Welcome Back! Welcome back to another school year, everyone! It was great to see so many new and returning faces at the PTO meeting September 12 at Franklin. This year, the PTO would like to invite you to share your time and talents to advance the efforts of two committees. Committee work is a great way to meet other parents in a smaller setting and support our school community throughout the year. We are currently recruiting new members for: Health and Wellness Committee Equity and Inclusion Committee If you are interested, please contact Karen Dreyfuss. Find more information and additional non-PTO volunteer opportunities on the Franklin-Randall PTO website by clicking the button below.

Get Involved

More than 50 parents attended Tuesday’s PTO meeting. PTO Board members discussed volunteer opportunities, followed by Principals Sylla Zarov and John Wallace, who gave us back-to-school updates and previews of their School Improvement Plans.

2017–18 PTO Meetings Come and meet other parents and teachers and learn about topics affecting our students and school community. PTO Membership meetings will be held every other month this year. Free childcare will be provided at all meetings. Technology in the Classroom Tuesday, November 14, 6:30–8 p.m., Franklin Library A Look at the New “Bridges” Math Curriculum Tuesday, February 13, 6:30–8 p.m., Randall Library Learn More about Second Step and the Zones of Regulation Tuesday, April 10, 6:30–8 p.m., Randall Library

Grant Applications due Oct. 20

The Franklin-Randall PTO 2017–2018 grant application process is open now through October 20. One of the ways our Parent Teacher Organization encourages creativity and innovation in our community is through financial grants. Once each year we invite all teachers, parents, staff and students to submit ideas for projects that could make a difference to our school community. Read more about the program and past funded projects  on our website. E-mail us at   grants@franklinrandallpto.org if you are interested in serving on the grants committee.  —Sara Campbell, Sarah Sullivan, and Alan McMillan-co-chairs

Volunteers Needed for Game-Day Parking

Kyle Wallace and crew are looking for parent volunteers to help park cars for Wisconsin Badgers Football games this fall. It’s quick, it’s easy, it’s fun and and you’ll get done well before game-time. it’s a very important source of funding for the Franklin-Randall PTO. You don't have to drive cars. Come join us! Check out the online sign-up form and pick a shift:  Randall Parking Volunteers » The next game is coming up on September 30th!

Conscious Discipline On Tuesday, September 12, Franklin hosted a Conscious Discipline training for 20 Badger Bus drivers and attendants from the Franklin-Randall bus routes. This training focused on setting a positive tone on the bus and building relationships with students. It was an excellent training by Abbi Kruse and the feedback was very positive! This event was made possible by our amazingly generous Franklin-Randall PTO.

‘Future Problem Solvers’ Coach(es) Wanted  Future Problem Solvers (FPS) is looking to keep the ball rolling following the retirement of our FPS coach. FPS organizes 4th and 5th graders in applying critical and creative thinking and problem-solving skills to hypothetical future situations and if desired the opportunity to participate in a state competition. I'm looking for one or two 4th or 5th grade parents to get this off the ground. No experience necessary and best of all, there is  training  next week in Middleton that lays out the basics on how to be a coach and get started. The WI FPS council has offered their support as well. Please contact Cindy Schlichte at  cindy@toolshed.org  for more information.

Amazon Smile Don't forget if you are an Amazon shopper to use the Franklin-Randall Amazon Smile shopping link! 0.5% of all your purchases go directly to our PTO fund. Find the  Amazon Smile link  at the bottom of all our PTO newsletters, and set it as your preferred charity under your Amazon Smile account by searching for the "Franklin-Randall Parent Teacher Organization" at the zip code 53715. In addition, save all your "Box Tops for Education" and turn them into either the Franklin or Randall offices. This earns thousands of dollars for the PTO every year! Amazon Smile

Goals of the Franklin-Randall Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) include helping children, parents, teachers and schools build a strong and positive school community.

Support the PTO while you shop! Franklin-Randall Amazon Smile link: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/20-0572517

Send submissions by 7 p.m. Wednesday to newsletter@franklinrandallpto.org . Header Illustration by Emily Balsley