School Committee hears about the trip to China

The School Committee heard from some of the students, faculty and administrators who spent some time in China this summer. The travel experience brings with it multiple rewards and sets up the district to further explore international travel. Interaction with classes around the world is also being explored.

photo of one slide during the presentation

The presentation copies will be shared here later. In the meantime, my notes reported live during the School Committee meeting can be found here:

• Live reporting - Discussion Only Items
• Live reporting; School Committee - September 23, 2...

The full agenda and associated documents can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/09/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-and.html

Harvest Festival - Sunday, Oct 5th

Franklin Downtown Partnership hosts the Harvest Festival

For more information on the Harvest Festival, you can visit the Downtown Partnership website  http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/

Blackstone Valley: Calendar Photo Contest

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REMINDER: CALENDAR PHOTO CONTEST Submissions due by September 30 Enjoy the Blackstone Valley on the go with our mobile Web app.  And, it's free! Click on the image above to get the free web app Call for local photographers! Do you enjoy taking photos of the beautiful Blackstone River Valley?  If so, the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, Inc. has a contest for you.  The nonprofit is searching for special images that capture the spirit and beauty of the Corridor to illustrate its 2015 Calendar.  The 2015 Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Calendar will be a full 8.5 by 11 inches, printed in color on high quality paper. The informative publication will have great pictures from around the region, holidays, moon phases, and interesting tidbits about the history, flora and fauna of the Corridor. The 2015 Calendar will be available through our website and at the Corridor office at One Depot Square in Woonsocket, RI. Proceeds from the sale of the Calendar will support the programs and projects of the nonprofit.  A total of 13 photos will be selected to illustrate the Calendar, including a Grand Prize Photo chosen for the cover. Winners of the Calendar Photo Contest will be given 6 copies and their photo will be printed with their name and photo title. The photographer selected to illustrate the cover will also have a photo op and press release about their work, in addition to receiving 12 copies of the 2015 Calendar. Submissions are due by email no later than noon on September 30, 2014.  Read more about the contest Please help us to spread the word. Share on your favorite social media channels and with people you know who like taking photos. Submissions are due by September 30. Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, Inc. The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor is a unique cultural landscape of industrial history and immigration in the interconnected system of the Blackstone River watershed. An energetic nonprofit, the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, Inc. partners with organizations, local communities and businesses, and residents to insure the long term vitality of the Corridor. Read more

Forward this email Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor | One Depot Square | Woonsocket | RI | 02895

In the News: Lincoln St nursing home

The Milford Daily News reports on the discussion around the proposed nursing home on Lincoln St. The developer is getting creative in attempting to get approval. The residents are still mounting opposition.

The developers of a proposed nursing home on Lincoln Street say they are negotiating a contract with a private ambulance service, addressing the fire chief’s concern that the site would strain the town’s emergency responders. 

Athena Health Care Systems filed a variance application in May for a building permit to construct a 138-bed nursing home at 864 Lincoln St., in a rural residential area reserved for private home and farmlands. 

Since filing its application, the company, which manages nursing homes in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, has met mounting opposition from Lincoln Street residents.

You can continue reading the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140924/NEWS/140928597/1994/NEWS

Live reporting - Discussion Only Items

Discussion Only Items

Policy review continued

1 - GBGB - staff health and safety
2 - IJOC - school volunteers

updated to bring current for language and current conditions

Collaborative Agreements

changes a couple of years ago fostered change in the management of the collaborative
Franklin works with two; BICO and Accept
took two years for DESE final approvals
school committees are required to sign off on the agreements

Evaluation of Superintendent

ratings of smart goals set by Maureen
found "performance exemplary in all categories"

"a collaborative not-ego driven leader"

"a collaborative relationship with the municipal side"

"academic performance has flourished under her leadership"

Rohrbach
"not just about being an innovator but also about rigor"

O'Malley
"we are lucky to have Maureen Sabolinski, it just doesn't happen, leadership does matter"

Mullen
"workaholic is the word we usually can use to describe you"
"those relationships and bonds with staff members have served you well"

Sabolinski
"I am humbled by the things you have said"


Policies moved to 2nd reading
motion to approve, second, approved 7-0

Motion to approve BICO agreement
motion to approve, second, approved 7-0

motion to approve Accept agreement
motion to approve, second, approved 7-0

motion to approve Superintendent evualation
motion to approve, second, approved 7-0

motion to accept donations
motion to approve, second, approved 7-0

Superintendent report

just started a digital learning committee, about 30 teachers across the district
curriculum embedded with digital citizenship

space needs to be looked at

substantial year planned

Channel 5 recording a wake up call

WBZ did a piece on the rehearsal of the concert

snow season is coming; looking to set up driver training for students in inclement weather

Accuweather account setting up for forecasting for snow days

Curriculum night - Sep 30th

new format, inviting parents to experience their child's schedule

thanks for all the help with the opening and dedication

student volunteers helped, faculty

student tech team coming in for next meeting, to recognize them for their help

student selected for all-national band, performing at Nashville

could have a future meeting at the high school

Mullen

thank you for all the work you did to make that happen

Subcommittee reports

next meeting the 30th

Trahan

FEF fund raising efforts - Nov 1st

no school on the 25th

motion to adjourn, seconded, approved 7-0

Live reporting; School Committee - September 23, 2014

Present: Douglas, O'Malley (late),Rohrbach, Clement, Mullen, Trahan, Jewell
Absent:  none

1 - Routine business

no citizens comments
no adjustments to agenda
motion to approve minutes from 9/9/14; second, approve 6-0

FHS Representatives
Conor Lemanowicz - things going well; Guidance for application process, excellent help as he is the first of his family going to college and no one to get the inside advice from
Justin Bates - boys soccer won today 9-0

Parent night -open house process to have parents walk through the schedule; how aware are folks of this happening?
maybe something on the website, additional communications coming for 'Curriculum Night"

2 - Guests/Presentations

Gabriela Blood, Haley Frank 

went on trip to China 

two teachers also went on the trip but were unaware that it was the same exact trip until late in the planning process

slide capture of presentation

(slide show to be added later)

XieXie = thank you

more ambitious in trying foods than before
developed appreciation of freedom compared to here

Mr Walsh, Mr McCarthy

the Chinese school day was longer than here; their time is spent as students and not athletes

Joyce Edwards, Jane Hogan

(slide show to be added later)

joined trip as part of the delegation of educational leaders
a country of tremendous contrasts
urban and rural; Shanghai - the New York City of China

got to do 'tourist stuff' but then also meet with educational leaders
25 school administrators from 4 states

3-4 members of the group also spoke fluent Mandarin which helped with understanding the nuances of the discussions

met with Deputy Prime Minister of  Foreign Affairs, he had met with Ambassador Kerry the week before

grades 1-9 compulsory
high school 10-12 is not mandatory

meritocracy based system (driven by test scores)

a communist party member is on each school board
curriculum materials must be approved by the party

public funded but also accept private funding (from families)

1 child/family drives the strong family focus on education

teaching is a revered and professional position in China

60% teaching, 40% spent on development and preparation of the total teaching day in China

the second language is English, there is no other language taught in Chinese schools

farmers are exempt from the 1 child rule to help encourage farming (enough hands for picking crops)

ePals, an electronic form of penpals can provide an opportunity to communicate regularly

a Needham high school student spending the summer abroad in China volunteering there

EF Tours and Primary Source are good collaborators in fostering global education
the beginning

Is it time to teach Chinese at FHS?
the major hurdle is maintaining the funding and the resources; manpower not available to do so currently, the resources are such in high demand we have not been able to recruit and maintain a hire

Classroom to classroom is a rich opportunity, who would take lead?
It is open to anyone, a teach could arrange thru ePals

This is already happening in some areas within Franklin, with folks having returned from these trips, the incentive will increase

Parmenter - Fall Social today

Fall social at Parmenter school today

Parmenter elementary school sign

No school on Thursday (Rosh Hoshanah)

The old FHS building is disappearing

During the tours of the new Franklin High School, travel up the stairwells on the west and north sides of the building could provide a view to what was left of the old. The demolition has advanced quite rapidly since the field house was the first part taken down. Ground work is already making progress as the old building gets removed to re-use the land it was on.

Ultimately, additional parking and then new athletic fields and tennis courts will find a new home on this side of the building.

site prep for additional parking

the chimney remains but little else does

another view of what remains

another view of what remains 2

Jane's Frame: 20th Anniversary Celebration

You're invited to Jane's Frames 20th Anniversary Celebration Please Celebrate with us  Enjoy free mimosa's and scones from 10-1 Wine and cheese from 1-5:30 Check out Some Great Specials in Artwork Some as low as $1.00 each  See our New Arrivals in Home Decor & our Gift Items When Tuesday  September 23rd  From 10am to 5:30pm Where 11 East Central Street Franklin, Ma 508-528-3256 Community Mural Our Anniversary Celebration Continues Now - September 30th If you are not able to drop in on Tuesday, Please come by any time as we will continue to celebrate through the end of the month. Please see the Community Mural created by young people from the community at Jane's Frames during the Downtown Festivals last year. It is being raffled with all donations going to the Franklin Food Pantry. Forward this email STAY CONNECTED

Forward this email Jane's Frames | 11 East Central Street | Franklin | MA | 02038