The Franklin Academy
Weekly Update Newsletter - May 30 th - June 3 rd
Memorial Day is a day we remember the service men and women we've lost. We express our gratitude and honor them this holiday weekend and beyond.
CELEBRATING 8th GRaders
“Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world right in the eye.”
– Helen Keller
Acknowledging the Kaiser House
Eagles symbolize strength, ferocity, focus, and willpower.
Something we see in the Kaiser House students we celebrate this week!
Will
Dear Will,
We are so very proud of the great kid you are. You make our lives better with your superb sense of humor.
Please remember we are always on your side! Also, keep working hard and having fun.
We love you!
- Mom & Dad
Gus
Dear GusMan,
Since your arrival, bruised and battered, you have shown yourself to be the picture of perseverance.
From swinging around the high bar at Gymnastics Nationals to befriending your 120 pounds rescue mastiff, your strength of will and kindness towards others knows no bounds.
You are our favorite son: often wrong, but never in doubt. Please know that we will always want to go out to breakfast with you at 6 a.m. on a Saturday morning.
Love,
Mommy, Daddy, Mia, and Sparks
Grace
Dear Peanut (Grace),
You have been a force to be reckoned with from the moment you decided to be born 11 weeks early. Although you only weighed 2.6 pounds, you immediately made your mark in our hearts and on your brother's back.
We love you dearly, and we are excited to see where your love of animals and the outdoors takes you in life.
Love,
Mommy Pig, Daddy Pig, Bo, Mia, Sparks, and Flint
Kaveer
Dear Kaveer,
We are so proud you! You have grown into an athletic, funny, smart, and a caring individual. You make a positive impact on so many people around you. Remember a simple moment of kindness can make a big difference for others around you.
As you begin a new journey in high school, continue to work hard and give your best. We will always be here for you and know that you are surrounded by love.
Go forth and conquer your world.
Love Dad and Mom
Cece
Dear Cece,
We are so proud of all you have accomplished while at Franklin. You set high standards for yourself and you don't quit until you reach your goal. We know that you will excel in high school and beyond.
Beautiful girl, you can do hard things!
Love,
Mom & Dad
Harjas
Congratulations, Harjas!
We love you, and we are so proud of you. From the stars and beyond, you are our brightest star. You are the light in our world, and you fill us with happiness when we see you.
We can't wait to see you prosper and grow in High School for these next four years.
-Love,
Mom, Dad, and Harshan
Lola
Dear Lola,
You have worked so hard and made many friends along the way. We have cherished all of your sweet smiles, kind words, and thoughtful deeds.
We are so proud of you and we can’t wait to see the next part of your journey unfold.
Love,
Dad, Mom, Lucy and Claire
McKenzi
McKenzi Rose aka Monkey,
What an adventure raising you is. As much as we are raising you, you are raising us. It is an absolute pleasure watching you grow into the amazing young woman you are.
You are brave and talented, sassy and loving, confident and gentle, intelligent and beautiful. May you always fight for what you believe in, chase your dreams and never let the world dull your magical heart.
We love you Monkey
Mom and Dad
Chloe
Chloe,
You’re a Dancer, a Poet, a Thinker, a Zoophilist and a Mathematician. A Writer, an Artist, a Coder and an Equestrian.
We love all of the things that you are; especially our daughter. We can’t wait to see what’s next!
Love, Mum & Dad
A few words from your wonderful teacher Mrs. Freeman:
I can’t even begin to express how much I adore this group. It’s hard to sum them up in a few words, because I could go on and on about them. They are so special to me, and to the school community. We are overwhelmingly lucky to have such hard-working, thoughtful, and kindhearted 8th graders.
Will is academically driven, witty, and responsible. He knows when to joke around, but he also knows when to buckle down and take things seriously. He inherently possesses leadership skills that will no doubt contribute to his success in life.
Gus is one of the most polite students I’ve ever had. He’s very humble, respectful, and kind. I’m going to miss him walking into my classroom and genuinely asking how I’m doing. Whatever Gus does in life, he will be sure to bring a smile to people’s faces.
Grace is hilarious, artistic, and determined. She is extraordinarily compassionate and empathetic toward everyone. The way she cares for her friends is heartwarming. I hope anyone who is Grace’s friend knows just how lucky they are.
Kaveer has unknowingly been dubbed as my food and workout buddy. I’m going to miss our conversations about the best places to eat, and if/how early we woke up that particular morning to workout. I would bet money that Kaveer is going to become a professional athlete (I can’t even say in which sport, because he’s impressively good at everything).
Cece has a great personality that really shines through when she has a mic in her hand. She’s a wonderful friend and cares deeply for others. I will always appreciate her Harry Styles holiday cards, and her willingness to re-pot my classroom plant. To know Cece is to love Cece!
Harjas is extremely kind, helpful, passionate, and smart. I don’t think she knows how much I truly appreciate her coming up to me during Study Hall to ask how my day was. It’s a privilege to know Harjas, and I know she’s going to accomplish remarkable things.
Lola is adventurous (for example, she tried a chili-cheese dog strictly based on my affirmation), funny, persistent, and a joy to be around. She says the funniest things when you least expect it. She’s usually the last to leave my Study Hall, which gives us time for a one-on-one chat that I look forward to. Lola’s going places…that’s for sure.
McKenzi always makes me laugh. She’s dauntless, friendly, and considerate. She’s a great listener, while also being easy to talk to and connect with. McKenzi is the type of person that I would want on my team, regardless of what the game is…and we would win.
Chloe is an incredibly well rounded student, and sometimes I can’t even believe she’s only in middle school. She’s very dedicated and puts forth so much effort in everything she does. I’m going to miss her morning reports and our discussions about the daily Wordle. I really wish she would have joined this class sooner!
Calendar OF EVENTS
Uniform Closet - online anytime: https://tfa-pals-store.square.site/
- 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
FAMILY FUN NIGHT DETAILS:
Below you'll find the costs for each activity and food, so you can plan how many tickets your family will need for the evening.
1 ticket = $1.00.
You can buy tickets upon arrival or purchase them ahead of time here: https://family-fun-night.square.site/
Additional game tickets will be available for purchase online until June 2, and in-person at the event on June 3rd.
- Entrance = $15 per family which includes 15 tickets to get your kids started
ACTIVITIES FOR EVERYONE:
1 Ticket Activities:
- Super Slide = 1 ticket
- Popcorn = 1 ticket
- Cotton Candy = 1 ticket
- Pie Toss = 1 ticket (per entry) - Teachers LOVE this game!
2 Ticket Activities:
- Bouncy House = 2 tickets, will have supervision and a limited number of kids at one time
- Balloon Animal = 2 tickets
3 Ticket Activities:
- Face Paint = 3 tickets
- Spin for a Jar = 3 tickets
MIDDLE SCHOOL ACTIVITIES:
- Middle School drawing = 1 ticket with a name on it
- Mini Golf (reserved for 5th-8th graders) = 5 tickets for 9 holes
ALL OTHER GAMES ARE FREE!!!
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.
We need a LOT more volunteers for FAMILY FUN NIGHT (adults of middle school kids) to run games. Please sign up below: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0c45a8ab2da5fa7-family9
We need help to finish out May greeting:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0c45a8ab2da5fa7-morning5
We need June greeters:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0c45a8ab2da5fa7-morning6
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!
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:
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!
The reading corner
It was the last week to check out library books for the school year! So many students eagerly checked out, and we are already excited for next year (Markell Hall already has wait lists going for the fall). If you have a 2nd-4th grader, ask them about the music that happened during library this week. ;)
Books are due Monday, June 6th. Any remaining books out on Tuesday, June 7th will be considered lost, and we will be issuing replacement requests. (Obviously, if you find the original library book, we’ll take that!).
Next Saturday, June 4th, is the Used Book Sale at Holly Hall. 9-3, cash only, please! All proceeds will go to Mrs. Snyder and I traipsing through used bookstores trying to get the best deals on books we are missing in the library. We are both such book nerds that filling in the missing books in a series is a joy! It makes us ridiculously excited.
Happy Reading,
Mrs. Samuel
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