Franklin Center
 

The Bridge Newsletter

November 30th, 2023

Franklin Center Book Club


Do you love to read? A group of Franklin Center parents, caregivers and alumni gather at 2:00 pm on select Fridays for the Franklin Center Book Club. We read a variety of books, mostly from the New York Times and other bestseller lists. 


If you are interested in joining us for an upcoming meeting, contact Maureen at maureen.maher@franklinmn.org for further details. 


Note: We adjourn in time to pick up students and participants at Franklin Center.

Franklin Therapy Donations


Clearing away unnecessary items and organizing your living space can bring a sense of calm and joy during the holiday season. Franklin Therapy would love to have any sensory items, toys, board games, or gross motor equipment you no longer want.


If you have any donations, please contact Lue at luella.ramberg@franklinmn.org with more details. Thank you for your consideration!

Winter Weather Closure Reminder


As winter approaches, we want to remind parents of Franklin Center's snow day policy and procedures. If a decision is made to close the school or start late due to snow and/or driving conditions, you will receive an email, text, and voicemail to the contact information you provided at the start of the school year. In the case of a snow day, our goal is to inform you as early as possible, typically by 6:00 am, to allow for proper planning. We also post our closing on KARE 11 and WCCO-TV. Classes will continue virtually. Please keep in mind there will be no after-school activities if Franklin Center is closed.


We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we navigate the winter months. If you would like to update or add to your contact list, please contact the office at office@franklinmn.org.

 

COMING UP

December 2nd

Holiday Party RSVP Deadline

December 15th

Holiday Party

December 20th

No Clubs

No Owl's Nest

December 21-22nd

Activity Day

No School

December 25-29th

Winter Break

No School

No Activity Day

January 2nd

Activity Day

No School

View the 2023-2024 Year at a Glance Calendar on our Parents' Page

 Live Calendar

 

Franklin Academy's Family Corner

Classroom Highlight: Temperance

By Andy Dreher


This year in Temperance we're learning about physical science, specifically energy and motion. We used fun labs, including a balloon rocket, to demonstrate Newton's Laws of Motion . We've had a lot of good discussions about different forms of energy and how we interact with them daily. This week we are exploring potential and kinetic energy and students will also get an opportunity to design their own roller coaster track!


Temperance also recently completed an SEL unit on the brain and neuroscience concepts. Students loved learning about how our nervous systems interact and how we can use that information to better understand ourselves and our bodies. We demonstrated psychological concepts of adaptive learning and neuroplasticity by playing a variant of rock paper scissors. They also really enjoyed getting to test each other's ability to discriminate the distance between two points on different parts of their bodies.

Special Person's Day Photos


A special thank you to everyone that attended this year's Special Person's Day! Please enjoy a few photos from the day:

 

Letters from Leaders

Kimberly Strandemo, Academy Principal


Recently, we celebrated a heartwarming Special Persons Day that was truly special in every way. It was a delightful occasion where our students warmly welcomed their special guests to our school. Laughter, shared experiences, and meaningful connections filled the day, making it a memorable event for all involved.


I am also incredibly proud to announce our successful support of the Humane Society. Through the creative projects our students made for Special Persons Day and your generous support, the community came together and raised a substantial amount for this worthy cause. Your generosity and dedication to making a positive impact are truly admirable.


Adding to our exciting events during Special Persons Day, the Parent Connections organized a successful book fair in collaboration with local bookstore, the Red Balloon. This initiative not only encouraged a love for reading among our students but also strengthened our ties with the local community.


In recent weeks, our Cascade students embarked on their first field trip of the year to the Children's Theater. The excitement and engagement they displayed during this trip were incredibly rewarding. We are committed to offering more enriching educational experiences to broaden their horizons and foster their creativity. 


As we progress through the academic year, I encourage you all to remain engaged and actively involved in Parent Connections. Your support and participation significantly enhance the experiences of our students and contribute immensely to our collective success.


A special note of appreciation goes out to our dedicated faculty and staff for their tireless efforts in nurturing our students' growth and creating a positive learning environment.


Warm regards,


Kim Strandemo

 

Franklin Enrichment

Reminder: Unified Basketball Starts Next Week!


Basketball is back- join our team! Up to 20 Franklin students can join our team with Breck students. Learn new skills, be a part of a team and play in tournaments! Practices are 3:30-4:30 pm on Thursdays, December 7th through February 15th. The regional tournament is January 21st, which will determine if we play in the state tournament (February 15th).


Please register with Special Olympics and on Blackbaud by December 7th. The Special Olympics application can be found here. Register as a Traditional Athlete ("Delegation" is Franklin Center).


Contact Amy Higgins (parent Special Olympics coordinator) if you have any questions about registering with Special Olympics at amykhiggins16@gmail.com or 650-269-7081.

Session Two Clubs Open!


Mark your calendars for Session Two Clubs! Registration on Blackbaud is currently open. Keep in mind enrollment is limited and clubs fill up fast! Please review the updated flyers below and if you have any questions, contact Chloe at chloe.herzog@franklinmn.org

Lower School Club Flyer
Middle and High School Club Flyer

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 account. More details to come for 2024 winter/spring Activity Days. Learn more about our December Activity Days below:

Activity Day Flyer

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


Please note there is no AM Owl's Nest on Activity Days. PM Owl's Nest is 3:10-4:30.

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.


If you have any questions about Owl's Nest, please contact Austin, our Owl's Nest Senior Classroom Behavior Therapist, at austin.gumbiner@franklinmn.org

Donna Grubka

Parent Connections

donna.grubka@franklinmn.org


Kim Snow

Executive Director

kim.snow@franklinmn.org

Kim Strandemo

Academy Principal

kim.strandemo@franklinmn.org