The Franklin Academy
Weekly Update Newsletter - May 23 th - 27 th
Background ARTWORK - "doughnut ART" - COURTESY OF THE FRANKLIN ACADEMY'S 2ND GRADERS
20th ANNUAL JOG-A-THON RESULTS ARE IN!
We want to celebrate everyone's enthusiasm, spirit, and energy they brought to the day.
Congratulations to the following students for running the most laps in their grade:
Kindergarten - Toby S.
1st - Copen T.
2nd - Kira E.
3rd - Reed E.
4th - William A.
5th - William H. and Sienna S. (tie)
6th - Jack G.
7th - Van W.
8th - Andrew M.
CELEBRATING 8th GRaders
Nothing is IMPOSSIBLE, the word itself says "I'M POSSIBLE "! Audrey Hepburn
Acknowledging the Hess House
Lions symbolize strength, courage, power, royalty, protection, pride, authority, majesty, and wisdom.
Each of these words represents the 9 young men we would like to celebrate this week!
Caleb
Caleb,
You have always had an incredible curiosity, a great sense of humor, big ideas, and a determination to find a way to see them through. We have loved seeing the ways you’ve put these into your time at Franklin and can’t wait to see what you do with these fantastic traits in high school and beyond. We love you and are so proud of who you are.
Love,
Mom and Dad
Ryan
Ryan,
You are one piece of our family puzzle! We know that you will continue to do great things in high school and beyond…
Kaelden (Kael)
Kael,
You are the light for our lives. We are so proud of all you've accomplished and excited to see what your future holds.
We love you!
Mom and Dad.
Asher (Ash)
Ash,
We are so proud of you. You face life’s challenges with style and determination. Your future is so bright and you can achieve whatever you set your sights upon. Keep doing you - The world awaits!
Christian
Christian,
You are an amazing man! We are humbled and grateful to be your mom and dad. Congratulations on your graduation from the Franklin Academy. Keep your dreams in sight… always
Odin
Dear Odin,
We are so proud of you and all that you are! It has been a joy watching you grow and learn during these past nine years at Franklin, and we look forward to seeing what your next chapter will bring. We love you to the moon and back!
Love,
Mom and Dad
Lassen
Our dearest boy Lassen, you are a truly amazing kid. There are so many things to say about you. We will just leave it with we are so so very proud of you and love you way beyond the moon and back. You are destined to do great things.
Love,
Mom and Dad
Sukhraj
Dear Sukhraj,
My son, you are our heart, too precious for us to let go. We will always be there for you. We hope you find true happiness and believe in yourself.
Nathaniel (Nate)
Congratulations, Nate!
Love,
Mum and Dad
A few words from your wonderful teacher Mrs. Jeffery:
I have enjoyed this group so much. Because of them, my afternoons are never boring. They are hilarious. They have A LOT of energy. I know our Hess study hall has earned a bit of a reputation for being the loud and, dare I say, chaotic, room – but filter out the noise, and you’ll find a sharp-witted, deep-thinking group of all-around great humans. (And for the record, they do get their work done!)
Caleb could have a real future in comedy if he wanted. He is also incredibly kind and loyal to anyone lucky enough to be his friend.
Ryan might be quiet at first, but when he warms up, he is sharp and funny – and clearly valued by his friends.
Kael is incredibly funny and smart. It is always so cool to see how his mind works. You can often find him playing chess or taking over the whiteboard to give his classmates a lecture on theoretical physics.
Ash is thoughtful, kind, and smart. Sometimes he is quiet, but when he speaks up, he always has something brilliant to say.
Christian is incredibly competitive, and that drive will take him far. I have never seen anyone so into chess :)
Odin is responsible, smart, well-rounded, and a natural leader. You can most often find him reading, but if he’s bored, he’s probably at the center of whatever hijinks are going on at the moment.
Lassen is bright, charismatic, and so funny. He works hard and sets high expectations for himself but clearly has a fun time doing it.
Sukhraj is brilliant, hard working, and capable of so much. You can often find him playing chess.
Nate is passionate and value-driven. He works so hard and sets high expectations for himself – which he meets and then some!
Calendar OF EVENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
SIGN UP FOR FAMILY FUN NIGHT BY CLICKING THE LINK BELOW!
Uniform Closet - online anytime: https://tfa-pals-store.square.site/
- 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
- JARS DUE - FOR FAMILY FUN NIGHT - June 1st
- SPIRIT WEEK - May 31st - June 3rd
- FAMILY FUN NIGHT - Friday, June 3rd!
- USED BOOK SALE - Saturday, June 4th at Holly Hall, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
- ALL SCHOOL LIBRARY BOOKS DUE- Monday, June 6th
- 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony - Friday, June 10th, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL- FIELD DAY! - Thursday, June 16 - HALF DAY OF SCHOOL
Upcoming Spirit Week
The end of the school year is fast approaching, House Council is working to organize our annual Spirit Week! Due to scheduling, the best week to fit this in is the Tuesday-Friday after Memorial Day. Here's what's on the agenda:
Tuesday, May 31: Character Day
Dress like your favorite character from a book or movie.
Wednesday, June 1: House Spirit Day
This is similar to House Color Day, however students are encouraged to go all out! Wigs, hair color, and additional accessories are encouraged.
Thursday, June 2: Western Day
Dress like you're in the Old West. This can include wearing jeans and flannels, cowboy hats and cowboy boots. No realistic weapons.
Friday, June 3: Summer Day
Dress up for summer fun! This day coordinates with the Family Fun Night theme of Slide Into Summer.
All of these days will count for House Points for Middle School. These are the final House points of the school year, so encourage your groups to participate to the fullest extent. I did the math, and it is still ANYBODY's game. We will tally up the final scores by Tuesday, June 7 and plan to have a pizza party for the winning House during Study Hall on Thursday, June 9. Lower School is just for fun. :)
PALS UPDATES - REQUESTS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
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
June Morning Greeters:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0c45a8ab2da5fa7-morning6
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
Washing Auction Linens:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0c45a8ab2da5fa7-washing
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 them 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!
20% off School Uniforms - May 26 - June 1
SUMMER opportunities
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
ADMINISTRATION NOTE:
It was so wonderful seeing so many families at the student jog-a-thon last Friday. Please be reminded of our parking and driving patterns.
All Parents:
The City of Bellingham requires The Franklin Academy to follow a conditional use permit that states families will only use and never block Northwest Ave, E. Victor Street, or Meridian Street when arriving and departing from school. Please do not use or park on Elizabeth Street (off of the sports field at Markell Hall) or Walnut Street (behind the playground at Robin Hall).
Drop Off and Pick Up
In the morning, arrive during your students' scheduled time and be ready to exit the car upon arrival. Drive through the loop, drop off and leave using E. Victor to either Northwest or Meridian. During pick-up, if your student is not present, please loop back around. If you need to converse with anyone, please pull thru and park in designated areas. Please do not use Walnut or Elizabeth as a shortcut.
Parking
Please use the school parking lots at both buildings. Robin Hall has parking in front and between the mall and school. Markell Hall has parking all the way around the building including the back lot near the play structure.
Do not park on grass areas on Elizabeth, Walnut, or E. Victor. Do not block neighbors' driveways.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Let's all show The Franklin Academy's neighbors how kind and respectful we are as a school family!
CHAPEL GUILD with 3rd Graders
Third graders had the opportunity to participate in a Chapel Guild service project on Thursday.
Led by Christy Fankhauser, the students mixed oats and peanut butter, rolling them into balls to be used as dog treats. These treats were then presented to the Whatcom Humane Society.
Ana, from the Humane Society, joined us with a special friend in tow - Sneezy the guinea pig! As Ana explained, Sneezy, along with 6 other guinea pigs, were dropped off at the shelter. Of course, who could resist naming the seven after the 7 dwarfs! So cute!
All of the students were enthralled by the guinea pig and had many questions about the Human Society and how it works. We can expect a lot of requests like "Can we PLEASE go visit the Humane Society and adopt ALL the animals?!" This proved to be a very engaging volunteer opportunity for the third graders!
More about Nowruz - shared by Franklin Academy Moms
Nowruz (Novruz, Navroz, Nooruz, Nevruz), means “New Day” and its spelling and pronunciation differs by culture or ethnicity. Nowruz begins with the spring equinox, right around March 20-21 every year. The celebration of Nowruz dates back to at least the 6th century BCE with roots in the Zoroastrian religion from Iran. It was a feast day marking the arrival of spring, which symbolized the triumph of good over evil and joy over sorrow.
Nowruz is a celebration of new beginnings.
The holiday is symbolized by the physical rejuvenation of life in springtime. It also marks a time of spiritual renewal – remembering the spirit of gratitude with an outlook of hope for the new year. Now over 300 million people around the world celebrate Nowruz and welcome the New Year with joyous cultural ceremonies, community and family gatherings with the sharing of special food, dancing, singing and music. Nowruz is celebrated widely in countries including but not limited to Iran, India, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, countries of East Africa, the United States, Canada and Australia.
Many families set up a spread of seven symbolic items they call haft-seen. Haft means “seven” and “seen” is the letter “s” in Farsi. All of the items start with the letter “s” in Farsi. These include seed sprouts, like wheat, (symbolizing rebirth), silverberry or Persian olive (thought to spark love), garlic (protection), apple (fertility), sumac (love), vinegar (patience) and samanu – a pudding (affluence). This table can also have beautifully painted eggs, gold coins, famous books of poetry, a mirror (symbolizing reflection and light), dried fruit and nuts, sweets, as well as lit candles.
UNESCO, the cultural arm of the United Nations, in 2009, listed Nowruz on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Then in 2010, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 21st as International Nowruz Day. UNESCO noted that Nowruz “promotes values of peace and solidarity between generations and within families as well as reconciliation and neighborliness.”
Nowruz Mubarak to all of our Friends at Franklin Academy!
Click below to download fun Nowruz activities you can do with your children. Courtesy of Sophie Esmail and Fahrin Daliwal - TFA Parents
The reading corner
CREATIVE ART WITH MISS. SIMPSON
"Doughnut Art" - 2nd grade
The 2nd grade students made these awesome Doughnut paintings with a wide range of paints and fun techniques. We started with making the background painting of striped or lines in colorful liquid watercolor painted patterns.
Next, we used circle foams to print the doughnut shape with tempera paints onto the painted paper, and "frosted" them with colorful tempera paints and a brush. The last step was the most fun, when we got to add the "sprinkles" by using puffy paint for the dots on top of each of our doughnuts. The kids had so much fun making these look just like the baked treats, that we were hungry to eat them all up.
"Neurographic Marine-Life Art" - 5th & 6th Graders
The 5th & 6th grade students did a fantastic job in making these Neurographic Marine-Life projects in mixed-media art. We used a photograph as a reference image for each of their chosen marine-life animals with pencil and graphite.
Then we drew over the outlines with a black marker technique called neurographic for each of the lines that crossed one another, and had a variety of mixed-media art materials: pencils, erasure, graphite paper, black Sharpie markers, washable Crayola markers, paint brushes, and water. Each beautiful picture looks like you're looking through a window under the ocean, and when all of them are put together, it gives the impression you are under water or at an aquarium. I'm so impressed with how well these artists made their pieces come together.
Be Kind, Let's Shine!
Sincerely,
Miss Rachel Simpson
Art Teacher - K-8th
1st Graders Visit Markell Hall
When asked - what was your favorite part of the day? "When we got sprayed with water in the library and got to check out a library book!" McKinley D.
5th Grade Forest Field Tour
Our 5th Grade students had the opportunity to go on a Forest Tour on Wednesday, May 18th. Students walked through the Olsen Creek Seed Orchard, where they attended various stations with guest speakers from industry and natural resource agencies. They learned about local species identification, forest protection, historical and modern uses of timber, guidelines for respectful recreation, and ecosystem management.
Ms. Harris
Middle School Science Teacher
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
nbennett@thefranklin.academy
360.733.1750
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.
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