Friday, August 31, 2007

September Newsletter – 2007

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

    Welcome to the 2007-2008 school year!  We are off to a great start and are looking forward to a very exciting school year.  The purpose of this newsletter is to keep you informed about events happening at Franklin.  It will be published every month.  If you ever have any questions about anything you see published in the newsletter, contact me at school.  I will be happy to answer your questions.

Below is the calendar of events for September

                     September  3                 LABOR DAY – NO SCHOOL

4                                5^th grade parents’ meeting @ 6:00 p.m.

5                                3^rd grade parents’ meeting @ 6:00 p.m.

4^th grade parents’ meeting @ 7:00 p.m.

7-17                                 Scott Card Fund-raiser Sale

12                                1^st grade parents’ meeting @ 6:00 p.m.

2^nd grade parents’ meeting @ 7:00 p.m.

27                                Fall School Pictures

28                                Interim reports sent home with students.

        Franklin Elementary Receives an “Effective” Rating

    Franklin Elementary earned an “Effective” rating from the State of Ohio on our building report card for the 2006-2007 school year!  We met 8 out of 10 of the state indicators, had a performance index score of 98.4 out of 120, met our adequate yearly progress (AYP), and maintained an “OK” in school improvement status.  We are very proud of this accomplishment and you should be too.  We could not have done this without the hard work of our teaching staff with your children and the strong support that you have given to us.  I can assure you that we are going to work very hard to maintain or improve this rating in the 2007-2008 school year.  Copies of our building report card are available for your examination in our school office.

        Scott Card Fund-raiser Sale

    We will hold our annual Scott Card Fund-raiser Sale on September 7 through the 17^th.   The profit from this sale goes into the Franklin Principal’s Activity Fund.  We use the monies to pay for things for the students and teachers throughout the school year.  Some of the things that are paid for out of this fund include but are limited to field trip expenses, student assemblies, student awards, quiz bowl team, Reading Counts incentives, kick balls for the playground, teacher classroom supplies, P.E. supplies, the Spelling Bee, and the P.T.O. Christmas program to name a few.  We hope that you will continue to support this important fund-raiser.

        Student Enrollment

Student enrollment at the present time is 452.  It breaks down as follows:

                        K – 94                         3^rd – 73

                        1^st – 58                        4^th – 69

                        2^nd – 75                       5^th – 83

        NEW!! Franklin Breakfast Program

    The Delphos City Schools have started a breakfast program this year.  A school breakfast is being served in all the school buildings.  At Franklin, we serve breakfast in the cafeteria from 7:30-7:50 a.m. each school day.  It is available to all students.  Attached to this newsletter is an informational flyer about our school breakfast program from Mrs. Brenda McKee, our Food Service Director. 

Nutritionists state that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  Studies have been done that show students perform better on their school work and tests when they have a full stomach. If you have any questions about our breakfast program, contact Mrs. McKee.  Her school phone number is on her informational flyer.

        Staff Retirement

    We have one retirement to report. Mrs. Elaine Sommers, 5th grade reading, language arts and science teacher, is retiring at the end of this school year. Mrs. Sommers has given many years of faithful service to the students and staff of the Delphos City School System. She will be greatly missed! We wish her well in retirement. At this time, I have no announcement as to who will be replacing Mrs. Sommers for the 2007-2008 school year. We will be working to fill this position between now and the end of the school year.

        Dress Code

    The dress code for Franklin Elementary is on page 12 of the Franklin Elementary Handbook.  The dress code policy for the Delphos City Schools is on pages 18 and 19 of the Student Conduct Code Handbook.  A copy of our Franklin Handbook was sent home with every student and a copy of the Student Conduct Code Handbook was sent home with the oldest in the family the first day of school.  Read both over carefully.  We take great pride in our students’ appearance.  For their own self-esteem, we think it is important that every child comes to school each day well-groomed and dressed appropriately.

        Grade-level Parents’ Meetings

    Please note the date and time of your child(ren)’s grade-level parents’ meeting(s) in the calendar of events.  The Kindergarten parents’ meeting was held on Monday, August 20^th.  These meetings are for parents only; we ask that you leave your children at home that night.  These meetings do not take the place of parent/teacher conferences which will be held on November 7 and 8.  At this first meeting your child(ren)’s teacher(s) will sit down with you and talk about their classroom rules and expectations, homework, and other important topics.  You will have the opportunity to ask questions and share with them anything that you feel is important for them to know about your child(ren).  This is an important time to begin to establish those lines of communication that are so important to have between home and school.  We hope you take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.  Each grade level will be sending home a letter about their meeting.  Look for it among the things your child brings home from school.  If you have any questions, contact your child’s teacher.

         New Staff Members

    We have three new faces on the Franklin staff this year.  Mrs. Michelle Kroeger is a new intervention specialist.  She is working with our special needs students in kindergarten through second grade.  She replaced Mrs. Amie Buettner.  Mrs. Theresa Anderson is teaching music to our students in grades kindergarten through three.  Mrs. Anderson has been on the Delphos City School staff for three years, teaching middle school band.  She also serves as the high school assistant band director.  Mrs. Tammy Wirth teaches music to grades 4 and 5.  She was newly hired this year.  Her other duties include teaching vocal music at the high school and middle school.  She is also the show choir director.  We welcome these three teachers to our Franklin staff.

    Three current staff members have new or additional teaching assignments.  Our former music teacher, Mrs. Christina Grothaus, is now teaching 5^th grade science and language arts.  She replaced Mrs. Elaine Sommers who retired last year.  Intervention specialist, Mrs. Kathy Buettner is now working with our special needs students in grades 3 and 4.  Our P.E. teacher, Mr. Randy Rinehart, now goes to Landeck on Tuesday and Friday afternoons to teach P.E.

        School Pictures

    All grades will have their pictures taken on Thursday, September 27^th.  Notices about this event will be coming home with your student early in September.  If you wish to purchase a picture package, fill out the information on the pay envelope when it comes home, place the exact amount for the pictures in the envelope, and return it to school with your child on the day of pictures (September 27).  Your child will give his/her envelope directly to the photographer before having his/her picture taken.  If you write a check for pictures make it payable to Lifetouch not Franklin Elementary.  Please put the exact amount in the pay envelope as we do not have money in the office to make change for students bringing in the wrong amount.  All students will have their picture taken for their class’s composite picture even if they do not want to purchase a picture package.  If you misplace your pay envelope, we will have extras in the office.

        School Workbook Fee Application

    Attention Van Wert County residents only.  You may be eligible for payment of your school book fees.  The Van Wert County Department of Job and Family Services have sent us School Fee Applications for the 2007-2008 school year.  If you are a resident of Van Wert County, meet the income guidelines and other PRC eligibility criteria; you may be eligible to have your school fees paid.  To apply you must be the residential parent or primary caretaker.  We have applications in our office.  If you think you might qualify; stop in and pick up an application.  The income guidelines are below:

            Family Size                   Monthly Income

1                                                                    $1574

2                                                                    $2110

3                                                                    $2647

4                                                                    $3183

5                                                                    $3720

6                                                                    $4256

7                                                                    $4793

8                                                                    $5329

Summer Maintenance Projects

    We take a great deal of pride in the appearance of our building and grounds.  A visitor’s first impressions of our school are what they see as they walk in or drive by.  We think first impressions are important and we want that first impression to be a positive one!  To that end, Mr. Ricker and his summer crew did a wonderful job over the summer cleaning and maintaining our building and grounds.  Mr. Ricker painted one classroom and all our boys’ and girls’ restrooms.  We installed new partitions in our stalls in all the restrooms.  We replaced the old drapes in rooms 210, 105, 107, and the cafeteria with new vertical blinds.  Finally, we replaced all the old desks and chairs in the third grade classrooms with new ones.  Everything looks great!  We are dedicated to keeping our school facilities at Franklin looking good.  As time and money allow, we will continue to upgrade our facilities so our students have a school to be proud of.

        Study Island

    Our school has access to a great resource for preparing students for the state standardized tests.  Last year we purchased a building license for a web-based program called Study Island, which is accessible to students in grades 2-5 from school or home.  If you have Internet access, your child can access Study Island from home as well as school to prepare for the state assessments.  The attached sheet provides an overview of the program.  We are excited about the potential benefits this program can bring to our students, and we encourage your child(ren) to take advantage of this opportunity by using Study Island.  Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher or contact Study Island at 800-419-3191or support@studyisland.com if you have questions.

        School Dismissal and Pickup Procedures

    Attached to this newsletter is a copy of our school dismissal and pickup procedures and a map of our playground.  Please read the dismissal and pickup procedures over carefully.  Study the map.  For the safety of our children we ask that you not park in areas that are designated as no parking.  If someone other than you picks up your child(ren) after school please share these procedures and map with them. 

Afternoon recess is not over until 2:30 p.m.  We ask that you do not arrive until after that time as the gates will not be opened until after the children are back in the building.  Arriving too early creates a traffic jam on Pierce Street and even back onto Fifth Street which creates an unsafe traffic situation for vehicles trying to get around Franklin School at that time of day.  We do not want to create unsafe traffic situations by blocking the view of intersections as this might cause an accident.  For those who would rather not park on the playground you can park in the church parking lot on Pierce Street and walk over to the school to pick up your children.  All student walkers and bike riders will exit the playground by the gate on Fourth Street.  No students will be allowed to exit the playground through the gates on Pierce Street without an adult to supervise them. 

I know the traffic is quite congested around Franklin at dismissal time but if we all watch out for each other we can keep it safe and no one will get hurt.  Thank you for your cooperation.  If you have any questions or concerns, contact me at school.

Thought for the Month

*BE A PARENT TEACHERS LIKE TO SEE*

1.  ESTABLISH A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP

    Try to work together.  If you become acquainted with your child’s teacher before problems occur, you will have a greater impact when a need arises.

2.  GIVE HELP, NOT ADVICE

    Most teachers need help not more information.  When helping, try to do what the teacher wants, not necessarily what you want.

3.  SHOW APPRECIATION

    Even in the most positive schools, an amazingly small number of parents (and students!) ever show appreciation.  We all work harder for those who say thanks.

4.  BE POSITIVE

    If your child struggles, make the teacher aware of the problem and ask for suggestions.  Don’t be afraid to tell the teacher your plans and how she can help.  Focus on changing your child, not the teacher, the school, or the child in the next seat.

5.  PICK YOUR BATTLES

    Don’t overlook important issues, but choose your battles carefully.  Realize that if you fight, people get hurt.  Is it worth it?  Many battles aren’t.

6.  RESPECT THE TEACHER

    For a good idea of how you might be perceived by a teacher, ask yourself this question:  What would the teacher’s life be like if every parent did what I do?

7.  PRAY FOR THE TEACHER

    If you multiply your needs as a parent times the teacher’s twenty-five students, you will feel the need to pray for her.

-      Joe Neff, Director of Guidance at Wheaton Academy

Condensed from “FOCUS ON THE FAMILY” magazine

Tim Larimore
Principal