September 6, 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.
AND, WE'RE OFF!
We welcomed learners back to our building on Thursday and Friday of last week and what a great couple of days it was! Despite the hustle and bustle of those first days, I made sure to stop at various moments to take it all in. There is nothing quite like the look on students’ faces as they say goodbye to parents or step off the bus for the first time - there is anticipation, excitement and fear all at once. Compare this to the look on their faces at the end of the day - there is a smile, comfort, relief, and exhaustion. In just one day, your child(ren) have started to build relationships and become part of a learning community. In the coming days and weeks, those bonds will grow stronger, your child(ren) will learn more about themselves and how they fit into their learning community, and they will be more comfortable entering our building each day. I look forward to continuing to watch each classroom community (and our larger school community) grow!
As our learners get used to their new daily routines in our building, we are also getting used to new routines. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that we will have the same timeliness and consistency to our busing routines as we are used to. Please know that everyone is doing their best under the circumstances. Right now (fingers crossed, knock on wood, etc.), Ben Franklin is experiencing only minor hiccups to our bus routes. Most of these hiccups come in the form of short delays. Last week, buses did not arrive on campus until 4:00PM (typically they arrive between 3:50 and 3:55PM) and did not depart until 4:10PM or so. Please keep this in mind when your child(ren) has not arrived by the original estimated time you were provided. We will continue to refine our dismissal practices to ensure that students are departing campus as quickly as possible in the afternoons. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we adjust to these new busing realities.
In addition to learning the routines of the classroom, hallway, lunchroom, etc., we will also spend the month of September learning and reviewing our school safety procedures. Please see the enclosed information that outlines the safety drills that will be conducted this month to ensure that our students and staff are prepared to respond should an emergency occur.
We are thrilled to have all students back in our building today to keep the learning going! Here are a few pictures to capture our first days of learning together in the 2022-23 school year!
ONLINE ABSENCE/ATTENDANCE FORM
As a reminder, when reporting a student absent for any reason (full day, arriving late, leaving early), please communicate this using the online absence/attendance form here. This is a NEW form this year so if you bookmarked or made a shortcut to the old form from last year, please update. If your child is out sick, the form will also collect information about the symptoms and sickness your child is experiencing so our nursing staff can respond with next steps. Thank you for taking the time to complete this form as it really helps to streamline our processes. The form is located on our website under Parent/Student Info as well as a big button on each school’s home page.
LUNCH ACCOUNT REMINDER
We would like to remind all parents that school lunches are no longer free this year. Lunch is $2.85 and an individual milk purchase is $.45. If you need assistance paying for your student's lunch a link to the Free & Reduced applications can be found on the FPS website under the Lunch Tab. Students will be allowed 3 emergency meals, after this they will receive a cheese sandwich, vegetable, fruit and a milk until their account is in the positive. Cheese sandwich meals will be charged to the student's lunch account. We look forward to seeing your children in the lunch line this year!
BUSING UPDATES
In case you missed it in the Friday District newsletter, please review this bus memo that outlines what occurred this week in regards to FPS experiencing canceled and significantly delayed routes. This document also provides details on what to expect as we roll into next week. We are asking all families to please have a backup transportation plan for your family as we continue to navigate this bus driver shortage.
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.
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
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.
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!
Bobcat Bolt
(Formerly Walk-A-Thon) Save the date: Friday, October 7th for our first FUNdraiser of the year! Students will participate in the Bobcat Bolt run/walk during the school day and families will be asked to help raise funds in the weeks leading up to the event. More info. coming soon!
Join our private Ben Franklin PTO Facebook Group
METAL PARTS, MACHINES & ELECTRONICS RECYCLING DRIVE THIS SAT @ FHS
The FHS Saber Robotics Team is hosting a “Metal Parts, Machines & Electronics” Recycling Drive this coming Saturday in the Franklin High School parking lot from 8am-12pm. Please click here or on the image to view all the details of what you can bring to recycle! No TV’s or Monitors please!
SABER MARCHING BAND INVITE SAT 9/17 @ FHS
Franklin High School is proud to host the SABER MARCHING BAND INVITE 2022 on Saturday, September 17th at Sullivan Stadium! Gates open at 4:30pm and the event begins at 5:45pm with a performance of the National Anthem by the Forest Park Middle School bands. You can view the schedule, parking information and all other details here. There are 7 bands scheduled to perform at the event. Bands will be judged in the areas of music performance, visual performance, music general effect, visual general effect, percussion, and colorguard. Individual class placement awards will be given to all participating bands. Concessions will be open and FHS will be selling student shout-outs and 50/50 raffle tickets at a booth by the home stands. Come spend Saturday night under the lights and enjoy local high school bands performing!
FEF FALL CHILDREN’S CONSIGNMENT SALE ON SEPT 17th
t'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 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