Franklin e-Newsletter
Friday, April 1, 2016
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Conference Thank Yous
We also want to thank the PTA for providing the staff a delicious dinner on Monday. It was absolutely delicious and the entire staff enjoyed it.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1IuKhyH46NbxFsisIry4cPv9Q6vXCRYqbpAS4Wq3UXro/viewform
Activities Concert * DATE CHANGE *
A number of our Franklin jazz band students are also members of Franklin’s National History Day team. These students have done outstanding work this year and were recently honored with selection to the state competition. Unfortunately, the date of this state competition conflicts with our scheduled Activities concert on Monday, April 25. The Activities concert includes the Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Band One, and Jazz Band Too.
Because of this new conflict, we have rescheduled the spring Activities Concert for Tuesday, April 26, at 7:00pm. We understand that moving a concert date this late is inconvenient for families, but we feel that this is the fairest solution for our jazz band students and families. Please make this change on your family calendars, and thank you in advance for your understanding.
National History Day 2016
Students from Mrs. Siebenga’s National History Day competed over spring break on Friday, March 18th at the University of Iowa in several categories including: websites, exhibits, performances, and documentaries. The theme this year was Exploration, Encounter and Exchange in History. Students worked very hard on their projects beginning in January. The students marked with an * advanced to the State National History Day competition on Monday, April 25th in Des Moines, Iowa.
Sixteen students advanced to the elite level, more than any other year in the past five years! It was great to hear all the Franklin names being announced in the rotunda of the Old Capitol where the awards ceremony was held. All of the Franklin students attended and cheered each other on. It was an outstanding day for all involved! There is also another group of Franklin students competing in Waterloo, Iowa on March 31st. We anxiously await those results as well.
These were the students competing in the various categories:
Group Websites: Lydia Jackson and Mackenzie; *Johanna Hayes and *Maria Enos; Raafa Elsheikh and Julian Martin, Allison Hayes and Annika Twedt-Ball
Individual performances: *Jessica Cline, Lauren Krzywicki, Layla Eckhardt, *Rahma Elsheikh, Sophia Jasper
Group Performances: *Joshua Horne, *Sam Arkenberg, *Priya Kearney, and *Zelda Siegel;
*Grace Fleming, *Noah Loehr, *Savannah Barnes, and *Betsy Marlow.
Individual Websites: Mya Swyers, Lydia Mackey, Elizabeth Kolln, Kira Sullivan, Mallory Engelmann, Max Luton
Group Documentaries: *Julia DePanfillis and *Tawny Hess
Individual Documentary: * Elise Fashimpaur
Individual Exhibit: *Ella Greenlee, Abigail Owens, Tom Robertson
The Waterloo NHD competition was held Thursday at the Grout Museum and the following students will join the Iowa City qualifiers at state on Monday, April 25th.
Group Performance: Hannah Novak, Hannah Krejci, Madelyn O’Brien, Rebecca Stevens
Individual Website: Meena Ramadagu, Kailey Novak
Group Website: Lilly Brandt, Kira DeBrower, Olivia Metzger
Scholastic Art & Writing Winners
The following students participated in the Scholastic Art and Writing competition and were awarded in the following categories:
Hannah Krejci- Gold Key in dramatic script/honorable mention in journalism
Madelyn O’Brien- Gold Key in poetry/honorable mention in dramatic script
Betsy Marlow- Gold Key in journalism
Tawny Hess- Honorable Mention in short story
Hannah Novak- Honorable Mention in journalismCongratulations to all of the students involved for their hard and outstanding work!
8th Grade Canoe Trip
8th Grade T-shirts
Smarter Balanced Assessments
Click on the link for the practice test: http://www.smarterbalanced.org/assessments/practice-and-training-tests/
You don't need to enter any information to log on, but you can choose the grade level and subject area. Good luck!
Franklin Blood Drive
THANK YOU for the wonderful work you and the Student Council and staff and teachers did to make yesterday’s blood drive a success. We were able to collect 21 units of whole blood which will in turn be transfused to 84 different patients in need. Your hard work will also earn the school $251 in grant funds. Please scan that completed form to me as soon as possible. I’ve attached the Post Drive Report so you can see who all donated. What a great turnout!
Each unit will serve 4 patients in need: platelets will be used within 5 days; red blood cells will be used within 42 days; plasma and cryo both to be used within the next year. All kinds of local patients will be thankful to your donors!
I am so impressed by the community there at Franklin. It was a joy for us to be there yesterday. I hope we can schedule drives again next year during conferences. Just let me know those dates as soon as you have them and I’ll get them secured!
Blood Typing 8th Graders at Franklin
Speaking of blood, in the coming weeks a representative from the Mississippi Valley Blood Bank will be visiting the 8th grade to discuss the benefits of donating blood. In addition, students will have the opportunity to have their blood typed as either A,B,AB, or O. This is in conjunction with the genetics unit where students learn how people inherited their blood type. A consent form will be sent home and signed in order to have students blood typed.
Upcoming Receipt Challenge
Picking Up & Dropping Off
The following message went out as an all-call and email to all Franklin Families last week:
The issues with cars double and triple-parked have increased in the recent weeks and it’s becoming a safety concern. We’ve had some close calls this year and our number one concern is the safety of our students. The Cedar Rapids Police Department has made frequent trips to the area during dismissal and have been known to issue tickets. There are numerous spots to pick up and drop off your child. We would benefit from families using these alternate locations rather than double and triple parking and stopping your cars to have students cross the street to get into vehicles. Below is a list of alternate locations available for pick-up (areas highlighted in red on the picture).
Please see the picture below for alternate spots to meet your child. We would appreciate your cooperation in ensuring the safety of our students.
ALTERNATE PICK UP LOCATIONS
- Lower B Avenue (by the tennis courts)
- 21st street (Street located behind the school. Please leave clearance for the buses to exit.)
- Alley next to the field area on the north side of FMS
- D Avenue
- C Avenue
Upcoming Events
Thursday, April 7
Track Meet @ Linn-Mar
Monday, April 11
Boys' Soccer @ Excelsior
Thursday, April 14
Girls' Tennis @ Franklin vs. Roosevelt
Thursday, April 14 & Friday, April 15
Elementary Tours for Show Choir, Jazz Band, and Orchestra
Thursday, April 21
5th Grade Information Night for Incoming 6th Graders
6:00-7:00PM in the Auditorium
Franklin Middle School
Email: lptacek@cr.k12.ia.us
Website: franklin.cr.k12.ia.us
Location: 300 20th Street Northeast, Cedar Rapids, IA, United States
Phone: (319) 558-2452
Facebook: facebook.com/franklinms
Twitter: @FranklinBolts