January 17, 2025

The Franklin-Randall Glow Ball is less than a month away on February 8th, and we need your help to get this party started! We have dozens of volunteer roles that we MUST fill in order to pull it off! This means we need YOU!

This fun, free annual party brings the Franklin-Randall community together for a night of dancing in the gym with a DJ and lights, plus a quieter area with games and art in the library! Low cost tickets are available for purchasing snacks and glow gear, and a $10 felt hat fundraiser (kids pick their own patterned fabric pieces, adults sew them into hats in the hallway) helps to cover costs and provides useful keepsakes. Dress to impress or come as you are! The music is typically a danceable mix of top 40 hits (radio edited) and animated movie favorites.

There are fun positions for adults and upper level youth (high schoolers or middle schoolers paired with an adult) with short shifts so family members can still join their students for dancing, art and games. As a reminder, all Franklin-Randall students must be accompanied by an adult at this event, so if you’re going to be there anyway, why not help make it happen? This is also a great opportunity for older siblings to help bring a beloved annual school event to life for the next generation of Falcons and Raccoons. 

Please visit our Signup Genius form to check out positions for set up crew, popcorn popping, ticket sales, the glow station, hat sewing helpers, hall helpers, concessions, quiet room monitors, float crew and clean up crew.

Please sign up to volunteer by January 24! Email volunteer@franklinrandallpto.org if you have any questions, thank you.

School Traffic Rules and Safety Reminders

Happy new year! As we return from winter break and approach the second half of the school year, the City of Madison Crossing Guard Supervisors want to share some important reminders about school traffic safety.

• Do not drop off children in the lane of moving traffic. Stopping in active lanes is extremely dangerous for children and disrupts the flow of traffic. This is also a moving violation.

• Always pull curbside to a legal parking area or designated drop-off zone. This ensures a safe place for children to exit the vehicle. Have children exit on the curbside whenever possible. If snowbanks are an issue, it is acceptable to leave enough space to open a door safely.

• Avoid stopping or parking in designated school bus zones or areas marked “No Stopping, Standing, or Parking.” These restrictions are in place to maintain visibility at crosswalks and keep all pedestrians safe.

• SLOW DOWN in school zones and remain attentive. Always follow posted speed limits, especially during winter when road conditions may be icy or slippery.

• Observe and obey the directions of the Crossing Guards: Every driver approaching a school crossing which is controlled by an adult school crossing guard must follow the directions of the school crossing guard. If directed to stop, you must stop the vehicle not less than 10 feet from the crosswalk and remain stopped until the children AND the crossing guard have returned to the curb. Failure to stop or remain stopped at that time could result in the issuance of a traffic citation.

For additional information, we have posted these and other traffic safety tips on our website. We’ve also attached a detailed school traffic safety notice that you can include in emails or upcoming newsletters to families.



Thank you for your ongoing support in prioritizing student safety. If you have any questions or need further details, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Alex Stewart and Niko Magallón

City of Madison Crossing Guard Supervisors

Read Your Heart Out Events

This February, MMSD's elementary schools will welcome families and community leaders to participate in the 21st annual Read Your Heart Out (RYHO) program, in recognition of National African American Parent Involvement Day. Family members, community members and volunteers who identify as African American/Black read books, recite poetry or connect with students through visual or oral storytelling to celebrate and foster love for literacy, cultural pride and community engagement. To learn more visit: https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/families/read-your-heart-out

Randall Elementary will be hosting a Read Your Heart Out event on February 11th from noon to 1pm, still needs volunteers identifying as African American/Black to read to students. Volunteers of all backgrounds are also needed to provide classroom support during the event. Please contact Beth Atwell at eatwell@madison.k12.wi.us for more information and to volunteer.

Franklin Elementary will also be hosting a Read Your Heart Out event on February 19th.

We are proud to partner with Futura Language Professionals to offer a SPANISH enrichment opportunity after-school! Starting in February, we’re offering a new themed course called ¡Vamos con los animales! (Let’s Go with the Animals). Over eight weeks, students will explore exciting topics like “visiting” a pet store, a family farm, the zoo, the ocean, and the rainforest, all while learning essential Spanish vocabulary, conversation skills, and cultural topics in a fun, interactive setting.  It’s a fantastic way for your child to build on their Spanish skills and have fun doing it! Space is limited, so don’t wait—sign up today! Classes will be offered on Tuesdays at Franklin and on Thursdays at Randall from 2:30-3:30pm. Enroll today: https://futuraadventures.com/wisconsin-region/. Financial assistance is available for tuition and transportation - please contact your school's social worker for more information!

Franklin Students:

Randall Students:

Starting this spring, Let Me Run will start at Randall! Similar to Girls on the Run, this program "inspires boys to be themselves, be active, and belong" through the power of running! Practices will be after school on Mondays from 1:10 - 2:25pm and Wednesdays from 2:30-3:45pm starting on March 31st, culminating with a 5K race on May 17th at 9am. If you are interested in helping to coach, please reach out to Anne for more information at annekolan@gmail.com. Financial support for tuition, transportation, and equipment is available - please contact Katie, Randall's social worker at klarsenklodd@madison.k12.wi.us.  Registration will open in early February!

Outdoor Adventure Steeped in Story (OASIS) Monday Afternoons!

Big discounts for Franklin-Randall Families!

As a Franklin-Randall parent, I'm offering Franklin-Randall families 25% off (plus full use of the sliding scale). I also have scholarships available. 

Join us this spring for OASIS, a fully outdoor, nature immersed opportunity for kids to lead their adventure through exploration and imagination while being supported in social-emotional development and risk assessment.

Hoyt Park, Madison, WI; Open to those in K-5th grade

With a focus on Deep Nature Connection and storytelling, kids will play games, wildcraft, sneak, hide, build forts, share gratitude, tell stories, scamper up and over downed trees, listen to stories, and whatever else their imaginations create.

More information and registration at: coralconantgilles.com/events

Franklin Elementary

Randall Elementary