Legislative trio joins School Committee for school funding discussion - Feb 13

"Rep. Roy will join the Franklin School Committee and his colleagues Senator Karen Spilka and Senator Richard Ross for a public discussion on current and future education funding issues. The event will take place on Tuesday, February 13 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Franklin High School Lecture Hall. 

The School Committee aims to keep Franklin as a a shining star among both private and public schools across the state. But concerns over per pupil spending, together with rising costs in health insurance, transportation and special education tuition have created pressures on the school budget.

The forum is an opportunity for State officials to provide updates and insights on legislative initiatives directly impacting public schools in general and Franklin in particular. The focus will be on funding and other school issues in the current legislative session."

For more on the February 13 forum
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180102/franklin-2018-brings-budget-trouble

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/01/franklin-school-committee-legislative.html

Left to right: Sen Ross, Rep Roy, Sen Spilka and Delegate Ladybug (from the FM archives 2015)

From Representative Roy's recent newsletter

http://mailchi.mp/a42a07f42d43/wods53wesj?e=fe0f7dd5f3

Tri-County Wrestling Team Wins Mayflower League Title

The Tri-County Regional Cougars wrestling team captured the Mayflower League Title with a 48-27 victory over the Bristol-Plymouth Regional Craftsman last night. 

Earning pins for the Cougars were Cole Guertin, a sophomore of North Attleboro; Patrick Griffin, a sophomore of Franklin; Phil Hulbig a senior from North Attleboro; Drew Hansen, a junior from Plainville; Bobby Fryar, a senior from Plainville; Hashim Lopez, a junior from Walpole; and Dominic Parrella, a junior from Medway. 

The Cougars are now 12-1 for the season. The team will wrestle again this Saturday, January 20th, at the Cape Cod Invitational at Sandwich High School, Sandwich, MA.

(photo taken by Amgela Anderson, a junior from Medway)

For more about Tri-County athletics, visit them online  http://www.tri-county.us/athletics

"October 2020, you will be asked for a passport or REAL ID"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"People who want to travel on planes throughout the United States will soon need a passport or what is being called a Real ID. 

Beginning on March 26, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles will offer Real IDs, although they will not be required for travel until October 2020. 

The Real ID is a security standard created by the federal government in 2005 as part of measures after the 9-11 terrorist attacks. 

Everyone who is eligible for a Massachusetts driver’s license can obtain them, but there will be more stringent requirements, RMV spokeswoman Judith Reardon Riley said. "

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180117/with-nod-toward-greater-security-registry-to-begin-issuing-real-ids

https://www.mass.gov/guides/real-id

For additional info check out the Mass.gov site for Real ID
https://www.mass.gov/guides/real-id

Franklin High School Jazz Night - Jan 24

Franklin High School is pleased to invite you to our annual Jazz Concert. Come hear our very own award winning FHS Jazz Band under the direction of Mrs. Leighanne Rudsit. Also performing will be three jazz combos under the direction of Mrs. Rudsit. 

Music will include swing, bebop, ballads and funk. Some big band titles will include “Lindy Hopper’s Delight”, "Oop Bop Sh’Bam”, as well as Louis Prima’s “Sing, Sing, Sing” and James Peterik’s “Vehicle”. Featured soloists include Matthew Padula on Tenor Saxophone, Bobby Castro and Myles Polioto on Drums, Zachary Cullins on Trombone, and Mitchell Taylor on Bass. 

The event will take place at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, January 24 at the Franklin High School auditorium. A $5 donation is requested at the door, but is not required.

In the News: students sent kindness letters; Hopkinton opens outdoor ice rink ; Marlboro business opens brewing coffee and beer

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"A simple reading assignment turned into a one-hundred-fold act of kindness for a local group of young students. 

Fifth-grade students at Oak Street Elementary School decided last fall to send words of encouragement to lawmakers who work at the Statehouse. 

Each of the 100 “kindness letters” contains an inspiring quote hand-written by a student. 

“In this political climate, so many adults could benefit from these messages about listening, understanding, and accepting,” said teacher Heather Adams. “The impact it had on our state representatives is much bigger than what I imagined it would be.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180118/franklin-students-send-kindness-letters-to-statehouse

"Just before sunset Thursday, Mark Rhodes helped his 10-year-old son, Neil, lace up his skates at the town’s outdoor skating rink at Carrigan Park. 

“As soon as I get home from work he says, “Dad let’s go,’” Rhodes said. Word of the rink opening is spreading around town. 

Neil brought a hockey stick that he got about a year ago. 

“It’s really good ice and the rink is nice and big,” the fourth-grader at Hopkins school said. “You can play hockey on it.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180118/hopkintons-outdoor-skating-rink-now-open

"J.P. and Melynda Gallagher are brewing up something special for downtown.
Lost Shoe Brewing and Roasting Company is expected to open this summer in the former Speakers nightclub at 19 Weed St., J.P. Gallagher said on Thursday. 

“We always wanted to be in Marlborough, both my wife and I were born and raised in Marlborough,” said Gallagher. 

Lost Shoe will be more than a brewery. It will also be a coffee roaster and coffee shop. J.P. Gallagher has been a long time homebrewer and recently graduated from the American Brewers Guild in Vermont. His wife Melynda recently completed a coffee roasting course at the Coffee Lab International School of Coffee, also in Vermont. 

The idea is to be an all-day business – Lost Shoe will open at 8 a.m. to serve coffee and the brewery will begin serving beer later in the day."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180118/lost-shoe-to-brew-beer-roast-coffee-in-marlborough

Marlboro business opens brewing coffee and beer

Volunteers needed for the Franklin High School All Night Party

Sign ups are open for chaperoning the Franklin High School All Night Party June 1-2 following Graduation. We need over 350 volunteers! It's a big deal to be part of this important community event. 

We have shifts from 11-3 AM and 1-5 AM for cleanup. Please share!

Thank you for understanding how important this event is to keep Franklin safe after high school graduation.

Sign up by clicking the link http://www.fhsallnightparty.com/sign-up-to-volunteer.html

Volunteers needed for the Franklin High School All Night Party

Tri-County Children's Center to Host Registration & Open House for 2018-2019 Preschool Programs

Registration and Open House for the Tri-County Children’s Center preschool program for 2018 – 2019 will be held on Thursday, February 8th, from 12:15-1:45 and Friday, February 9th, from 9 AM to 10:30 AM at the Tri-County Regional High School in Franklin at 147 Pond Street. Parents will be able to view the preschool while children can engage in developmentally appropriate activities. For more information, please visit www.tcchildrenscenter.com.

Placement is limited to residents of the 11 towns within the Tri-County District, Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Plainville, Seekonk, Sherborn, Walpole and Wrentham. Admission is decided through a lottery system. Registration will be made open to other towns if spaces are not filled by residents within the district.

The number of children registered has traditionally far exceeded the number of spaces available so a random drawing was established. The random drawing for enrollment will take place on Friday, March 2, 2018. Those names not selected in the drawing will be placed on a waiting list.

Birth certificates for children being registered must accompany all registration forms. Registration is limited to those children who are at least age 3 years by September 15, 2018 for the three day program, and 4 years by September 15, 2018 for the four day program. A $25.00 non-refundable registration fee is due at registration time. Enrollment is limited to two years or part of two years for the preschool program, as long as the child is age eligible.

Preschool sessions are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:50 to 11:20 a.m. for the three day program and Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for the four day program. Tuition is $36.00* per week for the three day program and $48.00* per week for the four day program. Class size is limited to 30 children. *Subject to change

Three teachers in the Tri-County Early Education Program supervise the programs, and are assisted by students in the Early Education Major.

Tri-County RVTHS, located at 147 Pond Street in Franklin, is a recipient of the High Schools That Work Gold Achievement Award and serves the communities of Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Plainville, Seekonk, Sherborn, Walpole, and Wrentham.

Registration and Open House for the Tri-County Children’s Center preschool program