September 11, 2026

Dear Franklin and Randall Families and Staff,

Welcome to a brand-new school year! We hope your summer was filled with rest, joy, and opportunities to make memories. As our buildings come alive once again, we are excited for all that the year ahead will bring.

The PTO is proud to partner with our school community to help make Franklin and Randall places that are welcoming, enriching, and inspiring for every child. Throughout the year, we will support classroom needs, organize family events, celebrate our teachers and staff, and help fund programs and experiences that enhance and enrich our schools and community.

None of this is possible without the time, energy, ideas, and generosity of our families. Whether you can volunteer for an hour, attend a meeting, help with an event, or contribute behind the scenes, your involvement truly makes a difference.

We look forward to working alongside you and making this a wonderful year for all of our students, staff, and families.

With appreciation,

Kate Freedman

Franklin-Randall PTO President 2026-2027

In this issue...

PTO Board Positions and Event Support
Badger Football Parking
MMSD Volunteer Approval Process
In School Volunteer Opportunities
Franklin and Randall Lunch/Recess
Additional Franklin Volunteer Needs
Randall Picture Day Help
Randall Popcorn Poppers
Randall Teacher Snack Donations
Randall TriPop on 9/17
Randall Picture Day on 9/29 and Franklin Picture Day on 10/27
Parent Square for Families
Box Tops Fundraiser
Community and Afterschool Opportunities
Madison Good Neighbor Gathering on 9/13
Randall Scratch Club, sign up by 9/17
Black Parent Summit on 9/26
Fall 2026 Futura Spanish Afterschool Club Registration, starts in October
Dates to Remember

PTO Board Positions and Project Support

This year, we are making an especially heartfelt appeal to parents and caregivers who may be willing to consider joining the PTO Board or supporting some projects in need of support.

The PTO Board is a team of dedicated people who help shape the experiences our children have at school. You do not need prior PTO experience, special expertise, or unlimited free time. What we need are caring, committed people who are willing to share their perspectives and contribute in ways that fit their strengths and schedules.

We know that life is busy, and we understand that volunteering can feel like one more thing to add to an already full schedule. But even small contributions can create lasting impact. By joining the Board, or even sharing an hour or two of your time, you will have the opportunity to help make decisions, support meaningful initiatives, and leave a positive mark on your child’s school experience.

Please consider taking this step with us. Our students deserve a community of adults who are willing to show up and work together on their behalf.

To learn more about how you can help, please contact me at president@franklinrandallpto.org.

Badger Football Parking

Parking at Randall School for Badger Football Home Games is the largest Franklin-Randall PTO fundraiser! Without this fundraiser, the PTO could not support teacher grants, licenses for educational programs, and beloved events.

We need help directing parkers (if you are new to parking, you will be partnered with an experienced PTO Member) on Game Days, and cleaning up the lot on the day after game days.

Please sign up here!

*This is a great event to do with a friend!

MMSD Volunteer Approval Process

We’re excited to share several important ways you can support our school community in the coming weeks. Whether you have a little time or are looking for a more ongoing opportunity, your involvement makes a meaningful difference!

There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer at Franklin and Randall! Both schools ask for support at lunch and recess, in classrooms, chaperoning field trips, reading or doing math 1:1 with students, and completing special projects. All of these require prospective volunteers to get their Level 2 certification through MMSD! Here is the page and process for your information!

Have any questions about volunteering? Please email: volunteer@franklinrandallpto.org

Lunch and Recess Volunteers Needed

Please consider supporting Franklin and Randall lunch and recess times by providing an extra pair of hands.

Franklin volunteers are needed every day from 10:45-11:30, 11:15-11:50, and 11-12 until September 25.

Please sign up here.

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Randall needs help on Mondays:

3rd Grade Recess / Lunch - 10:45-11:25

4th Grade Recess / Lunch - 11:15-11:55

5th Grade Recess / Lunch - 12:00-12:50

Please sign up here.

Additional Franklin Volunteer Opportunities

Franklin has a range of needs for support, including literacy volunteers, math volunteers, and special projects.

Please fill out this form to indicate your interest and receive more information!

Additional Randall Volunteer Opportunities

Randall Picture Day Help Needed

Help Randall Racoons say "cheese" on Randall's Picture Day - September 29, 2026 at Randall. We also need help on re-take day, November 12!

Clich here for more information and to sign up.

Pop Popcorn at Randall on Fridays

Help our Randall Racoons celebrate a beloved tradition - popcorn on Fridays! Volunteer slots are available every other Friday from 7:30-9:00 a.m.

Click here for more information and to sign up.

Snacks for Randall Teachers

Please consider providing a snack for Randall teachers and staff who work very hard to create a great community at Randall. This is one way to show our support!

Staff snacks can be dropped by 9 a.m. at the main entrance (1802 Regent Street) on your chosen Wednesday. Examples would be fruit, bagels, cheese and crackers, veggies and hummus, muffins, cookies, or doughnuts; anything you think your teacher would enjoy.

Click here for more information and to sign up.

Randall TriPop

The Randall TriPop is on Thursday, September 17, from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

We hope you can join us for what we've nicknamed "TriPop" (Our Popcorn and Popsicle Pop-In). The event is somewhat our annual open house in disguise - our effort to make it easier for some families to join us.

Please check out the attached flyer and then RSVP.

Picture Days

Randall Picture Day is coming on Tuesday, September 29, from 7:45 - 10:45 a.m.

You can place your order on mylifetouch.com using your Picture

Day ID: EVTWWZP9D. Order before midnight on Picture Day to get FREE shipping!

Your child can also bring their completed flyer with cash or check on Picture Day. Orders after Picture Day must be placed online on mylifetouch.com

Student Data Safety and Security:

As the only SOC 3 compliant partner in school photography, Lifetouch delivers unmatched protection for student and staff information - backed by third‑party verification and trusted by schools nationwide. Learn more here.

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Save the Date

Franklin Picture Day will be on Tuesday, October 27

Parent Square for Families

MMSD uses a school-to-home messaging platform called ParentSquare. This unified communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians

informed and encourage greater engagement and connection at our schools. It provides a safe way for our community to:

● Send and receive district, school and classroom communications

● Receive notifications of a message via email, text, phone, or ParentSquare App (free for iOS and Android devices)

● Share pictures and files

● Direct message with your student's teacher or school admin

● Schedule parent-teacher conferences

● and much more . . . all in one centralized place!

Check out this link for more information!

Box Tops Fundraiser

Families - Sign up for Box Tops and support Franklin or Randall! The app makes it easy to scan grocery receipts and automatically identifies qualifying items. Qualifying items you're already

purchasing earn 10¢ for our school, adding up to real funds for students and teachers! Get the app here.

Community and Afterschool Opportunities

Madison Good Neighbor Gathering

Randall Scratch Club

Ready to code, create, and have fun? Join our Randall Scratch Club for 4th and 5th Graders!

Learn how to create your own games, animations, and interactive stories using Scratch. No coding experience necessary!

Who? 4th and 5th Graders (* Randall caregivers, see below for a volunteer opportunity! *)

When? Tuesdays 2:30 - 3:40 p.m. September 22nd - December 8th (No club on Nov. 24th)

Where? Randall LMC

What? UW-Madison computer science students will teach beginning Scratch concepts, and kids will create their own Scratch projects.

How to join? Fill out this Google Sign Up Form by Thurs., Sept. 17th at 5 p.m. Note: A lottery will be held if more than 15 students sign up.

Notes about enrollment:

1. Preference given to 5th graders and those who are new to the club.

2. We will contact you via email regarding whether or not we can enroll your child by Friday, September 18th at 1pm. You will get an email either way.

Transportation: If your child can only attend club if provided with transportation home afterwards, I may be able to arrange that. Please contact Ann (amsydnor@gmail.com or call/text 608-320-6776) to discuss prior to signing up.

Co-coordinator needed! Please consider volunteering as co-coordinator this semester (or in the spring) with me if you are available and interested in helping Scratch club continue. It is an easy gig as the UW students lead the club each week. The Randall club coordinators attend club each week and do a small amount of pre-club coordination at the beginning of each semester. Next year my youngest will be moving on to middle school, so I am looking for someone to share duties and learn the ropes with me this year and then take over the lead next year. Note that the day of the week is usually flexible according to the coordinator's schedule; it does not need to be on Tuesdays.

Please contact Ann Sydnor at amsydnor@gmail.com with any questions or interest in the club coordinator role.

2026 Black Parent Summit

Futura Spanish Afterschool Program

'Tis the season to learn SPANISH!

Classes start in October with an all-new theme:

“Let’s Go with Traditions & Celebrations... in Spanish!”

Students will:

Build vocabulary while exploring the changing seasons
Discover traditions and celebrations from Spanish-speaking countries
Learn Spanish through songs and games
Grow their Spanish skills while having fun

For additional information and dates, see this Franklin Flyer for Franklin students and this Randall Flyer for Randall students.

Important Dates to Remember

Franklin-Randall PTO Calendar

2026/2027 MMSD School Year Calendar

Thurs 9/17: Randall TriPop 5:00-6:00 p.m. at the Brittingham Park Shelter
Tues 9/29: Randall Picture Day
Tues 10/13: PTO Meeting 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the Franklin Library
Thurs 10/15 - Fri 10/16: No School
Tues 10/27: Franklin Picture Day
Mon 11/2 - Tues 11/3: No School
Tues 11/10: PTO Meeting 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the Franklin Library
Wed 11/25 - Mon 11/30: No School (fall break)

Franklin School Flyers

Randall School Flyers

Support the PTO with Box Tops for Education

Please join the Franklin – Randall PTO in earning cash for our schools by using the Box Tops app. It’s an easy way to make a difference. Get the app to get started.

Goals of the Franklin-Randall Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) include helping children, parents, teachers and schools build a strong and positive school community.

Have something to share? Use our web form.

PTO Website