July 31, 2026

This week we officially kicked off our 26-27 school by welcoming our staff back onto campus!

Please review our newsletter and flyer as we have events starting on WEDNESDAY (8/5) to prepare for the first day of school!

As you prepare for school shopping before school starts, please review our uniform policy (see below for full uniform policy as stated in registration and campus handbook) which includes A BELT for all students from 2nd-8th wearing shorts or pants. Also, SWEATPANTS are to be worn during PE class for cooler weather if students don't want to wear the regular PE mesh shorts. With this reminder, we are clarifying that students need to wear shorts/pants/skorts each day, sweatpants only during PE.

Also, for MYP (6th-8th), all water bottles must be CLEAR.

This week I sent an email about LEVEL 2 fingerprinting clearance for field trips...reminder, once completed, it's good for FIVE years, you do not get fingerprinted yearly.

Looking for your child's CLEVER credentials? They are on PowerSchool. See flyer below with instructions for you to locate them in your parent portal.

PTO Crew has also prepared our calendar of events for the school year; scroll down to the PTO corner to check it out! We also shared the New Family Orientation, Meet & Greet and Open House schedules, see flyers below!

While at Business Day, many families took the time to complete the lunch application, we have about 600 completed which means 600 service hours coming as well. As we announced early in July, you will earn a service hour for completing the form. National School Lunch Applications: Action Required: Please take a moment to apply, this application supports the data for determining our Title I status each school year which is an additional grant for our school ($300,00-$450,000).

English 26-27 Application:

https://www.myschoolapps.com/Home/DistrictRedirect/FLORIDACF_FL?langid=1

Spanish 26-27 Application:

https://www.myschoolapps.com/Home/DistrictRedirect/FLORIDACF_FL?langid=2

This year you will EARN AN EXTRA HOUR for completing the lunch application as well. This grant is very important to us as it provides our campus with extra funding. This funding helps with retaining our classroom assistants and technology support platforms for our students, for example. If you already completed the form, as we sent out the link in last week's newsletter, please send proof in an email along with your child's name, your family Service Hour ID# and your full name as well.

gonzalez.nancy@franklin-academy.org conatser.amy@franklin-academy.org

Check out the Florida Future Chef Competition and the Summer Reading Challenge Link for details and the Reading Log to submit on www.wh.gov/read/submit by 11:59PM ET on September 4th, 2026.

• Navigate Curiosity: Fueling curiosity and helping students navigate new ideas.
• Build Connection: Building strong connections through professional learning teams.
• Create Flow: Creating a smooth flow for teachers to dive deeper into great lessons and collaboration.
• Find Growth and Meaning: Data analysis session for discussing progress with students and staff.

• Better Lessons: Teachers work together every Wednesday to plan engaging activities.
• Personal Focus: Regular data chats mean we track your child's specific growth.
• Strong Support: Teamwork ensures every classroom has high-quality instruction

8/05/26 New Family Orientation 7:45AM-8:25AM

8/05/26 Kinder Meet & Greet 8:30AM-9:00AM

8/05/26 2nd Grade Meet & Greet 9:15AM-9:45AM

8/05/26 1st Grade Meet & Greet 10:15AM-10:45AM

8/05/26 3rd Grade Meet & Greet 11:15AM-11:45AM

8/05/26 5th Grade Meet & Greet 12:15PM-12:45PM

8/05/26 4th Grade Meet & Greet 1:15PM-1:45PM

8/05/26 Year 1 (6th Grade) Orientation/Meet & Greet 2:15PM-3:00PM

8/06/26 Kinder KickStart 7:30AM-11:15AM - Flyer Below

8/06/26 Year 2 (7th Grade) Orientation/Meet & Greet 8:45AM-9:30AM

8/06/26 Year 3 (8th Grade) Orientation/Meet & Greet 2:15PM-3:00PM

8/07/26 Kinder KickStart 7:30AM-11:15AM

8/07/26 MYP Year 1 KickStart 8:30AM-12:15PM - Flyer Below

8/10/2026 First Day of School

Dress code guidelines specify appropriate school attire for normal school days. Franklin Academy reserves the right to interpret these guidelines and/or make changes during the school year. Students are expected to comply with these guidelines. If a student arrives without the proper uniform, they may be sent to the front office and will remain there until a parent/guardian brings the correct uniform.

Improperly fitted uniforms are considered a violation of the dress code, and students may not be allowed to attend class until appropriate clothing is provided. Offensive, immodest, or inappropriate attire, as deemed by the faculty, is not permitted. Torn or tattered clothing is also prohibited. All clothing should be labeled with the student's name. Parents/guardians of Kindergarten and first grade students are encouraged to leave an extra set of clothes in a labeled Ziploc bag in their child’s backpack in case of emergencies.

Please take a moment to review video link with instructions on how to access and complete the Student Housing Questionnaire (SHQ) via your FOCUS parent portal, SHQ Parent Portal Video Tutorial.

The Student Housing Questionnaire is used to identify students experiencing homelessness or economic hardship.

The federal McKinney-Vento Act (Title IX, part A) protects the educational rights of students experiencing homelessness, from Pre-K through grade 12, and must be upheld. The Act defines homeless children and youth as “individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. “This includes school-aged children and youth residing in:

• Emergency or transitional shelter
• Hotels or motels due to economic necessity
• Unsheltered in a vehicle, park, or other place not intended for human habitation
• Temporarily sharing the housing of others (“doubled-up”) due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason
• 
  

Parents, legal guardians, or caregivers with school-aged children, and unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness as defined by the McKinney-Vento Act must complete a Student Housing Questionnaire (SHQ). Eligible students shall be enrolled in the HEART Program.

To ensure students are coded correctly, please our HEART Designees, our School Counselors, to determine if the student meets the criteria for homelessness.

The HEART Designee shall:

• Provide guidance and direction to parents experiencing homelessness or economic hardship on how to complete the Student Housing Questionnaire (SHQ) located in the parent portal.

Grullon.penelope@franklin-academy.org

Lindsay.tashon@franklin-academy.org

Dear Franklin Families,

No school? No problem! Summer BreakSpot offers a place where kids and teens 18 and under can access no-cost meals.
Breakfast, lunch and/or snacks are served up every weekday at more than 3,000 locations across Florida, including schools, community centers, churches, and more.

No application is necessary – all you have to do is show up! So, tell your friends, family, and neighbors, and join us at the coolest spot for kids this summer.
Find a location in your neighborhood at SummerBreakSpot.org/Find-Location/

Dear Future Summer Readers,

Every book you open is an adventure – whether you are exploring new places, meeting new characters, or learning something new. A whole summer of reading fun is waiting just for you!

This summer, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, we are excited to invite all children (K-8) to join in the Second Lady’s 2026 Summer Reading Challenge. Participants will read and track 12 books of their choice between June 1 and September 4. Every book counts!

When you finish your 12 books, ask your parents/guardians to let us know, and we will send you a personalized certificate, an America 250th anniversary-themed bookmark, and a special link to receive a prize! You will also be entered for a chance to visit our nation’s capital and the White House with a chaperone.

Where will your next book take you? We can’t wait to find out!

Usha Chilukuri Vance
Second Lady of the United States

What is considered “medication:”

1. ANYTHING that requires a prescription

• Epi Pen

• Inhaler

• Seizure Medications

• Nasal Sprays

• Eye Drops

1. Over the counter items:

• Ibuprofen including but not limited to: Motrin, Advil, CVS/Walgreens/Publix and all generic brands, etc.

• Acetaminophen including but not limited to: Tylenol, CVS/Walgreens/Publix and all generic brands, etc.

• Nasal Spray

• Eye Drops

• Homeopathic Medications

• Vitamins

• Topical ointments including but not limited to: hydrocortisone, antibiotic ointment, etc.

What do I do if my child needs to bring medication to school (prescribed OR over the counter):

1. You MUST have the Medication Authorization Form (form attached below) completed and signed by the physician.

2. Once signed by the physician, the parent/guardian MUST sign as well.

3. Parent/Guardian MUST bring the medication to school to be stored in the locked medication cabinet in the clinic.

HOW to send the medication:

1. THE MEDICATION MUST BE:

1. current (NOT expired)

2. properly labeled

3. NEW (unopened)

Q. Why is this the process:

1. Dispensing medication in the school is the same as dispensing medication in a hospital or clinic setting.

2. We are REQUIRED to have signed physician orders to dispense medication.

3. We are REQUIRED to have a parent/guardian signature giving us authorization to administer medication

Q. Where is medication kept?

1. Medication is kept in the locked medication cabinet in the clinic.

2. Forms are kept in the Medication binder in the locked cabinet.

3. During field trips, medication is sent with the teacher to have if we need to use while on trip.

The group, through collaboration with the school administration, is organized for the

purpose of supporting the educational environment at Franklin Academy Charter School

by organizing fundraising efforts, events to benefit the school and its mission.

PTO President: Holli McGee

PTO Vice President: Daniely Millan

PTO Secretary: Fatima Richardson

PTO Treasurer: Nadirah Phillip

PTO Volunteer Coordinator: Erika Shannon

PTO Event Coordinator: Mary Renderer

FortifyFL is a suspicious activity reporting tool that allows students to instantly relay information to appropriate law enforcement agencies and school officials.

QUICK AND EASY SAFETY TIP SUBMISSION

By accessing FortifyFL, students can provide a description of the threat, share pics, and videos and optionally submit their contact information. Submissions can be anonymous or non-anonymous. Submitting a tip is quick and easy using our mobile app or website.

All Franklin Academy students have access to FortifyFL via their Clever portal dashboard.

https://www.franklin-academy.org/fortifyfl

Assistant Principal over PowerSchool/Academic Concerns: Ms. Vazquez - vazquez.emilia@franklin-academy.org

Assistant Principal over Curriculum/Academic Concerns: Ms. Carrizo- carrizo.cassandra@franklin-academy.org

Service Hours/Raptor/Carline/All NON-Instructional aspects: Mr. Williams - williams.demon@franklin-academy.org

School Fees/Balances: Ms. Yepez - businessmanager-cc@franklin-academy.org

Registration/School Records: Ms. Cabrera - cabrera.elizabeth@franklin-academy.org

Health/Clinic: Nurse Schwam - cc-nurse@franklin-academy.org

Service Hour Forms: Ms. N. Gonzalez - gonzalez.nancy@franklin-academy.org; Ms. Conatser conatser.amy@franklin-academy.org

Attendance Inquiries: Ms. Conatser - attendance-cc@franklin-academy.org; conatser.amy@franklin-academy.org

Placards: Ms. Conatser -conatser.amy@franklin-academy.org

Private Bus Registration- Gonzalez.diana@franklin-academy.org

Title 1 Liaison: Ms. Carrizo - carrizo.cassandra@franklin-academy.org

Special Programs Coordinator (ESE, IEPs, Gifted 504 Plans): Ms. Hackworth- hackworth.taryn@franklin-academy.org

ESOL Coordinator: Ms. Ordonez- ordonez.gracy@franklin-academy.org

Athletic Director: cc-athletics@franklin-academy.org

School Counselors: grullon.penelope@franklin-academy.org lindsay.tashon@franklin-academy.org

Email: fox.alexandra@franklin-academy.org
Website: franklin-academy.org
Location: 6301 South Flamingo Road, Cooper City, FL, USA
Phone: 954 780 5533
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FranklinAcademyCharter/