Walk, Bike to School Day May 2

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Walk, Bike to School Day May 2

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 4/25/12

Thousands of elementary and middle school-aged children will celebrate Walk and Bicycle to School Day on Wednesday, May 2 during events promoted through MassDOT's Safe Routes to School Program.

In 2011, 162 schools from across the Commonwealth participated in this event, the largest to date.   The Safe Routes to School program has added more than 100 new partner schools this year.

MassDOT's Safe Routes to School program works with students, parents, school staff and local police departments across the Commonwealth to promote walking and bicycling to school.

"Massachusetts Walk and Bicycle to School Day reminds us that walking to school can be a fun, healthy and safe way to get to school," said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Richard A. Davey.  "These efforts strongly support our goals of promoting healthy transportation modes through the GreenDOT initiative and Healthy Transportation Compact."

Increasing the number of students who walk and bicycle to school helps improve students' health, reduce traffic congestion, and improve air quality in Massachusetts communities.

According to the US Department of Transportation, fewer than 16 percent of children walk or bicycle to classes.  School-related traffic can contribute more than 10 percent of morning rush hour traffic volumes in some communities, as well as significant air pollution. MassDOT established the Massachusetts Walk to School Day in 2007 to encourage healthy choices.

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Navigating school information

Realtor Warren Reynolds website 02038.com is full of good information about Franklin in addition to the homes for sale in the area. Two recent additions to his page are helpful to navigate around the school department website and the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).


He points out the key entry pages for the School Dept and School Committee. He gets you to the key comparison sections for each school district within the DESE page. Warren provides some screen shots and links to help you find the pages. Once there, you are free to explore further.

Official Sites for Franklin, MA Public Schools

by Warren Reynolds

School rankings: how do the public schools in Franklin, MA fare?

by Warren Reynolds

Thanks for sharing this information Warren!

Freeze Warning! Be Prepared

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Freeze Warning! Be Prepared

via Growing In Franklin by Franklin Community Gardens on 4/27/12

A note to our Gardeners from King Street Garden Coordinator Chris Clay:


Hello Everyone,

Tonight is the reason we don't plant our tomatoes and other hot weather plants until May, despite the amazing weather we've been having.  There is a strong chance of freeze tonight, and if you have planted tomatoes in your plot they will need protection to survive the night if the temperature dips to freezing.  If you do have tomatoes planted you have a couple of options to save them.

One is to transplant them out of the garden and keep them indoors overnight.  Tomato root systems are incredibly durable and can handle the transfer.  This is the only fool proof way to save them that I know of.

Another would be to purchase some floating row covers to cover your plot.  They will provide at least a couple of degrees of protection and may make the difference, though it will be dicey.  You can add additional coverage by placing multiple 2 liter bottles filled with warm water in the plot under the row covers.  This will provide a couple more degrees of protection.  If you buy a light floating row cover leave the cloth as doubled up as you can while covering the bed.  If you have other non-tomato warm weather plants this may be your best chance to save them.

Option three is to gamble that the weather service is wrong and see what happens.  In the worst case scenario you can always replant.

Peas and other cold hardy plants should do fine tonight, though a row cover never hurts.  This is primarily a warning for anyone who has planted warm weather plants.

Cheers,

Chris Clay


If you don't have any row covers, I have had luck with old towels and blankets, prop them up with sticks or pots or whatever works.  Just be sure to remove them in the morning!
 ~ Amy

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Franklin High School Experience

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Franklin High School Experience

via Lifelong Learning by Pandora Carlucci on 4/27/12

Registrations for the Franklin High School Experience (HSE) 2012 are arriving daily. The HSE is a one-week program that brings together students from several middle schools: Annie Sullivan Middle School, Horace Mann Middle School, Remington Middle School, the middle school from the BFCCPS, and some private middle schools.

Directed by Ms. Cerce, Director of Health and Physical Education for the Franklin Public Schools District, this program welcomes all incoming grade 9 students to FHS. During the week of August 13, students will have the opportunity to meet and to ask questions of the Principal and Assistant Principals, the Athletic Director and the Director of Music.

Students will be introduced to the technology used by the high school: Its Learning. Additionally, they will participate in Challenge by Choice Project Adventure Games, a scavenger hunt and other activities. The students begin and end the day with a large group gathering. Later, they will separated into cohorts of 12 or 14 students, which are led by a FHS faculty member. Students have lunch as a group each day ... pizza, a cook out, and more.

Each freshman student receives a Class of 2016 HSE tee-shirt and a Class of 2016 key lanyard. Last summer almost 2/3 of the incoming freshman class participated in the HSE. We hope to have 100% of incoming grade 9 students participate this summer.

 You can register online: www.franklin.k12.ma.us, select Lifelong, select Summer Program, select High School Experience. If you have a question: e-mail us: lifelong@franklin.k12.ma.us telephone us: 508-553-4814 Come and be part of the fun!!

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In the News: Dunkin' Dash, students charged

Norfolk Dunkin' Dash is Sunday, April 29

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin students to be charged in punch caught on tape

by Brian Benson

Franklin, MA: School Dept - Proposed Budget FY 2013

The presentation document used for the FY 2013 School Budget can be viewed here:



Related posts:
Summary budget documents
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/04/franklin-ma-fy-2013-budget-documents.html

Budget hearing 4/25/12
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/04/finance-committee-budget-hearing-fy.html

Healthy Kids Day® - Hockomock Y - Sat - Apr 28

More than 1,900 Ys across the country are taking part in the celebration, meant to kick start physical activity and learning throughout the summer – a critical out-of-school time for kids. 

Healthy Kids Day, a national initiative of the Y to improve the health and well-being of kids, is filled with fun, active play and educational activities that will help parents improve their kids’ lifestyles for the long term. Research shows that without access to activities that stimulate the mind and body, kids are more prone to gain weight and fall behind academically over the summer months. 

“At the Hockomock Area YMCA, we know that when the school year ends, many kids lose exposure to activities that keep them moving and learning. Healthy Kids Day will help parents begin thinking early about what their kids need to stay physically and intellectually active in the summer,” said Lauren Marciszyn, Director of Youth & Community Wellness, Hockomock Area YMCA. “Summer is just around the corner and is an ideal time for kids to get out and grow so they are healthier and sharper when the next school year begins.” 

The Hockomock Area YMCA’s event will take place at all three branches located in Franklin, Foxboro and North Attleboro from 10 – 1 PM and this free day of fun will feature vendors, give-a-ways and activities for all ages. 

A leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y holds Healthy Kids Day to teach healthy habits and inspire a lifetime love of physical activity through active play. As part of this initiative, the Y – along with hundreds of thousands of parents and kids nationwide – is taking on summer by addressing critical gaps in health and education that cause kids to be at risk for childhood obesity and suffer summer learning loss.

Activities at the 45 Forge Hill Rd branch in Franklin will include:

• Bouncy House
• Dancy Party
• Ms. Madge Ickles' Grand return from her world tour
• Human Board Game, with you as the pieces
• Face Painting
• Grocery Store Madness
• Open Gymnastics
• Planting
• Camp Extreme
• Water Balloon Challenge Course
• Slip & Slide with Paint
• Luke the Lion from Whitson's Nutrition Safari
• Digital Finger Print Scans
• Raffles
• Give-a-ways

From 10 – 1 PM on Saturday, Apr 28 at the 45 Forge Hill Rd branch in Franklin

Vendors including: Medway Community Farms, Friends of Franklin Community Gardens, Stop & Shop, New York Life Insurance, Franklin Police and Fire Departments, Wildtree, Van Roon Chiropractic, Garelick Farms, Franklin and Bellingham Foodservice Departments, Walgreens, and more!

Important Details
Come dressed in clothes that can get dirty
Bring your bathing suit and towel for family swim from 1-3 (theme will be "Splash")