April 28, 2008

May/June Newsletter - 2008   

Dear Franklin Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

            This is the last newsletter of the 2007-2008 school year.  It is hard to believe that the school year has almost come to an end.  We have had many outstanding individual and group accomplishments this year.  If I tried to list them all I am sure I would forget someone so as not to hurt anyone’s feelings I will not try to recount them at this time.  You parents are a big part of what we do here at Franklin.  Thank you for the strong support that you have shown us this year.  You are the best!!

            Calamity Day Update

As of this date we have missed one more day of school due to fog.  The school year for students is now extended to Wednesday, June 4^th.

            May and June Calendar of Events

Below is the calendar of events for both May and June.

                        May 1              Social Studies O.A.T. test – grade 5

2                            Kindergarten DNA swabbing by the Delphos Police Dept.

4-10                         TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK

8                            Mrs. Kroeger’s IEP meetings

14                            3^rd grade field trip to Science Central in Ft. Wayne

15                            Middle School Orientation tour – 5^th grade

5^th grade Band Concert, 7:00 p.m.

16                            Delphos Mini relay for Life (rain date is May 19)

20                            1^st grade field trip to the Ft. Wayne Children’s Zoo

(rain date is May 21)

22              4^th grade field trip to the Toledo Metro Park in Grand Rapids

23              5^th grade field trip to Sauder’s Village in Archbold

                  (rain date is May 27)

26              MEMORIAL DAY – NO SCHOOL

28              2^nd grade field trip to the Allen County Museum in Lima

                        June 2              Kdg. Field trip to the Delphos Post Office and the Creamery

                                                (rain date is June 3)

3                            Year-end Student Awards Assemblies

9:00 a.m. – grades 1-3

1:30 p.m. – grades 4-5

            June 4 *           LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

                                    Dismissal @ 1:30 p.m.

                                    Report cards sent home with students

* This date will change if we miss anymore school and have to make up more days.

Teacher Appreciation Week

May 4-10 is designated as Teacher Appreciation Week.  Tuesday, May 6, is National Teacher Day and Wednesday, May 7, is National School Nurse Day.  This would be a great time to let your child’s teacher(s) and Mrs. Ricker, our school nurse, know how much you appreciate the time and effort they have put into working with your child to help him/her grow academically, socially and emotionally.  Find time this week to send a note to your child’s teacher(s) and/or our school nurse saying, “Thank you for your hard work and dedication to my child.”

            Franklin Yearbooks

We have received the 2007-2008 Franklin yearbooks and they will be sent home with those students who ordered them shortly.  We did, however, receive about a dozen extra copies that are available for sale.  If you did not get your pre-sale order in on time and would like to have one of these yearbooks, please send your money to the office as soon as possible.  These yearbooks will be sold on a first come, first served basis.  We only have copies of the regular soft cover yearbook and not the hard cover upgrade.  The cost for these yearbooks is $10.00.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Franklin School office.

            Field Trips

Permission letters for our annual spring field trips have been sent home or will be sent home in the near future.  The permission form must be returned to your child’s teacher before he/she will be allowed to go on the field trip.  We ask that you please return this form in a timely manner.  If you have any questions about your child’s field trip, contact his/her teacher.

            5^th Grade Band Concert

Band classes for our 5^th grade students began in October.  The students picked an instrument and have been receiving weekly instruction on how to play it from Mr. Stearns, our band instructor.  The culminating activity for this class will be Thursday evening, May 15, when our 5^th grade band students combined with the Landeck band students will perform their first concert.  This performance will take place in the Franklin gym at 7:00 p.m.  All parents, grandparents and other relatives and friends are invited. 

There will be a reception in the cafeteria following the concert.  We need volunteers to provide cookies for this event.  If you can donate two dozen cookies, contact Mrs. Petersmeyer or Mrs. Antalis in the school office or send a note to school with your child.  Thanks for your help.

            Year-end Awards Assemblies

We will hold our annual student awards assemblies on Tuesday, June 3^rd.  The times are:

                                                9:00 a.m. – grades 1-3

                                                1:30 p.m. – grades 4-5

The assemblies will be held in the gym.  At these assemblies we will recognize and honor our students’ accomplishments during this past school year.  We invite all parents to attend this important event to show support for your child(ren).

            “Mini Relay for Life” News

This year’s Mini Relay for Life will take place on Friday May 16^th (rain date is Monday, May 19^th).  Your child will once again be listening to speakers, walking laps, and playing games throughout the day.  We have scheduled several new speakers again this year.  The day should be both educational and fun for your child!  If you would like to volunteer your help on this day, please let your child’s teacher know.  Also, any small prizes or candy you could send in to be used for games would really be appreciated.  Thank you for all the support you give us for this wonderful event!

Our Franklin Faculty and Staff Relay for Life team is selling cookbooks as a fund-raiser.  In them are recipes submitted by our teachers and staff members.  Also included in the book are interesting anecdotes the staff remembered during their careers.  Cookbooks are $7.00 and can be purchased in the school office or from any teacher or staff member.  All money will go to the American Cancer Society.

            More Franklin Staff Changes

In the March newsletter I announced that two Franklin teachers, Mrs. Robin Wark and Miss Karen Hartman, will be retiring at the end of this school year.  Since that time more developments have occurred that I wish to make you aware of.  Fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Christina Grothaus, and kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Brenda Gallmeier have requested reassignment to Landeck for next year.  They will be replacing two teacher retirements out there.  In addition, kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Kristy Sehlhorst, is resigning at the end of this school year to be a stay-at-home mother.  As you can see, there will be a lot of new faces on the Franklin staff next year!

            Summer Office Hours

Summer office hours will begin on Friday, June 6^th (assuming we miss no more school).  The office will be open from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00-3:00 p.m. every day.  Our office will close for the summer on Thursday, June 19^th, and reopen for the 2008-2009 school year on Monday, August 4^th.

            Important August Dates

The first day of school for students in the 2008-2009 school year will be Tuesday, August 26^th.  We will hold registration for the new school year during the week of August 11-15.  This is the first time that class rosters and teacher assignments will be posted and you can pay your school fees for the year.  Office hours for registration will be 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 1:00-3:00 p.m. each day.  The schedule for registration is as follows:

            Monday, August 11                  New family registration for students who did not attend

                                                            Franklin Elementary last year (includes all grades)

            Tuesday, August 12                  Families of students in grades K & 1

            Wednesday, August 13 Families of students in grades 2 & 3

            Thursday, August 14                 Families of students in grades 4 & 5

At this time I cannot tell you exactly what the school fees will be for next year.  My best estimate, based on this year’s fees is:

            Kindergarten -              $57.00

            1^st grade -                    $62.00

            2^nd grade -                    $90.00

            3^rd grade -                    $48.00

            4^th grade -                    $64.00

            5^th grade -                    $64.00

Adjusted Curriculum -  fees will vary depending on the grade level

I will not know the exact amounts until this coming August.  I know the fees are high.  Be assured that we will make every effort to hold down your costs as much as possible.

            Announcing Our 2008-2009 Open House

On Wednesday evening, August 20^th, from 6:00-7:00 p.m., we will hold our annual Open House to kick off the new school year.  Mark this date on your calendar now and plan to attend this important event in August.

            Summer D.A.R.E. Camp Information

D.A.R.E. Summer Camp will be held on June 17, 18 and 19 at Franklin Elementary.  It will run from 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. each day.  Students in grades 4-8 this year are invited to attend camp.  Activities planned for this year include team events, bowling at the Delphos Recreation Center, swimming at the Delphos Pool, and Ultra Sound games.  Applications for the camp will be distributed in homerooms within a few weeks.  All activities and events are free for students.

            Thought for the Month

“When someone is taught the joy of learning, it becomes a life-long process that never stops, a process that creates a logical individual.  That is the challenge and joy of teaching.”

- Marva Collins

Respectfully yours,

Tim Larimore

Principal