Our PTO and Project Playground have partnered with the Westfield Public Schools to help enhance our property. A dedicated outdoor space helps us have a gathering place to build community, enjoy our Habitat Garden, capture opportunities for when our curriculum can be enhanced with outdoor learning and gives us a quieter setting for an expanded "quiet recess" area. That's just the start! Thank you to everyone involved in this project!!!
Mr. Jesse and his custodial team have been super busy trying to get Franklin ready for a new year. They make sure everything is clean and shines like new. Here's just one example of a before and after shot.
Playgrounds need mulch! Mountains of mulch! We're getting ready for some great playground fun!
The classrooms are getting cleaned, the floors are getting waxed, and new bulletin boards are going up!
Last year our 1st grade rooms were fully outfitted with new desks, rugs, furniture and paint! This year it's 2nd grade with the new look, plus the usual cleaning and polishing!
Our ongoing partnerships with the PTO and Project Playground along with a grant from NJEA and Sustainable Jersey are helping turn our Habitat Garden area into an outdoor hub. The addition of a shaded outdoor space is in the works! It will help us get the most out of the learning in the garden area. It will also be a gathering place for community building activities. Thank you to our generous partners!
Our Habitat Garden is looking great! We have a dedicated team of parents and students who help the garden thrive. They weeded, mulched and cultivated flowers, herbs and vegetables. A fresh delivery of landscaping pebbles just arrived to spruce up the beds. Students also gave the stepping stones a fresh coat of colorful paint, with more mulch to come! The bees seem to like it! Thank you to this hard working PTO committee!
What do rugs do over the summer? Well, during the year they are busy providing a cozy space for students to learn. By the time summer rolls around, it's time for some rest and relaxation so they can be ready for another year of cozy and colorful educational support. The gym is their spa. They can stretch out and get a thorough vacuuming and shampooing!
Our 5th graders are so amazing! We celebrated their achievements at the 5th Grade Awards Assembly!
Seniors came back for a big Clap Out from our current student body!
Our first Bike Rodeo! After an informational bike safety assembly last week, we had a day filled with hands-on safety tips. Students reviewed helmet safety, hand signals and how to do a quick bike check before they tried to navigate an obstacle course!
Another Teachers' Treasure is "Assistant Principal For The Day." Niam, a 1st grader, has been doing the rounds to make sure everything is going well! He checked in with students (including his sister), teachers, Officer Frank, and the Bike Rodeo! Great job Niam!
Teachers' Treasures are a fun raffle contest that helps raise money for the school. Students win a special activity with teachers, the main office staff and even the principal. Charlie helped Dr. Duncan do his rounds during the day to help him keep an eye on everything. He made announcements on the loud speaker, helped lead the assembly, and used a school issued walkie talkie keep Dr. Duncan up to speed on his travels. He has clear leadership potential! His most asked for question of the day from students was "can you cancel homework"? Also, the Safety Patrol had questions about Charlie's actual authority but he quickly took charge. So much fun! Thanks Charlie!
Project Playground has benefitted from the leadership of Erica Witte and the generosity of many Franklin and Westfield donors. This is a true partnership between the schools, community organizations and families. This week our signage arrived which included recognition of some of our biggest donors, a beautiful welcome sign that the Girl Scouts made and a "communication board" to assist people who might have difficulty expressing their words. The biggest motivator for this project is to increase inclusivity and fun for all! Next big addition, a huge colorful mural designed by local artist Callie Campbell who designed it and helps our students paint it! It will say, I Belong, You Belong, We Belong. What could be more inclusive!?!
Thank you to the PTO for sponsoring another great assembly! This one about robots for 4th graders.
The puppet masters helped get the word out about perseverance!
Our latest character education assembly focused on perseverance! Our 5th graders took the lead in explaining perseverance and conducted a puppet show about the little train that could. The word of month, perseverance was "unlocked" and pulled out of the pillars of character box in dramatic fashion.
More volleyball fun! A hula hoop and limbo contest got our younger students involved!
What a great night! In honor of Siya Singla who tragically passed away from a rare cancer this January, the Franklin PTO, Franklin students and staff and the greater Franklin School community came together to have fun, raise money for cancer research and just enjoy each other's company. Friends of Siya in 8th grade at RIS and RIS also joined the fun!
The Project Playground benches have been installed! Thank you to those who donated!
