AUGUST 13, 2021
Franklin District Newsletter | Summer Update #4
Being Flexible And Responsive
Dear Families,
As we approached opening school last fall, we worked very hard to achieve three important priorities:
Ensuring the safety and well-being of all students and staff
Ensuring a highly effective learning program for all
Ensuring flexibility and responsiveness
Overall we were very successful, and last May, as we were getting ready to close out the school year, it appeared our priorities would be easier to accomplish in the upcoming school year. But, unfortunately, due to the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19, our priorities are again requiring our intense focus and attention.
Each day, new data is collected, and our need to be flexible and responsive is increasing. Therefore, we are meeting regularly with our Medical Advisory Team and the Franklin Health Department to review current case rates and our COVID-19 protocols so we can provide a safe and high-quality educational experience for students.
As in every community, some parents believe children should wear masks, and some parents believe they should not. At the close of the last school year, we announced that masks would be recommended, not required for summer programming, and for the 2021-22 school year. Whether our mitigation protocols change will be based upon the positive case rates of COVID-19 in Franklin, the recommendations of the medical community, and the feedback from our families.
On August 25th, the Board of Education will be provided an update to our 2021-22 Instructional Planning Report, which will include the most current COVID-19 information for their review and discussion. Next week, every family will receive a survey that is intended to provide them the opportunity to share with the Board of Education what concerns them most about COVID-19 mask protocols and returning to school. The next family message will be provided on Friday, August 27th.
Please remember that we are updating our Start of the Year FAQ page (here) as we finalize details for the start of the year. If you have questions for your principal(s), we encourage you to submit them using the form (here) that is also found on that page.
I have had on my desk for the last 17 months two rocks that middle school students made. One rock says, “Rock on.” The other says, “We got this.” In early summer, I thought about removing them, but something told me to leave them there. The rocks help to remind me of the spirit of our community in working together through COVID-19. I sincerely hope, for your child(ren) and our students, that they can see us come together to make this a great school year for them.
Have a nice weekend,
Dr. Judy Mueller
District Administrator
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES
As a reminder, the District Calendar and all building calendars can be found here.
All of our calendars are able to be subscribed to! Follow the steps at the top of the District Calendar for how to subscribe. You will also see our 2021-22 Calendar Events in your own calendar app on your device!
PLANNING FOR FALL SPORTS & ACTIVITIES
All FPS athletics programs follow WIAA COVID-19 requirements for vaccinated/unvaccinated student-athletes. Therefore, all unvaccinated students that are close contacts will not be allowed to participate in athletics or activities for the duration of the quarantine. If a student has been vaccinated, they will be given the choice (but will not be required) to quarantine after a confirmed exposure unless they develop symptoms of illness. Please take this into account as your family explores the options for vaccination and discuss any questions you have with your child’s healthcare provider.
VACCINE INFORMATION
If your family is choosing to explore options for vaccination, please refer to the details below for how the vaccination timeline works. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) encourages anyone age 12 and older to get their COVID-19 vaccination now, so they will be protected against COVID-19 early in the 2021-22 school year.
For children ages 12 and up, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the only vaccine currently available for this age group. The Pfizer vaccine requires two doses, spaced 21 days apart.
Anyone ages 18 and up is eligible for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, which also requires two doses, spaced 28 days apart. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is also authorized for those ages 18 years and up, but only requires one dose.
COMPLETE FAMILY SUMMER CHECKLIST
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 this past Monday, August 9th, 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 need further assistance after viewing the Parent Checklist, please contact your home school or the Education & Community Center at 414-529-8220.
RECENT COMMUNICATIONS
REMINDER: STAGGERED START DAYS
As shared in our last district newsletter (click here to read if you missed it), we shared some information with families about how the first few days of school will be structured as "Staggered Start Days." We hope this 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. You can click the image below to see more details about how these days will be structured.
SCHOOL SUPPLY LISTS
FOOD SERVICE UPDATES
Lunch
Starting Wednesday, September 1st, and running through the last day of school for 2021-22, all children can receive free meals. These meals are only available to Franklin Public School students. Individual milk or a la cart purchases, separate from a meal, are not free under this program, so the student's lunch account will be charged. Online payments for lunch fees are available from MySchoolBucks. For the month of August, there is no fee associated with depositing money in MySchoolBucks.
Free and Reduced Lunch Program
The Household Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals for each new school year will be available each year on August 1st on the Franklin Public Schools lunch page of the website. If you would like to apply for free and reduced-price school meals, please make sure that you complete the specific application for the school year that your child will be attending. Please note: A new application must be submitted at the beginning of each school year.
Fee Waivers
If the financial condition of the family is such that they cannot afford to pay student fees, the Director of Business Services may waive the fees or provide a payment plan.
Please click here to download a Student Fee Waiver Request.
FPS FOOD SERVICE IS HIRING
Do you enjoy doing wonderful things for kids? You’re in luck! We have part-time openings available to help provide meals for our students at lunchtime! Perfect opportunity to earn money while working a few hours during the day. No experience is necessary, we will show you how. Just click here to apply on WECAN for Cook 1 (Vacancy ID#114884) or Cook 2 (Vacancy ID#117600).
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! ELEM & FPMS OPEN HOUSES PLANNED
Mark your calendars! We are planning for in-person open house events in late August!
- TUESDAY, AUGUST 24th - Forest Park Middle School Open House 5-7pm. Teachers will be available to meet and greet with students and families. More information will be provided in August from your building. Students should bring their printed schedules. Schedules will be finalized late August.
- WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25th - Elementary 5K-5th School Open Houses 5:30-7pm. Meet teachers and put away school supplies. 4K staff will be contacting families soon about "Getting To Know You Days" during the first few days of school.
- **NEW DATE** THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9th - High School 5:45-8pm. Meet teachers and learn about school community organizations (booster clubs, etc).
CHILDREN'S WI Q&A FOR PARENTS
Recently, Children's Wisconsin held an online Q&A between medical professionals and parents around back-to-school health concerns. This Q&A is linked here if you'd like to see and below is their brief description.
Back to school can still be a stressful time with many unknowns. To help answer your questions and hopefully eliminate some of that stress, experts from Children's Wisconsin held a live online conversation. Throughout the conversation, they answered questions about masking, vaccinations, the Delta variant, testing, mental and behavioral health, and even tips for helping kids adjust. They encouraged a layered approach to COVID-19 mitigation in schools, which includes masks, distancing, hand hygiene, staying home when sick, and more. They spoke to the considerations for kids and their families at home, kids with complex medical needs, as well as teachers and school faculty.
FRANKLIN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION EXCELLENT TEACHER AWARD RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED!
On behalf of the Franklin Educational Foundation, congratulations to our 2021 Excellent Teacher Award recipients! Please take a moment to watch this heartfelt video showcasing parents, students and co-workers who nominated these award winners and you can read a little about these award recipients in the images below!
This award comes with a $500 grant that can be used for enhancing the student experience in the teacher's classroom or for the teacher's professional development. Winners will also be formally honored at the Foundation's December Board of Directors meeting on Friday, December 17th at 7:30 a.m. at the ECC.
Congratulations!
Ben Franklin - Anne McDermott
Country Dale - Tara Pernacciaro
Pleasant View - Mary Fassbender
Robinwood - Amanda Reed
Southwood Glen - Lisa Bart
House of Corrections - Kate LaGosh
Forest Park Middle School - Karisa Stiglitz
Franklin High School - Kaitlyn Laumann
FRANKLIN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION MILKMEN "BACK-TO-SCHOOL" CELEBRATION
COMMUNITY ED & REC UPDATES
FALL REC GUIDE BOOK IS NOW ONLINE!
The Fall Community & Recreation Guide is now online as of Friday, August 13th! And we have a brand new registration website for all Community Education & Recreation programming.
The Fall Rec Guide can be found here
The new registration website is at http://franklinwi.myrec.com
Registration will open online next Wednesday, August 18th!
KIDS CLUB IS HIRING!
Join our Team! We are seeking creative and dependable individuals to work in the Franklin Community Education & Recreation Kids Club program. Enjoy your morning and/or afternoon playing games, going outside, doing art projects, and more with children in grades 4K through 5th grade. Please apply on WECAN for the Kids Club Assistant (Vacancy ID#115266) or the Kids Club Site Supervisor (Vacancy ID#115265) positions.
Franklin Public Schools
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We pride ourselves on being...
- A Better Place to Learn
- A Better Place to Work
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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