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e-Newsline
August / 18 / 2017
Message from Superintendent Cruz
Dear Parents and Guardians,
 
It is a great honor and privilege to serve as Franklin-McKinley School District’s Superintendent. I am excited to begin the 2017-2018 School year with a stellar team of educators and our visionary Board of Education to support our students. Our goal is to ensure ALL students are provided a safe and caring environment in which to learn and grow. Our schools and students will continue to excel under the care of dedicated professionals.
 
We will engage the entire Franklin-McKinley community with the monitoring and development of our Local Control Accountability Plan. This will serve as our guide in providing the best possible learning opportunities for all students.
 
As we begin the 2017-2018 school year, it is important that we are all aware of the Franklin-McKinley School District’s policies, regulations, and guiding practices which shape our student’s well-being and academic success. In this newsletter, you will find valuable information about our new Parent & Student Handbook, Parent Involvement Opportunities, and a few key tips and reminders for new and continuing students. 

FMSD LINKS:


DISTRICT EVENTS
Board of Education Meeting
Tuesday, August 22nd, 7 p.m.
District Service Center
645 Wool Creek Drive
Building Good Habits As Soon As Children Start School
Good attendance will help your children do well in high school, in college and at work. Some absences are unavoidable. We understand that children will get sick and need to stay home occasionally. The important thing is to get your children to school as often as possible.

Too many absences—excused or unexcused—can keep students from succeeding in school and in life. How many are too many? 10% of the school year—that’s 18 missed days or 2 days a month—can knock students off track.  Help your child get to school on time! 

Student & Parent Handbook
As we begin the 2017-2018 school year, it is important that we are all aware of the Franklin-McKinley School District’s policies, regulations, and guiding practices which shape our student’s well-being and academic success. Within the next two weeks, parents will receive a Parent & Student Handbook in the mail. Please review with your child and keep the Handbook readily available throughout the course of the school year to reference as needed. 

Building Bright Futures: Facilities Update
Franklin-McKinley School District has been extremely busy this summer working on a variety of school modernization projects. Thanks to the generous support of our community, Measure H and J funding is allowing the district to make necessary upgrades to school facilities.

Phase 1 of projects was well underway during the summer months. Click on the link below for a full update on projects including:
  • Franklin Elementary School Modernization
  • Hellyer Elementary New Staff Parking Lot, New Shade Structure, and much more.
  • Kennedy Elementary New Play Structure, New Shade Structure, New Fencing, and much more.
  • Bridges Academy New Tech Classrooms
  • Meadows Elementary Multi-Purpose Room Upgrades
Summer Wrap Up
The Franklin-McKinley School District hosted a variety of programs to support the continued learning of students this summer. From literacy programs to STEM with Mayor Sam, this summer was full of fun experiences and unique learning opportunities for students. Check out our summer recap video.
Join the Movement! Get Connected!
Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn
Are you a social media fanatic? If you use Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter be sure to follow FMSD on one of these social media forums. Click on the buttons to find us on all three forums. Also, follow the Superintendent on Twitter as he tweets his visits to schools @FMSDSupCruz. We want to keep you informed and in the loop on the latest news about your child’s school and the district. 
Our #1 Tip for Going Back-to-School from the teachers at Educare California at Silicon Valley
Our early learning teachers all agree: their #1 tip for parents for the new school year is to  meet the teacher! It's important to get to know your child’s teacher – he or she will guide your child’s academic growth over the next 9 months! If possible, meet with the teacher prior to first day of school, and familiarize yourself with the teacher's approach toward curriculum implementation. Find out the teacher’s preferred communication method, such as phone calls, email, and/or in-person chats. Meeting the teacher is a must-do for any grade, starting with infant classrooms, preK, and kindergarten.