The Bridge Newsletter

October 13, 2022

Autumn Parent Social

Our Franklin Center parent and caregiver socials are designed to connect our community in a fun, welcoming, and supportive atmosphere. A time to relax, laugh, and renew the spirit with other adults who often share similar life experiences.

Join us for our autumn social on Thursday, October 27, from 4:30-6:00 pm at The Vine Room, 756 Mainstreet in Hopkins.

We will gather for refreshments and conversation. As they say at The Vine Room - happy people, good vibes, and great wine! Each guest will purchase their own refreshments.

RSVP to [email protected] or call (952) 737-6435.

Save the Date: Special Person's Day!

Special Person's Day is back this year! Mark your Tuesday, November 22nd! More details to come.

Franklin Academy's Family Corner

Classroom Highlight: Spanish Class

By Tina San Miguel

We have been very busy in high school Spanish! Students started the course learning to talk about themselves (YO SOY), expressing the things they like and dislike (me gusta & no me gusta) in a way that is very relatable for them.

Currently, the class is learning about Colombia through the movie, Encanto. Last week students learned about animals native to Colombia such as el capybara, el jaguar, el tapir, y el tucán, and we read a funny story about a capybara that loved TikTok! This week, our topics are about la casa y la familia, and we are comparing and contrasting homes and families from Colombia with those in Minnesota. Students are learning to use descriptive words and incorporating the colors in Spanish into their descriptions.

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, we are also learning about different Hispanic artists. This month the class will be participating in a state-wide Hispanic music competition called Lococtubre. Students will listen to 16 different songs in Spanish and cast a vote for their favorite song. It's a lot of fun to bring culture into the classroom!

Unity Day

Unity Day is an annual event occurring during National Bullying Prevention Month that promotes joining together to create healthier communities through kindness, acceptance of difference, and inclusion.

Capstone Parent Information Night

You are invited to join us for Capstone Parent Information Night on Tuesday, November 15th from 7:00-8:00 pm!

This event features a parent roundtable discussion, hosted by the Franklin Capstone Program. Parents of some of our current participants will be joining to discuss and share their experiences and information on the following topics:

Benefits: What is available and how to access
Transitioning into Adulthood
Post-secondary Options
Employment
Anything else you want to ask!

If you are interested in attending, please RSVP by filling out the form here.

Mission Moment

Congratulations to the Franklin Center and Breck Unified Flag Football team for their 1st place win at this past weekend's Unified Tournament in Woodbury!

Make sure to say congrats if you see any of our amazing athletes!

Bus Safety Week

Bus safety week is October 17th through October 21st. Students will be going over the rules on a bus and learning how to safely exit a bus in case of an emergency.

Franklin Academy PTO

The PTO is back! After two long years, the PTO is kicking off the 2022-23 school year with its first meeting from 3-4 on October 27. Complimentary Owl's Nest is available for those who register in advance. This first meeting will be held to plan events for the rest of the year. We'd really like to get some fresh perspectives and ideas, so please consider attending!

Beginning in November, we'll have the meetings on the third Thursday of each month from 3-4 at school. We won't meet in December, but will have lots to do in future meetings as we work to plan fun, family-oriented events and support our teachers and staff at the school.

Thanks, hope to see you on the 27th!

Audra and Kerry

PTO Co-Chairs

Franklin Enrichment

Activity Days

Registration for all Activity Days is open on BlackBaud. Activity Days hours are 8:10 am-3:10 pm. Owls' Nest is available for Activity Days for an additional fee.

Activity Days Flyer

Our next Activity Day is scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, October 14, 2022. We will have Forensic Fun with High Tech High Touch Science. Students will become crime scene investigators as we explore the science of busting bad guys; Fingerprints, dental records, and DNA Fun - Oh My!

Owls' Nest

Owls' Nest is provided before and after school during the following hours: 7:00 am-8:00 am, 3:10 pm-5:00 pm. .

Session Two Clubs

Registration for Session Two clubs began on October 3, 2022. Please log into your BlackBaud account to register. If you are unable to view a club, please reach out to Amber Trapp, Enrichment Program Manager, at [email protected] or (952) 737-6925.

MNProv Club for MS/HS is back for a second session on Thursdays from 3:10-4:10 pm.

Flyers are linked below and have also been placed in your student's backpack.

Middle and High School Second Session Clubs

Lower School Second Session Clubs

Cold Weather Clothing

Snow has been in the forecast! As we prepare for cold weather, remember to send students to school with warm clothing!

Students will go outside for gym every day unless the temperature (including wind-chill) is below 0 degrees Fahrenheit . Students may keep snow gear at school if desired.

Letters From Leaders

Kim Strandemo, Franklin Academy Principal

Thank you all for a very smooth start to our school year. Students are settling into their routines in the classrooms and seem to be enjoying this new building (I know I am!). This new home of ours is pretty incredible. This is a wonderful community of people and I am blessed to be a part of it.

It is hard to believe it is already October! These first weeks of school have flown by. As the saying goes, time flies when you’re having fun. I hope your child(ren) is waking up in the morning ready to come to school. It is our goal for all students to want to be here.

Conferences are next week, and we are looking forward to sharing what your student has been doing and learning since August. If you have any questions about conferences, ask your student’s case manager; they will be able to help you.

We have had two Coffee and Convo meetings since school started, and I really enjoy meeting and talking with all of you. A huge shout out to Ms. Liz and Ms. Kelly and their culinary science classes who are making the yummy treats for those meetings. We will continue to have Coffee and Convos on the second Friday of each month.

The past few weeks I have attended school leadership conferences with leaders from a variety of independent schools. Our theme has been to support our teachers as we move away from the pandemic and celebrate their incredible grit over the past few years. It’s pretty amazing that we have the staff that we do, and they are to be supported and celebrated for the hard work that they do each day. They put in countless hours to make every day your child is here special. You don’t need to wait until Teacher Appreciation Week to thank them; a quick appreciation note can go a long way.

As I learn more about our community and surrounding schools, I am grateful for our incredible teachers and staff that truly live the mission of this school. It is important to pause and remember our goal of constant improvement, while also celebrating the great work happening at Franklin Academy. The accreditation team will be visiting campus in November and I can’t wait to share with them what a special place Franklin Academy is!

Warmly,

K. Strandemo

Audra Williams and Kerry Brown

PTO Co-Chairs

[email protected]

Kim Snow

Interim Executive Director

[email protected]

Kim Strandemo

Academy Principal

[email protected]