SEPT 20, 2021
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS & COMMUNITY MEMBERS
EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMUNITY PLAYGROUP
Learning is Child’s Play is an inclusive playgroup for 3 year olds to promote sharing, turn-taking, and friendship skills facilitated by the Franklin Public School Early Childhood Staff at Ben Franklin Elementary. The program runs from October 6, 2021 to May 25, 2022. To see all details and the registration form, please view this flyer.
Dear Ben Franklin Parents and Caregivers,
We have much to celebrate after our first full week of school! Getting into classrooms and watching students and teachers in action is the best part of my work! Each classroom has its own unique community and everyone is working to get to know each other. The best way to learn about communities is to see Welcoming activities in action. Given a prompt, children and staff can share how they are feeling, something they are anticipating or possibly a follow up from a Second Step lesson that supports social emotional learning. Social emotional learning is at the foundation of all learning.
Last week we had a chance to practice our first fire drill. We can celebrate that we all know how to get out of the building safely! This week, we will practice another drill for how to respond to an emergency within our school. We will have a “lockdown drill.” This type of drill is used for any number of reasons including a medical emergency, a threat outside the school or in the event of a threat within our school. We will conduct this drill while also social distancing. A letter went home earlier in September outlining the drills that will be conducted throughout the school year. Please reach out to me if you have any questions.
Our arrival and dismissal procedures continue to improve each day. Thank you for all that you do to make these procedures safe! Here are two more ways to continue to help:
Small Change for Curbside Pick Up…
On the card provided to you, please write your child(ren)’s name(s) in bold print on the flip side of the card, place the card with the first names on the passenger dashboard so that it is easier to read and call out your child’s names.
Keep the pets at home…
When walking to or from school, please keep pets at home. There is nothing more enticing to a child than an adorable pet. However for the safety of all of our students, please abid by the Board Policy, #5316 and pets are only allowed on public property, not on school property when children are present.
Upcoming Walk-A-Thon….
On October 1st, all Ben Franklin Students will be able to participate in the PTO Sponsored Walk-A-Thon. This is an exciting fundraising event for our school. The PTO has worked hard to get this up and running. In the past, spectators have been allowed to attend, but due to restrictions on the number of volunteers, we will not be able to have spectators in attendance. Thank you for understanding.
Sincerely,
Mary Shannon
Ben Franklin Principal
PICTURE DAY
Pictures can be ordered online here:
<https://orders.schoolandsportpics.com/ordering>
https://orders.schoolandsportpics.com/ordering
Use the drop down menu to select your school name
Use this coupon code to save 10% off of your order if placed prior to
picture day: Fall100366
BUS REMINDERS
Bus Driver Shortage: Please review this document that we shared on August 31 with all families to make you aware of how a bus driver shortage could impact our bus routes and how we will communicate this with you in the event we can not secure a driver for your child’s route.
Bus Riders Wear Masks: Any individual on a school bus (or any public transportation) is federally required to wear a mask. Please make sure your student has a mask before heading to the bus. Even if students are choosing not to wear a mask while at school, a mask must be worn on the bus at all times. Thank you.
Need a Bus Change or Addition? If you have any additions or changes needed for the busing of your child, please use this Bus Change or Addition Form.
- Bus Drivers Needed: We are continuing to support First Student in their recruiting efforts. First Student provides $21/hour starting pay, a $1500 sign-on bonus, paid CDL training, 20-hours a week guaranteed with extra hours available, a child ride-along program, and no experience necessary. If you are interested in a career with First Student or know someone who may be, please pass along this opportunity. All hiring information for bus drivers is here.
ATTENDANCE REMINDER
GET CONNECTED: Watch for school and event updates by joining our Ben Franklin PTO Facebook
SCHOOL DIRECTORY: Connecting with your child's classmates can be much easier! Click HERE to register. It's fast, easy, and FREE! After your registration is verified, use the same link to access the directory. (Registration is required to access the directory.)
WALK-A-THON: Our annual Walk-A-Thon Fundraiser will be held on October 1st. During the school day, students will be divided into age brackets and given 20 minutes to run/walk as many laps as they can around a defined course on the playground.
Students and families are asked to seek donations for the laps they complete. Click here to view the flyer for more info. about how the funds will be used, the fun prizes students can earn and what Mrs. Shannon is willing to do if we reach the all-school goal….
This year we will be utilizing an online platform, GetMovin' that allows digital donations along with a paper pledge sheet for cash/check donations. (Students should have brought home a pledge sheet last week.) Register with school Identifier: 613b3de94b53c
Want to give your kiddo’s a bit of extra encouragement? Watch for a link in next week’s newsletter to submit “shout-outs” during the Walk-A-Thon!
FIELD WORKSHOP: Field Workshop is a local (Greendale) family friendly creative art studio and tinker lab where all ages can explore their creative side through creative play, art projects, classes and education programs.
Now through the end of October Ben Franklin can earn cash for our school! Purchase a gift card or book a birthday party and use the organization code: BenFranklin21 at checkout (coupon code or in the message portion).
FRANKLIN FUN RUN IS COMING!
Next week, Wednesday September 22nd, our very own Franklin High School Cross Country Team will be bringing back the annual Franklin Fun Run. This 1.1 mile race is open to any Franklin children 8th grade or younger. The run will be hosted at the Franklin High School Soccer Fields. Registration will occur before the run. Races will begin at 5:15 pm with the girls race, followed by boys at 5:40 pm and awards at 6:00 pm. Awards to the top 2 girls and boys in each of these divisions:
Kindergarten and under
1st/2nd grade
3rd/4th
5th/6th
7th/8th
Any questions, please contact Mrs. Challen at jennifer.challen@franklin.k12.wi.us
SWING BACK INTO SPANISH!
In our ‘Vamos a Jugar’ and ‘Vamos a Acampar’ classes, students will explore sports, games, hobbies and the great outdoors. Using builder phrases, we will get the students speaking small sentences and phrases in class right from day one. Whether on the field, at the lake, or on the playground, your child will be able to use his or her new Spanish skills! Classes fill up fast –Register today, Don’t delay! Enroll online: www.FuturaAdventures.com
NEW SPEAK UP SPEAK OUT FORM
The District has joined “Speak Up Speak Out Wisconsin” for threat or incident reporting. This takes the place of our previous “StopIt” reporting form. Click on this link to view the new form. You will notice as you start typing the name of your school, the choices for schools narrows so you can select your school. By selecting your school, this report goes to the principal or local law enforcement when needed. The video linked below gives a good overview of how “Speak Up Speak Out Wisconsin” works and is good to review with your family.
Going forward, we will have a graphic for Speak Up Speak Out Wisconsin at the bottom of each newsletter that you can click on for quick access to report incidents if needed. You can also add the Speak Up Speak Out App on your phone for quick reporting by utilizing these links: iOS | Android
FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS HIRING
We are hiring for Food Service Workers ($15/hour starting wage, full and part time), Kids Club Workers (working with students before and after school), and Bus Drivers ($21/hour starting wage, other bonuses, paid training through First Student in Muskego).
SCHOOL INFORMATION
All past newsletters are stored on our website here
Email: Susan.Behrens@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