Franklin Elementary School

TRUNK or TREAT
It’s that time of year again—Trunk-or-Treat is back! 🍬👻

Our Brilliant Falcons have had a blast at this event in past years, and we can’t wait to keep the tradition going!

📅 When: Friday, October 24, 2025 @ 5:30 PM

📍 Where: Franklin Elementary Parking Lot

We need your help to make it a success:

🚗 Decorate a trunk or parking space with a fun, spooky, or creative theme!

🍭 We ask ALL participating families to donate one bag of candy. On the day of the event, we’ll divide the candy evenly among all the decorated trunks so every car is stocked and ready for our Falcons.

🎁 Starting in October, we will begin collecting candy donations!

Please drop them off in our MONSTER BOX located in the main office. 🧟‍♂️🎃

⏰ If you are setting up your trunk, please arrive by 5:00 PM so everything is ready for the fun to begin.

✨ Lots of fun, laughter, and sweet memories are guaranteed! ✨

👉 Please sign up on CLASS DOJO ! (under calendar events- click on SPOTS)

Thank you for helping us create another unforgettable Trunk-or-Treat

RAIN DATE THURSDAY OCT. 30th , 2025 @ 5:30 ( set up at 5:00PM)

Homework & hoops
Registration opens OCTOBER 6th !

Exciting News: Franklin Clubs

Franklin is launching Clubs twice a month giving students the chance to explore new interests, connect with new friends, and have fun! Students recently chose their favorite activities, which include Fitness, STEM, Arts & Crafts, Drama, Readers’ Theater, Cooking, Bracelet Making, Lego, Origami, Rock Painting, Cursive, Board Games, and more. We can’t wait to see our brilliant Falcons learning, creating, and enjoying their clubs! Clubs will start in October and will take place during the school day.

Building Our Franklin School Charter

This week, Ms. Pinto, Ms. Dickens, and I visited classrooms to see the charters students have been creating. These charters help build a positive school environment—thank you to our teachers for guiding this work!

A Charter is a collaborative document where students and staff outline how they want to treat each other, how they want to feel at school, and the behaviors that support those goals.

Next Friday, we will hold a School-Wide Assembly to present classroom charters and create one whole-school Charter to guide shared expectations.

Parents, please support this work by encouraging your child to follow their charter and model kindness and respect at home.

MUM FuNDRAISER
A big THANK YOU to our wonderful mom, Kirsty, for spearheading this fundraiser. All funds raised throughout the year help support field trip costs and family events for our students & families.

If you are interested in helping to run a fundraiser, please connect with our PTO at franklinschoolptos@gmail.com

♥️—we’d love your support!

📢 Important Dismissal Reminder

Our regular dismissal time is 3:30 PM. ⏰ It is very important that all students are picked up on time so we can keep the dismissal process safe and smooth for everyone. If you need after-school care, please make arrangements to ensure your child is supervised after dismissal.

Thank you for your cooperation and support!

TIP OF THE WEEK : Supporting Learning at Home: Study Routines & Attendance

Creating consistent study routines at home is one of the most powerful ways to support your child’s learning. Research shows that students who establish regular homework and study habits are more likely to retain information, develop critical thinking skills, and perform better academically. A predictable routine—even just 20–30 minutes a day—helps children focus, manage time, and build responsibility.

Equally important is regular school attendance. Missing even a few days of school can create gaps in learning, make it harder for students to keep up, and affect their social-emotional connections with classmates. Together, consistent routines at home and strong attendance help ensure your child thrives academically and socially.

Tips for Families:

Set a quiet, consistent study space at home.

Break homework into manageable chunks.

Celebrate progress and effort, not just results.

Prioritize getting to school on time every day.

Reach out if you need help : )

Hello Parents! 👋
Check out these great opportunities happening at Sterling House:

⚽ Soccer
🧘 Yoga
🐉 Dungeons & Dragons Club
🧸 SafeSitters (learn safety & childcare skills)
👩‍🍳 Cooking Classes
🫧 Kids Soap Making Class
🏐 Volleyball Clinic

Click on the pictures to see the fliers.
Registration link below :
https://operations.daxko.com/Online/5330/ProgramsV2/Home.mvc

This is just a reminder that the Stratford Public Schools and Central Office will be closed on Monday, September 1, 2025 in recognition of Labor Day.

What is AI and why should families care?

Join us for a special webinar with Acting Superintendent Heather Borges, where we'll discuss the basics of artificial intelligence and its impact on our students and community.

Tune in on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at 7 PM EST on our YouTube Channel.

https://www.youtube.com/@StratfordPublicSchools

“Who’s coming to our Meet & Greet tomorrow? The weather will be perfect for playing on the playground, enjoying a popsicle, and reconnecting with friends!”

Attention Stratford Public Schools families! Is your child's physical and immunization record up to date? All missing health documents are due by August 22nd. Watch our video to learn more about the requirements and where to get help if you need it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr6PmIItL3s

#StratfordPublicSchools #StudentHealth #SchoolYearReady

Dear Franklin Families, You’re invited to a fun and informative Family Night hosted by Stratford PAL and Community Services on: 📅 Monday, August 26 🕔 5:00–8:00 PM 📍 900 Longbrook Avenue, Stratford Enjoy a free pasta dinner, games for kids, a tour of the police station, and a helpful parent workshop on internet safety, bullying, and social media. It’s a great way to connect with the community and start the school year strong! All families are welcome. Registration : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexzMQw8GGF9QR-0dC2WvcNEvJoCclQll_2JktCxaUYVaYPPg/viewform

Dear Franklin Families,

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer! I’d like to extend a warm welcome to all of our new families joining the Franklin community, and a big welcome back to our returning families. I miss our brilliant Falcons so much and am getting very excited for the 2025–2026 school year. It’s going to be a terrific year to learn, grow, and lead together!

📅 Important Dates to Remember
Thursday, August 28 – First day of school for Grades 1–6. Arrival time is 8:30 AM.
Kindergarten students arrive at 9:00 AM for a special orientation with parents. The day will conclude at 10:00 AM.
Monday, September 1 – No School (Labor Day)
September 2–5 – Scholastic Book Fair in the STEAM Room
Wednesday, September 3 – Franklin’s Open House, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Come meet teachers, visit classrooms, and learn more about the year ahead!

📚 School Hours Update
This year, the district has added 15 minutes to the school day. Our new dismissal time is 3:30 PM.

👕 School Attire
Last year, families voted on our attire policy. As a result, school uniforms are recommended but not required.
Our suggested uniform includes:
A white, blue, or red polo shirt
Khaki pants or shorts
Stay tuned for a link to our online spirit wear store, which will be shared next week!

✏️ Supply Lists ( PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK TO ACCESS HYPERLINKS!)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qdW0yn7PLHdWt12w6SJi3V6wIb1DSGLlh6gaW1rFIDk/edit?usp=sharing
Click below to access your grade-level Suggested Supply List:
ABA
GRADE 1
GRADE 2
GRADE 3
GRADE 4
GRADE 5

GRADE 6
🧸 Before & After School Care
( PLEASE CLICK ON THE ATTACHMENT TO ACCESS HYPERLINKS!)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qdW0yn7PLHdWt12w6SJi3V6wIb1DSGLlh6gaW1rFIDk/edit?usp=sharing

Need before or after-school care for your child? There are several local programs available to support our families. Please check community listings or reach out to the school for more information.
Sterling House
South End Community Center Phone: (203) 377-0689 Email:secc@townofstratford.com
YMCA Stratford
🏥 School-Based Health Center
( PLEASE CLICK ON THE ATTACHMENT TO ACCESS HYPERLINKS!)
Are you interested in having your child receive in-school social work or mental health services?
Click the link below to learn more about our School-Based Health Services and complete the registration form: REGISTER HERE !

We can’t wait to welcome our Falcons back soon—it’s going to be a year full of joy, learning, and connection. Stay tuned for more news and updates as we get closer to the first day of school!

Mrs. Johnson

Franklin’s Spring Concert Was a Huge Hit! 🎶 On May 22, we enjoyed a truly terrific Spring Concert here at Franklin Elementary! The gym was packed with families, and the energy in the room was full of pride, joy, and celebration. Our students wowed the audience with their beautiful singing and instrumental performances. It was especially impressive to hear how much they’ve grown musically—many of our students are now confidently playing more sophisticated songs, a testament to their hard work and practice throughout the year. A heartfelt thank you goes to our dedicated music teacher, Mrs. Coletti, whose passion, patience, and commitment to music education continues to inspire our young performers. Her efforts make all the difference, and we are so grateful for the musical experiences she brings to our school. Thank you to all the families who joined us for this special event and for always supporting the arts at Franklin. Bravo to our amazing students—we are so proud of you! 💙

Our Field Day was SO MUCH FUN!!! It was wonderful to walk around and see all of our students smiling, laughing, running around, and enjoying each other’s company. The weather was perfect—it didn’t rain, and the clouds kept everyone cool and comfortable. A huge thank you goes to our amazing PE teacher, Mr. Zappone, who pulled off a very successful first Field Day in his teaching career! Planning for this day started at the beginning of the school year. From organizing logistics with the bus company, cafeteria, and staff, to communicating with families, teaching the games to students, and gathering volunteers—Mr. Zappone handled it all. He brought so much energy and care into making today a joyful and special experience for everyone. Our brilliant Falcons were awesome too! Everyone took turns, played safely, and made sure the field was clean before we left. When we returned to Franklin, all of the children enjoyed a popsicle sponsored by our amazing PTO. Thank you for supporting our school fundraisers, which make special whole-school treats like this possible for all of our students.

Good afternoon, Franklin families! Your voice matters! Please take a moment to complete our family survey. https://surveys.panoramaed.com/stratford/5885613742/surveys/v2/354949987?language=en Thank you so much

We had a fantastic assembly today for our K-3 students! Local author Lou Spetrino visited Franklin and read aloud his book, Finley the Goblin and His First Adventure. Our children loved learning about Finley and how he found the courage to embark on his first adventure. For families who ordered the book, please note that the publisher made a printing error. To ensure every student receives the correct version, Mr. Spetrino will return to Franklin next week to personally deliver the books, meet with students, and sign all copies.

Check out these great programs happening during the spring and summer.

This week, I had the opportunity to attend the Board of Education meeting, and I am so proud to share that our school’s chronic absenteeism rate has decreased from 26% to 19%! This improvement is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of our entire school community — thank you for your continued support. As a reminder, we sent home attendance letters this week. Some families are required to complete the attached form to inform us about student absences. Please also be mindful of tardies, as arriving late disrupts classroom routines and causes students to miss valuable learning time. Research continues to show a strong connection between attendance and academic performance. National data from the 2024 NAEP math assessment found that students who missed fewer days of school performed significantly better, while students who missed three or more days per month scored much lower. As we work together to support student success, we encourage all families to make regular attendance a priority — being in school every day helps children build the skills and knowledge they need to thrive.