The Bridge Newsletter

October 5th, 2023

October Parent-Teacher Conferences

It's already our 5th week of school and time to share the details about our upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences.

Conferences Dates and Times:

• October 16th (Monday): Evening Conferences
• October 17th (Tuesday): Evening Conferences
• October 18th (Wednesday): No School and No Clubs (Daytime Conferences)

Reminder: There is no Dungeons and Dragons Club on Tuesday, October 17th. All other clubs will run as usual on Monday and Tuesday.

Please note that the evening conferences on October 16th and 17th will be held to accommodate working parents and guardians. We understand that your busy schedules may require flexible options.

Conference Format: All conferences will be held in person. We believe that face-to-face interactions provide the best opportunity for meaningful discussions about your child's progress and development.

Scheduling Your Conference: Our dedicated teachers are currently preparing sign-up sheets with available time slots. In the coming days, you can expect to receive communication from your child's teacher regarding scheduling. This will allow you to select a convenient time for your conference.

Behavioral Support: We are committed to ensuring that your child receives the best education and support possible. To that end, we will strive to have our behavior therapist, relevant therapist, or administration present during the conference. Your child's education is a team effort, and having these experts available can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of your child's needs and progress.

We highly encourage all parents and guardians to take advantage of this opportunity to meet with your child's teacher, discuss both their academic and behavioral progress, and address any questions or concerns you may have.

Our school's success is built upon collaboration and communication between educators and families, and we look forward to strengthening these bonds during our upcoming conferences.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in your child's education. We are excited to see you on October 16th, 17th, or 18th and are eager to work together to help your Franklin Academy Student!

Classroom Highlight: High School Math

By Melanie Shibley

High School math classes have been working hard this year! Our Foundations of Pre-Algebra class is learning about the rules of, and conversions between, rational numbers (percentages, decimals, and fractions). Pre-Algebra is digging deep into exponents in preparation for learning the Order of Operations, a critical concept in Algebra. Essential Math is halfway through our Consumer Math unit, which is all about financial literacy; so far, that has meant talking about currency, budgeting, affordability, and the difference between debit and credit. Algebra I & II are moving beyond solving equations and are dipping their toes into inequalities, in preparation for plotting lines and functions in our upcoming Graphing unit. I'm so impressed with the progress they've made so far and their commitment to doing their work, despite math not being a preferred subject for many. 

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!

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

Scholastic 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

Breck Fun Times Invitation

Breck is hosting a Fun Times fall game night on Friday, October 13th from 6:00- 8:00 pm. Fun Times is a social club that brings teens and young adults, with and without neurodiversities, together. The program, developed collaboratively between PACER Center and Breck Upper School in 2004, has been bringing people together for friendship and fun for almost 20 years!

What: Fall game night with dinner and dessert.

• Dinner from Pancheros (Vegetarian and Gluten Free option available)
• Board and card games
• Bingo
• Gym games
• Masquerade mask decorating

Where: Breck Lower School Gym and Commons

When: Friday, October 13th from 6:00- 8:00 pm

Interested? Please RSVP to danna.mirviss@pacer.org.

Drew Coursin, Development Director

Welcome Drew, Franklin Center's new Development Director! Drew is a relationship-focused leader with a rich background in fundraising and communications, having served as a legal advisor to entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders. Drew has a passion for philanthropy, founding a comprehensive nonprofit services consultancy and sharing his expertise as an author and presenter on current trends in the field.

Beyond his professional achievements, Drew is a dedicated volunteer, mentor, and board member. When not in the nonprofit world, Drew enjoys the great outdoors, savoring coffee, baking, and wrangling his twin toddlers!

Donna Grubka

Parent Connections

donna.grubka@franklinmn.org

Kim Snow

Executive Director

kim.snow@franklinmn.org

Kim Strandemo

Academy Principal

kim.strandemo@franklinmn.org