A Full Fall at Franklin

The first of our three evenings of conferences is tonight, Thursday, Nov. 13th.

The information below was shared to all Franklin families on Oct. 30th. If you did not receive that message, it means we do not have accurate contact information for you. If that's the case, please update your contact information (email and phone number) in the Parent Portal. If you have not signed up for a conference yet, please call the Franklin office at 507-345-4287. Our office staff will help you select an available time slot with your child's teacher.

Dear Franklin Families,

It's time to sign up for Parent Teacher Fall Conferences. Fall Conferences will be held:

Thursday, November 13th, 2025 from 3:20 pm to 8:00 pm.

Tuesday, November 18th, 2025 from 3:20 pm to 8:00 pm.

Thursday, November 20th, 2025 from 3:20 pm to 8:00 pm.

As the weather turns colder, there are a few reminders we want to give families to ensure they, and our students, are prepared for the winter season.

- Unless it is "dangerously cold", students will continue to be outside for morning and lunch time recess. Please help them remember to come to school prepared for the weather each day. It's not an option for them to stay inside because they don't like the cold. Getting fresh air and regular exercise is important for children, and we will continue providing those opportunities unless unsafe conditions exist.

- How do we determine when it's safe or unsafe for students and staff to be outside? Many factors play into our decision making process. We use the National Weather Service Wind Chill Chart (pictured below) to guide our decision making process.

A few variables exist that impact this process and may create variability between elementary school sites and even grade level decisions throughout the day:

• Wind isn't the same from site to site or hour to hour (Rosa Parks vs Franklin or 11:00 AM vs. 12:30 PM)
• The direction from which the wind is blowing. Winds from the north or west tend to impact the Franklin playground the most.
• The preparedness of students, particularly early in the winter season, for unexpected drops in temperature.
• The presence or absence of snow/sleet/rain/ice, which impact the condition of the blacktop/playground equipment.
• The presence or absence of sunshine, as well as the number of days students have had access to recess recently, also factor into our decision-making on days the temperatures are "borderline".

In the end, there are many things we contemplate when deciding whether or not to have our students and staff outside during cold winter weather, but rest-assured we are always considering the health and safety of those impacted by our decisions.

MAPS Families,

Snow season is just around the corner! In preparation, here is an important resource that is available on the ISD77 website for your review: Weather Related Information - includes details on where to find out about weather related closings and late starts. Please note the MAPS Notification Line: 507-387-6046.

Each year our 3rd grade students learn valuable lessons about Winter Weather Safety and Preparedness through presentations made by representatives from the City of Mankato and Public Safety. They also get an opportunity for "up-close" looks at a city snow plow and a public safety squad car. Check out a few pictures from that day below.

Are you, or is someone you know, looking for a way to earn some extra money or looking for a rewarding job working with students? If so, check out the links below to explore opportunities to work as a paraprofessional, lunch/recess supervisor, or ACES staff member. We have multiple openings right here at Franklin, and we'd love to have Franklin family members as part of our school staff. If you have questions specific to any open positions, please call the Franklin office at: 507-345-4287.

Franklin Families – Our 5th Graders Need Your Help!

Our 5th grade classes are collecting non-perishable items for the ECHO Food Shelf to support families in need this season.

Items especially needed include:
Diapers & wipes
Toilet paper & toiletries (toothpaste, deodorant, etc.)
Thanksgiving favorites like gravy, stuffing, etc

If you’d like to help, please send donations with your student — teachers will make sure they get to the 5th grade classrooms for collection. Another option is to bring items with you to conferences.

Let’s come together and show what our Franklin community can do!

#FranklinCares #CommunityStrong #ECHOFoodShelf #ThankfulHearts

• Thursday, Nov. 13 - Evening Conferences (3:20 - 8:00 PM)
• Tuesday, Nov. 18 - Evening Conferences (3:20 - 8:00 PM)
• Thursday, Nov. 20 - Evening Conferences (3:20 - 8:00 PM)
• Thursday, Nov. 27 and Friday, Nov. 28 - NO SCHOOL, Thanksgiving Break