Students are out of school today (Jan. 27th) as teachers prepare mid-year Progress Reports. In the August SMORE newsletter we highlighted changes to our conference and grade reporting practices this year. Linked below is a family letter referencing and reviewing previous communication, as well as detailing how you can access Progress Reports via the Parent Portal. Please contact the Franklin office if you have additional questions.
In the November SMORE newsletter we highlighted the importance of regular attendance for all students. Many families have also received electronic communication specific to them, related to attendance concerns. Why all this communication around attendance?
The Minnesota Dept. of Education pays very close attention to one particular aspect of student attendance that they label "Consistent Attendance". What is consistent attendance in the eyes of the state? Consistent attendance means the student is present for 90% or more of the school days for which they are enrolled. At Franklin, we currently have consistent attendance concerns. Attached below are some statistics that show how Franklin stacks up compared to our district consistent attendance data. We have a significantly lower percentage of our students who have been present for 90% or more of our school days so far this year. In fact, as of last week, we have 82 of our 390 students who are close to, or beyond, the 10% absent mark. Because of that, many of you will be receiving electronic communication and / or phone calls from the principal, social worker, or other school staff to emphasize the importance of your child(ren) attending school consistently. There may be some challenging conversations ahead as we attempt to limit the number of students we have who are not meeting this bar set for us by the state. Please feel free to connect with Principal Johnson if you have additional questions around this issue.
We've received a few questions recently regarding cold temperatures and how those temperatures impact whether students are inside or outside during AM and lunchtime recess. Please refer to the December SMORE newsletter for a detailed description of how those decisions are made.
**Important Reminder** - The teacher supervision day officially begins at 7:35 AM. If you drop your child off at school before that time, supervision for them is not available. We've had several instances where families have questioned why their child can't come into the school before that time on very cold mornings. This is why.
The annual Climb to Feed Kids event at Mt. Kato will be taking place Sunday, February 2. It's an amazing community event benefiting an organization that supports over 1000 elementary students in the Greater Mankato Area. To learn more about the organization and what they do for our community, click here: Feeding our Community Partners
Franklin School has a team of teachers competing in this event each year, and this year is no different. If you'd like to support our team, you can donate here: Franklin Team Page
Welcome Caregivers of Future Kindergarten Students!
We are excited to welcome your child to Mankato Area Public Schools in Fall 2025! Kindergarten is a crucial time for growth in academics, social skills, and emotional development, setting the stage for your child's K-12 journey.
Ready to Enroll?
Visit https://www.isd77.org/enroll to access the online enrollment form. The online enrollment form can be completed on a variety of devices including a computer, tablet or smartphone. **A computer or tablet is recommended, as the process isn't quite as smooth when using a phone.**
Parents can also call 507-387-2125 or email centralregistration@isd77.org to make an appointment with Central Registration staff if they need help completing the enrollment form.
