Franklin Public Schools: MCAS Presentation - 11/23/21

Among the agenda items for the Franklin School Committee meeting Tuesday, Nov 23, 2021 is an update on the recent MCAS statistics for the Franklin School District.

You can view a copy of the report here or below:   https://drive.google.com/file/d/19XOmQtVz2_MPrymgtUgQkIclhH3xgqMy/view?usp=sharing

Franklin Public Schools: MCAS Presentation - 11/23/21

In the News: "much of the evidence is inconclusive"

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

"What role children play in the coronavirus pandemic is the hot-button question of the summer as kids relish their free time while schools labor over how to resume classes. 

The Trump administration says the science “is very clear,” but many doctors who specialize in pediatrics and infectious diseases say much of the evidence is inconclusive. 

“There are still a lot of unanswered questions. That is the biggest challenge,” said Dr. Sonja Rasmussen, a pediatrics professor at the University of Florida and former scientist at the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. 

Several studies suggest, but don’t prove, that children are less likely to become infected than adults and more likely to have only mild symptoms."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20200717/how-does-covid-19-affect-kids-science-has-answers-and-gaps/1?rssfeed=true


The NY Times article on a related report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/15/health/coronavirus-schools-reopening.html

Go directly to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report

"Weighing the health risks of reopening K-12 schools in fall 2020 against the educational risks of providing no in-person instruction, school districts should prioritize reopening schools full time, especially for grades K-5 and students with special needs, according to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Opening schools will benefit families beyond providing education, including by supplying child care, school services, meals, and other family supports. Without in-person instruction, schools risk children falling behind academically and exacerbating educational inequities."

Continue reading the report online:
https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2020/07/schools-should-prioritize-reopening-in-fall-2020-especially-for-grades-k-5-while-weighing-risks-and-benefits

Save the Date for Senator Spilka's SEL Forum - Jan 9, 2018

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SAVE THE DATE: Senator Spilka's MetroWest Kids exSEL Forum     Tuesday, January 9, 2018 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Hayden Lodge  Warren Conference Center 529 Chestnut Street, Ashland CLICK HERE TO RSVP!  Please join Senator Karen Spilka on January 9, 2018 for a conversation with the Rennie Center for Education Research and Policy about exSEL: Excellence through Social-Emotional Learning, a network bringing together school districts across Massachusetts to design and implement policies and practices that promote social-emotional learning (SEL). The project is led by the exSEL Coalition, whose members include the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Massachusetts Organization of Educational Collaboratives and Massachusetts School Administrators Association. The exSEL Coalition's non-profit partners, the Rennie Center and Teachers 21, provide expertise, support and training for the network. Click here to RSVP! If you have questions about this event or Senator Spilka's MetroWest Kids Initiative, please contact Puja Mehta. Office of State Senator Karen E. Spilka Room 212, State House Boston, Massachusetts  02133 Phone: (617) 722-1640 - Fax: (617) 722-1077 http://www.karenspilka.com

Senator Karen E. Spilka, Massachusetts State House, Room 212, Boston, MA 02133 Sent by karen.spilka@masenate.gov in collaboration with Try it free today

“I think Franklin’s really ahead of the curve”

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

"The town’s schools will be partnering with William James College to further their “social-emotional” learning efforts. 

Assistant Superintendent Peter Light said the partnership - which will offer graduate-level instruction to the Oak Street Elementary School’s faculty and administration through a pilot program - will take place over the course of the 2017-2018 school year. 

In recent years, the local district has adopted social-emotional learning practices, which take a “whole-child” approach to education. 

“What we see more and more is that we have to have high-quality, standards-based instruction, but equally important is the kids’ readiness to receive that instruction,” Light said.'

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170402/franklin-schools-exploring-social-emotional-learning-partnership

Oak Street Elementary School to take part in pilot program for social emotional learning

Superintendent search dates and social emotional learning

The School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Feb 28 had two major takeaways:

1. the updates schedule for the Superintendent search (see below)
2. the presentation, discussion (and video) on the work around social emotional learning being done in the district

Superintendent Search

• Consultants HYA have been receiving applications
• At the next School Committee meeting, the committee reviews the final set of candidates (7:00 PM on March 14)
• Interviews by the School Committee with the candidates are set for March 17
• Public forum meeting with the candidates Monday night March 20
• Leading to the School Committee meeting March 28 where they should make the selection of  the "preferred candidate"

Social emotional learning

The presentation document used Tuesday night

Social Emotional Learning - Presentation to Franklin (MA) School Committee from Franklin Matters

The first documentary produced by Franklin Public Schools shared on Tuesday night




Additional information can be found in the notes taken live during the meeting

• Live Reporting: Action Items through Closing
• Live Reporting: NEASC visit
• Social Emotional Learning - Presentation to Frankl...
• Live reporting: School Committee - Feb 28, 2017

view from the seats at the School Committee meeting Tuesday evening

The Franklin TV video of the meeting is available for replay
http://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?PGD=franknma&eID=437

Social Emotional Learning - Presentation to Franklin (MA) School Committee

Social Emotional Learning - Presentation to Franklin (MA) School Committee from Franklin Matters

Peter Light
Chandler Creedon
Debbie Dixon
Kate Peretz
Brian Wildeman

not just counseling, focused on social and emotional learning

recognition of the whole team in guidance and counseling

CASEL.org leading group working in the social emotional space Also working with the State however, Franklin was working with them earlier

importance of SEL for success of students
without these SEL skills, students can learning at capacity

if 5% of the students require intervention, what does it say about Franklin schools when we have approx 17% in some form of special education?  

monthly whole school meeting, one piece of the responsive classroom approach is the individual classroom morning meeting

three stages in the approach through the school year

1. who am I?
2. what is my place in the world?
3. How can I make a difference?

approx 18-19 clubs at middle schools, high school has more clubs in addition to the intramural and interscholastic sports programs

"if you can't reach them, you can't teach them"

site used by teachers, clam.calm

zones of regulation, leads to increase control of self and can lead to problem solving

(Bilello arrives at 8:00)

team of four from Oak St nominated for special program in SEL to bring back training to the rest; a nine month program with 15 credits

substance abuse task force being rolled out across the district

check out video embedded in the presentation document above (15 mins)

IST - instructional support team, based in each school
expanding the focus of this team to include SEL

screening and assessment, i.e pyramid shown earlier
when does someone move from tier to tier? still a tool in development
not to rush into screening and assessment

Bergen - can you speak to what more counselors can do at the middle school level?
Creedon - I walked in yesterday with a schedule of things to do and spent the day supporting a student who had some problems and ended up in the hospital. My day completed after 5 when I drove the mothers car to the hospital as she had gone with the student in the ambulence

Wildeman - more staff would allow to be more proactive, currently in a reactionary model  

Bergen - is there part of the process to identify the student that is not getting involved, if involvement is so critical to their overall health and engagement?

Creedon - I had one boy who wasn't getting involved and I asked why, he said there was nothing for me to get involved. I asked what would you be involved in? He said legos. We got a lego set and it went from one kids on a Friday to over 100 a week in legoworld

Light - speaks for diverse programming to ensure a reach for all, need a niche for each student and then work into the areas that aren't their passion

Schultz - thank you for the clarification on what you provide vs. what you could provide, we need to provide the support required

O'Malley -  we need to put forth to the public, the students are full entities, this is the best work I have seen the district has done. guidance is not a passive profession, that is not the traditional view. The parents of our students are fundamental to the success for the students. They are too big a player to be left aside in this discussion. 

Senator Spilka Hosts Social Emotional Learning Discussion on Jan 17, 2017 in Ashland

Senator Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland) will host a discussion of social and emotional learning (SEL) and possible models for implementation in MetroWest schools and communities.

Social and emotional learning – defined by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) as “the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions” – is increasingly recognized as the key to success, in school and beyond, for children of all backgrounds. Join Senator Spilka and CASEL senior consultant Ruth Cross to learn about the importance of SEL and ways to bring these strategies to MetroWest students.

WHO:
Senator Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland)
Ruth Cross, Senior SEL Consultant, CASEL

WHAT:
Discussion of social and emotional learning and a model for district-wide SEL implementation

WHEN:
January 17, 2017
6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

WHERE:
Warren Conference Center and Inn
Warren House Telechron Room
529 Chestnut Street, Ashland

NOTE: 
This event is free and open to the public; attendees must RSVP via Eventbrite.

The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)

To learn more about SEL, visit http://www.casel.org/what-is-sel/
To learn more about Ruth Cross, visit http://www.casel.org/staff/ruth-cross/
To learn more about CASEL, visit http://www.casel.org/