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| Franklin Library: Dragons Love Tacos Party - Jul 21 - 2:00 PM |
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| Franklin Library: Summer Reading Kickoff Carnival - June 21 |
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| Franklin Library: Summer Reading Book Tote Decorating - June 16 |
"Best-selling author and Carnegie Medal finalist Ruta Sepetys told a rapt group of middle schoolers that the characters in her novels are not just a collection of sentences on a printed page.
"As I'm writing, I'd feel not only angry, but sad - I'd be sobbing (while writing)," she said. "They really do feel real to me."
Courtesy of Skype, Sepetys came to Horace Mann Middle School to talk about the writing process, resolving plot questions and plug an upcoming movie based on her New York Times best-seller "Between Shades of Gray." The 2011 novel is about the genocide of Lithuanians and other Baltic people following the Soviet occupation in 1941.
Sepetys said she decided to write the book to shine light on a little-known chapter of history. She said she had spoken to survivors who told her not to bother with it, as the world has forgotten them."
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| HMS students for @AllInReading event with the author |
Horace Mann Middle School in MA brought me to tears! Students created a Lithuanian flag with their shirts for @allinreading Skype event. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/GvoYQaMbQD— Ruta Sepetys (@RutaSepetys) February 17, 2017
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| One Book, One Community 2017 - Vote for your choice now |
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| The Last Bookaneer, by Matthew Pearl |
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| A Head Full of Ghosts, by Paul Tremblay |
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| Hillbilly Elegy: by J.D. Vance |
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| Midnight in Siberia: by David Greene |
"During a review of snow removal procedures between the schools and the Department of Public Works, a district busing policy was singled out for praise.
DPW Superintendent Robert "Brutus" Cantoreggi, speaking at the School Committee meeting Tuesday night, praised a school policy in which buses - if sidewalks have not yet been plowed following a storm - pick up every student they pass by, even those who do not typically take the bus.
"It's a great, great thing - I've told other communities about it," he said. "It's worked out really well."
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| one slide from the snow removal presentation highlights the parents responsibility |
"Students at the Horace Mann Middle School were on tenterhooks Tuesday, awaiting the climactic reveal of this year's "All In!" book.
A full assembly watched as Horace Mann alum Katie O'Neill opened a package to reveal the 2017-2018 selection: "Between Shades of Gray," a novel that documents the plight of Lithuanians during the Stalinist regime.
The program - administered by the "Crazy Reading Ladies" team of Assistant Principal Mary Cotillo and teacher Erin O'Leary - is an effort to encourage literacy by having the entire school read through one book.
"It's entirely voluntary - we don't want to force students to do it, but we do want to make it as irresistible as possible," said O'Leary, adding that "All In!" is now in its sixth year. "Last year, we had 302 students participate."
"Gerry's Place, the student-run restaurant at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School, will host an annual International Holiday Buffet from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 20 at the high school, 147 Pond St.
Menu offerings will include spanakopita, French onion soup, seafood espagnole, stuffed turkey, sweet and sour pork, Israeli chicken, latke, saffron rice, sweet potato casserole, and green beans with cumin and garlic. The dessert table will feature assorted sweet treats from around the globe, including koeksisters from South Africa.
The buffet costs $12.95 per person. No reservations will be taken."
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| Co-author Casey Sherman and Coast Guard engineer Mel Gouthro with one of the "Crazy Reading Ladies" |
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/03/it-touched-me-not-because-you-loved.html
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| screen grab of presentation showing field trip to Chatham to complete the "Finest Hours" reading activities |
"Heroism was the theme of the day as the Horace Mann Middle School welcomed the best-selling co-author of "The Finest Hours" and one of the Coast Guard members featured in the book.
Co-author Casey Sherman and Coast Guard engineer Mel Gouthro spoke to students - who had chosen the book as the school's "All In!" reading campaign selection - in an assembly midday Thursday. The book - and the movie based on it - recounts a 1952 ocean rescue mission off Chatham. The movie, starring Chris Pine, opened in January.
Sherman, a Massachusetts native, said he had learned of Horace Mann's reading drive - in which many students at the school read and discuss the same book - through social media.
"I didn't know anything about your school until I was on Twitter and stumbled across a moving video (recommending the book as the drive's selection)," he said. "It touched me, not because you loved the book, but because you loved reading."
With the real "Gus" from #TheFinestHours and @allinreading at HHMS. Great day! pic.twitter.com/RGQGMoWgQI— casey sherman (@caseysherman123) March 3, 2016
— Mr Kessler (@MrKessler1) February 24, 2016
Yes, there is a story here. Let us tell you what can happen when kids read a book. #ALLIN16 #TheFinestHours #hmmsma pic.twitter.com/EFaw9InsI5— Crazy Reading Ladies (@allinreading) March 3, 2016
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| A piece of CG36500 will live at #hmmsma to remind us what's possible #ALLIN16 |
A piece of CG36500 will live at #hmmsma to remind us what's possible #ALLIN16 We are speechless @caseysherman123 pic.twitter.com/BmoXp5sgJ9— Crazy Reading Ladies (@allinreading) March 3, 2016
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| Franklin High School |
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| Franklin Public Library |
"We are delighted with the decision of the Friends of Franklin Library Board to fund the Library's entire request of $10,000 for the 2015 Summer Reading Program. The money has been deposited into an FOFL account and copies of invoices will be provided as expenditures are made.
Your generous gift will make it possible for the library to expand summer reading collections for all Franklin students and offer engaging and entertaining programs to the community. FOFL will receive the appropriate recognition in all promotional materials.
We are counting on your continued financial support for forthcoming library projects. Together we can strengthen the community by providing dynamic services and meaningful library experiences."
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| JPG copy of Letter to FOFL |
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| Library sign announces movies for May 30 and May 31 |
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| Doggie Tales - Apr 15 |
The Common Core State Standards call for kindergartners to learn how to read, but a new report by early childhood experts says that forcing some kids to read before they are ready could be harmful.
Two organizations that advocate for early childhood education — Defending the Early Years and Alliance for Childhood — issued the report titled “Reading in Kindergarten: Little to Gain and Much to Lose.” It says there is no evidence to support a widespread belief in the United States that children must read in prekindergarten or kindergarten to become strong readers and achieve academic success.
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| Brian Peyes-Mendez participates in a test with Kendra Sarris as kindergarten teachers assess students with new tests, on Oct. 30 in Accokeek, Md. (Bill O’Leary/The Washington Post) |
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| doggie tales returns |
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| Doggie Tales - Read to dogs program |
A day before the country recognized Veterans Day, Horace Mann Middle School students kicked off a school-wide reading project on Monday by honoring 14 former military members.
At an assembly where the school’s band played patriotic songs, student council members introduced 14 veterans, reading a brief biography of each one.
Among the honorees was Joseph McManus, who served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years before working as a shipping clerk for nearly as long. And Barbara Gannon, born in Clinton, spent two years as a nurse in the Air Force only to later become one at Franklin High School.
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| doggie tales returns to the Library Sep 17th |
"Reading is Magic" is a 45 minute interactive magic performance using many volunteers
with reading as the emphasis behind the program. Suitable for all grades, PreK-12, as the message, routines, and understanding levels increase with each grade level. What are the goals of Reading is Magic? The message of each performance is to emphasize upon your students the importance and power of reading; how reading and comprehension are tools that they will use everyday, how I taught myself the art of prestidigitation, how each and every student can use their reading skills to learn anything that they choose to learn, and how reading encourages independent thought.
Magic books from your library's collection will be put on display as I briefly discuss some of them and perform a routine from one. I also highlight the new book that I donate to your collection and perform a routine from that book. Now your students have seen the magic and have been pointed to the resources; the rest is up to them! And of course how I mention the fact that I was inspired by Albus Dumbledore from "Harry Potter" into becoming a fully fledged wizard!
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| Ed the Wizard - "Reading is Magic" |
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| Ed the Wizard |
