FHS performs "Fahrenheit 451" - Dec 20-21

Via Pantherbook we share the new that FHS students will be performing Fahrenheit 451

"Our award-winning theater crew is producing yet another thrilling play, Fahrenheit 451, Wednesday and Thursday of this week, December 20th and 21st, respectively. Tickets can be bought at the door, $12 for adults and $5 for students. 

Every year, sophomores read the novel behind the play, Fahrenheit 451, in their English classes. This adaptation takes this plot and brings it to the stage here at Franklin High. The complex plot, in combination with familiar faces of FHS and the intricate set, create a play experience you won’t want to miss. With leads such as Kenny Bonilla as Guy Montag, Dan Schratz as Fire Chief Beatty, and Chloe Selznick as Mildred Montag, the character dynamic is set to wow audience members."

Continue reading the article by Lauren Ballinger online
https://franklinpanthers.us/ae/2017/12/19/breaking-legs-and-burning-books/

Local Runners: The first Tour de Patrick price increase is Jan 1, 2018. Register early and save.

The Pawtucket and Providence running routes are good; the races well organized.

Tour de Patrick March 2018 www.tourdepatrick.com Prices increase January 1, 2018Run any one, two or all three Tour de Patrick 5k's and complete the Tour de Patrick.  Save $6 when you register for all three 5k's online or  save  $4  when you select any two 5k's online.  * These discount options are available when registering at any of the three 5k websites. Pawtucket, March 3, Providence, March 10 and North Kingstown, March 24 Register for all three races online and receive this BONUS beanie hat free in addition to the t-shirts shown below. ________________________________________________________________________ Irish 5k Race 1 of Tour de Patrick March 3, 2018 Pawtucket RI ________________________________________________________________________ St Pat's 5k Race 2 of Tour de Patrick March 10, 2018 Providence RI ________________________________________________________________________ Shamrock Shuffle 5k Race 3 of Tour de Patrick March 24, 2018 North Kingstown RI Shown below are the unique Key chains finisher medallions for each of the three races. Tour de Patrick Sponsors.

Downtown 5K Inc, PO Box 1940, East Greenwich, RI 02818 Sent by help@tourdepatrick.com in collaboration with Try it free today

Franklin Public Schools: Message to Parents on Homework Policy

December 18, 2017

Dear Families,

In recent months there has been a great deal of interest in homework by both families and staff. A new Homework Policy was implemented by the Franklin School Committee this year and the policy can be found here (http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinCom_Emanual/i/Idocs/IKB). (And below to make it easy to find)

A K-12 Homework Committee has been meeting to study the research about homework and will be delving into our current practices about homework across grades and schools. Recommendations about these practices will then be developed so that our practices are aligned with research and provide a consistent framework across the district, yet maintain an individual teacher’s ability to have flexibility as well.

The spirit of the School Committee policy is centered around maintaining a balance between the academic work and the needs of the whole child. The needs of all children include having downtime, playing, participating in a variety of activities, and spending time with family. To that end, we are piloting with December “Homework Free” vacation for all of our students in Grades K-8. That said, we always encourage reading for and with children as a part of family activities. 

We are encouraging our high school teachers to take the same approach if possible, but understand that with certain courses, a Homework Free break may not be feasible. We are also asking our faculty to take a much needed and deserved break from the routines of correcting, responding to email, and lesson preparation so that they too can enjoy time with their families. 

We plan to conduct a survey after the vacation period of our faculty, staff, administrators, parents, and students to determine the reactions to this experience. This data will be used to inform future decision making about homework free vacation periods.

Best wishes for a Happy Holiday Season and a wonderful break!

Franklin Public Schools

Franklin Public Schools: Message to Parents on Homework Policy

IKB

Homework Policy

The Franklin Public Schools recognize that meaningful and purposeful homework assists a student in the reinforcement and extension of learning and provides an opportunity for families to better understand the academic work of children at their grade level.

The Franklin Public Schools are committed to the education of the “whole child” and recognize that students are active in many areas of daily life such as extra-curricular offerings, athletics, artistic and cultural endeavors, and participation in family routines and events. These pursuits help to develop students with strong social-emotional skills and will further instill a love of learning about topics of personal interest. Homework practices that are implemented in classrooms should both recognize the value of homework and maintain a developmentally appropriate balance between homework and other life activities.

As such, homework assignments should be:

• Appropriate in time and frequency for the developmental stage of the child
• Meaningful, relevant and aligned with work in the classroom
• Have a clearly articulated purpose, educational objective and learning expectations
• Personalized to meet the needs of the learner
• Structured to provide students with feedback that leads to improved learning
• Consistent, to a reasonable degree, across grade levels and among classrooms
• Aligned with current research on best practice as well as school and District policies

Professional staff in grades 6-12 are encouraged to consult with each other to the extent possible regarding planning of homework and projects to strive for a manageable workload for students.

Homework should be used only as a learning tool, may not be used for punishment, and students should not lose privileges, including recess, for not completing homework.


Adopted by School Committee: 7/18/17

DPW Presentation on Sewer and Recycling

The DPW is scheduled to provide an update to the Town Council at Wednesday's meeting, Dec 20.

While it is best to hear what will be said during the update, there are several slides that can almost speak for themselves.

• Page 10 shows the reduction in sewer water flow (much of this should be associated with a similar reduction in water usage)
• Page 13 shows the annual sewer cost since 1995
• Page 22 shows the annual recycling rate (and how it jumped since the single stream was implemented)
• Page 24 shows the decrease in cost to the residents for the increase in recycling and trash

Franklin, MA: DPW - Sewer and Solid Waste/Recycling Update from Franklin Matters

The full agenda for the Town Council meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/12/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-dec-20.html

Wins all around for FHS girls hockey, boys and girls swim teams on Monday

Via HockomockSports and Twitter we share the results of the FHS sports action on Monday, Dec 18, 2017


Girls Hockey = Franklin, 2 @ Medway/Ashland, 1 – Final

Boys Swimming = Franklin, 106 @ Milford, 62 – Final

Girls Swimming = Franklin, 103 @ Milford, 67 – Final
– Franklin’s Ashley Loomis and Katie Cashin each won a pair of individual races and both of the Panthers free relay teams took first in a win over Milford. Loomis finished first in both the 200 and 500 free while Cashin won the 200 IM and 100 breaststrokes. Freshman Katie Chew won her first career race, touching first in the 100 free. Both the Panthers 200 and 400 free relay teams clocked in in sectional qualifying times.


For the remainder of the results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/mondays-schedule-scoreboard-12-18-17/

Via the Twitterverse

After a long wait to open the season, the @FHSSports boys and girls swim teams open with wins over @HawkNationAD, by @kstone06 https://t.co/iYEqFBOUM5

— Daily News Sports (@MetroWestSports) December 19, 2017

Franklin Boys Swiming begins the season with a 106-62 win over Milford.
Cashin '21 Wang '19 Choudhury '18 & Cashin '18 all with 2 first place finishes! #PantherPride

— FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) December 19, 2017

Franklin Lady Swimmers: 2 double winners tonight: Ashley Loomis in the 200&500 free & Katie Cashin in the 200IM and 100 breaststroke. Franklin also won the 200&400 freestyle relays!! Way to kick off the season ladies!!! #PantherPride

— FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) December 18, 2017

Three weeks of practice pay off!! First meet win over Milford 103-67.
Double event winners Ashley Loomis
Katie Cashin

— CoachP_FHS_Swim (@CoachP_FHSswim) December 18, 2017

2-1 win vs Medway today!! Goals by Carter and Dwyer-let’s keep it up🏒 #GoPanthers

— FHS Girls Hockey (@fhsvgockey) December 18, 2017

Great Hockomock matchup to kick off their season. Franklin at Milford. Let’s Go Panthers! pic.twitter.com/mvp5AbfoZ3

— FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) December 18, 2017

Great Hockomock matchup to kick off their season. Franklin at Milford. Let’s Go Panthers!

FPAC Presents Alice in a Winter Wonderland

FPAC Presents Alice in a Winter Wonderland

Friday, Dec. 22, 7:30 PM
Saturday, Dec. 23, 2:00 and 7:30 PM
at THE BLACK BOX

In Britain there is a wonderful holiday tradition called a “panto.” Back in 1717, the actor/manager John Rich first created a type of show that involved a well-known fairy tale told in an exaggerated style filled with audience participation, popular songs, slapstick comedy, jokes and dances. 

At its best, a panto thrills children with the opportunity to cheer for the hero and boo at the villain and sing along with some of their favorite songs. But the brilliance of a good panto lies in its ability to also entertain adults with double entendre, references to modern culture, open satire of other works and the opportunity to sing along with some of their favorite songs. 

Bring the whole family to FPAC’s second annual “American Panto” — a holiday tradition for us all!

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com or call (508) 528-3370

FPAC Presents Alice in a Winter Wonderland

“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Campaign

The Franklin Police Department was awarded a special grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) to increase the number of impaired driving patrols during the holiday season. Franklin police will join local police departments across the state and the State Police in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over (DSOGPO) and enforcement mobilization and public information campaign.

“Drivers impaired by any drug, including marijuana or alcohol, are a major threat to the safety of our roads,” said Deputy Chief of Police James Mill of the Franklin Police Department. “Our officers will be stopping any motorist who is exhibiting signs of impairment, or driving in a dangerous manner.”

The DSOGPO educational component of the campaign will stress the responsibility drivers have to other motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians to stay off the road if impaired by any substance.

“Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Campaign

“We needlessly lost 119 people to impaired driving last year in Massachusetts,” said Jeff Larason, Director of the EOPSS Highway Safety Division. “As part of this year’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign we are asking drivers to acknowledge the responsibility they have to their passengers, other motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists on the road with them, to drive without impairment of any kind,” said Larason. “Plan ahead before you celebrate this holiday season and designate a sober driver, use a ride sharing service, or stay where you are – whatever it takes to avoid getting behind the wheel.”

Massachusetts and National Data:

• From 2015 to 2016, alcohol impaired driving fatalities in MA increased 9 percent (from 109 to 119).
• On average, 800 people have been killed nationally in December crashes involving drivers with BACs over the legal limit since 2012
• Marijuana or marijuana-type drugs were the most prevalent types of drugs found in drivers killed in crashes in MA from 2011 to 2015.
• Drivers using marijuana demonstrated decreased car handling performance, increased reaction times, impaired time and distance estimation, sleepiness and decreased motor skill coordination (NHTSA).
• Mixing alcohol and marijuana may dramatically produce effects greater than either drug on its own (NHTSA).

***Media Note***
Distracted or impaired crashes are not “accidents.” We urge media to follow the AP Stylebook, which suggests avoiding the word “accident” in reference to negligent, drunk, or drugged crashes.


This was shared from the Town of Franklin webpage 
http://www.franklinma.gov/police-department/news/%E2%80%9Cdrive-sober-or-get-pulled-over%E2%80%9D-campaign