Security Measures

Dear Franklin Parents/Guardians:

In late January you were informed of new security measures the Council Bluffs School District is putting in place to enhance student safety at school.  On Wednesday of this week, you will notice that a magnetic lock and buzzer system will be activated at the front door of our school. 

The front door to Franklin School will be open from 8:30-8:45 a.m. each morning as students arrive. The door will then be locked at 8:45 a.m. through the end of the school day.  If you or your student comes to school after this time, you will need to press the button on the right-hand wall to notify the office of your presence.  A camera monitor has been installed in the office that shows us who is at the front door.  Our secretary, or other staff member in the office, will talk to you via the wall panel and ask your name and the purpose for your visit.  Identification may be requested.  Please plan to state your student’s name so that we can verify you as an approved contact for a child at Franklin as listed on the enrollment form.  After this verification is complete, you will hear the door unlock, and you can enter the school.  Please proceed directly to the office to sign in and receive a Visitor sticker.

I would ask that you make sure the contacts you have identified for your student at Franklin are current and accurate.  You can review your child’s contact information by going to the District website and logging into your PowerSchool account. If you don’t have PowerSchool access, you can call our school office for directions. Any additions or deletions can be completed by our school secretary.  Please be sure to notify us if there is a change in who will be picking up your child from school during the school day, or if someone new would be accessing your child at school.  As you know, we will not dismiss a child to someone not identified as a contact person, nor will we allow any other unknown person to enter the building. 

As with anything new, it will take time for all of us to adjust to this system.  I appreciate your patience as we learn to manage this new security feature.  Our efforts are completely focused on keeping all children and staff safe at Franklin. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Lori Swanson

Principal

Security and Safety

Security and Safety Message to Parents/Guardians:

Mensaje de Seguridad y Protección a los Padres/Tutores:

  

In the aftermath of the tragic school shooting in Connecticut, the Council Bluffs Community School District, and most other school districts in the country, have placed a renewed emphasis on ensuring appropriate and effective security measures and safety procedures are in place at all school buildings. This focus in the Council Bluffs Schools is resulting in noticeable changes in the access to school buildings.

The Board of Education approved this week the purchase of electronic door systems for each elementary school. In the next several weeks, each school will be equipped with an intercom on the outside of the main entrance to the building. This will allow the door to be locked during school hours, but will still allow secure access to students, parents, volunteers and others who have a reason to be at the school.

When you arrive at a school, you will be asked to press the intercom button to request entry into the building during school hours. Students who arrive at school after the school start time will also have to press the intercom button. The intercom box will have a camera to allow a school staff member to see who is at the door and to unlock the door from the office as appropriate. The door will be monitored during school arrival and dismissal times so that students do not have to use the intercom as they arrive at school during these times.

This is one of several security measures being taken in the Council Bluffs Schools to enhance the safe and supportive learning environment for students. Thank you in advance for understanding the importance of this simple extra step we are asking visitors to take.

Mensaje de Seguridad y Protección a los Padres/Tutores:

A raíz del trágico tiroteo en  una escuela en Connecticut, el Distrito Escolar de la Comunidad de Council Bluffs,  y la mayoría de otros distritos escolares en el país, han puesto nuevo énfasis en garantizar medidas de seguridad adecuadas y efectivas y los procedimientos de seguridad se han establecido en todos los edificios escolares. Este enfoque en las Escuelas de Council Bluffs está dando lugar a cambios notables en el acceso a los edificios escolares.

El Consejo de Educación aprobó esta semana la compra de sistemas de puertas electrónicas para cada escuela primaria. En las próximas semanas, cada escuela contará con un intercomunicador en el exterior de la entrada principal del edificio. Esto permitirá que la puerta esté cerrada durante el horario escolar, pero seguirá permitiendo el acceso seguro a los estudiantes, padres, voluntarios  u otros que tienen una razón para estar en la escuela.

Al llegar a una escuela, se le solicitará que presione el botón del intercomunicador para solicitar la entrada al edificio durante el horario escolar. Los alumnos que llegan a la escuela después de que las clases hayan iniciado también tendrán que pulsar el botón del intercomunicador. La caja de intercomunicación tendrá una cámara para permitir que un miembro del personal de la escuela vea quién está en la puerta y al abrir la puerta desde la oficina, como corresponda. La puerta será monitoreada durante las horas escolares de entrada y de salida para que los estudiantes no tengan que usar el intercomunicador cuando lleguen a la escuela durante este horario.

Esta es una de las varias medidas de seguridad que se están adoptando en las Escuelas de Council Bluffs para mejorar el ambiente de aprendizaje seguro y de apoyo para los estudiantes. Gracias de antemano por la comprensión de la importancia de este simple paso extra que estamos pidiendo a los visitantes que tomen.

Music in our Schools

March is Music in Our Schools Month

Yes!  It’s time to demonstrate some of the things we have been doing in music since the beginning of the year!

Mark your calendars for the last week of March!

The demonstrations are held during your child’s regular music class time.  You will sign in at the office as usual and then wait around the corner from the music room because the back hallway has students moving from music, art, and pe.  Traffic jams will shorten our time together! Parents of students in Mrs. Forristall’s class, please check with her to see what day your child will perform.

Here is the schedule:

Tuesday, March 27                

9:20-  9:50  K Quick                      

10:20-10:50  4 Schechinger       

11:25-11:55  K Jennings             

Wednesday, March 28

9:20-  9:50    4  Rush

10:20-10:50   2  McArthur

11:25-11:55   K Bergman

Thursday, March 29                      

8:50- 9:20  3 Malskeit                   

9:50-10:20 4 Vint                           

10:55-11:25 1 Matters                   

              and  ½ Forristall                                 

1:30-2:00   2 Barrett

Friday, March 30

8:50- 9:20  3  Rose

9:50-10:20 2 Brandenburg

10:55-11:25 1 Hospodka

and ½ Forristall

All Fifth Graders in our district will be presenting their

concert on Friday, March 23^rd

TJ Gym at 1:00.

 Parents, be looking for more information to come home

with your student about the first week of March.

Mrs. Hansel and Ms. Hubbard

Attendance Matters

We recognized students with good attendance and positive office referrals at our assembly today.  We also announced the winner of the November attendance challenge.  Mr. Schmitz's class won the challenge with over 99% average daily attendance for the month.  Way to go!  If you were paying attention, you will remember that they were one of two winners in our October Attendance Bingo Challenge.  We had 5 classrooms who were at 98% or higher.  Our school average was nearly 97%, which is above our district goal of 95%.

We gave gift certificates to students with perfect attendance.  46 students had perfect attendance for the first trimester.  That is more than 10% of our students, quite an accomplishment.

Here is a summary by grade of our attendance for November.  The last column is the one we use, the ADA%.  ADA stands for average daily attendance.

Franklin Elementary School
11/01/2011 to 11/30/2011 = 18 school days

Grade Level	Carry Fwd	Gain	Mult Gain	Loss	Ending	Actual Days	OffTrack	Days N/E	Days Absent	Days Attd	ADA	ADA %
0	66	2	0	0	68	1224	0	16	47.50	1160.50	64.47	96.07%
Subtotal	66	2	0	0	68	1224	0	16	47.50	1160.50	64.47	96.07%
1	68	0	0	0	68	1224	0	0	35.50	1188.50	66.03	97.10%
2	67	0	0	0	67	1206	0	0	48.00	1158.00	64.33	96.02%
3	59	0	0	0	59	1062	0	0	25.00	1037.00	57.61	97.65%
Subtotal	194	0	0	0	194	3492	0	0	108.50	3383.50	187.97	96.89%
4	63	0	0	0	63	1134	0	0	41.50	1092.50	60.69	96.34%
5	71	0	0	0	71	1278	0	0	37.00	1241.00	68.94	97.10%
Subtotal	134	0	0	0	134	2412	0	0	78.50	2333.50	129.63	96.75%
Grand Total	394	2	0	0	396	7128	0	16	234.50	6877.50	382.07	96.70%

The votes are in!

We are excited to announce the formation of a Franklin Elementary School Student Council! Student Council gives students the opportunity to develop leadership skills, plan and perform projects to benefit the school, and encourage a cooperative spirit within the student body. The Franklin Student Council consists of 3 representatives from each 4th and 5th grade classroom.

Interested students filled out an application on why he/she would be good representative and each class voted. We are excited to announce the new members of our Student Council...

Mrs. Vint's class: Karagin, Riley, and Kasean

Mrs. Rush's class: Natalie, Raymond, and Jessica

Mr. Schechinger's class: Alexis, Maxine, and Brooke

Mrs. Gustafson's class: Laura, Charity, and Cameron

Mrs. Aldrich's class: Pandora, Madisyn, and Vanessa

Mr. Schmitz's class: Tyanna, Alenah, and Taylor

Breakfast, the key to learning

This is a message from Nutrition Services. 

Before you send your kids out the door and off to school there may be something they're missing—and it's not their backpacks or lunches. "Numerous studies suggest that schoolchildren skip breakfast more than any other meal of the day," says Melissa Joy Dobbins, MS, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (ADA). "That means some kids go as long as 15 hours—or more—without food." That doesn't just leave their stomachs growling, it also impacts their ability to learn.
Kids who fuel up in the morning focus and concentrate better in the classroom and perform better on math, reading and standardized tests. They also have fewer behavior problems and are less likely to be tardy. Conversely, ADA's The State of Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Report: Are We Making Progress? finds that even a child who is well nourished but skips breakfast can have problem-solving difficulties that are serious enough to lower their test taking ability.
If getting your clan to eat breakfast is a challenge try these simple suggestions:

• Nix late night noshing: Many kids aren't hungry for breakfast because they snack at night. Try telling your kids the kitchen is closed after dinner and you'll be surprised how much hungrier they are in the morning.
• Prep the night before: Getting breakfast on the table is tricky for most busy families. Setting the breakfast table at night can make your morning a little smoother. While you're at it, why not put out a few boxes of whole-grain cereal for kids to pick and choose from? All they'll have to do in the morning is pour and add milk.
• Start small: If your family doesn't usually eat anything in the morning, it may take a while to develop the habit. Starting with a mini meal of yogurt topped with low-fat granola or a small slice of whole-wheat toast can make the transition easier.
• Set the alarm 10 minutes earlier: Hectic mornings can make it difficult for kids (and parents) to find time for breakfast. Waking up just a few minutes earlier provides time to squeeze in a quick morning meal.
• Dress first, eat second: Kids are more likely to feel hungry once they've had a chance to wake up.
• Make sure you're well stocked: No time to cook? No problem. Quick-fix foods like whole-grain cereal, string cheese, berries, yogurt, and whole-wheat toast, mini bagels and English muffins make grabbing breakfast a cinch.
• Be a good role model: "Kids mimic their parent's behavior," says Dobbins. "So make it a habit to sit down and eat breakfast with your kids every morning."

by Karen Ansel, MS RD

Attendance Matters

We had our first awards assembly of the year on Thursday.  We recognized students and staff who were here 95% of the time as well as students who received positive office referrals.  Mrs. Johnson took lots of pictures; hopefully those will show up on Facebook or a bulletin board near you.  Next month we will recognize students with perfect attendance for the first trimester.  We enjoyed a musical performance by kindergartners and third graders.  We hope to have musical performances at all of our assemblies this year.  We were pleased to see the parents who were able to attend.  Thanks for coming!

We announced the winners of our October Bingo Challenge.  Mr. Schmitz and Mr. Schechinger’s classes tied, so they both won a popcorn party.

For November we are participating in the Lysol Blue Ribbon Attendance Challenge.  They are offering $25,000 in prizes.  You can learn more about it on their website:  http://www.lysol.com/mission-for-health/schools/attendance-challenge
The focus of the challenge is on keeping healthy so we don’t miss school.

We will have an awards assembly each month.  We are currently working on the schedule for the rest of the year so parents have more notice of the date and time.  We would love to see more parents there to celebrate good attendance with us.

Fire Safety

October is fire prevention month.  Members of the Council Bluffs Public Education team were at Franklin Elementary on Monday, October 10th to teach fire safety to students.  They met with students in preschool through second grade.  First and Second graders visited the safety trailer.  In the trailer they learned how to get out of a house safely in the event of a fire, and were able to practice going out a window.  They also learned about the need to have fire drills at home, as well as at school  Preschool and Kindergarten students listened to the firemen talk about fire safety, and were able to see a fireman in all his gear up close and personal.  Look on our facebook page for pictures.

Internet Safety Workshop

Google and iKeepSafe Partner with School District to Host Internet

Safety Workshop for Parents -- October 4th

You don't have to be a computer expert to keep your child safe online!

 All District parents are invited to participate in a free workshop on

how to protect your children on the Internet. The event will be held

on October 4th, at Abraham Lincoln High School from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Doors will open at 6:00 p.m.

Pre-registration is not required. However, you are welcome to register

by sending an email to:digitalliteracytour@gmail.com. A link to

register online can be found on the Council Bluffs Community School

District website.

Co-host Google will supply snacks and Google goodies as part of this

Digital Literacy outreach. Iowa Senator Mike Gronstal will be a guest

speaker at the workshop.

Book Fair

Franklin Elementary will have a book fair during parent teacher conferences October 4th through 6th.  The books will be available for students to preview on Monday October 3rd.  The book fair will be open until 7:00 pm on the 4th and 5th, and until 6:45 on the 6th.  Parents are invited to stop in during the school day or during conferences.

Preschool Screening for 4 year olds

AtAttend a SPECIAL

Council Bluffs Community School District

Preschool Program Screening for 4 YEAR OLDS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2011 8:30 am-4:00 pm

Attend the Preschool Screening at ONE of the following Elementary Buildings:

(Spanish Interpreter will be present at Bloomer Elementary)

·        Bloomer:  210 So. 7^th St  328-6519                                  

·        Carter Lake:  1000 Willow Drive  347-5876

·        College View:  1225 College View Road  328-6452

·        Franklin:  3130 Avenue C  328-6469

·        Hoover:  1205 North Broadway  328-6537

·        Longfellow:  2011 So. 10^th St  328-6522

·        Rue:  3326 6^th Avenue  328-6540

·        Walnut Grove:  2920 Avenue J  328-6525

·        Roosevelt at Washington:  207 Scott St  328-6528

Parents with preschool children who are 4 YEARS OLD, who live in the Council Bluffs School District…

PLEASE Bring:

• Your preschool child
• Child’s birth certificate with raised seal
• Verification of income for 2011 (or last 12 months)/Federal income tax form or FIP
• Copy of immunization records (REQUIRED PRIOR TO STARTING SCHOOL)

Ø      Educators will play activities to assess the child’s social skills, language skills, gross and fine motor skills. The screening should take approximately one hour. NO APPOINTMENT IS NECESSARY. The information gathered during the screening will be reviewed so that child may be placed in the preschool program based upon program guidelines. Considerations will be made for children with special needs.

2011-12  PRESCHOOL PROGRAM DETAILS

o        Parents must transport their child to and from preschool

o        Parents will be notified by mail regarding status of a preschool placement

Just in case! Emergency evacuation plan

You should know that Franklin Elementary staff members are prepared to ensure the safety of your child in the unlikely event that the Emergency Management Officials declare an Alert 2 or 3 threat of flooding in this school’s area during the school day.

Students at Franklin Elementary would be evacuated from the school and safely transported to:

First Baptist Church

540 1^st Avenue

You will likely not be able to contact a school representative upon the notice of evacuation. However, information will be sent to you by the school voice messaging system through which you receive other important information about your child’s school and the school district. Please make sure your contact information is correct at the school so messages will reach you.

You may contact the School District’s Educational Service Center at 712-328-6446 or 712-328-6400 if you have questions or to inform the District of any obstacles that would prevent you from picking up your child as soon as practical.

School personnel will be escorting and monitoring all students until parents arrive at the reception site. Parents and guardians will be asked to pick their children up as soon as practical. You will need to sign out your child with a school principal or designated staff members.

If the current Alert 1 is increased to an Alert 2 or 3, please DO NOT go to Franklin School to pick up your child. Students and school staff will be boarding buses at this time to go to the relocation site, which will serve as a reception center for    parents to reunite with their children. Bus drivers in our district will be on call to    arrive at our school in a very short time to begin the evacuation.

Are you a collector?

We are currently collecting pop tabs, Box Tops for Education, Labels for Education, Land o’ Lakes lids, and Godfathers Fedoras.  We will be collecting Hy-Vee and Super Saver receipts once their programs begin.  Watch our Blog for start dates.  Money and points earned have been used to buy PE and Art supplies, and recess equipment.

Back to School!

The first day of school is Wednesday, August 17th.  We will have our back to school night on Tuesday, August 16th from 4:00-6:00.  Come meet your teacher!

If you drive your child to school, here is some information that will help.  The following describes the plan in place for drivers who drop off and pick up their child(ren) from school:

• Avenue C will be one-way going west from 8:30-8:45 am, 1:55-2:10 pm (Mondays), and 3:35-3:45 pm (Tuesday-Friday) on school days.  Avenue D will be one-way going east during the same time periods.
• School buses will deliver and pick up students at the west end of the pull over lane on Avenue C (in front of the 4^th grade classrooms).
• There will be no parking in front of the school on Avenue C or in back of the school on the south side of Avenue D. 
• The pull over lane in front of the school, Avenue C, will be for parents to pull over and drop off or pick up their child(ren).  There will be no parking in this lane.  Parents will pull over, children will exit or enter the car on the right side, and parents will continue on their way.  The pull over lane on Avenue D will be for the same purpose.
• Parents or other adults who want to come in to school will need to park in the church parking lots on
  32^nd St
  & Avenue C or on a street other than Avenue C.  The church parking lot is an approximate half block walk to the school.
• There will be no parking in the staff parking lot across from the front of the school.  Having children and adults cross in the middle of the street and walk between cars is not safe.
• All children and adults in the front of the school will be expected to cross the street at the corner of 32^nd and Avenue C.  Safety Patrol is stationed at this corner to assist in safely crossing the street.
• The left hand lane on Avenue C will be a through lane.  There will be no stopping to drop off children on the south side of Avenue C.

Thank you in advance for your willingness to help keep Franklin students safe.

It's a Penny War!

The 2nd and 3rd grade enrichment classes are having a fundraiser.  The proceeds will go to the Salvation Army and Red Cross for disaster relief in Japan.  The prizes will be classroom games made by the 2nd and 3rd grade enrichment classes.

Each class, Pre-K through 5th, will have a jar for collecting pennies.  Pennies will be collected May 2nd through 6th, from 8:30-8:40 each morning, and for 10 minutes after school.  The class that collects the most pennies will win a game for their classroom.  Only pennies will count toward the class total.  Any other coins will be subtracted from the total in the jar.  Students are welcome to put other coins or bills in jars for other classes, that's what makes it a war!

Climate Survey

The Council Bluffs Community School District will be conducting the annual climate survey this month.  Information gathered in this survey will help each school plan and make changes necessary to best meet the needs of our students and their families.  Students in grades 4 and 5 will take the survey at Franklin.  Parents are encouraged to take the survey also.  You will receive a postcard by April 5th with directions on how to take the Climate Survey online.  The survey will be available online through April 18, 2011.  Parents who do not have internet access or a computer at home may stop by Franklin Elementary to take the survey.  The online survey will be available in both English and Spanish.

Dress Code Reminder

As the weather gets warmer, and students start digging out their summer clothes, it’s a good time to review the dress code.  Shorts and skirts must extend to mid-thigh, midriffs and shoulders need to be covered.  Tank tops, spaghetti straps, and muscle shirts can only be worn if covered with an outer shirt.  Please take time to review the complete district wide dress code in the blue student and family handbook.

Music in Our Schools

WELCOME TO:  Music in Our Schools-Franklin Elem

                                                 April 12-15, 2011

Please sign in at the office then wait in the lobby.  As you can see, the schedule is very tight and we have students moving from music, art, and pe in that hallway.

Tuesday, April 12	Wednesday, April 13	Thursday, April 14
	9:20-9:50      Third Gr -  Malskeit       and ½ Clevenger
	9:50-10:20   Second  Gr -Brandenberg	9:50-10:20   Second Gr  - Ebke
		10:20-10:50   Second Gr - Barrett
	10:55-11:25    Fourth Gr  -  Schechinger	10:55-11:25    Third Gr -  Rose        and ½ Clevenger
1:30-2:00   Kindergarten-Bergman	1:30-2:00      Kindergarten - Quick
	2:00-2:30      First Gr - Matters	2:00-2:30 First Gr - Hospodka
2:30-3:00       First Gr - Forristall	2:30-3:00      Kindergarten-Ryan
	3:00-3:30       Fourth Gr - Rush	3:00-3:30      Fourth Gr - Vint

                                              Friday, April 15   

Fifth grades will be having their public  performance in the  

All-City Vocal Music Festival at 1:00pm in the Thomas Jefferson High School Field House.

Kindergarten Ahead

An orientation for parents and students ready for Kindergarten in Fall, 2011 is scheduled for April 28, 2011.  We will have two sessions:  4:30 & 5:15.  Please choose one to attend.  The orientation will provide information about our Kindergarten classrooms at Franklin and will help you understand what you can expect when your child starts school in August, 2011.  Students who are 5 years old by September 15, 2011 are eligible for Kindergarten.

Power Panther visits Franklin

Power Panther visited Franklin Elementary on Monday to kick off school breakfast week.  He visited pre-school, kindergarten and first grade classrooms, and led the students in exercises.