October 16, 2026

Wonderful kick off to the second quarter of school! We celebrated our September IB BALANCED recipients, stood together wearing BLUE on National Stop Bullying Day, and had a SPECTACULAR show Thursday night celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. The committee and students worked long and hard to put together this show! Between our Choir debut to famiies, skits fully in Spanish, dances, presentations, and our newest ceiling tiles created by our Language Acquisition students, it was a beautiful celebration of the Hispanic culture.

Great start to our 26-27 Sports Program! Not only are our Soccer Lady Falcons heading to the playoffs on Monday, as Division Champs, we have a qualifier, MYP student Penelope R., for the MSAA Golf Championshiip Tourrament on 10/28 and MYP student Shane C. has qualified for the State Cross Country Championship on 10/30-10/31. Wishing all of our students success on their next sports' journey!

iUniforms: all back orders have been fullfilled at this time. Starting on Monday, 10/19, all non-Franklin outerware will be confiscated and child can pick up at end of school day. Please ensure your child has the uniform options for sweatshirts, sweaters, and jackets. They can also layer with long sleeves under their uniform shirt that they can remove throughout the day if they are warm.

IXL October challenge...see flyer below and let the competition between classes stay STRONG! For MYP, we will be celebrating the top 15 from each grade level for each of the four challenges in October. First round ends on 10/10, will your child be at the top? Next round runs from 10/11-10/17.

FIRST ROUND WINNERS-

Kinder - Ramirez

1st Grade - Rao

2nd Grade - Petit

3rd Grade - Mendez, L

4th Grade - Gil

5th Grade - Perez, C

10/19/2026 Soccer Playoffs @ Park Next Door @ 4:30PM

10/20/2026 Basketball-Apollo

10/21/2026 Basketball-Silver Trail

10/22/2026 Academic Support Systems Family Session (See Flyer)

10/23/2026 Report Cards Distributed

10/23/2026 Basketball-New Renaissance

10/24/2026 Trunk or Treat Event 6PM-8PM (See Flyer)

10/26/2026 Basketball-New River

10/28/2026 Golf Championship

10/28/2026 Basketball-Attucks

10/29/2026 Basketball-UPDATE: Now at Driftwood

10/30/2026 Storybook/Idiom Parade (See Flyer)

10/30-31/2026 Cross Country State Championship

11/02/2026 Fall Food Drive Begins (Se Flyer)

11/02/2026 Honor Roll Assemblies (See Flyer)

11/02/2026 Basketball-AC Perry

11/03/2026 Planning Day-NO SCHOOL for Students

11/04/2026 Basketball-Driftwood

11/05/2026 Honor Roll Assemblies (See Flyer)

11/06/2026 Honor Roll Assemblies (See Flyer)

11/07/2026 MYP Masquerade Ball

11/06/2026 Basketball-Franklin Academy Pines K-12

11/10/2026 Veterans' Day Breakfast

11/11/2026 NO SCHOOL/OFFICE CLOSED

11/12/2026 Basketball-Franklin Academy Pines K-8

11/13/2026 Interim Reports Distributed

11/17/2026 Fall Feast Kinder & 1st Grade (See Flyer)

11/18/2026 Fall Feast 2nd Grade & 3rd Grade (See Flyer)

11/19/2026 Fall Feast 4th Grade & 5th Grade Grade (See Flyer)

11/19/2026 Fal Feast MYP Treat Bar

11/20/2026 Hello Holidays Parade Kinder-2

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and 10/5 is World Day of Bullying Prevention. Kindness is a choice we make every single day. Being an 'upstander' means speaking up when someone needs help, including those who are left out, and creating a community where everyone feels safe and valued. Today, let’s make a conscious effort to offer a friendly smile, sit with someone new, and stand up for one another. Choose kindness, choose unity, and be an upstander!

October 14th is World Day of Bullying Prevention—a day dedicated to building a safer, kinder school community.

What does it mean to be an upstander? It means you don't just watch from the sidelines when someone is being treated unfairly. An upstander takes action. You can be an upstander by standing up for a classmate, inviting someone sitting alone to join your table, or simply offering a supportive word when someone is having a tough day.

Small acts of friendship can completely change someone’s day—and even their life. Let’s make sure everyone in our school community knows they belong. Stand up, speak out, and lead with kindness today and every day!

Voters in Palm Beach and Broward counties will consider a renewal of an existing one-mill school property tax levy on the November 3, 2026, General Election ballot. This is a renewal of an existing tax, not a new tax. If it is renewed, it will provide funds to both traditional public schools as well as charter schools.

Because Franklin Academy is a public charter school serving families in both counties, we are sharing the attached information to help families understand the referendum and how it relates to public charter schools.

Franklin Academy is not taking a position for or against the referendum. Our role is simply to provide factual information, so that each voter can make their own informed decision.

_____________________________________________________________________

OFFICIAL BALLOT LANGUAGE
Broward County Public Schools, Florida Referendum
Election: November 3, 2026
REFERENDUM TO CONTINUE AD VALOREM LEVY FOR
SCHOOL SAFETY, TEACHERS, AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS

Fund School Employee Pay, Safety, and Mental Health through a One-Mill Property Tax Levy

To enhance school safety and mental health services, recruit and retain highly qualified teachers and essential employees, improve student achievement, and support critical school operations, shall the School Board of Broward County continue to levy a one-mill ad valorem property tax from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2030, to fund school safety personnel, mental health services, increased compensation for teachers, and school-based support staff for public and charter schools?

_____Yes or _____No

_____________________________________________________________________

Please review the above flyer for additional information.

Sincerely,

The Franklin Academy Foundation Governing Board

Being open-minded means that we are willing to listen to and learn from others. We understand that everyone has different ideas, experiences, cultures, and ways of thinking. Being open-minded does not mean we have to agree with everyone—it means we are willing to listen, ask questions, and consider a different point of view.

What Does Being Open-Minded Look Like?

For our K–2 students:

• 👂 Listening when someone else is speaking
• 💭 Being willing to try a new idea
• 🤝 Learning about people who may be different from us
• ❓ Asking questions when we don't understand something
• ❤️ Respecting everyone's ideas and feelings

For our 3–5 students:

• Listening to different opinions before making a judgment
• Considering another person's point of view
• Trying new activities or learning strategies
• Learning about different cultures and experiences
• Asking questions instead of making assumptions

For our MYP students:

• Respectfully discussing ideas that are different from their own
• Considering multiple perspectives before forming an opinion
• Challenging their own assumptions and biases
• Being willing to learn from people with different backgrounds and experiences
• Using respectful communication when they disagree
• 
  

💡 Our Open-Minded Challenge

This month, challenge yourself to:

“Listen. Learn. Consider. Grow.”

When you hear an idea that is different from your own, stop and ask yourself:

👂 Did I really listen?
💭 What can I learn from this?
🌎 Is there another way to look at it?

Remember, being Open-Minded means we don't have to agree with everyone. It means we are willing to listen, learn, and respect different perspectives.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-EZRBGV8qw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sKGCwfZShM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-6F3U0_lDw

Let's make October a month of curiosity, respect, and learning from one another!

2026–2027 IB Learner Profile Schedule

• August ❤️ Caring
• September ⚖️ Balanced
• October 🌍 Open-Minded
• November 🚀 Risk-Taker
• December 💬 Communicator
• January ⭐ Principled
• February 🪞 Reflective
• March💡 Thinkers
• April 📚 Knowledgeable
• May 🔍 Inquirers

Get an early start on your 2026–27 service hours right now and cross one more thing off your family’s to-do list!

Service hours for the new school year are already open. There are plenty of great ways to get involved, lend a hand, and support Franklin Academy today.

Don't have an account? Ready to get started?

Log in to the Raptor Volunteer portal to view upcoming opportunities.

https://apps.raptortech.com/.../MTMxMjpWb2x1bnRlZXI6ZW4tVVM=

Daily service hour opportunities at morning/afternoon carline, as well as lunch support and hallway monitoring. Come on over with your ID and we'll get you earning your service hours any day! You can pop in for 15 minutes or stay all day. We are always grateful to have helping hands around campus supporting our students and staff. (You must have your RAPTOR account established to be on campus volunteering.)

Get your EIGHT hours done early! Future you will thank you!

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

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.

Discipline Matrix Link - For families looking for the matrix for their child's grade band, (K-2, 3-5, 6-8), you can follow the link to the Code of Conduct which lives on our website in the SCHOOL INFO TAB.

Starting on page 47, you will see each grade band matrix with the indicents and consequences.

https://franklin2017.s3.amazonaws.com/2/ckeditor/2026-2027%20Code%20of%20Student%20Conduct_XJ3_69rdcK.pdf

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

REMINDER:

Screening/Fingerprinting requirement for families that would like to volunteer for field trips.

Step one is to make an appointment with our Business Manager, Ms. Yepez, and then make your appointment for the actual fingerprinting.

CLICK on link below!

Book time with Business Manager-CC: Fingerprinting - STEP 1 - Data Collection & Privacy Policy

Instructions stated in the link:

Effective November 30, 2025, all Field Trip Chaperones must complete and pass a Level 2 Background Screening in order to participate.

This is a two-step process.

Step 1: Schedule an appointment with the school’s Business Manager to complete data verification and receive the required documentation.

This is an IN PERSON appointment. IGNORE THE MICROSOFT BUTTON TO JOIN ONLINE!! Please bring drivers license and social security card.

Step 2: Using the documentation from Step 1, the parent/guardian must schedule an appointment at a Live Scan location for fingerprinting and background processing.

Please note: fees for this step vary and are the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

*The booking window only allows 90 days lead time, if full, please check back each week. Clearance is good for 5 years.**

Q&A

1.Is this an in-person or online Microsoft teams meeting?

The meeting is in person as per instructions. Parent or guardian also has to sign the Privacy Policy Acknowledgment Form at the start of the meeting.

2.Do you have any earlier appointments?

This application is self-managed and runs automatically. You would need to check back periodically in case there are any cancellations. Booking window is Tuesday to Thursday from 12 to 1PM. NO EXCEPTIONS.

3.I have prior clearance for work or from the prior school. Can I submit this as clearance?

Unfortunately, no. As for providing your own printed clearance, I need to verify your clearance directly in the system before it can be accepted. This is necessary to ensure that we are properly protecting our students and following our required procedures. If I were to accept a printed clearance without verifying it myself, I would also have to make the same exception for others. To ensure consistency and compliance, I must follow the same verification process for everyone.

4. I missed my appointment. What should I do?

Reschedule.

5. I can’t make it to my appointment. What should I do?

Cancel and reschedule.

6. What is the maximum lead time for the booking application?

90 days

7. How do I make an appointment to start the fingerprint process?

Click on the link and follow the instructions.

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/E2E Bus Transporatin/All NON-Instructional aspects: Director of School Operations-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

Testing Coordinator: Ms. Plummer - plummer.danielle@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/