The Franklin Flyer
November 10, 2023
April 17, 2025
Mark Your Calendars:
April 18: No School
April 25: PTA - Night of the Stars Performance
May 1: PTA - Holi Celebration
May 5: PTA - Teacher Appreciation Week Kick Off; Field Day Volunteer Sign Up
May 13: Girls on the Run 5K
May 16: PTA - 5th Grade Celebration
May 18: Incoming Kindergarten Playdate (details below)
May 22: Incoming 25-26 Kindergarten Student Screening
May 22: PTA - End of Year Bash
May 26: No School
May 27: Field Day
May 29: 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony & Clap Out; Last Day of School
July 15: PTA - Pool Party
Absences
Please call in or email absences by 8:45 AM. You can call our student absence line (847) 318-4390 (ext 1) is available 24 hours a day, or email Mrs. Linda Berleth at lberleth@d64.org.
If the absence is illness related, please also make sure to include Franklin's nurse, Mrs. Queta Karstens, at qkarstens@d64.org.
Franklin Office Hours
School office hours are from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
School Hours
School Hours (M, T, Th, F): 8:50 am - 3:30 pm
Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade Lunch: 11:35 - 12:30
4th and 5th Grade Lunch: 12:05 - 1:00
Wednesday School Hours: 8:50 am - 2:40 pm
Wednesday Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade Lunch: 11:05 - 12:00
Wednesday 4th and 5th Grade Lunch: 11:35 - 12:30
Half-Day Kindergarten Hours
Kindergarten Hours (M, T, Th, F): 8:50 am - 11:35 am
Kindergarten Wednesday: 8:50 am - 11:05 am
April Is Healthy Living Month
April marks the kick-off of Healthy Living Month, a community-wide initiative promoting wellness and healthy habits! Our first week focuses on Health and Nutrition, and students will receive a Healthy Living Bingo card with fun challenges to complete throughout April.
How It Works:
On Friday, April 4, your student(s) will receive a Bingo card.
As your student(s) complete each weekly challenge, they will initial the corresponding boxes.
On Monday, May 5, students should submit their signed Bingo cards to their classroom teacher.
On Tuesday, May 6, one winner will be announced from Franklin
Grand Prize: Each school's winner will get the chance to co-teach a P.E. class alongside their P.E. teacher.
Bonus: Winners will receive a swag bag from Advocate Children’s Hospital!
When Entering The Building
When a parent or guardian arrives to Franklin with or for a student, dropping off items or for a meeting, when ringing the doorbell, please state your name and your student(s) names to support our safety procedures.
All visitors to Franklin must have a valid state ID or driver’s license. Identification is entered into the Raptor identification system. This process only takes a short time to complete. Once you have clearance, the office staff will print a visitor pass for you and attach it to a lanyard you must wear throughout the building. The office will hold your ID until you return to the office and return the lanyard. We appreciate your support as we proceed with this district-mandated safety procedure for the safety of our students.
Issues with A School Device?
If you have are having issues with your student's device at home, please complete a ticket.
https://d64.incidentiq.com/guest/NPV6SRUK/d64-family-tech-support-ticket#top
Payments to School - My School Bucks
Park Ridge-Niles CCSD 64 employs My School Bucks as its payment platform for families. Most
purchases for students, including field trips and student orders. Directors can be found here.
For the health and safety of our students and community, no pets are allowed on school property. We realize the beautiful weather increases the amount of families who are walking to and from school. However, we ask that you please leave your dog or cat at home. Properly identified service animals are always permitted.
Please take a moment to review the contacts section of your ParentPortal. Any adult who has approval for after school pick-up or emergency pick-up for illness/injury should be listed. Franklin staff will not release students to adults who are not listed on the ParentPortal.
Student-Parent Handbook
Franklin Elementary School and all District 64 schools follow policies and practices reviewed and implemented by the District 64 Board of Education. Please review the D64 Student-Parent Handbook before the start of the school year.
You can find frequent updates or snapshots from our days at Franklin on Facebook and Instagram! Follow us at
Facebook: facebook.com/FranklinD64
Instagram: franklin.d64
PTA News
Appreciation SpotlightThat’s a wrap on the 4th/5th grade Volleyball season! A huge thank you to Rob Barrett for all his hard work in coordinating this incredible program. We’re also incredibly grateful to the dedicated parent volunteers who stepped up as coaches—this season wouldn’t have been possible without your time, energy, and commitment to our 66 young athletes.
Thank you to:
Rob Barrett, Erik White, Tony Varda, Matteo Dariol, Amit Goel, Pawel Stec, Courtney Shewfelt, Courtney McGeary, Dana Bozeday, (yes, Pawel Stec again!), Brian Howe, and Tobias Moller.
We’d also like to recognize the behind-the-scenes support that made it all run smoothly. Special thanks to Mr. Branch, Alex and Maria (our amazing night custodians), Mr. Barker, Mr. Rasmussen, Ashley Thielsen, Liz Painter, and Dr. Williams for their ongoing assistance and encouragement over the past six months.
Yearbooks are still on sale until April 25th
This is the absolute final day to purchase a yearbook for end of school delivery. After that date, any yearbook purchases will be mailed directly to your home. Click here to purchase.
TICKET SALES OPEN! Join us for an evening with the stars, Franklin stars that is!
Friday, April 25th 6:30 - 8:30 PM at Emerson Middle School. Doors will open at 6:15 PM
Tickets are now available to purchase on Membership Toolkit/FranklinPTA
Ticket prices: $5 for adults and $2 for students and young children
Performers do NOT need to purchase a ticket for themself
All performers will be allotted two tickets each, free of charge. Tickets must be purchased for additional guests beyond the two free tickets
Volunteers and their immediate families do not need to purchase tickets
Volunteers receive VIP seating and free tickets for their family members: There are many different ways to help with this fun event - from talent management to stage crew to set up and tear down. More details and sign up available on PTA Membership Toolkit
Questions?? Reach out to Natalie Packer (nataliebergcm@gmail.com) and Danielle Kastner (dcpkastner@gmail.com) for questions related to auditions, and Venus Garcia (marivenusgarcia@gmail.com) for questions about volunteering and ticket sales.
End of year Teacher and staff gift contributions
Forms are open now on Toolkit for contributions toward teacher and staff end of year gifts. The forms will be available now through 4/25.
Head Room Parents will be responsible for classroom teachers; however, please consider signing up to organize and deliver a gift for one of your child’s special teachers or another staff member.
Holi Celebration is coming soon!
Thursday May 1st after school
Learn about and celebrate Holi, the Indian Festival of Colors
The Franklin PTA is partnering with sibling duo Kabir & Sahana (4th & 1st grades) to share the Festival of Colors, Holi, with the Franklin community on Thursday, May 1st at 3:30pm after school. Holi focuses on accepting one another, loving our families, and having a fun time together!
This event will be held on the Franklin blacktop in the basketball courts after school and a parent chaperone is required. Different colors of chalk will be thrown and therefore you may want to consider bringing a change of clothes or even towels for your car if you are driving to this event. We look forward to seeing you there!
More information to follow regarding registration.
Volunteers needed: Please sign up on Membership Toolkit starting on 4/14 at 9 am to assist at the event to set up, distribute supplies, and clean up. Please arrive by 3 pm on May 1st.
Field Day Volunteers: Sign-up opens May 5th at 9 am
In order to make one of the students favorite days a success we need your help! Field day will be held on Tuesday, May 27th for all grades. Please sign-up on the Membership Toolkit starting May 5th at 9 am to volunteer for one of the following time slots:
Grades K/1/2 Morning Slot 9 am-11:20 am
Grades 3/4/5 Afternoon Slot 1 pm-3:20 pm
Teacher Appreciation Volunteers Needed
Our hospitality committee has quite the week planned to celebrate our teachers and staff, to ensure it runs smoothly a few volunteers would be very helpful. Please reach out to Kaylee Macedo (kaylee.gamble@gmail.com) for more details or questions. Slots are open on Membership Toolkit.
Friday 5/2 @ 4 - 5: Decorate staff lounge
Wednesday 5/7 @ 4 - 4:30: Unload supplies / stock fridge
Thursday 5/8 @ 4 - 4:30: Set up for Friday activities
Friday 5/9 @ 4 - 4:30: Clean up
Lights, Camera, Promotion! 5th graders are invited to celebrate their time at Franklin and get ready to soar to their next destination.
Yes, it’s already time to think about next year’s school supplies…
We've all been there! Back-to-school sneaks up on us, and suddenly we're running from store to store trying to find supplies. But what if you could check it off your list today? Order Here: https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/gs/32147
1st Day School Supplies makes it easy. In just a few clicks, you can order the exact supplies your teacher requested, packaged in a beautiful new box and delivered on time, stress-free!
Staff Lunches
The PTA offers teachers and staff members an option to purchase lunch on Mondays from Spuntinos via franklinpta.com. Families are always welcome to show their appreciation for a staff member by purchasing a Monday lunch on their behalf. If this is something your family is interested in doing, please refer to the PTA website for more information.
Questions about teacher and staff lunches can be directed to rebeccavanpoucke@gmail.com.
Open PTA Board Positions
Want to get more involved with the PTA we have 3 open positions for the upcoming school year.
We have openings on the Board for 2 co-VPs and a contingent Corresponding Secretary role.
Nomination period is now through April 30, 2025.
To learn more about about those roles go to FranklinPTA.com If interested in join the board email info@franklinpta.com
Missing out on info? We have a FACEBOOK page!
We post reminders, updates, recognition, answer questions &
Help make this community stronger! Join us at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071259407924
Or scan the QR code. MUST BE A PAID PTA MEMBER TO JOIN.
Community Corner
Looking for some new books to read? Check out these spring releases to read with your student!
