Franklin English Language Education Department Hosts Family Event at Franklin Public Library

Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning and English Language Director Dr. Tina Rogers is proud to announce that Franklin Public Schools' English Language Education Department recently hosted a family event at the Franklin Public Library.

On May 21, students and families joined together to connect with each other and learn more about community and school programs, including Franklin's English Learner Parent Advisory Council (ELPAC).

English Language Education
Teachers made this event possible

ELPAC serves as a bridge to bring families, schools and communities together in meaningful ways and encourages family engagement. The program fosters a shared commitment to student success.

“Through open communication, translation support and culturally inclusive practices, Franklin Public Schools is committed to creating welcoming environments where families feel valued, connected, and empowered to support their children's education,” said Assistant Superintendent Rogers.

During the event, students taught someone else how to say “hello” in their native language and learned how to say “hello” in another language.

"My favorite part about teaching is connecting with my students and their families," said Sonia Vaz-Brune, English Language Education Teacher. "I loved being able to see everyone smiling, talking, and making new connections. These events always remind me how much I love this job!"

Attendees played games, colored bookmarks, took pictures in a photo booth, and decorated notebooks.

Every student went home with at least one library book. Franklin Public Library also donated books for students to take home.

Youth Service Librarian Caleigh Keating shared exciting student events happening at the Library during upcoming school half-days on June 13, 16, 17 and 18. All students and community members are welcome to attend.

“I’m grateful to be part of a district that not only values equity and inclusion but also demonstrates these principles through real action,” said English Language Education Teacher Johanna Townsend.

On May 21, students and families joined together
with Franklin Public Schools educators and community leaders
 to connect with each other and learn more about town
and school programs. (Photo Courtesy Franklin Public Schools)

“We’d like to thank Laura Doherty, Associate Director of the Franklin Food Pantry, and Laura Du, Client Service Manager, for joining our event and sharing information and resources with families,” said Assistant Superintendent Rogers. “And a tremendous thank you to Library Director Felicia Oti and Youth Services Librarian Caleigh Keating from the Franklin Public Library. We appreciate the support and collaboration. This event would not have been possible without their help.”

“We had an amazing time at this fun-filled event for families,” said Franklin Public Schools Superintendent Lucas Giguere. “Everyone who attended shared laughs and learned about one another. Franklin Public Schools is committed to creating an inclusive and safe environment for our students and families.”

Additional photos can be found -> https://www.franklinps.net/article/2237683

2 FHS teachers on the joy of teaching & the hard things about budget issues (audio)

FM #1401 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1401 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of my conversation with Leah Wahrhaftig-Jeri and Katherine Kellett, both teachers at Franklin High School. We had our conversation at the Franklin TV Studio on Monday, March  3, 2025.  

Katherine Kellett, Teacher - English

Leah Wahrhaftig-Jeri, Teacher - World Language

• We cover their road to Franklin and FHS

• We talk about the joy in teaching

• And the issues faced with continued budget cuts

• Only one language to be offered at the middle school

• Reduces the total of language classes High School graduates can carry forward to college

• Text book & curriculum cuts challenge the appropriate delivery of curriculum

• Loss of shared intellectual capital with colleagues cut due to budget

• Language lab is a resource heavily utilized and will no longer available (per budget)

• Struggle to attract and retain substitute teachers

• Ripple effects for curriculum coverage that is lost and how that affects students and the next year’s teachers for that subject

The recording runs about 40 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Leah and Katherine on teaching in challenging budget times

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1401-2-franklin-high-school-teachers-03-03-25/

--------------

Franklin High School page -> https://www.franklinps.net/o/fhs 

Franklin School District budget page -> FY 2026 https://www.franklinps.net/documents/about-us/school-district-budget/fy2026-budget/728831 

Joint budget listening sessions archive -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/joint-budget-listening-sessions-fy-2026.html 

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

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

 

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

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

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

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!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

A couple of Ben Franklin's gift books to the Town

Voices of Franklin: Asks why we are telling students that "they are far less important than the bottom line?"

I’m Helen Hoffenberg and I have been an educator in Franklin for the last 18 years teaching English at FHS. 

I’ve worked under 6 different department heads, 5 different principals, 5 different superintendents and with dozens of amazing colleagues that have since left our community. Although the insane turnover rate of highly qualified teachers is an important discussion point, I’m going to use this moment to talk about the Franklin Arts Academy- an amazing program that is currently being phased out due to budget cuts. 

Fifteen years ago I helped create this program that aims to teach core subjects like English, History, and Science to brilliant and creative students. Actually, they are artists, and they have thrived in this program for 15 years. 

Unfortunately, this group of often marginalized students will no longer have a specific space that helps them foster and apply these important critical and creative skills to the content, further putting them at a disadvantage. 

Ironically, my current FAA class sizes fall within the 18-22 students recommended by the School Committee while my English 11 Honors classes have 25 or more students in each class.  The FAA program has been paramount in distinguishing FHS as a progressive school that cares about all students and all learning styles.

In fact, ten years ago we applauded the FAA during a NEASC visit yet here we are phasing out the program and, essentially, those students, telling them that they are far less important than the bottom line. 

Helen Hoffenberg 

FHS English Teacher

Guidelines for your submission

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

Voices of Franklin:  Asks why we are telling students that "they are far less important than the bottom line?"

Reminder: NEW Language Opportunities with Lifelong Community Learning classes; register now

Happening Soon. Register Now

NEW Opportunities Coming In January Don't Miss Out REGISTER TODAY For additional details visit: www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter

Lifelong Learning Institute - Franklin Public Schools | 218 Oak Street, Room 137, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by lcl@franklinps.net powered by Try email marketing for free today!

NEW Language Learning Opportunities Coming in October, register now

Happening Soon. Register Now

NEW Opportunities Coming In October Don't Miss Out REGISTER TODAY For additional details visit: www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com

Lifelong Learning Institute - Franklin Public Schools | 218 Oak Street, Room 137, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by lcl@franklinps.net powered by Try email marketing for free today!

Lifelong Community Learning: Intro: to English as a Second Language

For You or Someone You May Know

‌ Lifelong Community Learning Introduction to English as a Second Language Adults 18+ for you or someone you may know REGISTER Starting October 3, 2019 8 Tuesdays 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Franklin High School Improve your conversational English language comprehension. This introductory class focuses on conversational English and is designed to assist adult learners who want to improve their English language comprehension in a welcoming environment. Lifelong Community Learning, 218 Oak St., Franklin, MA 02038 LCL@franklinps.net www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com

FPS- Lifelong Community Learning | 218 Oak Street, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by lcl@franklinps.net in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!

"qualify for a new “seal of biliteracy”

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

"The Legislature on Wednesday approved a bilingual education reform bill designed to give educators more flexibility in teaching English language learners. 

A conference committee report filed Tuesday night by House and Senate negotiators was endorsed by the House 155-1. The Senate approved it unanimously as the branches wrapped up formal sessions for 2017. Informal sessions will continue for the next seven weeks, with formal sessions resuming in January. 

Under the bill, school districts can maintain current the immersion programming or choose an alternative that meets federal and state standards, according to bill sponsors, who said the legislation expands the role of parental advisory councils and allows parents the flexibility to choose programs that best meet their child’s needs."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171116/legislature-approves-bilingual-education-reform

The PDF of the legislation can be found here
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H4032

House accepts LOOK bill conference committee report. After 10+ years working on this, we have legislation that will guarantee all students learning English will be taught in strong programs tailored to fit their needs. Thank you for your leadership, @RepAlicePeisch #mapoli pic.twitter.com/3eDANkd79U

— Jeffrey Sanchez (@jeffrey_sanchez) November 15, 2017

FPS: English Language Learners

Scheduled for discussion at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012. This is an overview of the English Language Learners (ELL) program in the school district.

FPS ELL Program Update 20120124

Patricia Ryan: Don't insist on English!

Patricia Ryan has been teaching English in the Middle East for 30 years. She has seen great changes during that time and shares some insights on the dominance of the English language.

What has this got to do with Franklin?
Due to the school budget cuts, the foreign language program offered by Franklin's schools is reduced. When my daughters went to middle school, they spent time with Spanish, Latin and French in 6th grade before choosing one of the three to continue with in 7th and 8th. That choice and program is not available to Franklin's students today.

The School Committee and Administration faced with a reduced budget are forced to make choices amongst ever tougher options.

Patricia's talk presents arguments for maintaining other languages. The cultural value of other languages is hard to calculate but should be considered.





What do you think?
Leave a comment, send an email or join the conversation on Facebook!


Related posts on the foreign language program in Franklin

1 - From the budget workshop Jan 29, 2011
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/01/live-reporting-school-budget-workshop_29.html

2 - Foreign language update to School Committee Sep 2010
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/09/live-reporting-foreign-language-update.html

3 - Discussion in Jun 2010 on the middle school Latin decision
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/06/live-reporting-foreign-language-latin.html


Franklin, MA

English Language Learners (ELL)

ELL - English Language Learners

presentation by Linda Waters

A review of the four year initiative

Sheltered English Immersion (SEI)

DOE had found Franklin in "noncompliance status" in 2004

not a service to teach curriculum, focused on teaching English as a language

two .5 ELL teachers, both half-time; one for elementary and one for middle school
one full time ELL teacher

close to 100 teachers with some level of training in this area

February 2008, DOE has found Franklin in "compliance" with the mandate

29 students designated as ELL
10 students designated as Former ELL (FELPs)

current languages being spoken by these students

Vietnamese, Spanish, Gujarti, Hindi, Cebuano, Telugu, Chinese, Bulgarian, Swahili, Russian, French, Arabic, Krio, and Portugese

22 kindergarten students identified as possible ELL's

Lisa talking about teaching the children who have trouble with the English language
other students in the classroom are helpful providing assistance
meets with students once a week as she is only part-time
get support to the regular teachers so they can provide help

Helen talking about the same program as provided to the secondary education students

Q - Armenio
This is one of the state unfunded mandates

Q - Trahan - Help for families?
The Franklin library provides a program in English as a Second Language for adults in the community. (side note - yes, I can vouch for this program as I participate as a tutor in this program.)

Q - Rohrbach - with 22 kindergartens possible, is this a growing trend?
Yes, it is. Given the other communities nearby, it is not surprising that we will gain some of these other languages.

Q - Roy, this was a result of a statewide ballot initiative

Lisa describes how she uses photos to elicit the students involvement in building their vocabulary, disposable cameras are good for this. Link the objects to the words.
Use total physical response to build the recognition of the verb and the word.

Waters:
Social language develops very quickly with interaction amongst their peers, the curriculum language takes longer (up to six years) to develop. Many of the students are also coming into the system with little schooling in their background or sometimes large gaps in their schooling (due to civil war in their former country).

Ogden:
ELL staff have two roles, one to teach the students and one to teach the teachers
kudos to the ELL teachers and to all the staff to make this program so successful