January 16, 2024
January 16, 2024
I hope you had the opportunity to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. this MLK Day! We honor Martin Luther King Jr. as a civil rights icon who dedicated his life to equality, justice, and freedom for all. I urge you and your child(ren) to reflect on his powerful words and actions that continue to inspire positive change. In this short video, MLK emphasizes the importance of creating a sound blueprint for our lives, one which equips us with a deep sense of self-worth, determination to achieve excellence, and a commitment to beauty, love, and justice. Let's come together to promote unity, understanding, and the dream of a more inclusive future at Ben Franklin.
Steffany Jewell
Ben Franklin Principal
NEWS FROM THE LUNCHROOM
In the event of an unscheduled school closing, please be sure to check our online lunch menu at https://franklin.nutrislice.com/ for the most up to date lunch information. Thank you.
FPS Family Communication Survey (open until 2/1/24)
Beginning today, the FPS Family Communication Survey is now open to receive feedback from families around our 1-way, 2-way and passive communication efforts in Franklin Public Schools. When you go to the form, you will be asked to sign into the survey similar to other forms we utilize by entering your child's 6-digit student ID number and date of birth in order to verify yourself as a parent or guardian within FPS. The survey only needs to be completed once per parent or guardian and not once per child. Please click here or on the banner below to complete the survey once per parent/guardian before 11:59pm on Thursday, February 1st.
FPS SCHOOL CLOSURES INFO
We shared a reminder last week regarding how FPS handles school closures due to weather (#Timely!). We have also put this information on our website here in case you need to reference it at any time.
In addition, if we have an unscheduled school closing, please be sure to check our online lunch menu at https://franklin.nutrislice.com/ for the most up to date lunch information. Thank you.
MAP TESTING - KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADES 5
Please read this informational letter in regards to MAP testing for Grades K through 5th. MAP testing will begin January 8th and continue through January 19th.
MAP READING FLUENCY 4K ONLY
Your son/daughter will be taking the MAP Reading Fluency assessment on 1/18/24 - 2/15/24. This tool measures the growth of our students in the areas of phonological awareness and literacy. The state of Wisconsin requires that a literacy screener be administered each year to all pre-K students as part of a 2012 education bill that aimed to increase reading achievement in the state.
Please click here for all the information.
DRESS FOR THE WEATHER
Wisconsin weather is upon us! Please make sure your son/daughter is dressed appropriately for outdoor recess. Coats and hats are necessary for the impending cold weather. However, this being Wisconsin, it can become warm and sunny by noontime. Please remind your child if they choose to remove their jacket during recess they are to be tied around their waist and not left on the playground. The decision to have an outdoor or indoor recess is based on both the wind speed and temperature at 11:30 am. If it is an outside recess day, all students must go outdoors. Please label your child's coat, hat, boots, & mittens with their name.
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.
PTO MEETING 1-17-24
Please join us on Wednesday, January 17 at 6 PM in the Ben Franklin Library for our PTO meeting.
FAMILY BINGO NIGHT 1-19-24 (6:15-7:15 PM)
Please join us for a completely FREE night of fun! Family Bingo Night will be held on Friday, January 19th from 6:15-7:15 PM in the multipurpose room.
Doors will open at 6 PM. Please enter through the North doors (Kid's Club Entrance) as the main entrance doors will be locked.
Concessions will be available for purchase! Freshly popped popcorn, candy, water and soda.
We look forward to a fun and exciting night!
Please register for this free event here: https://forms.gle/kSSLQQrD5gsvqnAJ9
DINING OUT NIGHT: MELT N DIP 1-24-24 (4-8 PM)
Please join the Ben Franklin PTO for a Dining Night Out at Melt N Dip Greenfield!! Indulge in heavenly crepes and waffles filled with the finest Belgian chocolate for the ultimate treat to end your day!
20% of all sales from 4-8PM will go directly back to the PTO!
SPRING FUNDRAISER MILWAUKEE PRETZEL COMPANY
This spring we will be fundraising with the Milwaukee Pretzel Company. Order forms will go home the week of February 5, 2024. Please collect orders from February 12- February 26. ALL ORDERS ALONG WITH PAYMENT MUST BE TURNED IN BY MONDAY FEBRUARY 26! Please keep an eye out for more information on our Facebook/Instagram pages. 50% of all sales will go directly back to our PTO!
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
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!
VOLUNTEER STUDENTS AGES 7-12 NEEDED ON FRI 2/2
Advanced Placement Research is a college-level course offered at Franklin High School that allows students to demonstrate academic writing and research skills. Through this course students embark on a year-long research process in which they explore an academic topic or problem based on personal interests. One research topic this year will be conducting a non-experimental study that focuses on collecting qualitative data. The research will be conducted as an ethnographic study and data will be collected in the form of interviews before and after the movie Zootopia is shown to the children. The study will focus on exploring how Malayalee children and non-Malayalee children perceive different forms of discrimination in the movie.
The study will take place on Friday, February 2nd at 6pm in room C234 at FHS. If you have a child aged 7-12 who would be able and willing to participate in this study, please complete the form here prior to arriving. If you have any questions, you can reach out to Saera Joseph (FHS student) and Mary Piwaron (AP Research Instructor).
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!
“LEGALLY BLONDE JR” AT FHS SABER CENTER
Join Forte Youth Productions as Harvard's beloved blonde takes the stage by glittery pink storm! A fabulously fun journey of self-empowerment and expanding horizons, this musical is filled with humor, wit and sass — leaving audiences seeing pink!
Part of Forte’s youth musical series, this show will be performed by students ages 12-18 from FPS and throughout the Greater Milwaukee Area.
Friday, January 26th @ 7 pm
Saturday, January 27th @ 7 pm
Sunday, January 28th @ 2 pm
@ The Saber Center for the Performing Arts at FHS
Running time approximately 1 hour without intermission.
Tickets $12-$15 GET TICKETS HERE
2024-25 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
Registration for the 2024-25 school year is open on our website here. Registration is for any new families to Franklin or new students looking to register for next year in 4K, 5K or up through 12th grade. If you have any friends or family in Franklin that plan to have children attend Franklin Public Schools next year, please pass this information along to them! Registering early helps to get all information in our system for planned communications. Any family who knows a student will not be returning for the next school year should notify your school’s main office staff.
CHARACTER KIDS WINTER MUSICAL PRODUCTION
You're invited to join the cast of Disney’s 101 Dalmatians! Come learn what putting on a musical is all about!
In a loving home in the city of London, Dalmatian parents Pongo and Perdita happily raise their Dalmatian puppies, until the monstrous Cruella De Vil plots to steal them for her new fur coat! All the dogs of London rally for a daring rescue of the courageous puppies from the kidnapping villains. Don’t miss this “fur-tastic” musical adventure!
Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30 pm (January 24 - March 6) at Country Dale Elementary
Dress Rehearsal: Wednesday, March 13th, 5:30-7:30 pm at Southwood Glen Elementary
Performance: Thursday, March 14th, 7:00 pm on the Southwood Glen Elementary stage
For grades 1st-5th. All students who register are guaranteed a role in the show. Low pressure auditions will take place on the first day of rehearsals (Wed 1/24) for role placement. No previous experience necessary. Learn more or register at www.characterkidsdrama.com/musical-productions
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