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From the desk of Mrs. McCarthy … September 7, 2011
Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. ~Chinese Proverb
Upcoming Events:
September 13th First PTO Meeting Franklin Café 7:00-9:00 PM
September 22 Volunteer Breakfast Franklin Café 9:00-10:00 AM
Dear Franklin Families,
Welcome to the start of the 2011/12 school year! No matter how many times I do it, I continue to find the opening day of school to be a special experience. The school is filled with positive energy emanating from students anticipating the promise of what’s ahead and a faculty eager to launch another productive year. I hope your children had a smooth start and arrived home with much to tell you.
The Franklin grounds look especially lovely this September. We have a number of people to thank for that. Retired teacher, Ms. Evelyn Vozella donated time to weed some of our many flowerbeds. NAHS facilities manager, Greg Roberts repaired our sign for us. A very special thanks is extended to the Downer family who donated the services of their landscaping company along with many lovely plants to give our grounds a beautiful face-lift just in time for the opening of school.
One of our goals this year is to create a community of engaged learners who treat each other with respect and dignity. We believe we can achieve that through the collaborative efforts of parent, school and community partnerships and a shared vision of common values. As a part of that vision we will continue to teach and reinforce our RAISE values of respect, achievement, inclusion, service and empathy.
One of the best ways that we have to communicate with parents about curriculum and our academic expectations is through our Open Houses, which will be held on September 26th (K-2) and September 27th (3-5). Open House is a parent-only evening providing the opportunity to meet with your child’s classroom teacher(s) to learn more about grade level expectations and your child’s academic day. Please plan to join us for an informative evening.
Ensuring student safety continues to be an ongoing concern and priority. Please review the information on the reverse side of this notice so that you will be up to date on changes in school staff, routines and procedures. As we continue our efforts to “go green” we will reduce the use of paper notices and increasingly post important information to our school website only at www.northandoverpublicschools.com/franklin. Please get in the habit of checking it regularly along with the district website. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us to make Franklin a safe place for children. I look forward to working with you during the upcoming year.
New staff: Please join me in welcoming the following people to our staff.
Ms. Amanda Zingarelli Guidance Counselor
Ms. Claire Logan Speech Pathologist
Mrs. Amanda Smith Speech Pathologist
Mrs. Karina DiCunzolo Reading Tutor and Third Grade Teacher
Mrs. Ashley Hebert Special Education Teacher
Mrs. Peggy Miller Para professional
Mrs. Shannon Shea Paraprofessional
Mrs. Rose Marie Karingianis Paraprofessional
New Flag Signals: Morning drop off for students begins at 8:10 AM when teachers go on duty at the front and rear of the school to supervise students. In good weather children proceed to the playground at the rear of the school until the 8:25 bell rings. In inclement weather they enter directly through the cafeteria door where they wait for the bell. We are initiating a new signal to indicate that teachers are on duty and that drop off can begin. Look for a green flag to indicate, “ go to the playground” and a red flag to indicate “stop and enter the cafeteria”. With the exception of children participating in the Breakfast Club program, no students should be on school grounds prior to 8:10 AM.
Morning Drop Off: Cars line up along the right side of the driveway in a single line. From 8:10-8:25 drivers may enter the circle to drop students off. Please stay in line. Do not pass another car or bus. Teachers on duty will signal when it is time for cars to move forward. Children should exit the car on the passenger side at the sidewalk while parents remain in cars. Children proceed along the right side of the school on the sidewalk to the rear playground. All vehicles exit via the gate at Hewitt Ave.
Afternoon Dismissal: Students riding buses home assemble in the cafeteria where they are escorted to buses as they arrive.
Walkers: Students who walk home assemble at specific spots in the school and leave the school in patrols. At this time there are three patrols, one that crosses the back yard for Berkeley Street, one that goes over to Hewitt Avenue, and one that goes down towards Andover Street. Please note: NAPD has erected No Parking signs in the Hewitt Ave/ Rosedale neighborhood. Parents parking in those neighborhoods to meet students in cars may be ticketed. All car pick-ups should join the car pick-up line at the rear of the building.
Car Pick-up: Students being dismissed to car pick-up wait in the gym and are released from the rear porch. Vehicles line up in a double line along the right hand side of the driveway. A sign indicating your child’s last name should be placed by your windshield so that it is visible to the teachers on duty. Children will be dismissed to walk to waiting vehicles. Once loaded, cars continue around the school and exit via the Hewitt Avenue gate.
Safety Procedures:
At no time are children allowed to cross the parking lot or driveway unattended.
Younger siblings must remain in car while waiting in pick-up line.
Please do not use your cell phones while operating cars on school property.
Please drive very slowly while on school property.
Parents may not escort children onto the playground in the morning.
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