2024-25 #17 5/15/25
Franklin District Newsletter
New Elementary Playground Spaces
We are grateful for the support of our community. Through the passing of the November referendum, our first projects are underway. We are eager to share two updates in this newsletter around projects that are complete and our learners have already been able to enjoy! Robinwood Elementary and Country Dale Elementary officially opened new playground spaces in the last week.
Last Friday, Robinwood held a special ribbon cutting for the new playground that opened earlier than expected. This new playground provides a safe play and socialization space for our learners ages 4-12, and provides physical movement adaptations for those with special needs. The structure features over 44 different features to engage our learners. By having distributed playground spaces outside the building, there are more options for learners at recess and throughout the day as we expand our classrooms to the outdoors. We are thankful for the Robinwood PTO and their collaboration in the design and ribbon cutting process.
On Monday, Country Dale opened an additional playground structure for our 4K and 5K learners to play, explore and socialize. This new playground structure provides adaptations for physical movement and activity along with game, numerical, alphabetical and cooperative features. Our 4K and 5K learners and staff were excited to cut the ribbon on this new space that any grades can utilize. We are thankful for the PTOs support through this project.
FHS "The Addams Family" Wins Jerry Awards!
You saw them be creepy and kooky earlier this spring! Well -- now they are award winning! Congratulations to the FHS cast and crew of THE ADDAMS FAMILY for being a recipient of the 2025 Jerry Awards. The Jerry Awards are to encourage, recognize, and honor excellence in High School Musical Theater. While this year’s THE ADDAMS FAMILY FHS production had many nominations, which you can see here, we are very honored to share the following recognitions:
LAST CALL! 3-Year-Old Playgroups Forming 2025-26 (by Fri 5/16)
We are forming our 3-Year-Old community playgroups for the 2025-26 school year! This is an inclusive playgroup for 3-year-olds to promote sharing, turn-taking, and friendship skills facilitated by the Franklin Public School Early Childhood Staff at Ben Franklin Elementary. We are looking for same-age peers who have met all typical developmental milestones to be models for peers with special education needs. Please click here to see all registration details and to apply. Please complete the application by Friday, May 16th.
Mental Health Resources & CPA - Therapy for Summer
Summer is just around the corner and with it comes more free time for your children.
THIS RESOURCE can help your children keep up with a mental wellness routine and identify if help is needed.
Keep in mind, we will continue to have our partnership with Clinical Psychology Associates and their School-Based Mental Health Program over the summer. If your child is interested or in need of mental health services over the summer months, please call Clinical Psychology Associates at (262) 251-1112. In-person or virtual options are available.
Library Books Are Due Back
Please note the following due dates for all library books being turned in:
Elementary: By Tues, May 27th
Middle School: By Fri, May 30th
High School: By Wed, May 28th
Please look for any missing books in cars, under furniture, in your child’s classroom and return them to school. Emails are being auto generated to families indicating what items are still out. Families will receive a bill for any library materials that are not returned.
If items are found over the summer they can be returned to the ECC District Office and student accounts will be adjusted. If families would like to provide a replacement copy instead of paying for the item, the replacement copy may be sent to school in the fall. Please contact your school library if you have any questions. Thank you!
Nominate Your Favorite FPS Educator!
Nominate your Favorite FPS Educator for the FEF 2023 Excellent Teacher Award!
As the school year draws to an end, we wish to recognize Franklin teachers and staff for their outstanding efforts to keep our students engaged, connected and learning. Now is the time to nominate that special teacher who you believe has gone above and beyond this year! We encourage parents, students and colleagues to take a moment to recognize that special FPS staff member and everything that you need to nominate a Franklin teacher or professional staff member is included in this form.
You do not need to answer every question, but it helps to support your nominee if you can attempt to do so. One teacher from each school will be selected from the applications to receive a $500 educational grant to use for items in their classrooms or continuing education.
Winners will be announced at our Teacher Appreciation Event on Saturday, August 16th at the Franksville Craft Beer Garden (more details to come on this event! Save the date!)
(SOLD OUT!) FEF Tee-Up Golf Outing, But....
While the Franklin Foundation Tee-Up for Education Golf Outing is officially sold out, the online auction will still be available for those wanting to bid on great items! The auction will go live on Friday, June 6th at 3pm at our auction website here: 32auctions.com/TeeUp25. The auction will end during the Golf Outing on Friday, June 13th at 2pm. Be sure to get your bids in!
Board Briefs Wed 5/7/25
District Administrator Dr. Annalee Bennin shared the following:
Staff Appreciation Week - Sweet treats from the School Board and Leadership were taken to each school. Principals planned a meal and other fun activities for staff and PTO lunches and prizes were done in most schools.
Insurance Road Shows - 8 shows were completed by Laura Lancour and Andy Chromy last week. Staff was made aware of our "free partners" and updated to the changes that came out of the last Board meeting. Staff was made aware of the enrollment window and also updated on the Health Clinic Vendor, ProActiveMD, and what the clinic will have to offer, as well as the opening date.
Business Partner Breakfast - Thank you to Andy Thompson for recognizing the amazing work of our HS students through Youth Apprenticeships, Job Internships, Job Shadows and other workplace experiences that our business partners and educators have offered our students as our numbers continue to grow.
Better Place to Work - Both the Teacher and Support staff groups met last week. BPTW will give an update at the next board meeting.
Robinwood Playground Ribbon Cutting - The first of our referendum dollars to see in action is the new playground equipment at Robinwood Elementary. The equipment is appropriate for 4-12 year olds. Ribbon cutting for each grade level will be this Friday. Next steps are to add a fence to this space.
Board Agenda Items
- Board Members Mike Spragg & Debbie Larson were sworn in for their Oath of Office after being re-elected to the Board.
- Amanda Pound (Director of Teaching & Learning) and Steffany Jewell (K-12 Curriculum Coordinator) reported on the 4K-12 Literacy Update.
- Steffany Jewell and Megan Rinaldi (Spanish 2/3 Teacher) presented the Spanish Curriculum Adoption of Voces Digital and SAVVAS.
- The Land Development/Curriculum Improvement was discussed and a motion to table this was made.
- The Annual Building and Grounds report as well as the Capital Improvement 10-year plan was presented by Andy Daniels (Director of Building & Grounds).
- Dr. Annalee Bennin, along with Mike Hacker (Cadence Consulting), reviewed the Franklin Forward Update.
- Laura Lancour (Director of Human Resources) discussed the 2025-26 Employee Handbook updates.
- The Neola Board Policy Adoption was approved by the Board.
Want To Work With FPS?
We are always looking for people to join our amazing support systems for students! We are currently looking for a part-time educational assistants, coaches, food service staff, custodial staff, and more.
Click here to see all of our current SUPPORT STAFF LISTINGS on WECAN for more details and please apply through WECAN.
