September 23, 2024

Hello Country Dale Family!

All students have completed their MAPS Assessment in Reading and Math! The data will help guide our teaching strategies moving forward, ensuring we continue to provide the best learning experience possible. We are excited to build on the strengths of our students as well as grow in areas of improvement through our Tier I whole group instruction and Tier II and III interventions. Teachers will be sharing results with you soon!

We also continued working on our district safety protocols and practiced our evacuation drill. It ran smoothly and great conversations followed in the classrooms. Our District Administrator, Annalee Bennin, also shared the district’s approach to safety in many situations in the FPS District Newsletter #2. If you missed it, you can access it here District Newsletter #2 .

As always, we thank you for your continued support in your child’s educational journey.

Warm regards,

Mrs. Nickel

The week of September 30th - October 4 your student will be participating in a Student Engagement Survey. This survey was written by the district and takes less than 10 minutes to complete. It asks students to respond to questions in areas related to environment, learning, and relationships. Information from this survey is used by teachers and administrators to identify areas of improvement related to the student experience. If you have questions about the survey, please contact Jan Nickel at anjanette.nickel@franklin.k12.wi.us.

As a reminder, the 2024-25 District Calendar can be found in PDF format here and linked into our district calendars on our website here. All of our calendars are able to be subscribed to! Follow the steps at the top of the District Calendar webpage for how to subscribe.

The state of Wisconsin, our local communities, and our District are seeing an increase (4 cases) in individuals diagnosed with pertussis, more commonly known as “Whooping Cough.” Our FPS nursing team and District administration are working together closely and in regular communication with the Franklin Health Department at this time.

Pertussis is a respiratory infection caused by bacteria that can be transmitted from person to person through airborne saliva droplets. Pertussis is treated with 5 days of antibiotics. Early symptoms include running nose and cough that can progress into violent fits of coughing or vomiting, generally not responsive to cough medications. The pertussis cough can be severe and last for weeks or months. Anyone can get pertussis, but it can be very dangerous for infants and people with weakened immune systems.

Pertussis is a vaccine preventable disease, so please make sure your family members are up-to-date with pertussis vaccinations. Pertussis vaccines are recommended and available for children, adolescents, and adults. Please note, even if your child is up to date on their immunizations, it is possible to get Pertussis so if your child is coughing please contact your child’s healthcare provider.

Please protect yourself and others against Pertussis and various germs by these daily actions:

• Washing hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol based hand sanitizer.

• Cover all coughs and sneezes with a tissue and if tissue is not available, cough into your shirtsleeve. Always wash your hands after coughing or sneezing.

• Avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes.

• Keep all ill family members home from work or school.

• Contact your health care provider if you have any questions or if symptoms worsen.

For more information please see the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Pertussis webpage and their 9/19/24 Press Release.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our students and families as healthy as possible.

Show your music pride and support our music students by purchasing a yard sign and 40% of all proceeds will benefit the 2025 FHS Music Department Performance Tour in New York.

FHS band, choir, and orchestra students will have the opportunity to travel to New York in March to perform at various venues, work with clinicians, and take in the sights and sounds of New York while deepening their connections with their classmates and educators. Thank you for your support!

• On Sale: September 23 to October 7, 2024 at https://fhsumps.weebly.com/store

• Cost: $20 + $1 processing fee

• Pick-Up:
  Wednesday, October 16 from 7pm-9pm at FHS Sullivan Stadium
  Wednesday, October 23 from 6:30pm-8pm at the Saber Center (6th Grade Band "Informance")
  Monday, November 11 from 7pm-8pm at FHS Library (UMPS Meeting)

As we begin a new school year, our core value of well-being remains a priority as we work to serve students and families in our community. Our Student Services staff, composed of our school psychologists, counselors, social workers, nurses, and other specialized staff, continue to promote positive mental health by providing comprehensive support to our students. In addition, we want to remind you of the onsite partnership we have with Clinical Psychology Associates (CPA). CPA has established counseling clinics with a team of five therapists working at Franklin High School, Forest Park Middle School, Pleasant View Elementary, and Country Dale Elementary. All students and families within our district have access to these services.

Clinical Psychology Associates also has an outpatient location in Oak Creek, providing another convenient way for families to receive therapeutic services if an off-site location is preferred, while still benefiting from the collaborative partnership with the district. For more information please see our website. Appointments are scheduled directly with CPA staff by calling or texting (262)-251-1112.

As we move toward November 5th, here are some deadlines to be aware of when it comes to voter registration and absentee voting deadlines.

If you are not registered to vote and you are eligible, there is still time!

• Register Online: Wed, October 16th by 11:59 p.m. CDT

• Register by mail (postmarked by): Wed, October 16th

• Register In-person at voting location on Election Day: Tues, November 5th

Absentee ballot deadlines

• Request ballot (received by): Fri, October 31st by 5pm CDT

• Return ballot by mail (received by): Tues, November 5th by 8pm CST

• Return ballot in person: Tues, November 5th by 8pm CST
  
  

• From the City of Franklin website (here): Absentee voting in the City Clerk's office is restricted to the 2 weeks before an Election and ends at the close of business the Friday before an Election. In-person absentee voting at the City Clerk's Office for the November 5, 2024 Fall General Election will be available weekdays Tuesday, October 22, 2024, through Thursday, October 31, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday, November 1, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. No in-person absentee voting may occur on the day before the election.

Our VOTING page has more voter information details

As we move toward the November 5th referendum vote, we have two offerings NEXT WEEK to visit Franklin High School to see the spaces that are planned to be address through the passing of the referendum.

In addition, in October, we are offering the following COMMUNITY INFORMATION SESSIONS where you can hear from district leaders about the path to the referendum and also tour FHS following the presentations.

Can't make one of the dates above? Check out our "virtual tour" of the FHS spaces by clicking on the map below! Short videos are clickable at each location right from your phone and will better explain the areas we hope to address through the referendum. NEWLY ADDED are 360 photos where you can click and drag around to see a room.

CLICK ON THE MAP BELOW TO LOOK AROUND!

COUNTRY DALE'S OPEN DONATION

The Cougar Chase is coming up on October 4th! Here is how you can help make this event successful.

1. Go to Get Movin' Fund Hub. Get registered and start building your site!

2. Consider a $5 donation to provide a "Shout out!" to your child during their Cougar Chase. Your words of encouragement will be inspirational during their run!

3. For the first time ever, families can purchase Cougar Chase shirts to match their children! The link to do so is here...and nope the shirt color cannot be released until the event on October 4th. You can order now and be surprised, or wait until the day of the event to see the amazing shirt and order then. The order window closes a week later on October 11th!

Note - if you would like to skip on paying shipping you can have the shirt sent to school. After putting the shirt in your cart but before clicking "checkout," hit the clipboard button. It will bring up an "order notes" window, and if you would like the shirt sent to school free of shipping include the information below:

Your name

Student's name

Student's classroom teacher

These Cougar Chase shirts are collectibles!

4. Want to volunteer for the event? You can do so here! All volunteers must be finalized by Monday, September 30th. All volunteers will need a background check completed.

5. UPDATED INFORMATION: Spectators can come to watch the Cougar Chase this year with no check-in or background check required. Spectators will be able to see and cheer from a cordoned-off area just off to the side. All spectators will need to stay behind a designated line.

All other information regarding the Cougar Chase can be found here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Fri. 10/4 - Cougar Chase, school day

Tues. 10/8 - PTO meeting, 5:30 PM

Wed. 10/30 - Trunk or Treat, 6:30 - 8 PM*

10/28 - 11/1 - Scholastic Book Fair*

*Date changes

We are proud to share the next (2) connected events in this year’s 2024-25 "Family Information Series" for Franklin Public Schools caregivers. Mark your calendars for these events and please share with friends and family locally as these events are open to non-FPS caregivers as well!

• Part 1 is a screening of the documentary "Childhood 2.0" at the FHS Saber Center for the Performing Arts on Monday, October 21st @ 6pm. This will be followed by a panel discussion that includes district leaders, law enforcement, a student, and a Bark representative.

• Part 2 is a session led by Child Advocate & Education Consultant Katey McPherson on how to teach and support the "iGeneration" of students.

Click on the flyer below to see more details and we hope to see you there!

NOTE: Our partners in the Pewaukee Schools are also hosting these same events one day after each of ours. Here is a link to their flyer with details if you want to help share with friends and family in the area.

Whether you're a pro, or just getting started, the FEF Charity Pickleball Tourney will be an event you won't want to miss! All proceeds go to support grants, scholarships and student assistance funding through the Educational Foundation. Matches begin at 8 am on Sat 10/26 and will end by 4 pm in the FPMS gym (wood floors). Brackets will include competitive and recreational play. FPS staff and High school students 14 and above can play at a discounted rate! Click here for more and to register!

She Loves Me is part of Forte’s MAINSTAGE season, featuring adult, professional actors from throughout the Milwaukee area and we are super proud to host them at the Saber Center for the Performing Arts! Featuring a score by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick (“Fiddler on the Roof”) and a book by Joe Masteroff (“Cabaret”), “She Loves Me” follows two feuding clerks in a 1930s European parfumerie who unwittingly fall in love as anonymous romantic pen pals. Based on the story that led to the films “Shop Around the Corner” & “You’ve Got Mail,” "She Loves Me" is an endearing romantic comedy you won't want to miss! Tickets on Sale Now here!

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.

Email: terese.tubbs@franklin.k12.wi.us
Website: https://www.franklin.k12.wi.us/country-dale-elementary-school
Location: 7380 South North Cape Road, Franklin, Wisconsin 53132, USA
Phone: 414-529-8240
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/CountryDaleElementary/posts/