Franklin Art Association - Scholarship

The Franklin Art Association will award a $1000 scholarship to a qualifying high school senior residing in Franklin or attending a school in Franklin, or a senior whose parent, grandparent or legal guardian is a current member of the association.  

 

Applicants must submit an application, student portfolio, teacher's letter of recommendation and a transcript of high school grades to Franklin High School, 218 Oak Street, Franklin, MA between 2:00 and 3:30 pm in room G140 on Friday , April 4.

An application may be obtained by contacting: tinaguarinoart@gmail.com

FEF Trivia Bee - Mar 19th

Franklin Education Foundation

The Franklin Education Foundation Trivia Bee is Wednesday, March 19th @7 in the Horace Mann Middle School Mercer auditorium. The theme is MUSIC and will be a good time for folks of all ages! 

Come for a fun time and you can pick up some great stuff at the raffle. Come cheer on your respective school or business to be the one to win the iconic FEF Trivia Bee Cup! 

All proceeds go to Franklin Public Schools to support innovative educational programs.

For more about the Franklin Education Foundation, visit their website  http://www.franklined.org/

Emmons St building discussion scheduled for Apr 2

From the home page of the Franklin, MA website comes this announcement:

Town Council Chairman Robert Vallee has postponed the discussion on the Old Municipal Building at 150 Emmons Street which was expected take place at the March 19 Council meeting. It will be discussed at the April 2 Town Council meeting. 

This will allow all interested parties additional time to consider potential future uses of the property. Chairman Vallee encourages all interested citizens to attend the meeting.

Emmons St building - view from West Central St

The notes recorded live during the public meeting on March 4
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/03/live-reporting-emmons-st-public-meeting.html

The handouts from the meeting were posted here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/03/emmons-st-building-discussion-documents.html

Girls Youth Lacrosse Clinic - Mar 18th

Franklin High School girls lacrosse coach Kristin Igoe assisted by members of the team will hold a lacrosse clinic on Tuesday, Mar 18th. Details in the flyer shown below.

Franklin High School, home of the Panthers

Registration is available through the Franklin Recreation Dept webpage here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Recreation/online

"warnings went unheeded"

On the education front, the growth of the common core and standardized testing should be discussed. 

A new University of Virginia study found that kindergarten changed in disturbing ways from 1999-2006. There was a marked decline in exposure to social studies, science, music, art and physical education and an increased emphasis on reading instruction. Teachers reported spending as much time on reading as all other subjects combined. 

The time spent in child-selected activity dropped by more than one-third. Direct instruction and testing increased. Moreover, more teachers reported holding all children to the same standard. 

Is this drastic shift in kindergarten the result of a transformation in the way children learn? 

No. A 2011 nationwide study by the Gesell Institute for Child Development found that the ages at which children reach developmental milestones have not changed in 100 years.

What I find interesting is that the Univ of Virginia study covered the period 1999-2006. The trend they noticed has only increased since 2006. If one follows that logic, then we are worse off because of this.

You should continue to read the full article quoted here  http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Lecker-The-disturbing-transformation-of-5256686.php

Oak St/Horace Mann school complex

Disclosure - yes, my wife happens to be a kindergarten teacher here in Franklin. 

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 3/14/14 - THU 3/20/14

FRI 3/14   6:30pm   March Madness Family Carnival. Free. Hockomock YMCA
FRI 3/14   6:30pm   Art Night Uncorked at Franklin Art Center
FRI 3/14   7pm   FHS presents: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at HMMS Franklin.

SAT 3/15   8am-1pm   Bottle and Can Drive to benefit Franklin HS All Night Party.
SAT 3/15   9am   3rd Annual Shamrock Shuffle - Medway HS. Sign up HERE.
SAT 3/15   9am-4pm   Franklin Public Library Book Sale
SAT 3/15   11am-5pm   Irish Festival at Patriot Place.
SAT 3/15   7pm   FHS presents: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at HMMS Franklin.

SUN 3/16   9am-12pm   Franklin Public Library Bag Sale, $5 per bag of books
SUN 3/16   12-4pm   Winter Carnival at Franklin HS
SUN 3/16   3:00pm   FSPA performs at Showcase Live, Patriot Place as part of  "A Broadway Review"

MON 3/17   Happy St. Patrick's Day!

WED 3/19   9am-7pm   Cupcakes for Cancer Fundraiser for Relay for Life at The Cake Bar in Franklin.
WED 3/19   1:30pm   Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit Seminar at Franklin Senior Center.
WED 3/19   7pm   Town Council Meeting, Franklin Municipal Bldg.
WED 3/19   7pm   17th Annual FEF Trivia Bee at the Horace Mann Middle School in Franklin.

THU 3/20   4-5pm   Lego Mania at the Franklin Public Library, ages 6-12.
THU 3/20   7:00pm  Finance Committee - Budget Hearing #3, Franklin Municipal Bldg

For more details on above events click HERE and select the event of interest.

*If you have any suggestions or events for the calendar, please email Renata@BetterLivingRE.com

DelCarte Property - Winter wonderland (video)

Along the walk last Saturday, I stopped by the DelCarte Property. I captured some video from the dam and some photos as I followed a trail through the woods.

The video from the dam and a 360 degree view

DelCarte Open Space sign on Pleasant St

I think I should have brought my sled!

water and ice

culvert view of the dam

the swans found the open water

the playground does blend in with the winter trees

I can hardly wait for the snow to go sway so I can explore more of the trails.