No Student Attendance on February 15th or 16th

February 12, 2021 By tennesm

No student attendance on Monday, 2/15 or Tuesday, 2/16. We’ll see you back in your virtual classrooms again on Wednesday, 2/17! Stay safe and warm!

Roadmap to Readiness Update

February 1, 2021 By tennesm

January 30, 2021

Dear MPS Community,

On Thursday, January 28, 2021, the Milwaukee Board of School Directors voted unanimously to continue planning to gradually begin in-person learning.

The goal is to begin providing in-person instruction on February 8, 2021, for approximately 300 students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The Department of Specialized Services will contact families directly. The tentative start date for in-person learning for students in Pre-K through grade 2 will begin on April 12, 2021, students in grades 3 through 8 will begin April 19, 2021, and students in grades 9 through 12 will begin April 26, 2021.

We know that some families may have hesitations about this decision. The health and safety of our students, staff, and community continue to be a top priority as MPS plans for a safe and responsible return to in-person learning. We are pleased to move forward and offer an in-person learning option for families that would like to have their child attend a physical classroom. We also understand that not all families will be comfortable with this option, and therefore we will continue to provide virtual learning for families who feel this is the best option for their child.

To ensure we are prepared for our phased-in transition, we will continue to monitor the health of our MPS community. We will continue to ensure our buildings’ heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies, cleaning and disinfecting protocols, isolation rooms, and gating criteria are in line with the federal, state, and local guidance as appropriate.

You can read the Board’s Motion on Phase-In Reopening for full details.

We thank you for your continued partnership in supporting students’ education, and we value the flexibility and collaboration among our students, families, staff, board members, and union partners. We recognize that you may have additional questions, and as we move closer to our phase-in dates, we will continue to send timely updates and information to ensure you and your student are aware of your options. During the March Board cycle, a decision will be made whether the proposed timeline is appropriate.

Stay healthy and safe.

Best Wishes,

Dr. Keith P. Posley

Superintendent of Schools

MPS Weather Alert: 1/26/2021

January 26, 2021 By remshatp

This is an important message from MPS. Due to snow storm, All MPS day programs, 50 Stop, Grab & Go locations, and school building are closed. All virtual learning will continue and Milwaukee Public Schools district offices will remain open. Thank you and be safe.

Head Start / Kindergarten Enrollment Fair

January 21, 2021 By tennesm

Will your child turn 3, 4, or 5 by September 1, 2021? Enroll now for Head Start and Kindergarten this fall. Virtual information sessions will take place on Saturday, February 6th and Saturday, February 20th from 9am-2pm. The first 1000 students to enroll starting February 6, 2021 will receive a free backpack!

MPS provides winter break meals for students

December 18, 2020 By remshatp

Winter Break Meal Bundles Students and families can pick up packaged breakfasts and lunches plus a Winter Break Meal Bundle ahead of the scheduled holiday break at MPS Stop, Grab, and Go locations. Distribution will take place on December 21 and 22, 2020. MPS recognizes the importance of school meals for students and nutritional support during the holiday break and is working to support those needs.

On Monday, December 21, families can pick up two breakfast and two lunch packages for each student or child age 18 and younger.

On Tuesday, December 22, Winter Break Meal Bundles will be available. Every child age 18 or younger can receive a bundle, which includes recipes. Because several items are refrigerated or frozen, families are recommended to make space in the refrigerator and freezer for safe storage.

Winter Break Meal Bundles will include the following items. Items cannot be substituted in the meal bundles.

1 pound penne pasta
1 large can peaches
Frozen items:
1 pound diced chicken
1 quart sliced carrots
1 quart green peas
1 quart blueberries
8 4-oz. cups orange juice
16 pancakes
Refrigerated items:
8 8-oz. cartons 1% white milk
8 8-oz. cartons skim chocolate milk

The ongoing Stop, Grab, and Go meal distribution remains popular with Milwaukee families. Distribution of packaged breakfasts and lunches will resume Monday, January 4, 2021.

MPS Meals Over Winter Break

December 15, 2020 By tennesm

See the flyer for information about accessing meals over Winter Break!

MPS requests family feedback about virtual learning—take our survey!

December 8, 2020 By remshatp

Milwaukee Public Schools wants to hear from families about virtual learning this school year.

Your feedback is important to us! Please take our survey and offer input about your child’s virtual learning experience this semester, along with your thoughts about returning to face-to-face learning.

As we navigate virtual learning, family feedback is more important than ever. The best way to help us serve students is to take part in our survey as soon as possible.

Please complete our Roadmap to Readiness Survey to help us adapt and plan. The survey takes about 10 minutes and will remain open until Friday, January 8, 2021.

Access the survey at Roadmap to Readiness Survey.

Thank you in advance for your participation!

Family Fun Workshops for Health and Safety

November 18, 2020 By tennesm

Benjamin Franklin has partnered with Anthem to bring you some family fun workshops. The first workshop will be held virtually on November 24th at 1:00pm. Anthem will be providing gifts as well as valuable information on remaining safe and healthy this Thanksgiving! If you are interested in attending you must pre-register by Monday November 23rd, 2020.

Click here to register

https://forms.gle/ykrt1CVWMyk6mWK38

Space it limited

If you have any questions please feel free to call Ms. Thomas at (414) 875-4467 or email Ms. Thomas at thomass6@milwaukee.k12.wi.us

Students should submit entries for the 2021 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration

November 12, 2020 By remshatp

Milwaukee Public Schools students should get ready to enter the art, speech, and writing competitions that are part of the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration. The program is open to students in kindergarten through grade 12. Winners will be recognized during the virtual celebration on January 17, 2021.

Next year’s celebration will be the 36th annual event hosted in our community. Milwaukee is one of only two cities that have celebrated the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. annually since 1984.

Students should begin planning their entries to reflect the theme for 2021: Keep Moving Forward. These words were chosen from King’s address given at Spelman College on April 10, 1960. In their entries, students should reflect on this theme and how it relates to themselves or their families, schools, neighborhoods, or world.

The art, speech, and writing contests are open to students who live in the city of Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, or West Bend or are enrolled in a public or private school within the city of Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, or West Bend.

Entries in the writing contest must be submitted by 5:00 P.M. on Monday, November 16, 2020.

Entries in the art and speech contests must be submitted by 5:00 P.M. on Friday, November 20, 2020.

To read more about this celebration and to find the complete rules for the art, speech, and writing contests, visit the MLK Birthday Celebration page on the Marcus Performing Arts Center website.

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New Facebook Page!

October 2, 2020 By tennesm

“Like” the Benjamin Franklin Facebook page and you might win a prize!

https://www.facebook.com/Benjamin-Franklin-School-114036477114358/