In the news - synchronized skaters

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Mar 09, 2008 @ 11:22 PM

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FRANKLIN —

Mastering the perfect spiral and finding the balance to glide on one ice skate requires discipline, patience and grace.

But imagine pulling off all those tricks in concert with a group of other ice skaters.

That's precisely what the 11 Chickenellas, Franklin's Symmetric Ice Crystals synchronized skating team, have challenged themselves to do.

Synchronized skating beats singles because everyone supports one another, said Caleigh Smith, 11, who prides herself on her back-lunges.

"You have to help each other. It's harder because if somebody next to you falls down, you have to help pick them up or else you fall down. You have to support each other," said Smith.

Read the remainder of the article here

Common Craft explains Twitter

As part of the continuing series on Web 2.0, the tools and how they are used, here is a brief explanation of Twitter from the wonderful folks at Common Craft:




Do you Twitter?

You can find my twitters under the user name of "shersteve".

Where in Franklin? #35

Where in Franklin? #35, originally uploaded by shersteve.

We're a whole month past the day the groundhog saw his shadow but where would you find this shadow in Franklin?

The guidelines for playing "Where in Franklin?" can be found here.

Enjoy!

Where in Franklin? Answer #34

Where in Franklin? Answer #34, originally uploaded by shersteve.

I thought I had another photo to show the front of the building but some other day we'll get that. In the meantime, ltsjs was correct in identifying these flags and row of cars along RT 140 as being part of the Keigan Chevrolet auto dealership.

Thanks for playing!

Stay tuned for the next photo of somewhere in Franklin.

Video of the FY09 School Budget

What is FY09?

Fiscal Year 2009 which begins July 1, 2008 and runs through June 30, 2009. This is the budget cycle for the school year beginning September 2008 and running through June 2009.

The School Committee blog has some video from the FY09 budget presentation at the 2/26/08 School Committee meeting.

The FY09 budget

The High School renovation options

The audio recording for the 2/26/08 School Committee meeting can be found here. It is broken out into sections to enable easy access.

Teacher layoffs now a conversation item

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Mar 07, 2008 @ 11:26 PM

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FRANKLIN —

Responding to the recent announcement that the School Department will lay off 45 teachers next year, parent groups have been letting school officials know they are "very curious" what the impact will be on their children, said Superintendent Wayne Ogden.

And newer teachers are starting to panic, Ogden said.

"Many of our younger, less experienced staff are all very nervous about it because seniority plays into it, and they are the most vulnerable," said Ogden.

The School Committee received its budget two weeks ago, and the group is deliberating on it, Ogden said.

Read the remainder of the article here

And participate in one or more of these sessions to find out more information on what the school budget means for you and your family:

School Committee members will meet with parent communication groups in the coming weeks as follows:

April 4, at 9 a.m., at Davis Thayer;
April 11, at 8:45 a.m. at Jefferson;
March 14, at 9 a.m., at Kennedy;
March 19, at 9 a.m., Sullivan Middle School;
April 8, at 9 a.m., at Horace Mann;
March 12 at 7 p.m. at Remington; and
May 7 at 7 p.m. at Franklin High School.

In the news: Davis Thayer Invention convention

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Mar 07, 2008 @ 12:01 AM

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FRANKLIN —

Where can you find a Rabbit Elevator, two versions of a humane mouse trap, a Pet-o-matic, and the Trash Carrier 2008?

The fifth-grade Invention Convention at the Davis Thayer School lays exclusive claim to these ingenious contraptions, along with 44 other inventions, dreamed up by fifth-graders over the last several weeks.

Fifth-grade teachers Jennifer Alger and Caitlin Colahan instructed students to invent a product using three of a number of simple machines which would solve one of life's daily problems, including a lever, pulley, hinge and inclined planes.

Read the rest of the article here.