OCTOBER 2, 2020
FPS Family Newsletter | 20-21 Issue 12
A NEW MONTH...
We have had another very successful week of teaching and learning. Unfortunately, we have also had a few new cases of COVID-19 that have caused a number of our students to be quarantined. You will see in the metrics below that most of these cases have been at the high school level. Please continue to help us convey to our secondary students the importance of wearing their masks and social distancing outside of school.
As we have been quarantining students, parents have been inquiring about who their child has been in close contact with. There are very limited circumstances in which the District is able to inform parents and other community members of another student testing positive for COVID-19 or quarantined due to COVID-19. This memo entitled “Legal Obligations Pertaining to Disclosure of Students Testing Positive for COVID-19 or Quarantined due to COVID-19,” explains the District’s legal obligations regarding the information we can provide to families.
Just as a reminder, the CDC and Department of Health and Human Services defines a close contact as anyone who is within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes throughout the day or had physical contact with an individual testing positive for COVID-19. Given this parameter, we fully expect new students will be quarantined just as those who were quarantined are returning back to school. I describe it as a revolving door. The important thing is that our overall metrics are still good and we can continue in-person learning.
Have a great weekend,
Dr. Judy Mueller
District Administrator
MONITORING & TRANSITION DASHBOARD UPDATE
If you are looking for more details around this data, please view our Monitor & Transition Plan
TONIGHT! FHS FOOTBALL VS INDIAN TRAIL ONLINE
TONIGHT, your Franklin High School Sabers will host the Kenosha Indian Trail High School And Academy Hawks for our first home football game of the season. As we've been sharing, while it's not safe to bring together large groups of people, we will continue to live stream our home sporting events. The live stream for the football game is available at this link or in the YouTube video below (at the time of the game): https://youtu.be/uUYNh-QM7nI
Please share this around so everyone can find it and have access!
Please note that this event is not open to the general public and Please be aware that only those individuals who have been added by fall athletes to our 'family fan list' will be allowed to enter the event.
- All family fan list members must wear masks while in attendance and will be asked to socially distance in the stands.
- Individuals are not allowed to gather and view the game from the fenced area outside the stadium.
- All fans not able to attend the event, both home and away, can view the event at this live stream link.
BOARD UPDATES FROM PRESIDENT LARRY GAMBLE
We started the school year strong with in-person and virtual class options. As always, the focus is on keeping our students and staff safe with an added priority of following the advice of health safety professionals. At this time, we must also be mindful of restrictions and recommendations of DPI, WIAA, and analyzing best practices from other districts that help keep our schools operating safely. We are excited to have students participating in extracurricular activities and look forward to that future time when we can return to hosting gatherings to support our students engaging in arts, music, sports, and various club activities.
This month, the Board will tackle the budget and how that looks in the COVID-19 economy while keeping Franklin Public Schools a better place to learn, a better place to work and part of a better community.
BOARD MEMBER APPOINTMENT UPDATE
As we shared previously, former Board member and President Janet Evans chose to step down from the board to focus her time and efforts on the care of a family member. When a vacancy like this occurs during a Board Member’s term, the remaining board members hold interviews with prospective candidates to fill the seat until the next election. This past Wednesday, September 30th, the Board interviewed four highly qualified candidates and ultimately appointed Mrs. Ann Sepersky to complete the remainder of the term. Mrs. Sepersky will be sworn in at the October 14th Board meeting. Here are a few words from Mrs. Sepersky about joining the Franklin Public Schools Board of Education.
“I have been involved in many aspects of the district for the past 11 years. It is an honor to be chosen by the board to fill this vacancy. I am proud of our district and I am excited to work together to serve the community in this role.”
VIRTUAL FAMILIES SEPT SURVEY & FEEDBACK REMINDER
FOOD SERVICE INFORMATION
VIRTUAL FAMILIES ONLY - PLEASE COMPLETE FOOD FORM
If you have a virtual student and you are planning on ordering a lunch during the week of October 12th, we ask that you complete this meal interest survey indicating your lunch preferences by 11:59pm this coming Tuesday, October 6. Filling this out a week ahead of when needed helps our food services team to better plan for the upcoming weeks and improve the lunch experience for your child. The pick-up time for meals remains 8:30 to 9:00 Monday thru Friday at FPMS.
WHAT TO DO IF QUARANTINED/ISOLATED CHILD AT HOME?
If you have a child at home that has recently been quarantined as a close contact or isolated as a positive COVID-19 case, please contact your home school’s head cook (contact information here) and you can arrange for lunch pickup for the days your child(ren) is/are at home.
HEALTH REMINDERS
Thank you for your patience and honesty as we navigate this school year. We appreciate everyone keeping their kids home who aren't feeling well.
Over the last two months, we have shared many resources related to questions around COVID-19 and how to approach situations. Linked below are the visuals we have created if you have any of these situations that you or your family are dealing with.
PLEASE WASH MASKS
Our students and staff are doing a great job wearing their masks each day! As we get into normal routines during the school year, one routine we would like to highly encourage is mask washing. We are seeing some students coming to school with masks that have not been washed in a few days. Please consider having your student rotate masks throughout the week and start each day with a clean, fresh mask. Mask effectiveness is best with a clean, dry mask each day.
OPERATION WARM IS HERE!
Cold weather is coming. Operation Warm is here to help!
Do you need help getting a coat and/or snow pants for your child this winter. Please contact Brandi Clauff, School Social Worker, to sign up: 414-525-5007
Thank you to the Franklin Fire Department for making Operation Warm possible!
Franklin Public Schools
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Email: communications@franklin.k12.wi.us
Website: http://www.franklin.k12.wi.us
Location: 8255 West Forest Hill Avenue, Franklin, WI, USA
Phone: 414-529-8220
Facebook: facebook.com/franklinpublicschools
Twitter: @fpsdistrictwi