April 20, 2023 #16

An exciting sign that Spring is arriving is the first day I see the bike racks at our schools filling up. The energy of our learners as they ride in and enter the school for a day of engaged learning is also a sign that our count-up to the end of the school year is getting shorter. It also reminds all of us that we may experience more walkers and bike riders and to practice extreme caution as we transport our children and make our drive through Franklin.

We have a beautiful community, but sidewalks are limited, therefore we need to demonstrate for our young drivers the need to use caution, be aware of high traffic areas and watch for our young learners making their way to school. In addition, our student athletes share the same roads for their practice at times and need to trust their safety to those driving through. Please be extra vigilant and cautious when driving near our schools. Many of us have likely seen the flow of traffic with pedestrians present specifically in front of Franklin High School and near the intersection by Forest Park Middle School. Patience and extra vigilance only costs us a few seconds or minutes, but hopefully ensures our learners are able to safely arrive at school. It truly takes all of us being part of a better community to help keep all children safe.

Thank you,

Annalee Bennin

FPS District Administrator

As a reminder, the 2023-24 District Calendar can be found in PDF format here and linked into our district calendars on our website here. All of our calendars are able to be subscribed to! Follow the steps at the top of the District Calendar webpage for how to subscribe.

This week is Wisconsin State Tornado & Severe Weather Awareness Week. As we shared in our building newsletters earlier this week, there was a planned statewide tornado drill for 1:45pm on Thursday (today). Due to severe weather that is predicted to be in our area, the National Weather Services has decided to move the drill to tomorrow (Friday) as to not cause any confusion if we have any serious weather this afternoon. We share this with you in case you are wondering why you don’t hear the tornado sirens running today at 1:45pm as planned and instead hear them at 1:45pm on Friday. We are grateful for planned safety drills like this that can help us to be better prepared in the event of a real emergency.

Culture Fest is back once again and it is time to mark your calendars! Culture Fest takes place from 5p-8:30p on Friday, May 19th in the FHS Saber Center Lobby, cafeteria and main commons. This free event is filled with food, activities, and performances and this year's event will be bigger than ever before! From a K-pop dance group to a bomba performance, expect to travel the world through this event! Here are some other details:

• To see pictures from the event last year, click here for the 2022 Culture Fest Album.
• Check out the student-designed poster below and please contact Mai Alessaly at mai.alessaly@franklinsabers.org and Sruti Palla at sruti.palla@franklinsabers.org with any questions.

• If you’d like to be involved in the event yourself, please contact us by Thursday, April 27th.

Hope to see you there! (No passport required).

A STATEment of success for our Future Business Leaders of America! The FBLA sent a school record 22 students to the state conference this past weekend and 10 students placed in the top four of their category. And 10 of those students also qualified for FBLA Nationals in June. Congrats to our students competing for Franklin this weekend and to our advisor, Mrs. Lauren Zomboracz!

State Champions and Nationals Qualifiers

Manmeet Dhillon 1st in Advertising

Monish Bodapati 1st in Digital Animation

Shamit Surana 1st in Digital Animation

Yuva Vijaykumar Shunmugapriya 1st in Digital Animation

Aashrut Jain 2nd in Impromptu Speaking

Derek Zeng 3rd in Banking and Financial Systems

Michal Czaja 3rd in Banking and Financial Systems

Cole Charleston 3rd in Business Management

Arnav Gupta 3rd in Business Management

Calvin Stickel 3rd in Business Management

State Placewinners: Suha Afzar, Cate Lee, Devin Zeng, Jack Remington, Mohammad Rizvi, Zach Wied, Charles Lahmann, Thien Bui

State Qualifiers: Samuel Ticali, Manan Shroff, Abigail Martin, Shailesh Bodapati

Our Community Education & Recreation Department has information out for both 2023 Summer Kids Camp and 2023-24 Before & After School Kids Club.

• 2023 Summer Kids Camp is for students that have completed 5K up through those entering 6th grade. You can view all 2023 Summer Kids Camp information here.
• 2023-24 Before & After School Kids Club Information is online here and registration is now open! Save $10 on membership by signing up before April 30th! Please contact Shana Gagliardo, Recreation Coordinator at shana.gagliardo@franklin.k12.wi.us if you have any questions.

Check out the Community Education & Recreation Summer Rec Guide which is online. Registration opened on Monday for all residents! Make your summer plans now! Click on the image below to head to the Recreation website.

Do you have an incoming 6th grade or 9th grader for the 2023-24 school year? Check out our Summer Learning Programs page for the 2-day 6th GRADE TRANSITION COURSE (8/14 & 8/15) and the 2-day 9th GRADE TRANSITION COURSE (8/16 & 8/17).

Both are offered in August for students entering those grade levels and is a great opportunity for students to become familiar with the new building, meet and work with staff, participate in some team-building activities, get to know other students, try out the dreaded new locker and just learn the ropes. Sign up your current 5th grader or 8th grader now!

Please visit the summer athletic camps page on the high school website to see the summer athletic camp offerings from our high school sports teams. On this page, you can find dates, times along with a link to formally register. The following youth camps are currently scheduled: boys basketball, girls basketball, wrestling, boys volleyball, girls volleyball, football.

Registration for the 2023-24 school year is open on our website here. Registration is for any new families to Franklin or new students looking to register for next year in 4K, 5K or up through 12th grade. If you have any friends or family in Franklin that plan to have children attend Franklin Public Schools next year, please pass this information along to them! Registering early helps to get all information in our system for planned communications. Any family who knows a student will not be returning for the next school year should notify your school’s main office staff.

OPEN ENROLLMENT: At the January 25, 2023 School Board Meeting, the FPS School Board approved (81) open enrollment seats for the 2023-24 school year. Online applications for open enrollment are accepted beginning Monday, February 6th through Friday, April 28, 2023 @ 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.

Order FHS Senior Yard Signs through May 1st!

Celebrate your graduating senior with a Class of 2023 yard sign! Signs are now available for purchase through this link for $10 with pick up at FHS around the second week of May, with more specific details to follow soon.

Order 8th Grade Yard Signs through May 1st!

Here's your chance to spotlight that special FPMS 8th grader as they prepare for the next step of their FPS journey! Yard signs are now available for purchase for $10 through this link. Signs will be available for pick up at FPMS the second week of May, with more specific details to follow soon.

8th grade parents should also check your email from Wed 4/19 for details on other items you can order around the 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony.

Registration for our "Tee Up For Education" Golf and Auction is open! Sign your foursome up today and enjoy some fun on the links with friends and community members! If you are interested in sponsoring this event or donating items to our auction, please contact us at foundation@franklin.k12.wi.us

Last week, Assistant Superintendent of Business & Operations Andy Chromy and FPS School Board President Mike Spragg attended the Wisconsin Legislature Joint Committee on Finance Public Hearing in Waukesha to advocate and speak to representatives on behalf of not only Franklin Public Schools but public schools in general. The purpose for speaking at this meeting was to advocate to representatives from the Joint Committee on Finance to support investing in public education.

Some of the specific actions that both Mr. Chromy and Mr. Spragg spoke to were:

• A per pupil spending increase of $1,510 over the biennium which is based on the inflationary increase previous used by the Wisconsin Legislature and to make up for $0 of spendable funding provided in the 2021-23 biennium budget

• Increased special education reimbursement to cover 60% of district costs related to meeting the needs of our students requiring specialized services.

• Sustainable categorical aid funding for mental health

Thank you to Mr. Chromy and Mr. Spragg for advocating for our schools and for public education.

Shared from our Food Service Department -- Do you want fresh, tasty, seasonal, and affordable produce? Local farmers' markets are opening soon! Support local farmers and community vendors at various farmers markets in the area. Not only are you supporting local businesses, but you are also making healthier choices for your family by getting the freshest produce. Since the produce is seasonal, it is also typically less expensive than conventional grocery stores.

Click on this link for different market times and locations.

We are looking for cheerleaders grades 3rd - 8th to join our cheerleading program. Our goal is to provide strong fundamentals for a bright future as a cheerleader in a safe, fun environment. Registration is open now through May 1, 2023. There is a $25 registration fee. Tryouts are being held the first week in May. Everyone earns a spot on the team -- tryouts are to assess skills. Our cheerleaders cheer for our youth football teams and also participate in cheer competitions around the area in the Fall. Summer is for building skills and learning cheers.

• If you are interested in registering or have questions, please email fsjctreasurer@gmail.com

• For more information, please visit our website at www.fsjcheer.com

Fall 2023 Registration Now Open for athletes entering grades 1-4 in September 2023. Register before June 15th. Visit franklinjuniorfootball.com for more information and to sign up!

The City of Franklin Health Department conducts a survey every few years about citizen desires for improvement within the city. We are following up on information from the last survey that shows parents are interested in social connection. We are collaborating with the Parent Network to create an event where families can share a meal while the children have supervised play so parents can discuss a variety of topics and connect.

Please take a minute to fill out the survey below. The survey asks your interest in participating in a Parent Cafés, best available time, and topic interested in. Your input is invaluable. And participation appreciated. Click here or on associated image below to complete this minute-long survey.

Check out the spring teen events taking place at the Franklin Public Library January through May by clicking here for their event guide. In addition, click on the 3 flyers below to see the next upcoming events!

Registration is now open for our annual Gridiron Golf Classic on Sunday, August 6th benefiting our FHS Football Team! Sponsorship opportunities are also available! Click here for more.

Franklin Public Schools has a variety of positions available that you can view at the links below:

• Certified Staff (teaching positions, administration roles, substitutes, nurses)

• Support Staff (coaches, aides, custodial, food service, bus drivers, Rec Dept, Kids Club)

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.

(Note: Any imagery containing students, staff, events, or FPS logos 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.)