"helps the whole school be a student body"

The High School Experience program runs the weeklong orientation - yesterday was the last day - and introduces new students to as many aspects of Franklin High as it can, from academics to simple things such as the layout of the building. Sophomore, junior and senior volunteers helped to acclimate their new schoolmates. 

"I've learned a lot," said incoming freshman Hannah Gallo, citing her newfound knowledge of the footprint of the school, especially. "Before, when we had tours, I didn't know where we were going at all. There was a group of 50 people, and now it's a group of 10." 

More than 230 freshmen - there will be about 400 in the Class of 2015 - took part in the optional freshman orientation. The first year brought in around 90 students, and last year had 198, said Kristin Cerce, co-director of the program and the district director of health and physical education. School starts Aug. 31.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1510868100/Schooling-the-rookies-in-Franklin#ixzz1VZCgHXiS

Franklin's McGann undecided on re-election

 

 

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

 

 

Franklin's McGann undecided on re-election

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Alison McCall/Daily News staff on 8/19/11

Town Councilor Joseph McGann said yesterday that he is interested in serving on a town board, but has not decided whether he will seek re-election to the council or run for a different board in the Nov. 8 election.

 

 

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“There’s room for improvement”

“It seems that there is a clear need for a more ambitious curriculum -- and more rigorous assessment of teachers and student performance,” Charny said. 

Chester said the state’s new Common Core curriculum has made many changes to math education standards already, such as putting more emphasis on teaching proportional reasoning and fractions. 

“Too often, curriculum in those areas have not been as deliberately and carefully sequenced as they should be,” he said. 

Ultimately, though, “math is math,” said Sweeney. “Nothing’s changed about it.” 

“So much of what we’re talking about is the basics,” said DeBenedictis. “Give (students) support, and math is really much easier to supplement than writing, for example.” 

What’s important, educators agree, is finding ways to make the subject interesting to students, and rewarding for them to master. Sweeney said he often tries to incorporate real-life math problems -- figuring out electrical circuits, for example -- so that students will “see firsthand how (math) is done, and how it’s used.”

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x386669906/Solving-Americas-math-challenge#ixzz1VZB1Fiqp

"It's been a wonderful experience"

Former Town Councilor Deborah Bartlett has taken out papers to run against incumbent Town Clerk Deborah Pellegri. Pellegri has been town clerk for 27 years, she said, and was last challenged 17 years ago. 

"I don't take anything for granted," said Pellegri, of her position. "I am excited for every election whether I'm running in it or not." 

Current School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy, and current School Building Committee Chairman Thomas Mercer have taken out papers for Town Council, along with Juan Ramon Riveras. 

Three of the nine current town councilors, Chairman Scott Mason, Shannon Zollo and Stephen Whalen, have said they do not intend to run for re-election. In Franklin, the seats of all nine councilors are up for grabs every two years.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x633535108/Franklin-town-clerk-may-face-a-challenger#ixzz1VStXt9zI

Related post:
The full slate of positions available for election as well as the complete timeline can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/08/franklin-election-details-are-now.html

Farmers Market: noon to 6:00 PM

Franklin Farmers Market,  Friday,  12:00pm to 6:00pm

Located on the Town Common

Reminder that the Farmers' Market now accepts SNAP dollars and can double your purchasing power.
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/07/franklin-farmers-market-doubles-food.html

Visit the Food Pantry tent at the Farmers' Market for details.

"right back into the swing of things"

"As a coach you have a good understanding of what coaches have to do and do not lose track of what it's like," said Sidwell.

There is much to do this time of year for any athletic director. For the AD-football coach dual role, preparation is the key for opening week.

"To be honest, from doing this awhile, you get used to the flow of how it works," said Sidwell. "You work during the summer prior to this so it's not just overwhelming. You meet with the (fall) coaches over the summer. And you need good maintenance people, which we do in Franklin, that will know what to do with the fields so we do not have a lot of problems and it's not an issue."

Read more: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/archive/x1510867605/Local-ADs-getting-ready-for-summer#ixzz1VQIRSpK7

Avery Give Back to Schools

I saw the Parmenter sign the other day and wondered what Avery was up to.




When I visited Avery.com I found the following:

There are lots of ways to help earn cash and much needed supplies for your school today. First, make sure that Avery school supplies are on all your Back-to-School supply lists. Avery offers high-quality, durable school supplies with Box Tops for Education® coupons, so kids and parents can clip off the coupons and give them to their schools. Each coupon is worth 10¢—and boy does it add up fast! Schools have earned over $1,000,000 from Box Tops coupons found on Avery products that have helped purchase computers, playground equipment, books and more.And with the Avery Give Back to Schools™ promotion, all you have to do is vote for your favorite school. The top five schools at the end of the promotion will each win $10,000 worth of Avery School Supplies, 10,000 Bonus Box Tops coupons, and $1,000 worth of gift cards. Twenty-five runner-up schools will also win 5,000 Bonus Box Tops coupons! So what are you waiting for? Start voting today! 

Promotion runs June 15 - September 16. Winners announced in late September.

Visit Avery.com here http://givebacktoschools.avery.com/schools/index

Register with an email (you can opt out of receiving promotional emails!) and vote often for your favorite Franklin school!