Pantherbook: Spotlight Story - Mr. Walsh

Katie Barrow writes this "spotlight story" on Mr. Walsh.  

"Q: How many years have you been teaching at Franklin High?

A: 26 years

Q: Why did you want to become a teacher?

A: Mr. Walsh loves getting to talk about history and politics as his job and became a teacher because he loves teaching about this material"

 

Continue reading the spotlight story online -> 

https://franklinpanthers.us/school-news/2022/10/21/spotlight-story-mr-walsh/

Mr. Walsh teaches US History II and AP Gov.

Pantherbook: Watch AP 3D Art Students Create Pottery in a Homemade Kiln (video)

Watch AP 3D Art Students Create Pottery in a Homemade Kiln https://t.co/aGp5RyGReu

"AP 3D Art goes on a field trip outside! Using a special kind of clay called Raku, we were able to fire our glazed piece in a homemade kiln, something that we had been looking forward to doing since last year. 

The whole class agreed that they had a great time and thought that it was a good experience where we learned more about ceramics and each other. 

We are looking forward to hopefully doing another Raku fire in the spring as well!"

Check out a video of the experience below:

https://vimeo.com/658730981

Shared from Tiwtter: https://twitter.com/FHSPantherbook/status/1473268292353671172

Franklin High School Placed on the College Board's 7th Annual AP® District Honor Roll for Significant Gains in Student Access and Success

Franklin High School is one of 433 school districts in the U.S. and Canada being honored by the College Board with placement on the 7th Annual AP® District Honor Roll. To be included on the 7th Annual Honor Roll, Franklin High School increased the number of students participating in AP courses while also increasing or maintaining the percentage of students earning AP Exam scores of 3 or higher. Reaching these goals shows that this district is successfully identifying motivated, academically prepared students who are ready for AP.

"This recognition is evidence of the collective effort our PreK-12 administration and teachers to establish high academic expectations for all students. This is not only a HS honor but it recognizes the efforts of all PreK-12 educators and their commitment to expanding options and opportunities for all students. This distinction reaffirms our core values that a rigorous yet inclusive educational program raises achievement for all students", noted Dr. Sabolinski, Superintendent of Schools.

National data from 2016 show that among black/African American, Hispanic, and Native American students with a high degree of readiness for AP, only about half are participating. The first step to getting more of these students to participate is to give them access. Courses must be made available, gatekeeping must stop, and doors must be equitably opened. Franklin Public Schools is committed to expanding the availability of AP courses among prepared and motivated students of all backgrounds.

"Congratulations to all the teachers and administrators in this district who have worked so tirelessly to both expand access to AP and also to help students succeed on the AP Exams," said Trevor Packer, the College Board's head of AP and Instruction. "These teachers and administrators are delivering real opportunity in their schools and classrooms, and students are rising to the challenge." 

Helping more students learn at a higher level and earn higher AP scores is an objective of all members of the AP community, from AP teachers to district and school administrators to college professors. Many districts are experimenting with initiatives and strategies to see how they can expand access and improve student performance at the same time.

In 2016, more than 4,000 colleges and universities around the world received AP scores for college credit, advanced placement, or both, and/or consideration in the admission process.

Inclusion on the 7th Annual AP District Honor Roll is based on a review of three years of AP data, from 2014 to 2016, looking across 37 AP Exams, including world language and culture. The following criteria were used.

Districts must:

• Increase participation/access to AP by at least 4% in large districts, at least 6 % in medium districts, and at least 11% in small districts;
• Increase or maintain the percentage of exams taken by black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native students; and
• Improve or maintain performance levels when comparing the 2016 percentage of students scoring a 3 or higher to the 2014 percentage, unless the district has already attained a performance level at which more than 70% of its AP students earn a 3 or higher.

When these outcomes have been achieved among an AP student population in which 30% or more are underrepresented minority students (black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native) and/or 30% or more are low-income students (students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch), a symbol has been affixed to the district name to highlight this work.

Franklin High School

More information about FHS can be found on their webpage
http://franklinhigh.vt-s.net/Pages/index

More information about Franklin, MA Schools can be found on their webpage
http://franklindistrict.vt-s.net/Pages/index

In the News: Kennedy speaks to FHS AP class; Tri-County explores modern manufacturing

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The key to success as a lawmaker on Capitol Hill is to find common ground, U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III told students Friday at Franklin High School's U.S. National Government and Politics AP class. 

He said it is his job to address change in a Congress where his party is a minority. 

"If I want to get something passed, I need to find pieces of policy that my Republican colleagues will not only like, but will champion," he said. "We will have philosophical disagreements about a number of issues, but my job isn't to pick a fight." 

Democrat Kennedy - running for re-election in the state's Fourth District against Dighton Republican David Rosa, who spoke to the students earlier in the week - learned that the environment, gun control, abortion rights and national security were the top concerns among the U.S. National Government and Politics AP class.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161021/kennedy-gives-talk-at-franklin-high-school

U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III speaking at the recent ribbon cutting for downtown Franklin

"A microscopic pair of scissors sparked a large reaction from Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School students Friday morning. 

As Alex Magyar, vice president of operations at Medway’s MicroGroup, Inc., placed the tiny tool under a microscope, he explained the device - built right there in the company’s facility - is used for cataract eye surgery. 

“That is awesome,” said one student. “That is terrifying,” cried another.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161021/tri-county-students-get-inside-look-at-franklin-manufacturing

"it is incumbent on you to make yourself as competitive as possible”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"State officials joined students at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School for a Mass Insight kickoff event on Sept. 30. 

In attendance were state Reps. John Fernandes, D-Milford; Elizabeth Poirier, R-North Attleborough; and Jeffrey Roy, D-Franklin, and state Sens. Richard Ross, R-Wrentham; and Karen Spilka, D-Ashland. They joined nearly 200 advanced placement and pre-advanced placement students to kick off the program, which is aimed at increasing participation and performance in Tri-County’s AP courses. 

Addressing the audience, Spilka praised the students for taking on a challenging course load. 

“This is a big challenge, but it is really well worth it,” said Spilka. “Our 21st-century workforce depends on you; it is as simple as that.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161007/tri-county-regional-hosts-mass-insight-kickoff-event

Tri-County Regional Voc Tech

Franklin 1 of 33 Massachusetts School Districts Named to the 2013 AP District Honor Roll

School Districts recognized for expanding access to AP and maintaining or improving performance

MALDEN – State education officials today announced that 33 Massachusetts school districts were named to the College Board's 2013 AP District Honor Roll for expanding access to Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum and maintaining or improving the percent of students scoring 3 or higher.

According to the College Board, Massachusetts had the fifth most number of school districts earning a spot on the honor roll. Pennsylvania had the most districts recognized with 40. A total of 477 districts across the U.S. and Canada were selected for the 4th annual AP Honor Roll.

"Massachusetts teachers continue to help pave the way for the Commonwealth’s successes in education,” said Education Secretary Matthew Malone. “I am proud that the Patrick Administration’s continued investments in expanding access to high quality educational programs is boosting student participation and performance on AP exams that will help prepare them for success both in the classroom and ultimately, in the workforce."

"Each of our districts honored today, along with many more across the Commonwealth, are providing students with a rigorous course of study that will prepare them for success in college and careers," said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Mitchell D. Chester.

The Patrick Administration is implementing a number of initiatives to ensure that students are prepared for success beyond high school and have the necessary skills to fill open jobs and compete in our increasingly global economy. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is implementing a set of recommendations proposed by a task force of the state's leading educators, employers, and academic labor experts to ensure that every student graduates from high school ready to pursue the next steps on the path to a successful career or post-secondary education.

Schools across the Commonwealth are also implementing the state's new college and career ready standards in English language arts and Mathematics, which incorporate the Common Core State Standards. The Department is developing online resources tools that educators can use in the classroom. Massachusetts is also a member a 20-state consortium that is building a next generation assessment system, called PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers), to provide a better signal of students' readiness for college and careers.

The College Board bases inclusion on the AP District Honor Roll according to the following criteria:

• Increased access to AP courses by At least 4% in large districts
• At least 6% in medium districts
• At least 11% in small districts
• The percentage of African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native students taking AP exams must not have decreased more than 5% for large and medium districts and 10% for small districts.
• Performance levels were maintained or improved when comparing the percentage of exams scoring 3 or higher from 2011 to 2013.

The following Massachusetts school districts were named to the 2013 AP Honor Roll:

Arlington Public Schools (1)
Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District
Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District (1)
Diocese of Fall River
Dudley-Charlton Regional School District
Franklin Public Schools (1)
Freetown-Lakeville Regional School District
Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District (1)
Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District (1)
Hampshire Regional School District
Hanover Public Schools
Hingham Public Schools
Hopedale Public Schools
King Philip Regional School District (1)
Leominster Public Schools
Ludlow Public Schools
Medfield Public Schools (1)
Medway Public Schools (1)
Monomoy Regional School District
Needham Public Schools (1)
Newton Public Schools
North Attleboro Public Schools (1)
North Middlesex Public Schools (1)
Northbridge Public Schools
Norwood Public Schools
Plymouth Public Schools
Swampscott Public Schools
Triton Public Schools
Wachusett Regional School District (1)
Waltham Public Schools (1)
Webster Public Schools (2)
Westford Public Schools
Whitman-Hanson Regional School District



(1) District has achieved the honor for multiple years.
(2) District has 30% or greater enrollment of students who qualify for free/reduced lunch.

AP is a rigorous academic program that offers more than 30 courses in a wide range of subjects and college-level assessments developed and scored by college and university faculty members and experienced AP teachers. According to the College Board, a score of 3 or higher on an AP exam represents the score point that is predictive of college success and college graduation.

For additional information on AP, visit the College Board's website at http://www.collegeboard.org.