Franklin Family News
Volume 1 - Issue 14 - January 11, 2021
From the Desk of Principal Anderson
January 8, 2021
Dear Franklin Families:
As I write this letter on the day of my 66th birthday, this has been a year unlike any other and I pray we never have a repeat!
Every day we continue to pioneer a new path through the world of remote learning. Last fall we wrote schedules and planned classes for a semester of remote learning, with the hopes of returning to in school education at the end of the semester. Our semester ends January 21 and the number of COVID cases has never been higher, resulting in a sound, district decision of staying remote into third quarter.
During the past months, we have reached out to our students and parents, asking what we could do better, considering those factors we can adjust. As a result of these conversations, we are making changes to our third quarter class schedule. The new schedule is included in this mailing; posted on our district webpage; and will be presented by teachers to your students. It is effective Monday, January 25, the first day of third quarter.
The changes include:
Longer teacher-student class time. Classes will now be an hour long.
One more day of teaching. We will now have classes on Friday.
The homeroom/advisory class will move from Friday to Wednesday, third period, as not to interfere with our meal distribution times.
Passing time is reduced to ten minutes between each class.
We are transitioning back to Periods 1, 3, and 5. All remote research says three periods are the maximum for a student.
Additionally, the district’s reopening plan is slowly introducing students to in school instruction, starting with the most needful. You may find this plan on our website and on the district website, under “subgroups to return.”
In closing, the staff at Franklin is working hard to make this a meaningful year for your student. If there is anything we can do to support either your student, or you, please call 573-2100 and ask. We have tutors, mentors, counselors, and other support staff available. Need a more challenging schedule? Call us. Computer not working? We have some to trade with you. Currently we are showing up on the doorsteps of students, who are not attending, to discover why and to fix the issue. There is no playbook for pandemic times; it takes all of us to advance these students.
To close on a positive note, I recently read an article, written by a man who lived in Bosnia during the war. He stopped attending school at the age of 8 and was out of school for 4 years, until his family moved to Australia. He restarted school at 13, in a country where he did not speak the language. Today, at 33, he has a Master’s college degree and a successful career. His advice is, the students will catch up and they will be fine.
I am going to hold on to that thought and wish all of you a Happy and Healthy New Year !
Principal Anderson
3rd Quarter Online Student Learning Schedule
Student Academic Support
If you have concerns about your student's academic success in their classes and are looking for support, please contact our guidance counselors to set-up a staffing with you, your student, their teachers, counseling and administration to develop a plan to support your student in increasing their success in their classes. Things that you may be noticing with your student:
- Lower than desired grades in all or most classes
- Several missing assignments in all or most classes
- Student is not attending Google Meets for all or most classes
- Student is struggling with organization of online work
Contact either of our counselors to set-up a staffing. All staffings will be done virtually through a Google Meet.
Joe Rodriguez - rodriguez.joe@ysd7.org
Ana Montemayor - montemayoranalisa@ysd7.org
Introducing Franklin's First Student Book Club for 6th Graders
The group will start on Tuesday, January 12th.
So what is the first book about...
Charlemagne (Charlie) Reese has been making the same secret wish every day since fourth grade. Charlie knows all the ways to make a wish, like looking at a clock at exactly 11:11, finding a four-leaf clover, spotting a shiny penny in the dirt, observing a black cat cross the road or blowing on a dandelion. But when she is sent to live with and aunt and uncle she barely knows in a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, it seems unlikely that her wish will ever come true. That is until she meets Wishbone, a skinny stray dog who captures her heart, and Howard a neighbor boy who proves surprising in lots of ways. Suddenly Charlie is in danger of discovering that what she though she wanted may not be at all what she needs.
Meet Our New Staff Members
Jazmine Vargas - Attendance Secretary
I was born and raised in Yakima. I attended Whitney Elementary, Franklin Middle School, and graduated from Davis High School in 2010. My first job was at Burger King, shortly after I became a manager. I then started working at Fred Meyer, I was hired as the Starbucks Lead. I was then promoted to be the Bakery Manager. I always had a passion for helping others. Creating stronger communities and helping build a happier society for everyone. I know that being at Franklin is the best place.
Alejandro Escalera - Migrant Student Advocate
I was raised in Yakima, WA. I attended East Valley High School and enlisted in the U.S. Navy immediately after graduation. After two enlistments and three deployments I moved back to Yakima. My two greatest passions have always been sports and helping others, and I love to combine the two. I’m super excited to be apart of the Franklin family. I hope to make an impact on the children in our community to succeed in all aspects of life, including on and off the field. Go hawks! Y Arriba Las Chivas!
Llaned Morales - Registrar
Computer Help
573-7120 or studenthelpdesk@ysd7.org.
Franklin Middle School
Website: https://www.ysd7.org/franklin
Location: 410 South 19th Ave
Phone: 5095732100