The Franklin Academy

Weekly Update Newsletter October 18-22

Monday, October 18th

  • Port of Subs lunch for those who pre-ordered
  • Cross Country Practice 3:15-4:45pm

Tuesday, October 19th

  • Mi Mexico lunch for those who pre-ordered
  • PALS Meet up Coffee 8:10am Robin Hall
  • MS Cross Country Meet @ Lynden Christian High School

    4:15 – 6:15pm

Wednesday, October 20th

  • Port of Subs lunch for those who pre-ordered
  • Middle School - Electives schedule

Thursday, October 21st

  • Mi Mexico lunch for those who pre-ordered
  • Chess Club 3:15 - 4:45pm
  • First OC meeting open to ALL parents/guardians 6:30-7:30pm Markell Hall

Friday, October 22nd

  • LAST DAY of the Read-a-Thon - Log all your reading times by 9:00pm
  • Port of Subs Lunch for those who pre-ordered

Upcoming Events

  • Read-A-Thon - October 8-22
  • No School Teacher In Service Day - October 25th
  • Girls Basketball Begins - October 26th
  • Wear Costumes or have Free Dress on Oct. 29th
  • Fall Festival outdoors at Cramer's Western Town Thursday, October 28th from 4-6pm.
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Fall Festival

Please pre-pay with Dawn at Markell Hall or Rachel at Robin Hall, or hand an envelope to the folks at drop off.

The cost is $25 Per Family. Payment may be made by Cash or Check made out to PALS.

PALS UPDATE

Cramers next Thursday--please get cash or check in ASAP so we can tell the farm how many to expect

Food truck will be on site so bring cash

Costumes welcome but at discretion--costumes also welcome at school the following day

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The Franklin Academy is looking for a part-time lunch and recess staff member for the 2021-2022 school year.

This position will help monitor children during lunch and recess, building rapport while helping create a loving and safe environment. We will pay $15 per hour. The students are outside rain or shine for fresh air and to get the wiggles out.


Candidates contact administrative assistant Rachel Lee rlee@thefranklin.academy

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Read-A-Thon Update

Did you know our students have read 103,314 Minutes in One Week! Woo Hoo!


There is one week to go and more prizes to earn. We have raised just over $20,000 as of today, and most of those donations are in increments of $25 and $50 - it all adds up fast!


Thank you to everyone who has donated so far, and if you haven't had a chance to donate please get yours in today. Each student who raises $35 gets to choose a prize from the treasure chest!


Let’s work together to support our school community, and to further encourage a love of reading in our students!


Did you know there are cash prizes too! Check out the Grand Prizes For Most Minutes Read!


First Place:

Kindergarten - 1st Grade $100

2nd Grade - 4th Grade $100

Middle School $100


Second Place:

Kindergarten - 1st Grade $75

2nd Grade - 4th Grade $75

Middle School $75


Third Place:

Kindergarten - 1st Grade $50

2nd Grade - 4th Grade $50

Middle School $50


Class With the Highest Combined Total Minutes Read Prize:

Kindergarten - 1st Grade - Pizza Party

2nd Grade - 4th Grade - Pizza Party

Middle School Winning House - Pizza Party


What does the Read-A-Thon support?

The funds raised go directly to the Annual Fund that supports our general budget. Tuition only covers about 65% of the cost to educate each student so the Annual Fund Donations help cover the difference.


Thank you for your generosity! We love our school, students, and teachers and the Read-A-Thon helps to keep our community strong and supported.


READY - SET - READ!!!!


You may donate by clicking the button below, or bring a check to the folks at drop off.


If you have questions please contact Heather Black hblack@thefranklin.academy

Mrs. Owen's Early-Kindergarten Class was Busy Learning!

Mrs. Owen shared this:


"Wow, we had an awesome week! We have been very busy learning all about the letter 'Pp' and Pumpkins. Normally, we would have gone on a field trip to the Pumpkin Patch, but instead we brought the farm to your kiddos and they got to select their very own pumpkin on our pumpkin scavenger hunt. The kids really enjoyed this!


Here's what else we have been up to:

-Letter Pp, how it looks, writes, sounds, and signs

-Practiced our favorite poem Five Little Pumpkins, see if your kiddo can sing it for you

-For Science, we talked about the life cycle of a pumpkin, labeled pumpkin anatomy, inside and out, which involved us cutting open a pumpkin and using our 5 senses. We even did a cool experiment called Pumpkin Potion, a simple acid/base reaction, this time with dish soap and food coloring for a foamy bubbly sensation. We discussed how the reaction creates bubbles that are filled with carbon dioxide gas (our college words of the week).

-For Math, we measured and counted pumpkins by set and by ordinal number. We also counted the seeds that we scooped out. With a total of 419. We had a lot of fun trying to guess how many there were and counting all the way to 419. This was done by making groups of ten.

-Painted, dripped glue, and added sparkles to our scavenger hunt pumpkins and crafted a 5 Little Pumpkins Scene"

5th Grade Social Studies - Age of Exploration Projects

Ms. Bull Shared this:


"Age of Exploration Projects - Students researched an explorer of their choice and did a writing assignment related to their research. Afterward students decorated and "built" their own ships. This was a great chance to learn about the early technological advances needed to make such exploration possible!"

Mindful Arts - Elective

Ms. Bull Shared this:


"Students worked on collages the past few weeks with intermixed meditative lessons and mind exercises. We have had so much fun bringing new life to magazines, using them as our palette creating unique pieces of art. Our students are so creative!"

Mrs. Pickerill's Pre-Kindergarten Class Learned all about Pumpkins!

Mrs. Pickerill Shared this:


"Last week, we had fun with pumpkins. We went on a little scavenger hunt across the street to find our own little pumpkin and then decorated them back at school. The pumpkins are now dry and will be set home this week.


This week for science we did a pumpkin candy experiment with four different liquids. We used red gatorade, vinegar, water, and vegetable oil. The children each chose one pumpkin and decided what liquid they wanted to put their pumpkin in. We observed all of the pumpkins and most of them dissolved or had significant changes within the day, but the pumpkins in vegetable oil had less changes.


I explained to the children that these pumpkins are made up of sugar and will dissolve in liquids, and it was decided that time was the real factor in this experiment: the more time the pumpkins sat in the liquids, the more changes to observe!"

5th Grade

The growth in 5th Grade is impressive as students apply time management skills and build confidence navigating from a homeroom teacher set up the year prior to multiple teachers.


Students in Science with Ms. Harris manage a binder of a few key molecules, which consists of drawing, taking notes, and illustrating what they are learning. Typically, they are provided with an interactive fact sheet and a visual model. One of the molecules they are learning about is Hydrogen Peroxide. The sheet provided explained how it can be used in everyday life. 5th Graders also learned some unusual facts like how Hydrogen peroxide was used during WWII in rocket fuel and torpedoes.

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Uniform and PE shirt information

Uniform and PE shirt information


Please note that PE shirts are sold via PALS and must be purchased one of two ways:


- In person, during uniform shop hours (Tuesdays from 8-8:30am).

- Online at: https://tfa-pals-store.square.site/


Our online shop also includes Spirit Wear and a limited amount of new uniform items. We hope to have more new items for sale soon.

Note that due to variations in sizing and item condition, used uniform items are not sold online.


Please allow 72 hours for fulfillment and delivery of online orders. Purchased items will be delivered to your child's classroom or advisory teacher, for your child to bring home.


If you need help or have questions about items in the uniform shop, please email uniforms@thefranklin.academy


The Franklin Academy

A supportive community with STEM focused education in a safe, small class environment for all grades.

The Franklin Academy Points of Contact

Gretchen Bucsko, Head of School: gbucsko@thefranklin.academy

Melanie Hurley, Associate Head of School: mhurley@thefranklin.academy


Dawn Regier, Administrative Assistant, dregier@thefranklin.academy

Rachel Lee, Administrative Assistant, rlee@thefranklin.academy


Natalie Bennett, Admissions Director, nbennett@thefranklin.academy


PALS (Parents Actively Lending Support) pals@thefranklin.academy