“Data shows that high stakes testing doesn’t measure outcomes that matter"

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

"Educators and advocates on Monday urged lawmakers to press the pause button on the use of the state’s standardized test program as a graduation requirement and a component of school accountability measures. 

Bills filed by Rep. Marjorie Decker and Sen. Michael Rush would impose a three-year moratorium on what critics describe as the “high-stakes” nature of the MCAS exam, temporarily halting consideration of the results for graduation, accountability rankings, and teacher evaluations. 

Supporters of the bills told the Education Committee that the MCAS tests are not working as intended, and a break would give state education officials a chance to come up with new methods of measuring student and school performance. 

Jack Schneider, research director for the Massachusetts Consortium for Innovative Education Assessment, said standardized tests can act as a gauge of family income, race, and parents’ educational attainment, while not always capturing “many facets of a good school.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190617/moratorium-sought-for-mcas-exam

“Data shows that high stakes testing doesn’t measure outcomes that matter"

A good place to start with MCAS on the MA.gov site is
https://www.mass.gov/parents-guide-to-the-mcas

Mark your calendar: Kindergarten Information Night Schedule

The schedule of Kindergarten information nights is shown here

School	Date	Time
Davis Thayer	Thursday, May 2, 2019	5:45 PM
Jefferson	Thursday, May 9, 2019	6:00 PM
Keller	Tuesday, May 14, 2019	6:00 PM
Kennedy	Thursday, May 16, 2019	6:00 PM
Oak St	Wednesday, May 29, 2019	6:00 PM
Parmenter	Wednesday, May 15, 2019	6:00 PM

Kindergarten Information Night Schedule

FM #161 - School Start Times Report - 3/26/19 (audio)

FM #161

This internet radio show or podcast is number 161 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This recording shares the School Start Times Advisory Committee report to the Franklin, MA School Committee on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 in the Council Chambers.

School Superintendent Sara Ahern leads with the intro and overview before handing off to Kit Brady and FHS Deputy Principal William Klements who cover most of the presentation before Sara comes back to close it out.

My notes from the session can be found here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/03/live-reporting-school-start-times.html

Recall that the applications for the Start Times Advisory Committee were accepted early in 2018
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/01/friendly-reminder-school-start-times_15.html

The Committee was appointed at the Feb 27, 2018 meeting and began work shortly after that
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/02/live-reporting-discussion-action-items.html

The Start Times presentation is displayed here

School Start Time Recommendation from Franklin Matters

Or downloaded from here
https://www.slideshare.net/shersteve/school-start-time-recommendation

If the School Committee decides to make the start time change, it would be effective no earlier than the 2020-2021 school year. As the meeting closed Tuesday, there was no indication of when the Committee would take this up for a formal vote.

If you have questions, the School Committee has been making themselves available. The coffee hour schedule is posted. Their contact information is available. Each School Committee meeting has a portion for audience input for items not on the agenda. During the meeting, there are spots for input for those items on the agenda. Take advantage of these opportunities and raise your questions.

School Committee page https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee

The total meeting recording runs just about 1 and 45 minutes. Yes, this is a long one. Settle in comfortably, have my Franklin Matters live reported notes handy, and have the Start Times presentation at hand.

Without further ado, here is the audio recording.





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This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I can always use your help.

How can you help?

In particular, if you have an interest in real estate, zoning or construction, I would like someone to help us by following the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and or the Conservation Commission meetings. I’ll provide the guidance on note taking and sharing. You need to bring an inquisitive, open mind and willingness to learn and share.

Overall:

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors.
• If you don't like this, please let me know.

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements.
Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes = search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes

School Committee Recap: School Budget proposal approved, yet funding insufficient

The School Committee meeting was a long one as the ECDC, and elementary schools walked through updates on their School Improvement Plans (SIP). The District Improvement Plan goals 2 and 3 also received an update from the Central office. Lots of progress and accomplishments under challenging circumstances.

Then the Discussion / Action Item section rolled along and the committee voted to approve the expense budget and salary budget in separate votes for FY 2020. Only a few changes from what had been reviewed and had evolved over the several weeks leading up to Tuesday.

Then Superintendent Ahern revealed that the budget as approved was likely about $2.6M over what the Town can fund. The Town Council meeting the following night (Wednesday, March 13) would begin the overall Town budget discussion and how to address the shortfall.

Stay tuned for the on going budget discussion. What we want for our children and the Town of Franklin depends upon what info is forthcoming and how it is received. 

Participate in the Budget hearings or at least tune into the meetings. Worse case, follow the updates here and don't be shy in asking good questions.



The Superintendent's Report:

Superintendent's Report to School Committee - March 12, 2019 from Franklin Matters

Kelly Kelty, Principal of ECDC presented a mid-year update on the School Improvement Plan (SIP)

2018-19 ECDC SIP Update - March 12, 2019 from Franklin Matters

Principals/Vice-principals presented a joint update on the Elementary SIP

Elementary SIP Mid-year Update - March 12, 2019 from Franklin Matters

The Central Office (Superintendent Sara Ahern, Asst Supt Lucas Giguere, Dr Joyce Edwards, and Paula Marano) presented the joint update on the District Improvement Plan (DIP)

DIP - Goals 2 and 3 - School Committee 3/12/19 from Franklin Matters

My notes are reported live during the meeting can be found in the links below

• Live reporting: Information Matters to Closing (Ex...
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/03/live-reporting-information-matters-to.html
• Live reporting: Discussion/Action Items
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/03/live-reporting-discussionaction-items.html
• Live reporting: District Improvement Plan Update
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/03/live-reporting-district-improvement.html
• Live reporting: School Committee - March 12, 2019
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/03/live-reporting-school-committee-march.html

School committee meeting March 12, 2019

Live reporting: School Committee - March 12, 2019

Present: Feeley, Douglas, Scofield, Linden, Bergen, Schultz, Zub, 
Absent: none

1. Routine Business
a. Review of Agenda
no adjustments

b. Citizen’s Comments

i. In the spirit of open communication, “the School Committee will hear public comment not related to an agenda item at the beginning of each regular School Committee Meeting. The Committee will listen to, but not respond to any comment made. A Committee member may add an agenda item to a future meeting as a result of a citizen comment” – from Policy BEDH

c. FHS Student Representative Comments

d. Superintendent’s Report
Education Commissioner Jeff Riley visited the district today

Superintendent's Report to School Committee - March 12, 2019 from Franklin Matters

photos and updates posting Weds

lots of excitement at the high school
math team champs of southern MA

Mock trail team now in final 8

40 DECA students, 8 qualified for Nationals

Math Lab, STEM challenge, developed fitness tracker apps taking 1st and 2nd place

Shaken performed

MAEA emerging artist competition

Poetry Outloud

FHS Jazz festival, competing at States

MICA showcase tonight and Thursday
also had #1 jazz drummer in MA

Cheer 1st runner up

Girls basketball in OT and leading

2. Guests / Presentations
a. Elementary School Improvement Plan Updates
Kelty Kelley - ECDC update
learning through play
all the ECDC teachers are special educators
teachers have individual blogs at ECDC

2018-19 ECDC SIP Update - March 12, 2019 from Franklin Matters

(presentation to be added later - posted to Schools page on Weds (usually) so I can add it with the meeting summary later this week)

6 elementary schools represented by Principals (or Vice-Principals)

Elementary SIP Mid-year Update - March 12, 2019 from Franklin Matters

weekend backpack coordinated with Food Pantry for a number of students across the 6

highlights on SEL work across the schools

a view from the back of the room during the Elementary Schools presentation/discussion

school specific initiatives
Parmenter - developing new modules with rigorous learning and student choice
Keller - argumentative writing and speaking

opportunities for students to enhance and reinforce their learning
increase in collaboration among teachers in common planning time

working on 2-way effective communications, how to incorporate feedback from the families into the process

genius hour - an educational and flexible version of the Google 20% time for passion projects

incorporated feedback into revised curriculum nights at the elementary schools

Hockomock Area YMCA Announces Partnership with Crafty Basketball 3x3

The Hockomock Area YMCA is delighted to share that the non-profit organization has struck an agreement with Crafty Basketball 3x3 to enhance the skills of youth basketball players and is now enrolling the inaugural Crafty 3x3 League for boys and girls in grades 1-6 that will run in Foxboro, Franklin, and North Attleboro YMCA gyms beginning next month.

Thousands of children, teens, and adults hit YMCA gyms to play basketball (the game invented by the Y in the 1890s!), learning firsthand teamwork skills. The decision to bring an innovative teaching program–Crafty 3x3 Leagues–to the Y appears to have been an easy one. As explained by Branch Manager Dan Brennock at the North Attleboro YMCA, “The second most popular sport in the world, basketball is played year round at the Hockomock Area YMCA and I feel is a program that screams ‘YMCA’. 

Crafty Basketball 3x3

A staple of our youth development offerings for generations, we are proud that kids learn to play basketball at the Y and are pleased to introduce Crafty Basketball 3x3 to enhance opportunities for developing players to learn smart basketball, including more touches of the ball than traditional youth leagues combined with great coaching that focuses on developing skills and teaching true team basketball.”

Fast paced exciting games will be offered for boys and girls in grade 1 and 2. The launch also includes quick games with lots of touches and incentivized scoring for boys in grades 3-4, boys in grades 5-6, girls in grades 3-4, and girls in grades 5-6. This program is designed to help kids learn to love the great game of basketball.

The history of Crafty Basketball 3x3 is as follows. As a member of Attleboro Youth Basketball Association’s Board, Mike Crowley created the foundation for Crafty Basketball 3x3 in 2015-2016 so that the town’s Metrowest program could develop smarter, savvier players in a format different than 5 on 5 basketball. 

The results for the entire program were so profound that he founded Crafty Basketball as a way to improve the skill and IQ of basketball players of all levels. He strongly believes that a passion for the game develops from playing beautiful, team-based basketball with an emphasis on combining skill and smarts.

Hockomock Area YMCA

Mike Crowley has spent more than two decades building businesses from concept to market. He is considered a pioneer in the sports technology space, where his innovations creating some of the first and most advanced smart sports products have won numerous global awards, including the prestigious Consumer Electronics Show Best of Innovation Award, the Bluetooth Innovation of the Year, and named as Time Magazine’s Top 25 Invention of the year. He has led highly dynamic teams for Internet of Things consumer and industrial products, Medical Devices, Enterprise Software, and the Consumer Entertainment industry.

Crafty 3x3 Leagues, changing the way basketball is taught.

Details on the YMCA Launch:
At the Foxboro Y: Saturdays, March 9 – March 30, 2019
Grades 1-2 (coed) 12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.; Grades 3-4 Boys 11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.; Grades 3-4 Girls 3:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.; Grades 5-6 Boys 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.; Grades 5-6 Girls 1:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Location: 67 Mechanic St. Foxborough. For More Information: Ashli Phillips ashlip@hockymca.org 508-772-1353

At the Franklin Y: Saturdays, March 9 – March 30, 2019
Grades 1-2 (coed) 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.; Grades 3-4 Boys 9:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.; Grades 3-4 Girls 1:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.; Grades 5-6 Boys 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.; Grades 5-6 Girls 12:15 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. Location: 45 Forge Hill Rd. Franklin. For More Information: Alex Dorson alexd@hockymca.org 774-235-2752

At the North Attleboro Y: Sundays, March 10 – March 31, 2019
Grades 1-2 (coed) 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.; Grades 3-4 Boys 9:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.; Grades 3-4 Girls 1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.; Grades 5-6 Boys 8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.; Grades 5-6 Girls 12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Location: 300 Elmwood St. North Attleboro. For More Information: Kerrie Francis – Sports Director, kerrief@hockymca.org 508-643-5215

"Awesome experience that I would absolutely sign our son up for again. He enjoyed the pace, the challenge, the point system, the coaching. All excellent and very positive." Erin M. Natick, MA

Cost for the 4 week league: $85. To register, visit hockymca.org/crafty. In addition, there are limited spots available for a free pre-season Crafty 3x3 clinic, which will run Saturday and Sunday March 2-3. Visit hockymca.org/crafty for details and to enroll.


About Hockomock Area YMCA: 

Where Cause Meets Community. At the Hockomock Area YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility.  

Our YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities we are privileged to serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable cause-driven organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and Mansfield. For more information visit hockymca.org.

Library of Congress: Letters About Literature Contest Opens

Writing Contest for Young Readers Across the Country Announced Letters About Literature, the Library of Congress reading-and-writing contest now in its 26th year, is accepting applications beginning Nov. 1 for the 2018-19 cycle. For the first time, letters will be submitted electronically.  Letters About Literature asks students in grades 4-12 to read a book, poem, speech or essay by an author, living or dead, to think about how that work affected them and to write to the author on the work's impact. Click here for more information https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-18-139?loclr=ealn

You can help too! Help Jose Knock out Cancer

Via Twitter we find: 

“No one fights alone!” Our fifth grade community came together to support a classmate! #oakststories

“No one fights alone!” Our fifth grade community came together to support a classmate!

Contribute online via GoFundMe   https://www.gofundme.com/pyehc-knockout-cancer

The tweet showing the Farmer Market booth fund raising event
https://twitter.com/OakStElementary/status/1055949888524115968

Wow! So proud of these Oak St kiddos for their time, energy, and kindness! George and Cece (too shy for the picture) were so pumped to get bracelets from the BIG KIDS! #oakststories pic.twitter.com/pGY9TPIBCP

— Heather Adams (@MrsAdamsOAK) October 26, 2018

School Committee - Sep 25, 2018

The collection of posts from the School Committee meeting held on Sep 25, 2018.


Superintendent's Report

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/uploads/superintendents_report_to_school_committee_september_25_2018.pdf

EdLeader 21
Dr. Edwards is not here this evening. She is off site attending a professional development conference with EdLeader 21. This group is an extension of the former Partnership for 21st Century Skills and is a big part of our district initiative on development of engaging curriculum and personalized learning. When she returns, we will be kicking off our efforts to engage with School Committee and the community in the development of Franklin’s Portrait of A Graduate, which is an exciting part of our District Strategy for Improvement.

Horace Mann Middle School Auditorium
I would like to provide a follow-up communication to the community about the Horace Mann Middle School Auditorium. Last Tuesday, during the heavy rains and flash flooding, the interior courtyard at HMMS became flooded with water due to clogged drainage. A large amount of water seeped into the school and settled in the pit of the auditorium, flooding the stage, and seeping into the entrance to the band room. Clean up services have been employed who have been spending the last week mitigating the damage, drying the spaces, and engaging in repair efforts.

The drywall in the entrance to the band room has been removed and water under the instrument storage cubbies was dried. The service company will come in and repair the sheetrock, like they did previously in Keller last year. Everything will be repaired in accordance with safe practices in the prevention of mold growth. The carpet in the auditorium has also been dried. It is a “backed” carpet, with protection on the underside, so there are no mold concerns about growth underneath. The auditorium stage is drying well. The Facilities department is optimistic that the floor can be sanded and refinished, which is a quicker fix than pulling up the boards for repair. They will reassess at the end of the week to confirm and we will keep the Committee apprised.

Franklin Cultural District Site Visit
The Franklin Public Schools participated in the Franklin Cultural District’s Site visit with the Massachusetts Cultural Council last Thursday, September 20. This site visit evaluates the district’s application towards a designation as a Cultural District. Along with other partner members, FPS attended the site visit meetings at the library and Franklin Historical Museum. 

We also hosted a brief tour at the high school. Dr. Edwards, Mr. Peri, Mr. Klements, Ms.Plouffe, Ms. Johnson, and Mr. Nayler brought them through to see the highlights of the high school and the fine and performing arts areas. We toured the TV studio, music practice spaces, art classrooms, the 3D art installation in the courtyard, the art display cases, and the auditorium. Thank you so much to our educators for showing off the investment we make in the fine and performing arts for both our students as well as the greater Franklin community.

The documents released for the meeting can be found online
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/september-25-2018-packet-documents

ECDC School Improvement Plan - Update from Franklin Matters

Elementary Schools Improvement Plan - Update from Franklin Matters

The elementary school principals ready to present at the School Committee meeting

• Live reporting: Consent Agenda to Closing
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/live-reporting-consent-agenda-to-closing.html
• Live reporting: Information Matters
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/live-reporting-information-matters.html
• Live reporting: Discussion - Action Items
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/live-reporting-discussion-action-items.html
• Live Reporting: Elementary School Improvement Plan...
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/live-reporting-elementary-school.html
• Live Reporting: School Committee - Sep 25,2018
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/live-reporting-school-committee-sep.html

The agenda for the School Committee

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-sep_23.html

Live Reporting: Elementary School Improvement Plans

2. Guests / Presentations
a. Elementary School Improvement Plans
i. ECDC
Kelty Kelly, Principal

"Big Day for Pre K"
honors developmental appropriate practice
seeing increase of students with autism needs

Kelty Kelly, Principal of ECDC, leads off the elementary improvement plan discussion tonight #schcom0925 pic.twitter.com/uY22lVr739

— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) September 25, 2018

ii. Davis Thayer
iii. Jefferson
iv. Keller
v. JF Kennedy
vi. Oak Street
vii. Parmenter

The listing of principals by school can be found on the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinps.net/district/about-us/pages/school-principals

elementary school principals ready to provide an update on the improvement plans

partnering with Franklin Food Pantry for weekend backpack program to provide additional food for those in need

(Note: C Douglas arrives)

MA Personalized Learning Network (MAPLE)

PD Your Way - at Parmenter, professional development your way

ICE - intervention, correction and enrichment

new Schools webpage now available, faculty figuring out how to do things with the new page
leveraging Twitter for communications with links back to the school page

Keller Kids Calls - positive calls home for the student

Q - on MAPLE 
teachers can use it to provide some differentiated learning on particular topics, about student engagement, where are they coming from, not just where we are coming from

Q - examples of SEL skills for elementary students
resiliency would be one, multiple opportunities to identify the skills, hopefully they'll find self confidence and what tools they can use to self regulate

first PD day was focused for teachers and staff how to take care of themselves first

social studies curriculum overdue for an update but teachers are integrating current events and other items as they can

FHS Panthers Softball Clinic Grades K-5 - Mar 24

FHS PANTHERS SOFTBALL CLINIC Grades K-5

Saturday March 24th 2018 (Rain or Shine) 

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon

Franklin High School Gymnasium

$40.00 per player (includes a t-shirt)

(we will be hosting a separate clinic for 6th-8th graders Aril/May date TBD)

Players will learn the fundamentals of Fastpitch Softball. Specific skills will be covered using a series of stations which the players will rotate between to insure age groups and skill levels are being maintained.

Stations include:
• Proper throwing and catching mechanics 
• Proper hitting mechanics
• Overall fielding and base running

The lead instructor will be KATE FALLON-COMEAU, Franklin High School Softball Program Director and Head Coach of Franklin High Panthers Varsity Softball. Coach Fallon-Comeau was a four year starter at Curry College in both pitching and catching and was team captain her senior year. After coaching JV softball at Cardinal Spellman High School, she went on to be Varsity Coach of SE Regional Vocational High School.

Assistant coach Matt Connelly, along with the Varsity players will be on hand to assist in what should truly be an exciting three hours.

Please complete and mail the form below with payment by March 17, 2018, to insure your softball player will be part of this event.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczUXF5Nk03MGpvXzFtTHItTmNhTEtIWS12cW5z/view?usp=sharing

Live reporting: School Committee - Jan 23, 2018 - Elementary SIP

Present: Feeley, Linden, Douglas, Scofield, Bergen, Schultz, Zub
Absent:  none



1. Routine Business
a. Review of Agenda
no changes
 
b. Citizen’s Comments
no comments

c. FHS Student Representative Comments

• wrestling 17-0
• math and Mock Trial teams succeeding in addition to sports
• rink now at full capacity for student parking
• course selection for next year underway
• jazz concert Wednesday, Jan 24
• DramaFest hosted at FHS soon

d. Superintendent’s Report
article on acts of Kindness at Oak St for State House in Milford Daily News
professional development activities

• Jan 10 civil rights training for all staff
• Jan 25th MASC mid winter meeting focus on computer science and computational thinkning
• Jan 26 half day
• Parent conferences scheduled for  FHS
• another half day on Monday, Feb 5
• World of Difference training coming for middle school teachers
• social emotional learning training, along with school based initiatives

2. Guests / Presentations
a. SIP Program Updates (Elementary/Middle Schools)

Elementary schools PreK to 5
(presentation likely to be available later)

ECDC slide - screen grab

pre-school does a whole child assessment
Jeannine Fitzgerald appearing at ECDC on Monday, Jan 29

Davis Thayer slide - screen grab

created a Trevi Fountain as part of cultural awareness and coins raised from the fountain were donated to the Franklin Food Pantry

during English Language Arts planning realized that math was being left behind so adjustments were being made

working on how to improve summer time reading, previous efforts had been to increase from 55 to 58% so improvement but not much, more to do

Jefferson slide - screen grab

Jefferson Labradors working on "Paws-itive" behavior recognition program

School Council working on improving school arrival and dismissal processes

Keller slide - screen grab

looking at writing as a skill for development across the curriculum; focused work and exciting for the Principal

implementing life sciences standards using the STEMscopes

increasing school culture activities around the Olympics

Kennedy slide - screen grab

incorporating parents into the curriculum with their world or work experiences
Kennedy used an extra room as a 'science lab' still needs to be fully fitted out but the space helps for the intro sessions

peer teacher observations underway within the school and District

Oak St slide - screen grab

planning for school goals and vision along with social emotional learning from the Willima James College pilot; certificate course for four at Oak to be shared further within the district as it completes

communication plan also under development at Oak St via School Council

received 178 responses to recent survey (far more than the 20+ from the prior survey)

joint planning ED Camp with ECDC

Parmenter slide - screen grab

developing and revising curriculum with an Understanding by Design approach

revising school model: who are we? what is our vision? School Council leading this effort

upcoming 3 half day professinal development days with Lesley Univ on SEL

received grant from Y and will be sending backpacks home for the weekends beginning in March