Aug 29, 2022
CATCH UP ON DISTRICT NEWS
Miss the last District Newsletter? Be sure to catch up on district happenings! You can access the archive of all District Newsletters here.
READY OR NOT...THE SCHOOL YEAR IS HERE!
Last week, our staff came back to the building to get things underway. Our first days were filled with professional development, training sessions, team building, and classroom preparation. These days are always a bit of a whirlwind as we work to ensure that everything is “just right” for our learners when they enter our building for the first time or re-enter our building for the next step in their educational journey. As you and your child(ren) work to get back into a school routine and prepare for the year ahead, please take a moment to appreciate all of the time, effort, and energy that our teachers have exerted to ensure we all have a great start to the year - one that will lay the foundation for the most spectacular year yet!
It may be hard to believe, but this week marks the official start of the 2022-2023 school year! Our staff is ready to welcome students and families into the building for our Open House night on Tuesday, August 30th from 5:30-7:00PM. This is a time for you and your child(ren) to meet with their teacher for a brief introduction and an opportunity to get acquainted with the classroom space. In addition, some of our student and parent organizations will be in the building - please take the opportunity to swing by their tables in the multipurpose room to learn more about how you and/or your child(ren) can get more involved in the Ben Franklin community! If you and your child(ren) are unable to attend our Open House night, please let us know if there is anything we can do to calm fears or provide reassurance heading into a new school year.
We will start welcoming learners back into the building on Thursday, September 1st and Friday, September 2nd for our Staggered Start days. Learners with last names A-K will report for their first day on Thursday, September 1st, while learners with last names L-Z will report on Friday, September 2nd. Students entering 4K will be engaged in Get to Know You conferences on Thursday and Friday, with staggered start days the Tuesday and Wednesday after Labor day.
If there is anything we can do to support you or your learner heading into this week, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Most sincerely,
Steffany Jewell
BEN FRANKLIN OPEN HOUSE TUESDAY, AUGUST 30TH
Families and students are welcome to meet their teacher and bring any school supplies they may want to bring before school starts.
**4K staff will not be in attendance at Open House and will be scheduling "Getting To Know" conference times with families that will occur during the first two days of school.
START OF SCHOOL YEAR PLANNING
- Kindergarten-5th we are doing a staggered start over the first two days of school on September 1st and 2nd similar to how we have done the last two school years. The staggered start provides opportunities, especially for our younger students, to work with teachers on these days to better understand school and classroom norms, technology expectations, safety protocols, lunch procedures, recess routines, bus arrival/departure processes, and more. The details of which students will attend which day are shown below
- 4K Students will have Get-To-Know-You Conferences on Thursday, September 1st and Friday, September 2nd where parents and their child can attend for a short meeting with the teacher. Then, 4K students will have a staggered start on Tuesday, September 6th or Wednesday, September 7th. Details about the conferences was emailed to families on 8/17/22.
BEN FRANKLIN PARENT DROP OFF AND PICK UP PROCEDURE
If you plan on dropping off or picking up your child from Ben Franklin, please read this important information regarding our procedure. Click Here For Ben Franklin Drop off and Pick Up Procedures
FPS RESPONSE TO COMMUNICABLE DISEASE (INCLUDING COVID-19)
As we head into the new school year, we want to make families aware of how we will continue to manage our prevention efforts surrounding diseases that can spread among individuals in a school setting. Please refer to the decision tree below (and linked here) for how to handle illness with your children and you can also refer to this health services document that details how we will approach communicable disease in our schools. As with any communicable disease, you will receive guidance from our nursing services staff on how long your child should be excluded from school based on their symptoms of illness or diagnosis as applicable.
(click/tap on image below for larger version)
ATTENDANCE LINK COMING SOON!
We are in the process of updating the Attendance Form for the 2022-23 school year.
After Wednesday, August 31st, please check the FPS website or your School website under "Parents and Students." Click the Absence Reporting Form, for the new attendance link. At this time you can begin to enter any attendance information. Thank you for your patience while we construct this new form and link.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL ITEMS TO COMPLETE
Thank you to all our families that completed Back-To-School Online Check-In! Please don't forget there are other times on the Parent Checklist to complete during the month of August.
If you did not complete check-in by last week Friday, August 12th, please do so immediately in PowerSchool Parent Access. You will be asked to update your child's emergency contacts, medical information, and transportation needs. Once online check-in is complete, school fee payments and lunch payments may be made.
If you have any forms such as your child’s birth certificate, proof of residency or immunization records that need to be turned in, feel free to stop by the office prior to the start of school to drop those off. Please call first, 414-529-8270 to ensure that a staff member is available.
If you need further assistance, please call the Ben Franklin main office at 414-529-8270.
BEN FRANKLIN PICTURE DAY TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
Pictures can be ordered online here:
https://orders.schoolandsportpics.com/ordering/access
Use the drop down menu to select Ben Franklin *NO ACCESS KEY IS REQUIRED*
Use this coupon code to save 10% off of your order if placed prior to picture day:
Fall100366
ATTENTION 4K & KINDERGARTEN FAMILIES REGARDING BUS TRANSPORTATION HOME
If parents would like to designate a person other than themselves, they can send an email to Tricia.Geiger@franklin.k12.wi.us.
In regards to same day notification (this should only be done for emergencies), please call First Student Busing at 414-422-2020 so they can pass along the information to the bus driver.
MEDICATIONS FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR
All medication can then be dropped off at school in its original container along with this form. Please feel free to drop off medication to the Ben Franklin office.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING SCHOOL LUNCH
POSSIBLE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES
Periodically, due to some food items not being available, please be patient and check the online lunch menus regularly for changes. We are expected to change menus multiple times a week due to issues we are facing. We appreciate your patience and look forward to seeing Franklin's students in a few weeks.
PLANNING FOR SCHOOL LUNCHES 2022-23
We want to remind families about what school lunch will look like for the 2022-23 school year. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that has been allowing students to receive free meals will no longer be offering this service for free next school year.
At the start of the 2022-23 school year, school lunches will no longer be free. Prices will remain the same as they were set for the 2020-21 school year.
We highly encourage families to continue to participate in the convenient, nutritious, and cost-friendly school meals. Our lunch webpage also contains our online lunch menus for all school buildings for the 2022-23 school year.
FREE & REDUCED PRICE MEALS FOR 2022-23
We encourage families to complete the free and reduced lunch application which is on our website here.GET CONNECTED
Stay informed about Activities, Events, Fundraisers, and more!
Your Ben Franklin PTO is excited about everything we are planning for the 2022-23 school year! We can't wait to see those of you that are returning to Ben Franklin and eager to meet new families! Recently, we launched a New Website to keep everyone informed about all of the activities happening throughout the year. The site is still under construction so if the link does not work, please check back later. https://sites.google.com/benfranklinpto.org/franklinwi/home
PTO Welcome Meeting
Stop and see us during the Back to School open house and/or join us for our first meeting of the school year, September 12th. PTO meets on the second Monday of each month in the Ben Franklin Library at 6:30pm. Help us build community, provide resources and enrichment opportunities and show our educators how much we value them! Events and activities sponsored by PTO are made possible with your support.
Who wants School Spirit Gear??
Click HERE to see all the great spirit wear options for men, women and youth. There are LOTS of new options this year, including the ability to order Ben Franklin Bobcat gear and/or Franklin Sabers gear! There are more than 30 items available in various colors and configurations! Deadline to order is Sunday, October 2nd, 2022
Be Kind - Blue Shirts
At Ben Franklin Elementary, it's cool to Be Kind! We encourage staff and students to wear Be Kind tee shirts (available for purchase at the School Spirit Gear link above) on the first Wednesday of every month to help stomp out bullying and cyberbullying. Give Kindness because you can. Do not judge. Learn about other cultures. Be respectful to all people. Be The Change!
Join our private Ben Franklin PTO Facebook Group
FEF FALL CHILDREN’S CONSIGNMENT SALE ON SEPT 17th
It's back! The Foundation's semi-annual children's consignment sale will be held on Sept 17th at Forest Park Middle School. There are still spots available for consignors and plenty of volunteer opportunities for students needing hours (did we mention we provide pizza and subs for our volunteers??) AND, the best part is all DONATED items that are not sold during the sale go toward Milwaukee-area nonprofits and charities that serve children. For more information concerning the sale and all of our upcoming events, go to our website at https://www.franklineducationalfoundation.org/events
FRANKLIN YOUTH GIRLS BASKETBALL TRYOUTS SEPT 12-15
Franklin Youth Girls Basketball tryouts for the 2022-23 season will take place September 12th-15th. The schedule and locations for 4th-8th grade girls tryouts can be found here.
Please save time by registering in advance at www.sabersgirlsbasketball.com (tab for Youth > Tryouts) or you can register at the door the night of your tryout. For questions regarding tryouts or the youth girls’ program, please send an email to saberscoachmike@gmail.com.
FRANKLIN YOUTH BOYS BASKETBALL TRYOUTS SEPT 11-15
Franklin Youth Boys Basketball tryouts for the 2022-23 season will take place September 11th-15th. New to the program this season -- we will be adding a 3rd grade tryout that will only meet for one tryout session. The schedule and locations for 3rd-8th grade girls tryouts can be found here. Teams will be posted the afternoon of Friday, September 16th.
Players will be expected at both tryout dates. Pre-registration for tryouts is mandatory and registration will close at 10 p.m. on Thursday, September 8th. The link for online registration is:
Franklin Boys Youth Basketball Tryout Registration.
FHS YOUTH CHEER FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL CLINIC
Register your 1st through 8th grader now for our one night youth cheerleading clinic on Thurs 9/8 so your child can perform at the Friday 9/9 Football game! Learn cheers, dances, jumps, tumbling & stunts with your Franklin High School Cheerleaders on Thursday to then cheer & perform at halftime of the Franklin Varsity football game on Friday night. Click flier at side for more details and for all details, requirements and to register, please click here.
FHS DANCE YOUTH FOOTBALL CLINIC FOR K-6
Register your Kindergarten through 6th Grade child for a FUN night with the Franklin High School Dance Team! Your child will learn a pom routine from the State Champion Franklin Varsity Dance Team and perform at halftime during the Franklin Varsity Football game on Friday, September 23rd. For all details, requirements and to register, please click here.
BOYS & GIRLS CUB SCOUT INTEREST?
Pack 538 is hosting a Join Scouting Recruitment Night at Pleasant View Elementary Library from 6:15 to 7:15 PM on Thursday 9/8 for parents and boys/girls 5K-5th Grade for 2022-23. Pack 538 has over 40 Scouts from the area. Scouts have year-round fun with STEM events, community service, camping and more. Payment due at time of registration. Contact Tim Bienzen, at 414-793-9245 or tbienzen@hotmail.com with questions. Visit www.Pack538.com for more information.
CATCH UP ON DISTRICT NEWS
Miss the last District Newsletter? Be sure to catch up on district happenings! You can access the archive of all District Newsletters here.
SCHOOL INFORMATION
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Email: Jennifer.Russell@franklin.k12.wi.us
Website: https://www.franklin.k12.wi.us/ben-franklin-elementary-school
Location: 7620 S 83rd St, Franklin, WI 53132, USA
Phone: 414-529-8270
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/BenFranklinElemFPS/posts