September 12, 2022
This week marks our first full week with learners. However, many staff and students would agree that last week felt like a very full week! Many of our learners looked tired leaving our building on Friday afternoon, so I hope you and your family had some time for rest and relaxation prior to this five day week!
Our routines in the building are getting smoother and students are getting more comfortable. There is no place that I see this more than in the cafeteria each day. The first few days, students were hesitant about the procedures, they weren’t sure what they should take when going through the hot lunch line, they anxiously looked around for friends prior to sitting down, and conversations were held at a slightly muted volume level. Now, the cafeteria reflects a room full of students who are feeling more confident - they go through the hot lunch line with ease, sit in familiar seats with their closest friends and classmates, and they converse freely (taking advantage of some needed unstructured time in their day). As your child(ren) get more comfortable at school each day, please continue to have conversations with them about their day. Ask them specific questions like who they sat with at lunch, what game they played at recess, etc.
Our first full week will be another busy one! Students will begin MAP testing in their classrooms this week, we will have our picture day on Tuesday, and we will practice a lockdown drill later in the week. If you have any questions or concerns about your child(ren) as they settle into the school year, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Most Sincerely,
Steffany Jewell
BEN FRANKLIN PICTURE DAY TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
Pictures can be ordered online here:
https://orders.schoolandsportpics.com/ordering/access
Use the drop down menu to select Ben Franklin *NO ACCESS KEY IS REQUIRED*
Use this coupon code to save 10% off of your order if placed prior to picture day:
Fall100366
MAP TESTING GRADES 1-5
Your son/daughter will be participating in MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessments in math and reading on 9/12/22 - 9/23/22. MAP is an online assessment that Franklin teachers and other professional staff use to determine your child’s achievement levels, academic growth, and other information that can help to improve teaching and learning. The full MAP assessment will be administered again in January and May of this school year so achievement and growth can be monitored over time. Below is the MAP Testing schedule. Please ensure that your students are well rested and have a nutritious breakfast.
Please see MAP Testing schedule below:
ONLINE ABSENCE/ATTENDANCE FORM
As a reminder, when reporting a student absent for any reason (full day, arriving late, leaving early), please communicate this using the online absence/attendance form here. This is a NEW form this year so if you bookmarked or made a shortcut to the old form from last year, please update. If your child is out sick, the form will also collect information about the symptoms and sickness your child is experiencing so our nursing staff can respond with next steps. Thank you for taking the time to complete this form as it really helps to streamline our processes. The form is located on our website under Parent/Student Info as well as a big button on each school’s home page.
LUNCH ACCOUNT REMINDER
We would like to remind all parents that school lunches are no longer free this year. Lunch is $2.85 and an individual milk purchase is $.45. If you need assistance paying for your student's lunch a link to the Free & Reduced applications can be found on the FPS website under the Lunch Tab. Students will be allowed 3 emergency meals, after this they will receive a cheese sandwich, vegetable, fruit and a milk until their account is in the positive. Cheese sandwich meals will be charged to the student's lunch account. We look forward to seeing your children in the lunch line this year!
ATTENTION 4K & KINDERGARTEN FAMILIES REGARDING BUS TRANSPORTATION HOME
If parents would like to designate a person other than themselves, they can send an email to Tricia.Geiger@franklin.k12.wi.us.
In regards to same day notification (this should only be done for emergencies), please call First Student Busing at 414-422-2020 so they can pass along the information to the bus driver.
BEN FRANKLIN PARENT DROP OFF AND PICK UP PROCEDURE
If you plan on dropping off or picking up your child from Ben Franklin, please read this important information regarding our procedure. Click Here For Ben Franklin Drop off and Pick Up Procedures
MEDICATIONS FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR
All medication can then be dropped off at school in its original container along with this form. Please feel free to drop off medication to the Ben Franklin office.
LOST AND FOUND
PTO WELCOME MEETING
The first meeting of the school year is tonight in the school Library. PTO meets on the second Monday of each month in the Ben Franklin Library at 6:30pm. Help us build community, provide resources and enrichment opportunities and show our educators how much we value them! Events and activities sponsored by PTO are made possible with your support.
NEW SPIRIT WEAR IS AVAILABLE!
BOBCAT BOLT
(Formerly Walk-A-Thon) is our first FUNdraiser of the year! Students will participate in the Bobcat Bolt run/walk during the school day on October 7th and families will be asked to help raise funds in the weeks leading up to the event. We need help planning and executing this event, please check our event page on the website for more info.
STAY INFORMED ABOUT ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, FUNDRAISERS, AND MORE!
Your Ben Franklin PTO is excited about everything we are planning for the 2022-23 school year! We can't wait to see those of you that are returning to Ben Franklin and eager to meet new families! Recently, we launched a New Website to keep everyone informed about all of the activities happening throughout the year. The site is still under construction so if the link does not work, please check back later. https://sites.google.com/benfranklinpto.org/franklinwi/home
Join our private Ben Franklin PTO Facebook Group
FORTE THEATRE PRESENTS: THE SOUND OF MUSIC
The hills are alive with the sound of music! Join Forte Theatre Company for their mainstage debut at the Saber Center - and one of the most beloved musicals of all time. In Austria, 1938, an exuberant young governess brings music and joy back to a broken family, only to face danger and intrigue as the Nazis gain power. With music and lyrics by Rodgers & Hammerstein, a cast of some of Milwaukee's top professional talent and FPS students playing some of the VonTrapp children, this is a theatrical experience not to be missed!
October 7th - 16th / Fri & Sat @ 7 pm, Sun @ 2 pm
Saber Center for the Performing Arts
3-YEAR-OLD CHILD DEVELOPMENT DAYS COMING UP
Franklin Public Schools hosts screenings for 3-year-old children on language, cognition, social-emotional, adaptive, and physical development. This program combines a play-based observational screening of children with a “Child Fair” for parents to learn more about child and family-related services in our area. Click here or the accompanying flier to learn more and to register!
DISCOVER THE MAGIC OF SPANISH!
SABER MARCHING BAND INVITE SAT 9/17 @ FHS
Franklin High School is proud to host the SABER MARCHING BAND INVITE 2022 on Saturday, September 17th at Sullivan Stadium! Gates open at 4:30pm and the event begins at 5:45pm with a performance of the National Anthem by the Forest Park Middle School bands. You can view the schedule, parking information and all other details here. There are 7 bands scheduled to perform at the event. Bands will be judged in the areas of music performance, visual performance, music general effect, visual general effect, percussion, and colorguard. Individual class placement awards will be given to all participating bands. Concessions will be open and FHS will be selling student shout-outs and 50/50 raffle tickets at a booth by the home stands. Come spend Saturday night under the lights and enjoy local high school bands performing!
FEF FALL CHILDREN’S CONSIGNMENT SALE ON SEPT 17th
t's back! The Foundation's semi-annual children's consignment sale will be held on Sept 17th at Forest Park Middle School. There are still spots available for consignors and plenty of volunteer opportunities for students needing hours (did we mention we provide pizza and subs for our volunteers??) AND, the best part is all DONATED items that are not sold during the sale go toward Milwaukee-area nonprofits and charities that serve children. For more information concerning the sale and all of our upcoming events, go to our website at https://www.franklineducationalfoundation.org/events
BOYS AND GIRLS INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT CUB SCOUTS
If you missed the Pack 538 Join Scouting Recruitment Night at Pleasant View Elementary Library on Thursday 9/8/22, you can still join. Please contact Tim Bienzen, at 414-793-9245 or tbienzen@hotmail.com.
Pack 538 has over 40 Scouts from multiple schools in the Franklin and surrounding school districts, private schools and homeschooling families. Scouts have year-round fun with STEM events, Pinewood Derby races, community service, camping and more. Visit www.Pack538.com for more information.
FRANKLIN YOUTH GIRLS BASKETBALL TRYOUTS SEPT 12-15
Franklin Youth Girls Basketball tryouts for the 2022-23 season will take place September 12th-15th. The schedule and locations for 4th-8th grade girls tryouts can be found here.
Please save time by registering in advance at www.sabersgirlsbasketball.com (tab for Youth > Tryouts) or you can register at the door the night of your tryout. For questions regarding tryouts or the youth girls’ program, please send an email to saberscoachmike@gmail.com.
CATCH UP ON DISTRICT NEWS
Miss the last District Newsletter? Be sure to catch up on district happenings! You can access the archive of all District Newsletters here.
SCHOOL INFORMATION
All past newsletters are stored on our website here
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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