FPS 2023-24 #09 | 12/21/23

As we officially celebrate the Winter Solstice and the beginning of Winter today, we also look ahead to our ten days of Winter Break right around the corner. While that looks different for all of our families, the season and the break brings a common experience for us all. Our break allows time to break the normal routine and find time for new memories, milestones, or just time to catch up on some rest and relaxation. As Chip Health referenced in his book The Power of Moments, our lives are defined in moments. Moments can happen in a flash, but those that endure in our memories are those where we have paused to engage and appreciate the time together and the common experience taking place. I wish for you and your family to find those moments this break that endure lifelong memories for all.

Thank you for a wonderful 2023!

Annalee Bennin, FPS District Administrator

Click here for the 2023-24 Full District Calendar in PDF format.

Click here for the 2024-25 Full District Calendar in PDF format.

Click here for our website District Calendar page where all of our calendars can be subscribed to! Follow the steps at the top of the District Calendar webpage for how to subscribe.

*Please note the following in regards to the ECC District Office:

• The ECC District Office is closed to the public Mon 12/25 through Mon 1/1/24.
• If you are interested in picking up Board Member candidacy paperwork next week Wed 12/27 or Thurs 12/28 between the hours of 7am and 3pm only, please visit the front vestibule of the ECC District Office.
  
• Board Member candidacy paperwork is due to the ECC District Office by Tuesday 1/2/24 @ 5pm. Due to this deadline, the ECC District Office will be open on Tues 1/2 until 5pm.
• If you aren't able to turn in paperwork on 1/2/24 and you need to drop off paperwork on Wed 12/27 or Thurs 12/28, please email communications@franklin.k12.wi.us so we can arrange a meeting time since the offices are closed to the public.

During this holiday season, it is important to think about how we give back to others. Stewardship is one of our Franklin Public Schools core values so we thought we would take a little time here to share some stories from around the district where staff and students have been working at giving back to others or the community.

• The ECC District Office Staff came together over the last few weeks and collected holiday items as part of a drive for the Salvation Army. These collected toys will go to 30 children through Salvation Army events taking place around the holidays.

• Mrs. Slaby’s 5th grade class at Southwood Glen runs a “5th Grade Gives” project and students sponsored Kids Matter in Milwaukee, an organization that supports foster care. Students from the class went on a Starbucks and Target run and filled 2 carts full of items on the organization’s wishlist! In addition, they also made some tie blankets and holiday cards!

• Recently, Forest Park Student Council members and supervisors coordinated a Food Drive. The middle school community raised an impressive 547 items for the St Martin’s Food Pantry!

• FUTURE EVENT Next Tues 12/26! If you’re looking for a way in which you can contribute, the 7th Grade Franklin Sabers Basketball team is hosting a “Cocoa 4 Kids” event next Tuesday afternoon in the community! Check out their flyer for the location!

These are only a few of the ways in which students and staff in Franklin Public Schools are giving back and we are so appreciative of the ways in which staff can help to model this for our students.

Yesterday (Wednesday 12/20), we shared a message with seniors, their families and the high school staff announcing details for the 2024 FHS Graduation Ceremony. You can click here (or on the image below) to see the full announcement.

Forest Park Middle School will be hosting the 3rd annual Festival of Bands for grades 6-12 on Saturday, January 6th. Students will have the opportunity to work with renowned clinician Patty Schlafer throughout the day, culminating in a showcase performance demonstrating the progression from beginning band to advanced wind ensemble. Please join us at 4pm in the gym to celebrate the musicianship of the 6-12 grade band program!

The 2023-24 Winter/Spring Rec Guide is now available online here and registration for Franklin families opened on Tuesday, December 5th! We have a bunch of new programs including Basketball Camps, Athlete Performance Training, more cookie decorating with FHS Alum Abby Martin, Kayak Trips, Adult Gym Classes and more! Sign up early as spots are limited!

Our student news show at Franklin High School put together this week's episode as a "Holiday Special" which included some interviews with our younger students at Robinwood about how they celebrate the holidays. Enjoy!

(HS Science Classes participating in some "Reindeer Games" this week!)

Last Friday, we had the wonderful opportunity to celebrate our 2023 Excellent Educators award winners with District Administration, principals and FEF board members. These teachers have been so creative and thoughtful with their grant funding... everything from continuing education classes, new materials and supporting curriculum for classrooms, recognition opportunities for students and much more!

Congratulations again to those pictured below: Keith Decker (FHS), Amy Stroble (Country Dale), Meredith Yanke (Robinwood), Mara Magner (Ben Franklin), Jennifer Challen (FPMS), Lindsay Slaby (Southwood Glen), and Cyndee Gordon (Pleasant View).

(FHS students in Ms. Streed’s and Ms. Davis’s FHS Advisories made snowflakes in the dark to recognize 2023’s winter solstice, or the longest night of the year, which occurs on Thursday. Students came to understand that joy and fun can be found even on the darkest day.)

Join Forte Youth Productions as Harvard's beloved blonde takes the stage by glittery pink storm! A fabulously fun journey of self-empowerment and expanding horizons, this musical is filled with humor, wit and sass — leaving audiences seeing pink!

Part of Forte’s youth musical series, this show will be performed by students ages 12-18 from FPS and throughout the Greater Milwaukee Area.

Friday, January 26th @ 7 pm

Saturday, January 27th @ 7 pm

Sunday, January 28th @ 2 pm

@ The Saber Center for the Performing Arts at FHS

Running time approximately 1 hour without intermission.

Tickets $12-$15 GET TICKETS HERE

The International Academic Competitions (IAC) has scheduled the regional competitions for History, Geography, and Science for Elementary (3rd grade & Under, 4th and 5th Grade) & Middle school grades (6, 7 and 8) at Brookfield, WI on January 27th. The venue for the competition is Brookfield Central High School.

• More details for how this works and is structured are available at the IAC website here.

• Students must have prerequisite for registering to this competition - Qualification to attend regionals by taking the Online Regional Qualification Examination at https://orqe.iac-exams.com/

• Once a student qualifies, they can register online here to participate in the Regional Finals.

We are always looking for people to join our amazing support systems for students! Here are some current opportunities available in FPS:

• KIDS CLUB ASSISTANTS
• GO RITEWAY BUS DRIVERS (school & charter available)
• COOK 2 @ FHS (3-5 hours per day)
• SUB FOOD SERVICE POSITIONS (on call)
• SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS (on call)

In addition to the positions listed above, here are other SUPPORT POSITIONS we are looking to fill (Custodial, EA, Fitness Instructor, Coaches, Youth Sports Officials, and more!)

(Phy Ed at Pleasant View participated in a "tree" decorating contest and a wrapping paper relay!)