October 7, 2024

Dear Country Dale Families,

Our highlight of the week was the Cougar Chase! Country Dale students and families raised over $20,000! This money will enable the PTO to support many activities and supplies for Country Dale students and staff. Items we are looking forward to purchasing are small items for calming corners and classroom supplies up to large items like a K4 playset! We are so grateful for this support. AND thank you so much to those that volunteered at the event! None of this could be done without you!

Click here for Country Dale Cougar Chase Photos 2024

On the academic side, for students in K5-5th, you should have received your child’s MAP report in reading and math last Friday through School Messenger. This assessment is one measurement of how your child performs in reading and math. We use this data along with other sources of information to determine what type of differentiated instruction your child may need. If you have any questions on how to access the report or how to read the report please contact us.

Have a wonderful week!

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Nickel

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.

Reading is so important to our students. Come join us for a night of fun literacy games and activities. Bring your families!

The photographer will return to Country Dale on Tuesday, October 15th to take pictures of the students and staff that missed having their picture taken on picture day. Ordering information will be given out at the time of pictures.

They will also do retakes for those students whose pictures did not turn out the first time. If your child needs a picture retake, the complete package needs to be in their hand at the time their photograph is taken. New packages will not be received unless the original package is returned.

Picture packets were sent home with students last Friday. At that time parents received an email with a photo proof to look at and view.

Please contact customer service with any questions at 262-780-2901 or customerservice@schoolandsportpics.com

FOOD SERVICE UPDATES & REMINDERS

Since we are a month into the new school year and using our new School Cafe lunch system, we wanted to offer these updates that might be helpful to families.

NOTIFICATIONS: The screenshot nearby shows the Student Information Screen and you’ll notice there is a place there to set an ‘alert’ for low balances. If you had alerts in our old MySchoolBucks system, please be aware you will have to come set up brand new alerts in SchoolCafe and this is where that can occur. Please be aware that low balance emails go out twice per week and come from the email “no-reply@schoolcafe.com” so please make sure to check your spam or other areas in your email if these are not appearing in your inbox.

AUTOMATIC PAYMENTS: Automatic payment is designed for users who like to replenish their student's cafeteria account whenever the balance falls below a specified amount.

To set up an automatic payment:

1. Add a valid payment source to your account either through the Payment Info menu (in the 'Payment Sources' tab), or on the Automatic Payment pop-up itself in the expanded details of individuals on your Dashboard.

2. On the Automatic Payment pop-up, select the payment amount to be replenished, the payment threshold, and the payment source.

3. Add an expiration date for the setting that ends before the payment source expires.

BALANCES ARE TRANSFERRED: As of last week, all MySchoolBucks balances have transferred over to School Cafe.

PURPLE APP! SchoolCafe Family Hub is the PURPLE app when searching for the phone app or you can click on these links here for iOS/iPhone/iPad and Android.

Franklin Public Schools hosts screenings for 3-year-old children on language, cognition, social-emotional, adaptive, and physical development. This program combines a play-based observational screening of children with community information for parents to learn more about child and family-related services in our area. If you know a friend, family member or neighbor in the community with a 3-year-old, please help us by sending them this information! Click here for the informational flyer and click here for a detailed brochure.

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

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!

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)

Join us tomorrow, Tuesday, October 8th at 5:30pm in the Country Dale Art Room (Room 1). This will be the second PTO meeting of the year. Please feel free to bring any new ideas/suggestions, or just come to listen. Your support is always greatly appreciated!

Join us virtually via this Zoom link if you cannot make it in person!

Meeting Link (click): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85443386281 (or copy/paste)

Meeting ID: 854 4338 6281

The Fall Book Fair is scheduled for October 28th-November 1st. We will need quite a few parent volunteers to help set-up and take-down, and volunteers throughout the school day(s). In addition, we will have an evening time slot during Trunk-or-Treat (Wednesday, October 30th). Keep an eye out for the Volunteer Sign-up!

Have you ever heard of Scholastic eWallets? Scholastic eWallets are a great way to have your child buy books at the Scholastic Book Fair without having to carry around cash. You will be able to set-up your child’s eWallet starting Monday, October 7th, and it will be available until the end of the Book Fair. Any remaining balances on eWallet accounts can be used at future Book Fairs. Need help setting up your child’s eWallet? Go to the Country Dale Scholastic Book Fair website to create an account and start adding money, or reach out to the PTO with any questions. We are always happy to help!

Trunk-or-Treat is Wednesday, October 30th from 6:30pm-8:00pm. Host a trunk or just come for fun! If you would like to host a trunk, please fill out this Google Form. The deadline to sign up is Friday, October 25th. Please check the responses if you want to avoid having a similar trunk as someone else. Trunk set-up begins at 5:30pm.

Don’t want to host a trunk, but still want to help?

• This year, we are looking for candy or trinket donations. If you would like to donate, please email the PTO at admin@countrydalepto.org so we know how much to expect. You can either bring the candy/trinkets the day of the event and drop off at the Concessions, or schedule a meet-up with a PTO member and we’ll be happy to bring it to the event.

• The PTO will be offering hot dogs and hot chocolate during Trunk-or-Treat, and will need a few volunteers to help us serve up these BOOlicious snacks! Sign up here: Trunk-or-Treat Volunteers.

The Cougar Chase might be over, but there’s still time to order your very own shirt! The last day to order a one-of-a-kind collector’s edition 2024 Cougar Chase t-shirt is this Friday, October 11th. You can order them here.

Remember, if you would like to skip on paying shipping, you can have the shirt sent to Country Dale. After putting the shirt in your cart but before clicking "checkout," hit the clipboard button. It will bring up an "order notes" window. 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

UPCOMING EVENTS

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

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

10/28-11/1 - Scholastic Book Fair

While our Community Ed & Rec Winter/Spring Guide isn’t out yet (and won’t be for a little bit) we do have an early offering we want to share with families for youth (K-5th) Chess sessions that will be starting mid-December. CLICK HERE for the chess page with all the details.

SAVE THE DATE! The FHS Freshman Class of 2028 is hosting the Saber SpookFest -- a Halloween themed event for kids, on Sunday, October 27th from 1-3pm in the main commons of Franklin High School. We'll be offering Halloween games, crafts, indoor Trick or Treating, a costume contest, fall snacks, and more! Tickets will be available online mid-October so watch your newsletters for more information!

The Franklin Recreation basketball program for 2nd through 8th grades will be closing registration on October 18th. Spots are limited based on the number of volunteer coaches. Practices begin the week of November 18th with games on Saturdays starting December 14th. REGISTER HERE.

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!

FINAL WEEKEND! 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 For This Weekend Here!

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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/