Community Ed & Rec Monthly Roundup

Hello Everyone,

Don’t look now, but wow—we are already in November! It feels like the school year is simply flying by, and autumn is in full swing across our community.

As we turn the calendar page, several of our youth sports leagues just wrapped up their final games during the last week of October. We want to extend a huge thank you to all of our young athletes, volunteer coaches, and supportive families. It was a fantastic fall season, highlighted by strong turnouts and great sportsmanship in our Youth Soccer League, Girls’ NFL Flag Football League, and Coed Flag Football League.

At the same time, our active adult and senior programs at the Community Education and Recreation Center (CERC) have seen wonderful attendance all autumn long. Seeing our CERC halls bustling with activity every day is always a highlight for our staff!

While the weather might be cooling down, things are certainly not slowing down here. Help us finish out our Fall Activity Guide on a strong note! We still have plenty of high-quality offerings available before we ring in the new year. Whether you’re looking to stay active in a fitness class, spark your creativity in an enrichment program, or try something completely new, there is still time to sign up.

Take a quick look through our current schedule, grab a friend, and join us this month. Thank you for being such an active part of our recreation family, and we hope to see you at the CERC soon!

Warmly,

Matt Gomez
Director, Community Education and Recreation Department

How to Register & Get Your Guide

• Online: Browse the full guide and sign up at franklin.arux.app

• In Person: Stop by the Community Education and Recreation Center to pick up a physical copy of the Fall Activity Guide.

Copies are also available at City Hall and the Library.

Attention parents and caregivers! Are you looking for a reliable, fun before- and after-school care program for your child? Our Kids Club Program is offered at all five elementary schools, providing students with engaging recreational activities, interactive games, arts and crafts, and more in a safe, structured environment. To learn more about program schedules, rates, and enrollment, please visit franklin.arux.app to register today!

Looking for quality care on non-school days? Kidz Connection is a fun and engaging program designed for children in grades 4K through 5th, offering structured, reliable programming during staff professional development days, short school breaks, and select holidays. Students will enjoy a well-rounded day filled with recreational activities, hands-on arts and crafts, exciting games, and plenty of opportunities for positive social interaction. Give your child a safe, active place to play and connect when school is out!

We had an incredible turnout on October 23rd with about 32 students joining us for a action-packed day at Kidz Connection! Students and staff had a fantastic lineup of activities, including exciting relay races and special arts and crafts projects. Everyone stayed cool and refreshed with a popsicles after all the fun.

Don't miss out on the next one—be sure to register and join us for our upcoming Kidz Connection days!

Welcome to this month’s 4K Wraparound Program update! Last month was an absolutely incredible time for our little learners, filled with creativity, growth, and joyful discovery. We are so proud of how hard everyone worked on a wide array of projects that thoughtfully integrated various learning dimensions—from artistic expression and scientific observation to foundational physical skills.

One of the first highlights was our seasonal Acorn Project. This activity provided a fantastic hands-on opportunity for our learners to sharpen their fine motor abilities through painting and gluing. More importantly, it challenged their ability to practice essential cognitive skills like following multi-step instructions. While they crafted their colorful acorns, the classroom buzzed with meaningful conversations as we discussed the changing fall weather and what it means for our environment.

Building on our outdoor discussions, we took our exploration directly to the school grounds for a wonderful "Leaf Walk." Our little scientists focused on the crucial skill of observation, noticing the stunning variety of leaf colors (vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges!), their differing textures, and unique shapes. We discussed why the season changes and how nature adapts. Afterward, we used our collected natural treasures to create whimsical, unique "Leaf People," blending environmental science with personal creative expression.

We also focused on foundational physical development with our Marble Roll Painting project. This activity was especially exciting for the students and directly targeted fine motor control and dexterity. By carefully tilting their trays to guide marbles coated in vibrant colors, each learner practiced concentration, eye-hand coordination, and control over smaller hand muscles, resulting in beautiful abstract art that they were proud to share.

Finally, we are thrilled to spotlight the latest addition to our Dramatic Play Area, which our 4K WAC staff transforms each month to encourage imagination and social development. For October, we launched our highly anticipated "Pumpkin Patch!" Complete with pretend pumpkins and props, this immersive station allows students to fully dive into role-play. Whether they are choosing to be a hard-working farmer, a busy worker organizing the patch, or a cheerful visitor exploring the field, this interactive play is helping them build essential communication, empathy, and cooperation skills in a truly fun way.

The progress we see in our 4K students is remarkable! Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to many more learning adventures next month.

For more information and the most updated information please visit https://franklin.arux.app/child-care/5/4k-wraparound-care

Our adult/senior enrichment seminars have been going strong this Fall!! A big THANK YOU to our local instructors. We appreciate your partnership.

Medicare 101: James Bild- State Farm

Basic Estate: Georgia Konstantakis- Konstantakis Law Office LLC

Brain Health: Shelly Mrozinski- Franklin Place Memory Care

Keep an eye out for additional seminars in our upcoming Winter/Spring Activity guide.

We had a great group of grandparents join us to learn important skills for safely caring for infants and children, including everyday care, safety tips, and emergency preparedness. These grandparents spent time refreshing their knowledge, learning what's new and building even more confidence to safely care for the little people they love. Thank you Rescue Ready Resources LLC.

About 75 parents, students, staff, leaders and community partners gathered for the districts first of three key communicators sessions of the year!

As the weather turns colder and outdoor courts close for the season, stay active and connected with Daily Open Pickleball at the Community Education and Recreation Center! Whether you are looking to refine your game, enjoy some friendly competition, or simply stay warm while getting a great workout, our indoor courts offer a welcoming environment for players of all skill levels. Grab your paddle and join us for open play throughout the week—check out the flyer for schedule details, court times, and registration info!

We kindly ask for your cooperation in staying off our fields at this time. We are currently working on growing and establishing grass so the fields can be ready for future sports use. These areas will not be available for play or foot traffic this summer, and respecting these guidelines will help ensure they are in great condition for community use moving forward.

Please note: No foot traffic, no riding bikes, and no pets are allowed on the fields at this time. These fields are not ready to be used, and your cooperation is essential in helping us prepare them for future community enjoyment.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Spooktacular Fun at Franklin’s Trunk or Treat!

On October 22nd, our team had an absolute blast participating in Franklin’s Trunk or Treat event! It was wonderful connecting with our community, catching up with familiar families from our programs, and meeting so many new neighbors. We loved passing out treats and prizes to all the trick-or-treaters who stopped by.

To top off an already fantastic day, the Community Education and Recreation Department—together with our District’s Buildings and Grounds Team—took first place in the Spookiest Trunk Contest! Woohoo!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our trunk to say hello and celebrate with us. We had a wonderful time and can’t wait for next year’s event!

Registration Still Open – November Programs

Walking Club

Date: Starts Monday, Nov 2 (people can register and join anytime). This ongoing program is an indoor cardio workout using the halls of Franklin High School. Registering for the Fall/Winter/Spring session allows you to stay moving all year round in a safe, standard environment. It is suitable for all fitness levels. Registration includes a mandatory walking shirt.

Basic Estate Planning & Living Trust

Date: Monday, November 9, This is a free seminar offered as a co-op event with Muskego & Oak Creek, led by a local attorney. It covers the essentials of basic estate planning and how living trusts work. While free, registration is required.

Demonstration Cooking

Date: Wednesday, November 11. Part of the "Cooking With Class" series, this session is a demonstration-style format often held in co-op with other nearby rec departments. While specific menu details may vary, a typical topic found in autumn guide details is Italian Comfort Food. Instructor-led sessions teach culinary skills in a supportive environment.

Gobble Gobble: Beginner-Friendly Cookie Decorating

Date: Thursday, November 12 This interactive, beginner-friendly class is led by Sugar Monster Treats LLC as a co-op with Muskego. Participants learn the basics of decorated sugar cookies, including fundamental techniques for handling and decorating them. The November topic is "Gobble Gobble" themed, preparing attendees for the holidays.

Nice & Easy Yoga

Date: Wednesday mornings, starting Nov 4th.Location: Designed as a group fitness class to improve physical and mental health, strength, and endurance. This instructor-led session focuses on gentle yoga poses, breathing, and standard relaxation techniques suited for beginners or those seeking a gentler workout standard to adult fitness catalog offerings.

Dance Fitness: WERQ

Date: Mondays, starting November 9.This instructor-led adult fitness class is a popular dance fitness format usually based on hip hop and pop music. Led by an instructor, the class focuses on cardio, standard strength training, and endurance through a fun, group dance environment.

Register today and reserve your spot before these popular programs fill up!

👉 Register or find more information at: franklin.arux.app

📞 Main Office / Main Line: 414-423-4646

Office Hours

Our Management Team office hours are 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Outside of these hours, the Recreation Center will be staffed by our part-time Recreational Leaders, who are available to answer questions about programs, facility use, and more.

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