Franklin Public Schools: Schools will be CLOSED with a snow day on Friday, February 4

February 3, 2022

Dear Franklin Community,

The weather is expected to bring icy conditions and flash freezing in the morning, with sleet and snow to fall later in the day. As a result of this forecast, the Franklin Public Schools will be CLOSED with a snow day on Friday, February 4.

For the safety of all staff, district and school offices will also be closed. Those who are able to work from home should do so as you are able.

There will be no after school or evening activities.  I hope everyone has a nice weekend. Stay safe.

Sara Ahern
Superintendent of Schools

Schools will be CLOSED with a snow day on Friday, February 4

Franklin Public Schools, MA: Weekly COVID-19 Dashboard

"The FPS Weekly COVID-19 Dashboard is available to view on our Back to School webpage here: https://t.co/mJFgollw0z " or   https://sites.google.com/franklinps.net/back-to-school-plan-21-22/weekly-covid-19-dashboard 

Shared from Twitter -> https://t.co/84zzw9YcYL

Franklin Public Schools, MA: Weekly COVID-19 Dashboard

Franklin Public Schools: District Newsletter - January 2022

Most Recent Updates, District Highlights and more!

Franklin Public Schools District Newsletter January 2021 Food Services District Calendar School Committee Transportation 21-22 School Calendar Feb. 11th will be a half day for Professional Development day. Last day of school is now June 21st due to the snow day on 1/7. Updated District COVID-19 Policies and Programs On January, 10th, 2022, The Department of Secondary and Elementary Education (DESE) made the decision to extend the mask mandate until February 28th, 2022. Although Franklin High School has a masking waiver for achieving over 80% positivity, all individuals in every Franklin Public School is required to mask at this time. On January 18th, 2022, the Department of Secondary and Elementary Education released a joint statement with the Department of Public Health regarding updated COVID-19 testing support and guidance. In accordance with DESE and DPH, Franklin Public Schools is updating our COVID-19 Testing Program to offer free in-home rapid antigen testing for students and staff starting the week of January 31st. Contact tracing will not be taking place for in school exposure. A part of this shift in the program, we are discontinuing the Test and Stay and contract tracing for in-school close contacts. This means that if your child is a potential contact in school, they may continue to come to school and do not have to quarantine. We request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact that requires isolation under the current guidelines from DPH. Learn more about our Testing and Quarantine Response here. FHS Happenings! FHS DECA Franklin High School DECA students competed in the DECA District Two Conference. The organization is focused on developing and empowering students interested in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. 119 FHS DECA students qualified to compete at the State Career Development Conference in March. Congratulations to all and best of luck! No Place for Hate Campaign FHS Students reflected on Dr. King's legacy in honor of MLK Day. Drawing from his activism, they embark on their mission to make FHS a Anti Defamation League - No Place For Hate. View their takeaways below...   Video link =>  https://youtu.be/P_8scrVmJpg    Calling All K-5 Families! Join us to learn more about our new elementary math resource, Illustrative Mathematics! Dr. Tina Rogers, Director of Curriculum, STEM & Elementary Math Specialists will be hosting. Access event information here.! Upcoming Author Visit with Ruta Sepety Attention HMMS parents! HMMS was chosen for a special visit from historical fiction author Ruta Sepety. She is coming to HMMS for a virtual visit on Wednesday, Feb. 2nd. Students who have read one or more of her books (or who plan to finish one before February 2) are invited to attend! She will talk about her writing journey, research process, uncovering hidden history, and give a sneak peek of her 2022 thriller I Must Betray You. Students and staff who wish to attend are asked to sign up using the Google Form. From the School Committee During the January 11th School Committee meeting, Student Services provided a presentation on Special Education throughout all grade levels with supplemental data, district resources and various programs meant to support our students. The presentation is available to view via this link. On January 25th, FHS Principal Josh Hannah presented on the program of studies. The presentation is available here. Please join us for our next meeting on February 8th at 7pm. Happy New Year to our FPS Families, Faculty, Staff and Franklin Community! Franklin Public Schools www.franklinps.net

Franklin Public Schools | 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038 www.franklinps.net Sent by communications@franklinps.net powered by Try email marketing for free today!

Franklin Public Schools: new COVID-19 Testing Program

"Please see the attached letter regarding the new COVID-19 Testing Program within Franklin Public Schools "

Link to letter -> https://t.co/KsdZ8LqwYA

Or view the embedded doc here:

Franklin Public Schools: new COVID-19 Testing Program

Franklin Public Schools, MA: weekly COVID dashboard updated

"The FPS Weekly COVID-19 Dashboard is available to view on our Back to School webpage here: https://t.co/mJFgollw0z"

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/FranklinPSNews/status/1485743970865106944

Franklin Public Schools, MA: weekly COVID dashboard updated

Franklin Public Schools: Weekly COVID-19 Dashboard - 01/18/22

Franklin Public Schools, MA (@FranklinPSNews) tweeted on Tue, Jan 18, 2022:

The FPS Weekly COVID-19 Dashboard is available to view on our Back to School webpage here: https://t.co/mJFgollw0z

Shared from Twitter:  https://twitter.com/FranklinPSNews/status/1483569642912296960

Franklin Public Schools is looking for substitute teachers - Is that a role for you?

"We are delighted that you are considering applying to become a substitute teacher.  

The work of our substitute teachers is an essential function to the smooth operation of our programs and we value that contribution. Without the support and dedication of our substitute teachers and staff, our educational program would be greatly hampered. 

We place the care of our students in their hands daily. Substitute teaching can be an ideal way to supplement your income while setting your own schedule.  Improve your classroom skills as you try out the different schools, grade levels and instructional practices. 

Ideally a teaching license and experience working with children is always preferred, however we will consider those applicants with a post high school education, a willingness to learn, compassion, energy and of course, a love for working with children.  

Please review the information below for an overview of our school system and the substitute teacher's role. 

Interested substitutes may apply by submitting a cover letter along with a resume to recruit@franklinps.net or stop by the HR Office to complete an application between the hours of 8 AM and 4 PM Monday through Friday."

► Substitute Teacher Guide

► Substitute Teacher Training Presentation

Shared from the Franklin Public Schools page 

https://www.franklinps.net/district/human-resources/pages/substitute-teaching

Urgent: Snow Day - Franklin Public Schools - Friday, January 7, 2022

Snow Day - January 7, 2022

January 6, 2022

Dear Franklin Community,

The weather is expected to bring 6 to 9 inches of snow here locally in Franklin, beginning to fall overnight and lasting through early afternoon. As a result of this forecast, the Franklin Public Schools will be CLOSED with a snow day on Friday, January 7, 2022.

District and school offices will also be closed.

There will be no after school or evening activities.  I hope everyone has a nice weekend. Stay safe.

Sara Ahern

Superintendent of Schools

Shared from -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/urgent-alerts/snow-day-january-7-2022 

not from this year, need to go back to 2011 when this was taken

Franklin Public Schools: Update from Superintendent Ahern on COVID-19 and school closures

Dear Franklin Community,

You have likely seen the news reports that some schools in our local area had to close today due to high COVID-19 cases among faculty/staff or cases that affect their families. We are also hearing about daycare closures due to COVID.

Like other districts, Franklin Public Schools is seeing a large volume of students and staff testing positive. I don’t mean to alarm you, however we publish weekly case counts and I think it is important to give you both a preview and an honest snapshot of what we are experiencing. Yesterday’s COVID informational letter identified 20 individuals within the school setting who tested positive. (Today’s letter indicated 30). The total number of individuals testing positive yesterday alone was 68 when individuals who were isolating at home are included.  These numbers are straining our ability to adequately staff our schools.

We are not experiencing evidence of school-based spread. I wish to reassure you that our schools have significantly more mitigation measures in place than public and private settings, generally.

We are doing our best to collaborate across the district and deploy substitutes in order to provide adequate coverage to keep students safe in the learning environment. Our efforts also include coverage by building and central office administrators.

I share this information with you to: 

• emphasize the hard work the team is doing in an aim to keep schools open and to keep everyone safe  
• and ask you to prepare for the possibility that on any given day, we may need to close a school if we feel that we can not safely operate the school based on the number of adults we have to supervise.

As with our snow notifications, a decision to close will be made as early as possible for your planning purposes. It may be the night prior to school but it may also be in the morning. We will aim to make the decision and initiate notifications by cell, text, and email by 5:30 AM and no later than 6:00 AM.

Days missed will need to be made up at the end of the year as all students are required to have 180 days of instruction. Moving to remote instruction is not an option.

Thank you for your understanding, flexibility, patience, and cooperation,

Sara Ahern

Superintendent of Schools

Shared via SchCom Chair Denise Spencer's Facebook post:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1551606135109407/permalink/3072054019731270/

Update from Superintendent Ahern on COVID-19 and school closures

Urgent - Franklin Public Schools: 2 Hour Delay - Monday, Jan 3, 2022

2 Hour Delay 1/3/2022

Dear FPS Community,

There will be a 2-hour delayed opening for students on Monday, January 3, 2022. Faculty and staff report on time. Please see the Superintendent's email from January 1 for additional details.

Franklin Public Schools

 

Superintendent's letter -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/01/franklin-public-schools-email-on.html

Franklin Public Schools: Urgent - 2 Hour Delay - Monday, Jan 3, 2022

Franklin Public Schools - email on returning to school Monday, Jan 3, 2022

FPS email regarding the return to school Monday, January 3rd - Please read

Dear Franklin Families,

I imagine that there is a lot of nervousness as we return from break and a lot of questions. I will attempt to address as many of these as possible in this communication.

I’d like to take a moment to reassure everyone of how much we have collectively learned as a community in managing COVID for these past 22 months. With a collective effort, care and consideration for each other, and good communication, we will weather yet another series of adjustments and spike of cases.

As we return from break, we recommit to our health and safety measures, there are some updates to the testing and quarantine protocols, and it is a good time to remind everyone of our layered mitigation measures and our health and safety practices.

Although some districts have canceled, I do not feel that the data warrants this level of disruption to our routines. However, in order to adequately prepare for students’ arrival on Monday morning, given some additional safety measures being put into place, we will have a two-hour delayed start for students on Monday, January 3.

When Franklin Public Schools has a delayed opening, ECDC will have a cancellation/delayed opening as follows:

• ECDC morning session (9:15-11:45) will be canceled
• ECDC full day and extended sessions (9:15-3:15 and 9:15-1:15) will delay opening as indicated (for example, if there is a 2-hour delay, the school will open for students at 11:15 and dismiss at the regularly scheduled time).
• The delayed opening will NOT impact the afternoon session (12:45-3:15)

As with a spike in cases last winter, we remain committed to having our school buildings open and doing so as long as we can safely supervise students. We will be continually assessing staffing and coverage. If you know of anyone interested in serving as a substitute, please direct them to the employment section of our website.

Additional Safety Measures Being Implemented

Mask wearing

Masks and face coverings are still required by all individuals in all of our schools, unless an exemption has been granted.

KN-95 masks are being provided to faculty and staff, courtesy of DESE, and will be distributed to staff on Monday morning.

Parents/guardians are reminded to please provide your child with a mask for school. We have supplies to provide them as an extra in the event that one is forgotten or that one breaks, but we do not have an unlimited supply to provide all children with masks each day. We also encourage you to consider upgrading your child’s mask .

COVID-19 Testing

We will continue with Test and Stay of school-based, non-exempt close contacts and with testing of symptomatic individuals.

We are exploring the possibility of initiating pool testing with our testing vendor.

You may still sign up for testing: https://www.cic-health.com/consent/ma

DESE is providing faculty and staff with rapid antigen tests. Faculty and staff will be able to pick these up on Sunday or Monday to use prior to return to school. Testing is not required but is an encouraged optional service.

Unfortunately, there are no antigen tests being provided for students. Tests can be difficult to obtain, but families may want to consider testing their child at home prior to coming to school on Monday. Testing of students will not be required.

Distancing

Although there is no distancing requirement in place, we will recommit to distancing as possible, especially when students are eating.

Ventilation

All classrooms and workspaces have been outfitted with portable HEPA filtration units. They will be turned on each morning in classrooms and workspaces. All filters were recently changed this fall.

Windows will be opened, as tolerated, to promote fresh air circulating.

Hand Hygiene

We will continue to implement good hand hygiene practices.

Students will wash their hands regularly throughout the day (using hand sanitizer, if needed)

Custodians are being asked to double-check hand sanitizer units and restock, if needed.

Faculty and staff will check sanitization supplies in classrooms and offices and we will be sure that they are stocked for student arrival on Monday.

Meetings

We are moving meetings to a remote environment, wherever possible, until February vacation.

Vaccination

Families are encouraged to vaccinate their children as a means of protection against severe illness and infection.

Families are also encouraged to have their child receive a booster shot, if eligible.

Families are also encouraged to have their child vaccinated against the flu.

Updates to Testing and Quarantine Protocols

The CDC adjusted its protocol recommendations over winter break. DESE and DPH issued an update on December 30, 2021, which went into effect immediately. Their guidance is linked above and will be updated on our website on Monday. Two of the main changes in this document include (but are not limited to):

The isolation time for COVID-19 positive individuals is reduced to be as low as 5 days after symptom onset or after positive PCR or antigen test, if asymptomatic. Individuals may return to school on Day 6 if they have been without a fever for 24 hours, and experienced improvement in other symptoms.

Non-exempt school-based close contacts participating in “Test and Stay” will do so for 5 days (previously 7 days).

Reminder about Additional Layered Mitigation Strategies

• We have UVGI installed throughout FHS and in common spaces of our smaller schools
• FPS Cleaning Protocols
• Individuals monitor for symptoms and stay home when sick, and test if appropriate.

I know that this is a time of high concern. Our mitigation strategies are intentionally layered and no one measure is perfect but, taken together, they have been supporting a safe school environment.

We appreciate your understanding of taking some time Monday morning to effectively shore up these additional mitigation efforts to promote a healthy environment.

Sincerely,

Sara Ahern

Superintendent of Schools

email on returning to school Monday, Jan 3, 2022 p1

email on returning to school Monday, Jan 3, 2022 p2