Thursday, October 1, 2009

World-Record Kite Event

World-Record Kite Event: "'The New England Children’s Foundation (NE Children’s Foundation), bringing the technology community together to raise funds for grassroots charities benefiting the children of New England, today announced an officially-sanctioned attempt at breaking the Guinness world record for most kites flown simultaneously. The goal of the fundraising event is to simultaneously fly 1,000 kites, to break the current Guinness World Record of 967, established in Germany during August 2008.The family-friendly event will be held on October 11, 2009 and hosted by Patriot Place.'

http://www.patriot-place.com/article.aspx?id=2042
"

golf tourney as scholarship fundraiser

For more information, please check the Wicked Local link:

Jenna Pasquino Memorial Foundation plans golf tourney scholarship fundraiser: "

The Jenna Pasquino Memorial Foundation will hold its first annual golf tournament on Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Blissful Meadows Golf Club, Chockalog Road, Uxbridge.

 


In the Globe - FHS Football

How big was the FHS football team victory over Mansfield last week? BIG! First time in ten years and the Globe runs a story on the team:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2009/10/01/franklin_high_ready_to_keep_rolling/


In the News - hotel tax

The first non-property tax to create additional revenue for Franklin goes into effect today. Read more about this in the Milford Daily News:


Optional meals, hotel tax hikes go into effect in Franklin




Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Gallery 218 - new art show reveals talents!

By now, you know that I am a practicing photographer. I take lots of pictures, some of which you see here. I get nervous about taking pictures of artist's work. I am now imposing my view, my frame of reference upon the work. It may create something other than what the artist intended.

Gallery 218 opened a new show featuring the creations of personnel throughout the District who are non-art teachers. I counted at least 28 artists with one or more pieces in this show!

This opens a new world. A math teacher does quilts. A computer technician does sculpture. The Director of Instructional Services does a head in plaster. The list goes on. Wonderful works. Here is a sample of what you can see:



I hope you are teased enough by this to visit Gallery 218 at Franklin High School.


Note: For those email subscribers, you may need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the photo slideshow.

Proposal to restructure around literacy

Though adolescent literacy instruction is prime for more research and development, A Time to Act underscores the importance of teaching reading within the nuanced context of each subject area, and beyond the current concentration on decoding skills in grades K-3.
Read the full posting about the new report just released by the Carnegie Corporation of New York’s Council on Advancing Adolescent Literacy here


The new report advocates restructuring schools K-12 around literacy.


You can also obtain the full report here.


Recall that the elementary school of Franklin have literacy as their number one goal across the School Improvement Plans just presented to the School Committee


In the News - Vietnam casualties, education

New signs in planning to recognize Franklin's Vietnam War casualties


A sign of respect

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Gallery 218 - NonArt Teacher Show - opens today

Gallery 218 (in Franklin High School) is opening a new show of art by non-art teachers within the Franklin Public Schools on Tuesday, Sep 29th with a reception from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io

Come to view the new show in the Gallery!



Services available at Tri-County

The Auto Tech Program provides oil changes, tire repair, rotation, and mounting, front end and brake realignment, and much more. Additionally, the Carpentry, Facilities Management, and HVAC&R Career Programs offer a variety of services upon request.
Two benefits from this, you should be able to get a service for a reasonable price, and the students get to learn from real work.

Tri-County offering vocational services to public

from Wicked Local Franklin News RSS




What is differentiated instruction?

The development of differentiated instruction over the years is outlined in a good article.
Washburne takes the reader through a short history of reform efforts aimed at making education more individualized, beginning with the efforts of charismatic educator Preston Search, of Pueblo, Colo., and proceeding through the work of Frederic Burk, who "started a movement to make textbooks self-instructive and enable children, systematically, to progress according to their own ability." From the Project Method to ability grouping, Washburne's history shows how evolving understanding of learning and development shapes educators' efforts to meet the needs of all students.
Read the full article here. Bold in quote for my emphasis.




In the News - Milford rail trail update

For those in Franklin working on or interested with the progress on area rail trails, this is the latest on the effort in Milford.

Milford bike trail's final stage discussed

from The Milford Daily News Homepage RSS by Danielle Ameden/Daily News staff



Monday, September 28, 2009

Hold the date! October 17th

Why hold the date?
Are you interested in the new social media technologies? Would you like to learn more about blogging, podcast, Twitter, Facebook, etc? Then the event being held at New England Institute for Technology in Warwick, RI is the one for you.
But I am a beginner?
No problem, this event is geared to the beginners. Yes, if you have some knowledge is this area you can still learn but it is targeted for the "newbies", hence NewBCamp.
How much does it cost?
Only $10. For the price of a movie, or a couple of coffees, you can gain the information you need to keep up with the technology. Don't fall behind. Participate at NewBCamp on October 17th
Tickets go on sale on October 1. The link and additional information will be provided as soon as the registration is open.


Mu Han Tae Kwan Do

Mu Han Tae Kwan Do opened in Franklin early in 2008. They chose Franklin because of the areas' emphasis on education. While there are many martial arts schools, Mu Han provides a distinct difference with its approach.


Mu Han is Korean for "no limits". The approach they make to martial arts training at Mu Han is briefly described with two lines:
  1. "Together, the best of the best"
  2. "Be the best _______"
Martial arts is not just a practice, not just a training, it is a way of education. In this light, the first line "together, the best of the best" is understood. You approach being the best from whatever point you start at. You have the opportunity to work with talented and experienced instructors. From your starting point, you make progress. Together you can achieve more.


Practicing with others is very motivational but you are focusing on your improvement not competing with other students. Along the way you learn discipline, confidence and how to practice. When you achieve your goal, you are in a better position to set new goals. You will see the whole landscape with a more experienced view and will set better goals.

The second line bring with it the personalization of your talent or skills. If you are a mother, or a student, or a bricklayer, you can strive to be the best mother, the best student, the best bricklayer.  Be the best (fill in the blank).

Master Chang Nam Kang worked hard on his way from South Korea to the US. He benefited from fortunate connections. For example, while working at a restaurant in Manhattan, his supervisor referred him to an instructor position with Grandmaster Y H Park's school. Master Kang worked with Grandmaster Park's school for three years.  From Manhattan, Master Kang went to Springfield, MA then to Salem, NH before coming back to MA and gradually opening the three locations now associated with Mu Han Tae Kwan Do (Attleboro, Danvers, and Franklin). The students across the three schools have grown to number about 500. Approximately, 60-70 of them have achieved a black belt level.

Mu Han is located in Franklin at 456 West Central St in the same plaza as Elizabeth's Bagels and across the street from Annie's Market. The offer a flexible schedule of classes for all ages of the family. The schedule can be found here  



Mu Han's web site can be found here:  http://muhanmartialarts.com/Home.aspx

An article from the Milford Daily News was published in 2008 and features a brief video clip of Master Chang and Master Jin in a few demonstrations.
Master Chang was featured on the cover of Tae Kwan Do Times in 2002:
Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io






If you are interested in martial arts training, then the Mu Han Tae Kwan Do School located right here in Franklin would be a good place to consider.


In the News - dog park, honey, Dean College


A town dog park is part of the five-year plan in the 2008 Open Space Recreation Plan created by the Public Land Use Committee as something on the wish list of Franklin residents, Jette said.
The best spot for the park, Jette said, would be at Dacey Field off Lincoln Street, behind the playground and set back into the woods.



Franklin considering dog park idea

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Angel Roy/Daily News staff

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Howard is frequently at the Farmers Market to sell his local honey.


Hive Mind: Franklin farmer has been collecting honey for 45 years

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English language company to leave Dean



Sunday, September 27, 2009

Populatic Street Closed

9/23/09
PUBLIC NOTICE


POPULATIC STREET FROM WALKER ROAD IN MEDWAY TO BRANDYWINE ROAD IN FRANKLIN WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL OCTOBER 9, 2009.  THE ROAD CLOSURE IS NECESSARY TO CORRECT A SAFETY ISSUE.

POPULATIC STREET WILL BE OPEN TO LOCAL TRAFFIC FROM WALKER ROAD IN MEDWAY TO 10 POPULATIC STREET IN FRANKLIN AND FROM BRANDYWINE ROAD IN FRANKLIN TO 50 POPULATIC STREET IN FRANKLIN.

EMERGENCY VEHICLES, SCHOOL BUSES AND TRASH HAULERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SAFELY PASS THROUGH THE SECTION OF ROAD BETWEEN 10 AND 50 POPULATIC STREET IN FRANKLIN AND SHOULD SEEK ALTERNATE ROUTES.

Found on the Town website