Hello, Falcon Families!

Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month AND Jewish American Heritage Month!

Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month honors the history and heritage of Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Americans. This year's national theme, “Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together”, emphasizes leveraging collective strength, sharing stories, and fostering connection, resilience, and belonging within AANHPI communities.

Jewish American Heritage Month commemorates the profound impact of Jewish heritage and culture on the United States. It recognizes the contributions of Jewish Americans to art, science, politics, business, and social justice. From early settlers to contemporary leaders, Jewish Americans have played a vital role in shaping the nation's identity and values. Through celebration and reflection, this month is a reminder of the diversity and inclusivity that enriches the American tapestry.

There's a lot going on this month. We've put the things that need your action this week at the top, and the dates to mark further down. Scroll all the way for your newly elected 2026–2027 PTA Board.

🚨 Three Things We Need This Week

1. Science Festival — Sunday, May 3, 2–4 pm 🧪

Bust out your lab coats — the annual Franklin Science Festival is this Sunday, May 3 from 2–4 pm.

The demonstrations are family-led, and we still need families in each grade to run experiments during the event. Please sign up to lend a hand.

All materials and instructions provided beforehand
No STEM degree or lab experience required. Members of the planning committee will help you before and during the event

The Science Festival is made possible by a grant from Alameda PTAC and your generous donations to the Franklin PTA. Questions? Email Ben Montgomery at bmontgom2007@gmail.com.

2. Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week — May 4–8 💚💛

We appreciate our teachers every day, but this is the week we really show them. 🚨 We need your help.

👉 Sign up here to decorate a staff door or drop off a special treat.

Your room parent will be in contact about classroom-specific celebrations and how to participate. Don't be afraid to add a little extra if you can. A smile and thank you can go a long way, especially as we near the end of another school year.

The most-remembered gift is almost always a specific thank-you from your kid — a drawing, a sentence, the name of the thing the teacher did that mattered. That one costs nothing and lands hardest.

Contact Hospitality Chair Jennifer Denton, or Room Parent Lead Ashley McLaughlin, through Konstella.

3. Ridwell Plastic Film Recycling — May 4–8 🌍♻️💚🌱

Franklin Elementary is keeping plastic film out of landfills with Ridwell this spring! To participate in this limited-time recycling drive, bring plastic film (ziptop bags, grocery bags, bubble wrap, and lots more) to school mornings May 4-8 and Ridwell will make sure it stays out of landfills. It’ll be turned into new decking materials instead! Start collecting plastic film at home now so you have a bunch for the drive.

Contact Brittany Gentile with any questions regarding Green initiatives at Franklin and about the Ridwell Plastic Drive in particular.

💰 Don't Miss the Reimbursement Deadline

Have you been hanging on to receipts from that event you helped plan? The last day to turn in a reimbursement request to the PTA is June 4. After that, you're out of pocket.

Get the reimbursement request here. (Please download before filling it out.) Questions? Email our Treasurer, Ben Montgomery, at bmontgom2007@gmail.com.

📬 Watch Your Inbox

✅ Yearbooks 📗 — It's almost time to order. Keep an eye out for a Konstella email coming soon. We've set aside yearbooks for families who may be unable to purchase one due to financial hardship. Email Jen Denton (jenniferdenton5@gmail.com) or Lindsay Revelli (lindsay.revelli@gmail.com) with any questions.

✅ End of the Year PTA Survey ✏️ — We're always looking for ways to meet the needs of our community. Let us know what worked this year, and what could be improved for next year. Fill out the survey here.

🗓️ Mark Your Calendar

May 13 — Talent Show, 8:20 am 🎶🎹 (stay on campus after drop-off)
May 14 — Bike & Roll to School 🚴‍♀️🛹 (bikes, scooters, skateboards, roller skates, walking — all modes encouraged)
May 17 — Island-Palooza, 2:00-8:00 pm at the The Healing Garden (1435 Webster St.) 🎶
May 20 — Final PTA Meeting, 5:30–6:00 pm in the Multipurpose Room, followed by Open House, 6:00–7:00 pm 📣
May 22 — Ridwell referral deadline (10 new families = free pickups all next year) ♻️
June 1–4 — Class Picnics / Field Days at Franklin Park 🍕

Final PTA Meeting + Open House — May 20

Short and sweet. We'll review and approve a preliminary budget for the 2026/27 school year. A draft budget goes out with the meeting invite. Comments, questions, and suggestions before and during the meeting are always welcome.

Class Picnics — Last Week of School

Classroom volunteers will be needed for each grade to help supervise kids and organize games, crafts, and snacks. Pizza lunch will be provided by the PTA. Details and volunteer signups will come soon from your Room Parent.

6/1, Monday — 4th grade
6/3, Wednesday — Kindergarten and 1st grades
6/4, Thursday — 2nd and 3rd grades

🧹 Before Year-End

✅ Check the Lost & Found 👕🧢 — It's overflowing again. Please see if any items belong to your student (or someone you know). Everything left at the end of the school year will be donated.

✅ Sign up for Alameda Education Summer Camps 🎨🎸 — Summer camps will be held at Earhart Elementary from June 15th through July 10th, 2026 (no camps June 19 and July 3). Register here. Over 70 camps — Pickleball, Spanish, Chinese, Rock Band, LEGO, Robotics, Writing, Drawing, Sports, and more. Which ones will you choose?

Your Franklin PTA Board for 2026–2027

At our April PTA meeting we elected the incoming officers for the 2026–2027 Franklin PTA Board. Thank you to those who stepped up to volunteer next year!

President — Hazel Archer
Vice President — open position — interested? Email
Recording Secretary — Renee Faulkner
Treasurer — Nick Parker
Financial Secretary — Aly Karnath
Auditor — Aimee Rosen
Membership Chair — Ashley McLaughlin
Communications Chair — Ann Miyashiro
Hospitality Chair — Jennifer Denton
Fundraising Chair — Amy Dabrowski
Advocacy & Legislation Chair — Qomil Davis
Historian — Naomi Weisenberg
DEI Chair (appointed) — Brittany Lasky
Parliamentarian (appointed) — Chelsea Guillen

Got Any Bright Ideas? Questions?

Whether you're a seasoned Franklin parent or new to our community (welcome!), we want to hear from you. Reach out to any PTA Exec Board member, or email ask@franklinpta.org.

Still Hankering for More PTA Content? We Got You Covered!

The Franklin Elementary PTA's website
Franklin Elementary School PTA Facebook Page
Franklin Falcons of Alameda Facebook Page (private group managed by the school office staff — you must request to join)

In gratitude and appreciation, Your Franklin Elementary PTA