APPLE NEWS
Franklin Elementary
Augest 2007

WELCOME

Wow. That was quick. School starts 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4. Welcome to new and returning families.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Want to get a jump start on your 2007-08 hours? The teachers have requested a parent work day on Tuesday, Aug. 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m If you can drop in any time during that period, there will be plenty of work for you to do, from hanging bulletin board to materials preparation to closet cleaning There will be enough work to keep all who show up busy. Hope to see you then!

FIRST GRADERS CAN GET A PREVIEW

A note from Mrs. Calkins

School is about to start, and we are all excited and just a bit nervous. If you and your child would like to come visit our classroom and get a preview of what the first day will look like, please come on Monday, August 27, between 12:30 and 3:00 pm. The room should (no promises, I'm a messy setter-upper) be ready for visitors and look like it will on the first day. You can explore a little, sit & read a book, or visit with your new classmates and their parents. I'll be there to answer questions & visit, so come on down & check it out.

NEW FAMILY ORIENTATION

The second of two orientations for new families takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 28 at Franklin. Families are expected to attend one of the two. Children should not attend.

APPLE CLASSROOM POLUCKS

• Grades 1 & 2 - September 23^rd / Lincoln Park.
• Grades 3 & 4 - September 30^th / Lincoln Park.
• Grades 5 & 6 - September 9^th / Dehmer's Home.

Classroom Coordinators will send out reminders.

APPLE ACTION MEETINGS

The year's first APPLE Action meetings take place Sept. 18 and Oct. 23. The classroom meetings will start at 7 p.m. and the Action meetings at 8 p.m.

FALL CAMPOUT

The APPLE Fall Campout takes place Sept. 14-16 at Farragut St Park. This is a great way to meet new people and cultivate friendships.

Registration forms were sent out earlier this month, but if you can't find yours, email Kris Morehouse at krisanter@comcast.net. She'll send a new one. If you have questions about the campout, call Dan Hieronymus at (509) 747-3967

• Camp Dates: Sept. 14 (Friday) - 16 (Sunday)
• Location: Thimbleberry Group Site at Farragut State Park - East of Athol, ID
• Cost: $3.00 per person for each night
• Application Deadline: Sept. 7, 2007
• Parking Fee: $5.00 plus tax per day.
            *Upon arrival, you must pay for parking in the office at the park entrance. You will receive a parking pass for the weekend.
• Check in: After 1 p.m. Sept. 14
• Check out: 12 p.m. Sept. 16

IS SOMETHING MISSING?

If you're looking for Auction stuff or want to write a letter on APPLE stationery, you'll be happy to know that it's not lost. It's just moved.

Everything previously stored in Beth's closet or in the CORE area has been moved to the kitchen closet. On the Aug. 28 Parent Work Day, we'll be sorting and labeling everything in the closet. The file cabinet is just outside the kitchen behind Chris's room. We'll keep the red schoolhouse for the hours' forms in the CORE area, but all other APPLE "business" will be kept in the closet. That way the CORE area can really be focused around classrooms and kids, and Beth won't trip over stuff in her closet. So the next time you're in the building, stop by and see where everything is!

AUCTION NEWS

The 2007 APPLE Auction raised $31,000 before paying expenses. That's enough money to require filing with the IRS.

The 2008 APPLE Auction will take place March 1 at Center Place in the Spokane Valley. Jeff Owens will again serve as auctioneer, and ticket prices will be $20.

CLASSROOM NEWS

The annual Reading Buddy Ice Cream Social takes place Sept. 21. Stay tuned for more information.

HOURS UPDATE

APPLE's Executive Committee wants families to keep careful records of their volunteer hours this year. Please make sure you've filed your hours by the 8^th of each month. Hours not turned in by the 15^th may not count in a family's annual tally.

REINBURSEMENT FORMS

If you buy something for APPLE, please contact your classroom coordinator for a reimbursement form. The forms must be signed by either a teacher or the committee chair.

SOCIAL COMMITTEE

Mark your calendar for this year's celebrations and social events. Details to come.

• Oct. 26:                       Annual Harvest Party in the Franklin Gym
• Dec. 14:                       APPLE Annual Ice Skating Party at Riverfront Ice Arena
• Jan. 11 and Feb. 8:        Mom's night out
• Oct. 16 and Jan. 23:      Dad's night out
• Feb. 13 and March 18:   Parents nights out
• March 20:                     APPLE Grandparents' Spring Fling
• April 23:                       Administration Appreciation Day

MENTOR FAMILIES

Thanks to the families who agreed to mentor incoming APPLE families. Changes to the classroom rosters will require some juggling after the year's start. If you are new to APPLE and have yet to receive a mentor family, please call or email Kris Morehouse at 328-2645 or krisanter@comcast.net.

LEADERSHIP MEETINGS

Executive Meetings take place at Franklin from 7 to 9 p.m. on the Tuesday of the week prior to the APPLE Action Meeting. The meeting is open to committee chairs, executive members and interested Apple parents.

Upcoming leadership dates:

• Sept. 11
• Oct. 16

New this year: Committee members will have a chance to meet at 6:30 p.m. prior to the Leadership Meeting. Check with your committee chair for more information.

QUESTIONS?

The following parents can help make your school year a success:

Classroom Coordinators 2007-08

• First Grade Coordinator             Jessica Hieronymus, 747-3967
• Second Grade Coordinator         Amy Haghighi, 534-4237
• Third Grade Coordinator            Bronwynn Shew, 536-1629
• Fourth Grade Coordinator          Christa Arguinchona, 448-9457
• Fifth / Sixth Grade Coordinator   Kimm Hill, 532-9275

Executive Committee

• Pat Arguinchona: 448-9457
• Lori Naylor: 443-0623
• Lisa Regehr: 534-2945
• Lance Shew: 536-1629

Apple Newsletter contact: Kris Morehouse at krisanter@comcast.net

Apple Website: http://www.sd81.k12.wa.us/franklin/Apple/appleweb.htm

NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

Spokane Public Schools complies with all federal rules and regulations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability. This holds true for all students interested in participating in educational programs and/or extracurricular school activities. Inquiries regarding compliance procedures may be directed to the district Equal Opportunities office, Ivan Bush at (509) 354-7344.