Thursday, September 25, 2008

Live performances this weekend in Franklin

Classical music on Sunday

Franklin’s own LiveARTS Sunday Concert Series presents the 2008-2009 season lineup and opening performance scheduled by award-winning Triple Helix, the Piano Trio, on Sunday, Sept.28, at 3:30 p.m.

All concerts are held at the First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut St.

LiveARTS Sunday Concert Series is an affordable way for classical music lovers to enjoy professional, high-quality artistry right in their backyard. Season subscriptions are $45 adults, $30 youth and seniors, and $75 for family groups of three or more. Season subscriptions give you the gift of four concerts for the price of three.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here


Folk music on Saturday

Don White is appearing Saturday at the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse. Opening will be Teresa Storch. View the full schedule and order your tickets online at the Circle of Friends website here


Cabaret at the High School

The student production of Cabaret will be conducted at Franklin High School this weekend. I could not find additional information online but if you call the high school, they should be able to provide the details.


Accreditation - more kindergartens earn the mark!

FRANKLIN -

John F. Kennedy and the F.X. O’Regan Early Childhood Development Center are one of the first early childhood programs to earn accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the nation’s leading organization of early childhood professionals.

"We’re proud to have earned the mark of quality from NAEYC, and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards," said principals Joan Toye and Karen Seyfried. "NAEYC Accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible."

read the full article in the Franklin Gazette here

I recall that Oak St Elementary School's kindergarten actually achieved this NAEYC certification first in the new process. Check out the announcement from last year and here.

I think it is more impressive that many of the Franklin schools have accreditation than which one was first.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

In the News - salt prices, students organize, late bus may return

"It was worse than I expected," said Brutus Cantoreggi, Franklin's director of public works. "That's a lot, especially with everything else going up. Fuel is killing me."

Franklin is part of a 24-town consortium that locks in contract prices for road salt. Other area communities in the consortium include Medfield, Medway, Millis, Walpole, Sharon, Wrentham and Norwood. The low bid this year was from Eastern Mineral at $70.20 a ton. Eastern Mineral's bid last year was $52.68.

read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

"Carrying big bulky binders was not the answer I was looking for, and with the demands for tracking student portfolios along with the pressure from impending cuts that would increase class ratios and teaching burdens, I was intent on finding the right tools for this challenge," Bergen said. "Kids who are disorganized are disorganized as adults."

Meanwhile Productive Education LLC of Framingham was reaching out to superintendents across Massachusetts to tell them about its new Organize360 system using Document Organizing Assistant binders, or DocOA, pronounced "Doc Away." It is a three-ring binder-organizing tool for handling school papers.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Following Superintendent Wayne Ogden's announcement that the district this year does not have the money to fund the late bus, parents, administrators and Holmes Bus Service "stepped up to the plate" and found a way to continue offering the service, Roy said.

"We had a bus company (Holmes) willing to negotiate a better deal for the district, which brought the total down to a reasonable $10,000," Roy reported.

Parent Communication Councils from Franklin High School, Annie Sullivan, Remington and Horace Mann middle schools all committed to donating up to $3,300 to completely cover the cost of the late bus, Roy said.

However, the councils will be able to keep their money, he said.

"The Town Council chairman (Christopher Feeley) is very receptive to the notion of the town picking up the cost of the late bus ... There is clearly an overwhelming need for it," said Roy, adding that Feeley and Vice Chairwoman Deborah Bartlett will bring the topic to the council.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

School Committee Meeting - 9/23/08

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Live reporting - Superintendent

Superintendent’s Report
  • FEA Contract
the full negotiation took over two years

  • Literacy Initiative
professional development required to implement this program
more uniform practices across the district
you will hear more about this, it is a multi-year initiative
later this year, should have Michelle Kingsland Smith and some of the lab teachers come in to provide an update

9/29/08 - Horace Mann Auditorium, kick off

School Committee Sub-Committee Reports - none
School Committee Liaison Reports - none

Live reporting - action items

Action Items:
  • I recommend approval of the Budget Transfers as detailed on the attached memo.
tabled - no vote no discussion this evening
  • I recommend approval of the request of the BICO Board of Directors to amend the preamble of the existing agreement of the BICO Collaborative to include the School Committee of the Town of Easton, MA.
approved unanimously
  • I recommend acceptance of a check for $400.00 from the Remington PCC for supplies for RMS.
per earlier discussion tabled to be brought back in a future meeting

  • I recommend acceptance of a check for $600.00 from the Annie Sullivan PCC for 8th grade YMCA end-of-year trip buses.
approved unanimously
  • I recommend acceptance of a check for $9,028.50 from the Davis Thayer PCC for Field Trips and In-House Enrichment as listed on the attached.
approved unanimously
  • I recommend acceptance of a check for $300.00 from the Remington PCC for a 6th grade field trip to the YMCA.
approved unanimously

Live reporting - future agenda items

Cafasso - could we get an update from each of the principals

Trahan - any update on the new building committee?

Rohrbach - an update from Pandora on life long learning

Sabolinski - community health council

Roy - get an update from Chandler on ballot question 1, should bring that before the committee to see if we will take a position

Trahan - if we don't take a position, we should at least let the folks know what it means to the Franklin situation