SEPTEMBER 3, 2021
Franklin District Bi-Weekly Newsletter | 2021-22 #1
First Week Excitement & Safety Planning
Our schools are off to a great start in these first few days of the new school year. The students and staff were excited to be together and get started with learning.
The weather was perfect and allowed our students to spend more time outdoors. At the elementary level, the nice weather allowed our students to practice school evacuation procedures. Our middle school and high school students are also reviewing/practicing these procedures. School safety is one of our top priorities. In addition, this year, our Safety Committee will be working on refining our reunification procedures. More information regarding this will be forthcoming.
I share this type of information with you because even just this morning, we were informed by the Franklin Police Department about an incident at the Wal-mart on 27th in Franklin. At the time they alerted us, the police already had the situation under control and there was no risk to our community or to our schools. Had the incident not been under control by the police, our staff and students would have appropriately been placed in a lockdown. Fortunately, we did not have to respond to this incident today, but in the event we do in the future, our students and staff will be ready and respond appropriately.
On a more positive note, in my communication to teaching staff earlier this week, I reminded them to spend a little extra time with their pet before returning to school. Our pets get very used to having us around in the summer. While visiting Southwood Glen this week, I was able to catch this little girl giving her dog a big hug on her way into school. I can only imagine the excitement when she got home!
We are all very excited about this school year. It’s going to be a great one!
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!
COVID-19 UPDATES & COMMUNITY BURDEN RATE
As a reminder, grades 4K through 6th required masking is tied to the City of Franklin Community Burden Rate. The following is a brief explanation of how the Community Burden Rate is calculated from the Franklin Health Department:
A community burden rate gives us an estimate of the current level of disease in the city of Franklin. It is the number of new positive COVID-19 cases over the past 14 days, calculated as a rate per 100,000 individuals. The burden rate is derived by taking the number of new cases over the past two weeks (14 days), dividing it by the population of Franklin from the census, and then multiplying that number by 100,000. The health department uses this rate because it allows us to compare our disease rate to those of other communities or regions, using the status ranges of the Harvard Model.
In regards to our current masking protocols, those are listed on the dashboard below and if you are looking for more details, please use the 'details here' link to understand the difference between 4K-6th Grade and grades 7-12.
QUARANTINE PROTOCOLS BASED ON CURRENT MASKING REQUIREMENTS
As a reminder to families, we want to share with you how quarantines will be handled by grade level in the event your child is determined to be a close contact to an individual that has tested positive for COVID-19.
- Grade 4K-6th students are universally masking within the building (or grade level in terms of 6th grade). Therefore, students will be required to quarantine if they are within 3 feet of an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 for longer than 15 minutes or had direct contact with the individual.
- Grade 7-12 students will be required to quarantine if they are within 6 feet** of an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 for longer than 15 minutes or had direct contact with the individual. This follows the same procedure as last year.
**In the event universal masking is required in a school, this quarantine protocol will change to 3 feet
- Quarantine is not required for students that are fully vaccinated.
We will continue to notify families of students that are deemed close contacts. This is done in partnership and under the guidance of the Franklin Health Department. Different from last year, the voice message and email notification you receive will come from a district number instead of your school's building. We are doing this to better centralize the notification process. The email you receive will contain all details about the quarantine, including how instruction will continue, timeline details, and how to proceed if your child is already vaccinated.
PHOTOS FROM THE FIRST FEW DAYS
(Note: These photos and any shared by FPS are the property of Franklin Public Schools and are solely for district use. Reproduction or reuse of these images without written permission is not allowed.)
VISITORS & VOLUNTEERS IN SCHOOLS
In regards to visitors or volunteers, any person entering any school building during the school day when children are present for school is required to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status. Masks should be worn at all times when in the building, and the visitor/volunteer should limit direct contact with others and maintain social distance (6 feet or more) when able.
Visitors and volunteers who are outdoors during the school day where students are present are required to wear a mask unless they have been vaccinated. Visitors or volunteers in the building after school, in locations where students are not present, are not required to wear a mask.
BUSING UPDATES
Thank you for your patience as we have experienced some late busing and other issues these first few days due to a variety of reasons (students added/dropped to and from routes, new routes have been added, large backups on Drexel that have slowed many routes, etc).
While we’ve had a bit of a rough start and we know the first week of school typically sees delays, we are hopeful that things will run more smoothly as we enter next week.
As a reminder, if you have any additions or changes need for the busing of your child, please use this Bus Change or Addition Form.
If you missed it earlier in the week, please review this Bus Update we shared on Tuesday night that shares details about how we will operate in the event of a bus driver shortage.
If you have any other concerns outside of a bus change, please contact Tricia Geiger, our Auxiliary Services Coordinator, who coordinates with First Student about Franklin Public Schools’ busing needs.
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.
FPS HIRING OPPORTUNITIES
We are hiring for Food Service Workers ($15/hour starting wage, full and part time), Kids Club Workers (working with students before and after school), and Bus Drivers ($21/hour starting wage, other bonuses, paid training through First Student in Muskego).
Click on the images below to go right to the postings and join a great team!
NEXT DISTRICT NEWSLETTER?
Now that the school year has started up, expect our next district newsletter two weeks from now on Friday, September 17th!
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