September 4, 2020
Welcome Back to School!
On behalf of the Franklin-Randall Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), we'd like to wish you and your kiddos a great start to the school year! And to keep you informed on what's going on within the PTO and school community, we want to share a few updates with you ahead of the first day of school on September 8th. 

Also, we understand the volume of email communications to families is relatively high right now. So, please know that we'll do our best to be mindful of the number of communications the PTO sends in the future.

PTO Statement on Equity and Inclusion

Just as Franklin and Randall schools are committed to equity, inclusion, and anti-racism, so is the Franklin-Randall PTO. This year you will notice opportunities to engage in anti-racist education and events with the PTO, increased support for our most vulnerable students, and a renewed investment in building relationships with our most marginalized families. We aim to meet all of our work with an investment in and eye towards deconstructing racism and being a welcoming place for all families to come together to support Franklin-Randall students.  

If you ever have questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at board@franklinrandallpto.org.
Please Attend Our First-Ever
Community Engagement Meeting
With so many changes in our school and challenges in our community, please join the PTO for our first Community Engagement Meeting (Virtual!). We will focus on navigating virtual learning and supporting each other so all our kids and families thrive. You’ll have a chance to ask questions, give feedback, and discuss ideas with Franklin-Randall principals and other caregivers. Then we’ll move into learning about anti-racism and how to discuss racism and anti-racism with kids. This discussion welcomes people of all races and experiences. You’ll have the opportunity to watch a short video or two and join a discussion about how you might use them to have conversations about race with your kids. The Franklin-Randall PTO is committed to equity and inclusion. We will focus many of our efforts this year on anti-racism.

Tuesday September 15th, 6:45 p.m.
(meeting follows our monthly PTO board meeting)
Email communityengagementFRPTO@gmail.com to register or get more details  
Volunteer Opportunity: Class Coordinator
The Franklin-Randall PTO is excited to announce the new Elementary Class Coordinator program, which organizes caregiver volunteers to help facilitate community and connections among families in their children’s classrooms. We are looking for one or two caregiver volunteers from each classroom. This program is new and will adapt as it comes into being, but the four main roles we see are:

  1. Develop “Parent Buddies” or a Caregiver Meet-up Forum. 
  2. Facilitate Social Connection Outside of Classroom Time.
  3. Act as Another Source of Support for Caregivers.
  4. Help to Create a More Equitable Classroom Community.

For more information please click here.

To ask questions or to volunteer as a Class Coordinator in your child's classroom, please email communityengagementFRPTO@gmail.com
 
Join the PTO Board
Are you looking to make a bigger impact in our school community? Consider joining the PTO Board for the 2020-2021 school year.

The Board helps to:

  • Generate extra financial support for our Franklin-Randall teachers and students.
  • Support building a strong school community through Parent Empowerment Groups and other connection points.
  • And, much more!

There are candidates running for Treasurer and Secretary at the Sept. 15th Board meeting. If you're interested in running for one of those positions or being considered for an At Large role (either supporting communications or coordinating volunteers), please contact Jamie Miller at: jamieamiller81@gmail.com. 
September Events in
Support of Equity and Inclusion
The Franklin-Randall PTO works in collaboration with the Equity and Inclusion Committee to help further our commitment to anti-racism, welcoming and supporting all families, and serving our most vulnerable students. 

As we delve into new programs and projects, we need your help! With a virtual start to the year, it’s essential we work together to create equity and inclusion within our school community. Currently the E & I Committee is focused on understanding racism through education and practicing anti-racism in our schools and the broader community. Monthly events will focus on learning (for caregivers) and direct action events throughout our community and city. If you’d like to get involved, please email Karen Dreyfuss at karendreyfuss@gmail.com
September 13th
3:00 p.m.

Hosted by Allies for Black Lives and other allies in the Movement for Black Lives. Get more information here or email karendreyfuss@gmail.com to join a group of Franklin-Randall families at the march.
September 29
7:30 p.m.

We will read “So You Want to Talk about Race” by Ijeoma Oluo and come together (virtually) to discuss the book. The link to join the discussion will be provided later this month.  
Collaborative Update
Since May, the F-R PTO has been engaged with the West Area High Collaborative. We have collected almost $8,700 for the West High Area Collaborative through the Franklin-Randall PTO. We have made three purchases of toilet paper totaling nearly $5,000. And we have contributed almost $3,800 to rent assistance through the Collaborative. Thank you so much. Our community has so much to be proud of.

The Collaborative is still seeing an overwhelming need for rent assistance. Anything you can give helps. Our PTO PayPal account will remain available for rent assistance donations until the beginning of the school year. After the school year begins, we will expand our focus, but will continue to support the Collaborative and provide rent assistance. The Collaborative is also in need of drivers for food deliveries. You can find ways to volunteer and also keep up with the Collaborative directly through the Thoreau PTO Facebook Page.  
To support the Franklin-Randall PTO while shopping on Amazon, use the Franklin-Randall Amazon Smile link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/20-0572517
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Goals of the Franklin-Randall Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) include helping children, parents, teachers and schools build a strong and positive school community.