Dear Franklin Community,
I hope this note finds you well. As 2020 comes to a close, I wanted to share some PTO updates.
First, I would like to thank you for your kindness and ongoing support. When I volunteered to take this role in the Fall of 2019, this wasn’t exactly the experience I pictured as the PTO President! Like you, I was looking forward to community building events like a Back-To-School BBQ, Field Day, new family get togethers, and Halloween parties. I was excited for a new Franklin musical and our traditional holiday events. But we all know this has been a very interesting (bizarre? challenging? taxing?) year on many levels, and I am just so appreciative of the kind words and overall support from our Franklin community. From making staff appreciation signs to donating to PTO endeavors – you have not only shown generosity, but your kindness has left me speechless.
This has been anything but a “rinse and repeat” year, and I can’t thank the Exec Board enough for all of their brainstorming, flexibility, dedication, and creativity. Another huge thank you goes to our committee chairs, class parents, and entire parent community for being so flexible and supportive throughout this unique time. Without your help, the following would not have been possible:
– Funded and hand-delivered 75+ new-student welcome bags before the start of school
– Funded cultural arts interactive “Music Technology” virtual assembly for all students (And a 2nd virtual assembly is already in the works!!)
– Sponsored teacher/staff appreciation initiatives on behalf of all Franklin families
– Hosted virtual book fair (Which earned $1700 in book credit for Franklin!)
– Fulfilled multiple staff “mini grants” for special in-classroom projects and programs including art supplies for 5th grade dioramas, and juggling scarves for at-desk-brain-breaks for 1st and 2nd grade students.
– Provided disposable ponchos for children who forget rain gear during heavy inclement weather days
– Funded and continuously maintain franklinparents.com and our Membership Toolkit family directory database, along with communicating important school and District news each Sunday via email blasts
– In process of funding a virtual Author/Illustrator visit for all grades
The PTO Exec Board has lots of ideas for the winter and spring – including performing arts opportunities for the students, another virtual assembly, author/illustrator virtual visit, family scavenger hunt, and much more 🙂  If you are interested in learning more about our winter and spring plans, please join us during our next General PTO meeting which will be via Zoom on Wednesday, January 20th at 9:30am.
As always, if you have any ideas or questions regarding PTO programming, please reach out to me at rachelemily@gmail.com.
I wish you all a cozy and safe holiday season, and a very happy new year.
Warmest regards,
Rachel Frank
Franklin PTO President 2020/21
