*NEW* Middle School Glee – Grades 6–8 - Registration Open

Lifelong Music Academy - *NEW* Middle School Glee – Grades 6–8

• Weekly music and movement class featuring Pop and Broadway music!
• Mondays from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM at Franklin High School.
• Class begins Monday, February 4, 2019.
• Concert Tuesday, May 14, 2019, 6:00 PM.
• Tuition for the 13-week program is $150.00.

Register Online: www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com Choose “Lifelong Music Academy” then “Chorus School”

*NEW* Middle School Glee – Grades 6–8 - Registration Open

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

Reminder: "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" Nov 9 -10

Franklin Middle School Footlighters present "You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown." Performed by a cast of 50 kids from the 3 middle schools!

November 9 and 10 at 7:00 PM at the Horace Mann Middle School auditorium
Tickets $10 at the door

Franklin Middle School Footlighters present You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown

Franklin Middle School Footlighters present You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown

Franklin Middle School Footlighters present You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Performed by a cast of 50 kids from the 3 middle schools!

November 9 and 10 at 7:00 at the HMMS auditorium
Tickets $10 at the door

Franklin Middle School Footlighters present You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown

School Committee Recap - Sep 11, 2018

The update by Lifelong Community Learning reflecting the activities for the Summer of 2018 as presented to the School Committee Sep 11.

Lifelong Community Learning: Update for Summer of 2018 from Franklin Matters

The Middle Schools' Improvement Plan as presented to the School Committee, Sep 11

FPS: Middle School Improvement Plan Presentation from Franklin Matters

The documents released for this meeting
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/september-11-2018-packet-documents


My notes recorded live during the meeting:

• Live reporting: Consent Agenda to Closing - Execut...
• Live reporting: Discussion Items/Information Matte...
• Live Reporting: Lifelong Learning Presentation
• Live reporting: Middle-High School Improvement Pla...
• Live reporting: School Committee - Sep 11, 2018

School Committee Recap - Sep 11, 2018

27 Franklin Middle School Music Students perform with the Massachusetts Jr. Central District Honor Band, Chorus and Orchestra

Twenty seven members of the Franklin Middle Schools music program auditioned and were accepted into the 2018 Massachusetts Jr. Central District Honor Ensembles. Franklin students represented Annie Sullivan Middle School, Horace Mann Middle School and Remington Middle School. The performances took place in April at Blackstone Millville High School.

Participating in the Jr. Central District Band were Samantha Bilello, Christopher Botchis, Amirees Estarkhouse, Nipun Goel, Luke Jackson, Aidan Karlowicz, Joel Keller, William Olbrys, Nathan Palmer, Charlene Peng, Tyler Powderly, Kathryn Rudolph, Jacob Tennant, Derek Terwilliger and Rachael Yuan.

Performing with the Jr. CD Jazz Band was Ian Richardson.

Selected to perform with the Jr. CD Orchestra was Aadit Bhatia, Christopher Broyles, Shreya Choudhury, Chai Harsha, Colin Manocchio, Grace Newton Madison Pavao and Sarayu Vijayanagaram.

Singing in the Jr. CD Chorus was Adriana Jordan, Meghan Linkkila and Jack Pokorny.

27 Franklin Middle School Music Students perform with the
Massachusetts Jr. Central District Honor Band, Chorus and Orchestra

Voices of Franklin: Simon - "Today was about being positive and hopeful"

Today (Wednesday) was a proud day at work! 

I work at Horace Mann Middle School in Franklin MA. The students at our three middle schools and high school were able to show support for families whose lives were affected by school shootings and we able to voice their opinion through a walkout. This was organized by the students at the schools. We have a wonderful program here called A World of Difference and those students helped to organize this. This was all student led with guidance from staff and administration. They presented their ideas to administration and staff and worked with them as well as local law enforcement to make it work and to be safe. We all wanted to give all students a voice, to let them own this and let them know we are listening.

It was very powerful. It gave many of us chills as we watched them handle this with such maturity and grace. You should be proud! I know I am and remembering all of those who cannot do this, who don't have a voice anymore.

The peer leaders also came up with a solution for those students who did not want to participate which was wonderful because they too have that right. It was so wonderful and powerful because it shows that they took time to think of others and respect them.

This is a time to show our children that we support them, show them love, compassion and understanding. Again, so proud.

Remember, we come to work and students come to school with the possibility that something tragic could happen at our school. This has become our new reality. It is sad.

Le't show respect to all. Let's come together to come up with solutions, let's talk face-to-face and let these students how we can help them make changes. Let's get this generation to vote and become an ever greater voice! 

If you saw what happened today, you would know they CAN do it and WILL do it. They conducted themselves in a mature, brave, thoughtful and very reflective manner. Today was about being positive and hopeful, nothing else.

It made me hopeful and with tears in my eyes.

Love to all

Beth Simon


Note: Beth had shared this to a Facebook group and gladly granted permission to share more broadly here.

Voices of Franklin: Simon - "Today was about being positive and hopeful"

Live Reporting: Middle School SIP Updates

2. Guests / Presentations
a. SIP Program Updates - Middle Schools

middle school intro slide - screen grab

training for Responsive Classroom underway, partially being completed this year, to be finished next year

Feb 8 parent workshop at Horace Mann for "A World of Difference" program for all middle school parents

planning underway for Mental Health Awareness Day (TBD mid-May)

2nd middle school slide

discovered some gaps in program after 10 years of being in the District
important to keep initiatives alive and refreshed

3rd  middle school slide

 curriculum development, professional learning, advisory program

utilizing outside resources to provide additional info for the teachers

writing 2 year, SMART goals, hard to write for this period as it is different from normal shorter time periods

4th middle school slide

all three middle school have same platform for newsletters, in addition to use of other social media tools

survey on how the parent conferences are working to gain feedback

SEL is important, the Mental Health Awareness Day is just once, it would be nice to do more frequently but there are so many demands that doing it more frequently is a real challenge. However, that day did bring about yoga club activities which were not in place before so we are finding ways to do it in smaller bits

sustained health and PE cuts over the years, with SEL needs here, how do we do that?
more reactive than proactive

Jazz Cafe - Feb 2

Franklin Music Program is pleased to present our annual Jazz Cafe concert! 

The Jazz Bands from Franklin High School, Remington Middle School, Horace Mann Middle School, and Annie Sullivan Middle School will be performing in a jazz club-themed evening. 

Enjoy a comfortable, casual setting where Franklin's jazz students will set the mood. Family is encouraged to attend and refreshments will be served! 

Please join us Friday February 2, 7:00 PM at the Franklin High School Cafeteria. 

Tickets are sold only at the event, $10 person, $25 family. We hope to see you there!

Jazz Cafe - Feb 2

Blessed Sacrament School Open Houses - Jan 30 and Jan 31

You are welcome to come and explore the opportunities for your children at Blessed Sacrament School.

We are holding two Open House events:

• Tuesday, January 30 - 6:30-7:30 PM
• Wednesday, January 31 - 9:00-10:00 AM

Blessed Sacrament School is an accredited and commended Catholic, co-educational, Preschool through grade 8 school in the Archdiocese of Boston.

Located in Walpole, Massachusetts, Blessed Sacrament School serves 400 students from over 20 towns.

Known for a commitment to competitive academics, community and service to others, Blessed Sacrament School (BSS) educates the whole child. BSS students enjoy a wide range of academic, spiritual, character development, and athletic programs. Blessed Sacrament School graduates matriculate to a diverse array of high schools in the Boston metro area, including Bishop Feehan High School, Xaverian Brothers High School, Ursuline Academy, Boston College High School, Fontbonne Academy, Montrose School, Marian High School, Noble and Greenough School, and The Rivers School.

More about our Winter Houses can be found online: http://school.blessedsacrament.org/openhouse

Blessed Sacrament School Open Houses - Jan 30 and Jan 31

Upcoming Franklin Music Program Concerts

Franklin High School Jazz Night

Franklin High School is pleased to invite you to our annual Jazz Concert. Come hear our very own award winning FHS Jazz Band under the direction of Mrs. Leighanne Rudsit. Also performing will be three jazz combos under the direction of Mrs. Rudsit. Music will include swing, bebop, ballads and funk. Some big band titles will include “Lindy Hopper’s Delight”, "Oop Bop Sh’Bam”, as well as Louis Prima’s “Sing, Sing, Sing” and James Peterik’s “Vehicle”. Featured soloists include Matthew Padula on Tenor Saxophone, Bobby Castro and Myles Polioto on Drums, Zachary Cullins on Trombone, and Mitchell Taylor on Bass. The event will take place at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, January 24 at the Franklin High School auditorium. A $5 donation is requested at the door, but is not required.

Jazz Cafe

Franklin Music Program is pleased to present our annual Jazz Cafe concert! The Jazz Bands from Franklin High School, Remington Middle School, Horace Mann Middle School, and Annie Sullivan Middle School will be performing in a jazz club-themed evening. Enjoy a comfortable, casual setting where Franklin's jazz students will set the mood. Family is encouraged to attend and refreshments will be served! Please join us Friday February 2, 7:00 PM at the Franklin High School Cafeteria. Tickets are sold only at the event, $10 person, $25 family. We hope to see you there!

Concert Hour

The Franklin Public Schools Music Department will be presenting two nights of chamber music. “Concert Hour” is a showcase of small musical ensembles from the middle schools and high school. These recitals will take place on Tuesday, February 6th and Thursday, February 8 at 7:00 PM in the Franklin High School auditorium. Come hear our talented student musicians from grades 6-12 perform solo and small ensemble repertoire. The recital is free and open to the public.

Upcoming Franklin Music Program Concerts

Note: All the events put on my the school music program are part of the Community Calendar http://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

YMCA: Get Ahead With Our New Technology Lab And Technology Club

Thanks to a generous donation from a good friend, a technology lab has been created at our Franklin Y.

The goal of this space is to teach middle school and high school students about careers in technology.

Join us for our next Technology Club Meeting on Tuesday, January 9 from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM at our Franklin Y.

This is a free member opportunity.

Guest speakers will be Jeff Boudreau, President of Dell EMC Storage Division as well as Gartner Research executives.

This club introduces students to the benefits of a career in the technology field and provides a safe place to learn and prepare for a job in technology.

Upcoming meeting dates are February 6, March 6, April 3, May 1, June 5 and July 10.

For more information about the Technology Club or Technology Lab, contact Kim Jennings at kjennings@hockymca.org.

The link to the website article is: https://www.hockymca.org/new-technology-club
Facebook Event is https://www.facebook.com/events/2008087732791525/

"They’re so smart, these kids”

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

"A line of senior citizens filed into a spare room at the senior center on Friday afternoon, gripping their dysfunctional phones and tablets with one hand and greeting a Horace Mann middle school student with the other. 

As part of a bi-weekly club organized by the Horace Mann School, students come to the senior center to spread their tech knowledge to some of the less-savvy, older generation of iPhone and Android users. 

The advantages of the program, according to teacher and coordinator Colleen Donahue, comes from both ends. Though fixing their devices is the main purpose, it’s the relationships that are built that create the most impact. 

“The kids get to have conversations with adults that they wouldn’t normally see, and the adults get to come hang out with kids,” Donahue said. “One time last year we had a woman who had no grandchildren, and this was, like, the highlight of her week.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171022/horace-mann-middle-schoolers-teach-tech

Horace Mann Middle School and Oak St Elementary share
the complex on Oak St with ECDC (behind these buildings)

Tri-County: Middle School Career Day - Oct 26

Tri-County is having a Career Day for Franklin Middle School students to attend next Thursday, October 26. 

Tours start promptly at 8:00 am. A parent or guardian must be in attendance.

Any participating Franklin Middle School student absence will be excused for this event.

Tri-County: Middle School Career Day - Oct 26

Community Forum on Sexting - Twitter Summary

A collection via Storify of the Twitter posts during the Community Forum on Sexting held at Franklin High School, Franklin, MA on Oct 16, 2017.

Be sure to scroll within the Storify widget to view all the posts.

Community Forum on Sexting - Twitter Summary

Franklin Public Schools: Parent Forums scheduled with the Superintendent

As your new Superintendent of Schools, I am seeking to gain the perspectives of various stakeholders across the Franklin Public Schools. I am thrilled to invite parents of children at the following developmental levels to attend parent forums where I will engage in listening to your thoughts on the strengths of the district and opportunities for growth. Additionally, the forums will afford me the opportunity to share more about myself and my thoughts on education. 

-- Sara E. Ahern, Ed.D.


Elementary School Parents
October 23, 2017 6:30-8:00 P.M. Horace Mann/Oak St. Cafeteria
October 24, 2017 9:30-11:00 A.M. Horace Mann Health Classroom

Middle School Parents
November 8, 2017 6:30-8:00 P.M. Horace Mann/Oak St. Cafeteria
November 9, 2017 9:30-11:00 A.M. Horace Mann Health Classroom

High School Parents
October 30, 2017 6:30-8:00 P.M. FHS Media Center
October 31, 2017 9:30-11:00 A.M. FHS Lecture Hall

Franklin High School

School Committee Recap: Middle Schools and High School Improvement Plans Approved

To recap the School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, Sep 12, I have the following:

Presentations from the middle schools and high school on their individual improvement plans were reviewed and discussed. Recall that the District Improvement plan was previewed, revised and approved during the August School Committee meetings. This takes the district plan down to the individual school level. The elementary schools will likely bring their plans forward at the next school committee meeting.

middle school principals presenting the school improvement
plans to the School Committee (not shown in photo)

a. 2017-2018 School Improvement Plans 

Horace Mann Middle School – Rebecca Motte 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0wjbnXDBhczTU5NdHpNNXN5bzF4a1FNZW15dlpVaVFaZGlZ

Remington Middle School – Brian Wildeman 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0wjbnXDBhczU3hqbVhNdlR0c1hRZEExNDl3WkZ0aHEzaThB

Annie Sullivan Middle School – Beth Wittcoff 
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0wjbnXDBhczT3I5YjdnaFpkUTJfNlczT1Z2X2JRRHhGT2tF

Franklin High School – Paul Peri, Principal and William Klements, Deputy Principal
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0wjbnXDBhczZHZEcVpEamNMbzlTczJ1VE85YVZiY01jMjg4

In the Discussion Only section, the proposed policy for the Superintendent's evaluation was discussed. A copy can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0wjbnXDBhczXzQ5THZCdHBHVkZvZG9EWnlCRVlaQ2h0VFgw

The policy governing the order of business for the School Committee meetings was up for second reading and a copy can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0wjbnXDBhczNkY3TkIwc3J3VE9lSUMxX0puSXFGWHUxYXhv

The action items were approved in bulk format like a consent type agenda. They were all read and with no questions, one motion to approve them all. This saves meeting time.

The School Committee went into an Executive Session and returned about 15 minutes later to approve two memorandum of understandings with the Teachers Union. Not a lot of details were shared but they were the result of negotiations around the teacher evaluation process.

For additional information you can review the notes taken live during the meeting:

• Live reporting: Action items to closing
• Live reporting: Discussion only items
• Live reporting: School Committee - Sep 12, 2017

End of School Year status update provided on School Improvement Plans

Catching up to share the summary for the School Committee (SC) held on Tuesday, August 8.

The School Committee heard updates from all the schools and the Central Office on the progress made on the Improvement Plans during the 2016-2017 school year. The updates were provided by the school principals. The presentation docs are shown below. You can follow the links to my notes recorded during the meeting for other details of the conversation. The full video of the meeting is available for replay by Franklin TV and that link is also found below.

After the schools provided their update, the Central Office, Superintendent Sara Ahern and Assistant Superintendents Peter Light and Joyce Edwards provided a preview of the District Improvement Plan for the coming school year. An offsite planning session was planned for Aug 16-18 during which the plan would be discussed, reviewed and refined to bring back to the SC for the Aug 22 meeting.

Note: the presentation docs include the status updates also provided at midyear. If you have seen those, you can skip to the end of year details listed for each school.

Middle Schools and High School

Middle and High School - End of Year - School Improvement Plan Updates from Franklin Matters

Elementary Schools

Elementary- End of Year - 2016-17 School Improvement Plan Updates from Franklin Matters

District Improvement Plan preview

the ball fields at FHS were getting water earlier this week

Meeting video available for replay on demand by Franklin TV
http://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?PGD=franknma&eID=482

• Live reporting: Action items to closing
• Live reporting: District Improvement Plan - previe...
• Live reporting: Elementary Improvement Plans - End...
• Live reporting: School Committee - August 8, 2017
• Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Aug 8, 2...

Live reporting: School Committee - August 8, 2017

Present:  Scofield, Douglas, Bergen, O'Malley, Schultz, Jewell

Absent:  Bilello

1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
none

Review of Agenda
no changes

Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the July 18, 2017 School Committee Meeting.
recommend to approve, seconded, passed 6-0

Payment of Bills - Dr. O’Malley
Payroll - Mrs. Douglas
Correspondence: none

O'Malley makes statement on the presence of "signs" that may or may not have resulted from an incident at a school. The School Committee did not act to place the signs. They do want to create and conduct an inclusive environment.


2. Guests/Presentations

a. Middle/High Schools Improvement Plan Update 16-17

Annie Sullivan update by Peter Light, Beth Witcoff could not attend tonight

• 6th teachers incorporated the responsive classroom into their curriculum
• recommitted to process of incorporating core values into the program with whole school efforts; revised mission statement; will next work on vision and core value updates
• 7th grade teachers working this summer on a program for their students this year
• SEL and mindfulness approaches had effects on the teachers as well as the students
• approx. 300 Tweets from the school Twitter account between Oct and end of school year

Middle and High School - End of Year - School Improvement Plan Updates from Franklin Matters

Rebecca Motte, principal of Horace Mann Middle School

• 6th grade teacher training
• school wide mental health awareness day held
• established school based committees on 
• explore science program
• teacher cluster based website for parents to get info

Brian Wildeman, principal of Remington

• brought back advisory program
• School Wellness Advisory Council (SWAC), piloted the full day mental health awareness in May; one parent taught Zumba for 6 hours as the day incorporated all aspects
• science standards, implemented units across all three grades
• all 3 middle school will participate in the Anti-Defamation lead course this year

Q - what are the measures to show success of the approach?
When you go and observe the classrooms, you can see the common language and approach in the rooms as the students participate

Paul Peri, principal of Franklin High School

• 10 year process came to an end with the NEASC visit
• week of mental health awareness held with multiple
• completed all observations of new staff, being in the classrooms and seeing what is going on 
• biweekly newsletter to parents successful
• the response of the Central Office and the community to the school family when loss was realized
• recognized as an AP Honor Roll school, while FHS received it, it really reflects on the school district as a whole
• regular meetings with the School Council were beneficial for the new administration
• Club fair showcased the 70+ opportunities, student generated and run
• did make Boston Magazines Top 50 listing
• learned quite a bit on underage drinking/substance abuse and look forward to continue to work the issue, did not have any issues during Senior Week
• focus on building relationships between students and adults (whether faculty or otherwise)
• the 1% tardies while a small group drives the numbers and more work to address this needs to be done
• looking at the grading practices to provide professional development and research to enable a good discussion among the staff

Comment - thanks for addressing the grading consistency as that was something we had heard from the community as a need of focus

Music rentals for rising 6th Grade Franklin Students

To All Parents of Rising 6th Graders in Franklin,

Summer is in full swing, but back to school season will be here soon! Middle school is a huge step for your child, and with many options to consider for classes. Band and orchestra class are proven to help with test scores, foster friendships and teamwork, and be lots of fun! The music educators in the Franklin schools are top notch and would love to see your child in their classes.

We held a spring rental evening on June 14th at Franklin High School for rising 6th graders. This was a new event where parents could rent online in the computer lab after their child play tested and decided on an instrument. The educators and I would like to reach out to you in case your child did not decide at the event or were unable to attend. There is still a chance to rent an instrument for the fall.

If you rent online before August 21st, your child’s instrument can be delivered to the school, for free, for their first day of class. The accessories and book required for class are also available during the online rental process. You can visit the website to complete this and choose for a fall delivery to the school. By delivering to the school, you save yourself a trip to the store and have peace of mind that everything you need will be there for those first lessons.

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.

Best Regards,

Kayla Davis
Educational Representative