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Geneology Club meeting Thursday, Feb 26th |
More about the Franklin Family History Center can be found here
https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Franklin_Massachusetts_Family_History_Center
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 *
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Geneology Club meeting Thursday, Feb 26th |
For the first time in the 25-year history of the prestigious Super 8, a Hockomock League team has qualified as one of the top 10 hockey teams in the state. Franklin (16-2-3) was chosen by the seven-person MIAA selection committee on a 5-2 vote, edging out perennial contenders Hingham and Arlington Catholic for one of four play-in spots.
“We’re not always getting the kudos statewide for our league and this says a lot about the quality of the hockey,” said Spillane after the vote. “We had a couple of games against Canton that were one- or two-goal games that says a lot about their program as well.”
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FHS Panthers |
The Panthers are a perennial power within the Hockomock, and long a power in Div. 2 as well, but are in only their second year at the Div. 1 level and the Super 8 process was a mystery to head coach Chris Spillane. In fact, he almost missed his opportunity to address the Massachusetts State Hockey Coaches Association (MSHCA).
As the coaches meeting got underway, with all of the other coaches ready to state their cases for inclusion, Spillane was on the roof of his house battling the snow. It took a timely tweet by Boston Herald reporter Bruce Lerch and the intervention of Spillane’s son Ryan (a senior on the team) to get him and athletic director Brad Sidwell to the meeting.
BoysD1A (Super 8)#7 Franklin will play #10 Xaverian on Tuesday, 2/24 at Chelmsford Forum at 5:10
All Commuter Rail Lines will operate a modified weekday schedule on Monday, February 23, through Friday, February 27. Schedules are at www.mbta.com/winter Commuter Rail service is expected to have delays and cancellations due to switch and signal issues and mechanical issues with locomotives. Plymouth/Kingston Line - no service will be available at Plymouth Station. A local bus connection (GATRA) will operate between Plymouth and Kingston stations. Providence/Stoughton Line - no service will be available at Wickford Junction or TF Green Station. RIDOT/RIPTA will provide limited connecting bus service to Providence. Last updated: Feb 22 2015 06:41 PM Click here for more information: http://www.mbta.com/winter
Sent by the MBTA.
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MBTA commuter rail train leaving Franklin Dean station |
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The Greater Boston Food Bank | 70 South Bay Ave. Boston, MA 02118-2700 Phone: (617) 427-5200 | Email: info@gbfb.org | Privacy Policy | | |||
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A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
Hello,
I hope that you have had a restful and enjoyable February vacation week. Although the snowy weather persisted, at least we did not have to worry about missing any more school days!
Throughout the week, the DPW and facilities departments have been working hard to keep our roads and schools clear and well-treated. I spent the week conducting building inspections at all of our schools with the town Building Inspector and the Fire Safety Officer, which we do annually at this time of year. Additionally, the Building Commissioner and the Town Facilities Director have been assessing all of our school roofs and conducted snow removal at several of our schools last week, which they had actually begun the previous week when students were in school. They have assured us that all of our schools are safe.
With this most recent snow/rain event yesterday, the DPW has been plowing, treating and scraping town roads and school lots and entrances. Early tomorrow morning they will check all schools for slippery spots which may occur as a result of temperatures falling below freezing tonight.
We anticipate opening school as scheduled tomorrow, so please plan accordingly. Should anything change, I will send out a message by 5:30 AM.
Because of the continued snowfall, the snowbanks have not gotten any smaller and it has been difficult to clear all sidewalks. Emergency busing will continue to be available to students who typically walk to school for the week. I would ask that parents please communicate with your child's school if he/she will be using emergency busing and provide written permission.
I urge both adult and student drivers to continue to exercise extreme caution due to the high snow banks and slippery conditions. And as always, please be mindful of pedestrians and other drivers.
With March just around the corner, hopefully we will turn the corner for this unprecedented winter!
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Be safe!
Sally Winslow
Assistant Superintendent of Schools
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Parmenter School - during the vacation, sidewalks cleared today |
This e-mail has been sent to you by FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message.
Franklin Public Schools - "the key to learning" |
a. PARCC Update – Joyce Edwardshttp://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/02/parcc-update-to-school-committee-feb-24.html
b. District Improvement Plan (DIP)/Goal Update – Joyce Edwardshttp://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/02/fps-district-improvement-plan-midyear.html
o KCDA – Memorial Commemorations
o KCD-E1 – Non-Budgeted Funds Donation Form
o KCD-E2 – Guidelines for Donations of Gifts/Memorials Non-Budgeted Funds to the Franklin Public Schools
1. KCDA – Memorial Commemorationsf. I recommend acceptance of two checks totaling $3,300.00 for in house enrichment at FHS.
2. KCD-E1 – Non-Budgeted Funds Donation Form
3. KCD-E2 – Guidelines for Donations of Gifts/Memorials Non-Budgeted Funds to the Franklin Public Schools
1. Vicario Studios $3,200.00
2. Christopher Blassick 100.00
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PARCC - Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers |
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Parmenter School in the snow |
Ted Rossi430 Franklin Village DriveSuite 160Franklin, MA 02038
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screen grab of email invitation to Choggy's Chuggers |
Choggy’s Chuggers for Chad Larivee
7:00 PM on Friday, April 10, 2015
Elks Lodge
1077 Pond Street
Franklin, MA 02038 (map)
(508) 533-2136
It is always a tragedy when someone loses someone close them, especially if that someone is a child. Our hearts are with the family. This letter is not directly about that loss, of which I'm sure everyone has the deepest sympathy. This letter is about why we have a policy against personal memorials on school grounds and how we decide and change school policies.
The current policy in Franklin does not allow a memorial to an individual on school grounds. This policy was not created in a vacuum. It was decided upon after consulting a person with expertise in grief counseling, and then was voted on by the school committee and put into place based on the professional opinion that this is what would be best for the students of the school. That's fitting, since that is the primary responsibility of both the school and the school committee.
Now the committee is considering changing this rule. Why is that? Is it because new knowledge is available that says that individual memorials are good for the students, or at least not detrimental? Is it because the expert may have been wrong, and that memorials have no effect either way. If so, it might be good to check the latest research, or to look at the policies of other schools similar to Franklin High School, and see which policies worked out the best.
In fact, neither of these reasons is why the policy change is under consideration. The proposed policy change precipitated directly from the offer to donate a high profile memorial to a single student on public property because the family of that student has the means and desire to do so.
One commenter implied that kids are different, that some deserve nice privately funded memorials and some don't, and those that disagree with his view are naive. I respectfully disagree. Franklin is the birthplace of Horace Mann, the father of public education. His argument for it was that in a democracy, everyone has the right to vote, so it behooves us to make sure that everyone who is voting has the education needed to make wise decisions about candidates and policies, and that the way to ensure that is to have public schools, free to all children, regardless of means. Schools, in Mann's view, are central to a working democracy, where everyone needs to be educated. Public education, should be the great equalizer, where a child can reach his or her potential no matter how rich or powerful that child's parents are.
I know that not all schools provide the same education, that people pick school districts based on the quality of the schools, and that the quality of the schools depends on the tax base, and thus the general wealth of the families in the district. But that doesn't mean that we should throw away rules based on science, psychology and fairness because someone of money or power feels that they are entitled to change the rules that they don't like.
I reiterate that I don't wish any ill on the family who has lost a child. In fact, I think the idea of a personal memorial is a good one. It just should not be placed at the school. Alternatively, perhaps the memorial could be placed at the school, but dedicated to all students have lost their lives, rather than just a single individual. The memorial proposed is of a panther, the school's mascot, which represents all the students. My hope is that we can reach an agreement on this that will satisfy the family and keep to our ideal of the inherent worth and dignity of every student who has passed away, whether their parents can afford a memorial or not.
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the proposed Kristin Graci Class of 2007 Memorial |
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FHS Panthers |
#2 Franklin (17-3) will host #7 Wachusett on Thursday, 2/26 at 7:00.
#2 Franklin (17-5) will host the winner of Westford/Algonquin on Friday, 2/27 at 7:00.
Don't forget to join me Sunday from 1-4 pm at the Hockomock Area YMCA Franklin branch for a Frozen-themed fundraiser ($5 per person).
There will be a snowman relay, crafts (e.g., snowflakes, coffee cup Olaf, fingerprint snowmen), games (e.g., Olaf ring toss, snowman bowling, pin the nose on Olaf), and pictures with Olaf!!
For an additional cost there will be a bake sale, craft sale, and silent auction.
All proceeds go to Dana Farber Cancer Institute in support of my 2015 Boston Marathon Run.
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Frozen themed fund raiser at YMCA |
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FHS Panthers |
All Commuter Rail lines will operate on a Saturday schedule on Saturday, February 21 and on a Sunday schedule on Sunday, February 22. Franklin Line: The following trains will NOT operate 2/23/2015 through 2/27/2015. 702,703,790,706,710,733,732,793,734,709,716,715,737,736,719 Provided is a service reduction and recovery plan/schedule for significant weather events 2015. Visit www.mbta.com/winter for more information. Last updated: Feb 22 2015 07:42 AM
Sent by the MBTA.
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A commuter train leaving Franklin Dean Station |
I am writing in response to your recent statement regarding the Franklin Public School policy on memorials. I am a Franklin resident and the father of three children, the eldest of which will be entering the school system next year. My family is in the beginning stages of the long fulfilling journey as yours was and for similar reasons, we chose Franklin as our home.
I have been following this debate through posts and articles on blogs like Franklin Matters and groups like Friends in Franklin. I have not participated in the debate to this point because it does seem to be quite a sensitive issue, as you stated, and I don’t have a child in the system at this time. However, it won’t be long before my children are enrolled and I am very concerned by your statement. (and even more so, the spirit in which it was written.)
I would like to start by saying that I honestly do believe your views regarding the policy are genuine and heartfelt. I would also like to say your general point that “every life matters” is certainly something I agree with. Notwithstanding, your statement contained many comments that I found troubling coming from an influential decision maker on the School Committee.
You state that “the scope and nature of the memorials should be the same for everyone” and “everyone should be given the same honor and recognition.” This is a very naive view and absolutely should not shape policy for an institution that is so vital to preparing our children for the challenges life will certainly bring. I agree that an individual’s recognition should not be based on their “means or influence”, but to say that everyone is the same is wrong. Should a Franklin Public School student who goes on to develop a clean and renewable energy source or product be honored and recognized the same as an FPS student who chooses a life of crime? Regardless of your personal opinion, the reality is, no. While it can be difficult for a child to deal with not getting the recognition he or she feels they deserve, it is devastating for a person to believe that, no matter their accomplishments, their greatness will never be recognized. A “same for everyone” vision should be strictly applied to an individual's rights. On the other hand, a "same for everyone" vision left unchecked has the potential to crush the human spirit. I do realize that a policy regarding a monument at a public school is not going keep men like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg from changing the world, but a systematic view that we are all the same, will.
You wrote that “School is where we teach our children how we want the world to be.” I find this to be the most unsettling statement you made. School, particularly public school, is not meant to be an institution that promotes some individual’s view of “how the world should be.” There will never be universal agreement on world views, nor should there be. Every school policy should be rooted in preparing a child for the challenges of life and how to reach their fullest potential. Schools should prepare students to create, recognize and take the avenue of opportunity. A school that tells its students that they will all just simply get the same opportunity is not being true to its students nor is it fulfilling its obligation to the community to which it serves.
Personally, I do not agree with the current policy regarding memorials. Schools have always honored and continue to honor individuals for their scholastic achievement. Whether it's through academics, athletics, arts and music, or community involvement, schools have rightfully recognized these students as examples of what to strive for. A family who makes the most of an unbelievably tragic event by turning it into an inspiration to many people for years to come should be celebrated. To view a memorial as recognition of someone's "means and influence" is missing the point. The school system and community has failed the student who views a memorial in that manner.
I respectfully ask you and the other Franklin School Committee members to reflect on your responsibility to the community. While this memorial policy may be insignificant in the grand scheme, the influence of your decision making is not. Please recognize and understand the purpose of your position. Review your vision and mission statement. Ask yourself if you are truly fostering students’ knowledge and cultivating each student's potential, or are you imposing your personal world view on an institution meant to promote unlimited opportunity?Sincerely,
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the proposed Kristin Graci Class of 2007 Memorial |
You can get the app on your phone to make reports on the spot - just search for "Commonwealth Connect" (City of Boston) in your app store or click here to go to the iTunes Store or the Google Play Store.
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report a pothole or street light problem with your phone |
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basic wilderness survival skills |