STAR Plus -- Just for Middle School Students

 

 

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

 

 

STAR Plus -- Just for Middle School Students

via Lifelong Learning by Pandora Carlucci on 4/12/11

Middle school is the domain of students in grades 6, 7 & 8. STAR Plus, our middle school summer program, has been designed specifically for these students. Directed by Ms. Orfalea and Ms. Leazott, STAR Plus offers four, 1-week sessions with a variety of themes and activities focused on the interests of middle school students.

Each week students enroll in 2 early morning classes and 1 longer mid-morning class. Students choose 2 themes from the following:
Visual Arts, Cooking and Design - Potential activities include Cooking, Drawing & painting, recycled art, screen printing, T-shirt design.

Computer Lab, Games, Science & Technology - Potential activities include Photoshop. Internet games, Movie making, Experimental fun and games, games, games.

Music, Performing Arts - Potential activities include Creating music, Introduction to guitar, Music history, Play production, Musical production and Dance.

Sports, Recreation, and Fitness - Potential activities include Fall sports, Winter sports, Spring sports, Team and individual games, Fitness challenges, and Sports history.

For the longer, mid-morning class, the students select their favorite theme from among the following themes:
Performing Arts - Theatre- Students will write, rehearse & perform a musical or play or Dance Students will learn a variety of dance techniques.

Science & technology/Outdoor Fitness
Experimental Fun - Students will use their senses to experiment with a variety of materials.
Outdoor Fitness - Students will explore a variety of outdoor fitness activities.

Sports & Recreation
Sports - Students will play a variety of fall, winter & summer sports
Recreation - Students will play a variety of team and individual games; exercises & athletic activities will be explored.

Visual Art
Painting - Students will use watercolors or acrylics to paint still-life, landscapes and figures.
Recycled Art - Students will use a variety of recycled materials to form sculptures
Clay/Pottery - Students will use many types of materials: clay, model magic & modeling clay to sculpt pieces of art.

Register: www.franklin.k12.ma.us select Summer Program from middle of page, select STAR Plus
Questions: lifelong@franklin.k12.ma.us or 508-553-4814

 

 

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Changes afoot

Scene script:

Queue Dylan's "The times they are a changing" as background music

Focus on a cross roads with multiple options:

Announcement: I will switch the focus of my efforts from live reporting on Franklin's meetings to spending more time on the Franklin Food Pantry. I will not be live reporting on the meetings Tue and Wed this week. A more formal announcement will be made later.

Thank you for your readership. Thank you for your interest in Franklin.


Queue Pete Seeger singing "Turn, Turn, Turn" in the background.

Fade picture slowly, diminish music slowly



Franklin, MA

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - 4/12/11

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 March 29, 2011 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mr. Glynn
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives

Correspondence:
1. Budget to Actual

2. Guests/Presentations
a. Project Able/Blended online learning
b. LIFT2 – Brenda Redding
c. Annual Financial Audit

3. Discussion Only Items
School Choice

Policy – Second Readings:
1. KBE – School/Parent Organizations Relationships
2. KBE-E – School Committee/Administration Participation in PCC/Boosters Meetings Guidelines
3. KDD – News Media Relations/News Releases

4. Action Items
a. I recommend the Franklin Public Schools not participate in the School Choice Program for the 2011-2012 school year.
b. I recommend acceptance of a 2 checks, one from the Jefferson PCC for $3500.00 and one from Follett for $4.80 for field trips for Jefferson Elementary School.
c. I recommend adoption of Policy KBE – School/Parent Organizations Relationships as detailed.
d. I recommend adoption of Policy KBE-E – School Committee/Administration Participation in PCC/Boosters Meetings Guidelines as detailed.
e. I recommend adoption of Policy KDD – News Media Relations/News Releases as detailed.
f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $7316.00 from Davis Thayer PCC for field trips and buses as detailed.
g. I recommend acceptance of a check for $330.00 from Parmenter PCC for field trips.
h. I recommend acceptance of a check for $2665.75 from Parmenter PCC for field trips.



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



Franklin, MA

Parmenter 5K - May 15th

The Parmenter 2011 Race flyer:

Parmenter 2011 Race Flyer

The registration form:

parmenter_Regform_2011

You can also visit the race website to register online  http://parmenter5k.weebly.com/


Franklin, MA

FRANKLIN RAIL TRAIL COMMITTEE MEETING - Agenda - 4/12/11

Proposed Agenda for April 12, 2011
Location: Franklin YMCA 45 Forge Hill Road
Start Time: 7:30PM


I. Call to Order / Introductions of New Attendees
A. Review & approve minutes of previous meeting
B. Make sure we have a volunteer to keep minutes of meeting


II. Report from Finance Committee
Report from Treasurer


III. Report from Grant Writing Committee
Meeting on March 31st and begin Strategic Plan
Proposed meeting on April 14th

C. We have an Eagle Scout lined up for proposed work in Forest
D. Need to Meet with EMC and Rockland Trust soon


IV. Earth Day Preparations for Beaver St. Location on April 16th
Tent, Table, Banner, Coffee, Brochures, sign up sheets, etc.
Get to Ron Clough list of volunteers


V. Report of April 23rd Road Race Committee
Discussion on progress to date and of Publicity
Agree on date and time to meet with M & M for final preps


VI. Report on Bellingham
Bellingham Lions – Ken
Politics and Fatman
Kiosk


VII. Unfinished Business:

VIII. New Business:
A.

IX. Set Date & place for Next Meeting and Adjourn

Franklin, MA

Downtown Partnership Networking Luncheon - Apr 29th

Franklin Downtown Partnership

Networking Luncheon

Friday, April 29th-1:00

Dean College Campus Center-Dining Hall

Cost $5.50

Please RSVP Joel Carrara

at jcarrara@printsmartoffice.com 

Enjoy great food while networking with other Downtown Partnership members!

In the News - Newcomers, arrest, marathon, approval

Officials meet with Franklin Newcomers and Friends Club

by Staff reports

Police say Franklin teen spit at officer during arrest

by Brian Benson/Daily News staff

Franklin woman to realize dream of running Marathon

by Ashley Studley/Daily News staff

Taco Bell, Wendy's approved in Franklin

by Brian Benson/Daily News staff

Franklin, MA

FM #92 - Week ending Apr 10, 2011

Let's spend a few minutes reviewing what matters in Franklin, MA as the week comes to a close April 10th.

Time: 5 minutes, 58 seconds




MP3 File

Show Notes:

This internet radio show or podcast is number 92 in the series for Franklin Matters.

We'll look back at the week that was as it comes to a close Sunday Apr 10 before getting to the outlook on the week ahead.

As we mentioned last week, the Finance Committee was scheduled to meet on Tuesday. With the budget book not scheduled to be ready until the end of April, the meeting was canceled. The FINCOM budget hearings have been scheduled for May 2, 3, 5, 9 and 10. The calendar on Franklin Matters has been updated accordingly.

The Milford Daily News ran an article on this updated schedule and in the article stated:

Town Council Chairman Scott Mason said the budget deficit probably will not be as bad as the $4 million to $6 million councilors predicted last year. He said he does not expect the council to seek an override this year.

http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/04/does-not-expect-council-to-seek.html

So be it.

The Town Council met this week and spent time on the public hearing for the Nu-Style building which is getting closer to demolition and clean up than ever before. Several of the councilors created great sound bites on how long it is taken to do this. Jeff Nutting has the best comment in response:

My notes showed he said something like

”We have been trying to take care of the environment and minimize the Franklin tax dollars in the process.“

The good news from the Council meeting was their action to create a “Community Gardens Committee.” Five members were appointed all from the group that has been working on this for the past several months. This is a great step forward. The King St Memorial Fields will be the site for about 40 raised bed gardens to be set up in May. You can follow the events on the website
http://www.franklincommunitygardens.org/

My full set of notes from the Council meeting can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/04/town-council-040611.html


As for town meetings this week

The School Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, Apr 12. As we record this on Sunday, the agenda has not yet been posted.

The Long Range Financial Planning Committee is scheduled to meet on Weds. They are likely to pick up the discussion on the questions that they drafted as ones to be answered.

Earth Day comes Saturday. The DPW will set up at Beaver Pond to coordinate the clean up efforts of as many want to volunteer.
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/03/2011-earth-day-april-16th-at-beaver.html


---- ---- ----

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin. I can use your help. 

How can you help, you ask? 
If you have an interest in writing about something that matters in Franklin, please let me know.

As always - 

• If you like this, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like this, please tell me.

This feedback loop is important. Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visitFranklinmatters.blogspot.com/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission

I hope you enjoy!



Franklin, MA

Mick Ebeling: The invention that unlocked a locked-in artist

After making electrical circuit connections with play dough, what do you do? Try solving an impossible problem.

Mick asks himself these questions everyday:

if not now, then when?
if not me, then who?

if not now, then when?
if not me, then who?

More on the Eye writer can be found here


Franklin, MA

"These students want to deal with the problem"

"When teachers or adults talk to students, it seems like they're talking down to them," Loureiro said. "We're talking to them as peers." 

The program, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Dean College Campus Center, is targeted to college and high school juniors and seniors. But it is open to the community at large, organizers said. 

Speakers will educate attendees about the causes of distracted driving, stress the importance of keeping two hands on the wheel and discuss ways technology - often at the root of the cause - could play a role in the solution, organizers said. 

"The answer isn't turn off the technology," said Parry Aftab, a lawyer who founded the Teenangels initiative in 1999 and runs the Internet safety website WiredSafety.org. "It's let's make the technology safer, smarter and better. You're not going to drive in a quiet car all by yourself."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1302185156/Teenangels-in-Franklin-driving-young-motorists-to-safety#ixzz1JCsBF9Lr

Related posts on the teenangels

Testifying before MA Attorney General Martha Coakley
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/02/teenangels.html

Cyberbulling presentation to the School Committee
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/live-reporting-teen-angels.html

Text bullying Pledge
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/teen-angels-pledge-text-think-send.html





Franklin, MA

In the News - library book sale

Franklin Library accepting book donations for spring book sale

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by NO DATA

Franklin, MA

Downtown walk around

Our Saturday morning walk to and around downtown Franklin presented a few photo opportunities.

First up was the line up of the ark and occupants at the First Federated Church




Acapulcos has a new sign on their window. Free wifi with a catch; it is only good from 11:00 AM through 3:00 PM.




Heading for Cafe Dolce I noticed that the flower boxes have been removed. Must be getting fixed up in time for the Spring installation of flowers in May by the Downtown Partnership.




What have you noticed around Franklin, now that we can all get out and around a bit with the better weather?


Franklin, MA

How does New Hampshire do it?

New Hampshire is noted for its state liquor stores and no personal income tax. Yet they also have the highest property tax in New England. You have probably been part of a discussion on the pros and cons of what they do versus other states.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston has just published their analysis with interesting results. New Hampshire is able to do what it does "in part because of favorable circumstances. States with needier populations or higher costs will likely spend more to provide the same level of services." The report shows ways in which MA and other New England states have needier populations and higher costs.

The report acknowledges that New Hampshire "has also made some policy choices to keep spending low and avoid broad based taxes." So can we do what they did? The report goes on to say that "some choices may be infeasible in the current environment or inappropriate in states with different preferences for public services."

So the bottom line works out to be, if you like MA stay here. If you think you like NH and the way they do things, go there. How NH does what they do doesn't translate well to other states.


FedResBkBoston_neppcrr1101-nhbriefing


This is the report summary. You can find the full report and accompanying tables of supporting figures on the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston website: http://www.bostonfed.org/news/press/2011/pr040711.htm

Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the document.

Franklin, MA

In the News - YMCA kids and fitness

Families get fit at Franklin event

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Julie Balise/Daily News staff

Franklin, MA

10th Annual HMEA Independence 5K Walk Run Roll & Stroll

Gene Lavanchy, Fox 25 morning News anchor, and New England Patriot Steve Nelson will host the 10th Annual HMEA Independence 5K Walk Run Roll & Stroll on May 22 at EMC, 50 Constitution Blvd, in the Franklin Industrial Park.

This video provides a good recap of what the events of the day are like.





Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x719609999/HMEA-5K-in-the-Park-is-May-22#ixzz1J1R0ozxz

My recap of 2010 can be found here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/hmea-5k-walk-and-family-fun-day.html

You can register to run, walk, or stroll on the HMEA website  http://hmea.org/


Franklin, MA

"always good news to see an increase in state funding"

Milford's Chapter 90 funding would increase from $627,000 in fiscal 2011 to $812,000 in fiscal 2012. Mendon's would increase from $208,000 to $270,000. Upton's would rise from $239,000 to $320,000. Hopedale's would jump from $136,000 to $174,000 while Bellingham's would go from $392,000 to $510,000, according to a spreadsheet on the Department of Transportation website. 

Franklin's road funding would grow from $713,000 to $923,000, while Medway's would jump from $318,000 to $413,000. Those are both nearly 30 percent increases that Vallee said would make a dramatic difference. 

"I think this year was extraordinary with having the significant, record snowfalls and deterioration of roads," he said. "... There's never enough money for any specific need, but from my standpoint, this is a good use of taxpayer money. It goes directly to infrastructure and I think the increase was needed."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1076645343/Towns-in-line-to-get-more-road-repair-funds#ixzz1J1N74J7e


Information on the FY 2012 Budget can be found here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/01/fiscal-year-2012-budget-information.html

The Finance Committee will hold their budget hearings on May 2, 3, 5, 9 and 10. Each department will review their budget detail and answer questions on their operations and expenses.


Franklin, MA

In the News - Dean College, brush fire

Dean College takes part in Earth Day

by Staff reports

Franklin brush fire extinguished

by Brian Benson/Daily News staff

Franklin, MA

Where's the Train? Check "Rail Radio"

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Where's the Train? Check "Rail Radio"

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 4/8/11

MBTA and the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company today announced the launch of an updated "Rail Radio" service. "Rail Radio" provides real-time information about the status of approaching trains on car radios.  It is now integrated with commuter rail's Passenger Train Information System, a computerized system that links real-time information from approaching trains to LED monitors at stations.

"The integration of Rail Radio and PTIS delivers real-time information directly from approaching trains to customers' cars," said MBTA General Manager Richard Davey. "This service gives commuter rail customers more accurate information about when their train will arrive."

The low wattage AM radio service is currently available at more than 80 MBTA commuter rail stations with over 50 parking spaces in Eastern Massachusetts.  Customers should check LED monitors at their local stations for the "Rail Radio" frequency in their area.

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