Live reporting: School Committee - March 12, 2019

Present: Feeley, Douglas, Scofield, Linden, Bergen, Schultz, Zub, 
Absent: none

1. Routine Business
a. Review of Agenda
no adjustments

b. Citizen’s Comments

i. In the spirit of open communication, “the School Committee will hear public comment not related to an agenda item at the beginning of each regular School Committee Meeting. The Committee will listen to, but not respond to any comment made. A Committee member may add an agenda item to a future meeting as a result of a citizen comment” – from Policy BEDH

c. FHS Student Representative Comments

d. Superintendent’s Report
Education Commissioner Jeff Riley visited the district today

Superintendent's Report to School Committee - March 12, 2019 from Franklin Matters

photos and updates posting Weds

lots of excitement at the high school
math team champs of southern MA

Mock trail team now in final 8

40 DECA students, 8 qualified for Nationals

Math Lab, STEM challenge, developed fitness tracker apps taking 1st and 2nd place

Shaken performed

MAEA emerging artist competition

Poetry Outloud

FHS Jazz festival, competing at States

MICA showcase tonight and Thursday
also had #1 jazz drummer in MA

Cheer 1st runner up

Girls basketball in OT and leading

2. Guests / Presentations
a. Elementary School Improvement Plan Updates
Kelty Kelley - ECDC update
learning through play
all the ECDC teachers are special educators
teachers have individual blogs at ECDC

2018-19 ECDC SIP Update - March 12, 2019 from Franklin Matters

(presentation to be added later - posted to Schools page on Weds (usually) so I can add it with the meeting summary later this week)

6 elementary schools represented by Principals (or Vice-Principals)

Elementary SIP Mid-year Update - March 12, 2019 from Franklin Matters

weekend backpack coordinated with Food Pantry for a number of students across the 6

highlights on SEL work across the schools

a view from the back of the room during the Elementary Schools presentation/discussion

school specific initiatives
Parmenter - developing new modules with rigorous learning and student choice
Keller - argumentative writing and speaking

opportunities for students to enhance and reinforce their learning
increase in collaboration among teachers in common planning time

working on 2-way effective communications, how to incorporate feedback from the families into the process

genius hour - an educational and flexible version of the Google 20% time for passion projects

incorporated feedback into revised curriculum nights at the elementary schools

Electric Youth returns to THE BLACK BOX - March 22

On Friday, March 22 at 7:30 pm, Electric Youth returns to THE BLACK BOX, offering family entertainment with music for all ages. Backed by an eight-piece band of world-class musicians, EY delivers high-energy music, including pop, classic rock, contemporary Broadway and country hits. 

The EY show at THE BLACK BOX will feature fully choreographed performances of One Republic, No Doubt, Guns N’ Roses, Aretha Franklin, The Greatest Showman, Kelly Clarkson, and more.

Get your tickets online
https://www.theblackboxonline.com/events.php?id=1232

Electric Youth returns to THE BLACK BOX - March 22

Voices of Franklin: Ashley Papadopoulos - running Boston for a cause

Christina Tocci and I have been running together for over 5 years. We have both run one other marathon, but this will be our first time running Boston.

Christina writes...

"I have lived in Franklin for 7 years but my husband Mark was born and raised here. We are so happy to be raising our children in the same wonderful community he was brought up in. My daughter, Izzie (7) attends Oak Street Elementary and my son Nicholas (4) is in preschool at Franklin Children's School."

I have lived in Franklin for 13 years. I have worked in FPS since 2006 and am currently a first grade teacher at Davis Thayer. This town has been such a wonderful place to raise my family - Theo (9) and Alex (5) attend the Keller school.

Voices of Franklin: Ashley Papadopoulos - running Boston for a cause

We were able to secure bibs through Dell/EMC (my husband works here) to run for the Michael Lisnow Respite Center in Hopkinton, MA - located about a mile from the marathon start line. They have been open for almost 20 years and providing emotional and physical support for individuals with disabilities and their families.

http://www.hopkintonrespite.com

Ashley Papadopoulos, Christina Tocci

Our long training runs are usually done early on Saturday mornings, we normally meet around 5 AM and have been running all over Franklin, but hope to practice on the course soon too.

Boston Marathon has always been a topic we have discussed as we trained for our first marathons or half marathons - we have taken our families to watch the Boston Marathon together. It is pretty awesome that all this "talk" and "dreaming" about running Boston is actually happening! We are feeling so thankful for the opportunity to run this race and raise money for the Respite Center. The donations Michael's Miracle Team raise help the youngest children at the center. Ages birth to 3 years.

I have met my fundraising goal already, but Christina is still working on hers. 

Here is her link:
https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/michael-lisnow-respite-center-boston-2019/christinatocci

If you can help, your support is appreciated!
Ashley Papadopoulos

Alumni and former FHS lacrosse all star - Jack Vail

Josh Perry, Managing Editor of HockomockSports.com, provides a write up on former FHS lacrosse all star Jack Vail.

"Things haven’t started exactly as planned for the Springfield College men’s lacrosse team through the opening four games of the new season. The Pride are 1-3 after four games, but senior attacker Jack Vail is confident that the team, which received votes in national preseason polls, is capable of challenging for the NEWMAC title. 

“Our main focus is just to work really hard on ourselves and competing against each every single day,” Vail explained in a conversation ahead of last weekend’s trip to Union College (N.Y.). “We’ve been definitely working hard to improve and just keep getting better every day.” 

Through four games, Vail is fourth on the team with four goals and seven points, but his role as a senior and as a captain is bigger than just scoring. A former Hockomock League MVP and two-time HockomockSports.com Player of the Year at Franklin, Vail is also the leader of the attacking unit and he takes that responsibility seriously. 

“I’m able to be a more vocal presence and mold the team into what we want it to be as a senior class,” he said. When asked how it felt to be selected as the captain by his teammates, Vail replied, “It was a great feeling. I’ve always aspired to be in those leadership roles, so being voted captain was a satisfying feeling.”

Continue reading the write up online
https://hockomocksports.com/franklins-jack-vail-looking-to-get-pride-on-track-this-spring/

Former Franklin standout and HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Jack Vail (14) is looking to follow up an all-NEWMAC season with a strong senior campaign at Springfield College. (Springfield College Athletics)

Three FHS Music Students to perform with the Massachusetts All State Honor Band and Jazz Band

3 Franklin High School Music Students to perform with the Massachusetts All State Honor Band and Jazz Band

Massachusetts Music Educators Association will be holding the 2019 All-State Music Festival. Three students from the Franklin High School band program were selected for an ensemble and will perform at Symphony Hall in Boston.

The annual All-State Conference features as many as 120 teacher workshops, several concert hours and casual concerts, and is attended by more than 800 music educators and 500 of Massachusetts' top student musicians performing band, orchestral, jazz or choral repertoire.

The Franklin High School students that were selected for the All-State Ensembles Program are: Augustine Marzoratti - Clarinet, Emma Kucich- Flute and Robert Castro - Jazz Drums.

“The all-state experience is a chance for some of our advanced players to surround themselves with the best student musicians in the state,” said Diane Plouffe, Director of Music. “The audition process alone exposes students to other local musicians outside of the Franklin Public Schools who are striving for musical excellence and achievement in their community and school. We are proud of all of our students.”

Emma Kucich- Flute, Augustine Marzoratti - Clarinet and Robert Castro - Jazz Drums

Tri-County Honor Roll for 2Q 2018-2019 School Year

The Honor Roll for the second quarter from Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School in Franklin. Students who receive term grades of B- or better in all subjects earn honor roll status. Students who earn grades of A- or better in all subjects receive high honors

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SjyCxvuCQOimfOhrleO865XeCvTm9g8l/view?usp=sharing

Tri-County: 2Q 2018-2019 Honor Roll

In the News: MBTA gets fare hike approved; bill to ban tackle football for youth filed

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

MBTA gets fare hike approved for commuter rail and subway

"Commuters will have to pay more to ride the commuter rail and subway in the Boston area. 

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Fiscal and Management Control Board on Monday voted to boost fares an average of about 6 percent. Subway fares would rise 15 cents to $2.40. Commuter rail prices would vary by region, but the maximum increase for a one-way fare would be 75 cents. 

The board opted to exempt bus fares from hikes. Student and senior fares would also be exempt from the hike. 

The fare hikes would take effect July 1. The T says they would raise about $29 million annually."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190311/mbta-control-board-votes-to-hike-fares

MBTA gets fare hike approved for commuter rail and subway

"The sun was bright and the temperature unseasonably warm last month when the New England Patriots once again climbed atop duck boats and rolled down Boylston Street to celebrate their latest Super Bowl win. 

But a few miles away on Beacon Hill, a shadow was looming over the future of youth football in Massachusetts. 

That’s because a bipartisan bill calling for a ban on tackling in football until after seventh grade had been filed in the state Legislature. 

The bill, titled An Act for No Organized Head Impacts to Children (nicknamed “No Hits Act”), would involve financial penalties – $2,000 for the first offense and $5,000 for the second offense – for any school league or other entity that does not comply with the rule."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190312/bill-to-ban-tackling-in-youth-football-gains-ground-on-beacon-hill