MARCH 7, 2022
SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH SURVEY-PLEASE COMPLETE BY MONDAY 3/14
As shared to all families earlier this week (here), we are actively collecting feedback for our Superintendent Search that is being conducted by School Exec Connect in partnership with our Board of Education. We emailed all district families about our Superintendent Search Survey and that survey is only open until the end of the day, Monday, March 14th. If you have not yet completed the survey, please do as we would like to collect as much feedback from families, staff and community members as we can to help inform the candidate profile that is being created for the search. Click here for the survey.
4K & EARLY CHILDHOOD STAFF & STUDENT MASKING CHANGES
Last Thursday, our Board of Education held a special meeting to discuss and vote upon the updated recommendations for the current Instructional Plan. The recommendations were based on the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) recently updated framework for monitoring the level of COVID-19 in communities and appropriate mitigations. The Board voted to have 4K & Early Childhood masking follow the masking metric in place for the school buildings. Effective today, Monday, March 7th, 4K and Early Childhood students and staff are no longer required to mask. You can see the complete message sent to 4K & EC parents and staff here.
VISITOR & VOLUNTEER UPDATE
Beginning Monday, March 7th, visitors and volunteers are not required to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status. All other visitor and volunteer information, including our background check process, is available on this page of our website here.
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
As we gear up for the last two weeks before spring break, please take note of the upcoming events and the MANY important dates.
This week, Wednesday is Crazy Hair Day. This is a student council sponsored event.
Looking ahead to Next Week…
Tournament of Books
Here is a Link to the Bracket where you can click on the book covers and hear staff members reading their favorite read alouds! Students are encouraged to listen to the stories and decide upon their favorites. Next week on March 16th, voting will begin in classrooms and students will narrow the Sweet Sixteen Read Alouds down to the Elite Eight! Happy Reading!
March is Music in our Schools Month. The music department is sponsoring a Music Spirit Week! We’ll start the days out with music on the speaker system to welcome the students into the building. Students are encouraged to participate with the following musical spirit days:
Monday, 3/14: Life would be WACKY without music - Come to school in your wackiest, mismatched outfit!
Tuesday, 3/15: Country Music Day - Jeans, flannel shirts, overalls, boots, and cowboy hats will make you a country superstar today!
Wednesday, 3/16: Disney Music Day - Celebrate the music of Disney by wearing a Disney shirt or dressing as one of your favorite Disney characters!
Thursday, 3/17: Celtic Music Day - Let's celebrate celtic music and St Patrick's Day by wearing green!
Friday, 3/18: 60s Music Day - Pull out your grooviest bright colored or tie-dye shirt as we celebrate the sensational music of the sixties!
The last day before spring break is Friday, March 18th. School resumes on Monday, March 28th.
Forward Exam
On March 25th, a letter will be sent to all parents and caregivers of students in grades 3-8 outlining the Forward Exam. At Ben Franklin, the Forward Exam window is Monday, March 28 through Friday, April 22. Students in grades 3-5 will be taking the exam at various times throughout this window. In order to limit disruption to the testing schedule, I ask that you limit appointments and plan trips outside of this window. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns regarding this exam window.
Have a fantastic week!
Mary Shannon
Ben Franklin Principal
mary.shannon@franklin.k12.wi.us
MARCH IS MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOL'S MONTH
March is recognized as Music in Our School’s Month. Throughout March, music educators and music students around the country will be celebrating music education in their classes and discussing how this year’s theme, “Music - The Sound of My Heart” resonates with them. The impact of music education on the lives of students during this school year is evident in how the social-emotional benefits have carried our students through the pandemic and brought joy to their lives. We encourage families to have discussions about how music is celebrated in your family and how it has been a part of your family’s history and traditions. Thank you for supporting music and making music an important part of our children’s education.
CATCH UP ON DISTRICT NEWS
Please be sure to read the newest District Newsletter that comes out now every Friday. You can access all the issues here.
YEARBOOK ORDERING INFORMATION
Yearbooks can be ordered online here:
https://orders.schoolandsportpics.com/ordering/with?key=3FKMQ69D
The yearbook sale will run until April 1st.
LOST & FOUND
This week's Lost & Found! Is it yours?
We want to make every effort to return lost items to their owners. Please call the school office at 414-529-8270 if you recognize an item and we will return it to it's owner. If possible, please label your student items with their first and last name so that we can get the item back to the student.
NEW - In the front hallway we have a mitten line of missing gloves and mittens. Please remind your student to stop and by see if they can claim their missing item.
ATTENDANCE REMINDER
K-5 SPRING CONCERT UPDATES-MARK AND ADJUST YOUR CALENDARS
Parents - we originally had some K-5 music events slotted on the calendar coming up at the end of January and the beginning of February. We have been reviewing our offerings for the music program and working with Saber Center availability to adjust these events. Moving into the spring, we will be offering concert events for grades 1, 3, and 5 at the Saber Center this year. By offering this event, we hope to present a larger scope for families so they can experience the progress and growth across the grade levels. Therefore, grades K, 2, and 4 will not have a spring concert event this year.
Please mark your calendars for the following event later this spring:
BF Wednesday, April 27 - Grades 1, 3, 5 @ 6:30 pm at the Saber Center
Our first Read-A-Thon was a great success, super reading!! Over 17,000 minutes and $5,805 raised!
Prizes will be announced and distributed this week. Many thanks to all students, families, teachers and staff for your participation and support!
BOOK FAIR
Students are getting excited about the upcoming book fair March 14-18th! Online shopping opens March 14th and there will be two opportunities for families to shop. There are 2 evening volunteer spots open and we need your help to make these family nights possible. If you can help, please sign up here.
If you have unused e-wallet dollars, this is the perfect time to use them!
Classroom Book Fair Schedule: Click here!
Looking for your Teacher’s Classroom Wishlist? Look no further! Each teacher has created their own eWallet so families can easily donate funds to help them buy the books they need for their classrooms! Please follow this link to Teacher eWallets.
Interested in VOLUNTEERING at the Book Fair? Please complete the FPS Online Volunteer Application.
NEXT PTO MEETING
Monday, March 14th from 6:30 - 7:45 pm in the Ben Franklin School Library. See you there!
STAY CONNECTED
Watch for school and event updates by joining our private Ben Franklin PTO Facebook group.
ON-SITE TESTING-NEW LOCATION!
Beginning today, Monday, February 28th, we will be making some changes to the structure of On-Site Testing by Summit Clinical Labs in the district.
Testing still continues at Franklin High School on school days from 7am to 3pm for staff and students.
The Forest Park Middle School main office is now has testing available for district students, families and staff from 7:30am to 3:30pm.
Please note that testing is not offered at the ECC District Office anymore as of Monday 2/28.
Please review this document for other up-to-date details and questions you may have about how testing works.
WSMA FESTIVAL THIS SAT 3/12 @ FHS!
The Franklin Music Department is proud to host the WSMA District Solo/Ensemble Festival on Saturday, March 12, at Franklin High School (press release here)!
It takes many volunteers for this event to run smoothly. Please consider volunteering for a few hours and enjoying wonderful music while you do. Please use this link to sign up. If you have any questions, please email United Music Parents at fhsumps@gmail.com
BSA TROOP 539 RECRUITING
BSA Troop 539 based out of Forest Park Middle School is starting a new linked girls Troop and is recruiting new Scouts. This opportunity is open to all youths, 5th grade and older. To learn more about this opportunity please come to our recruitment night on 4/7 at 6:30pm at Forest Park Middle School. We'll have an information session followed by an opportunity for new Scouts to attend a Troop meeting at 7. For more information contact Jim Larsen (farside41@gmail.com or 414-339-1977)
REGISTER FOR FRANKLIN LITTLE LEAGUE 2022 SEASON
Baseball and Softball registration continues.
Register at www.franklinll.org for baseball and softball ages 4-16 by March 28th.
FLL is also looking for 14-16-year-olds for our FLL Jr/Sr Travel Baseball Team. Please register at: http://www.franklinll.org
SABER MANUFACTURING SPRING SALE IS OPEN!
The FHS Student-run company, Saber Manufacturing, is launching this spring season’s order form beginning today, Monday, March 7th. We have a variety of items to offer, which you can see in the accompanying picture. The order form closes on Friday, April 1st! If you have any questions, please contact Saber Manufacturing via email at sabermanufacturing@franklin.k12.wi.us Thank you so much for your support!
For more information, check out our website or
Twitter: @SaberManufactu1
Instagram: @sabermanufacturing
Facebook: @SaberManufacturingREGISTRATION FOR 22-23 IS NOW OPEN FOR NEW FAMILIES!
Our registration is now open for next school year for new families to the district and next year’s 4K. You can find all the necessary details on our website here. Please note that students already enrolled in our schools do not have to have a new registration completed. You may utilize the “Create Account” and “Forgot Password” buttons on the registration page to complete your registration or gain access if you have created an account in the past. Please help us share that registration is open with any new families to the area or those with younger children that would be entering 4K or 5K!
FPS HIRING OPPORTUNITIES
Now Hiring Youth Basketball Officials: Franklin Recreation is hiring basketball officials for the current youth basketball league that began on Saturday, December 4. Contact Chris at christopher.russo@franklin.k12.wi.us for more information and application information.
In Addition, we are continuing to hire Food Service Workers ($15/hour starting wage, part-time) and Kids Club Workers (working with students before and after school).
Click on the images below for more information on applying!
SCHOOL INFORMATION
All past newsletters are stored on our website here
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: Susan.Behrens@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