Hello Falcon Families!

Thank you to all that joined us at our PTA meeting on Monday! Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, September 17, 6:30pm on Zoom. 

In this newsletter you'll find:

• Upcoming events at Franklin, including the Falcon Family Feast, the Walkathon, and the Book Fair
• Community Events — Hispanic Heritage Festival
• How to Volunteer at Franklin
• Konstella Tips

UPCOMING EVENTS AT FRANKLIN

The fun at Franklin Elementary does not stop, and next  couple of months will be filled with great activities. Here's a sneak peek of what we have in store:

Falcon Family Feast — Saturday, September 20th

Signup Here

Color Walk — Franklin’s 10th Annual Walkathon! — Friday, October 3rd 
The Walkathon is a fun event for both students and families. We encourage you to come cheer the kids on as they walk laps around Franklin Park. Our Walkathon Planning Committee could use more Parent Volunteers, please signup on Konstella. Our next planning meeting is Monday, Sept 22 after school drop-off at the Franklin Park Picnic Tables. 

To register your student(s) for the Walkathon and pick t-shirt sizes, please sign up at Franklin.Pledgestar.com. More information about the Walkathon will be coming soon in a separate email. 

The Walkathon is one of our PTA's biggest fundraising events of the year! Our Walkathon goal is to raise $45,000 (a little more than $150/student). Some of the things that this year's PTA budget include: 

• $142,014 for Support Staff Specialists
• $32,200  for Teacher and Staff Supplies, Curriculum, and Technology
• $20,000 for Field Trip Buses
• $10,450 for Community Events
• And so much more!

The PTA's budget for the school year comes directly from family donations and event sponsors from the Walkathon and other upcoming fundraisers. This year our annual goal is to raise at least $500 per student for the year. (We have budgeted to spend about $900 per student for this school year.) We know that not every family can donate that much, but we urge the families who can donate generously to please consider doing so! All contributions are welcome and much appreciated! If you want to learn more about the PTA's budget and the decision making process that goes into it, please join us at our next PTA meeting on September 17! 

The Franklin Book Fair — October 20–25 📚 
Mark your calendars! Save your pennies! This year's Book Fair vendor is Literati. The Literati Book Fair will be at Franklin Elementary October 20-25, 2025. The Book Fair is Franklin's main source of funding for the Media Center. Last year, our gross sales of $11,619.80 resulted in a credit of over $3,000 that was used for new books, equipment, and supplies. Aside from raising money, the Book Fair also ensures that every student goes home with a book. We can't wait for this year's event! Details coming in the October newsletter.

Donate to Room 12: The art and science classroom (room 12) is in need of Kleenex, hand sanitizer, and cleaning wipes.  Please drop them off in the office. 

Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month: September 15 – October 15 is Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, a time to celebrate and honor the diverse cultures, histories, and contributions of people with roots in Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. At our school, we recognize the richness this heritage brings to our community and the many ways it shapes our shared story.

Be sure to check out our DEI board learn more and see how our community is celebrating this month.

How to Volunteer 🙋‍♂️
Volunteers are a big part of what make our school so special. Not sure where to start? Go to the Committees section on Konstella, and join a group that interests you. We're also still looking for the following leads:

• Walk and Roll Lead — During the city-wide Walk and Roll to School week, coordinate incentives for classrooms that have the most participation

Keep an eye out on Konstella for event signups—Walkathon, Book Fair and Spooktacular help will be needed soon! 

Don't forget to register with AUSD if you plan to chaperone a field trip, or want to be an on-going volunteer at the school.  

Have an idea for our school that you don't see represented? Email volunteer@franklinpta.org and let us know.

Konstella Tip of the Month! 

Did you know that you can sync the PTA's calendar with your own? Never miss an event this year! From your desktop, go to Calendar View, and click on "sync to my calendar" on the top right corner of the month. 

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 (this is private group managed by the school office staff- you must request to join)

In gratitude and appreciation,

Your Franklin Elementary PTA