“It encourages kids to solve their own problems"

From the Milford Daily News, an article of interest for Franklin:

"Taking the minds of tomorrow and putting them use today is the priority for Destination Imagination, and why it’s being offered once again in Franklin. 

The international competition puts the minds of students, kindergarten through college level, in action to solve open-ended problems using their own imaginations. 

Franklin’s Destination Imagination officials are holding an open forum on Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. at the Franklin Public Library. In Franklin, teams start at second grade and go up to the high school level. 

The information session will provide all of the info necessary to understand what the program is about and how it has academically impacted past members, said Mandy Costa, coordinator for Franklin’s Destination Imagination program."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180923/event-gets-minds-moving

Destination Imagination - get ready! - Sep 26

Prior article on Destination Imagination

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/destination-imagination-get-ready-sep-26.html

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Sep 25, 2018

Vision Statement

The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

A G E N D A

“The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.”

1. Routine Business
a. Review of Agenda
b. Citizen’s Comments

i. In the spirit of open communication, “the School Committee will hear public comment not related to an agenda item at the beginning of each regular School Committee Meeting. The Committee will listen to, but not respond to any comment made. A Committee member may add an agenda item to a future meeting as a result of a citizen comment” – from Policy BEDH

c. FHS Student Representative Comments
d. Superintendent’s Report

2. Guests / Presentations
a. Elementary School Improvement Plans
i. ECDC
ii. Davis Thayer
iii. Jefferson
iv. Keller
v. JF Kennedy
vi. Oak Street
vii. Parmenter

3. Discussion / Action Items
a. Policy – First Reading
I recommend approval of moving the following policies to a second reading as
discussed:

• NEW JFABE – Educational Opportunities for Military Children
• NEW JFABF – Educational Opportunities for Children in Foster Care
• BCA – School Committee Member Ethics

b. Policy – Second Reading
I recommend adoption of Policy BA – School Committee Operational Goals as
discussed

c. Concession Stand
I recommend acceptance of the Concession Stand at Franklin High School valued
at $210,800.00 from various donors as discussed.

d. FHS Europe Trip Proposal
I recommend approval of the request of Mr. Walsh and Mr. McCarthy to take FHS
students to Berlin, Prague, Krakow (Auschwitz) and Budapest from June 23, 2019
through July 3, 2019 as detailed.

4. Discussion Only Items

5. Information Matters
a. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports (e.g. Budget; Community Relations;
Policy; Transportation; Public Schools Advocacy; Ad Hoc Superintendent’s Evaluation)

b. School Committee Liaison Reports (e.g. Joint PCC; Substance Abuse Task Force; School Wellness Advisory Council [SWAC]; School Start Times Advisory Committee [SSTAC],  MASC)

6. New Business
a. To discuss any future agenda items

7. Consent Agenda
a. Minutes
I recommend approval of the minutes from your September 11, 2018 School Committee meeting.
b. Elementary School Improvement Plans
I recommend adoption of the Elementary School Improvement Plans for the following schools as presented:

• F. X. O’Regan Early Childhood Development Center
• Davis Thayer Elementary School
• Jefferson Elementary School
• Helen Keller Elementary School
• John F. Kennedy Elementary School
• Oak Street Elementary School
• Gerald M. Parmenter Elementary School

c. Oak Street Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,232.00 from the Oak St. PCC for field trips as detailed.
d. Keller Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $3,891.00 from the Keller PCC for field trips as detailed.
e. RMS Recurring Field Trip
I recommend approval of the recurring field trip request of Mr. Fitzgerald to take 25 RMS students to Mt. Monadnock in Jaffrey, NH on October 20, 2018 as detailed.

8. Payment of Bills Dr. Bergen

9. Payroll Mrs. Douglas

10. Correspondence - none

11. Executive Session
a. Strategy with respect to collective bargaining.

12. Adjournment

The documents released for this agenda can be found on the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/september-25-2018-packet-documents

concession stand at Franklin High School

Lifelong Community Learning: New Hampshire Fall Foliage Day Trip - Oct 20

Lifelong Community Learning is offering a day-long fall foliage trip to New Hampshire on Saturday, October 20. The motor coach will leave Franklin High School parking lot at 9:30 AM and return at 6:00 PM. The trip will include commentary and a buffet lunch. The cost is $105 for adults and $65 for a child.

Travel the country roads of New Hampshire for Mother Nature’s annual autumn show! Experience the gently rolling New England countryside, awash with the colors of Indian summer. Travel past quiet ponds, historic farms, weathered roadside taverns, and sturdy colonial churches overlooking quaint village greens.

Woodbound Inn - Fall Foliage Day Trip - Oct 20

You’ll also stretch your legs for a picture stop at an old fashioned covered bridge before making your way to the Woodbound Inn for a buffet lunch. Continuing on through some of the loveliest displays of foliage in the world, the last stop of the day will be at a local farm stand for baked treats, apples, and complimentary cider. So come along and don’t forget your camera!

Visit www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com to register. You may also call Lifelong Community Learning at 508-613-1480 for more information.

Lifelong Community Learning is a program of the Franklin Public Schools Lifelong Learning Institute, dedicated to providing quality learning experiences for residents in the Town of Franklin and surrounding communities.


The direct link to register is
https://reg.abcsignup.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0079-0003-d8f7699db3644c2fa4e26a728f5e415b

Town Council Recap - Sep 5, 2018

The best short summary is what I tweeted out during the meeting: "Excitement tonight in Franklin. New fire truck outside, 4 retirees and 4 new hires for Police inside"

new fire truck

The fire truck was funded by saving money in a separate account for 6 years to accumulate the $700K purchase price. The truck is projected to be online for 10 years before moving to a back up role.

Officers Fiorio, Burchill, Kenney, and Chandler were recognized for their years of service

Officers Crosman, Peabody, Ayer, and Rosa were sworn in and welcomed to service

The official Town of Franklin "Actions Taken" document can be found online
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/town_council_actions_taken_for_september_5_2018.pdf


Live Reporting: Town Council Sep 5, 2018
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/live-reporting-town-council-sep-5-2018.html

Public Hearings
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/live-reporting-public-hearings.html

Subcommittee Reports
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/live-reporting-subcommittee-reports.html

Legislation for Action
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/live-reporting-legislation-for-action.html

To Closing via Executive Session
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/09/live-reporting-to-closing.html

FSPA Introduces New Faculty

The Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) is excited to welcome three new faculty members this fall. 

Meghan Love joins FSPA’s ballet faculty. Love has taught ballet, tap and jazz to 3-14 year olds in after-school programs throughout New Mexico and was an Adjunct Professor at New Mexico State University teaching Jazz Technique I. She served on faculty at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre for the Children’s Division and at the Mason Gross Extension Division at Rutgers University. In 2012 she became full-time National Training Curriculum staff for ABT. 

Meghan Love joins
FSPA’s ballet faculty

In the spring of 2018, she was chosen to be part of a competitive professional development program, Boot Camp for Emerging Leaders in Arts Administration, offered through New York Foundation for the Arts. Most recently, Love was the Manager of the National Training Curriculum and the ABT/NYU Masters Program, instructing in both programs, and she is currently an ABT Affiliate Examiner.

Joining FSPA’s voice faculty this year is Sam Jones. Jones received both his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and Vocal Performance as well as his Master of Music in Contemporary Improvisation (with Honors and a Music-in-Education Concentration) from New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) in Boston. 

Jones won the competitive “Spark” Grant Award to launch his album, as well as NEC’s Entrepreneurial Musician Grant to direct, produce, and star in a gender-blind production of Jason Robert Brown’s The Last 5 Years, benefiting the local Boston nonprofit BAGLY to support LGBTQ+ youth.

The music department also welcomes guitar instructor Andres Abenante. Abenante holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from New England Conservatory. Specializing in Jazz, Rock, Improvised, Classical and Latin styles, Andres has extensive performing experience throughout the east coast. He has recorded two albums and has served as served as Music Copyist and Transcriber for Eddie Palmieri. Andres currently teaches at the Warren-Prescott School in Cambridge as well as the North End Music and Performing Arts Center.

It is not too late to register for all programs at FSPA. Complimentary trial classes are encouraged and enrollment is ongoing throughout the year. An All-Access Pass is available for prospective students and includes tickets to an upcoming FSPA production, a tour of the school and trial group classes. FSPA, founded in 1985, is located in The Felix Cataldo Block in downtown Franklin. The facilities includes extensive studio space, Recital Hall, The Spotlight Shop and the new Intermission café. FSPA Academy, a full-time academic program, is housed next door at 32 Main Street.

For more information about all programs visit www.fspaonline.com, call 508-528-8668, or stop by the school at 38 Main Street in Franklin.

Interested in Volunteering in the Community? The Design Review Commission has an opening

Interested in Volunteering in the Community? The Design Review Commission is seeking an Associate Member!

Please visit http://franklinmaboards.vt-s.net/newcaf.php to fill out a volunteer application.

What is the Design Review Commission?

"The purpose of Design Review is to promote safe, functional and attractive development of business and commercial areas; to preserve and enhance the New England character of the Town’s commercial centers and thoroughfares as a valid general welfare concern; to unify commercial properties, both visually and physically, with surrounding land uses; to facilitate a more healthful urban atmosphere; to protect and preserve the unique and cultural features within the Town; and to protect commercial property values by enhancing the Town’s appearance. 

The Design Review Commission (DRC) is a committee of Citizen Volunteers that has approval authority on signage and recommendation input to the Planning Board on Site Plans as to landscaping and lighting and Building Plans as to exterior design, colors and materials."

Want to know more about the Design Review Commission please visit their page here http://www.franklinma.gov/design-review-commission

The Design Review Commission has an opening

FTC Consumer Alerts: Free credit freezes are here

Free credit freezes are here by Andrew Smith, Federal Trade Commission, Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection Gail Hillebrand, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, Associate Director, Division of Consumer Education and Engagement Free credit freezes and year-long fraud alerts are here, starting September 21, thanks to a new federal law.  Here's what you should know: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/09/free-credit-freezes-are-here?utm_source=govdelivery This is a free service provided by the Federal Trade Commission.

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