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March PTA Newsletter
Tue, Mar 10 12:28pm

Hello Falcon families,

The PTA is springing forward for March! Speaking of time changes, this week March 12 and 13 are minimum days for select parent-teacher conferences. Dismissal will be at 12:10 pm. There is no school on Monday, March 16.

Don’t forget to join us Wednesday, March 18th for the virtual  PTA General Meeting, 6:30-8pm (virtual - link here).

The Auction was a Sea-suss! 

Thank you to all the families who participated in our Enchanted Sea Soiree! Special shout out to Ashley McLaughlin, the spring auction chair, and Amy Dabrowski, our VP of Fundraising, as well as the entire committee for putting on such a magical event. Parents, fueled by catering from one of our Franklin families, danced the night away after bidding on items provided by our generous community. The event has already raised $150K that will be meaningful in the PTA’s continued support of our students and staff. 

If you didn’t have a chance to attend, there’s still time to participate in the silent auction. Bids will be accepted until Friday, March 13th at noon. Feel free to share the link with your family and friends as well. Lots of great items that could use some love!

Check out a slideshow from the photo booth here and add photos to the Google Album here. 

Fundraising efforts like these support a broad range of activities and supplies. Recently, the student-led gardening club has been hard at work on our garden for spring, thanks in part to supplies from our PTA. 

Join the PTA Executive Committee for 2026-2027

Joining the PTA Executive Committee is a fulfilling way to give back to our students, shape a positive community and meet other families. We have several positions on the committee that must be filled:

  • Vice President (1-Year Term, Then President): Primary aide to the president, performs duties in their absence

  • Recording Secretary: Takes minutes at meetings and co-signs formal documents; maintains and preserves vital PTA records

  • Financial Secretary: Works closely with treasurer to oversee all PTA funds, maintains records and prepares monthly and annual reports

  • DEI Chair: Leads engagement activities that foster equitable and inclusive school community

  • Parliamentarian: Advises on meeting rules and periodic revision unity bylaws; facilitates the nominating committee and officer election process

  • Communications Chair: Manages Konstella and PTA bulletin boards; Coordinates with the social media manager

Nominees for open positions must be identified by March 25. We will elect new officers at the general meeting on April 22. 

If you are interested in joining our super fun PTA executive board, and making a huge impact at Franklin Elementary, please contact the nominating committee: 

Celebrating Our Students with Neurodiversity 

Next month is Neurodiversity Celebration Month, which raises awareness of neurodiversity, challenges and stereotypes, highlights the contributions and talents of neurodivergent individuals, and advocates for inclusivity. Your child will be learning more during March. Melisa Saunders at our District Office has created a "Let's Talk About It" series on the District website for parents to use for home discussion. 

Talking to children about neurodiversity and learning differences is important because it fosters understanding, empathy, and inclusion. These conversations help children:

  • Appreciate Differences: They learn that everyone has unique strengths and challenges, encouraging respect for diversity.

  • Reduce Stigma: Open discussions normalize learning and neurological differences, preventing misconceptions or bullying.

  • Build Empathy: Understanding others’ experiences promotes kindness and patience.

  • Encourage Collaboration: Recognizing diverse ways of thinking helps children value teamwork and different perspectives.

  • Empower Self-Acceptance: For neurodivergent children, these conversations validate their experiences and build confidence.

AEF Poetry Slam for AUSD Students - March 21st 2:30 - 4pm at Books Inc. Alameda

AEF is hosting their annual Poetry Slam for AUSD students on March 21st at Books Inc. Students are welcome to write a poem about anything they like, and have it be read by a voice actor, or read it themselves in front of an audience. It's a fun, empowering event and students will also receive a Books Inc. gift card for their participation! Family members, friends and the public are welcome to attend. 

Parents can sign their student up here ahead of time at the link below or come to the event with their poem.

Got Any Bright Ideas? Questions? 

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

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

In gratitude and appreciation,

Your Franklin Elementary PTA