The Bridge Newsletter

October 19th, 2023

Join us for Special Person’s Day! 

Franklin Academy is excited to announce Special Person’s Day, a chance for students to invite a special person in their life to Franklin Center on November 21st from 1:15 pm- 3:00 pm.  The theme for this year is the Golden Valley Humane Society! Details for Special Person’s Day are: 

Who: A special person is anyone from a grandparent to a neighbor

When: November 21st, 2023 from 1:15- 3:00 pm

Where: Franklin Center. Check-in at the front entryway



Activities:

There are three rotations during Special Person’s Day for everyone to enjoy: 

• Bookfair 
• Classroom Activity 
• Marketplace  

A map of Franklin Center, along with a schedule specific to grade level, will be distributed during check- in on Special Person's Day. 

For the Classroom Activity, students and guests will make treat bags and toys that will be donated to the Humane Society. 

The Marketplace will have snacks, art, and crafts made by Franklin students for their Special Person to purchase using tickets that will be available to purchase at tables set up outside of the Gym. All ticket sales are cash only. All Marketplace proceeds will be donated to the Golden Valley Humane Society. 

Registration and Participation:

Please contact your student's teacher to let them know who will attend Special Person’s Day with your student. Provide the name and email of your students' special person for further event information and reminders. If we have not heard from you by

Monday, November 13th we will send an email to remind you to let us know.

We encourage all Franklin Academy students to participate! Let’s come together to create a memorable experience for our students.

If you have any questions or need further information, please contact our Enrichment Program Manager at chloe.herzog@franklinmn.org

Classroom Highlight: Chippewa River

By Scott Linner

In Chippewa River, we have been working hard on establishing our rituals and routines and setting up our classroom community. The first few weeks of school, we set up and promoted OWL Bucks and our OWL Bucks Store! My students have done a wonderful job helping me print, cut and circulate OWL Bucks around Franklin Center. The students have taken ownership and pride in this program, as Middle Schoolers enjoy and use them on a daily basis. We have also jumped into some of our Life Skills lessons to help build cohesion and trust within our classroom community. Many of our lessons have revolved around communication, verbal and non verbal cues,and positive self talk. By using these skills effectively, our Chippewa students will be able to focus on themselves and worry less about others. We are very excited to start our rotations and regular Middle School schedule that includes Social Studies, Science and Life Skills every day.

Career Exploration Class

High School's Career Exploration class is looking for guest speakers to come in and share their work experiences with the class. Our students have a wide variety of interests, so we are looking for a wide range of working professionals from all walks of life to come in and share what their average day looks like, and answer student questions about their field.

Please reach out to Mikki Lucci at mikki.lucci@franklinmn.org if you have expertise you'd like to share with our students!

US Equestrian Interscholastic Athlete Program

Franklin student Morgan Williams successfully completed the US Equestrian Interscholastic Athlete Program! The program is designed to celebrate the achievements of young equestrians and foster their ongoing engagement in equestrian sports. It awards varsity letters to students in grades 5-12 who complete a minimum of 100 training hours or participate in three equestrian competitions annually, with each year of participation earning them a certificate, varsity letterman patch, and/or lapel pin. Way to go, Morgan! 

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 have similar life experiences. Join us for the next Parent Social on Thursday, November 2nd from 6:30- 8:30 pm at the home of Franklin Center parents Donna and Rob Grubka, 11353 Fetterly Rd. W Minnetonka, MN 55305.

Franklin parent Luci Byrne will be conducting a tasting of Proof Hard Ice Cream, the magical union of top-shelf spirits and premium ice cream. We will also be serving a variety of other desserts to enjoy. Bring your favorite bottle of wine or non-alcoholic beverage to pair with treats (we will also have options to choose from).

RSVP to Maureen at maureen.maher@franklinmn.org. We hope to see you there!

Parent Connection Donation

Hello Parents,

It’s hard to believe that it is already October and school is well under way. We are

excited to introduce our former PTO as Franklin Parent Connection. Some of the

ways we will be connecting throughout the year include events such as the

Book Fair, a spring social for the students, and Teacher Appreciation

Week in May.

Parent Connection events are funded by families. We are asking for a suggested

contribution of $20-$50 per family to cover our yearly events. You can pay by

using Venmo @Donna-Grubka or send a check made out to Franklin Academy

with “Parent Connection” in the memo.

If you are interested in learning more or helping out with Parent Connection events, please email me at donna.grubka@franklinmn.org. We will also have volunteer sign-ups throughout the year for various events.

Thank you for your support. Looking forward to a fun year of connecting!

Sincerely,

Donna Grubka

Parent Connection Chair

SAVE THE DATE! Join us for Danny and Steve's 3rd Annual Holiday Open House

Franklin Center parents Danny Della Lana and Steve Hall invite all Franklin Center parents, caregivers, board members, and staff to celebrate the season on Friday, December 15th from 6:00-9:00 pm at their home, 1920 Pillsbury Ave South, Minneapolis.

We also will be celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Franklin Center since its founding as a non-profit!

You may park on the street in front of their home, or the parking lot located next door at 204 W Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403. Questions? Contact Maureen at maureen.maher@franklinmn.org. We hope you can come to build friendships and connections within the Franklin Center community.

Hors d'oeuvres and cocktails will be served at this adults-only gathering. Please RSVP by December 2nd!

Franklin Capstone Early Decision Application

Franklin Capstone early decision application is open now through December 15th for Fall 2024. Both space and financial aid are limited! Head to our website to learn more and apply today!

If you have any questions, please contact capstone@franklinmn.org.

Activity Days Announced!

Mark your calendars for our upcoming Activity Days! We've planned an array of exciting activities to keep students entertained and engaged on days with no school. To register, log into your Blackbaud Tuition Management account. Please note: More details to come for 2024 winter/ spring Activity Days. Learn more in the flyer below:



If you have any questions related to after-school activities or Activity Days, please contact Chloe at chloe.herzog@franklinmn.org

Owl's Nest

Owl's Nest is a before and after school program available Monday-Friday. The program provides a safe, fun and productive environment for Franklin Academy students while their parents are at work.

Owl's Nest Registration Form

If you have any questions regarding Yearbook Club, please contact Chloe at chloe.herzog@franklinmn.org

Clubs

Session Two Clubs will be announced next week. Stay tuned!

Kimberly Strandemo, Academy Principal

Conference Week is always a significant time for our school community. It's a time for teachers and families to come together to discuss student progress, set goals, and deepen the connections between home and school. This year, our Conference Week was a resounding success, and it's thanks to the dedicated efforts of our staff, families, and students.

I'd like to extend my warmest gratitude to our Parent Connection Group for their remarkable support during this important week. The three delicious meals they provided for our teachers and staff were greatly appreciated.

Your participation during Conference Week was equally impressive. The insightful conversations, genuine interest in your child's education, and willingness to collaborate with our educators made a significant difference. Your engagement reflects the strong partnership we have cultivated between home and school, which is essential to our students' success.

As we move forward into the school year, I am excited about the opportunities ahead and the continued partnership between our school and our parents. Our doors are always open and we are here for you.

Thank you for your support, your dedication, and the wonderful meals. We look forward to a fantastic year ahead.

With gratitude and warm regards,

Kim Strandemo

Donna Grubka

Parent Connections

donna.grubka@franklinmn.org

Kim Snow

Executive Director

kim.snow@franklinmn.org

Kim Strandemo

Academy Principal

kim.strandemo@franklinmn.org