"Attorney General Andrea Campbell is joining the growing nationwide push to crack down on students' cell phone use during school hours.Campbell spoke before the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents Thursday about her efforts to shield children from the harmful effects of social media, one week after she, along with several state lawmakers, filed legislation that aims to impose a “bell-to-bell” ban on personal cell phone use at all Massachusetts public schools during class time. Called the “STUDY Act,” it also would require social media companies to implement additional health and safety policies.“By restricting cellphones during the school day and raising the bar for social media companies, we are taking bold steps to create learning environments free from distraction and a digital landscape that prioritizes the well-being of our youth,“ Campbell said in a statement last week. ”This bill is a commitment to both education and mental health for our young people, ensuring they have the tools to succeed without unnecessary harm.”
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Friday, January 24, 2025
Boston Globe: AG Campbell co-sponsors bill to ban cell phone use in Mass. public schools
Friday, October 20, 2023
Superintendent Karen MaGuire talks with Anne Bergen about the Tri-County School Building Special Election (video)
Superintendent Karen MaGuire talks with Anne Bergen about the Tri-County School Building Special Election as well as an alternative to the traditional career path.
Franklin TV video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VODjxhpR_I
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Superintendent Karen MaGuire talks with Anne Bergen about the Tri-County School Building Special Election (video) |
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Little Music School open house - Weds, Aug 23, 2023
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
You are invited to the Sculpture Park Rededication - Traveling School of Fish - June 7 at 5 PM
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Please Support the Y’s 7th Annual Community Backpack Drive
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YMCA delivering stuffed backpacks |
Where Cause Meets Community. At the Hockomock Area YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility.Our YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities we are privileged to serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable cause-driven organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and Mansfield. For more information, visit hockymca.org.
Sunday, July 10, 2022
Franklin TV: Even More YouTube
What we said in May:
Get with the program. We’ve all been so advised at one point or other. In this case, it’s about getting you to the programs you want – exactly the way you want them.
We’re now posting our programs on YouTube. It’s familiar. It’s what we all know. It’s immediate. You can now watch our key meetings and events LIVE on YouTube. They will also be there for replay. In a world where we all want what we want – when, where and how we want it, YouTube fills the bill.
Just click on the appropriate channel logo on our home page. It will take you to our YouTube Live link for that channel’s scheduled livestream event.
Our YouTube Access, School and Government channels also have earlier programs and meetings, all organized as Video on Demand playlists. Watch any time.
And – as always –
Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm.
And, thank you for watching.
Friday, December 31, 2021
Franklin's Event Outlook: Dec 31, 2021 to Jan 6, 2022
The Cultural calendar displays only the cultural events https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/pages/calendar
Friday, December 31
Day off for New Year's Day
New Year's Eve
6:00pm - Light up Franklin!
Saturday, January 1, 2022
10:00am - Historical Museum (always free)
Sunday, January 2, 2022
1:00pm - Historical Museum (always free)
Find the full calendar https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html
If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication: https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6
Tuesday, May 18, 2021
The Hill: "CDC clarifies mask guidance for schools"
"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending the continued use of masks and social distancing in schools after issuing new guidance last week that stated vaccinated people do not need to wear masks.
On Saturday, the CDC released an Operational Strategy for K-12 schools in which it pointed to data that suggest schools that abide by mask mandates and social-distancing requirements have been able to safely remain open.
In the post clarifying mask guidance for schools, the CDC argued that schools need to make efforts to remain open as a way to combat "systemic health and social inequities" among students of color."
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Franklin Public Schools: Home Schooling vs. Remote Learning
Home Schooling is an available option for some families who wish to provide every aspect of their child's education. To begin a home schooling, you must notify the Office of Teaching and Learning (annually) of your intent to homeschool, prior to the start of the school year. The requirements involve preparing an educational plan for approval by the Franklin Public Schools. Assessment/progress results will also need to be submitted and approved at the end of the school year.
Upon approval of a homeschool plan, your child will be withdrawn from the Franklin Public Schools and the resources associated with the Franklin Public Schools will no longer be available to you. This includes, but is not limited to, curriculum materials, books, and Chromebooks.
It is important to note that home schooling is different from remote learning. The remote learning model is being provided to all students enrolled in the Franklin Public Schools during the pandemic. This encompasses curriculum, instruction, assessment, and materials provided by the Franklin Public Schools for all students.
Teachers are assigned to teach classes as they typically would in person. Students will complete a full day of education at home that is a blend of online learning, class facetime with peers and teacher(s), and independent work. When schools are able to transition back to either a hybrid or fully in-person model of instruction, all students engaged in remote learning will be a part of that transition back to school.
If you decide to homeschool your child, you will need to provide a letter of intent, along with an educational plan for the 2020 - 2021 school year to Franklin Public Schools by September 4, 2020.. You can email this information to Dr. Joyce Edwards, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning, at edwardsj@franklinps.net Once Dr. Edwards reviews your plan and approves it, we will send you a confirmation via email.
For reference, the approved Return to School plan is found here https://sites.google.com/franklinps.net/returntoschoolplan/home
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Franklin Public Schools: Home Schooling vs. Remote Learning |
Saturday, August 15, 2020
"it has been the greatest honor to serve for and with you"
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"After nearly three years on the Town Council, Eamon McCarthy Earls has resigned from his role as a town councilor.
“Drawing inspiration from my experiences helping to craft bylaws and policies for Franklin, in the examples set by some of our leading citizens who work in law, among them state Rep. Jeff Roy, School Committee member Judy Pond Pfeffer or former state Rep. James Vallee, I’m embarking on the process of becoming an attorney,” said Earls, 26, during Wednesday’s council meeting.
His resignation is effective Sept. 6, he said, as he plans to attend the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University in Virginia starting next month. He told the Daily News that time will tell which area of law he chooses to focus on, but said he’s interested in public policy and municipal law.
According to the U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 ranking of the nation’s best law schools, the Antonin Scalia Law School was ranked at No. 42 overall out of 198 schools, and fourth for part-time law programs."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200814/eamon-mccarthy-earls-to-step-down-as-franklin-town-councilor-special-election-will-be-held-in-december?rssfeed=true
Additional info from the Town Council meeting where this announcement was made can be found in this recap https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/08/town-council-recap-special-election.html
Monday, April 27, 2020
“A huge piece of art is not just the creating process, but also the sharing process”
"Can the Arts Go Digital?
Christine Doherty, an elementary art teacher in Franklin, Massachusetts, said she had always shied away from using technology but realized she would have to embrace it to connect to all 540 of her students at two different schools during school closures.
Doherty created a YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsK1QTSOSHu3NiSAwDvYGtQ) where she reads books to her students or leads them through easy art activities such as drawing and coloring.
She quickly found that online platforms allow students to continue sharing and talking about their artwork, just as they would in school. During her live video instruction time, students can type an H, for hand, into the chat box to indicate they want to share their work and place it up to the screen for other students to see. “A huge piece of art is not just the creating process, but also the sharing process,” she said."Read the full article onlinehttps://www.edutopia.org/article/show-must-go-online-arts-teachers-adapt-home-instruction
Huge thank you to @lauraelee and @Edutopia for publishing this article featuring the hard work, effort & creativity of fellow arts educators during the school closures! I am so honored to be featured and represent @FranklinPSart https://t.co/Wet0edRP3O— Christine Doherty (@MsDoherty_ART) April 24, 2020
Friday, January 31, 2020
"accidentally reports every student absent"
"The parents and guardians of students attending John F. Kennedy Memorial School received quite the surprise on Thursday morning - a message reporting their child as being absent.
Just after 10 a.m., an error caused by the district’s automated absentee notification system notified each family affiliated with the Pond Street elementary school that their child was not present, according to Superintendent of Schools Sara Ahern.
“We use an automated system to send out messages to parents/guardians when we are not contacted by them to notify us when a student will be absent for the day,” said Ahern. “A mistake was made and the message was sent to all Kennedy Elementary School families at approximately 10:09 a.m.”
She said the error was “caught right away and a clarifying message was sent promptly at approximately 10:14 a.m.”
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200130/franklin-elementary-school-accidentally-reports-every-student-absent
A message went out to the Kennedy Elementary community regarding student absences. It was sent in error and has caused some alarm in the community. We are working to correct it.— Franklin Public Schools, MA (@FranklinPSNews) January 30, 2020
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https://twitter.com/FranklinPSNews |
Thursday, November 21, 2019
FPS Voice Podcast - Social Media / Q&A
Episode 1: Social Media and Q&A
Our first full podcast episode is here! Dr. Sara Ahern and Mr. Paul Peri recap key points and takeaways from our Social Media event, including tips, resources and what our faculty and administration see happening in Franklin Schools related to social media use.
Our Q&A session covers questions on the
- 2020/2021 calendar
- Kindergarten registration
- High School Sports
https://anchor.fm/fpsvoice/episodes/FPS-Voice-Episode-1-Social-Media-and-QA-e92um0
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FPS Voice Podcast - Social Media / Q and A |
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
“Adapting and changing can sometimes be scary"
"Carol Lynch has been packing school lunches for kids since the mid-1980s, first for her own children, then for her grandchildren. For her, buying lunch from school has never really been a consideration.
“It’s nothing against the lunches they serve,” said Lynch, who has helped raise two generations of children in the same Plymouth home. “For me, food has always been about family. No one can put personal touches on food like a parent or grandparent. (Whether it’s) a Thanksgiving meal or a quick school lunch, I just like to use food as a way of showing my love.”
But given all of the children across the state who do take part in their school’s lunch programs, food service departments have the complex task of designing menus that meet an ever-growing diverse student population. There are allergies and food restrictions, pressure to offer newer and healthier choices while also increasing participation rates (read: more revenue), and federal food guidelines that are changing under the current presidential administration.
“What’s on the menu today?” is more complicated now than ever before."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190828/school-lunches-balancing-act-to-satisfy-diverse-populations-loosened-regulations
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“Adapting and changing can sometimes be scary" |
The Franklin Food Services page https://www.franklinps.net/district/food-services
The lunch menus for each school https://franklindistrict.nutrislice.com/
Lunch payment accounts https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/login/getmain?requestAction=home
Sunday, September 23, 2018
FSPA Introduces New Faculty
Meghan Love joins FSPA’s ballet faculty. Love has taught ballet, tap and jazz to 3-14 year olds in after-school programs throughout New Mexico and was an Adjunct Professor at New Mexico State University teaching Jazz Technique I. She served on faculty at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre for the Children’s Division and at the Mason Gross Extension Division at Rutgers University. In 2012 she became full-time National Training Curriculum staff for ABT.
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Meghan Love joins FSPA’s ballet faculty |
In the spring of 2018, she was chosen to be part of a competitive professional development program, Boot Camp for Emerging Leaders in Arts Administration, offered through New York Foundation for the Arts. Most recently, Love was the Manager of the National Training Curriculum and the ABT/NYU Masters Program, instructing in both programs, and she is currently an ABT Affiliate Examiner.
Joining FSPA’s voice faculty this year is Sam Jones. Jones received both his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and Vocal Performance as well as his Master of Music in Contemporary Improvisation (with Honors and a Music-in-Education Concentration) from New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) in Boston.
Jones won the competitive “Spark” Grant Award to launch his album, as well as NEC’s Entrepreneurial Musician Grant to direct, produce, and star in a gender-blind production of Jason Robert Brown’s The Last 5 Years, benefiting the local Boston nonprofit BAGLY to support LGBTQ+ youth.
The music department also welcomes guitar instructor Andres Abenante. Abenante holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from New England Conservatory. Specializing in Jazz, Rock, Improvised, Classical and Latin styles, Andres has extensive performing experience throughout the east coast. He has recorded two albums and has served as served as Music Copyist and Transcriber for Eddie Palmieri. Andres currently teaches at the Warren-Prescott School in Cambridge as well as the North End Music and Performing Arts Center.
It is not too late to register for all programs at FSPA. Complimentary trial classes are encouraged and enrollment is ongoing throughout the year. An All-Access Pass is available for prospective students and includes tickets to an upcoming FSPA production, a tour of the school and trial group classes. FSPA, founded in 1985, is located in The Felix Cataldo Block in downtown Franklin. The facilities includes extensive studio space, Recital Hall, The Spotlight Shop and the new Intermission café. FSPA Academy, a full-time academic program, is housed next door at 32 Main Street.
For more information about all programs visit www.fspaonline.com, call 508-528-8668, or stop by the school at 38 Main Street in Franklin.
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
St. Mary’s St. Vincent de Paul 24th Annual Backpack Collection - Aug 18-19
If you would like to participate, please buy a school backpack, and fill it with back to school supplies. Please label the backpack either Grades K-3, Grades 4-5, Grades 6-8, or Grades 9-12. The backpacks should not be specific for either a boy or a girl.
The backpacks may be dropped off inside the front of the church in the designated boxes on the weekend of August 18/19 and on Monday, (August 20th) until noon.
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St. Mary’s St. Vincent de Paul 24th Annual Backpack Collection |
Members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society will be distributing backpacks to families in town with school-aged children starting on Tuesday, August 21st. We are also hoping to have enough backpacks to offer them to families living in area shelters.
Last year, 133 children and teens benefited from your generosity. It is so important for children and youth to see the goodness in the world.
Thank you in advance for your participation in this year’s drive!
Suggestions for supplies may be found on our website:
http://www.stmarysfranklin.org/uploads/docs/backpacksupplylist2018.pdf
or here:
Friday, June 30, 2017
Russian School of Math - Franklin is currently enrolling students for Summer School
Welcome to Russian School of Mathematics located in downtown Franklin at 9 Summer St., Franklin Center Commons!
RSM-Franklin is currently enrolling students for the Summer School classes July 10 - August 17 and can serve families from Franklin and the surrounding communities.
Our mission is to help our students develop mathematical excellence and lifelong critical thinking skills using our unique curriculum and exceptional teachers.
Our summer course offerings include:
- Math for Grades 1-6: These courses hone students' analytic skills and enhance their number sense by introducing them to abstract concepts.
- Preparation for High School Math: Our courses in Algebra and Geometry will build up pre requisite skills and front load the key concepts of high school math.
- SAT-preparation classes
- Contest Level Math: Students are introduced to non-straightforward problems - opening them to the intrigue of math in the world. Students are also prepped for various national and international math competitions.
You can read more about our program online at http://www.russianschool.com/location/franklin/summer-school
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Russian School of Math - Franklin is currently enrolling students for Summer School |
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Summer Program - Oceans of Fun for 1st Graders
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Monday, September 8, 2014
La Cantina Wine School
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La Cantina Wine School |
There was an article last year by the Milford Daily News about La Cantina.
Did you know Franklin has a school that teaches you how to make wine in the Italian tradition? This article in the Milford Daily News introduces us to Bob Vozzella and La Cantina Wine School.On Saturday, Professore di Vino Vozzella, as he has taken to calling himself, taught a group of students how to press the grapes, which had fermented a couple of weeks within special tubs. The wine would be a zinfandel.
Wearing black T-shirts with the words "Crush Crew," they were scooping the rich violet grapes into the press. The work left their hands covered in the same color.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1868850256/Franklin-man-uncorks-wine-school#ixzz2hh0inIaS (subscription may be required)Robert Alario, one of the pupils, enrolled at Vozzella’s school to relive some of his childhood. "I use to make wine with my father," the 59-year-old Fitchburg resident said. "This brings back incredibly fond memories."
Last year's posting to Franklin Matters appeared here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/10/part-of-italian-tradition.html
You can find out more about the wine making school by visiting their webpage
http://lacantinawineschool.com/