February 12, 2024
February 12, 2024
At Ben Franklin, one of our goals is to continue to build student engagement in order to develop a strong school community. Specifically, we are focused on growing empathy and perspective taking so that students (and staff) are able to show care and concern for each other. One way we are doing this is by establishing a process for restoring relationships when issues arise.
Restoration is all about repairing harm, restoring relationships, and working to build a positive school culture. Sometimes restoration is accomplished through a conversation, sometimes it is accomplished through an action. Regardless, restoration allows us to foster community and accountability by emphasizing dialogue, empathy, and understanding - the goal of any restorative process is to “make things right” with those we have wronged in some way.
Recently, our staff has developed a set of questions that can be used to help students process situations where they may need to restore relationships. We have asked teachers to share these questions with their classes so that all students can see how adults are helping students process situations and work toward restoration. Here are the questions we use:
What happened?
What were you thinking of at the time?
What have you thought about since?
Who has been affected by what you have done?
In what way have they been affected?
What do you think you need to do to make things right?
Restoration is just one additional way we are focused on building the Bobcat Way at Ben Franklin - it allows students to take responsibility for the choices they make, build empathy, and care for others. If you have questions or would like to know more, please feel free to reach out to me or your child(ren)’s teacher to learn more about how we use restorative processes
Steffany Jewell
Ben Franklin Principal
BEN FRANKLIN YEARBOOK ORDERING INFORMATION
Online yearbook ordering is now open until April 1, 2024. (All Yearbook orders will be placed online this year). Yearbooks can be ordered online here: School & Sports Pics Yearbook Ordering Link.
Anyone who has provided School & Sport Pics with an email address will be reminded to order. If you have any further questions please contact School & Sport Pics at 262-780-2901.
Click HERE to order yours now!
WI BUS DRIVER APPRECIATION WEEK
Wisconsin Bus Driver Appreciation week begins Monday, February 12th and runs to Friday, February 16th! If you click on the attached picture, you can print off a copy and have your child(ren) color the page and hand this to your bus driver as a way of showing appreciation! We are very thankful for the bus drivers that show up every day to help safely transport our kids to and from school. Thank you!
BONUS POINTS: Snap a picture of your child giving the bus driver the color sheet and send it to communications@franklin.k12.wi.us and we may feature it in an upcoming newsletter!
3-YEAR-OLD CHILD DEVELOPMENT DAYS COMING UP
Franklin Public Schools hosts screenings for 3-year-old children on language, cognition, social-emotional, adaptive, and physical development. This program combines a play-based observational screening of children with a “Child Fair” for parents to learn more about child and family-related services in our area. Click here or the accompanying flier to learn more and to register!
FPS 2024-25 OPEN ENROLLMENT INFORMATION
At the January 24, 2024 School Board Meeting, the FPS School Board approved (139) open enrollment seats for the 2024-25 school year. Online applications for open enrollment are accepted beginning Monday, February 5th through Friday, April 30, 2024 @ 4pm. For all other open enrollment information, please view our webpage here which includes the breakdown of open seats by grade level and directions to follow for those wishing to open enroll. For any questions, please contact Heidi Engel, FPS Auxiliary Service Coordinator by email or phone (414) 525-7634.
LOST & FOUND
Please Click here for items currently in the lost and found. It is also suggested that if possible, student items be labeled with the first and last name on it so that we can get it back to the student if it becomes lost.
SPRING FUNDRAISER MILWAUKEE PRETZEL COMPANY
We are so excited to be fundraising with the Milwaukee Pretzel Company. Please collect orders from February 12- February 26. ALL ORDERS ALONG WITH PAYMENT MUST BE TURNED IN BY MONDAY FEBRUARY 26!
50% of all sales will go directly back to our PTO! The funds raised will be used to pay for student field trips! Pretzels will be ready for pick up on March 18 at Ben Franklin or for $10 you can have them shipped directly to your home
SPRING SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR 3-11/3-15
The Spring Scholastic Book Fair is right around the corner! If you are interested in volunteering, please use the link below to sign up! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0D4CAEA62CA2F94-47244848-spring
SPRING CARNIVAL & YEARBOOK HANDOUT MAY 17, 2024
We need your help in making this year's Spring Carnival the best one yet! Please use the link below if you're interested in volunteering or donating! https://forms.gle/gWLps4zkeUNi7Gxi9
5th GRADE BABY PHOTOS & QUOTES
Please submit 5th grade baby photos and “When I Grow Up I Want To Be” quotes to Nicole Stuebner at Nicole.stuebner@yahoo.com no later than Friday, March 1st!
BOOKMARK
Ben Franklin PTO’s LinkTree so all the info. you need it just a click away!
Stay informed about Activities, Events, Fundraisers, and more Ben Franklin PTO’s website!
SPRING CHILDREN’S CONSIGNMENT SALE
Mark your calendar for March 16th for our semi-annual sale at FPMS. With over 120 consigners, we'll be selling everything from children's clothing, books, games, toys, baby items and more. We have a "Donation Hour" after the sale is closed for nonprofits and schools to "shop" the sale for free. Besides FPS schools, organizations that benefit from the sale are Kids Matter Inc., Street Angels Homeless Outreach, Next Door Milwaukee, Robyn's Nest at Children's Hospital, Ladies of Charity, Father Gene's, St. Vincent DePaul, and many MPS schools.
CELTIC ANGELS IRELAND 2/24
The first show in the new “Franklin Community Series” at the Saber Center for the Performing Arts is debuting in late February! Escape to Verdant Valleys and Heathery Highlands. Step back in time to the Land of Saints and Scholars. Lose yourself in the alluring Angels’ magical melodies Feel your heart pound to raucous rhythms of the champion Celtic Knights Dancers. Immerse yourself in Ireland’s infectious influences across the Wild Blue Ocean to the Amber Waves of Grain and Beyond. Headed by the powerhouse creative team direct from Ireland and featuring award winning Irish and World Champion Singers, Dancers and Musicians. Celtic Angels Ireland is a theatrical feast for all ages. Tickets and information are on our ticket information page here!
K-12 FINE ARTS GALLERY NIGHT THURS 2/22
The 16th Annual K-12 Fine Arts Gallery Night will take place at Franklin High School on Thursday, February 22nd from 5:30-7:30pm. This is a family friendly event to have an ‘Art Experience’ and everyone is invited to attend! We ask that all students be supervised by an adult. There will be multiple student demonstrations on a variety of art media. A slide show highlighting student artwork will be available as well and students will be recognized by their teachers for their work. Come join us!
CULTUREFEST 2024 IS THURS 2/15
It's a celebration of cultures and everyone is invited! On Thursday, February 15th, 2024, come to FHS Multicultural Club’s FREE event, filled with food, activities, and performances. This year the annual event, which has previously hosted over 600 attendees, is even bigger and better than before! From a Dabke dance group to a Hmong performance, expect to celebrate countless cultures of the world.
Check out the student-designed poster below to show all your friends and family, and please contact Mai Alessaly at mai.alessaly@franklinsabers.org and Sruti Palla at sruti.palla@franklinsabers.org with any questions or inquiries. If you’d like to be involved in the event yourself, please let us know by January 20th. Hope to see you there and don’t be afraid to put on your party hats and join the celebration!
WINTER/SPRING REC GUIDE IS AVAILABLE!
The 2023-24 Winter/Spring Rec Guide is now available online here and registration for Franklin families opens on Tuesday, December 5th (tomorrow as you receive this newsletter on Monday). We have a bunch of new programs including Basketball Camps, Athlete Performance Training, more Abby Martin cookie decorating, Kayak Trips, Adult Gym Classes and more! Sign up early as spots are limited!
SCHOOL INFORMATION
Parents, Guardians, and Staff are set to automatically receive our District and Building Newsletters. If you are a community member that would like to receive any of our newsletters, please complete our SUBSCRIBE FORM.
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