In the News: water hearing, school calendar choices

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"A state board’s evidentiary hearings on Exelon’s proposed 200-megawatt expansion of its existing Summer Street will continue Friday with testimony about the plant’s proposed use of water. 

The state Energy Facilities Siting Board, which reviews and permits power infrastructure in the state, will meet for the first time this month to discuss the average of 95,000 gallons of water the plant will need each to help control emissions."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160113/medway-exelon-water-hearings-on-friday

The hearing is interesting for a couple of reasons: one, for Medway's use of the water and two, Franklin has an interest in getting additional water from Millis to help with the Kingsbury Pond issue.

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"The Franklin School Committee is considering two draft calendars for the upcoming school year. 

Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski at Tuesday night's committee meeting presented the early drafts for informational purposes only. The committee will be asked to make a decision at its next meeting on Jan. 26."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160113/franklin-school-committee-mulls-calendar

The two draft calendars can be viewed here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/01/live-reporting-calendar-choices-2.html

FHS boys basketball tops Foxboro in OT

From Hockomock Sports, we share the results of the FHS basketball games on Tuesday, January 12

Girls Basketball

• Franklin, 45 @ Foxboro, 51 – Final 

– Sophomore Ashley Sampson led the way for the Warriors with 21 points while sophomore Lily Sykes chipped in with 12 points for Foxboro.

Boys Basketball

• Foxboro, 60 @ Franklin, 65 – Final (OT) 

– Senior Tim Prunier scored a game-high 18 points while freshman Jay Dieterle scored 13 points, senior Kevin Gill had 12 points, five rebounds and four assists and Josh Macchi had 11 points and eight rebounds. Foxboro’s Jason Procaccini scored 17 points, Robby Lowey added 12 points and six rebounds and Mark Clagg had 11 points.

For all the results around the Hockomock League on Tuesday
http://www.hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-011216/

Franklin senior Kevin Gill hit a trio of three pointers between the fourth quarter and overtime. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

Ryan Lanigan, Editor-in-Chief, Hockomock Sports provides a complete write up on the game:

"Franklin starting guard Kevin Gill picked a pretty good time to hit his first three of the season. 

With the Panthers trailing 52-44 with just over two minutes to play, Gill took a feed from Josh Macchi and drained the triple from the right side to get within two possessions. 

After Franklin’s defense forced a turnover on the other end, Gill picked an even better time to hit his second three of the season. Once again it was Macchi playing the role of playmaker, finding Gill wide open in the corner and he drained it. 

And then after neither team could hit a go-ahead basket, the teams headed to overtime. That was the best time for Gill to hit his third three of the 2015-2016 campaign. Franklin’s lead was just one as time ticked under a minute in the extra period when Gill found himself in the corner — this time the left side — and hit nothing but net to give the Panthers the lead for good. 

Gill helped Franklin cap a big comeback and score a 65-60 win over Foxboro in overtime."

Continue reading the article online at Hockomock Sports
http://www.hockomocksports.com/gill-sparks-franklins-comeback-win-over-foxboro/

High School Musical: On Stage! performed by BFCCPS

The Fine and Performing Arts Department at the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School is pleased to announce upcoming performances of High School Musical: On Stage! to be held at the Horace Mann Middle School located at 224 Oak Street in Franklin, Massachusetts.

Performances will be held on Friday, January 29th from 7 – 9 PM and Saturday, January 30th from 2 – 4 PM. The public is invited and welcomed to attend the show! Tickets are priced at $15 for adults and $12 for children age five and up. Tickets will be sold at the door, or advance tickets will be available for purchase at www.bfccps.org.

Disney High School Musical  - BFCCPS

This high-energy show is based on the hit Disney Channel movie and the cast is comprised of 40 students in Grades Six through Grade Eight under the direction of Mr. Bernard Benjamin. Musical Direction has been provided by Ms. Ruth Monty, the pit will be directed by Mr. Christopher Heater, artistic direction has been supervised by Mrs. Deb Balcerek, and choreography by Ms. Megan Condon. This year’s Props and Stage Manager is Mrs. Pam Holmes, Costume Hair and Makeup Design has been organized by Alumna Aleena Butt and our Production Assistants are Alumna Aliya Butt and Grade 8 Student Bridget Jackson. The cast is also supported by a dedicated 20 member backstage crew.

The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School has received the 2014 SupportMusic Merit Award from the NAMM Foundation in recognition of its outstanding commitment to music education. This is the fourth time that the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School has received this prestigious recognition.

The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School has been in operation since 1995 and recently celebrated it’s twentieth anniversary this spring. The school provides a well-rounded, rigorous academic program designed to educate the whole child. BFCCPS’s educational philosophy, which is centered around strong core academic subjects, as well as yearlong courses in art, music, languages, technology, and physical education, integrated character education and community service, and strong parent partnerships, has lead to local, state and national recognition. Applications are now available online for enrollment for the 2016-2017 school year.

If you’d like learn more about the educational mission of the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School please contact the school’s Marketing Coordinator, Joanne Basile, at jbasile@bfccps.org or 508-541-3434 x140.

In the News: Kingsbury Pond issue, substance abuse presentation

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"A meeting is set to take place Wednesday night to address resident concerns that Franklin wells have been drawing too much water from a local pond. 

State Rep. Shawn Dooley, R-Norfolk, will host the meeting, organized in response to a petition on Change.org regarding the water levels at Kingsbury Pond. It is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. at the Norfolk Public Library. 

Dooley noted that the pond's water level had reached its lowest point in 40 years, something some locals attributed to neighboring Franklin wells. As many who live in the area appreciate the beauty of the pond, he said, this naturally led to some concern. 

"I know there were additional factors (leading to the low water levels), like the drought and the fact that several of Franklin's other wells were down, but they were pulling more heavily from the pond," he said. "So, some neighbors got together and formed a petition."

image of Kingsbury Pond from petition

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160112/franklin-meeting-to-address-pond-water-levels

The earlier posting on the petition can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/12/save-kingsbury-pond-petition-underway.html

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"Members of the school district's Substance Abuse Task Force spoke at Tuesday's School Committee meeting about their efforts to combat drug and alcohol use among students. 

High School Principal Peter Light, health department director Kristin Cerce and guidance counselor Josh MacCreery gave a slideshow presentation about substance abuse in schools and the strategies used to discourage use. 

"It's really about building emotional maturity and the skill for children to be able to adapt," Light said. "A lot of what leads to abuse is anxiety and mental health issues."

http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160112/franklin-sustance-abuse-task-force-gives-presentation-to-school-committee

The live reporting from the School Committee meeting on this topic including the presentation document can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/01/live-reporting-substance-abuse.html

In the News: Dance performance scheduled, Photographers show scheduled

The Palladino School of Dance at Dean College will perform a choreographers’ concert 8 p.m. Feb. 5-6 in the Campus Center’s Main Stage at 99 Main St. 

The concert will highlight the choreography of selected upper class dance majors. 

The opening night will be only the performance, while the second night will offer the performance along with guest artists’ discussion of selected student work. 

Tickets range from $5-$22 and can be purchased online by visiting dean.edu/boxoffice.

Palladino Dance performing during the Franklin Cultural Festival in July 2015

http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160112/palladino-school-of-dance-at-dean-college-to-present-choreographers-concert-feb-5-6

Two Franklin photographers, Marjorie Sardella, of Beaux Regards Photographic Art, and Rebecca Skinner, of Rebecca Skinner Photography, will open a juried photographic exhibit titled “Reflections: A Photographic Expression” at the Morini Gallery, 377 N. Main St., Mansfield. 

The exhibit features the work of 17 photographers, each with their own unique response to the subject, and will continue until March 20. Most of the pieces will be available for purchase. 

An artists’ reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 16 will give visitors the opportunity to meet the photographers and discuss their work. The Morini Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. 

For more information, call 508-339-2822 or visit mmas.org.

http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160112/franklin-residents-curate-reflections-photographic-expression-exhibit

Live reporting: Action Items

4. Action Items

a. I recommend acceptance of four checks totaling $3,350.00 for FHS as detailed:

1. Raytheon $1,000.00
2. Franklin Music boosters $1,800.00
3. Maura Schaeffer $250.00 (scholarship)
4. Anonymous $300.00
motion to accept, seconded, passed 6-0


b. I recommend acceptance of three checks totaling $12,496.00 from Franklin Music Parents from the Middle and High Schools.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 6-0

c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from Lueder’s for Davis Thayer Elementary School.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 6-0

d. I recommend approval of the addition of Girls/Boys Freshman Lacrosse 
motion to accept, seconded, passed 6-0

and Girls Gymnastics as outlined by FHS Principal.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 6-0

The motions were made separately but both ultimately passed. The unified team is more a group than technically a team and hence did not need a committee vote per Superintendent Sabolinski


Note: unfortunately, I need to leave to cover a work commitment so I was unable to report on the remainder of the meeting Tuesday night. I should be able to catch the remainder via video replay.

Live reporting: calendar choices - 2 options for 2016-2017

Option one

• starts after Labor Day, ends June 21

Option two

• start staff and students before Labor Day, end June 16

Douglas - can we consider using Dec 23 as half-day (either way) as a thanks for the teachers

Scofield - since we go so late, have we considered one winter break rather than 2?
Sabolinski - we have some discussion and data around that but it is not conclusive either way