6:30-8:30 children must be accompanied by adult
Feb. 7 - International Night in FR Gym
Feb. 8 - Young Author manuscripts due
Feb. 15 - Great America reading logs returned to school