Franklin e-Newsletter
Friday, September 9, 2016
Follow Us on Twitter: @FranklinBolts
Like Us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/franklinms
PTA Meeting on Monday, September 12 @ 11:00AM
Principal's Message
The days just seem to fly by now that school has started. By this time routines, rules, and expectations have been taught to all our students and content learning is taking place. This week we officially kicked off our athletic seasons. We encourage you to get out and support our Franklin athletes. When doing so we want to emphasize the importance of showing respect to all participants that includes the players and officials/referees. We appreciate the passion our families show, but we ask it always remain respectful. Thank you in advance for your help.
Weather-Related Items
This week we saw our first days of rain that makes conditions less than ideal. To help keep you informed and to keep things running smoothly we want to provide you with a couple notes:
- Announcements/Cancellations: We try to closely monitor the weather when we have outdoor events and practices. We want to make informed decisions to keep our students safe. When we choose to cancel practices and games we will try to provide as much notice as possible. The best way for you to stay informed is two check two sources: Website (www.franklin.cr.k12.ia.us) and Twitter (@FranklinBolts).
- Picking Up: When the weather is less than ideal we see the numbers of cars to pick students up increase. Our front entrance is not the best place to pick up on a normal day and with rain or snow it makes conditions worse. During Wednesday's rain storm at dismissal we had a lot of traffic backed up and frustrated drivers. We ask for your caution and extra patience on these days. Please do not block traffic on 20th Street to ensure traffic flow in both directions. We also encourage you to seek alternate locations when picking up.
Thanks for your help in keeping our students safe.
Show Choir Auditions
Auditions for show choir for 6th, 7th and 8th graders will be September 12th, 13th and 14th. Dance auditions will be on Monday, Sept. 12 from 5:30-7:30 and vocal auditions will be on Tuesday, Sept. 13 from 3:00-5:30 and Wednesday, Sept 14 from 3:00-5:30. Please click here the information letter and audition permission slip. You must sign up for an audition time in room 120. If you have any questions, please see Mr. McGrath.
Magazine Sales
Later this month we begin our annual fundraiser, The Magazine Sales. Very soon all our students will attend a kickoff assembly informing them of how the magazine sales work and how the work they do directly impacts activities here at Franklin. We will have three turn-in days: Wednesday, September 28 (this is a change in date from the handbook), Wednesday, October 5, and Thursday, October 6.
Funds from our fundraising program are used in a variety of ways. Here are just a few examples of the ways our monies are being put to use for your students:
- Art Club: (Supplies)
- Science Olympiads: (Supplies, Team entries for contests, other related expenses)
- Bolt Buddies: (Supplies related to the activities done by this group)
- Drama/Musical: (Supplies, equipment, and other cost related to performance expenses)
- Jazz Band: (Contest fees, equipment not covered under district funding, additional music, extra travel expenses)
- Chamber Orchestra: (Contest fees, equipment not covered under district funding, additional music, travel expenses)
- Illumination: (Contest fees, equipment not covered under district funding, additional music, travel expenses, uniforms)
- Technology Purchases (Project Lead the Way supplies, PE, resources to assist in classroom throughout the building)
- Student Council: (Workshop expenses, registration fees, community service projects)
- Assemblies: (Special presentations from outside groups for all grade levels)
- Grade Level: (Allocations for awards and all grade/team activities)
- PBIS: (Building wide rewards, supplies, materials)
- Year Book: (Printing and supplies related to publication)
- Curriculum: (Materials that go above and beyond the standard curriculum used or for extensions of classwork)
- Athletic teams: (Replacement of uniforms, equipment, and materials)
- Library: (Supplies and materials above and beyond the supported district budget)
After School Activities
We will soon announce different after school events that will take place during the week. We've had several staff members submit proposals for clubs and activities that will occur throughout the year. Our goal is to provide a number of different opportunities for all our students, especially our 6th Graders since 7th and 8th Graders can participate in extra-curricular athletics. We encourage students to get involved and these upcoming activities will provide a great outlet after school. At this time it's looking like we'll have the following activities beginning at some point throughout the year:
- Art Challenge
- Bolt Buddies
- Lego Building
- Yoga
- Book Club
- Yearbook
- Games From the Past
Stay tuned to learn more about ways for your students to be involved.
Fall Conferences
It's never too early to put Fall Conference dates on your calendar: 3:30-9:00PM Monday, October 17 & Tuesday, October 18. For those families new to Franklin Middle School we will send information out regarding how you can sign up for conferences with your child's teachers. Families will have the capability to sign up electronically or by calling the office to meet with up to 2 Franklin teachers. Please keep your eyes out for information regarding Fall Conferences.
Safety Drills
In the next couple weeks we'll have finished our first round of safety drills; tornado, fire, and lockdown. By law we are required to run a series of drills throughout the school year. This week we completed our first tornado drill. Unfortunately the weather delayed our fire drill on Wednesday. We appreciate the students attentiveness in taking the drills seriously. They did a great job following their teacher's instructions and the instructions from the main office.
Save Your RECEIPTS
Do you buy groceries? Do you buy your groceries from a Cedar Rapids or Marion area Hy-Vee store? Do you know about the Hy-Vee receipt challenge? If you answered yes to any of these questions we would love your help in bringing in your Hy-Vee receipts. We accept all receipts from Hy-Vee Grocery, Drug Store, and Gas Station. At any time during the year you can bring in your receipts and drop them off in the main office. Throughout the year we'll have different homeroom challenges with the winning room receiving special treats. With the gracious help of our Franklin families last year we were able to raise over $1,500 that came back to Franklin and used for Franklin students and staff. We appreciate your help throughout the year.
Fun Friday Theme Day: School Colors' Day
Upcoming Events
Monday, September 12
- Soccer @ Linn-Mar Excelsior
- Volleyball: 7th @ Linn-Mar OakRidge, 8th vs. OakRidge
- Football: 8th vs. IC Northwest
Tuesday, September 13
- Tennis
- Football: 7th vs. Wilson
Thursday, September 15
- Volleyball: 7th vs. IC Northwest, 8th @ IC Northwest
- Tennis @ Prairie Black
- Football: 8th @ Linn-Mar Excelsior
Friday, September 16
- Cross Country @ Cascade
Monday, September 19
- Soccer vs. Regis
- Volleyball: 7th @ Roosevelt, 8th vs. Roosevelt
Tuesday, September 20
- Cross Country @ Center Point-Urbana
- Football: 7th @ Kingston vs. Taft
- Tennis @ Washington vs. Regis-LaSalle
Thursday, September 22
- Tennis @ Linn-Mar Excelsior
- Volleyball: 7th vs. McKinley, 8th @ McKinley
- Football: 8th vs. Harding
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