Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Rules for using Franklin's Dacey Field Dog Park

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 1/24/12

Rules for the Dacey Field Dog Park have been announced.

Things you can do from here:

Franklin Library: Kindle eReaders

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Franklin Public Library by Franklin Public Library on 1/24/12


Things you can do from here:

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Wadsworth Diary - Jan 24, 1892


Pleasant, & cool most the day, thawed some. Snow,(a very little), about 81/2 this eve. Chored about, cooked cabbage & c.

In the 1850s, on a busy working farm in the southern part of Franklin, a man named George Wadsworth started writing in a journal about everyday events. When he filled that journal, he bought another, and filled that up too. Two dozen journals, and 27 years later, he had written about almost everything that can happen in a small New England town. His words were lost to history until 1986, when town resident Gail Lembo came across some of the journals at a yard sale. 


From the Franklin Historical Museum website
http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/p/wadsworth-diaries_30.html  

Franklin celebrates Ben Franklin's birthday

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 1/23/12

The annual celebration of Benjamin Franklin's birthday will be Sunday, Jan. 29, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Things you can do from here:


Related Post:
Vera Meyer returns to the Historical Museum to play the glass harmonica
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/01/vera-meyer-returns-to-historical-museum.html

In the News: Chinese New Year, mock trial, camera workshop



Franklin schoolchildren celebrate Chinese New Year

Enriching Summer Learning

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Lifelong Learning by Pandora Carlucci on 1/23/12

January 23, 2012
Summer Program 2012

Franklin Public Schools is pleased to announce that its Summer Program 2012 is open for registration. There are a variety of classes for students entering kindergarten through high school. Students do not need to live in Franklin to be part of the Summer Program.

STAR (Students..Teachers..Academics..enRichment): – Over sixty 1-week classes, beginning July 9, for children entering kindergarten through 5th grade. STAR also includes Ready..Set..Kindergarten, an introductory class for incoming kindergarten students, as well as Oceans of Fun 1 & 2 for incoming 1st and 2nd grade students. New classes include: Dramatic Fanatic, Extra, Extra, Read All About It! Mystical World of Harry Potter, Birds, Bats & Butterflies, and more! Four, 1-week sessions: July 9 through August 3.

Early Explorers: For students 4 years old who are not entering kindergarten. Activities will include: music, rhythm instruments and singing, listening to storytellers and dramatic play, age-appropriate art activities, outdoor play and more.
Four, 1-week sessions: July 9 through August 2.

StarPLUS: Following in the footsteps of STAR, StarPLUS is strictly for middle school students who want a fun and exciting summer experience. Each week the students choose three classes that focus on their interests & strengths. At 8:30 AM and 9:45 AM select one focus area: Visual Arts, Forensic Science or Cooperative Games (select something different at each time). At 11:00 AM select one focus from among: Theatre (Students will practice a short, funny play to be presented in front of an audience on Friday of that week), Inventor's Lab (Students will experiment with cool labs that demonstrate how things work), Sports and Recreation (Students will play a variety of sports such as basketball, kickball baseball and capture the flag), and Builders of the Future (students will construct different projects using Legos).
Three, 1-week sessions: July 9 through July 27.

Summer Math Academy: This summer program is for students entering kindergarten through 6th grade who are curious about and want to explore math, art, and science through hands-on activities. A sample of the possible activities includes: origami, Pattern Art, Logic Puzzles, Cryptology, Tangrams, Sudoku, Math Story Re-enactments, Gum Drop 3-D figures and more! This 2-week program begins Monday, July 2 and end Friday, July 13 (no class July 4).

Write your college Essay – The second summer of this popular class for grade 12 students. During this 3-day workshop, students will: Explore and identify primary strengths, passions, and priorities, learn how to write effective college essays, and, enhance and refine their interviewing and public presentation skills. Three, 3-day sessions: July 10, 11 & 12; July 24, 25 & 26; August 7, 8 & 9.

High School Experience: August 13-17. One-week course to welcome incoming Grade 9 students to the high school. (9:00 AM to 12:30 PM)

High School Academic Support Classes: Beginning July 9. Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, English 9, English 10, English 11, English 12, US History 1, US History 2, and World History.

Summer Music: One 10-day session, beginning Monday, July 23 and ending Friday, August 3. Music includes: Elementary Strings, Concert Band, and Summer "Glee" in the morning. In the afternoon there are two classes: Jazz Band Workshop for students entering grades 7 – 9 and Summer Orchestra for students entering grades 6 – 9. Both classes require students to have a minimum of two years of instrument experience.

Solutions Summer Adventure: Beginning Wednesday, June 27, Eight, 1-week sessions of full day programs for students entering kindergarten through 5th grade. The hours are from 7 AM to 6 PM and each week has a special theme and a field trip or presenter.

Franklin students and students from surrounding communities are invited to be part of the summer fun through participation in these fun and enriching programs. For information on these and other summer activities visit our website:
www.franklin.k12.ma.us once there, select Lifelong and follow the prompts to the Summer Program.
Email us lifelong@franklin.k12.ma.us or call us at 508-553-4814.

Things you can do from here:

Absentee ballots available in Franklin

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 1/23/12

Absentee ballots for the March 6 Presidential primary are now available at the Town Clerk's office at 355 East Central St.

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Monday, January 23, 2012

Wadsworth Diary - Jan 23, 1892


Pleasant & warmer, but windy. Thawed a little. Loaded a load of 1060 lbs. of hay & carried to E. Taft & came back & got the load that I left him at N. Arnold’s place.


In the 1850s, on a busy working farm in the southern part of Franklin, a man named George Wadsworth started writing in a journal about everyday events. When he filled that journal, he bought another, and filled that up too. Two dozen journals, and 27 years later, he had written about almost everything that can happen in a small New England town. His words were lost to history until 1986, when town resident Gail Lembo came across some of the journals at a yard sale. 


From the Franklin Historical Museum website
http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/p/wadsworth-diaries_30.html  

In the News: library, mock trial



Medway to consider hiring full-time library director

“We have teams (in this region) that are always strong,” Michael Walsh, Franklin’s mock trial team coach said. “Hopedale, Bellingham, Milford. They’re always really, really strong so that makes it challenging.”


Sunday, January 22, 2012

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Jan 24, 2012

Vision Statement
The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

Mission Statement
The Franklin Public Schools, in collaboration with the community, will cultivate each student's intellectual, social, emotional and physical potential through rigorous academic inquiry and informed problem solving skills within a safe, nurturing and respectful environment.

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."


1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes I recommend approval of the minutes from the January 10, 2012 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mrs. McIntyre
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: none

2. Guests/Presentations
a. FHS Students re: trip to New Hampshire Primary
b. Rep. Jim Vallee and Sen. Karen Spilka
c. Best Buddies Grants
d. ELL Update (presentation doc here)

3. Discussion Only Items
School Choice 2012-2013 (summary doc here)

4. Action Items
a. I recommend not approving any new school choice students for the 2012-2013 school year.
b.I recommend acceptance of the donation of a speaker docking system (valued at $60.00) from Steve and Sara Frielich for ECDC.
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $3,500.00 from the Jefferson PCC for field trips.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for 282.66 from Wells Fargo for FHS scholarships.
e. I recommend approval of the recurring field trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands through the World Challenge program in the Summer of 2013 for FHS students as detailed.
f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $500.00 from the Singleton Family Foundation for the FHS Special Education Department.
g. I recommend acceptance of a check for 1751.46 from Lifetouch for the Keller student activity account.
h. I recommend acceptance of a check for 1460.00 from the Franklin Music Boosters for competition fees and transportation of Franklin students.
i. I recommend approval of budget transfers as detailed.

5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report

School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports

6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.

7. Executive Session
Contractual Negotiations

8. Adjourn

FPS: School Choice History 2003 - 2012

School Choice is a program whereby students from outside the Franklin Public Schools can apply and with a payment facilitated by the state (from their town/community to ours), the student can attend here.

As this summary shows, school choice stopped taking applications for the 2008-2009 school year and those students already in the program have continued to move through the system and as they leave, the numbers have declined.

This is scheduled for discussion at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012. It is a preliminary part of the budget discussion. While Franklin can gain some additional income via these students, the concern has been with the available space for these students. As the class size has continued to increase, it doesn't make sense to continue to add students to further create pressures on class size.

FPS School Choice History - 2003-2012

FPS: English Language Learners

Scheduled for discussion at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Jan 24, 2012. This is an overview of the English Language Learners (ELL) program in the school district.

FPS ELL Program Update 20120124

Wadsworth Diary - Jan 22, 1892


Very pleasant & cold. Loaded & carried 1200 lbs. hay to J. Morrell, & 1015 lbs. hay to M. M. Daniels, that he settled for. J.C. Hull out here to day. E. Simonds came to night, stops at G.W. Foster’s.


In the 1850s, on a busy working farm in the southern part of Franklin, a man named George Wadsworth started writing in a journal about everyday events. When he filled that journal, he bought another, and filled that up too. Two dozen journals, and 27 years later, he had written about almost everything that can happen in a small New England town. His words were lost to history until 1986, when town resident Gail Lembo came across some of the journals at a yard sale. 


From the Franklin Historical Museum website
http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/p/wadsworth-diaries_30.html 



Saturday, January 21, 2012

Wadsworth Diary - Jan 21, 1892


Pleasant, cold & windy. loaded a load of 1220 lbs. hay & carried to S.H. Band & chored about.


In the 1850s, on a busy working farm in the southern part of Franklin, a man named George Wadsworth started writing in a journal about everyday events. When he filled that journal, he bought another, and filled that up too. Two dozen journals, and 27 years later, he had written about almost everything that can happen in a small New England town. His words were lost to history until 1986, when town resident Gail Lembo came across some of the journals at a yard sale. 


From the Franklin Historical Museum website
http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/p/wadsworth-diaries_30.html 

New Report: Demystifying General Local Aid in Massachusetts

Be sure to check out the interactive portion of this report. You can input one of the MA communities and find out how much has changed from 2008 to 2012. For Franklin the report shows:

In Fiscal Year 2012, Franklin received $2,089,973 in general local aid from the state. Four years earlier, in FY2008—prior to the onset of the state fiscal crisis—it received $3,284,276(adjusted for inflation). 
That's a cut of 36%, which amounts to $37 per person.







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Demystifying General Local Aid in Massachusetts 
The money that the state provides to cities and towns for police and fire protection, parks, and other core local services is called General Local Aid. 

This morning, Lt. Governor Tim Murray announced the administration's plans to continue funding general local aid at the current level--the level to which it has been reduced after four years of deep cuts.

Our new factsheet, Demystifying General Local Aid in Massachusetts, describes:
  • The history of general local aid and options for reform.
  • The various formulas that have determined how general local aid is distributed.
  • The dramatic cuts--roughly 1/3 of all funds--which have been made to general local aid since the onset of the Great Recession.
We have also included an online tool which allows you to track the amount of general local aid going to each municipality in the Commonwealth--as well as the amount that has been cut.


MassBudget provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies--with particular attention to the effects on low- and moderate-income people.


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