Lifelong Learning: Dedicate some time to yourself this month

Check out our online courses today!

Lifelong Community Learning This is a great time to learn something new! In partnership with Ed2Go, we offer online courses on a wide variety of topics. So take some time to gain business or personal skills from home. New sessions begin July 15th OR many courses also have a self-paced option that you can start anytime. We have a few suggestions below, or you can review the full array of career training and/or professional development courses using the links at the bottom of this email. Understanding Adolescents Uncover the secrets of the adolescent mind. This course provides valuable information on how adolescents feel, how their identities develop, and how you can best meet their needs. https://www.ed2go.com/franklined/online-courses/understanding-adolescents/ Introduction to Guitar Learn to play guitar, and become the musician you've always wanted to be! In these fun and informative lessons, you'll build basic guitar skills step-by-step with the help of hands-on exercises, audio and video recordings, and detailed illustrations.  https://www.ed2go.com/franklined/online-courses/guitar-introduction/ Introduction to Natural Health and Healing Would you like to learn more about natural health but don't know where to start? In this course, you'll learn about the various stages of health and illness and discover that true health means wholeness of the mind, body, and spirit. https://www.ed2go.com/franklined/online-courses/natural-health-and-healing-introduction/ Want to Learn Something Else? Career Training Programs Professional Development

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

FSPA Introduces Broadway Faculty

The Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) has announced a new roster of FSPA Broadway Faculty. The nine Broadway professionals are available to enrolled students for private coaching via Zoom. Coachings are available for singing, acting, dance, and self-marketing in the theater industry. When classes resume in person, the Broadway faculty will be featured in FSPA’s master class programs in Franklin and New York City.

Ben Cameron from the original Broadway cast of WICKED, Footloose, and Aida will coach students in Voice and Dance. Sara Jean Ford, a former Christine in Phantom of the Opera who also appeared in Finian’s Rainbow, CATS, How to Succeed…, and A Little Night Music will offer Voice and Acting coachings. Tyler Hanes, most recently seen on Broadway as the Rum Tum Tugger in CATS as well as Oklahoma!, Hairspray, The Boy from Oz, and more will coach Voice and Dance students. Jim Hogan of the national tours of Waitress, Phantom of the Opera, and Spring Awakening will offer Voice and Acting Coachings. Emily Koch who starred as Elphaba in WICKED and Jenna in Waitress will also coach Voice and Acting students. FSPA welcomes Kara Lindsay who originated the role of Katherine in Disney’s Newsies and appeared as Glinda in WICKED and Cynthia Weil in Beautiful to coach students in Voice and Acting. Kevin Massey, star of Disney’s Tarzan, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, and more will also coach Voice and Acting students. Christopher Rice from the Broadway companies of The Book of Morman and Pretty Woman and of #TAPPY fame will offer coachings in Voice, Dance, and self-marketing in the theater industry. Closing out the roster, Clay Thomson from Disney’s Newsies, Matilda, WICKED, and KING KONG will coach Voice and Dance.

Relationships with the Broadway community have been developed through programs in Franklin including FSPA’s Broadway Boot Camp, the annual Broadway Weekend, and classes offered in conjunction with THE BLACK BOX Broadway Series. “We are thrilled to offer this unique opportunity to our students,” says FSPA Director Raye Lynn Mercer. “It is very exciting that these acclaimed performers have taken a special interest in our students and our school’s curriculum.” Five of the nine teaching artists performed at FSPA’s 35th Anniversary concert at The Green Room 42 in New York City this past January.

To coach with the FSPA Broadway Faculty, students must be enrolled at FSPA in the corresponding disciplines. For more information about the offerings at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts, call 508-528-8668 or visit www.FSPAonline.com.

 

Top Row (L to R): Ben Cameron, Sara Jean Ford. Tyler Hanes. Middle Row: Jim Hogan, Emily Koch, Kara Lindsay. Bottom Row: Kevin Massey, Christopher Rice, Clay Thomson

Encore Music makes the TV broadcast

This is why we do what we do. Our Encore family means everything to us, and our "doors" will always be open. We are honored to have been featured by Boston 25 News today! Check it out!

https://www.boston25news.com/video/?id=4890957

Encore Music makes the TV broadcast

Franklin School for the Performing Arts Introduces VirtualFSPA

On Monday, March 23, the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) introduced VirtualFSPA, allowing students to continue their performing arts education while social distancing due to COVID-19. 

The Music Department instructors are teaching private lessons on the FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype platforms. All Dance and Drama Department classes, as well as Group Voice Classes and Little Music School, will be on BAND. The free app has already been successfully used at FSPA to distribute choreography and class/rehearsal materials. 

Students have been invited to join their specific classes on BAND and the classes will be posted at regular class time each day. FSPA Director Raye Lynn Mercer comments, “Although they can access their classes anytime, I think that originally posting the curriculum at regular class times gives students after school activities to look forward to and a bit of normalcy in their schedules.”

Mercer continues, “This is clearly a very difficult time, but this unique situation offers the chance for us to help keep our students busy at home, involved with FSPA, and continuing with preparations for Spring Concert and Music Department studio recitals. “ 

Additionally, FSPA has been providing at-home challenges, contests, and activities on their social media pages to keep students performing while at home. Projects have included a choreography challenge, a compilation reading of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, “FSPA Shower Concerts,” the Time Step Challenge, and more. 

Follow FSPA on 
Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/FSPAonline/

Instagram (@fspaonline)  https://www.instagram.com/fspaonline/

Twitter (@fspaonline)  https://twitter.com/fspaonline

YouTube (Franklin School for the Performing Arts)
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKkCQfWPhaucwL-WiLECWbA

And of course, their home page   https://fspaonline.com/

Franklin School for the Performing Arts Introduces VirtualFSPA

 

“Online school is really becoming a very popular option"

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

"At the Franklin School for Performing Arts, it’s easy to see that success on stage translates into success in the classroom. 

For a third year, FSPA has opened the doors to its academy next door to its studio on Main Street. This year, enrollment has nearly doubled, from six to 11 students in the academy’s full-day schooling program for grades 5-11. 

The program is a collaboration with the Massachusetts online system, TEC Connections Academy Commonwealth Virtual School (TECCA), a tuition-free virtual public school. By making FSPA a hub for students that see their future on the stage but also require an education, Franklin School for Performing Arts founder Director Raye Lynn Mercer said the academy is looking to create a viable and effective alternative to regular schooling."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180903/fspa-sees-academy-enrollment-nearly-double

Related post on the FSPA Academy
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/08/fspa-academy-enters-third-year.html

FSPA Academy enters third year

Online Academy Selects New Abbreviation to Simplify Its name

The Massachusetts Virtual Academy at Greenfield Commonwealth Virtual School is adopting 'GCVS' as its new abbreviation and 'nickname' to simplify administrative tasks and focus more clearly on its identity as a Commonwealth Virtual School. For the past several years, the school had used 'MAVA' as an abbreviation.

The school will call itself 'GCVS' on most references to emphasize its mission of providing comprehensive online education to students anywhere in Massachusetts.

"We want people to look at our name and immediately think - virtual education for any Massachusetts student," said Executive Director Dr. Judith Houle. "GCVS neatly expresses both our heritage and offerings as a full-service school offering an outstanding public school education in a 21st century model. Any student whose needs don't fit in a brick-and-mortar classroom has a place at GCVS."

GCVS is the state's first virtual K-12 public school of choice. It offers flexible, self-driven online learning programs and support services to any Massachusetts student. GCVS students are independent learners who need a different model than brick-and-mortar classrooms to accommodate their learning styles and individual interests.

GCVS' 2017-18 academic year starts when classes open on Aug. 30. Class opening will be followed by a series of picnics across the state on Sept. 8 to give students, families and educators a chance to meet and form connections face-to-face.

Greenfield Commonwealth Virtual School

Massachusetts Virtual Academy at Greenfield, the Commonwealth's first virtual K-12 public school, delivers a transformative education with unique strengths and flexibility perfectly suited for the modern world. 

Our approach encourages critical thinking and an independent learning style that meets the key needs of diverse learners by providing educational resources that cultivate curiosity, exploration and inquiry.

Note the DESE profile for the school can be found here
http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/general/general.aspx?topNavID=1&leftNavId=100&orgcode=39010900&orgtypecode=6