School Calendar Survey Results

Here is the summary of the Franklin Public Schools "Calendar Survey" conducted in May/Jun of this year

For the record, results from the last survey in 2008 can be found here

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2008/11/live-reporting-school-calendar-survey.html

Angela Lee Duckworth: "The Key to Success? Grit"

Leaving a high-flying job in consulting, Angela Lee Duckworth took a job teaching math to seventh graders in a New York public school. She quickly realized that IQ wasn’t the only thing separating the successful students from those who struggled. Here, she explains her theory of “grit” as a predictor of success.

For more about Angela, you can visit her TED page http://www.ted.com/speakers/angela_lee_duckworth.html

Food recycling as a climate issue (audio)

Why is food recycling a climate issue?

Recently the U.S. joined the U.N. in launching programs to combat food waste. Fortunately, right here in Arlington we already have a great model for doing just that. Our guest on this edition of the Climate Hawk Companion is DeAnne Dupont, has been walking the talk, and was instrumental in establishing the Minuteman Food Recovery Project as a collaboration between the Minuteman High School Parent’s Association and Sustainable Arlington. 

The project collects from Panera Breads, Trader Joe’s and other local businesses in the Arlington, Massachusetts area and distributes it to people who need this food. This makes for a better community and fewer greenhouse gases. Listen to the podcast to catch up on how it all works.

Other organizations mentioned during this podcast are:
Loving Spoonfuls Boston  http://www.lovinspoonfulsinc.org/

What is happening here in Franklin?
The Franklin Food Pantry coordinates pickups from many local businesses to support the clients the Food Pantry serves. Periodic pickups from Panera Bread, BJ Warehouse, Trader Joe's, Stop and Shop, The Cake Bar, etc. are coordinated and conducted by Food Pantry volunteers. If the pickup is of a quantity that the Food Pantry can't use within the window for the item, the Food Pantry does share with the Senior Center and other places where the items can be used.

The anaerobic digestion process was proposed for the former sewer facility in Franklin based upon the new state regulations. If you haven't heard about the regulations, you can find out more here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/07/a-solution-that-meets-multiple-economic.html

For more about the anaerobic digestion proposal discussed at the Town Council meeting
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/06/anaerobic-digestion-tabled-in-franklin.html

For more about the anaerobic digestion proposal discussed at the Planning Board meeting
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/06/anaerobic-digestion-is-not-recommended.html

This was cross posted to
http://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/2013/07/food-recycling-as-climate-issue-audio.html

Franklin High School - construction update - July 2013

There are some significant developments with the new high school construction.

new entrance traffic pattern

The entrance off Oak St is now two way

new exit traffic pattern

Because the road normally used to exit is now closed off and under construction

the parking lot is under construction

as is the entire parking lot closet to the field house

construction of the walls

this is by design so the parking lot will be completed before Sep 2013

hey, that's cool

someone likes that idea!

brick work continues

the brickwork noticed the last time we visited is making good progress

brick work along the back right corner

the bricked sections are spreading along the back and right side of the building

gymnasium section

the far left corner where the gymnasium will be located is roofed and the walls are starting to fill in

panorama from across the fields

the panorama from the Horace Mann parking lot

Farmers Market - noon to 6:00 PM

Another Friday, another day for the Farmers Market.

Farmers Market

Come to the Town Common between noon and 6:00 PM for fresh goods and produce from local farms and shops.

Geoffrey Canada: "Our Failing Schools.Enough is Enough!"

Why, why, why does our education system look so similar to the way it did 50 years ago? Millions of students were failing then, as they are now -- and it’s because we’re clinging to a business model that clearly doesn’t work. Education advocate Geoffrey Canada dares the system to look at the data, think about the customers and make systematic shifts in order to help greater numbers of kids excel.

You can find out more about the Harlem Children's Zone  http://www.hcz.org/hcz-home.php

ISO New England Requests Voluntary Electricity Conservation

While the heat wave continues to steam us all, there is a request to minimize electricity use where possible. The following document makes several suggestions on how this could be accomplished:




This notice was originally posted to the Franklin website here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_News/01B4E8F4-000F8513