2024-25 #07 12/5/24

Above: Our FHS Foundations of Education class recently went to UW-Parkside where they were able to join in on a EDU 300. Students did a great job participating in class activities! They also heard from a UWP student panel and learned about the experiences of Education majors.

I hope that everyone enjoyed the long weekend and found family and friends to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. We have much to be grateful for as a district and community and I am honored to share updates in the December District Newsletters around construction and planning throughout the district.

We are grateful to provide an update on the Community Education & Recreation Center (CERC) building that is being built adjacent to the Education & Community Center (ECC or district office) on West Forest Hill Avenue. This space is to support our ever growing Community Education and Recreation Department that is run by FPS for all of our community. The CERC building is scheduled to open in Fall of 2025 and will offer a Community Room, two studios, and a court space for pickleball or other activities. We have a waitlist for classes and currently rent space from other facilities so we are eager to open the building to better meet the demands of our community for continued wonderful offerings and interaction opportunities. Renderings of the final project are included below.

In addition, there is a gathering space within the CERC for the community to come together between classes or as they stop by to sign up for offerings. Having a separate space for the Community Education & Recreation Department also allows us to meet our district safety measures by ensuring our schools are kept secure during the school day while learning is taking place and moving classes outside of the schools during the school day. Our vision is that the CERC creates a welcoming space that is inclusive for all of our community to come together for your personal well-being while also finding space for social activities. You'll also read a story further down in this newsletter about how 3rd Grade Students at Southwood Glen Elementary helped to research and offer suggestions for an all-inclusive playground that will be available outside the building near the athletic fields! This is truly coming together as a community project!

If you, a friend or a neighbor have not yet taken advantage of offerings by our Community Education and Recreation Department, please take some time to review their newly released Winter-Spring catalog with a variety of opportunities to choose from. The Winter-Spring catalog just came out this week, so the timing is perfect to start that new year's goal or just explore something new and meet new friends.

I would also like to thank Mr. Brad Anderson for his 32 years of commitment to our Community Education and Recreation Department as he finishes out his career this month. Our new Director Matt Gomez has been learning all there is about this wonderful department and is ready to take the helm in January.

Wishing You Wellness,

Annalee Bennin

2024-25 Full District PDF Calendar

District Calendar webpage - all calendars can be subscribed to! Follow the directions at top of page

On Tuesday, November 19th, the Wisconsin Department of Instruction released the 2023-24 State Report Cards for all public schools and districts, publicly funded charter schools and private schools participating in a parental choice program.

Of note for this year: There have been scoring changes made by the State to better reflect student performance. These scoring adjustments will allow for student achievement to be comparable to last year. This one year scoring change only applies to the 2023-24 Report Cards. DPI has shared this “What’s New for the 2023-2024 Report Cards” resource to support understanding of the latest updates.

We are very proud of the work across the district to help Franklin Public Schools to be recognized as “Exceeds Expectations!” In addition, Franklin High School was also recently featured in the Top 10 of high schools in Milwaukee County in this JS Online Article here (downloaded copy of JS Online Article here).

For more details and to view the FPS district and school report cards, please visit this page. Thank you to our students, staff and family/community members for their support of student learning in Franklin Public Schools.

Thank you,

Dr. Jessica Moe, Assistant Superintendent for Continuous Improvement

Franklin Public Schools

Earlier this fall, as part of the 3rd Grade English-Literacy Unit 1 Project-based learning week, students at Southwood Glen Elementary started to learn what it means to have an "all inclusive playground." As part of the field research of the project, students met with Shelly Runte, Executive Director of Kayla’s Playground, to learn how the specialized equipment is made so students with any kind of disability or physical need can be included in the type of play offered at the playground.

“The movement toward more universally designed spaces has made great gains in the last 10 years,” shared Ms. Runte. “I always encourage any student group I speak with to thoughtfully consider others who may need assistance with mobility and how access may be difficult or non-existent. It was a delight to share Kayla’s story and how our community rallied to build an amazing playground. I am looking forward to seeing how the input from students helps to build another accessible and inclusive playground in our community”.

After learning about the type of equipment that would be beneficial for all students, 3rd graders wrote letters to Assistant Superintendent of Business & Operations Andy Chromy and Director of Buildings & Grounds Andy Daniels to seek further conversation about the playground space being planned for the new Community Education & Recreation Center (CERC) west of the District Office. Mr. Chromy and Mr. Daniels met with all 3rd grade Southwood Glen students to show them the types of equipment being planned and how their letters and input helped to guide some of that direction.

In particular, students suggested the following and these were not part of the original plans but their student voice is helping to make the playground better!

• Transfer station - Students asked for a transfer station to help those with wheelchairs to get from one area of the play structure to another.

• Metal Slides instead of Rubber - Students educated Mr. Chromy & Mr. Daniels about how someone with cochlear (ear) implants would have problems using a rubber/plastic slide as the static build up affects the implants.

“It was amazing to see how engaged and thoughtful young students can be when they take the time to research and craft well-written letters,” shared Mr. Daniels. “Their ability to ask insightful questions and connect their learning to real-world issues was impressive. It was gratifying for me to show them that their efforts led to tangible changes in the CERC playground.”

Added Mr. Chromy, “The students were very excited about this project and that showed in the engaging questions they asked that really focused on the playground and the components of the playground and how those meet the needs for inclusivity for all.”

Students also asked if the park planned for the CERC space could be named after them! That decision is pending. Thank you to Mrs. Strauss, Mrs. McNamara, Mrs. Bart, and Mrs. Greer for guiding the students on this important work and to Shelly Runte, Andy Chromy and Andy Daniels for learning along with the students to help better the play structure being planned for the CERC area.

Congratulations to FHS Junior Rishi Suryavanshi who won first place for this year's "Congressional App Challenge" for his app called "Botanical." Second place for the contest went to FHS students Kanwar Ghuman, Rohan Peddamallu, Anant Raj, and Ameen Almousa for their app called “Tutor Me." The challenge was hosted by First Congressional District Representative Bryan Steil and he surprised all the students with a special visit before Thanksgiving that CBS 58 featured on their news segments in the clip below (and on their website here!)

As shared in the building newsletters before Thanksgiving, in the event we have inclement weather, we have detailed information on our website at this page that is helpful for parents and students to understand in regards to FPS School closures. Information covered on this page includes how closures are determined, how families & staff can expect to receive information about closures and the impact of closures on school days for the rest of the year.

Recently, our FHS Construction II Building Trades course, in partnership with Tim O’Brien Homes, was awarded the City of Franklin’s Economic Development Commission’s Excellence in Business Innovation Award.

The program currently has twelve students from Franklin High School working alongside Tim O’Brien Homes for four months to build a home from the ground up. The program includes rough carpentry to finish, flooring, cables, and green living initiatives, and prepares students for future career opportunities after graduation.

This award recognizes the Construction II Team:

• Tim O’Brien Homes timobrienhomes.com, Pete Lange

• Franklin Trade Schools Instructor, Andrew Mente

• Franklin Schools Experience Coordinator, Andy Thompson

PIctured below are members from Tim O'Brien Homes and Franklin Public Schools receiving the award from Mayor John Nelson and the members of the Economic Development Commission.

Two stories coming at you from Franklin High School and one from Country Dale about how our students are giving back to our community:

FHS STUDENTS CREATE & DONATE TIE BLANKETS

Franklin High School advisory classes recently collaborated over the last couple of weeks to make tie blankets to donate to Street Angels. The students really took ownership of this project by organizing themselves into groups and checking on one another to keep with their production timelines. In the end, 13 tie blankets were donated just before Thanksgiving to Street Angels!

FHS STUDENT SENATE HOSTS BLOOD DRIVE

Earlier this week, Franklin High School Student Senate held their annual blood drive. Thank you to all the Student Senate volunteers who helped to run the process and to the over 80 students and staff that donated pints of blood for use through American Red Cross Blood Donors #BetterCommunity

GIRL SCOUTS DONATE LITTLE LENDING LIBRARY TO COUNTRY DALE

Girl Scouts in Troop 11360 were inspired to share their love of reading with the community. They designed and built a “Little Lending Library,” then filled it with books to donate to Country Dale. Students and community members are welcome to take a book and share a book from the library which is located at the front of the school near the flagpole. There are no due dates or late fees, so come and enjoy a book from the Girl Scouts! This project enabled girls to earn the Bronze Award which is one of the highest ranking awards in Girl Scouting. For more information about Girl Scout Troop 11360 (currently in 6th grade), contact Nicole Salowitz at 414-426-5381. Happy reading!

The FHS Jazz Band held their Fall Concert recently and these are a few photos from the event. Photography by Jack Pantaleo.

The FHS FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) club is sponsoring its THIRD annual WINTER ACTIVITY DAY for any Franklin Public Schools students in grades 4K-5th grade. The event will take place on Saturday, December 14th from 2pm-4pm in the FHS Main Commons. Need some extra time to shop? Let the kids enjoy snacks, crafts, activities and fun while you use the afternoon time to get ready for the holidays! The costs will be $15 for your first child, $10 if you have a second child and $5 for any additional children. If you are planning to have your children attend, please complete this REGISTRATION FORM before Friday, December 13th at noon. Payment (cash, check or card) will be accepted when you drop off your child(ren). If you have any questions, please reach out to student leader Kaitlyn Klinkowitz kaitlyn.klinkowitz@franklinsabers.org or advisor Lauren Zomboracz at lauren.zomboracz@franklin.k12.wi.us

School is underway and kids are learning, growing and adjusting to a new routine and expectations. Paying attention to your child’s emotional well-being is a focus of the student services staff of Franklin Public Schools.

• For elementary aged children, more information on mental health is HERE.

• For middle & high school students, developing the awareness of the impact of emotions on functioning is a valuable skill to create overall health and wellness.

If you feel your student is struggling with difficulty managing their emotions such as; anxiety, stress, depressed mood, consider finding some support. Therapy can provide tools to help them better deal with the complications that can come along with this challenging time of life.

If you feel your child might benefit from further support, FPS has partnered with Clinical Psychology Associates (CPA), who has established counseling clinics in Franklin High School, Forest Park Middle School, Pleasant View Elementary and Country Dale Elementary. These clinics are available to provide further support and establish a process of therapy. All children in Franklin elementary schools have access to these services. For more information, please see our website. Appointments are scheduled directly with CPA staff by calling or texting (262) 251-1112.

The Franklin Public School District is proud to continue to partner with Advocate Aurora Health Care to offer a Student and Family Assistance Program (SFAP). The SFAP is available to ALL students and members of their households within our district AT NO COST and offers up to (4) free one-hour sessions with a licensed counselor per issue on a variety of topics related to mental health. The program also provides other services and benefits, including legal and financial consultation.

• Information about this program is parked on our website here.
• Click here for a Franklin Public Schools Plan Flier with a description of this program along with contact information to get started with accessing these services.
• Click here for examples of the types of services Aurora can offer
• Click here for a video which provides a comprehensive overview of the program.

Call 1-800-236-3231 between 8am to 5pm M-F to schedule an appointment to talk to a counselor.

Experience the enchanting sounds of "The Founding," a folk band that masterfully blends tradition with modern flair. Their captivating performances, rich harmonies, and intricate instrumentation promise an unforgettable musical journey. Don't miss your chance to see their latest holiday tour "A Celtic Christmas" at the Saber Center for the Performing Arts December 11th at 7:00pm. Secure your tickets now at sabercenter.ludus.com and be part of an extraordinary evening that will leave you spellbound!

• Fri, December 6th @ 7pm: FPMS Drama Club Presents: "Who Killed Elvis?"

• Mon, December 9th @ 7pm: FPMS Choir Winter Concert

• Tues, December 10th @ 7pm: FHS Choir Winter Concert

• Wed, December 11th @ 7pm: "The Founding -- A Celtic Christmas”

• Thurs, December 12th @ 7pm: FHS Band Winter Concert

• Tues, December 17th @ 7pm: FPMS Orchestra Winter Concert

• Thurs, December 19th @ 7pm: FHS Orchestra Winter Concert

Get tickets here, and like the Saber Center on Facebook or Instagram for the latest information!

As of December 3rd, the Winter-Spring program registration is OPEN for Franklin residents! Check our website here to see the guide and to register!

The next FPS School Board Meeting is Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at the ECC District Office @ 6pm. Current agenda items include:

• Friends of Franklin Recognitions
• Pleasant View School Presentation
• Coherence Plan Mid-Year Report - Dr. Jessica Moe
• Board Clerk's Report: Election Notice
• Open Enrollment Seats - Laura Lancour
• 2025-26 School Calendar - Laura Lancour
• 2023-24 Financial Audit Report - Andy Chromy
• Board Goal Setting - Mike Spragg
• Annual Health Report - Leo Eckman & Chong Yang

Agendas are posted on the Board of Education/Board Docs page of the Franklin Public Schools website the Friday evening prior to the Board meeting. Policies are located in Board Docs through this Policy link.

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.

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.)