August 21, 2023
January 8, 2023
Dear Families,
Just before winter break, our whole school came together for our Trimester 1 Assembly. It was great to end the week celebrating students in each grade who were recognized for excellence in the 3Rs (Ready, Respectful, Responsible) in first trimester. We are so proud of them and all our students who worked and did their best. We also had fun cheering on the participants in our staff versus students relay races. Students earned chances to participate through showing good sportsmanship in the month of December. Great job, students and staff!
Yours in education,
Bridget Mowbray
FPS SCHOOL CLOSURE INFORMATION
Since we have a winter storm watch occurring early this week, we want to remind you how the district plans to handle School Closures if needed for any reason including, most commonly, “Snow/Cold Days.”
How are closures determined?
When inclement weather is approaching or evident, we work to make a school closure determination and communicate this to families by 6 am at the latest. When our local weather authorities begin discussing the possibility of severe weather, FPS District Administrator Annalee Bennin will consult with various sources about the impact potential weather may have on the ability to hold school. These sources include National Weather Service updates (Milwaukee/Sullivan Office), road condition reports, and conversations with other area superintendents.
If schools are closed, all after-school activities, including athletic competitions, practices and FPS Community Education & Recreation activities, will be canceled unless otherwise communicated. Please know that the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. We will always make decisions out of caution and, at the same time, communicate with you as early as possible.
How can families and staff expect to receive information about closures?
The following are the ways we communicate the closing and where you can expect to see information:
Parents and Staff will be sent an email, phone call and text message alert.
Students will be sent an email at their @franklinsabers.org account (4K, 5K, & up through 12th grade)
Closing information will be posted to our district and school webpages (in the “News” feeds).
Closing information will be posted to our district social media channels (be sure to like or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram if you don’t already!).
Closing information will be shared with local media outlets so that our information is included in the weather updates that occur via local news online and on TV (CBS58, FOX6, TMJ4, WISN12)
How do closures impact school days?
The state of Wisconsin’s Department of Public Instruction (DPI) requires a minimum number of instructional minutes during the school year. Our current school calendar allows for one School Closure day across the district. If we were to see subsequent closure days, FHS will need to adjust scheduling for the remainder of the school year in order to meet DPI requirements. If we experience more than three school closures at the elementary and middle school level we will communicate around further adjustments that may need to be made. Outlined below is what families can expect:
Closure #1 - 4K-12 no school, no virtual learning
Closure #2-3 - 4K-8th - No school, no virtual learning
9-12th grade - HS will communicate adjustments to accommodate instructional minutes per DPIClosure #4+ - The district will communicate any further changes that may need to take place district wide
K-5th GRADE MAP TESTING
Your son/daughter will be participating in MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessments in math and reading from 1/8/24 - 1/19/24. MAP is an online assessment that Franklin teachers and other professional staff use to determine your child’s achievement levels, academic growth, and other information that can help to improve teaching and learning. The full MAP assessment will be administered again in May of this school year so achievement and growth can be monitored over time.
When working with assessment results, it is important to interpret scores appropriately and to not place too much emphasis on any one score. Teachers use the results from MAP along with the results of classroom performance (assignments, projects, quizzes, tests, observations) as well as the results of other external assessments to determine a student’s academic progress.
The MAP assessments are important for several reasons:
The results provide teachers and families with a report measuring a student’s achievement and growth.
It is used along with a series of other information (quality of classroom work, classroom assessments, observations, and projects, etc) to monitor your child’s progress.
The results can be tracked over several years.
It is important that your child come to school rested and ready to fully participate in the assessment. Please encourage your child to:
Get enough sleep.
Eat a good breakfast.
Keep a positive attitude.
Listen carefully and follow directions.
Do his/her best
Though the MAP assessments are important, it is only one measure of your child’s progress in school. Please continue to communicate with your child’s teachers and other school staff to get a full picture of your child’s school success. Additional general information about MAP is available at www.nwea.org.
MAP READING FLUENCY 4K ONLY
Your son/daughter will be taking the MAP Reading Fluency assessment on 1/18/24 - 2/15/24. This tool measures the growth of our students in the areas of phonological awareness and literacy. The state of Wisconsin requires that a literacy screener be administered each year to all pre-K students as part of a 2012 education bill that aimed to increase reading achievement in the state.
Please click here for all the information.
WINTER/SPRING REC GUIDE IS AVAILABLE!
The 2023-24 Winter/Spring Rec Guide is now available online here and registration for Franklin families opens on Tuesday, December 5th (tomorrow as you receive this newsletter on Monday). We have a bunch of new programs including Basketball Camps, Athlete Performance Training, more Abby Martin cookie decorating, Kayak Trips, Adult Gym Classes and more! Sign up early as spots are limited!
PTA MEETINGS
Our next meeting will be Monday, January 8th. Childcare will be provided.
- Click HERE to view the December minutes.
NEWSLETTER
For our December issue, click HERE.
A TO Z CONNECT
Register to stay connected with our P.T.A. news and events, as well as the Southwood Glen community. Through the directory we are able to provide online ticket sales and registration for our events. The directory also offers access to family contact information (optional) for party and playdate planning! You can even sign up to be a member of the PTA through our online directory.
How to register:
Click on the button “Register/Login.”
If you are new to A to Z, click on the button “Create Account.” Proceed with the prompts provided.
If you have used A to Z before, simply use your previous login information and verify/update your family information.
You are now able to select your child’s teacher in order to connect with the class.
P.T.A. Membership - Consider donating $10 to our PTA! This membership donation provides our P.T.A. access to the National P.T.A. resources and supports our secure online directory. This donation also helps to fund student experiences and teacher requests. All are welcome and your membership donation is appreciated. Memberships can be purchased in A to Z connect. Look for the menu option titled PTA Membership 2023-2024.
FIND US ON FACEBOOK
- Follow us on Facebook at Southwood Glen PTA.
CULTUREFEST 2024 IS THURS 2/15
It's a celebration of cultures and everyone is invited! On Thursday, February 15th, 2024, come to FHS Multicultural Club’s FREE event, filled with food, activities, and performances. This year the annual event, which has previously hosted over 600 attendees, is even bigger and better than before! From a Dabke dance group to a Hmong performance, expect to celebrate countless cultures of the world.
Check out the student-designed poster below to show all your friends and family, and please contact Mai Alessaly at mai.alessaly@franklinsabers.org and Sruti Palla at sruti.palla@franklinsabers.org with any questions or inquiries. If you’d like to be involved in the event yourself, please let us know by January 20th. Hope to see you there and don’t be afraid to put on your party hats and join the celebration!
AFTER SCHOOL THEATER CLASSES
Sing! Dance! Act! In this after school class, students will learn the basics of acting, singing and musical theater dance while having a lot of fun! Our next 8-week session at Southwood Glen runs Thursdays, 4:00-5:00 pm, February 8th - April 4th (no class 3/28). Students will explore new stage skills, theater games and showcase material, so new and returning students are welcome! Focus is put on developing imagination, social skills and a positive self image through the performing arts. Learn more at www.characterkidsdrama.com/wisconsin.
LEGALLY BLONDE JR. AT FHS SABER CENTER
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