March 11, 2024
March 11, 2024
Bobcat Bash
On February 28th, we had our fourth Bobcat Bash of the school year. During this assembly, we revisited our school motto “Model the Bobcat Way, Every Day.” At this assembly, we focused on our fourth core value: “caring for others.”
We started together as a whole school discussing what it means to care for others. Specifically, we identified that caring for others means showing kindness, helping, and looking out for the well-being of people around us. It's about being thoughtful and doing things to make others feel happy and safe. We talked about ways that students can care for others:
Share toys
Comfort someone who is sad
Listen when someone needs a friend
Help a friend who fell down on the playground
Clean up a mess even if you didn’t make it
Share supplies with someone who doesn’t have them
Include others in games or activities
Students then watched a read aloud of Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller that you can view here (Thank you Mrs. Wood!!!). This was followed up by a discussion about acts of kindness. Students talked about how these acts of kindness made them feel and about the power of smiles and laughter. Students then played a game of “Infection” where they worked to make those around them laugh. This was followed by the opportunity to bring smiles to the faces of community members by crafting letters, cards, etc. to community service workers/helpers or senior citizens.
Teaching kids to care for others is an essential aspect of their social and emotional development. Caring for others is not only beneficial to the people being cared for but also contributes to students’ own personal well-being and sense of fulfillment. By incorporating these practices into their lives, students can help create a more compassionate and supportive world for everyone.
You can see pictures from the assembly here.
Read Across America Week
Last week (March 4-8) was Read Across America Week. It is a week where we take time out to celebrate the joy of reading and encourage students of all ages to pick up a good book and escape. To help us celebrate, several staff members from around the district popped by classrooms as guest readers.
I also had the opportunity to participate and was able to stop in one of our 4K classes, a 1st grade class, and a 4th grade class to read the following books (each of which is a current favorite in the Jewell house).
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson
The Big Cheese by Jory John
It was great to see the anticipation and focus in our students' eyes as they were whisked away by the elaborate characters and plots in the stories being read to them. Here are some pictures from the classroom visits.
“The Home-School Connection”
We are thrilled to bring you our first ever “Home-School Connection.” This new section of our newsletter will be included in the first bulletin of each month and is aimed at providing another means for families to be engaged with Ben Franklin. The information provided in this section might be a short blurb about ways to get involved with school, highlights of recent events taking place to increase family engagement, ideas for ways to connect with your child(ren) about school, etc.
Creating Connections
Just after winter break, our classroom teachers reached out to families just to “check in.” The purpose of this communication was to circle back with parents and families to re-establish lines of communication. Each year, we find that the connection between home and school starts out strong with open house, beginning of the year “get to know you” work, and fall parent-teacher conferences. Shortly after parent-teacher conferences and the end of the first trimester, those lines of communication start to close off. As a result, teachers decided they wanted to “check in” with families in some way upon our return from break. Though this communication looked different from teacher to teacher, you should have received some form of communication encouraging you to share any pertinent information about your child(ren) with their teacher. We hope that this communication was helpful to you. If there is additional information you feel your child(ren)’s classroom teacher should know or anything else that would be helpful in strengthening the home-school connection, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
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!
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.
POPCORN FRIDAYS
Parents/Guardians!! Please do not forget to fill out the “opt-in” form for your student(s) to be able to purchase and consume the popcorn on Popcorn Fridays!
Our 1st Popcorn Friday will be this Friday, March 15 and popcorn will be given out for FREE this day!
Use this link to fill out form: https://forms.gle/bS1SrgKHKZ62AmyH6
Interested in volunteering for our next Popcorn Friday on March 22 from 9am-noon? Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0D4CAEA62CA2F94-48477841-popcorn
DINING OUT NIGHT
Please join the Ben Franklin PTO on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 for Dining Out Night at Noodles Hales Corners from 4-8 PM. 25% of all qualifying sales online and in-restaurant sales will go directly back to the PTO. For online and Noodles Rewards app orders, guests can apply the coupon code, “GIVING25” in the Coupon Code line at checkout. Ordering online is quick and easy and allows guests to skip the line by grabbing their meal at our Quick Pick-Up station or where pick up windows are present. Please make sure you are signed into your rewards account to use this code, if you are not already a member, please sign up! This is a great option for guests who prefer to dine at home or on-the-go but still want to support your organization.
When ordering in-restaurant guests must mention your organization or present the flier upon placing your order prior to paying.
SPRING SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR THIS WEEK!
The Spring Scholastic Book Fair is this week! If you are interested in volunteering, please use the link below to sign up!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0D4CAEA62CA2F94-47244848-spring
Family Shopping Night is Thursday, Mar 14, 2024 from 4:30-7 PM.
Visit our Scholastic Book Fair Homepage to preview the flyer and more!
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/benfranklinelementaryschool2
Unused eWallet funds from the Fall Book Fair have been converted to an eGift card balance 24 hours after that fair. Families can use the eGift card to shop online in The Scholastic Store. Or the remaining balance can fund a new eWallet for a future Fair. Families will receive a monthly email reminder with their eWallet balance so they don’t forget their funds. Please check your emails!
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!
EXTRA EXTRA! "Newsies" FHS Spring Musical Is THIS Week! Get Tickets Now!
Tickets are going fast for the FHS student musical "Newsies" so be sure to get yours here for this week’s performances! Tickets can be purchased online here! Here are this week’s show times:
This Thursday, March 14 @ 7 PM
This Friday, March 15 @ 7 PM
This Saturday, March 16 @ 7 PM
This Sunday, March 17 @ 2 PM
CHARACTER KIDS SPRING BREAK THEATER CAMP
Are you Broadway Bound? Join us for a special Spring Break camp March 25th - 28th! In this half day camp, students will learn the basics of acting, singing and musical theater dance while exploring songs and scenes from various Broadway musicals. Family and friends are invited to a special performance on the last day of camp! Learn More or Register Here
Dates: March 25 - 28 (Monday through Thursday)
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Location: Anita's Dance Center (S63W13700 W Janesville Rd, Muskego, WI 53150)
Grades: 1st-5th
Price: $120
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.
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