Community Ed & Rec Monthly Roundup

Wheeeew—where did September and October go? Just like that, we find ourselves in November, wrapping up another incredible fall season filled with activity, energy, and community spirit.

Many of our early fall programs and youth sports leagues have just concluded, and we’re excited to reflect on what a great season it’s been! Our Coed Flag Football program saw fantastic participation and enthusiasm, and we were thrilled to launch our first-ever NFL Girls Flag Football program—a major step forward in expanding opportunities for girls in sport.

Our Fall Youth Soccer League was just as busy and just as fun, with teams full of young athletes showing growth and sportsmanship week after week. Meanwhile, our Youth Volleyball Fundamentals Camp gave kids a great chance to learn skills and gain confidence on the court.

One of the shining stars of our fall has been our Kids Club Morning Program, which continues to see high attendance—averaging 55–60 kids at each elementary site. This program offers students a positive, active start to their school day, and we’re proud of the impact it’s having on our young learners.

Behind the scenes, our Community Education and Recreation staff have been hard at work preparing for something very exciting—the upcoming opening of the Community Education and Recreation Center, expected this December! We can’t wait to welcome the community into this new space. Not only will we be moving many of our existing programs into the center, but we’re also launching a variety of new offerings, including fitness classes, enrichment workshops, senior programs, youth activities, and more.

Looking ahead, keep an eye out for our Winter/Spring Program Guide, Registration starts December 3. It’ll be packed with opportunities to stay active, learn something new, and connect with others in our community. Whether you’re looking for a new fitness challenge, a fun youth program, or a chance to explore a hobby or skill, there will be something for everyone.

Thank you to all of our participants, families, volunteers, coaches, and staff who help make our programs possible. Your continued support and involvement help build the strong, vibrant community we’re so proud to be part of.

Stay warm, stay active, and we’ll see you soon—perhaps at the new center!

With appreciation,

Matt Gomez
Director, Community Education and Recreation Department

As September and October fade into fall memories, we want to take a moment to reflect on an incredible season of energy, teamwork, and growth in our youth and adult programs. Just a week ago, our fall sports leagues and fitness classes wrapped up, and what a season it was!

From the fast-paced excitement of our Youth Soccer League, to the fun and fierce competition in both our Coed Flag Football League and the brand-new All-Girls NFL Flag Football League, our fields were full of hustle, heart, and highlights. We were especially thrilled to see our young female athletes take the field and make history in their inaugural season!

Inside the gym, our Volleyball Clinic served up skills, drills, and plenty of high-fives, while our Adult Fitness Classes powered through Session 1 with motivation and movement that kept everyone on track and pushing forward.

We’re so proud of every participant, coach, volunteer, and parent who made this season possible. Your energy is what keeps our community strong.

📸 Scroll down to enjoy some snapshots of the season!

Here’s to an unforgettable fall—and get ready, because winter programming is right around the corner!

Check out these exciting courses that are still open for enrollment in November. Whether you're looking to improve your fitness, learn a new skill, or have fun with others, we’ve got something for everyone!

Girls Softball Clinic- November 5th
Join us for a fun and active Girls Softball Clinic designed to build skills, teamwork, and confidence on the field. Perfect for beginners and experienced players alike!

Kidz Connection- November 26th
Kidz Connection offers supervised recreational care on non-school days, providing a safe and engaging environment filled with games, crafts, and activities.

Pet 1st Aid and CPR- November 10th
Learn essential Pet First Aid and CPR skills to keep your furry friends safe in emergencies. This hands-on class is perfect for all pet owners!

Crafting: Watercolor Techniques- November 19th
Explore your creativity in our Watercolor Techniques crafting session! Discover new tips and tricks to make your artwork shine, whether you’re a beginner or seasoned painter.

Don’t miss out on our upcoming programs — now open for registration!

Don’t miss out on these awesome opportunities to learn, grow, and stay active! Sign Up Today To secure your spot.

We’re thrilled to announce that our popular Before and After School Program has returned to all five elementary schools this year! Sign your students up today for a fun and enriching experience that goes beyond basic childcare.

Why Join Our Program?

• Engaging Recreation Activities: Your child will enjoy a variety of recreation play, arts and crafts, board games, and special themed events designed to spark creativity and teamwork.

• Social Connections: Kids will have the opportunity to make new friends or join their current friends for extra fun before and after school.

• More Than Just Care: This program extends the school day with meaningful activities that support your child’s social, emotional, and physical development in a safe and welcoming environment.

Staff Training and Program Highlights

Before the school year kicked off, our dedicated staff participated in comprehensive training sessions to ensure a high-quality experience for your children. Training focused on:

• Enhancing child engagement through creative play and activities

• Promoting positive social interactions and teamwork

• Ensuring safety and wellbeing at all times

• Implementing inclusive practices to welcome all students

• CPR/AED

Meaningful programming

• Creative arts and crafts projects tailored to different age groups

• Group games that build cooperation and communication skills

• Opportunities for physical activity to keep kids active and energized

Sign your child up today( https://franklin.arux.app) and give them a safe, fun, and enriching way to extend their school day!

Programming Highlights below:

We’re excited to introduce Kidz Connection, a brand-new program launched this year to support families on non-school days! Designed for students in 4K through 5th grade, this program offers a safe, fun, and engaging place for kids to go when school is out but parents still need to work.

Whether it’s a professional development day or a scheduled break in the school calendar, Kidz Connection is here with themed days packed full of fun. Each date includes special games, activities, arts & crafts, recreational play, and much more—all tied into the theme of the day.

Our first Kidz Connection day was held on September 26 and welcomed around 30 students. The fun continued on October 24 with over 40 students joining us for a Halloween celebration! Costumes, pumpkin decorating, themed games, and lots of laughter made it a day to remember.

🗓 Upcoming Kidz Connection Dates:

• November 26 at Southwood Glen Elementary

• December 22–23 and December 29–30 at the new Community Education and Recreation Center 8355 West Forest Hill Ave, Franklin,WI 53132

• We must have at least 20 students registered for each day to run program that day!

We’re thrilled to see this program growing so quickly and can’t wait to welcome even more smiling faces in the months ahead!

📸 Check out the photo highlights below to see the fun in action!

👉 For more info and registration details, visit: franklin.arux.app

This past month, the Community Education and Recreation Department was thrilled to participate in several community engagement events throughout Franklin. We take great pride in being present at these gatherings—they give us a chance to connect with residents, showcase the wide variety of programs we offer, and invite new participants who may not yet know that our department is open to all Franklin residents.

Equally important, these events provide an opportunity for two-way communication. We love hearing your ideas for new programs and answering your questions about current offerings. Your input helps us grow and evolve to better serve our community.

In October, we were proud to attend the FPS Key Communicators Event, the FPS Child Development Days event at the City of Franklin Library, and the City of Franklin’s annual Trunk or Treat. At each of these events, we had a fantastic time meeting new faces, reconnecting with familiar ones, strengthening community bonds—and of course, handing out some fun department swag!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello. We look forward to seeing you at future events!

Community Education & Recreation Office Has Moved!

We are excited to announce that the Community Education and Recreation office has officially moved to the ECC (District Offices), located at:

8255 W. Forest Hill Avenue
Across from Forest Park Middle School

Our public office hours are:
Monday–Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Please note that all phone numbers and contact information remain the same.

Our main office number is: 414-423-4646

We look forward to continuing to serve you from our new location!

We’re thrilled to share that the new Community Education and Recreation Center is making great progress! While construction is still underway, the transformation since our groundbreaking ceremony in April has been incredible to witness.

We encourage everyone to drive by and take a look — it’s exciting to see this long-time dream turning into a reality for our community!

🎀 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony – December 4th at 10:00 a.m.!

We’re thrilled to announce that the official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the brand-new Franklin

Community Education and Recreation Center (CERC) will take place on

📍 Wednesday, December 4th at 10:00 a.m.
📍 8355 West Forest Hill Avenue

Join us as we celebrate this exciting milestone and open the doors to a space built for learning, wellness, and connection for all ages!

As the big day approaches, please visit franklin.arux.app for the latest details about the ceremony and to view the official CERC schedule for December.

🏥 More Than Just Recreation

This new facility isn’t just about community programs — it’s about health, balance, and well-being.
The CERC will include an Employee Wellness Clinic, expanding access to important health and wellness services for staff and helping our community thrive both inside and out.

🎠 Playground Coming Soon!

Our new playground is almost complete! Construction and assembly are wrapping up, and it’s looking fantastic. However, with winter right around the corner, the playground will officially open in the spring — just in time for sunny days, laughter, and family fun!

🔜 What’s Next?

Behind the scenes, our team is busy planning a variety of programs to launch once the doors open. Get ready for:

• Your favorite fitness classes

• Daily pickleball

• Exciting new programs for all ages

• Senior-focused offerings

• And so much more!

There will be something for everyone — from active mornings to creative evenings, and everything in between!

🌟 What This Means for Franklin

The new Community Education and Recreation Center will allow us to:

• Reduce waitlists

• Expand our program offerings

• Bring new and enriching activities to the community

This vibrant new space will be a hub for learning, wellness, and connection — for all ages and all interests.

✨ Mark your calendars for December 4th, and join us as we begin this exciting new chapter for Franklin!

For more details and the full December CERC schedule, visit franklin.arux.app.

To keep up-to-date on the progress of the project and to learn more, please visit this link.

Thank you for your ongoing support — we can’t wait to see you at the new center in late 2025!

Check Out Our FALL RECREATION Guide!
Our fall guide is currently in progress, and we have a wide variety of offerings available for you and the family! From exciting programs to engaging classes, there's something for everyone. Many programs will fill up fast, so don’t miss out!

👉 Click BELOW to view all our offerings and secure your spot today.

This month, our management team from the Kids Club and Kids Camp programs had the valuable opportunity to attend a Professional Development Day hosted in Cudahy. The event brought together Community Education and Recreation departments from public school systems across the state that run before- and after-school care programs as well as summer camps.

Leaders and staff from districts including Franklin, Oak Creek-Franklin, South Milwaukee, Milwaukee Public Schools, Madison Public Schools, Cudahy, Sauk Prairie, Greendale, West Allis-West Milwaukee, Lake Mills, Sheboygan, Plymouth and more gathered to share experiences, challenges, and solutions. The day focused on building connections, exchanging best practices, and supporting one another in the mission to provide high-quality programs for children and families.

It was a day filled with meaningful conversation, fresh ideas, and renewed inspiration. We’re proud to be part of a community of professionals committed to continuous improvement and collaboration—and we look forward to applying what we learned to enhance our own programs here in Franklin!

Staff Contact Information

• Matt Gomez, Administrator
  Email: matthew.gomez@franklin.k12.wi.us

• Shana Gagliardo, Kids' Club Manager
  Email: shana.gagliardo@franklin.k12.wi.us

• Danielle White, Kids' Camp/Kids Club Recreation Coordinator
  Email: danielle.white@franklin.k12.wi.us

• Natalie Walz, Recreation Supervisor - Sports, Youth, Enrichment,
  Email: natalie.walz@franklin.k12.wi.us

• Leah Voss. Recreation/Facilities Manager - Fitness
  Email: leah.voss@franklin.k12.wi.us

• Alexis Betker. Recreation Coordinator - Youth Sports & Activities
  Email: alexis.betker@franklin.k12.wi.us

Main Office: 414-423-4646

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