A new edition of The Franklin Connection has been published on the Town of Franklin web site.
Click the link below to read the latest edition.
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Senior/Sept15connection.pdf
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| Franklin Senior Center |
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Hi- I wanted to followup with Kristen Cerce/Director K-12 Health and PE about curriculum in Franklin Public Schools - Kristen had been out of town - here is the summary- pretty comprehensive.
Maureen:
As far as our curriculum goes, we talk about substance abuse at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Our primary focus is on alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco, but we do educate students about other drugs in both middle and high school. The lessons that we teach are dependent on the needs of our students, as identified in the MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey.
At the elementary level, students primarily learn about alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and prescription/non-prescription drugs, as well as refusal skills. They learn strategies to avoid using substances including drugs and alcohol.
K-2 teachers discuss prescription and over the counter drugs, instructing students on how to take medicine safely and cautioning them that they should only take medicine if a trusted adult gives it to them.
The curriculum for grades 3-5 focuses on how drugs affect the body, the dangers of drugs, drug and alcohol refusal skills, and how to make good choices. Teachers typically do not name harder drugs, such as opiates, but if a student brings up the name of a specific drug, they will answer the student's question.
The DARE program goes into other drugs in more depth than our program. Students participate in the DARE program in grade 5.
Throughout middle school, teachers focus on a spectrum of drugs in greater depth than elementary school. These drugs include alcohol, marijuana, ecstasy, bath salts, cocaine, steroids, prescription/non-prescription drugs, and opioids. Lessons focus on refusal skills, the dangers and risks associated with drug use/abuse.
Wellness students (grades 9 and 10) study drug abuse in greater detail. Again, lessons are designed based on the MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey. Survey results indicate that these are the ages at which students are inclined to experiment with alcohol and marijuana more than other drugs.
Wellness 9 specifically focuses on alcohol and marijuana, because they are common “gateway drugs.” Lessons address legal issues associated with theses drugs, as well as impaired driving, sexual assault, addiction, social host laws, related diseases, and other resulting injuries.
Wellness 10 reviews topics covered in Wellness 9 and serves as a general overview of drug abuse classifications. These drug classifications include: stimulants (cocaine, crack, caffeine, amphetamines), depressants (alcohol, barbiturates, cannabis), hallucinogens (ecstasy, LSD, mushrooms, “date rape drugs”), narcotics (prescription/non-prescription drugs, opioids, heroin, morphine), inhalants, and tobacco (smoking and smokeless). Students typically participate in drug research projects and presentations.
I hope this information is what you are looking for. Feel free to contact me with any questions.
Thank you,Kristin----------
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| S.A.F.E. Community Coalition Meeting featuring Dr. John Kelly |
They are finishing the repairs to the Del Carte Playground and it will reopen on Saturday. Please spread the word
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| DelCarte playground |
The Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) will hold Back-to-School Open Houses for prospective students and families on
- August 26 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- August 29 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- September 1 and 3 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- September 12 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- September 16 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
at 38 Main Street in downtown Franklin. The community is invited to tour the facilities, speak with faculty and staff, and learn more about FSPA programs in music, dance, and drama. Prospective students are also encouraged to try a complimentary class.
Franklin School for the Performing Arts
Celebrating a milestone 30th anniversary season, FSPA has been dedicated to the enjoyment of the arts for all ages and to the artistic growth and development of young people. Founded in 1985 by Director Raye Lynn Mercer, FSPA offers an extensive roster of classes in all dance disciplines, acting, musical theater, voice, and instrumental instruction.
FSPA is also home to the Little Music School, an innovative program that teaches children as young as 18 months to play the piano. An unparalleled calendar of performing opportunities features all-student musicals, plays, voice and instrumental recitals, opera scenes, acoustic coffee houses, musical theater showcases, performing troupes, dance companies, a classical ballet variations ensemble, and instrumental ensembles. Many FSPA students also participate, by audition, in the affiliated Franklin Performing Arts Company’s annual season of shows.
Fall registration is ongoing. For more information, including class schedule and catalogue, call (508) 528-8668 or visit online at www.FSPAonline.com.
This summer, the state Department of Housing and Economic Development awarded $894,082 in total to the towns of Franklin, Bellingham and Hopedale for housing rehabilitation and fuel assistance.
Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said the money will allow needy families to complete necessary home repairs.
"It's to provide housing rehabilitation on an emergency basis," he said.
He said, as an example, that a homeowner in need of $10,000 to repair a roof could apply through the program, and would not need to pay the money back, as long as they continue to own the house for a set length of time.
Nutting said this is not Franklin's first experience with a housing rehabilitation program.Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News (subscription may be required)
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| corner of Emmons St and West Central street under construction for the downtown improvement project |
