Friday's Panther News...a day early! Check out all the latest news and announcements, plus an interview reflecting on our full in-person return coming in just a few weeks! @FHSPantherbook @FranklinPSNews @FranklinHS
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| Franklin Public Schools, MA: Return to 'In Person' Update to Families - Apr 1, 2021 |
Note: according to my notes the Capital Budget meeting held in June 2020 had no departmental representation for the discussion. The Budget SubCommittee meeting in Sep 2020 was likely the one referred to as lacking the Technology/Schools representation. Oddly this time (Mar 31, 2021 -School Dept personnel were present to answer question on the school vans purchase request. The item left as an unanswered question was a technology piece covering both School and Town side of the network.) The meeting archive has all the links for the meeting notes and audio where available https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/meeting-notes.html
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| Chair Pellegri opens meeting |
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| Town of Franklin, MA: Ben's guide to fully vaccinated status |
"The April edition of the Town of Franklin E-newsletter is posted! Stay updated with news and happenings in town!"
"E. Edwin Spencer had no way of knowing he would be making history that day when he knocked on Henning Jacobson’s door in Cambridge, Mass. All he knew was that smallpox was spreading in their city at the dawn of the 20th century, and as a doctor and the chairman of the board of health, it was his job to make sure all residents had been vaccinated against the deadly disease within the past five years.
Jacobson flatly refused to comply.
More than a century later, as millions of Americans get vaccinated voluntarily against the coronavirus and society starts to reopen, questions loom about how far businesses and government can go to ensure safety. Can airlines, concert venues and other businesses refuse service to anyone who chooses not to get vaccinated? The Biden administration has insisted there will be no national mandate, but it is still working with the private sector to create a vaccination passport or certification."
"The liberty secured by the Constitution of the United States does not import an absolute right in each person to be at all times, and in all circumstances, wholly freed from restraint, nor is it an element in such liberty that one person, or a minority of persons residing in any community and enjoying the benefits of its local government, should have power to dominate the majority when supported in their action by the authority of the State.From the Jacobson vs Massachusetts case in 1905 https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/197/11/ Smallpox was the concern in the early 1900's that sparked the case.
It is within the police power of a State to enact a compulsory vaccination law, and it is for the legislature, and not for the courts, to determine."
"As more and more people get vaccinated, questions on what to do with people who refuse to get their shot(s) keep coming up. Should vaccinations be optional, required, or just required for people in certain occupations?
It’s not an easy question to answer. Getting more people vaccinated improves the chances of herd immunity and the possibility of putting COVID behind us. But requiring people to get a vaccination – particularly if the vaccine is authorized for emergency use only – smacks of Big Brother and rubs a lot of people the wrong way."
"April is our last month of #projectenvoy, a community driven project, designed to support local restaurants who in-turn will donate some of their proceeds to The Franklin Food Pantry.What restaurant are you looking forward to trying?"
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| Franklin Food Pantry: #ProjectEnvoy calendar for April 2021 |
"Want to know how much water you use or see and pay your bill online?Sign up for WaterSmart today at: https://franklinma.watersmart.com/index.php/welcome"
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| Attention Franklin: Want to know how much water you use? |
"On Thursday, March 25, students met through the Girl Up club for “A Discussion on Gender Equality.” The meeting was led by Girl Up Teen Advisor Angelina Perez.
The meeting drew local participants as well as Girl Up members from LA, the British Virgin Islands, Syracuse, and Washington D.C.
The discussion started with the simple question, “How have you been impacted by sexism or misogyny?”
High Schoolers from Franklin and around the country met over Zoom to discuss gender equality. Photo used with permission from Angelina Perez
Quickly, the floodgates opened and girls shared deeply personal stories."
April 12th is the finalized date for when Franklin High will be having nearly eighty percent of their students back in school. The CDC recently approved that it is safe for students to now be three feet apart in classrooms.
When talking to Mr. Hanna he explains how there are many different safety measures put in at FHS for not only the students, but the staff as well. There will be a maximum of twenty four desks per classroom all measured to be at least 3 feet apart, there will also always be six feet between a teacher and a student.
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| FHS switches to 'in person' learning Apr 12 |
The FPS/TOF Technology Department is seeking qualified candidates for the role of Technology Support Technician. Learn more about the role, qualifications, and application process on School Spring here https://www.schoolspring.com/login.cfm
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| Franklin Public Schools, MA: now hiring a Technology Support Technician |
Expression Enrichment which is located in the Franklin Village Plaza is offering After School Enrichment Programs in Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Creative Arts, Lego Club, Sewing and Movement & Meditation.
Expressions offers transportation from Franklin Elementary Schools to their studio for an additional cost.
Expression is also having Summer Enrichment Programs for Grades K-6. You can choose a half day option from 9-12 or a full day which runs from 8:30 - 3:30 pm.
For more information and to register visit their website at www.expressions-enrichment.com
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| Expression Enrichment offers After School Enrichment and Summer Enrichment Programs |
Knights of Columbus 1847 in Franklin, MA is accepting applications for 2- $1000 Scholarships. The applicants must be a registered member of St. Mary's Parish in Franklin, and must be graduating from High School in the Spring 2021 and progressing onto their first year of study at a 2- or 4-year college/ university. Please submit a complete our Scholarship Application postmarked on or before the Application Deadline of Friday April 16, 2021.
The application form is available from the banner on the St. Mary's Parish, Franklin website or on the Knights of Columbus 1847 website https://www.kofc1847.org/scholarship-program
Please fill in ALL information accurately and clearly, and then submit the completed application to the Knights of Columbus, Sacred Heart Council 1847, St. Mary's Parish c/o Mike Swan, 38 Madison Ave., Franklin, MA 02038.
The award will be given to the recipients upon completion of their 1st semester of studies and upon proof of enrollment in the 2nd semester.
Please contact Mike Swan for more information at 508-404-4792.
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| https://www.kofc1847.org/scholarship-program |
"Proud of the response that the @DiversityFHS thoughtfully created in response to acts of hate and violence around our Nation. @FranklinHS is committed to creating a respectful environment for all of our students."Read the statement here https://docs.google.com/document/d/1saPBOK5Yrqds0WUAwrZEmnS-9wfBwNUQK0lsIJgpijM/edit?usp=sharing
"The post-vaccine workplace is taking shape, and for many it’s going to be a hybrid model, allowing more remote work but with clear expectations that some days a week will be in the office.
Workforce experts are bracing for a whole new set of post-pandemic upheavals, in some instances more transformative than the unplanned move to working from home last March, with some making efforts to avoid pre-pandemic remote-work mistakes.
“In a lot of ways it’s going to be more disruptive than when we went all remote,” said Brian Kropp, vice president of research at Gartner."
"Since the pandemic sent workers home last year, a slew of modifications have been made to office buildings to protect against the spread of the coronavirus. Now, as companies prepare to bring workers back, experts say even more changes are on the way.
Expect expanded gathering spaces and fewer personal workstations, for instance, changes that are being fueled by the success of working from home. Companies like Google, Microsoft and Walmart have already announced proposals for hybrid work models that will allow employees to continue to work remotely at least a few days a week."
