Showing posts with label middle school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label middle school. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Franklin Middle School Students Recite 'Democracy' by Langston Hughes and Meet with Senator

Franklin Middle School Students Recite 'Democracy' by Langston Hughes
Franklin Middle School Students
Recite 'Democracy' by Langston Hughes
Superintendent Lucas Giguere, Curriculum Leader Joe Barca and Horace Mann Middle School teacher Joe Corey are proud to announce that a team of sixth-grade students formulated coherent arguments for recess as part of school-day learning time, recited Langston Hughes’ poem “Democracy” and met with State Senator Becca Rausch.

Now they’re preparing for their first Poetry Day at the Franklin Senior Center since the start of the pandemic.

Earlier this year, Mr. Corey’s Team Lightning embarked on a unit devoted to argument writing.

“Argument writing is one of the assigned units this year with our new CommonLit 360 curriculum,” Corey said. “The topic of investigation for grade 6 was recess. The kids read charts, handouts, and articles and watched videos about the research that proves the benefits of mandatory unstructured recess.”

The students had already bid farewell to recess the previous year.

“As sixth graders, they don't get to enjoy daily recess as was the case in grade 5, so they were enthusiastic about the topic,” Corey explained. “The unit closed with the kids writing a bulleted list of the best facts that support recess. My cluster, Team Lightning, took the culminating activity further by writing actual letters to three different audiences: the incoming principal of the combined middle school, the interim Commissioner of Education at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and one class wrote to state Rep. Jeffrey N. Roy, while the other class wrote to Sen. Rausch.”

Corey mentioned the letters when he spoke with Rep. Roy and Sen. Rausch at a legislator's forum in Franklin.

“Shortly thereafter, we sent the letters,” Corey said. “Our call to action in every letter was to ask for legislation or rule reform that allows for recess to count as time on learning and which thereby allows for 30 minutes of daily unstructured recess for kids in K-8.”

An aide to Sen. Rausch contacted Team Lighting to plan a visit, and the legislator was welcomed into their classroom.

“She gave us homework to investigate pending legislation, as lots of new bills were recently announced for this session, and share any new insights,” Corey said.

After the visit, Corey surveyed his students.

“The senator's visit makes me more likely to reach out to my elected leaders in the future about issues that I feel are important because I want to make the world a better place, not just by wanting to give middle-schoolers recess, but to help solve problems that are worldwide,” said student Adriana Leeber.

“She talked to us like we were adults instead of children,” said student Gabby Kepple.

Corey asked his students to describe their favorite part of Sen. Rausch's visit.

“It was fun answering and asking questions, and I think all the research paid off,” said student Carter Ficco.

The class impressed with a flawless recitation of “Democracy” by Langston Hughes.

“I was very proud of the kids for their articulate answers to the Senator’s meaningful questions about the necessity for structured recess and possible solutions,” said Curriculum Leader Barca. “Their terrific work in reciting ‘Democracy’ by Langston Hughes means that they are ready to book a visit to the Senior Center for another poetry day, the first since COVID.”

Poetry Day at the Franklin Senior Center is set for June 6 at 12:15 p.m. for Corey’s Team Lightning cluster of 42 students.

“This experience is one of many ways our teachers educate the whole child,” said Superintendent Giguere. “We’re teaching our students how to be impactful citizens in their community. I’m very impressed with these sixth graders and their dedicated teacher. The seniors are in for a treat on Poetry Day!”

Watch the students recite "Democracy" by clicking here ->


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNo8uKr98X0
 

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Franklin Middle School Experience registration is open. Get your spot now!

Franklin Middle School Experience registration is open. Get your spot now!
Franklin Middle School Experience
registration is open. Get your spot now!
 
Attention incoming Franklin PS middle schoolers: Start the school year more confidently by joining the Franklin Middle School Experience


Meet faculty, tour the school, and much more. 


Go to tinyurl.com/5w87cr5t to register.



Saturday, May 3, 2025

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Saturday, May 3, 2025 ???

Saturday, May 3

 
 
Library events
Library events
9am Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church) Closed Today
10am Franklin Historical Museum (always free)
6:30pm Italian film Festival - "Roman Holiday" (Franklin Historical Museum)
7pm Cinco De Mayo (La Cantina Winery)
7pm High School Musical Jr (Franklin High School)



For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->   
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What's happening today in Franklin?
What's happening today in Franklin? 
Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar



Friday, May 2, 2025

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Friday, May 2, 2025 ???

Library & Senior Center events
Library & Senior Center events
Friday, May 2

** Tri-County: Support the Class of 2026 & Enjoy Panera Bread

10:00am Knitting Group (Franklin Public Library)
1:00pm Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)
6:00pm High School Musical Jr (Franklin High School)
7:00pm CAFE MURDER (THE BLACK BOX)
7:00pm Dance Senior Showcase (Dean College Main Stage Theater)




For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->   
-------------


What's happening today in Franklin?
What's happening today in Franklin? 
Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

3rd Annual Pen to Picture Festival features Raúl the Third at the Franklin Public Library, May 10

3rd Annual Pen to Picture Festival features Raúl the Third
3rd Annual Pen to Picture Festival features Raúl the Third
Since 2023, Franklin Public Library and the Franklin middle schools have joined forces to host world-renowned graphic novelists and celebrate the art of storytelling. On May 10, Franklin's 3rd annual Pen to Picture Festival will welcome Raúl the Third to the Franklin Public Library. This town-wide event is free and open to all families. 

Raúl the Third will share his process, art, and latest titles. He is the author and illustrator of many elementary and middle grade books, including The Snips: A Bad Buzz Day, Stuntboy: In the Meantime, Stuntboy: In-Between Time, The Lowriders series, and multiple picture books. Breakout sessions, photo ops and book signing will also be available.

Pen to Picture originated three years ago, the result of a collaborative effort among Ms. Bree Comeau (Franklin Public Library Asst. Youth Services Librarian) and Franklin middle school reading specialists Pam Allard and Erin O’Leary. The three literary leaders recognized their students’ growing appetite for the graphic novel format and sought funding from their schools’ parent organizations to create a town-wide festival. Pen to Picture’s mission is to expose Franklin families to contemporary titles and creators and foster the creative relationship between art and the written word. 

In its first year, the program welcomed Scott Magoon, Matt Tavares, and Maris Wicks; built on its overwhelming success, Pen to Picture welcomed Jarrett J. Krosoczka the following year.  

Graphic novels (a literary format) have exploded in popularity and both librarians and reading specialists are excited to welcome local authors and illustrators to engage students in an appreciation of the genre, learn about the process and time required to develop a graphic novel, and champion the relationship between visual arts and storytelling. We invite the community to join us at the library on Saturday, May 10. 

This year, Pen to Picture is made possible by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council

Friday, April 25, 2025

Caleigh, Erin & I had a blast talking about BLAST (audio)

FM #1434 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1434 in the series. 


This session shares my conversation about the origin story of BLAST - Bringing Libraries and Schools Together. We talk with Erin O’Leary and Caleigh Keating, the collaborators who start with “Yes” and then figure it out. We recorded this conversation virtually on Thursday, April 17, 2025. 


  • Caleigh Keating, Youth Services Librarian

  • Erin O’Leary, Reading Specialist at Horace Mann Middle School


We cover the following in our conversation

  • The origin story

  • A ‘free’ service but dependent upon the override passing

  • Middle school and elementary school coordination

  • How redistricting will simplify the operations

  • Summer reading kickoffs being planned for


The recording runs about 32 minutes. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1434-blast-fun-04-17-25/



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Franklin Public Library page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/233/Franklin-Public-Library 


Erin O’Leary email address -> olearye@franklinps.net 


Caleigh Keating email address -> ckeating@minlib.net 


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

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"

 

BLAST is referenced in the Strategic Plan
BLAST is referenced in the Strategic Plan

Saturday, April 12, 2025

Franklin Middle School Summer Reading Kickoff Book Fair - June 11

summer reading kick-off book fair
summer reading kick-off book fair
via Erin P. O'Leary:
An Unlikely Story is hosting our summer reading kick-off book fair on June 11 from 2 to 8 PM.  
 
All current and potential FMS families are encouraged to attend! 
 
We're promoting it as a great way to buy books for summer, put names to faces, meet new people, support a small business, and fundraise for future literacy events. 
 
Online ordering will be available for those who can not attend in-person. 

Friday, April 11, 2025

Franklin Public Schools Receive $5,000 Grant to Continue Visiting Author Program

Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Horace Mann Middle School Reading Specialist Erin O'Leary are proud to share that Franklin Public Schools have been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Franklin Cultural Council to continue the visiting author program.

"I want to thank the Franklin Cultural Council for such a generous donation that will allow us to continue the visiting author program," O'Leary said. "With their help, we can continue promoting engaging and hands-on reading curriculum that unites the three middle schools in a unique and exciting way."

Author Steve Sheinkin presents to the Remington Middle School student body. (Photo Courtesy Franklin Public Schools)
Author Steve Sheinkin presents to the Remington Middle School student body. (Photo Courtesy Franklin Public Schools)

The three Franklin middle schools have a long-standing tradition of welcoming highly engaging young adult authors. The program was originally a schoolwide initiative at Horace Mann Middle School but spread to all three middle schools in 2019.

The visiting author program is built around contemporary authors whose books are popular, engaging, and speak to the middle school experience. Reading specialists collaborate with publishers, school and district administrators, the Franklin Public Library, and Plainville bookstore An Unlikely Story to select an author whose work aligns with Franklin's core values and curriculum. Previous authors include Aisha Saeed, Jordan Sonnenblick and Steve Sheinkin.

In recent years, the middle school visiting author experience has been a three-day residency. The author spends a full day at each middle school presenting to the student body, signing books, answering questions, and hosting small group writing and reading sessions. There is also an evening event for community members, allowing families to meet the author and share a common experience with their students.

The visiting author's work is woven into the curriculum leading up to the visit. Their books are used for summer reading, purchased for classroom libraries, and chosen for read-alouds. Teachers utilize the author's books to teach lessons regarding figurative language, dialogue, paragraph structure, and other skills.

Given the scope of this endeavor, the schools seek multiple funding sources to sustain the program. O'Leary has been awarded a grant to finance part of the experience for the last several years. And thanks to the Franklin Cultural Council's grant, the visiting author program will continue in the 2025-26 school year.

"The visiting author program has become an integral part of the middle school curriculum," Superintendent Giguere said. "It promotes literacy development and connections within our school community and across the district and town. We are very grateful to the Franklin Cultural Council and thank them for their donation. Thanks to them, we can continue our tradition of encouraging a love of reading through dynamic programs such as this one."

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Have you heard about the 3rd Annual Pen to Picture event at the Library May 10 featuring Raul the 3rd? (audio)

FM #1424 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1424 in the series. 


This session shares my conversation about the 3rd Annual Pen to Picture event scheduled for the Franklin Public Library May 10, 2025. We talk with Bree Comeau, Erin O’Leary and Pam Allard about this event with graphic novelist and illustrator Raul the Third. We recorded this conversation virtually on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. 


  • Bree Comeau, Assistant Youth Services Librarian

  • Erin O’Leary, Reading Specialist at Horace Mann Middle School

  • Pam Allard, Reading Specialist at Remington Middle School


We cover the following in our conversation

  • Details of the event May 10

  • Graphic novels an entry point for some readers

  • Collaboration between Library and the schools

  • Event is funded via grant from Mass Cultural Council


The recording runs about 29 minutes. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1424-3rd-annual-pen-2-picture-03-26-25/



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Pen 2 Picture info -> https://franklinma.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/pen-to-picture/ 


Download a copy of the flyer as a reminder or to share -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xhxb-vsN1yyqijCm34Rjwyvd_Tq67YIj/view?usp=drive_link 



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

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"



Have you heard about the 3rd Annual Pen to Picture event at the Library May 10 featuring Raul the 3rd? (audio)
Have you heard about the 3rd Annual Pen to Picture event at the Library May 10 featuring Raul the 3rd? (audio)

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Franklin Public Schools Celebrates Successful Unified Basketball Season

Superintendent Lucas Giguere congratulates the Franklin Middle School Unified Basketball program on a successful winter season, drawing more than 50 student athletes from all three of the district's middle schools.

Franklin Middle School Unified Basketball players are divided into two teams, the Blue Team and the White Team, including students from Annie Sullivan Middle School, Remington Middle School, and Horace Mann Middle School. The program was established at the middle school level in Franklin three years ago.

Players and program partners faithfully attended practices after school and developed basketball skills throughout the season, such as passing, dribbling and shooting. The student athletes embraced teamwork, while cheering each other on and learning together about the fundamentals of the game of basketball.
 
middle school Blue Team and the White Team
middle school Blue Team and the White Team

Both the Blue Team and the White Team won some games and lost others, enjoying well-earned victories and showing good sportsmanship when they lost. The Franklin teams played against middle school Unified Basketball teams from North Attleboro, Holliston, West Bridgewater and Foxboro.

One of the highlights of this year's season was that a pair of siblings, Kat Conway and her brother Tristan Conway, got to play on opposite teams and were able to support one another while doing so.

“My favorite thing is the unity it brings between neurotypical and neurodivergent kids," Kat said. "Everybody gets to play.”

Mason Donovan, a sixth grader at Annie Sullivan Middle School, is one of the all-stars of the Franklin Unified Basketball middle school program. Mason said his favorite part of Unified Basketball was simply “being on a team so we could help each other win the games.”

Lizzie Morrison, principal of Annie Sullivan Middle School, congratulated all of the Franklin students on a great season.

"It is such a wonderful opportunity for students to shine in the spotlight during a healthy, competitive season,' Principal Morrison said. "Unified Basketball at the middle level has been very popular since it was established three years ago. The program provides opportunities for students with and without disabilities to bond over their strengths and form friendships."

Superintendent Lucas Giguere congratulated the Unified Basketball teams and thanked everyone who helped make this season possible, including the coaches, REACH Counselor Leslee Differ, special education teacher Brian Bujold, Franklin Police Officer Amanda Ayer, special education teacher Susan Egan, and special education adjustment counselor
Lisa Burger, who is also a board-certified behavior analyst for the district.

"The Unified Basketball program at the middle school level has been an incredible addition to our community," said Superintendent Lucas Giguere. "Congratulations to all the student athletes on an incredible season. And thank you to all of our coaches, parents and volunteers. This amazing program would not be possible without the coaches and the parents and supporters who attended the games and cheered on our teams."


Additional photos can be found on the FPS page -> https://www.franklinps.net/article/2132179