Thursday, August 31, 2017

Online Academy Selects New Abbreviation to Simplify Its name

The Massachusetts Virtual Academy at Greenfield Commonwealth Virtual School is adopting 'GCVS' as its new abbreviation and 'nickname' to simplify administrative tasks and focus more clearly on its identity as a Commonwealth Virtual School. For the past several years, the school had used 'MAVA' as an abbreviation.

 The school will call itself 'GCVS' on most references to emphasize its mission of providing comprehensive online education to students anywhere in Massachusetts.

 "We want people to look at our name and immediately think - virtual education for any Massachusetts student," said Executive Director Dr. Judith Houle. "GCVS neatly expresses both our heritage and offerings as a full-service school offering an outstanding public school education in a 21st century model. Any student whose needs don't fit in a brick-and-mortar classroom has a place at GCVS."

 GCVS is the state's first virtual K-12 public school of choice. It offers flexible, self-driven online learning programs and support services to any Massachusetts student. GCVS students are independent learners who need a different model than brick-and-mortar classrooms to accommodate their learning styles and individual interests.

 GCVS' 2017-18 academic year starts when classes open on Aug. 30. Class opening will be followed by a series of picnics across the state on Sept. 8 to give students, families and educators a chance to meet and form connections face-to-face.
Greenfield Commonwealth Virtual School
Greenfield Commonwealth Virtual School
Massachusetts Virtual Academy at Greenfield, the Commonwealth's first virtual K-12 public school, delivers a transformative education with unique strengths and flexibility perfectly suited for the modern world. 
Our approach encourages critical thinking and an independent learning style that meets the key needs of diverse learners by providing educational resources that cultivate curiosity, exploration and inquiry.

Note the DESE profile for the school can be found here
http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/general/general.aspx?topNavID=1&leftNavId=100&orgcode=39010900&orgtypecode=6
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"the program cannot run on autopilot"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"Fear is growing in the immigrant communities in MetroWest and the Milford area who worry that President Donald Trump may dismantle an Obama-era program that offered protection to children who entered the U.S. illegally with their parents. 
Spearheaded by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, 10 Republican attorneys general have sent Trump an ultimatum: either he begins to dismantle the Deferred Action for Childhood program by Sept. 5 or they will challenge the program’s legality in court. 
Alice DeSouza, a Brazilian immigrant who owns a business on Milford’s Main Street, said she knows several people in town who rely on DACA and most of them are young. Without DACA, she wondered what its recipients might do, adding that it’s possible kids, teenagers and young adults, without work or school, could end up in trouble. 
“All these kids are working, they have to pay taxes,” she said. “It’s good for the country, it’s good for the government – then what’s the point (of removing it)?”

 Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170830/locals-worried-uncertain-awaiting-trumps-plans-for-daca


 "Jessica Vaughan of Franklin, director of policy studies for the Center for Immigration Studies, a nonprofit think tank that favors tighter immigration." is quoted in the article


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Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Franklin School For The Performing Arts Celebrates Fall Expansion

Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) will expand this fall to assume the entire building of the Felix Cataldo Block in downtown Franklin. The renovation will connect all areas of the existing FSPA facility and provide spacious new dance and music studios, and a first floor waiting area for students and families. The expansion will also create and house Intermission, a new downtown cafe available to the FSPA community and open to the public.

“It will be exciting for FSPA to occupy the entire Cataldo Block and to have easy access throughout the building to all of our studios, offices, The Spotlight Shop, and the new Intermission café,” noted Raye Lynn Mercer, FSPA founder and director. “We look forward to FSPA’s updated presence in the downtown and the opportunity to provide a destination at Intermission where the public is invited to enjoy a menu of drinks and snacks in a space with an eclectic, artsy ambiance. Happily our beautiful old buidling is getting a facelift as we expand our performing arts campus.”

 Founded in 1985 by Director Raye Lynn Mercer, FSPA is dedicated to the enjoyment of the arts for all ages and to the artistic growth and development of young people. The school offers classes in all dance disciplines, acting, musical theater, voice, and instrumental instruction, whether for recreational enjoyment or serious study. FSPA is also home to the Little Music School, teaching children as young as 18 months to play the piano, as well as the FSPA Ballet Conservatory with pre-professional training for young dancers. 

An extensive calendar of performing opportunities features all-student musicals, plays, ballets, voice and instrumental recitals, opera scenes, dance and musical theater showcases, and more. Student ensembles include dance companies, glee club and musical theater troupes, as well as the international touring ensemble Electric Youth, featuring students trained at the school. Many FSPA students are also cast, by audition, in the affiliated Franklin Performing Arts Company’s annual season of shows. FSPA TALENT offers management services for young performers who elect to pursue professional opportunities.

The added space at 38 Main now allows FSPA to offer more classes at optimum times during the week and to build upon several innovative programs launched over the past few years. FSPA Academy, introduced last fall, provides an academic alternative for students seeking a challenging curriculum in a supportive, flexible environment that encourages their creative goals. Provided Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in collaboration with TEC Connections Academy Commonwealth Virtual School (TECCA), the FSPA Academy delivers TECCA’s state-approved online curriculum and features an enhanced emphasis on arts, language and culture, including Music Theory, foreign language conversation classes, cultural field trips and more. 

 In addition, an FSPA AfterSchool enrichment program offers supervised recreational experiences, including games, crafts and other creative arts activities, for students in grades K-5. The program begins at the close of the regular school day, with transportation available from Franklin and Medway schools and supervised transition back and forth to FSPA for performing arts classes.

 “As we begin our 33rd season, we look forward to welcoming new students and families to FSPA for fun and recreation or for preparation for college and career,” said Mercer. “With the renovation and expansion, it will certainly be a very exciting back-to-school season for our faculty, staff, student families, and our entire community!”

 FSPA will host Open Houses on Saturday, September 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Tuesday, September 19 from 4-8 p.m. at 38 Main Street in downtown Franklin. The community is invited to tour the facilities, observe classes and rehearsals, speak with faculty and staff, and learn more about FSPA programs in music, dance, and drama. An early October grand opening is slated for Intermission.

Fall classes begin on September 11, with ongoing registration for all programs. Call (508) 528-8668 or visit www.FSPAonline.com for more information, including a catalog and class schedule.
Franklin School For The Performing Arts Celebrates Fall Expansion
Franklin School For The Performing Arts  Celebrates Fall Expansion
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Reminder: LiveARTS - Tickets available for the 2017-2018 Concert Series


SUNDAY September 17, 2017 Benefit Concert
Victor Rosenbaum, world renowned pianist
Tickets: $40 Adults, $30 Seniors, $75 Family with children, Students under 18 by donation

 SUNDAY October 22, 2017
Live Arts String Quartet
Tickets: $20 Adults, $15 Seniors, Students under 18 free

SUNDAY February 25, 2018
Boston Trio
Tickets: $20 Adults, $15 Seniors, Students under 18 free

 SUNDAY April 8, 2018
Keisuke Weikuko, Oboe Trio, Boston Symphony
Tickets: : $20 Adults, $15 Seniors, Students under 18 free

 All concerts are given at the Meetinghouse, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin, MA at 3:00 p.m.

www.liveartsma.org

 LiveARTS is supported in part by grants from the Franklin, Norfolk and Wrentham Cultural Councils which are sponsored by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

LiveARTS is an affiliated organization of First Universalist Society, Franklin, MA

LiveARTS: 2017-2018 Concert Series
LiveARTS: 2017-2018 Concert Series
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School Day 1 complete, 179 to go

A sampling roundup of tweets from the opening of school across the Franklin Public Schools.






















https://twitter.com/farrell5thgrade/status/902606288353456129
https://twitter.com/farrell5thgrade/status/902606288353456129

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Franklin Garden Club - Monthly Meeting Schedule Set for Sep to May 2018

The Franklin Garden Club will offer an array of educational programs for the 2017-2018 season. The first meeting of the year will be on Tuesday, September 5 at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street, from 7:00 – 9:00 PM. The meeting is open to the public, including those interested in becoming a member of the Garden Club.

The year’s programming schedule is: 

  • September 5: Kick-off Meeting and Perennial Swap 
  • October 3: Hydroponic Gardening
  • November 7: New England Hardy Succulents 
  • December 5: Holiday Auction
  • February 6: Attracting Birds in both Winter and Summer
  • March 6: Success with House Plants
  • April 3: Perennial Care 101
  • May 1: Hostas – the Best Perennial in Your Garden
  • June 5: Garden Tour and Annual Meeting


 The Club engages recognized gardening experts to present the programs. Two field trips are planned, one to Borderland State Park in October and another to Bedrock Gardens and Sculptures in Lee, NH in June.

 “The Garden Club, founded in 1987, offers members a wonderful opportunity to learn new information and tips from experts and fellow members related to many different aspects of gardening. Other Club activities include planting and maintenance of the Franklin Town Common gardens, sponsorship of an annual scholarship awarded to a high school graduate, and distribution of pine tree seedlings in the elementary schools,” noted Janice Cederquist and Mary Anne Dean, co-presidents. “We welcome anyone who is interested to attend the first meeting to learn more about the Club and planned activities.”

 The Franklin Garden Club is a member of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts.
Franklin Garden Club
Franklin Garden Club
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St. Mary's St. Vincent de Paul - "Rise and Shine" Food Drive

The St. Mary's St. Vincent de Paul Society would like to help our Franklin children to have a great start as they begin the new school year! It is so important for all students to have a nutritious breakfast before they head off to school each day! 

 We are focusing on breakfast foods for our St. Vincent de Paul "Rise and Shine" food drive next weekend, September 2/3. We would appreciate donations of all kinds of breakfast foods, especially Pop-Tarts, protein bars, granola bars, pancake mix, maple syrup, jelly, juice boxes, crackers, graham crackers, school snacks and paper products. (Let's include coffee and tea for the adults too.)

 Thank you all for your generosity and thank you also to our parents and teachers!

 Donations may be dropped off at the doors of the church anytime.


St Mary's Parish, Franklin
St Mary's Parish, Franklin
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