Saturday, February 27, 2021

Franklin Public Schools: District Newsletter - March 2021


District Newsletter
Early Release dates:
March 3rd and 31st
Classroom - Based Pool Testing Information

Tuesday, March 2nd at 6:30 pm

The Franklin School Committee welcomes our State Legislators, Senate President Karen Spilka, Senator Becca Rausch, and Representative Jeff Roy to update the community on a variety of topics relevant to education.
The Forum will be available via Zoom. Please click on the invitation to find out more and to access the meeting link. We hope you will join us!

After nearly a year and a half of study, the Franklin School Committee voted at its February 9, 2021 meeting to close the Davis Thayer Elementary School beginning with the 2021-2022 school year. This has been a very emotional decision as this involves the retirement of a beloved second home to so many families, students, and faculty and staff both during current times as well as historically. The school was built in 1924 and has served so many generations of Franklin students. The decision was made based on reduced enrollment, educational adequacy of an aging building, and financial efficiency. Notably, there has been a significant enrollment decline. This is not a result of students leaving Franklin for other choices. The decrease in enrollment is a trend that is happening in many regions, especially in the Northeast/Massachusetts. 

The main focus at this time is to plan and implement a transition for Davis Thayer students to the Keller Elementary School, being sure to attend to their social-emotional and academic needs. The Facilities Analysis Subcommittee recommended that the School Committee begin to examine space utilization across all of the district's schools as the architect's report highlighted some needs, particularly at our "stand-alone" schools (Kennedy and Parmenter) as well as some potential opportunities which include redistricting.  

More background information can be found on our website: https://www.franklinps.net/district/davis-thayer-facilities-analysis

FPS is now taking registration for incoming Kindergarten students. Although registration is ongoing, we are asking families to register their child(ren) by March 1st if possible. This will be helpful in determining class sections and staffing.

All information is available on our website via the links below:


If so, pop into the Digital Learning Integrationists Q & A session on Wednesday, March 3rd. They will be happy to answer your questions.
Hearts of Kindness Display

Many of our FPS students created beautiful Hearts of Kindness as part of the display on the Town Common. The hearts contain messages about the importance of being kind to others and share acts of kindness that the students have performed.
Thank you to our students and teachers for helping to create this uplifting display! If you have not yet seen it, take a drive or walk by the Franklin Town Common and enjoy the messages and scenery.
Franklin Public Schools

Town of Franklin | 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038

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CDC gets to ventilation (finally)


"The CDC has posted new recommendations on the importance of good ventilation in preventing coronavirus spread in schools and daycares. Its top recommendation: Open a window."
 
Continue reading the article by CNN:  https://t.co/3KWU65kxhK
 
Go directly to the CDC guidance page
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VIRTUAL Veterans coffee Social - Mar 3

March 2021 VIRTUAL Veterans Coffee Social
Join Us for Coffee & Conversation!

Hello Veterans!

March arrives next week and it's anyone's guess if it will "come in like a lion and go out like a lamb." With the unpredictability of the weather these days, we'll have to just wait and see.

Did you know that in March we observe several significant U.S. military dates that honor our veterans and those currently serving?

  • March 3 - Navy Reserves Birthday
  • March 4 - National Hug a GI Day (GI no longer refers to just those who serve in the Army.)
  • March 5 - Navy Seebee Birthday
  • March 15 - American Legion Birthday
  • March 25 - National Medal of Honor Day
  • March 29 - Vietnam Veterans Day or Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day 

In addition to observing the Navy Reserves 106th Birthday on March 3, we will be hosting our 11th monthly VIRTUAL Coffee Social that day! We look forward to the day when we are all vaccinated and the Senior Center reopens so we can resume our in-person Socials. In the meantime…

Please join us on Wednesday, March 3 at 10:00 hours for conversation and updates. As always, all veterans are welcome so feel free to pass this invitation along to others who may not be on our email list.

If you have not participated in a Zoom call yet, you'll need to download the Zoom app on your device before joining us.

Here is the log-in information for the March 3, 2021 meeting only:

Call in number: 1-929-205-6099
Enter Meeting ID: 865 9282 6849 then Press #

For more information, contact the Veterans' Services Office at: (508) 613-1315.

We look forward to connecting with you at the March VIRTUAL Coffee Social!

Shared from the Town of Franklin  https://www.franklinma.gov/veterans-services/news/march-2021-virtual-coffee-social


VIRTUAL Veterans coffee Social - Mar 3
VIRTUAL Veterans coffee Social - Mar 3

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Digital Learning Integrationist Team: Q&A session - Mar 3

Our Digital Learning Integrationist team is ready to help! Join their Q&A session next week



Digital Learning Integrationist Team: Q&A session - Mar 3
Digital Learning Integrationist Team: Q&A session - Mar 3


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The Lancet: "immune evasion, a virological game changer"

"Populations have so far been relatively complacent, but their doubts and distrust are visible in protest movements in several countries. The impact of general confinement on entire economies has been devastating, with worse still to come in levels of unemployment and national debt. Social and health (including mental health) consequences are also colossal, in particular for the younger generations, despite them being at low risk in terms of morbidity and mortality from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

To best ensure the success of mass vaccination—whatever its hoped-for impact on transmission—and to slow the emergence of new variants, while avoiding general confinement, governments need to integrate and apply available measures in a way that is much more targeted to different generational groups. Different age groups are not affected similarly by the virus; from March to June, 2020, 96% of additional deaths related to COVID-19 in Europe occurred in patients aged older than 70 years.

Crucially, the new approach should be based on a social contract that is clear and transparent, rooted in available data, and applied with precision to its range of generational targets. Under this social contract, younger generations could accept the constraint of prevention measures (e.g., masks, physical distancing) on the condition that the older and more vulnerable groups adopt not only these measures, but also more specific steps (eg, voluntary self-isolation according to vulnerability criteria) to reduce their risk of infection. Measures to encourage adherence of vulnerable groups to specific measures must be promoted consistently and enforced fairly. Implementation of such an approach must be done sensitively and in conjunction with the deployment of vaccination across the various population targets, including all generations of society."

Continue reading the article online 
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50+ Job Seekers Group - March Special Events

"As a follower of Stephen Melanson, I highly recommend you register for his talk.

Have a great weekend, all!"   Ed Lawrence
Hello 50+ Job Seeker!
 
March is right around the corner – and so is Spring! We have another exciting line-up of Special Events, Session #5 and #6 of our Workshop Series and the follow-up G2G Sessions created just for you!
 
First - you don't want to miss two very Special Events in March:
 
Thurs, March 11th: 10-1130am: Simplicity- a Unique Tool for Job Seekers- Featuring Guest Speaker Stephen Melanson

Research shows that 'Simplicity' works! In a business environment that seems to reward complexity and waste, the proper application of 'Simplicity' leads to confidence, improved focus, and faster results.

Job Seekers have a difficult path these days. Not only do you need to capture the attention of the right people, but once you do, you need to differentiate yourself from your competition.

Our guest speaker, Stephen Melanson, featured on Forbes.com, is a management consultant, trainer and Verbal Branding expert. He will show you how applying his novel 'Simplicity' and 'Verbal Branding' strategies are your solution to job search results! 



**Advanced Registration for this Special Event is Required**
Thurs, Mar 25th: 10-1130am: What Now? Long Term Stress Management Featuring Guest Speaker: Dr. William Sharp
 
One year into a pandemic and we intimately know about stress and loss. So you might ask: What now? What can we do about stress? How is it managed physically, intellectually, and emotionally? What has worked for you and what has not?Are there ways to find pleasure in a pandemic world?

Come and share your experiences as our guest speaker, Dr William Sharp, Psychoanalyst, guides us through ways to identify and manage the long-term stress created by this "new normal" we find ourselves living in.

 
**Advanced Registration for this Special Event is Required**
Flyers for both of these special events are attached.
Feel free to share with your network!
 
REMINDERS: Our 50+ Interactive Workshop Series schedule in March is:
Session #4: Resume Part I: Mon Mar 1st at 630pm.
Session #5: Resume Part II:Tues Mar 9-10am; Fri Mar 12th-1pm; Mon Mar 15-630p
Session #6: LinkedIn Profile: Tues Mar 23rd-10am; Fri Mar 26th -1pm; Mon Apr 5th-630
 
Embrace our motto- Give to Get [G2G]! The March G2G Networking Sessions will be held on Tues March 2nd and Mar 16th at 10am. These sessions focus on networking and a recap of materials covered in prior workshops. It's a great opportunity to get homework help; Q&A with your Group Leaders; collaborate and network with your peers in breakout rooms.
 
And, we will be randomly selecting 4 job seekers to receive a free, 20-minute 1-1 Speed Coaching session with one of your Group Leader!
For information, contact Susan Drevitch Kelly, Founder/Director
50+ Job Seekers Networking Group
EM: susan@sdkelly.com  Phone: 781-378-0528 [O]


Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging | 116 Pleasant Street, Suite 306, Easthampton, MA 01027

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_._,_._,_

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"Things are tenuous. Now is not the time to relax restrictions."

"Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sounded the alarm Friday over what she described as potentially stalling progress in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, noting that fast-spreading variants of the virus are becoming more prevalent in the United States.

Speaking at a White House briefing on Friday, Walensky said the stall threatens to erase progress the US has made in recent weeks in decreasing cases and hospitalizations, even as the rollout of lifesaving vaccines ramps up.

Walensky said the number of new cases has been increasing in the past three days, compared with the prior week. She also shared new estimates that suggest the more-transmissible U.K. coronavirus variant now makes up about 10 percent of US cases."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
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Friday, February 26, 2021

FM #471 - School Committee Meeting - 02/23/21 - P1 of 3 (audio)

FM #471 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 471 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, Feb 23, 2021. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: some of the School Committee members, Central Office personnel, and key guests were in the Council Chambers; the remainder, along with the public, were remote via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

I’ve split the just over two hour and fifty minute meeting into three logical segments:

  • *** First segment ***  covers the opening through the JF Kennedy presentation (approx. 1 hour 9 minutes)
  • Second - Presentation - Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Health Director Cathleen Liberty, Fire Chief Jim McLaughlin covering the COVID-19 vaccine status update (approx. 43 mins)
  • Third - from Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Facilities Director Mike D’Angelo on the UVGI filters installation update through to the end of the public meeting (approx. 58 minutes)

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda and to my notes. The meeting packet folder will hold the other documents released for the meeting (as we go to press, the Superintendent’s Report is not yet posted to the meeting folder)

Let’s listen to this segment of the School Committee meeting of Feb 23, 2021

Audio file =  https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a6a10c1d-f815-4072-aa92-1d28f7867611


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


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

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
 
How can you help?

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
  • If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
 
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

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!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters" 

FM #471 - School Committee Meeting - 02/23/21 - P1 of 3 (audio)
FM #471 - School Committee Meeting - 02/23/21 - P1 of 3 (audio)
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FM #472 - School Committee Meeting - 02/23/21 - P2 of 3 (audio)

 FM #472 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 472 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, Feb 23, 2021. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: some of the School Committee members, Central Office personnel, and key guests were in the Council Chambers; the remainder, along with the public, were remote via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

I’ve split the just over two hour and fifty minute meeting into three logical segments:

  • First -  covers the opening through the JF Kennedy presentation (approx. 1 hour 9 minutes)
  • *** Second segment *** Presentation - Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Health Director Cathleen Liberty, Fire Chief Jim McLaughlin covering the COVID-19 vaccine status update (approx. 43 mins)
  • Third - from Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Facilities Director Mike D’Angelo on the UVGI filters installation update through to the end of the public meeting (approx. 58 minutes)

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda and to my notes. The meeting packet folder will hold the other documents released for the meeting (as we go to press, the Superintendent’s Report is not yet posted to the meeting folder)

Let’s listen to this segment of the School Committee meeting of Feb 23, 2021

Audio file =  https://player.captivate.fm/episode/f7c6e24c-08ae-4475-9339-50106de96a08

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


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

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
 
How can you help?

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
  • If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
 
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

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!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters" 


Fire Chief Jim McLaughlin updates on the vaccine readiness
Fire Chief Jim McLaughlin updates on the vaccine readiness


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