January 29, 2024
January 29, 2024
On January 19th, we had our third 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 third core value of “being respectful.”
During this assembly, we started as a whole group discussing what it means to be respectful. We defined respect as treating others the way you want to be treated, with kindness and consideration. We talked about ways that students can show respect at school:
Listen when others are speaking
Use kind words and polite language
Share and take turns with others
Help those who need a hand
Celebrate each other’s successes
Students then watched a read aloud of Miss Nelson is Missing that you can view here (Thank you Mrs. Kim!!!). They discussed how students in the classroom treated Miss Nelson, what rules were broken and how it impacted the learning environment, and what was needed to create a better learning environment in the classroom. Students then played a few collaborative games while focusing on being respectful to those in their group.
Teaching kids to be respectful is an essential aspect of their social and emotional development. Respectful behavior not only contributes to positive relationships but also helps children navigate various social settings. Here are ways you can help your child(ren) learn to be respectful:
Model Respectful Behavior: Children often learn by observing those around them. Be a positive role model by consistently demonstrating respectful behavior in your interactions with others. This includes using polite language, active listening, and showing consideration for others.
Teach Politeness: Teach children basic manners, such as saying "please," "thank you," and "excuse me." Reinforce these behaviors consistently, both at home and in public settings.
Encourage Empathy: Help children understand and identify with the feelings of others. Discuss how their actions might impact someone else and encourage them to consider different perspectives. Reading books or watching videos that highlight empathy can be helpful.
Set Clear Expectations: Establish clear expectations for behavior and communicate them consistently. Children thrive when they know what is expected of them, and this helps create a respectful environment.
Use Positive Reinforcement: Reinforce positive behavior with praise and positive attention. Let them know when they have demonstrated respect towards others, and encourage them to continue exhibiting such behavior.
Teach Problem-Solving Skills: Guide children in resolving conflicts peacefully and respectfully. Encourage open communication and help them understand the importance of compromise and finding solutions that benefit everyone involved.
Promote Inclusivity: Teach children to be inclusive and accepting of others who may be different from them. Discuss the value of diversity and how everyone deserves respect regardless of their background, abilities, or beliefs.
Discuss Natural Consequences: Help children understand the natural consequences of disrespectful behavior. Discuss how their actions can impact relationships and how being respectful can lead to positive outcomes.
Create a Respectful Environment: Foster a home environment that values and promotes respect. Ensure that family members treat each other respectfully, creating a supportive atmosphere for learning and growth.
Encourage Communication: Create an environment where children feel comfortable expressing themselves. Encourage open communication and listen actively when they share their thoughts and feelings. This helps build trust and reinforces the importance of respect in relationships.
Remember that teaching respect is an ongoing process, and consistency is key. By incorporating these principles into daily interactions and providing positive reinforcement, you can help children develop a strong foundation for respectful behavior.
Steffany Jewell
Ben Franklin Principal
LICE AWARENESS
We’ve recently seen a few cases of lice at Ben Franklin and wanted to share a few things with our families.
Head lice may be a nuisance but thankfully don't cause serious illness or carry any diseases.
Head lice are tiny, wingless, bugs about the size of a small seed that crawl, live and breed in human hair. They do not jump or fly.
Adult female lice attach eggs, called nits, often found on the hair shafts close to the base of the neck or behind the ears although they may be found anywhere. Nits are tiny white oval specks that can look like dandruff, but do not easily shake or move off the hair.
Head lice feed on small amounts of blood from the scalp. They can't survive more than 1 day off of the scalp.
Lice spread mainly through close, prolonged head-to-head contact (think snuggling on the couch, heads together reading or sleepovers). Much less commonly, lice spread by sharing items such as combs, brushes, hats and helmets.
Do not preventatively treat children for lice! Head lice medicine should be used only for people who have living lice bugs.
More information can be found here: Head Lice: What Parents Need to Know
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT SURVEY - THIS WEEK
During the week of 1/29/24 - 2/2/24 your student will be participating in a Student Engagement Survey. This survey was written by the district and takes less than 10 minutes to complete. It asks students to respond to questions in areas related to environment, learning, and relationships. Information from this survey is used by teachers and administrators to identify areas of improvement related to the student experience. If you have questions about the survey, please contact Steffany Jewell.
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!
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!
2024 SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAM REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
FPS Summer Learning Program registration is open! Similar to last year, this year’s Summer Learning Program will be a 4-day program Monday through Thursday. This condensed program helps us to properly staff the program and provide the flexibility for families and students to enjoy their summer while not missing out on the learning opportunities we offer. Registration is open from Tuesday, January 23rd through Sunday, February 11th @ 11:59pm and please note that like last year, registration is NOT first-come-first serve. All information including our Summer Learning Registration Guide and the registration form(s) are on our Summer Learning Program webpage here!
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.
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.
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!
CELTIC ANGELS IRELAND 2/24
The first show in the new “Franklin Community Series” at the Saber Center for the Performing Arts is debuting in late February! Escape to Verdant Valleys and Heathery Highlands. Step back in time to the Land of Saints and Scholars. Lose yourself in the alluring Angels’ magical melodies Feel your heart pound to raucous rhythms of the champion Celtic Knights Dancers. Immerse yourself in Ireland’s infectious influences across the Wild Blue Ocean to the Amber Waves of Grain and Beyond. Headed by the powerhouse creative team direct from Ireland and featuring award winning Irish and World Champion Singers, Dancers and Musicians. Celtic Angels Ireland is a theatrical feast for all ages. Tickets and information are on our ticket information page here!
K-12 FINE ARTS GALLERY NIGHT THURS 2/22
The 16th Annual K-12 Fine Arts Gallery Night will take place at Franklin High School on Thursday, February 22nd from 5:30-7:30pm. This is a family friendly event to have an ‘Art Experience’ and everyone is invited to attend! We ask that all students be supervised by an adult. There will be multiple student demonstrations on a variety of art media. A slide show highlighting student artwork will be available as well and students will be recognized by their teachers for their work. Come join us!
COOKIE AND COCOA VALENTINE FUNDRAISER FOR FPS STAFF
It's that time of the year again! Would you like to recognize an FPS staff member with a special message and treat? Purchase one of our valentine packages and our Foundation Volunteers will do the rest for delivery on February 14th. Valentines can only be delivered to FPS staff. All funds raised go to support FPS grants, scholarships and our student assistance fund. Deadline to order is Friday, February 9th!
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!
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
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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