PLEASE NOTE: The links in these notifications will no longer work; and the formatting of these notifications is not optimized

2022-2023 School Year

Sent 6/13/2023 to all FHS Families regarding the passing of one of our students last night:

Dear FHS Families,

It is with a great deal of sadness that we are writing to acknowledge the passing of one of our 10th-grade students,  Anthony Gates. Anthony passed away in a car accident late last night. 

The loss of a child is incomprehensible, and our most heartfelt sympathy is with the Gates family and friends.  While, as a community, we cannot take away the pain and grief that comes with a tragic and unexpected loss, we can continue to add our love and support.  

Our students and staff will also be impacted and will process in ways requiring different levels of support.  FHS has organized a plan to support students and staff at school by continuing with a sense of routine and predictability while being as responsive as possible to all students and staff needing additional support.  

We will be communicating with students regarding available support at school:

offering in-school counseling and bereavement support services to all students in need throughout the day in the FHS auditorium (this will continue throughout the week as needed)

in terms of our final exam schedule, we will maintain the structure as the situation permits while providing the student with a choice to take the exams or go to the auditorium where there will be school adjustment counselors available.

staff members are prepared to provide students with grace and flexibility during this time

offering after-school counseling support in the FHS library from 2:00-3:00 pm

allowing students' absences to attend memorial services to be excused

Grief is also a uniquely personal experience.  Grief is also a process, and it is not linear.  We will try to maintain as normal a routine and structure as the situation permits.  If you feel your child or family needs further support, please contact your child’s guidance counselor AND assistant principal, and we will do everything we can to help you. 

Below,  we have included several online resource links for addressing grief with children and teens.   

Resources:
Addressing Grief, from the National Association of School Psychologists
How to Help a Grieving Teen, from the Dougy Center

Respectfully,

Lucas Giguere        Joshua Hanna 

Superintendent       Principal

_________________________________

Sent 6/13/2023 to all Class of 2023 grads and their families regarding FranklinTV posting the graduation recording on YouTube:

Hello and Congratulations FHS Class of 2023 Families!

FranklinTV has completed the editing of the 2023 Graduation Ceremony video and has posted it on YouTube for all to watch and download.

Click HERE to watch the June 2, 2023 FHS Graduation Ceremony on YouTube

FHS Administration

_________________________________

Sent 6/72023 to all FHS Families-Yearbook 2023 delivery update and yearbook portrait information for Class of 2024

Dear FHS Families,

2023 Yearbook Delivery Update

There has been a delay at the production plant in TN and we are still waiting on tracking information. The yearbooks are still due to be delivered directly to the addresses provided. Once I have the tracking numbers, I will send another update. Please accept my sincerest apologies that the yearbook was not delivered by the expected date.   

Class of 2024

Looking forward to next year, Class of 2024, please find information about senior portraits and other yearbook information HERE

Thank you for your understanding,

Alyssa Taranto

Yearbook Advisor

tarantoa@franklinps.net

_______________________________

Sent 6/6/2023 to all FHS 10th and 11th grade families regarding parking registration for the next school year

FHS Families of rising 11th and 12th graders,

Click HERE to read about student parking registration for the next school year. Please note, only students will be able to complete the parking registration form using their school gmail accounts. Parents/Guardians will not have access to complete the registration form.

Please direct any questions regarding parking to Dr. Maria Weber at weberm@franklinps.net

_______________________________

Sent 6/5/2023 to all Class of 2023 graduates regarding rain-damaged diplomas and diploma covers:

Good Morning FHS 2023 Graduate Families,

The Administration is aware that some of the diplomas and/or diploma covers were damaged by the rain on Friday; we will be ordering replacements for anyone that needs them.

Please complete this form to let us know that your diploma and/or diploma (blue) cover was damaged.

We will need you to bring the damaged diplomas/covers to the FHS Main Office no later than this Friday, June 9th so your diploma and/or Diploma cover will be included in the re-order to Jostens.

Thank you,

FHS Administration

_______________________________

Sent 5/31/2023 to families of 9th graders regarding MCAS Biology testing:

Good Afternoon Grade 9 Students, Parents/Guardians, 

This email serves as a reminder that all 9th grade students will be participating in the Biology MCAS next Tuesday (6/6) and Wednesday (6/7).  Here are a few reminders for a successful testing experience:

Students should bring a fully charged chromebook each day. Students who do not have a school issued chromebook will be able to borrow one on testing days. They will be available each morning in front of the 3rd floor house office. Please remember to bring your charger, as well. 

Dismissals are not permitted during the MCAS testing period (7:35am-10:00am).  Please plan any appointments around this time.  

Please get a good night's sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time

Sincerely,

FHS Administration

_______________________________

Sent 5/25/23 to all seniors and their families-a reminder of Sign out day tomorrow Friday, May 26,

Dear Seniors and families,

This is a final reminder that tomorrow is Senior Sign-Out day. Even if you have already turned in your Chromebook, you still need to attend this event.  If you have made prior arrangements with you AP because you have another commitment tomorrow, you can return your items and pay your fees/charges next Tuesday.

Please come at your scheduled time to avoid long lines/wait times.  If you have made prior arrangements to come during a different time slot, you are all set.

Enter the library from the FHS Main Entrance hallway, and pick up the Sign-Out sheet with your name on it. Proceed through the 7 stations to get a signature from each on your sign out sheet. Once you have the required 7 signatures, you are cleared to pick up your cap and gown.

It would be a good idea to bring signed checks or cash with you in case you owe money for a lost ID, lost textbook, cafeteria balance, unpaid DECA fees, unpaid Extracurricular Activity fee, and other fees/charges.

If you wish to transfer anything from your Chromebook to a personal device or google account, before you drop it off, here are Google’s instructions on how to do that.

Please make sure your Chromebook is fully charged and you have the charger with you.

Please also make sure if you owe a textbook and/or library book to bring those with you.

You will be able to leave the sign out (if you owe something)and go home to retrieve books, chargers, money, etc. and return to complete your sign out at any time between 8 AM and 1 PM

Schedule for Senior Sign-Out

Last names that begin with the letters:          Come to the Library between:

A-D                                                                8:00 AM  to 9:00 AM

E-K                                                               9:00 AM  to 10:00 AM

L-P                                                               10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Q-S                                                              11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

T-Z                                                               12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM

See you tomorrow!!

FHS Administration

______________________________________________

Sent 5/23/23 to all FHS Families regarding Yearbook 2023 Distribution update:

FHS Families,

Any yearbook that has been ordered thus far this year will be delivered directly to students at home via USPS. They are expected to arrive throughout the week of May 29th.

Yearbook online sales close at the end of the month for the 2023 yearbook. We have limited copies available for purchase.

Click the link below to purchase a yearbook.

http://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/1065973/Franklin-High-Sc...

______________________________________________

Sent 5/23/23 to all 10th grade families regarding a fundraiser:

Dear Sophomore students and families,

We are having 1 final fundraiser before we break for summer.

We are featuring Sport Performance T-Shirts and Sweatshirts. Orders can be placed through May 30th. 

https://www.customink.com/fundraising/class-of-2025-spring-apparel-fundr...

Class of 2025 Advisors

Alyssa Taranto and Nick Bailey

______________________________________________

Sent 5/23/2023 to all FHS Families-yearbook distribution update:

FHS Families,

Any yearbook that has been ordered thus far this year will be delivered directly to students at home via USPS. They are expected to arrive throughout the week of May 29th.

Yearbook online sales close at the end of the month for the 2023 yearbook. We have limited copies available for purchase. Click the link below to purchase a yearbook.

http://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/1065973/Franklin-High-Sc...

______________________________________________

Sent 5/21/2023 to all FHS families regarding the passing of one of their classmates:

Dear FHS Families,

It is with a great deal of sadness that I am writing to acknowledge the passing of one of our 10th-grade students, Nick Gaspar.  The loss of a child is incomprehensible, and our most heartfelt sympathy is with the Gaspar family and friends.  While, as a community, we cannot take away the pain and grief that comes with a loss this profound, we can continue to add our love and support.  

Grief is a process, and it is not linear.  Grief is also a uniquely personal experience. Our students will process in ways requiring different levels of support.  FHS has organized a plan for supporting students moving forward at school.

We will be: 

offering in-school counseling and bereavement support services to all students in need in the first-floor School Counseling Office, Room 113

offering after-school counseling supports in the FHS library

allowing students' absences to attend memorial services to be excused.  We will request parents/guardians follow our procedures by providing the reason for the absence when calling the house offices.

FHS staff will continue to provide students with grace and flexibility as they navigate the next few days. If you have concerns, please contact your child’s teachers and/or counselors

We will try to maintain as normal a routine and structure as the situation permits.  If you feel your child or family needs further support, please contact your child’s guidance counselor AND assistant principal, and we will do everything we can to help you. 

Below,  we have included several online resource links for addressing grief with children and teens. 

Resources:
Addressing Grief , from the National Association of School Psychologists
The Child's Loss: Death Grief and Mourning, by Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D., and Jana Rubenstein, M.Ed., LPC
How to Help a Grieving Teen, from the Dougy Center 

Respectfully,

Lucas Giguere, Superintendent

Joshua Hanna, Principal

____________________________________

Sent 5/17/23 to all 11th and 12th grade student drivers regarding parking on campus:

FHS Students,

As of today, all junior and sophomore drivers MUST park in their assigned lot. If you are assigned to the rink, please park in the rink.  The entire senior class will need to access the parking lot from now until June 2nd. DO NOT PARK in staff spots or in either on-campus lots, including Horace Mann, unless you have a hanging parking tag on your windshield that was assigned to you. 

The parking lots will be monitored and if you are found to be in a space you should not, then you will be subject to progressive discipline and may lose your parking privileges.

The parking lots will be open for all registered drivers as of June 5th on a first-come-first-serve basis. Students can only park in spots marked with white lines.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Mr. Hanna

____________________________________________

Sent 5/9/2023 to Seniors and their families-last days to purchase your All Night Party ticket:

FHS Senior Families,

This Friday, May 12th is the final day to purchase your Senior's All Night Party Ticket. 

You can purchase an ANP ticket in 2 ways:

Purchase a ticket online via PAYPAL > HERE

Send in a check for $80 made out to All Night Party; write your student's name on the memo line of the check, and put the check in an envelope labeled All Night Party Ticket and then drop the envelope off in the FHS Main Office by this Friday.

Anyone that would like to donate snack food or paper goods to All Night Party should click HERE

Thank you,

FHS All Night Party Committee

___________________________________________

Sent 5/3/223 to all FHS Families regarding a phone issue the Main Office is having:

Wednesday, May 3rd at 2:00 pm

Dear FHS Families,

We are currently experiencing issues with the Main Phone Number for Franklin High School - (508)-613-1400.  Our facilities department aware of the issue and is working on resolving it, but in the meantime, if you need to call FHS you can call:

FHS Main Office at (508)-613-1405

2nd Floor House Office at (508)-613-1415

3rd Floor House Office at (508)-613-1420

Guidance Office at (508) 613-1441

Athletic Office at (508) 613-1501

Thank you for your patience,

FHS Administration

_____________________________________________

Sent 5/1/2023 to all FHS Families regarding one month left to buy a yearbook:

With the end of the year rapidly approaching, don't miss your chance to get a copy of the 2023 yearbook! We have 80 copies left for sale and online sales will be open through May 31, 2023. 

Get Your Yearbook Now

Yearbook distribution information will be released shortly.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Yearbook Advisor Ms. Alyssa Taranto at:

TarantoA@Franklinps.net

___________________________________________

Sent 5/1/2023 to all K- grade 11 FPS Families regarding Bus Transportation for next school year:

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Online registration for bus transportation for the 2023-2024 school year is now available through the Aspen Family Portal. Please login to the portal if you need to register your child to ride the bus. Directions can be found here and attached to this email. Registration and initial payment, if applicable, must be made by June 12, 2023 to guarantee a seat.

PreK students attending the ECDC for 2023-2024 do NOT need to register for busing. If your current preK student is going to Kindergarten in 2023-2024 and needs to ride a bus, please login to the Aspen Family Portal.

Please access the Franklin Public Schools Transportation Website for detailed steps in registering for busing or see the attached document.

Any questions or concerns can be directed to Denise Johnson at schoolbus@franklinps.net

Thank you.

___________________________________________

Sent 5/1/2023 to all FHS Families regarding Teacher Appreciation week:

Dear FHS Families,

Finishing touches are being put on our plans for the Teacher Appreciation Celebration next week.  Your generosity has been just incredible and we are so thankful to our FHS families for helping to make all of this possible.

We'll be hosting a Full Breakfast on Monday, traveling the school with a Lucky Duck Prize Cart on Tuesday, catering a Full Catered BBQ Lunch on Wednesday, and setting up a Popcorn Stand (with all the mix-ins you can imagine) on Thursday.  

But the fun doesn't stop there, we're also holding Daily Raffles and will be giving away 100+ Raffle Prizes (with a total value of over $3,000 and growing!) to give away to some lucky winners all week long!

There is still time to make a donation if you haven't had a chance to yet.  Take a peek at our Sign-Up Genius Lists, Amazon Wish List, or make a donation via PayPal if interested.   

Sign-Up Genius:

Breakfast - Click HERE

Games & Popcorn Stand - Click HERE 

Luncheon - Click HERE

Amazon: Click HERE

PayPal:  Click HERE

Sincerely,

Your FHS PCC

_________________________________________________

Sent 4/23/2023 to all 9th grade families regarding Postural Screenings to begin:

Dear 9th grade Parents/Guardians:

This email is going out to all 9th grade FHS families to remind you of our state mandated Postural screenings.  In order to be exempt from screening one of the following requirements
must be met:

A physical exam dated AFTER July 1, 2022 in which a postural screening was performed and documented.  If you have not submitted a copy to the health office please do so ASAP. If you have submitted already, thank you!

If you have a physical scheduled between now and June 20th, please email that date to me and your child will be exempt from the in school screening.  We ask that you send a copy of their physical form after the visit.

For students who do not meet the above criteria, the in-school screenings will be in May.   We
have found in the past that many students prefer to be screened by their Primary Care
Physician.  

If you are unsure if we have your child’s physical form or if you have any questions at all please feel free to contact the health office.

Thank you,

Melissa Conroy, RN
Franklin High School Nurse
508 613 1472
conroym@franklinps.net

__________________________________________

Sent 4/5/23 to all Seniors and Families regarding buying their ANP tickets:

Seniors, and Families,

This is a reminder that if you are planning to attend the FHS ALL NIGHT PARTY after Graduation, you will need to purchase your ticket, if you have not already done so.  

You can purchase the ANP ticket online HERE via PayPal

You can bring in a check for $80 made out to ALL NIGHT PARTY 

Put the check in an envelope

please label the envelope "All Night Party"

list your name on the memo line of the check

Drop it off in the FHS Main Office

Thank you,

FHS ALL NIGHT PARTY COMMITTEE

https://fhsallnightparty.com

______________________________________

Sent 4/5/23 to all FHS Families regarding a brief planned "walkout" by students today: 

Dear FHS Community,

I am writing to inform you about a peaceful student walkout that occurred at FHS today. This walkout was organized by a group of students committed to raising awareness about the importance of school safety.  This was in coordination with a national movement that can be learned about by clicking on this link.  

The walkout's purpose was to show solidarity with those impacted by school violence and to send a clear message to our leaders and policymakers that this issue requires urgent attention and action. Our students feel passionate about this cause and believe that it is their responsibility to use their voices to advocate for change.

I want to assure you that the walkout was completely peaceful. Students gathered in a designated area on school grounds, some with signs showing support to one another. The event lasted no more than 15 minutes, and students returned to their classes afterward.

I understand that some community members may have concerns about the walkout and its impact on the school day. Please know that our top priority is always the safety and well-being of our students, and we took the necessary steps to ensure that the event was carried out responsibly and respectfully.

I believe this walkout was an opportunity for our students to exercise their right to peaceful protest and to engage in an important conversation about the issues that matter most to them. We hope you will join us in supporting our students and their efforts to positively impact our community.

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna, Principal

____________________________________________

Sent 4/3 to all families of 9th, 10th, and 11th graders regarding reviewing their course selections for next fall:

Good morning FHS Families, 

At this time, guidance counselors have met with all current 9th, 10th, and 11th graders to complete course selection for next year.  Parents, please review your student's course requests in ASPEN and reach out to their guidance counselor with any questions. 

To view the course requests: In the ASPEN parent portal, click on your student's name, and then click the SCHEDULE side tab, REQUESTS.  The information at the top of the page are the courses that have been requested for next year.  The COURSE REQUEST ADJUSTMENTS are the teacher recommendations.    

Please make sure you discuss elective courses and alternates carefully. No changes to electives will be made once the school year starts.  Please review our add/drop policy here (page 10). 

Also, please note: Every attempt will be made to satisfy student requests for courses. However, budgetary constraints, staffing, availability, course enrollment, building capacity, and master schedule flexibility are factors in the scheduling process, and may necessitate alterations to student schedules.  Please be aware that some courses listed may not run due to the aforementioned variables.

Thank you, 

FHS Guidance

____________________________________________

Sent 3/30/23 to all FHS Families regarding some updates from Principal Hanna:

FHS Families,

I wanted to share a letter with you all that was shared and discussed with students during advisory today. This letter specifically deals with recent areas of concern regarding our bathroom spaces at FHS. We are constantly looking for ways to make FHS a respectful and safe place for all of our students.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna, Principal 

____________________________________________

Sent 3/29/2023 to all 10th graders and their families regarding Sophomore Banquet ticket deadline being extended:

Good Afternoon Class of 2025 and Families, 

We are looking forward to our Sophomore Banquet this Friday 3/31 at 7pm.

While online ticket sales have closed, we have extended ticket sales through the end of the school day (2:20pm) on Friday. Tickets ($20) can be purchased via cash or check made out to the Town of Franklin and can be dropped off with:

Ms. Taranto - Room 128

Mr. Bailey - Room 105

Main Office to be left in Ms. Taranto's or Mr. Bailey's Mailbox.

Please remember that all social and financial obligations must be completed to attend the banquet and that no tickets will be sold at the door of the event. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.

Thanks,

Alyssa Taranto & Nick Bailey

Class of 2025 Advisors

____________________________________________

Sent 3/28/23 to all FPS Families regarding a swatting incident that happened this morning at FHS:

Dear FPS Community,

We would like to inform you of an incident that happened this morning at Franklin High School. First and foremost, everyone is safe. 

At approximately 9:02 am, the Franklin Police Department Dispatch received a swatting call.  A swatting call is an act of making a prank call / false report to emergency services in an attempt to bring about the dispatch of a large number of armed police officers to a particular address.  The call received by the dispatch referenced a hostage situation involving a potential school shooter in the building.  Upon learning of this, the school was immediately placed into administrative lockdown.  During this time no one was allowed to enter or exit the building, and students and staff were contained in their classrooms.

Franklin PD responded immediately in accordance with their emergency response protocols by responding to the school and conducting a search of the FHS.  The FHS school administration cooperated by assisting with the search. As a result, it was confirmed to be a swatting call; there was not a threat, and the building was taken out of administrative lockdown. 

While these types of incidents have also occurred in other neighboring communities, we continue to follow our emergency response protocols to ensure the safety of our students and staff.

Lucas Giguere     Joshua Hanna 

Superintendent    Principal

__________________________________________

Sent 3/27/23 to all Seniors and their Families regarding the game Senior Assassin:

Class of 2023 FHS Families:

We wanted to bring to your attention something that has become an unofficial tradition at Franklin High School: the game known as Senior Assassin/Senior Elimination.  Historically, this has been a game organized by members of the senior class where students are assigned a classmate they are supposed to metaphorically “assassinate” / “eliminate” with water guns, nerf guns, and/or water balloons while “staying alive” themselves.  

This game is in no way affiliated with Franklin High School; however, in recent years, FHS/FPS has lost plausible deniability.

FHS opposes the continuation of this game as we have multiple concerns regarding the personal safety of our FHS students and the safety of other members of the Franklin community.  We have reason to believe this game has and could continue to: 

Involve car chases, hiding on rooftops, trespassing on private property, hunting one another after dark.

Negatively impact student attendance and classroom focus.

Negatively impact at places of employment, homes, and satellite FHS locations used for athletic events/practices.

We remind students and their families that any participation in the game on or around school grounds will result in disciplinary consequences.

We conclude by asking our students to refrain from playing this game due to the potential safety risks involved.  We recognize that this may have been a tradition for FHS students, but it is the belief of Franklin High School that the risks far outweigh the benefits.  

It is our hope that we will continue to work together as a school with staff, families, and community to find safe ways for our students to bond with one another and celebrate their personal and collective achievements as we head toward graduation on June 2nd.

Sincerely,

FHS Administration

__________________________________________

Sent 3/27/23 to all FHS Families regarding sign ups and donation links for Teacher Appreciation week:

Hello FHS Families, 

With over 220 total teachers and staff members at the high school, Teacher Appreciation Week is a BIG undertaking!  Preparing a breakfast spread to feed that many in a very short period of time takes a lot of coordination and the generosity of many.   

To round out the supplies needed for this week-long celebration, we have created several Sign-Up Geniuses and an Amazon Wish List.  The items on these lists will help to fill the needs for our Breakfast, Prize Cart, Popcorn Stand, Luncheon, and Daily Raffle.  Please take a peek and sign up where you can.  Monetary donations are also much appreciated and needed to fund the catered Luncheon.   

Ways to give/donate:

  Sign-Up Genius:
     *  Breakfast - Click HERE
     *  Games & Popcorn Stand - Click HERE 
     *  Luncheon - Click HERE
  Amazon:
     *  2023 TA Wish List - Click HERE
  Monetary Donations:
     *  PayPal - Click HERE
     *  Check/Cash – Checks should be made payable to the “FHS PCC”, place your donation in an envelope clearly marked Teacher Appreciation Donation and drop off at the FHS main office.  

Your generosity has helped to create some of the most memorable Teacher Appreciation Celebrations at FHS in year's past and thank you for your continued support of our incredible teachers and staff. 

Have a great week!

FHS PCC

__________________________________________

Sent 3/27/23 to all 10th graders and their families-last chance to buy Sophomore Banquet tickets is 3/28:

Good Morning, 

This is a friendly reminder that tomorrow 3/28 is the last day to purchase tickets for the Sophomore Banquet this Friday night.

Tickets must be purchased ahead of time, as no tickets will be sold at the door. Please make sure that your class dues are paid for both freshman and sophomore year and that the contract for the dance is filled out. 

If you have any questions about the banquet or class dues, please reach out to the Class of 2025 Advisors:

Alyssa Taranto or Nick Bailey.

__________________________________________

Sent 3/27/23 to all 10th and 11th grade families-last chance to sign up for Belize Trip:

Dear Franklin High School Families,

We have three more spots available for students on our STEM tour to Belize! At this time we are opening enrollment to any current sophomores and juniors who are interested and are in good academic and behavioral standing.

If you are interested, here are your Next Steps: 

- Review this video that goes through the information from the info night we had on 3/6. Please note that the deadline for enrollment has been extended to March 30th. Also at this point the monthly  payments might be higher given the amount of months we have left before the trip.

- Review this behavioral expectations document . This will need to be returned to either group leader (Ms. Balliro in room 207 or Mrs. Quigley in room 329) once you enroll.

- Email us back with any clarifying questions.

If you decide this is something you want to enroll in please complete this form so we can check that your student meets the academic and behavioral standings to be approved and we will send you the enrollment link.

Thank you families! 

Your Group Leaders,

Ms. Balliro & Ms. Quigley

ballirom@franklinps.net

quigleyc@franklinps.net

__________________________________________

Sent 3/23/2023 to all 10th graders and their families-a reminder about MCAS ELA next week:

Good Afternoon Grade 10 Students, Parents/Guardians, 

This email serves as a reminder that all 10th grade students will be participating in the ELA MCAS next Tuesday (3/28) and Wednesday (3/29).  Here are a few reminders for a successful testing experience:

Students should bring a fully charged chromebook each day. Students who do not have a school issued chromebook will be able to borrow one on testing days. They will be available each morning in front of the 3rd floor house office. Please remember to bring your charger, as well. 

Dismissals are not permitted during the MCAS testing period (7:35am-11:00am).  Please plan any appointments around this time.  

Please get a good night's sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time!

FHS Administration

____________________________________________

Sent 3/16/2023 to all FHS Families regarding Teacher Appreciation Week:

Dear FHS Families,

We’ve gathered a great team of enthusiastic parents together and planning for Teacher Appreciation Week in May is off to a fantastic start!  Our theme this year will be the County Fair – specifically Franklin HS County Fair.  Think carnival games with goldfish as prizes, cotton candy, a ferris wheel, and BBQ.  The events will include:

A Breakfast to kick off the week

A Lucky Duck Traveling Prize Cart

A full BBQ Lunch

A create your own Popcorn Mix Stand

Some Silly String Fun

And of course, the Daily Prize Raffle (a student and teacher favorite year after year)

As you know, we can’t do any of this without the generosity of our FHS Families and Community.

There are several ways for you to contribute to these events; we gratefully appreciate anything that you can give.

Monetary Donations - via Paypal, Check, or Cash

PayPal - Online, easy and fast! Paypal (https://tinyurl.com/fhspccteacherappreciation)

Check - Please make checks payable to the “FHS PCC”, place in an envelope clearly marked Teacher Appreciation Donation and drop off at the FHS main office.

Cash - Please include a note with your name and email address (so we can let you know we received it), place it in an envelope clearly marked Teacher Appreciation Donation, and drop it off at the FHS main office.

Raffle Prize Donations - We’re looking for Gift Cards, Gift Baskets, or almost anything you can think of.  Prizes will be raffled off and announced on Panther TV at the end of each day during the week.  We’d love the support of any local business owners as well, so please reach out to your contacts and ask for their help.  Please email Deb if you are interested in donating a Raffle Item (debmatthy@gmail.com).   

Food/Beverage/Supplies Donations – Our Sign-Up Genius and Amazon Wish List links will be shared as soon as available, keep your eyes out for our next communication.

Sincerely,

Your FHS PCC

____________________________________________

Sent 3/14/23 to all 10th and 11th grade families regarding the Belize Trip:

Dear Franklin High School Families,

We are expanding our PreReqs for the trip, so act fast if you want a chance to go to Belize for a STEM trip over February Vacation!

We had an initial enrollment session last week & have a few spots remaining for qualifying students. If you are interested in getting more information about this exciting opportunity please complete this form and the teacher leaders Ms. Balliro & Ms. Quigley will get in touch with you.

If enrollment does not fill up we will expand prerequisites, so act now to secure a spot!

Your Group Leaders,

Ms. Balliro & Ms. Quigley

ballirom@franklinps.net

quigleyc@franklinps.net

____________________________________________

Sent 3/13/2023 to all FPS Families regarding an early release on Tuesday, 3/14 due to impending bad weather:

Dear Franklin Public School Staff and Families,

As you may know, the current weather predictions for tomorrow call for rain mixed with snow in the morning, turning to heavier snow and wind gusts tomorrow afternoon. Based on the timing of this event, it is expected that the snow will most impact the afternoon/evening. After careful consideration, Franklin Public Schools will have an early release tomorrow, Tuesday, March 14, 2023. All K-12 schools should follow their regular half-day schedule. 

Early Release Times 

K-5 Schools  - 11:45 AM

Middle Schools - 10:45

High School - 10:55

ECDC is canceled for students. ECDC staff should report at the regularly scheduled time in the morning.

Solutions Program will remain open until 2:00 pm.

All scheduled after-school activities and evening events are canceled tomorrow.   

Respectfully,

Lucas Giguere

Superintendent

Read more

____________________________________________

Sent 3/13/2023 to all FHS Families -a reminder that Spring Sports registration closes Weds. March 15th at 11 PM:

FHS Families,

Just a reminder that registration for Spring Sports on FamilyId.com will close this Wednesday, March 15th at 11:00pm. 

Your student needs to be registered and turn in a valid physical by this date in order to be cleared to try-out.  All try-outs/practices will begin on Monday March 20th.  Please go to the Athletic Dept. website page for practice and game schedules.

Thank you,

FHS Athletic Department

____________________________________________

Sent 3/9/2023 to all FHS Families regarding summer STEM programs:

Good afternoon,

We are excited for Summer 2023!  Come join us for some engaging, interactive, and fun activities! Summer STEM has opportunities for students entering Grades 1-10. Click each title for more information or to register.  All programs are 8:30am-12:30pm.

Math Academy, Grades 1-6   July 10–21

Catch Me if You Can - An Overview of Forensic Science, Grades 6-9    July 10-14 or July 17-21

NEW - Tinkering with Technology, Grades 6-9  July 10-14

NEW - Engineering with Newton, Grades 6-9  July 17-21

Financial Literacy for Teens, Grades 8-10 July 10-14

Please let us know if you have any questions and we hope to see you this summer!

The Lifelong Learning Staff
www.franklinlifelonglearning.com
Email: lifelong@franklinps.net
Phone: (508) 553-4814

____________________________________________

Sent 3/3/2023 to all FPS Families regarding Redistricting 

Dear FPS Staff and Families,

I hope this message finds you well. I am following up on the redistricting analysis letter sent on February 27, 2023, with a link to the FPS Redistricting Story Map, as promised.  

The story map provides information on the following topics:  

Project Goals & Objective

What is Redistricting?

Overall Project Approach

Why Redistrict?

Analysis Timeline

Guiding Principles

Key Terms

How to Use this Story Map

Recommendations

To navigate the story map, simply scroll down or click on the headings in the bar at the top of the page. For all the maps presented here, you have the ability to zoom in and out, as well as move around the city. Additionally, if you click on a component in any map, a pop-up containing information about that component will appear. Some maps have a 'swipe' feature - look for the white line down the middle of the map, dividing it in two. Drag this line to the left or the right to swipe between the elementary and middle school districts.

We look forward to seeing those who can attend one of the scheduled informational sessions. You can find additional information on the Redistricting Analysis webpage.

A special thank you to the volunteers on the Redistricting Analysis Advisory Committee, the redistricting working group, Space Needs Subcommittee, and App Geo for their input and feedback towards this analysis.

Respectfully,

Lucas Giguere

Superintendent

____________________________________________

Sent 2/28/2023 to all FPS Families-a 2 Hour Delayed Opening due to snow:

Dear Franklin Public School Staff and Families,

The current weather predictions call for snow beginning this evening and continuing overnight. The snow is expected to impact our morning commute/arrival time to school. 

Based on the anticipated weather conditions and the current information, the Franklin Public Schools will have a 2-hour delay on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.   

I have been in ongoing communication with the Department of Public Works and Facilities regarding their ability to treat roads and remove snow around our schools. This additional time will allow our DPW and Facilities Department additional time adequately prepare for safe arrival at school.   

When Franklin Public Schools has a delayed opening, ECDC will have a cancellation/delayed opening as follows:

The ECDC morning session will be canceled. 

The ECDC full-day and extended sessions will delay opening by 2 hours. The delayed opening will NOT impact the afternoon session. 

All before-school programs are canceled, and Solutions will follow the 2-hour delay schedule. Emergency busing will be in effect, and students walking to or from school will be offered rides by our drivers.

We will continue to follow tomorrow’s weather forecast carefully and plan to reassess the conditions in the morning to ensure that we are prepared for school, to begin with a 2-hour delay. If snowfall accumulates beyond capacity to clear for the opening of school, we will switch to a cancellation. We will make that call in the morning and notify staff and families no later than 7:00 am. If you do not receive a cancellation notification by 7:00 am, there will be only a 2-hour delay.  

Respectfully,

Lucas Giguere

Superintendent

__________________________________________________________

Sent 2/28/23 to all 9th grade families regarding Freshman Banquet this Friday, 3/3/23:

Dear Class of 2026 Families, 

The Freshman Banquet is THIS FRIDAY, March 3, 2023, from 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.; we are excited to share this night with your students!

Here are some updates and reminders:

The event is open only to FHS students and only to students in the class of 2026

We ask that your students check in no later than 7:30 

Did you forget to purchase tickets? ….Don’t worry, we’ve extended the purchase deadline to Friday 3/3! Tickets can be purchased on Unibank.

Did your student forget to fill out the attendance contract? Don’t worry…. It is linked here, FHS Events Contract, please have them fill it out asap to avoid having to do it before entering the dance. 

Please reach out to Ms. Gordon (gordonc@franklinps.net)and Ms. Laquinta (laquintas@franklinps.net) with any questions or concerns. Be well. 

Sincerely,

Ms. Gordon and Ms. Laquinta

Class of 2026 Advisors

__________________________________________________________

Sent 2/21/23 to all 9th grade families regarding Mood Check:

FHS 9th Grade Families,

We are pleased to announce the second year of Mood Check: Franklin, a depression prevention initiative supported by the Franklin Public Schools and directed by Dr. Tracy Gladstone, a licensed clinical psychologist from the Wellesley Centers for Women at Wellesley College. Please read this important letter with further information. As always let me know if you have any questions. Wishing you all a peaceful February break!

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna, Principal

______________________________________________

Sent 2/21/23 to all 10th and 11th grade students and families regarding the trip to Belize in 2024:

Dear Franklin High School Classes of 2024 and 2025,

You are invited to join us on an upcoming educational travel experience to Belize in Winter 2024!

When students travel, they expand their knowledge of the world around them, discover more about themselves, and grow more confident. These skills are critical for creating the global citizens of tomorrow, and we would love to have you join us on this adventure.

If you are interested in coming to hear all about the details, including the itinerary, activities, academic opportunities, and the cost of our trip at our informational meeting on March 6th at 6:00pm, please complete this form by Friday, March 3rd, to ensure your eligibility for this trip! If you are eligible, we will send you an official invitation to our informational meeting. Please note that this form is required to be completed before attending the informational meeting.

There are limited spots on this trip, so we would love to have you attend this meeting to learn more about this exciting opportunity.

Thanks,

Ms. Quigley & Ms. Balliro

______________________________________________

Sent 2/16/2023 to all Class of 2026 families regarding Freshman Banquet:

Dear Families of the Class of 2026,

We just wanted to send a reminder that the Freshman Banquet will be March 3 from 7:00-9:30 - this is the Friday after we get back from break.

Tickets are on sale now online on UniBank! We are looking forward to a fun night as our first gathering as a class.  Please let us know if you have any questions!

Ticket Sales Link (UniBank)

Best regards,

Colleen Gordon and Shelly Laquinta

Class of 2026 Advisors

__________________________________________

Sent 2/15/2023 to all Seniors and their families regarding Local Scholarships:

Good afternoon Parents/Guardians of Members of the Class of 2023, 

We wanted to share the following email regarding local scholarships that was sent to all seniors this morning.  Please note that the scholarship applications can only be accessed via the student's school email account.

Good morning Class of 2023, 

We are pleased to share this year's local scholarships with you. These are available to you through the amazing generosity of local families and businesses.  

Please read the instructions on the form carefully and reach out to your guidance counselor or Ms. Bellan (bellanj@franklinps.net) with any questions. 

The deadline for all submissions is Friday, March 10th.  Late submissions or incomplete submissions will not be accepted. 

LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP PACKET/DESCRIPTIONS APPLICATION

* Applications will only be accessible through the student's school email. 

* A separate application must be completed for each scholarship.

 Please note after you submit your google form you will receive an email confirming your selections. 

Thank you, 

FHS Guidance

__________________________________________

Sent 2/13/23 to all FHS Student drivers that park on campus:

FHS Student Drivers,

This is a reminder that you must park in your assigned lot. Students who do not meet these expectations will be subject to progressive discipline. This includes detention, loss of parking privileges, or other disciplinary action. Repeat offenders may be towed at the car owner's expense. 

It is expected that all student drivers:

are registered through the 3rd floor house office

park in their assigned parking lot

display their parking tag (using old stickers or tags is a violation of our parking policy)

do not alter or share their parking tag

park in spots with white lines only (yellow-lined spaces are reserved for staff)

do not park in visitor spots

If everyone meets these expectations then we can ensure that all registered drivers will have a place to park. 

Thank you for your attention to this. Let me know if you have any questions.  

Sincerely,

Mr. Hanna

________________________________________

Sent 2/13/23 to all FHS Families from the PCC regarding Teacher Appreciation Week:

Dear FHS Families,

As the parents of high school aged kids, we shift our focus from scheduling playdates to teaching our kids independence, responsibility and how to self-advocate. And as our kids learn to successfully do these things, our direct interactions with the teachers, counselors, and staff are far and few between.

However, there is no doubt that, although we may no longer be going into the classroom as a guest reader or chaperoning field trips, every single member of the HS Staff is working hard to give our kids the very best education and high school experience possible. There is no doubt that they are all in!

For that spirit and dedication, we seek to show gratitude. This year, National Teacher Appreciation Week falls May 8th – 12th. At this time, plans are getting underway to show the High School Teachers and Staff just how incredible we think they are. The details are still being ironed out, but will certainly include a themed Gourmet Luncheon and as many other surprises throughout the week as possible.

To pull all of this off, we depend on the generous contributions of our FHS families. There are several ways for you to contribute to these events and we gratefully appreciate anything you can give.

Monetary Donations - via Paypal, Check, or Cash
1. PayPal - Online, easy and fast! Paypal (https://tinyurl.com/fhspccteacherappreciation)
2. Check - Please make checks payable to the “FHS PCC”, place in an envelope clearly marked Teacher Appreciation Donation and drop off at the FHS Main Office.
3. Cash - Please include a note with your name and email address (so we can let you know we received it), place in an envelope clearly marked Teacher Appreciation Donation, and drop it off at the FHS main office.

Food/Beverage/Supplies Donations – Our Sign-Up Genius and Amazon Wish List will be shared as soon as available, keep your eyes out for our next communication.

Volunteers – It takes a team to make it all happen and we’d love your help. If you are interested in helping to plan and execute the events please complete this Google Form (https://forms.gle/v98RjQcw7c8RLUEM7) and someone will be in touch with you.

We greatly appreciate your consideration and look forward to the celebrations ahead.

Questions? – Feel free to email the PCC at fhspcc@gmail.com

Sincerely,
Your FHS PCC

_____________________________________________

Sent 2/13/23 To all Senior Families regarding Diploma information:

SENIOR FAMILIES:

At this time we will be ordering diplomas and we would like to make sure we have accurate information for your graduating student.

Parents/Guardians, please log into your Aspen parent portal, or have your student log into their Aspen student portal.

Parents/Guardians should click on the name of their senior and then the DEMOGRAPHICS tab. View the spelling of your student's First, Last, and Middle names.

Students should log into their Aspen account and click the MY INFO top tab and then the DEMOGRAPHICS tab and view the spelling of their first, middle, and last names.

View your first name, middle name, last name and suffix, if applicable (ex. Jr., II, III) as it appears on screen. Make sure all names are spelled correctly. This is how your name will appear on your diploma; FIRST MIDDLE LAST (and suffix, if applicable). If you do not have a middle name in Aspen, your name will appear as FIRST LAST (and suffix, if applicable). 

If all spellings are correct, you are done. There is no need to take any further action.

You can use this Diploma Name Change Form to change how your name will appear on your diploma if there is a spelling error, or if you want it to appear a different way. When making a change, please include first, middle, and last names as you would like them to appear.

Use this form ONLY IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE from the way your name appears in Aspen. If you do not want to make any changes, please do not complete the form.

All diploma name changes must be submitted by Thursday, February 16, 2023.

Thank you,

FHS Administration

_________________________________________

Sent 2/1/23 to all 10th grade families regarding an upcoming Popcorn fundraiser for the Class of 2025:

Families of the Class of 2025,

Help support the class of 2025! Our Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser will provide 50% of the profits to the class. This year to date, we have raised $2,000 for our class, which will help to offset our prom and senior week ticket costs.

Our Pop Popcorn Shop will be open from Thursday Feb. 2nd - Sunday Feb. 5th and accessed through the link below. 

https://s.dgpopup.com/p0p4xc77

Please reach out to your Class Advisors:  Alyssa Taranto or Nick Bailey with any questions or concerns. 

__________________________________________________

Sent 2/1/23 to all 9th, 10th, and 11th grade families regarding an updated link to RSVP for the Greece trip informational meeting:

Good afternoon, 

Due to circumstances beyond our control there was an error with the original link to RSVP for the Informational Meeting on the Greece Trip.  If you successfully RSVP'd through the link you are all set and need no further action. 

For those that are still interested and want to sign up/RSVP please use this link:  https://bit.ly/3kJSHPY  

Please note...

Date and time for the meeting remain the same: Thursday, February 9 from 6:30 - 7:30pm

Location: Due to the high interest it has been moved to the cafeteria.

New link for sign up/RSVP : https://bit.ly/3kJSHPY

We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Holly Cullinan & Courtney Reilly 

__________________________________________________

Sent 2/1/23 to all 9th, 10th, and 11th grade families regarding help needed for All Night Party:

FHS Families,

The Franklin High School All Night Party (ANP) is a tradition that began in 1990 to  provide our graduates with a safe and fun event to celebrate their high school experience one last time as classmates.  They enjoy a fun-filled night after graduation that includes interactive games, live entertainment, food, DJ, and a hypnotist show!

Please click here to view a letter from the FHS All Night Party Committee asking for your help in making this night a success for our Class of 2023.

__________________________________________________

Sent 1/31/2023 to all Senior Families regarding some updates from your Class Advisors:

Senior Parents/Guardians,

Happy 2023!  It is hard to believe that graduation is coming so soon.

We are the Class of 2023 Advisors and are working with the class to help organize the Senior Banquet, Senior Week Activities and help students be ready for graduation.  As we move forward, we will be sharing updates to keep you in the loop. (We also regularly add material to the FHS Newsletter).

Up Now:

1) Caps & Gowns - Use this link to order your caps and gowns. Please do so by February 3rd to save money.

2) Have your child join our Google Classroom, if they have not done so by now. Our join code is: yf2qeua

Looking Ahead:

Senior Banquet - Thursday, April 6th.  

Senior Week - Tuesday May 30-Thursday, June 1st

Graduation - Friday, June 2nd

Thank You, 

Mrs. Curtis & Mr. Leighton

Class of 2023 Advisors

_____________________________________________

Sent 1/30/23 to all 9th, 10th, and 11th grade families regarding next year's trip to Greece:

Dear FHS families,

We’re going to Greece in Spring 2024 and your student is invited!

Travel is so much more than just planes and trains! Your child will gain new perspectives, develop a sense of independence, and build skills for the future through this experience

Come hear all the details, including the itinerary, activities, academic opportunities and the cost of our trip at our upcoming informational meeting to be held on February 9th at 6:30pm in the FHS Lecture Hall. Please click the link to register for the meeting: >> https://bit.ly/3Hd7fiz. 

The meeting will also mark the official opening of enrollment!

There are limited spots on this tour, so we would love to have you attend this meeting to learn more about this exciting opportunity!

Thank you,

Holly Cullinan

_____________________________________________

Sent 1/24/23 to all 9th grade families regarding Freshman Banquet:

Dear Class of 2026 parents/guardians,

Please click here to read a letter from the Class of 2026 Advisors, Ms. Colleen Gordon, and Ms. Shelly Laquinta regarding further information about the Freshman Banquet to be held March 3rd.

_________________________________________________________________

Sent 1/23/23 to all FPS families regarding an early release for weather conditions:

Dear Franklin Families and Staff,

We have been carefully monitoring the weather forecast for this afternoon, which predicts snow entering our area around 1:00 pm, continuing into the evening, and ending between 6:00-8:00 pm. 

Due to the anticipated weather conditions on Monday, January 23, 2023, the Franklin Public Schools is planning an accelerated dismissal beginning 15 minutes earlier than their regular dismissal time for all PreK-12 students.   

This will allow more time for parent/guardian pickup, student drivers to get home, and buses/vans to safely begin their routes.  The thought behind this is that any delays in travel caused by weather conditions will still allow students to arrive home on time and safely.  

All after-school and evening activities will be canceled. 

The Solutions after-school program will remain open until 4:30 pm.  

We have consulted with the Franklin DPW, and they are preparing to pretreat and salt the roads before the snow falls.  We will also remind our student drivers to use caution when driving home during dismissal.  

Respectfully,

Franklin Public Schools

_________________________________________________________________

Sent 1/17/23 to all Class of 2025 Families regarding an upcoming fundraiser:

Hello, parents/guardians of the class of 2025,
Tomorrow, Wednesday January 18th the Class of 2025 will be a Santa Fe fundraiser from 5pm-9pm! It would help a lot if you stopped by and grabbed a bite to eat!

We will receive 30% of event sales, which will go to the class of 2025 activities, banquets, prom, etc.

Make sure to mention to the cashier that you are there for the fundraiser, otherwise we won't get credit for your order.
Also, watch out for the upcoming February fundraiser!

Have a great week,

Class of 2025

_________________________________________________________________

Sent 1/9/2023 to all Senior Families regarding some yearbook updates:

FHS Senior families,

This is a brief reminder that parent ads for this year's yearbook must be submitted by February 1st.

Here is some other yearbook related information from the Yearbook Advisor, Ms. Alyssa Taranto.

_________________________________________________________________

Sent 1/6/23 to all Class of 2026 families regarding Freshman Banquet:

Hello families of the Class of 2026!

Click HERE to read a brief letter from your Class Advisors Ms. Gordon and Ms. Laquinta regarding your Freshman Banquet.

_________________________________________________________________

Sent 1/2/2023 to all FPS Families from the Superintendent-re: some reminders:

Dear Franklin Families,

We hope you had a restful break and Happy New Year! We hope 2023 brings your peace and good health. With a new year comes an opportunity to recommit to the following reminders:  

Health and Safety Reminders

As we return from the height of travel and gatherings, it is a good time to remind everyone of our current health and safety practices. There has been a reported surge of COVID, flu, and Respiratory Viral Illnesses (RSV). Our goal is to maximize our ability to keep students and staff healthy and minimize absences during a high-risk period. The following health and safety practices remain in place.

Masks

While masking is not required, any individual who wishes to continue to mask, including those who face a higher risk from COVID-19, will be supported in that choice. Masks will be provided at each school for all students and staff. 

Monitoring Symptoms

We ask families to monitor children for symptoms, keep them home when sick, and test them if appropriate. For call-in procedures, please reference your school's handbook. 

Test Kits

Testing is not required following the December break. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) provided districts with a one-time distribution of at-home COVID-19 tests the week before Thanksgiving break. Please note that the expiration dates on the tests have been extended to January 2023. Please contact your child's school office to request an additional test kit or if you have any questions. 

Hand Hygiene

We will continue to implement good hand hygiene practices. Students are encouraged to wash their hands regularly throughout the day (using hand sanitizer, if needed). Custodians are being asked to double-check hand sanitizer units and restock if needed.

Ventilation

All classrooms and workspaces have been outfitted with portable HEPA filtration units, and our schools are outfitted with UVGI (ultraviolet germicidal irradiation) air filtration.  

Behavior Reminders

We enlist the support of our families and adults in reminding students of their responsibility to meet behavioral expectations during the school day (i.e., classrooms, buses, hallways, bathrooms, cafeterias, after-school activities, and athletic events). 

Reinforce appropriate behavior throughout the school day with your child.

Remind them always to be kind and respectful.

Communication Reminders

As parents/guardians, we recognize that school-related concerns regarding our children can create a level of anxiety, worry, and frustration. Unfortunately, when these issues escalate, our administrators and staff find themselves at the receiving end of angry and aggressive parent emails or phone calls that typically end in frustration for both and, ultimately, do not resolve the concern about a student. 

If you have concerns, please start with the person closest to the issue.   Please communicate in a manner that is respectful and professional.  

You can find more information regarding communication in our Communication Guidelines. 

We appreciate your understanding and look forward to welcoming students and staff back tomorrow, January 3, 2023.  

Respectfully,

Lucas Giguere

Superintendent of Schools

__________________________________

Sent 12/22/2022 to all FPS families regarding a school closure day:

Dear Franklin Families,

The current weather forecast calls for heavy rainfall and strong winds beginning overnight into Friday morning. The primary safety concern with this storm is the timing of the anticipated heavy wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph, which are expected to cause downed tree limbs and power outages before school and during travel time, impacting our ability to assess our schools and communicate changes in a timely manner tomorrow morning.  

After consulting with District personnel and our local public safety officials, all schools will be closed tomorrow, Friday, December 23, 2022.  

As the weather conditions continue to impact our area throughout the day, there will be no after-school or evening activities.  

This decision is not made lightly, and the safety of our staff, students, and families is our highest priority. We wish you all a safe winter break.  

Respectfully,

Franklin Public Schools

________________________________________

Sent 12/15/2022 to all Junior families regarding a fundraiser for PROM.

Class of 2024 families, 

Please CLICK HERE to view a letter from your Class Advisors Ms. Cullinan and Mr. Doherty regarding the Junior Prom and a fundraiser to help offset the cost of the Prom.

Thank you!

Class of 2024

___________________________________

Sent 12/1/22 to all FPS Families regarding Inclement Weather information:

Dear Franklin Community,

With the winter months approaching, I want to share with you the District’s inclement weather procedure. 

This procedure outlines the decision making process and notification expectations for delayed openings, early dismissals and school cancellations related to inclement weather events affecting safe travel of students and staff. This procedure prioritizes safety whilst acknowledging that all day school cancellations will result in additional make-up days, thus extending the last day of school. A brief overview is provided below…

Who makes the decision?

The Superintendent makes the decision to close or delay school in consultation with the Franklin Department of Public Works (DPW), the Highway Department, the Police Department, and the Director of Facilities.

Factors and Considerations

There are a variety of factors that affect the ability to hold a typical school day, ultimately the safety of our students and staff is of utmost importance. Considerations include anticipated conditions throughout the duration of the school day, building conditions, as well as Department of Public Works’ predictions as to when roads, walkways and parking lots will be cleared.

Notification

Traditionally, families and staff will be notified of a school closing or delay by 5:30 A.M. of the day in question. There may be occasions when a decision can be made the previous evening, but typically it will not be made until the day of. As soon as a decision has been made, families and staff will be notified via phone and/or email message through the Regroup mass notification system.

Phone calls will begin to be made at 5:30 A.M.  If you do not wish to receive a phone call early in the morning, please contact your child’s school to remove your number from our Regroup system. 

Additionally, closures will be posted on the following…

Website: www.franklinps.net

Television: Channels 25(Fox), 4(WBZ), 5(WCVB), 7(WHDH), NECN, and 10(WJAR NBC)-RI

Radio Stations: WBZ (1030 AM), WMRC (1490 AM)

Social Media: Twitter:  @FranklinPSNews,  Facebook: @FranklinSchoolDistrictMA

On rare occasions, the Superintendent may implement an early dismissal. Families and staff will be notified directly and updates will be posted to our website.

No School

All classes and school activities are canceled for the day.

The day will be made up later in the year, as state regulations require

Delayed Opening

Morning bus pickups and school start times are postponed by one or two hours.

Before School Programs are canceled

Meals, afternoon dismissals, and all other school activities take place at their regularly scheduled times.

Custodians, cafeteria workers, administrators, and secretaries will report to school as close to their regular hours as is safe to do so. Teachers, ESPs, and other school staff will report one-two hours later than usual.

When Franklin Public Schools has a delayed opening, ECDC will have a cancelation/delayed opening as follows

ECDC morning session (9:15-11:45) will be canceled

ECDC full-day and extended sessions (9:15-3:15 and 9:15-1:15) will delay opening as indicated (for example, if there is a 2-hour delay, the school will open for students at 11:15 and dismiss at the regularly scheduled time).

The delayed opening will NOT impact the afternoon session (12:45-3:15)
 

Early Dismissal

Student dismissal occurs during the school day.  Implemented on rare occasions when weather conditions warrant.

All after-school activities are canceled.

I encourage families and staff to review the full Inclement Weather Procedure which is available on our website.

Respectfully,

Lucas Giguere

Superintendent of Schools

___________________________________________

Sent 11/18/2022 to Seniors regarding Senior Perks:

Good afternoon Seniors! 

Can you believe you are one fourth of the way through your last year at FHS??! 

For Senior Perks, eligibility will be based on your Q1 grades. Any Q1 grade below a 70 average will result in a loss of perks as we have already been operating this school year.

We will check grades once again 12/2 to update for the new term. We recognize Q2 is a fresh start academically and we want to give opportunity to students who have not been eligible to earn their perks back. 

As a reminder, any outstanding conduct and money from cafeteria/technology will also create ineligibility for senior perks. 

FHS Admin Team

_____________________________________

Sent 11/16/2022 to all FHS Families -A reminder that winter sports registration closes on Friday, 11/18/22:

FHS Families,

Just a reminder that registration for a Winter Sport on FamilyID closes Friday 11/18 at 11pm.

Your student must be registered and provide the Athletic Department with a valid physical in order to be cleared for try-outs/practice on Monday November 28th.  

Thank you,

FHS Athletic Department

________________________________________

Sent 11/14/2022 to all 10th and 11th grade families regarding an upcoming Post Secondary planning webinar:

Good afternoon Parents/Guardians of the Class of 2024/Class of 2025,

To help frame the next few months as it relates to post secondary planning, the FHS Guidance Department will be hosting a Parent Information Webinar on Wednesday, November 30th at 6:00pm through Zoom. A link will be shared with families as we get closer to the event.

Parents of current sophomores are also invited to attend the webinar, but please know that material and timelines discussed will be geared toward juniors. If you'd like to hear an overview of what's to come for your student, please feel free to join! 

For those with conflicts, the webinar will be recorded and posted to the Guidance Website.

Thank you,

FHS Guidance

________________________________________

Sent 11/8/22 to all FHS Families regarding school photo retake day on November 15th:

FHS Families,

Your school photo retake day is right around the corner on November 15th. At G & B, our team is busy preparing for another exciting day capturing memories of your students.   HERE you will find a retake notice.  This document has a live ”button” that allows you to order easily with just one click.  

 A few reminders:

If your student is having a retake please have them turn in their original package of pictures to the photographer and our team will reorder the package with the new image.

Yearbook uploads and CDS will be found in the portal 3-4 weeks after picture day

If a family that can’t make the school retake day, we will have a retake session at our studio in Enfield that families can attend.  It is scheduled on 12/1/22 from 4-8pm at 3 Anngina Dr. Enfield, CT 06082

We will see you soon!

The G&B Team

__________________________________________

Sent 11/2/22 to all FHS Families regarding Parent Conferences and sign up link:

FHS Families,

Please click on this letter that will outline how to sign up for parent teachers conferences.

Sincerely,

Josh Hanna

_________________________________________

Sent 11/2/2022 to all 9th grade families from the class advisors:

Dear Families of the Class of 2026,

Please click HERE to read a letter from the Class of 2026 Advisors Ms. Colleen Gordon and Ms. Shelly Laquinta regarding fundraisers, class dues, and more.

Thank you.

_________________________________________

Sent 10/31 to all students taking AP Course this year-a reminder to pay for your AP exams by tomorrow, 11/1/22:

All FHS Students taking AP courses this year, and their families,

This email serves as a reminder that the AP payment portal will close at 11:59pm tomorrow, Nov. 1st.  Any student who plans to take an AP exam in May must pay for their exam(s) by this time.  

Click here for information on how to pay for your AP exams.

Thank you,

FHS Guidance

______________________________________

Sent 10/28/2022 to all FPS Families from the Superintendent's Office regarding fan behavior at games:

Dear Franklin Community,

As a community, we expect our athletes to demonstrate sportsmanship on the field and our fans to exhibit respectful behavior from the stands.  The school administration spends a significant amount of time investigating incidents that occur at our athletic events. My goal in communicating this information is to avoid any incidents that could be prevented.

As our teams wrap up their regular season and move into the playoffs, I want to remind our community of the behavioral expectations at events as we are experiencing an increase in student misbehavior.  We need your support in reinforcing the expectations below.  

A.  Fan Behavioral Expectations
Fan cheering is welcomed and, when it's done in good taste, contributes to a positive game environment.  Inappropriate chants, excessive jeering, and offensive remarks do not represent our values. I'm proud to share that the majority of our students have acted appropriately this season.   Unfortunately, inappropriate behavior from an individual not only creates a negative impression of themselves, but  it also reflects poorly on Franklin High School, Franklin Public Schools, and the Town of Franklin.  

Fan Expectations

Demonstrate appropriate behavior at sporting events by following the FHS Fan/Spectator Expectations  

Taunts, offensive slurs, or other behaviors deemed inappropriate by an administrator will not be tolerated and violators will be removed from the event.

B.  Middle/Elementary School Student Attendance at Varsity Athletic Events

We have seen an increase in middle school students attending FHS athletic events this year.  While their support is appreciated, we have seen an increase in students leaving designated areas, which has resulted in vandalism and inappropriate behavior.  For example, we have evidence this Fall that middle school students are leaving athletic events in the FHS gymnasium to roam the hallways/elevator after school causing damage.  In addition, large groups of middle school students are gathering in the area behind the home bleachers during varsity football games which has led to reports of inappropriate behavior.  We do not have the capacity to monitor students in these areas.

Updated Middle/Elementary Expectations

All middle and elementary students must enter the event with an adult and be supervised at all times. 

The area behind the bleachers is off-limits for the remainder of the season.

Students who are at an event without an adult will need to be picked up by their parent/guardian.

No bikes are allowed in or around the stadium (including the track and walkways).

Let’s partner together as the Franklin community and build upon our reputation for being strong competitors and respectful fans.  It matters.  

Respectfully,

Lucas Giguere
Superintendent of Schools

_______________________________________________

Sent 10/26/22 to all FHS Families regarding an incident in the cafeteria:

FHS Students, Staff, and Families,

Today at 12:40 pm, a fight between two students occurred in the cafeteria during lunch.  Administrators and staff members intervened, and the fight was broken up.  Both students were separated and escorted to safe spaces.  They were examined by our school nurses to ensure no injuries had occurred.   The school will follow its standard discipline process regarding fighting on school grounds.  At this time, our students are safe.   We are bringing this to your attention as some students in the cafeteria may have witnessed the altercation.

It has come to my attention that a video of the fight may have been shared over social media or via text.  This is not helpful for our school community or the parties involved.  We are asking parents/guardians to please speak with your student to ensure they do not share or post this video, as it is a violation of our core values and the Franklin Public School Acceptable Use Policy. As a reminder, please see our student handbook policy below regarding the distribution of electronic video or still images.  

The unauthorized use of electronic video devices (handheld video camcorders, video cellular phones, and other electronic video or electronic still image devices) is prohibited at all times in Franklin High School. If a student uses an electronic video or still-image device in an unauthorized manner, the equipment will be confiscated, secured in an administrative office, and returned to the parent/guardian. Any unauthorized capture or distribution of electronic video or still images may result in disciplinary action and/or possible prosecution by the Franklin Police Department.

Sincerely,

Mr.. Hanna 

________________________________________

Sent 10/26/22 to all 10th grade students and families -some updates for Class of 2025:

Welcome back Class of 2025!

This year the class of 2025 has new advisors, Alyssa Taranto and Nick Bailey! We have been working on securing a prom venue that will be a new location for FHS! Prom is scheduled to take place on Friday, May 3, 2024 at Lakeview Pavilion! 

In order to help offset the costs for students we have multiple fundraisers currently taking place.

1. Pep Rally Shirts: Order by 11/1

10th grade students are asked to wear Carolina Blue on 11/22 for the FHS Pep Rally. We are offering class shirts in both long sleeve and short sleeve options. Shirts can be bulk shipped to the school for pick up or drop shipped directly to your house. 

https://www.customink.com/fundraising/class-of-2025-pep-rally-shirts

2. Winter Candy Fundraiser: Order by 12/2

Order all of your holiday candy and treats through See Candies in support of the class of 2025

https://www.yumraising.com/secure/franklinhs_fhs_class_of_63/AlyTar7742/...

Class Dues also go to help offset the cost of student events and are required for students to be able to attend class events. Dues can be paid in full for the 4 years for a discounted rate of $110, dues paid yearly are $30 and can be paid through Uni Pay.

https://unipaygold.unibank.com/transactioninfo.aspx?TID=30379

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. 

Thanks,

Alyssa Taranto & Nick Bailey, Class of 2025 Advisors

________________________________________

Sent 10/24/22 to all students taking AP courses this year -a reminder to pay for AP exams by November 1st:

This email serves as a reminder to AP students that you have one week left to pay for your AP exams. Payments must be made by 11:59pm on November 1st.  Late payments will not be accepted.

Please pay for your AP Exams > here.   Payment link can also be found by clicking the ONLINE PAYMENTS button located on the home page of the FHS Website.

Students who qualify for free/reduced lunch should see their guidance counselor.

Thank you,

Heather McVay, Director of Guidance

_____________________________________________

Sent 10/24/22 to all FHS Students regarding the yearly extracurricular activity fee:

Dear Panther Students & Families:

We hope you’ve had the opportunity to explore the many extracurricular clubs and activities Franklin High School offers by participating in the club fair held last month.

As you may be aware, a once yearly $75 participation fee applies to those students who join a non-athletic, extracurricular club or organization. This $75 payment provides students with an opportunity to join as many clubs or activities as they wish.

At this time, students who wish to continue their participation in one or more activities must pay the $75 Extracurricular Activity Fee by November 15, 2022.

This fee allows us to continue offering over 50 clubs and activities that appeal to the varied interests of our students.  Please note that for many activities, the $75 Extracurricular Activity Fee will be the only cost.  For some clubs, however, such as the Ski & Board Club, additional costs related to club specific trips and transportation will apply. 

Any family that qualifies for the federal free lunch program will be exempt from the $75 Extracurricular Activity Fee, and those who qualify for the federal reduced lunch program will receive a reduction in their fee.  Please contact Ms. Santosuosso at 508-613-1417 or santosuossoj@franklinps.net if this applies.

To pay for your student’s activity fee, please use this link through Unibank which allows you to pay by electronic check, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express. The Unibank payment link is also located on the FHS Website-click on Online Payments in the middle of the homepage and select Extracurricular Activity Fee from the list of payments.

You may also opt to send in a check for $75, made payable to the “Town of Franklin,” and have your student drop it off at the Main Office. If you opt to pay the fee by check, please make sure “Activity Fee”, your student’s name, and student ID number are on the memo line of the check.

If you have specific questions about the activity fee please call Ms. Jennifer Santosuosso at 508-613-1417 or email her at: santosuossoj@franklinps.net.

Yours truly,

Joshua Hanna, Principal

________________________________________

Sent 10/17/22 to all FHS Families regarding a survey for students to take:

Dear FHS Families,       

We thank you and your family for being our valued partners as we work together to educate the children in our district. Franklin values input from our community – and we need to hear from your child or children! Students are important partners as we work to improve our communication, academic programs, and overall experience for everyone. 

In order to learn more about student experiences at school, we will ask for your child’s feedback via an online survey that will be completed at school. The survey should take 20-30 minutes to complete.

We ask that all our students participate in the surveys, as their feedback will provide invaluable insights into their experiences and how we can improve and adapt our district to meet their needs. If students don’t feel they have enough information to answer a question, they can skip the item altogether. The responses to these surveys will be completely confidential. We are partnering with a third-party vendor to support us in administering and organizing the data from these surveys.

The survey content will ask students to self-reflect on school climate, school safety, sense of belonging, diversity, inclusion, cultural awareness, and action. 

Please notify us if you would like your child to opt out of taking the surveys by completing the Panorama Survey Opt-Out Form by Friday, October 22, 2022. If you prefer a paper copy of the opt out form please contact the school secretary. We thank you in advance for your thoughtful responses. If you have any questions about the survey administration, please don’t hesitate to contact me @ hannaj@franklinps.net . 

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna, Principal

_____________________________

Sent 10/16/2022 to all FHS Families regarding Homecoming Dance tickets:

FHS Families, 

This is just an announcement that the Homecoming Dance (10/22/22 7:00 - 10:00 PM) payment portal has been opened up: Homecoming Payment Portal, all proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer charity!"

Thank you!

FHS Student Government  

_____________________________

Sent 10/12/22 to all students taking AP courses this year and their families-regarding AP Exam payments beginning tomorrow 10/13:

FHS Students taking AP courses this year, and their families,

The payment portal for AP Exams opens tomorrow, 10/13/2022 on Unibank. Click here for information on how to pay for your AP exams.

The payment portal will stay open until 11:59 PM on November 1st.

If you (your student) take more than one AP course, you may get multiples of this email.

Thank you,

FHS Guidance

____________________________________________

Sent 10/4/22 to all Senior families- a reminder of the College Application webinar to be held 10/6:

Good morning,

This email serves as a reminder that the Guidance Department will host a webinar this Thursday night, October 6th at 6pm. The focus of this evening will be on the college application process.  

The webinar will be recorded and posted to the FHS website for those who are unable to attend. 

The details of the webinar are below:

ZOOM webinar.
When: Oct 6, 2022 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Class of 2023 - Post Secondary Planning

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86987821615?pwd=M2lxRGRwY3JMd3d1Q3dBVEU5dW02Zz09
Passcode: 934177

Or One tap mobile :
    US: +13017158592,,86987821615#,,,,*934177#  or +13092053325,,86987821615#,,,,*934177#

Or Telephone:
    Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
        US: +1 301 715 8592  or +1 309 205 3325  or +1 312 626 6799  or +1 646 558 8656  or +1 646 931 3860  or +1 719 359 4580  or +1 720 707 2699  or +1 253 215 8782  or +1 346 248 7799  or +1 386 347 5053  or +1 564 217 2000  or +1 669 444 9171
Webinar ID: 869 8782 1615
Passcode: 934177
    International numbers available: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kv4UQ0nWn

Thank you, 

FHS Guidance

_________________________________________

Sent 10/3/22 to all Seniors and their families - a reminder regarding yearbook senior portraits:

Hello Seniors and Families,

This is a friendly reminder that Senior Portraits and Baby Photos are due to the yearbook by 10/7. For full information regarding yearbook pictures, submissions, ordering and quotes, please see the link below. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pwb6H6xJy2YJiJ_axvDi_z1tMoY7Vhq-wcPL...

If there are any questions or concerns please contact Yearbook Advisor Ms. Alyssa Taranto at TarantoA@franklinps.net

_________________________________________

Sent 9/29 to all FHS Families-a reminder of Curriculum night tonight:

Dear FHS Families,

This is just a brief reminder that tonight is Curriculum Open House Night at Franklin High School from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. You will follow your child’s Day 1, Semester 1 schedule by reporting to each period at the assigned time.

Here is some more detailed information

We hope to see you this evening!

FHS Administration

______________________________________

Sent 9/28/22 to Sophomore families regarding PSAT's:

Good afternoon Parents/Guardians of FHS Sophomores,

As you may be aware, FHS will be hosting the PSAT's on Saturday, October 15th. In past years, we have been able to offer the opportunity for a limited number of interested Sophomores to participate.  Unfortunately this year we are not able to offer this opportunity because of a large Junior participation which accounts for all testing capacity.    

We are however offering the opportunity to be put on a wait list in the event that we have cancelations. If an opportunity for some Sophomores to test does become possible, a lottery system will be used to determine who is offered the opportunity. Students/families would be notified the week before the test and the associated $25 testing fee would then be collected.  

If you are interested in adding your child's name to a waitlist, please reach out to his/her guidance counselor no later than Monday, October 3rd.  Before emailing your child’s guidance counselor some things to consider are:  

Is your child interested in taking the exam (Saturday morning 7:30am-12:30pm)?

Disinterested students tend to under perform and not yield an accurate picture of ability.

Is it an appropriate time to take the test from an academic standpoint? (Students perform best when at least in Algebra 2 as well as having strong vocabulary and reading comprehension skills). 

Students who are not prepared often walk away feeling disappointed or lack confidence in their ability to manage the test in future years.

In the event that your Sophomore student is not able to or chooses not to test this year, please know that there are opportunities for students to take free, full length practice tests online.  Additionally, they will have the opportunity to test next year as Juniors. 

__________________________________

Sent 9/21/2022 to all Senior Families regarding a College Planning Webinar:

Good afternoon Class of 2023 Families, 

The FHS Guidance Staff will be hosting a College Planning webinar on Thursday, October 6th at 6:00pm.  The following topics will be discussed:

  *  Application process

  *  Resources for students/families

  *  Roles/Responsibilities

  *  NCAA/Athletics

  *  Financial Aid overview

The webinar will be recorded and posted to the FHS website for those who are unable to attend.  

A Zoom invitation/link will be sent closer to the evening.  

Thank you, 

FHS Guidance

_________________________________

Sent 9/14/22 to all FHS Families-some updates from Principal Hanna:

Good Evening FHS Families,

Please click here to read our latest updates.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

_________________________________________

Sent 9/14/22 to all FPS families from the District regarding COVID-19 Protocols for 2022-23 school year (update to previous letter):

September 14, 2022

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families and Staff,

There was a typo in my previous COVID Protocol email regarding isolation and masking for those who test positive. Please see the correct guidance below.

Isolation and quarantine guidance and protocols:

Regardless of where the exposure occurred, quarantine for asymptomatic exposed children and staff is no longer required in the school setting. Children and staff identified as close contacts may continue to attend school as long as they remain asymptomatic. Those who can mask should do so until Day 10. A test on Days 2 and 5 is recommended but not required.

Children and staff who test positive must isolate for at least 5 days. If they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving, and they have been fever free for 24 hours, they may return to school after Day 5, provided:

If the child/staff can mask, they must do so through Day 10

If the child/staff cannot mask, they must have a negative test on Day 5 or later to return to programming before day 11.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your school nurse or building principal. Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Assistant Superintendent of Student Services

_________________________________________

Sent 9/14/2022 to all Juniors and their families regarding PSAT registration:

PSAT/NMSQT Information for Class of 2024

The PSAT/NMSQT will be given at Franklin High School on Saturday, October 15, 2022

from 7:30am – 12:00pm

Members of the Class of 2024 at Franklin High School are eligible to take the PSAT exam.

Students from other schools/school districts must take the exam at their own school.

There is no makeup date for the PSAT - this is a National Test Date.

There is a $25 fee to take the exam.  Students must register online (see link below) to reserve a test.

Online registration will begin on Wednesday, September 14th and will end on Friday, September 23rd.  

Please register your 11th grade student for the PSAT by clicking HERE

Students who receive free/reduced lunch may register through their guidance counselor.

More information about the PSAT/NMSQT, including practice tests, can be found here. Paper copies of the information are available in Guidance.  

Please reach out to your child's guidance counselor with any questions.

Sincerely, 

FHS Guidance

______________________________________________

Sent 9/13/22 to all FPS Families regarding COVID Protocols for 2022-23

September 13, 2022

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families and Staff,

DESE and DPH issued a joint memo with COVID information for the 22-23 school year aligned with the CDC guidance released on August 11, 2022. This school year, districts and schools are asked to focus their COVID mitigation strategies on vulnerable and symptomatic individuals while minimizing the need for more restrictive districtwide COVID policies.

There is no longer any statewide masking mandate in schools (other than school health offices), no contact tracing requirements, and no testing requirement for schools. As always, any individual who wishes to continue to mask, including those who face a higher risk from COVID-19, will be supported in that choice. 

Child and adult masks have been distributed to the schools. We will not be doing symptomatic testing in school, but we have iHealth at-home test kits to send home with symptomatic students and staff upon request. 

Isolation and quarantine guidance and protocols:

Regardless of where the exposure occurred, quarantine for asymptomatic exposed children and staff is no longer required in the school setting. Children and staff identified as close contacts may continue to attend school as long as they remain asymptomatic. Those who can mask should do so until Day 10. A test on Days 2 and 5 is recommended but not required.

Children and staff who test positive must isolate for at least 5 days. If they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving, and they have been fever free for 24 hours, they may return to school after Day 5, provided:

If the child/staff can mask, they must do so through Day 1

If the child/staff cannot mask, they must have a negative test on Day 5 or later to return to programming before day 11.

Symptomatic children will be sent home and allowed to return to school if they test negative, have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, and their symptoms have resolved, or if a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis.  A negative test is strongly recommended for return if the latter two conditions are met.  

As always, please monitor your child for symptoms and keep them home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result to the school nurse. Students absent due to testing positive for COVID -19 will be recorded as absent. Absences due to COVID will not be excused unless the parent/guardian provides a note from a medical provider. This school year, we will not send building or District Covid positive case communications.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your school nurse or building principal. Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

______________________________________________

Sent 9/13/22 to all 9th, 10th, and 11th grade families-re: School Picture days and yearbook info:

FHS Parents of 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students,

Please click HERE to read a letter from FHS Yearbook Advisor Alyssa Taranto regarding joining yearbook club, school picture days, purchasing a yearbook, and more.

Questions?  Contact Ms. Taranto at: tarantoa@franklinps.net

______________________________________________

Sent 9/13/22 to all Senior Families-Yearbook information:

FHS Senior Families,

Please click HERE to view a letter from FHS Yearbook Advisor Ms. Alyssa Taranto regarding senior portrait and ad submission deadlines & size requirements, yearbook quotes, baby pictures, yearbook club, and more.

Questions? Contact Ms Taranto: tarantoa@franklinps.net

______________________________________________

Sent 8/29/22 Regarding Registration of Chromebooks and purchase of Chromebook Insurance:

Greetings,  

You are receiving this message because your child/children is participating in the one-to-one chromebook program and currently has a chromebook assigned to them or will be receiving one on the first day of school (6th graders). At this point in time, students in grades 7-12 you may notice that these devices are now in a “LOCK” status.    

NOTE: 6th Graders will have the rest of the week to register their new chromebook. 

In order to facilitate access to the devices on the first day of school the devices will be moved from a “LOCK” status to a “RESTRICTED” status meaning the students will have only the minimum access to school-related materials.  The device will remain in this RESTRICTED status until the device is registered.  Please click the link below to return the device to full, unrestricted functionality. 

Chromebook Registration Form

Once you have registered your chromebook it will be reactivated (within 24 hours) for another year of school. 

During the registration process you will have the opportunity to purchase OPTIONAL chromebook insurance for the year.  This is a great bargain and it is strongly recommended that you take advantage of this offer.  

NOTE: UNTIL THE CHROMEBOOK IS REGISTERED, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR 100% OF THE COST OF REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF ASSIGNED CHROMEBOOK CURRENTLY $250.00 PER INCIDENT. 

ALSO : PLEASE REMEMBER TO CHARGE YOUR CHROMEBOOK TONIGHT ! 

Thank you. 

FPS Technology Department

_____________________________________________

Sent 8/27 from Superintendent Lucas Giguere to all Franklin Public Schools Families:

August 27, 2022

Dear Franklin Families,

Welcome to the 2022-23 school year! I hope this letter finds you enjoying your weekend. This back-to-school welcome is a full-circle moment because Franklin is the community where I began my career almost 20 years ago. Having served as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, and recently as assistant superintendent, I am grateful for and excited about the opportunity to serve as your new superintendent. 

Helping young people learn, grow and develop their gifts to their fullest potential is both a great joy and an important responsibility. It requires the collective efforts of our Franklin Public Schools staff, and I am beyond proud to lead this dedicated group of professionals. It has been a busy summer of preparation for the opening of the school year.

We are looking forward to welcoming students and staff back on the following dates: 

Monday, August 29th - Opening Day for FPS Staff

Tuesday, August 30th - 1st Day of School for Students Grades 1-12 and Post Graduate

Wednesday, August 31st - 1st Day of School - Kindergarten

Friday, September 2nd - No School - Staff PD Day

Monday, September 5th - No School - Labor Day

Tuesday, September 6th - 1st Day of School - PreK

In addition to serving as superintendent, Franklin is also the place I call home. As I continue preparations for welcoming staff and students, I will also be spending time wearing my “parent hat” as my own children start their new school year. Here are a few things I will review before school starts:

Back-to-School Checklist

Have I read the back-to-school newsletter (distributed by individual principals) for school-specific information and/or suggested supplies?

Have I printed and posted the SCHOOL CALENDAR for everyone to reference?

Have I reviewed my 6-12th grader’s SCHEDULE by logging into Aspen? 

Due to state funding, SCHOOL MEALS are available for all students at no cost.  Have I logged into TITAN to review my child’s account information and check for a balance?  If I believe I qualify, have I completed the free or reduced lunch application? 

If my child is registered for a bus, have I submitted payment to ensure that my child has a spot on the bus? In need further clarification? Visit the FPS TRANSPORTATION page for more information.  

Have I registered my 7-12th grader’s CHROMEBOOK and purchased or declined the optional insurance?

Lastly, I encourage you to get involved with and stay connected to your school community by joining your Parent Communication Council (PCC) and/or receiving their ongoing communications (e.g., newsletter, Facebook page). See your school newsletter to get started.

Have a wonderful weekend. It looks like summer is sticking around!

Respectfully, 

Lucas Giguere

Superintendent of Schools

______________________________________________________

Sent 8/26/2022 to all FHS Families From Mr. Hanna regarding some changes at FHS this year

Hey FHS,

I wanted to share a separate communication regarding a few additional changes to FHS for this upcoming school year.  

The first is the bringing back of Advisory.  Advisory is a part of our school that I believe will have 3 positive impacts.

Build a safe predictable place to ask questions and have questions answered.

Allow for consistent communication so that we as a school community can all be aware of important information at the same time.

Create a space for lessons that are important and relevant to different grades to be shared in a classroom setting among people who are familiar with one another.

Here is the bell schedule that will include an Advisory period every day.  The big idea of the daily advisory is to have attendance taken, honor the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance, share important information, and to say hello to grade alike friends.  Once a month on ½ days we will have an Extended Advisory (Dates:  9/21, 10/28, 11/9, 12/7, 1/13, 2/10, 3/24, 4/14, 5/3, 6/2).  These lessons will last 40 minutes and will be catered to your grade level and the time of the year.  This is just another way for FHS to support its students and culture in an organized manner.  

The second shift at FHS is adding an additional Assistant Principal.  Ms. Klein has transitioned from a Special Education administrator to an Assistant Principal.  This transition will allow our school to be more responsive to our students' needs.  As part of this change we have shifted our house office structure.  Moving forward Dr. Weber and Ms. Klein will be working out of the 3rd floor house office and Mr. Augusta and Ms. Santosuosso will be working out of the 2nd floor house office and our adjustment counselors will be working out of the old 1st floor house office (room 113).

With any change there will likely be some questions and potential concerns.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.  I’m really looking forward to supporting you all during this upcoming school year.

Sincerely,

Mr. Hanna

________________________________________________

Sent 8/26/2022 to all FHS Families From Mr. Hanna regarding a service dog at school this year:

FHS Families,

Please read this important letter regarding a service dog that will be at FHS this school year.  As always let me know if you have any questions.  

Sincerely,

Josh Hanna

________________________________________________
Sent 8/23 to all FPS Families - a correction to a previous communication regarding Chromebook Registration:

Greetings, 

Yesterday a message was sent to all 7-12 graders in the Franklin Public School District.  Due to a bug in our mass notification system it appeared that the message was sent from the Remington Middle School.  Please ignore the “From” designation in that message.  The message was meant to state “from : Franklin Public Schools”. 

Also, 6th graders and new students grades 7-12 will have an opportunity to register their chromebook and purchase insurance at a later date.   Currently insured chromebooks from last year remain insured until September 30, 2022.  

Finally, if you do not see the Franklin Tag number on the chromebook,  please enter “no tag” in the tag number field.  We will locate the student and the chromebook during the first weeks of school and affix a new tag.  

Here is the link to the Registration form:

Chromebook Registration Form

Thanks for your participation.

Franklin Technology Department

________________________________________________

Sent 8/22/2022 to all FHS Families regarding Chromebook Registration an Insurance information

Greetings,  

You are receiving this message because your child/children is participating in the one-to-one chromebook program and currently has a chromebook assigned to them. In order to properly track these devices we would like you to register your chromebook by visiting this link prior to August 27th. 

Chromebook Registration Form

Once you have registered your chromebook it will be activated for another year of school.  If the chromebook registration is not filled out, the chromebook will be disabled on August 27th and will only be reactivated once the device has been successfully registered (within 24 hours.)

During the registration process you will have the opportunity to purchase OPTIONAL chromebook insurance for the year.  This is a great bargain and it is strongly recommended that you take advantage of this offer.  

Thank you.

Franklin Technology Department

________________________________________________

Sent 7/14/2022 to all rising senior families regarding Yearbook senior portraits:

Hello Class of 2023 Families,

Please see the link below for important information regarding senior portraits for the yearbook.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oA4IKiC34lVJsflxvu7YWX3Nmsi4l_ATEUkJ...

Questions can be directed to the FHS Yearbook Advisor, Ms. Alyssa Taranto at: TarantoA@Franklinps.net

_____________________________________________

2021-2022 School Year

Sent 5/25/2022 to all FPS Families COVID weekly case count:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that from May 19th to May 25th, there were eighty-nine (89) individuals present in our school buildings who tested positive for Covid-19.  A revised Weekly Covid-19 Dashboard will be updated tomorrow. 

The cases in the school buildings break down as follows:

ECDC- 2

Jefferson ES- 14

Kennedy ES- 5

Keller ES- 8

Oak St. ES- 6

Parmenter ES- 14

Annie Sullivan MS- 7

Remington MS- 8

Horace Mann MS- 7

FHS-18

Due to the high number of positive cases in the District, in Franklin, and in Norfolk County we encourage all students and staff to wear a face-covering in school buildings, understanding that this is a family choice. As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented is available (If you have not yet signed up, click here). If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

We request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

DESE released new Isolation and quarantine guidance and protocols today, which will go into effect tomorrow, May 26th. They are as follows:

Quarantine for asymptomatic exposed children, regardless of where the exposure occurred, is no longer required in the school setting. Children who are identified as close contacts may continue to attend school as long as they remain asymptomatic. Those who can mask should do so until Day 10. A test on Days 2 and 5 is recommended, but not required.

Children who test positive must isolate for at least 5 days. If they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and they have been fever free for 24 hours, they may return to programming after Day 5, provided: If the child is able to mask, they must do so through Day 10. If the child is unable to mask, they must have a negative test on Day 5 or later in order to return to programming prior to day 11.

Symptomatic children can remain in their school or program if they are tested immediately onsite, and that test is negative. Best practice would also include wearing a mask, if possible until symptoms are fully resolved. If the symptomatic child cannot be tested immediately, they should be sent home and allowed to return to their program or school if they test negative, or they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and their symptoms have resolved, or if a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis. A negative test is strongly recommended for return if the latter two conditions are met.  

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_______________________________

Sent 5/23/2022 to all FHS Seniors and their families regarding end of year information:

Hi Class of 2022 Students and Families,

We are a week away from Senior Week activities! As the time is approaching, we wanted to share some important details with you.

Caps and Gowns:

Students will be able to pick-up caps and gowns on one of two days in the FHS Main Office Conference Room:

May 25th from 11:15am to 12:15pm (after the F block final)

May 26th from 11:15am to 12:15pm (after the D block final)

Students: please complete this form to let advisors know which day you plan to pick-up your caps and gowns.

Boat Cruise:

When: May 31st

Semi-formal event

We will provide coach buses

Please see this fact sheet with important information, including approximate timeline of events.

Kimball Farm:

When: June 1st

Directly after graduation rehearsal

Please see this fact sheet with important information, including approximate timeline of events.

Senior Breakfast:

When: June 2nd

Buffet style food

If you have food allergies/sensitivities, students must inform their server. For Kimball Farm and the Boat Cruise, we will have a ticket of food allergies, if the allergies were shared with us beforehand

Graduation:

When: June 3rd at 7:00 pm (grads report to the gym by 5:30 pm)

Please see the Graduation Information Site for more information.

Please see the Senior Week schedule with the most up-to-date information.

Your Senior Class Advisors:

Ms. Leone-Murphy

Ms. Taranto

_______________________________

Sent 5/19/2022 to all FPS families regarding Summer STEM and Art programs:

Good Afternoon

Still looking for something fun to do this summer?  Come join us for some engaging, interactive, and fun activities! Summer ART and STEM has opportunities for students entering Grades 6-10. Click each title to register.  All programs are 8:30am-12:30pm.

Digital Photography, Grades 6-9, July 25th-August 5th 

Come explore the basics of shooting in manual mode this summer! We will be learning how to take and compose photos, as well as use shutter-speed and aperture. We also will be exploring how to use Adobe Photoshop, not only to edit your photos but also to create pieces of digital artwork.

Video Production, Grades 6-9, July 25th-August 5th 

During this two-week course, students will learn basic production and editing skills while planning a video shoot, operating consumer-level cameras, and editing video using Final Cut Pro. A wide variety of projects will challenge students' creativity and thinking skills as they build their video production knowledge. 

Catch Me if You Can - An Overview of Forensic Science, Grades 6-9    

Due to popular demand we just opened a  2nd week, July 11th-15th!

The stakes are high when it comes to murder and your job is to examine the crime scene. You will locate evidence, utilize high-tech forensics equipment, and prepare documents for the court to make sure a killer doesn't walk free. Be careful, all is not always what it seems!

Financial Literacy for Teens, Grades 8-10  July 11th -15th

The “real world” is approaching quickly and with it, financial responsibilities such as budgeting, building credit, paying bills, acquiring student loans, and even starting a retirement fund. Unfortunately, these topics are rarely explored in school and many young adults are forced to learn these topics on their own, sometimes the hard way. This course will investigate challenging decisions about saving and spending as well as simulate the outcomes of those decisions. Student interest will help guide topics and simulation choices.

Please note that the early discount ends on May 31st! 

Please let us know if you have any questions and we hope to see you this summer!

The Lifelong Learning Staff
www.franklinlifelonglearning.com
Email: lifelong@franklinps.net

_______________________________

Sent 5/18/2022 to all FPS Families regarding COVID weekly case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that from May 12th to May 18th, there were eighty-nine (89) individuals present in our school buildings who tested positive for Covid-19.  A revised Weekly Covid-19 Dashboard will be updated tomorrow. 

The cases in the school buildings break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 15

Kennedy ES- 8

Keller ES- 11

Oak St. ES- 9

Parmenter ES- 5

Annie Sullivan MS- 6

Remington MS- 4

Horace Mann MS- 7

FHS-24

Due to the high number of positive cases in the District, in Franklin, and in Norfolk County we encourage all students and staff to wear a face-covering in school buildings, understanding that this is a personal choice. As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented is available (If you have not yet signed up, click here). If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

We request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net.
Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_______________________________

Sent 5/13/2022 to all FHS and FPS Families regarding a follow up to the Baseball incident :

Dear Franklin Families,

Please see this message with a follow up communication regarding the report from last week's baseball game.

With respect,
Sara Ahern

______________________________

Sent 5/12/2022 to all 10th grade students and their families - a reminder of next week's math MCAS

Good Morning Grade 10 Parents/Guardians, 

This email serves as a reminder that all 10th grade students will be participating in the Math MCAS next Tuesday (5/17) and Wednesday (5/18).  Here are a few reminders for a successful testing experience:

Students should bring a fully charged chromebook each day. Students who do not have a school issued chromebook will be able to borrow one on testing days.  They will be available each morning in front of the 2nd floor house office. Please remember to bring your charger, as well. 

Dismissals are not permitted during the MCAS testing period (7:35am-11:10am).  Please plan any appointments around this time.  

Students: please get a good night's sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time!

Thank you,

FHS Guidance Department

______________________________

Sent 5/12/2022 to all FPS Families-weekly COVID case count

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that from May 5th to May 11th, there were one hundred five (105) individuals present in our school buildings who tested positive for Covid-19.  A revised Weekly Covid-19 Dashboard will be updated tomorrow. 

The cases in the school buildings break down as follows:

ECDC- 8

Jefferson ES- 17

Kennedy ES- 18

Keller ES- 19

Oak St. ES- 5

Parmenter ES- 4

Annie Sullivan MS- 12

Remington MS- 2

Horace Mann MS- 2

FHS-18

Due to the high number of positive cases in the District, in Franklin, and in Norfolk County, we encourage all students and staff to wear a face-covering in school buildings, understanding that this is a family choice. Please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented is available (If you have not yet signed up, click here). If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

We request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

______________________________

Sent 5/10/2022 to 9th grade families regarding Postural Screenings

Dear Parent/Guardian:

This email is going out to ALL 9th grade FHS families to remind you of our state mandated Postural screenings.  In order to be exempt from screening one of the following requirements must be met:

-A physical exam dated AFTER July 1, 2021 in which a postural screening was performed and documented.  If you have not submitted a copy to the health office please do so ASAP. If you have submitted already, thank you!

-If you have a physical scheduled between now and June 22nd, please email that date to me and your child will be exempt from the in school screening.  We ask that you send a copy of their physical form after the visit.

For students who do not meet the above criteria, the in school screenings will be in May/June.   We have found in the past that many students prefer to be screened by their Primary Care Physician.   If you are unsure if we have your child’s physical form or if you have any questions at all please feel free to contact the health office.

Melissa Conroy, RN

Franklin High School Nurse

(508) 613 1470

conroym@franklinps.net

______________________________

Sent 5/6/2022 to all FHS Families regarding an incident at the FHS - Sharon baseball game:

FHS Families,

I'm sharing this letter regarding information that was shared with FHS earlier today.  As we are still in the investigative process please don't hesitate to share any pertinent information with me directly.  I wish you all a peaceful weekend.

Sincerely,

Mr. Hanna

______________________________

Sent 5/4/2022 to all FPS families COVID weekly case count:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that from April 28th to May 4th, there were sixty-five (65) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, who tested positive for Covid-19.  A revised Weekly Covid-19 Dashboard will be updated tomorrow. 

The cases in the school buildings break down as follows:

ECDC- 7

Jefferson ES- 4

Kennedy ES- 2

Keller ES- 12

Oak St. ES- 13

Parmenter ES- 3

Annie Sullivan MS- 0

Remington MS- 8

Horace Mann MS- 5

FHS-11

As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented is available (If you have not yet signed up, click here). If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

We request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

______________________________

Sent 5/4/2022 to all Senior Families regarding a Graduation yard sign fundraiser:

Hi Class of 2022 Students/Families,

As graduation is approaching, we have an exciting opportunity to show your support and pride for the Class of 2022!

We have partnered with NHS Print in a Graduation Yard Sign Fundraiser, with 10% going directly to the Class of 2022. NHS Print has many different templates to choose from and customize for your student. Orders, questions, and concerns will be handled directly through NHS Print at their > website .

Some important notes from NHS Print:

Orders MUST be placed by May 25th in order to ensure they will be available for graduation.

Please call NHS Print at: 1-888-354-6634 with questions or concerns.

Orders are produced as they are placed, so please order them ASAP if you would like the signs before graduation.

ORDER HERE NOW!

Thanks,

Abby Leone-Murphy & Alyssa Taranto

leonea@franklinps.net   &  tarantoa@franklinps.net

Class of 2022 Advisors

______________________________

Sent 5/3/2022 to Senior Families-some clarifications: 

Hi Class of 2022 Families,

We hope this email finds you well.

Although tickets for Senior Week (boat cruise, Kimball Farm, and Senior breakfast) are not being sold anymore and we are unable to accommodate any late requests, The All Night Party has extended their deadline and is still selling tickets through May 9th. 

Click HERE to purchase your ALL NIGHT PARTY TICKET (by May 9th)

All Night Party is run by an outside parent volunteer organization, so the Class Advisors, Abby Leone-Murphy and Alyssa Taranto are not the points of contact and are unable to assist with any questions regarding the All Night Party. 

For assistance and questions about All Night Party, please see the ANP website to send a message to those who are running the All Night Party. You can also contact the All Night Party Committee here: anpfranklin@gmail.com

Any other graduation or senior week questions can be directed to the Senior Class Advisors, Ms. Leone-Murphy and Ms. Taranto   leonea@franklinps.net   &  tarantoa@franklinps.net

______________________________

Sent 4/27/22 to all FPS Families regarding COVID weekly case count:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that from April 14th to April 27th, there were thirteen (13) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, who tested positive for Covid-19.  A revised Weekly Covid-19 Dashboard will be updated tomorrow. 

The cases in the school buildings break down as follows:

ECDC- 3

Jefferson ES- 0

Kennedy ES- 0

Keller ES- 3

Oak St. ES- 1

Parmenter ES- 3

Annie Sullivan MS- 0

Remington MS- 0

Horace Mann MS- 1

FHS-2

As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented is available (If you have not yet signed up, click here). If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

We request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_____________________________________

Sent 4/26/22 to all families of Seniors-multiple reminders:

Hi Class of 2022 and Families,

Last Chance: Senior Week Tickets are on sale through TODAY only. They are $110. Please check if you have purchased the bundle Senior Banquet/Senior Week package previously as we cannot give refunds on tickets purchased. 

We cannot take requests for ticket purchases after today because we have to give a final head count and payment to Kimball’s Farm and the boat cruise. 

In order to attend Senior Week, students need to complete this contract. If students have previously filled this out for the Senior Banquet, they should not fill it out again. This contract is only viewable by students using their school gmail account.

If you need to pay class dues, please pay here. Class dues are required to be paid before graduation.

We are planning to have a Senior Send-off spirit day on May 23rd. We encourage students, families, and staff to purchase a Class of 2022 shirt (or several!) to wear on May 23rd. Please use this link here to purchase, sales close on April 28th and orders arrive around May 16th. We are also encouraging students to wear this t-shirt during Senior Week!

Please purchase your yearbook using this link, online yearbook sales close May 31st. 

May 23rd is the last day of classes for seniors and you will find the Senior Finals and Senior Week Schedule here. 

Please reach out to Abigail Leone-Murphy and Alyssa Taranto with any questions.

_____________________________________

Sent 4/15 to all FHS Families regarding selection of a new AD and Art Director for FHS:

All, 

I wanted to share a press release regarding our most recently appointed Art and Athletic Director Positions.  Thanks to the large number of community members who participated in multiple interview processes and gave thoughtful feedback.  In the end we were fortunate to have difficult decisions with many talented candidates.  Looking forward to welcoming both Adam and Karrah to the FPS / FHS community.  

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

____________________________________

Sent 4/14/2022 to all 9th, 10th, and 11th grade families regarding ANP seeking volunteers:

Franklin High School Families,

The Franklin High School All Night Party committee is seeking volunteers to support the Class of 2022 All Night Party celebration! All Night Party (ANP) has been a Franklin tradition for many years, providing a fun, safe, and memorable event for the FHS graduates to celebrate their achievements as classmates one last time. 

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, ANP is back and we are incredibly excited to continue this wonderful tradition for the Class of 2022 and beyond! The event is held at Horace Mann Middle School, and begins in the late evening after FHS graduation festivities, continuing throughout the night until 5:00 am. During ANP, the students are treated to shows, games, raffles, entertainment, food, music, and so much more! 

UPDATE: We have had an amazing response to raffle prize donations.  So much so, that we are NO LONGER SEEKING PRIZE DONATIONS.* We are very appreciative of those we have already received! Thank you!

What we DO need is volunteers! This event cannot occur without parents/community members stepping up to help out! We have had a strong volunteer response from our senior parents, and have sold lots of tickets, however, senior parents have limited availability on the evening of graduation. Traditionally, underclassmen parents have helped significantly, knowing that in the following years, their children will reap the benefits of this amazing event and also get to enjoy ANP!

FIND THE VOLUNTEER FORM HERE! 

FYI our Registration (10:30pm - 12:30am) time slot is full. If you are a non-senior parent who signed up to volunteer for this time slot, we kindly ask you to choose another option! ANP is in need of volunteers specifically for the following time slots: 

12:30 am - 2:30 am (games, running casino tables, entertainment, snacks, general supervision)

2:30 am - 5:00 am (DJ/club portion, general supervision, and student dismissal)

So please grab a friend or two and sign up to volunteer!  You can request to be paired up with your friend to volunteer together.

For more information, visit our website, www.fhsallnightparty.com. Questions? Email anpfranklin@gmail.com.  Join our Facebook group here! 

Thank you for your support! 

The All Night Party Committee

If you already spoke to an ANP committee member regarding a raffle/prize, your donation is welcome! We no longer need NEW donations.

_____________________________________

Sent 4/13/2022 to all FPS Families-COVID weekly case count:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that this week, April 7th - April 13th, there were twenty-five (25) individuals who tested positive for Covid-19.  A revised Weekly Covid-19 Dashboard will be updated tomorrow. 

The cases in the school buildings break down as follows:

ECDC- 1

Jefferson ES- 1

Kennedy ES- 3

Keller ES- 2

Oak St. ES- 4

Parmenter ES- 1

Annie Sullivan MS- 1

Remington MS- 1

Horace Mann MS- 1

FHS-10

As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented is available (If you have not yet signed up, click here). If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

We request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_____________________________________

Sent 4/13/2022 to all FHS Families from the FHS PCC- a reminder there is still time to contribute to Teacher Appreciation Week:

Dear FHS Families,

THERE IS STILL TIME TO MAKE A DONATION TO FHS TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK!

After a 2-year hiatus due to COVID, the Franklin High School PCC is finally bringing our annual Teacher Appreciation Events back!  This year, National Teacher Appreciation Week falls May 1st - 7th and we plan to celebrate BIG!

In years past (yes, pre-COVID), through the generous contributions of our FHS families, we have been able to organize some fantastic celebrations.  This year we look to continue the momentum with a Summer Fun themed teacher & staff only Snack Shack on the afternoon of May 3rd, Luncheon on May 5th, and a Raffle Extravaganza on May 6th to wrap up the week with some excitement.  

In order to pull this all together, we are asking for your help.  There are several ways for you to contribute to these events and we gratefully appreciate anything you can give.

Monetary Donations 

PayPal - Online, easy and fast! Click HERE

Check - Please make checks payable to the “FHS PCC”, place in an envelope clearly marked Teacher Appreciation Donation and drop off at the FHS main office.

Cash - Please include a note with your name and email address, place in an envelope clearly marked Teacher Appreciation Donation, and drop it off at the FHS main office.

Raffle Prize Donations - We’re looking for Gift Cards, Gift Baskets, or almost anything you can think of.  Our theme this year is Summer Fun - so get creative!  We’ll hold a big raffle at the end of the week and hope to send as many teachers as we can home with a prize!  Please see our Sign-Up Genius to give. Click HERE

Food/Beverage/Supplies Donations - Our Snack Shack and Luncheon will require lots of help.  Please see our Sign-Up Genius for an itemized list of needs. Click HERE

NEW THIS YEAR - Check out our Amazon Wish List!! Our list includes some decorations for the events and lots of fun prize items for the Summer Fun Themed Raffle.  Click HERE

We greatly appreciate your consideration and look forward to the celebrations ahead.  

Sincerely,

Your FHS PCC

_____________________________________

Sent 4/13/2022 to Senior Families regarding the last day to purchase ANP tickets for their grad:

Senior Families,

If you have not done so already, the last day to purchase an All Night Party ticket for your grad is Friday, April 29th.  

Click HERE to purchase an All Night Party ticket

Just a reminder, if your family applied for and was approved to receive free or reduced price school lunch this school year, please register your student for All Night Party using THIS FORM. You will not be required to purchase a ticket.

Thank you,

The ANP Committee

___________________________________

Sent 4/11/2022 to Senior Families regarding end-of-year information:

Dear Students and Families,

We hope this email finds you well. We are proud to say that the Senior Banquet was a great time and students made the faculty proud. We look forward to celebrating future events with your students! With a couple months left in the school year, we wanted to share some news/updates:

May 23rd is the last day of classes for seniors and you will find the Senior Finals and Senior Week Schedule here. 

We are planning to have a Senior Send-off spirit day on May 23rd. We encourage students, families, and staff to purchase a Class of 2022 shirt (or several!) to wear on May 23rd. Please use this link here to purchase, sales close on April 25th and orders arrive around May 11th.

We are also encouraging students to wear this t-shirt during Senior Week!

Senior Week Tickets are currently on sale. They are $110. Please check if you have purchased the bundle Senior Banquet/Senior Week package previously as we cannot give refunds on tickets purchased. We are collecting money through April 26th. 

We cannot take requests for ticket purchases after that because we have to give a final head count and payment to Kimball’s Farm and the boat cruise. 

In order to attend Senior Week, students need to complete this contract. If students have previously filled this out for the Senior Banquet, they should not fill it out again. Please note, you need a school gmail account to view and complete the contract; students should be able to veiw and complete it using their school account.

If you need to pay class dues, please pay here. Class dues are required to be paid before graduation.

If you have not already done so, please purchase your yearbook using this link, online yearbook sales close May 31st. 

Please reach out to your  Class Advisors:  Abigail Leone-Murphy and Alyssa Taranto with any questions.

_________________________________

Sent 4/7/2022 to families of FHS Seniors regarding All Night Party tickets:

Hello Senior Families,

All Night Party (ANP) is a Franklin High School tradition, providing a fun, safe, and memorable way for the graduating class to celebrate their accomplishments together one last time. We are thrilled to be able to bring this tradition back after a 2 year COVID hiatus. ANP will be held on the night of graduation, Friday, June 3rd, and will run from 11:00 pm - 5:00 am the next morning. Students will be treated to shows, games, events, food, raffles, and so much more

ANP tickets are now on sale! Tickets are $75.00* and are available for purchase in three ways.  Click here to purchase ANP tickets.

*Please note, students whose families have applied for and been approved to receive free or reduced price lunch this school year will not be required to purchase a ticket in order to participate in All Night Party; they do, however, have to register with ANP so they can be included in the head count. Here is a link to a form for these families to register their students for ANP.

Questions?  Send a message via our website home page or email: anpfranklin@gmail.com

Thank you!

The FHS All Night Party Committee

https://fhsallnightparty.com

____________________________________

Sent 4/7/2022 to all 10th grade Families regarding Mood Check:Franklin-a depression prevention initiative:

Good afternoon FHS 10th grade families,

We are pleased to announce the first year of Mood Check: Franklin, a depression prevention initiative supported by the Franklin Public Schools and directed by Dr. Tracy Gladstone, a licensed clinical psychologist from the Wellesley Centers for Women at Wellesley College.  This is a comprehensive depression screening program that serves Franklin students in grades 8 and 10 and their families by: (1) providing education about the problem of youth depression; (2) identifying and referring adolescents in need of mental health services; and (3) providing follow-up with students’ parents/guardians.

Please click here to read a letter explaining this initiative in detail.

FHS Administration

______________________________________

Sent 4/7/2022 to all 9th, 10th, and 11th grade families regarding - All Night Party seeking volunteers and donations:

FHS Families:

ANP needs your help!  After a two-year hiatus, All Night Party is back and we are looking forward to celebrating the Class of 2022!  

ANP is a pay-it-forward Franklin tradition, providing a fun, safe, and memorable way for the graduating class to celebrate their accomplishments together one last time.  It is held on the night of graduation, Friday and June 3rd, and runs from 11:00 pm - 5:00 am the next morning. 

Students will be treated to shows, games, events, food, raffles, and so much more!  In order to properly staff this event for the evening, we are looking for volunteers and donations from parents and community members. Underclassmen, middle and elementary parents are all encouraged to get involved as it truly is a GREAT event that their children will one day get to enjoy as well!  Senior parents are also 100% welcome to join in!  Please visit our website to learn more. https://fhsallnightparty.com/

Sign up to volunteer: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScSjs1V0l4EeIQVLMA5WmIL_4BLypij...

Donations:

Make a donation to help us offset the costs of the party and provide the BEST experience possible for our seniors! https://fhsallnightparty.com/make-a-donation

Questions?  Send a message from our website homepage or email anpfranklin@gmail.com

Thank you!

ANP Committee

_____________________________________________

Sent 4/6/2022 COVID Weekly Case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that this week, March 31st - April 6th, there were twenty-six (26) individuals who tested positive for Covid-19.  A revised Weekly Covid-19 Dashboard will be updated tomorrow. 

The cases in the school buildings break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 1

Kennedy ES- 2

Keller ES- 4

Oak St. ES- 3

Parmenter ES- 6

Annie Sullivan MS- 0

Remington MS- 2

Horace Mann MS- 2

FHS-6

As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented is available (If you have not yet signed up, click here). If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

We request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_____________________________________________

Sent 4/6/2022 to FPS Community regarding a Lucas Giguere meet and greet:

Dear Faculty, Staff & Family Communities of the Franklin Public Schools:

As you are aware, the School Committee is seeking to fill the role of Superintendent of Schools. After much thoughtful discussion, the Committee came to consensus that they would like to move forward and pursue our internal Assistant Superintendent, Mr. Lucas Giguere as a candidate for Interim Superintendent of Schools.  As part of this process, the School Committee would like to invite you all to meet and/or get to know a little bit more about Mr. Giguere as he is considered for this important role.  To that end, Mr  Giguere will be available on Thursday, April 7th to outline his candidacy and  provide you an opportunity to ask any questions that you may have.  The schedule is as follows:

Thursday, April 7, 2022  

Time LocationGroup

11:00 - 11:45CO 3rd Floor Conf. Rm.All CO Admin

11:45 - 12:15CO 3rd Floor Conf. Rm.All CO Staff

12:15 - 1:00CO Training RoomAll Principals/Asst. Princ.

2:30 - 4:15HMMS Library/Media Ctr.All Faculty & Staff

6:30 - 7:30HMMS Library/Media Ctr.Parents & Guardians

All groups  are welcome and encouraged to attend at the appropriate time listed above.  Mr. Giguere will be happy to discuss his background and experiences and respond to any questions you may have. 

All who attend each session will be asked to provide an email address and will receive a survey link to provide feedback about Mr. Giguere.  Although ultimately the final decision rests with the School Committee, I encourage all to provide feedback about Mr. Giguere via the survey at the conclusion of the sessions. 

We hope to see as many of you as possible on the above dates!

Best regards,

Lisa Trainor, 

Director of Human Resources

_____________________________________________

Sent 3/30/2022 to all Senior Families regarding the Senior Banquet and Senior week Contract:

Hi Class of 2022 Families,

As a reminder, in order to attend the banquet and senior week, your student will need to fill out this contract.

PLEASE NOTE: STUDENTS WILL NEED TO USE THEIR SCHOOL GMAIL ACCOUNT TO VIEW AND COMPLETE THE CONTRACT. 

If your student is planning on attending the Senior Banquet this Friday, please have them fill this contract out by the end of the day today, March 30th. 

We cannot accept any more ticket purchases for the banquet.

Please reach out to the Class of 2022 Advisors - Alyssa Taranto and Abby Leone-Murphy with any questions

leonea@franklinps.net

tarantoa@franklinps.net

______________________________

Sent 3/30/2022 to all FHS Families-a  reminder that the All Night Party virtual meeting is tomorrow night 3/31/22 @7PM

FHS Families,

This is a reminder that the virtual meeting for All Night Party is tomorrow night at 7:00 PM via Google Meets.

Here is the Google Meets link to attend: https://meet.google.com/ohs-jswj-zjx

Anyone can attend this meeting, it is not just for families of seniors. Hope to see you there!

FHS All Night Party has a new website: https://fhsallnightparty.com/

________________________________

Sent 3/24/2022 to all FHS Families regarding Teacher Appreciation Events:

Dear FHS Families,

After a 2-year hiatus due to COVID, the Franklin High School PCC is finally bringing our annual Teacher Appreciation Events back!  This year, National Teacher Appreciation Week falls May 1st - 7th and we plan to celebrate BIG!

In years past (yes, pre-COVID), through the generous contributions of our FHS families, we have been able to organize some fantastic celebrations.  This year we look to continue the momentum with a Summer Fun themed teacher & staff only Snack Shack on the afternoon of May 3rd, Luncheon on May 5th, and a Raffle Extravaganza on May 6th to wrap up the week with some excitement.  

In order to pull this all together, we are asking for your help.  There are several ways for you to contribute to these events and we gratefully appreciate anything you can give.

Monetary Donations 

PayPal - Online, easy and fast! Click HERE

Check - Please make checks payable to the “FHS PCC”, place in an envelope clearly marked Teacher Appreciation Donation and drop off at the FHS main office.

Cash - Please include a note with your name and email address, place in an envelope clearly marked Teacher Appreciation Donation, and drop it off at the FHS main office.

Raffle Prize Donations - We’re looking for Gift Cards, Gift Baskets, or almost anything you can think of.  Our theme this year is Summer Fun - so get creative!  We’ll hold a big raffle at the end of the week and hope to send as many teachers as we can home with a prize!  Please see our Sign-Up Genius to give. Click HERE

Food/Beverage/Supplies Donations - Our Snack Shack and Luncheon will require lots of help.  Please see our Sign-Up Genius for an itemized list of needs. Click HERE

NEW THIS YEAR - Check out our Amazon Wish List!! Our list includes some decorations for the events and lots of fun prize items for the Summer Fun Themed Raffle.  Click HERE

We greatly appreciate your consideration and look forward to the celebrations ahead.  

Sincerely,

Your FHS PCC

Questions? – email the PCC at fhspcc@gmail.com

_______________________________________________

Sent 3/23/2022 to all FPS Families regarding COVID weekly case count:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that this week, March 17th - March 23rd, there were thirteen (13) individuals who tested positive for Covid-19.  A revised Weekly Covid-19 Dashboard will be updated tomorrow. 

The cases in the school buildings break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 0

Kennedy ES- 1

Keller ES- 4

Oak St. ES- 0

Parmenter ES- 1

Annie Sullivan MS- 1

Remington MS- 2

Horace Mann MS- 2

FHS-2

As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented is available (If you have not yet signed up, click here). If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

We request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_______________________________________________

Sent 3/16/22 to all FPS Families regarding COVID weekly case count:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that this week, March 10th - March 16th, there were eight (8) individuals who tested positive for Covid-19.  A revised Weekly Covid-19 Dashboard will be updated tomorrow. 

The cases in the school buildings break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 0

Kennedy ES- 4

Keller ES- 1

Oak St. ES- 0

Parmenter ES- 0

Annie Sullivan MS- 0

Remington MS- 0

Horace Mann MS- 0

FHS-3

As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented is available (If you have not yet signed up, click here). If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

We request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

__________________________________________________

Sent 3/14/22 to all FHS Families regarding All Night Party coming back for the class of 2022; help is needed:

FHS Families,

Please find this important letter from the Franklin High School All Night Party team.  We are excited to find ways to bring this wonderful tradition back.

Sincerely,

Josh Hanna

__________________________________________________

Sent 3/11/2022 to all FHS families regarding the search for a new Athletic Director:

FHS Families,

Please find an update to our Athletic Director search / hiring process here.

As always let us know if you have any questions.

Lucas Giguere, Assistant Superintendent  & Joshua Hanna, Principal

__________________________________________________

Sent 3/9/22 to all FPS families-COVID weekly case count:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that this week, March 3rd - March 9th, there were nine (9) individuals who tested positive for Covid-19.  The Covid-19 Dashboard will be updated tomorrow. 

The cases in the school buildings break down as follows:

ECDC- 1

Jefferson ES- 1

Kennedy ES- 1

Keller ES- 1

Oak St. ES- 0

Parmenter ES- 1

Annie Sullivan MS- 1

Remington MS- 1

Horace Mann MS- 1

FHS-1

As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented is available (If you have not yet signed up, click here). If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

We request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

__________________________________________________

Sent to all FHS Families-A reminder that the last day to register for Spring Sports is 3/16:

FHS Families,

This is a reminder that the deadline for students to register for Spring Sports is Wednesday March 16th. 

Please register your student on FamilyID.com and provide the Athletic Dept. Office with a valid physical. 

Try-outs/practice for all sports begins Monday March 21st.  Schedules are posted on the Athletics page of the FHS website.

Thank you,

FHS Athletic Department

___________________________________________

Sent  to all 12th grade families regarding a reminder that the last day to purchase Sr. Banquet tickets is Thurday, 3/10/22

Hi Everyone in the Class of 2022,

As a reminder, Thursday, March 10th is the last day to purchase tickets for the Senior Banquet as we need to give Lake Pearl the final head count and payment. We cannot take late inquiries.

Here is the information around senior banquet and senior week:

Senior Banquet is going to be held at Lake Pearl in Wrentham, MA on Friday, April 1st.

It will be held from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM and is a semi-formal event. Students are required to provide their own transportation to this event.

Some of the festivities for Senior Week that we are planning:

May 31st- Senior Boat Cruise in Boston, MA- transportation provided

June 1st- Kimball Farm in Westford, MA- transportation provided

June 2nd- Senior Breakfast

June 3rd- Graduation- The goal is for this to be outside, but if the weather does not permit, we will hold it inside.

If it is outside, we do not have a limit for guest tickets per student, but if it is inside, students are limited to 6 guest tickets.

More information is to come regarding Senior Week events

You can purchase tickets through UniPay (link below). Tickets are priced as follows:

$85 for Senior Banquet only

$175 combined for Senior Banquet and Senior Week activities

It will cost $110 if you plan to pay for only the Senior Week activities. The link will be added for this in April/May.

Please use this link to pay for tickets. 

The senior banquet and senior week activities are for members of the Class of 2022 only. 

No outside food or drinks will be allowed at these events.  

We will be sending a contract for those who have purchased tickets.

We look forward to the many exciting events happening for the remainder of this school year!

If you have any questions, please reach out to the Class of 2022 Advisors:  Abby Leone-Murphy or Alyssa Taranto.

___________________________________________

Sent to all 10th grade families regarding a Fundraiser for the Class of 2024

Franklin Class of 2024 Fundraiser 

The Class of 2024 is doing a virtual popcorn sale that has eliminated the need for kids to sell door-to-door, deliver products or handle money. This fundraising campaign has simplified the way groups raise funds and with your help it will be a tremendous success. The goal of this fundraiser is to support future events for the Class of 2024, such as the Sophomore Banquet and Junior Prom. This fundraiser will last 16 days (until March 24th). 

To thank students for their involvement and enthusiasm in supporting the Class of 2024, students who sell $300 or more will receive a free ticket for next year’s Junior Prom. For every $100 in sales by a student, they will be entered into a drawing for 10 free tickets to this year’s Sophomore Banquet. 

ONLINE PLATFORM- We will reach potential supporters through email, text, and all social media. Through these mediums, donors can visit the class’s fundraiser page and choose to help support the cause. If not, they can simply delete the email.

SAFE and PROTECTED- This platform is one of the safest online platforms available. All information is private, 100% secure and the information provided will never be redistributed, sold, or spammed. 

Questions? Please do not hesitate to contact our local rep: soneil@afreps.com

Sign Up Instructions

Step 1: Go to: www.wefund4u.com 

Step 2:  Click SIGN UP 

Step 3: Enter your first name, last name, email address and password. Accept terms and conditions. Click JOIN US

Step 4:  Click MY ACCOUNT PAGE (blue lettering under the THANK YOU MESSAGE)

Step 5:  Click Join Fundraiser 

Step 6: Enter JOIN Code 98010107

Step 7: Select The Orange Box to Invite Potential donors 

Step 8: EMAIL TAB:  **Must Send 10 at minimum** 

∙ Copy and paste the email address into the rectangle box 

∙ Send Email

Step 9: More ways to SHARE: Parent tab to let parents/guardians help you sell, text tab, social media tab, & flyer tab with QR code

Step 10: SELL !!

Thank you!

Ms. Cullinan & Mr. Lubin , Your Class of 2024 Advisors

___________________________________________

Sent 3/8/2022 to all 9th grade families regarding Freshman Banquet:

Good Morning Class of 2025 families,

Your class advisors have put together THIS LETTER with information and payment links for the upcoming Freshman Banquet that will be held on 3/25/2022 from 7:00 to 9:30 PM.  

Please note, students must be logged into their FPS account to access the Freshman Banquet Contract. 

Ms. Calcagno & Ms Picillo

Class of 2025 Advisors

___________________________________________

Sent 3/7/2022 to all 10th graders and their families : A reminder of the MCAS Infrastructure trial scheduled for tomorrow,  3/8/22:

Good Morning Students and Families of the Class 2024,

This is just a reminder that tomorrow, Tuesday, March 8th, we will be having our MCAS Infrastructure Trial during G period. 

A few key things to keep in mind:

This is just a trial.  It is to test internet connectivity and allow students to refamiliarize themselves with how the test works on their chromebooks.

Students will report to the rooms where they will test for the actual MCAS later this month. Students have been informed of their room assignments. They will also be posted throughout the building. 

Students should report directly to their assigned room at the beginning of G period tomorrow (8:55am) 

As a reminder, the English Language Arts MCAS is scheduled for March 22-23. 

Thank you,

FHS Administration

___________________________________________

Sent 3/3/2022 to all 10th graders and their families regarding an MCAS Infrastructure trial scheduled for 3/8/22:

Good morning Families of the Class 2024,

Next Tuesday, March 8th, we will be having our MCAS Infrastructure Trial during G period. 

A few key things to keep in mind:

This is just a trial.  It is to test internet connectivity and allow students to refamiliarize themselves with how the test works on their chromebooks.

Students will report to the rooms where they will test for the actual MCAS later this month. Room assignments will be posted throughout the building.  

Please send students to school with fully charged chromebooks.

Students must take the MCAS on a school issued device.  Therefore,we will have a limited number of loaner chromebooks for students who bring their own devices on MCAS testing days. 

As a reminder, the English Language Arts MCAS is scheduled for March 22-23. 

Thank you,

FHS Administration

____________________________________

Sent 3/2/2022 to all FPS Families Covid Weekly case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that this week, February 24th - March 2nd, there were fifteen (15) individuals who tested positive for Covid-19. One (1) individual was present in our school buildings and fourteen (14) individuals were not present in the school buildings.  A revised Weekly Covid-19 Dashboard will be updated tomorrow. 

The cases in the school buildings break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 0

Kennedy ES- 0

Keller ES- 1

Oak St. ES- 0

Parmenter ES- 0

Annie Sullivan MS- 0

Remington MS- 0

Horace Mann MS- 0

FHS-0

We are no longer contact tracing for in-school exposures. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented will remain in place (If you have not yet signed up, click here). As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

Additionally, we request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

____________________________________

Sent 3/1/2022 to all Seniors and their families regarding Senior Banquet and Senior Week activities:

Good Afternoon Class of 2022 and Families,

We hope you had a nice February break! We hope this email finds you well.

We wanted to send out some information regarding senior banquet and senior week activities.

Senior Banquet is going to be held at Lake Pearl in Wrentham, MA on April 1st.

It will be held from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM and is a semi-formal event. 

Some of the festivities for Senior Week that we are planning:

May 31st- Senior Boat Cruise in Boston, MA

June 1st- Kimball Farm in Westford, MA

June 2nd- Senior Breakfast

June 3rd- Graduation

There will be more information to come regarding the Senior Week events

You can purchase tickets for these events through UniPay. Tickets are priced as follows:

$85 for Senior Banquet ticket only

$175 combined for Senior Banquet and Senior Week activities

It will cost $110 if you plan to pay for only the Senior Week activities. The link will be added for this individual Senior Week ticket in April/May.

Please use this link to pay for Banquet and Combination tickets. 

Thursday, March 10th is going to be the final day to purchase the Senior Banquet and combination tickets. We cannot take any late inquiries/payments as we need to get the final head count and check to Lake Pearl.

The senior banquet and senior week activities are for members of the Class of 2022 only. 

We look forward to the many exciting events happening for the remainder of this school year!

If you have any questions, please reach out to your class advisors:

 Abby Leone-Murphy or Alyssa Taranto.

__________________________________________

Sent 2/18/2022 to all FPS Families COVID Daily case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, February 18th, one (1) individual, who was present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received by 3:30 PM today. Beginning on Wednesday, March 2nd we will be moving towards a weekly summary, rather than daily communications of COVID cases affecting our schools. 

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 0

Kennedy ES- 0

Keller ES- 0

Oak St. ES- 0

Parmenter ES- 0

Annie Sullivan MS- 0

Remington MS- 0

Horace Mann MS- 0

FHS-1

As a result of our COVID-19 testing and quarantine updates, we will no longer be contact tracing for in-school exposures. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented will remain in place (If you have not yet signed up, click here). As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

Additionally, we request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

__________________________________________

Sent 2/17/2022 to all FHS Families COVID Daily case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, February 17th, one (1) individual, who was present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received by 3:30 PM today. Beginning on Wednesday, March 2nd we will be moving towards a weekly summary, rather than daily communications of COVID cases affecting our schools. 

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 0

Kennedy ES- 0

Keller ES- 0

Oak St. ES- 0

Parmenter ES- 0

Annie Sullivan MS- 0

Remington MS- 0

Horace Mann MS- 0

FHS-1

As a result of our COVID-19 testing and quarantine updates, we will no longer be contact tracing for in-school exposures. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented will remain in place (If you have not yet signed up, click here). As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

Additionally, we request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

________________________________________________

Sent 2/16/2022 to all 10th, 11th, and 12th grade families regarding a Yearbook Super Sale:

FHS Families:

Want to catalog your child's whole high school experience? 

4 Yearbooks 2019-2022  $200

3 Yearbooks 2019-2021  $125

Single Yearbooks 2021 & Earlier $50 each

Yearbooks can be purchased by check - made out to: The Town of Franklin and brought to Ms. Taranto in room 128. If you are interested in a year that is not listed above, please reach out directly to Ms. Taranto, as we have copies dating back to 2012

These yearbooks are available while supplies last

-------------------

Current 2022 Yearbooks are available to be purchased online at: https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/1065973/Franklin-High-S...

Questions or concerns can be emailed to Ms. Taranto at TarantoA@Franklinps.net.

Thanks,

FHS Yearbook Staff

_________________________________________________

Sent 2/16/2022 to all FPS Families regarding an update to the current mask policy:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Community Members,

This evening, the Franklin School Committee voted to amend the policy on Masks and Face Coverings (Policy EBCFA) so that masks will not be universally required as follows:

It is strongly recommended that unvaccinated or otherwise immunocompromised individuals wear masks in school buildings, and on school grounds, even when social distancing is observed.

Individuals who are fully vaccinated are not required to wear a mask, but may do so if desired.

This language will be in effect on Monday, February 28, 2022 for all schools in Franklin, as the current DESE mask mandate will not be extended beyond that time. 

Principals will be working with their staff on communicating this change to students so that children are prepared for school on February 28, 2022. We will emphasize the importance of being kind and respecting the choices that others make. We ask that families reinforce this with children over February break and in advance of their children's return to school. Counselors are available for students who may be experiencing anxiety with this change. Please contact your child’s school.

Please Note: Masks will still be required under certain circumstances as follows:

Masks will still be required on buses/school transportation (per federal order)

Masks will still be required in health offices (per DPH for health facilities)

Masks will still be required for individuals testing as COVID-positive and returning to school from isolation on day 6 or later through day 10 (per DPH and CDC protocols)

For MIAA athletic events and some other activities, mask rules are up to host-school or venue-specific rules. Therefore, depending on the venue, a mask may be required.

The decision for moving to a mask optional approach involved the examination of numerous data points, as noted on the slide show that was emailed home to you tonight in this letter.

With COVID case counts dropping, we will be moving towards a weekly summary, rather than daily communications of COVID cases affecting our schools. This will begin Wednesday, March 2. This may be unsettling for community members, especially with masks becoming optional on February 28, but the premise of our response remains the same: we have many layered mitigation strategies in our schools including ventilation. Individuals may want to consider opting to mask, may want to consider vaccinations or boosters (if unvaccinated), may sign up for rapid antigen testing, should monitor for symptoms, and may wish to sign up for symptomatic testing.

For families or faculty/staff who wish to opt-in for rapid antigen testing and/or symptomatic testing, please visit our website and click on the links to sign up. https://sites.google.com/franklinps.net/back-to-school-plan-21-22/testin...

A community vaccine clinic for children ages 5-11 is being held at the Franklin Senior Center on February 23 from 9-10 AM or 3-5 PM. Sign ups can occur here:  https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/franklin

Each change that we’ve experienced through the pandemic has come with mixed feelings among students, staff, and families. We have navigated each change, with new tools and successively fewer restrictions, successfully, minimizing the impact of COVID in our school community. 

I implore everyone to treat each other respectfully as we move into this next phase of our management of COVID. We will certainly be communicating this message to our students prior to and upon their return from February vacation.

Respectfully,

Sara Ahern

Superintendent of Schools

_________________________________________________

Sent 2/16/2022 to all FPS Families Covid Daily case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, February 16th, five (5) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received by 3:30 PM today. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 1

Jefferson ES- 1

Kennedy ES- 2

Keller ES- 0

Oak St. ES- 1

Parmenter ES- 0

Annie Sullivan MS- 0

Remington MS- 0

Horace Mann MS- 0

FHS-0

As a result of our COVID-19 testing and quarantine updates, we will no longer be contact tracing for in-school exposures. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented will remain in place (If you have not yet signed up, click here). As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

Additionally, we request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_________________________________________________

Sent 2/16/2022 to all Class of 2025 families regarding Freshman Banquet:

Good afternoon Class of 2025 Families,

We are emailing home to invite your student to the Class of 2025’s Freshman Banquet.

The dance will be held on Friday, March 25th in the High School cafeteria from 7:00-9:30 pm.

Attire for the event is semi-formal.

Students need to have paid their class dues before purchasing a ticket. Class dues can be paid online through Unibank - the link to do so is on the FHS Website (Online Payments Button).

We will send another email home after February vacation with specific information about the event and ticket sales. 

Thank you for all of your support,

Shannon Picillo and Jenna Calcagno

Class of 2025 Advisors

_________________________________________________

Sent 2/15/2022 to all FPS Families COVID Daily case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, February 15th, three (3) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received by 3:30 PM today. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 0

Kennedy ES- 0

Keller ES- 0

Oak St. ES- 0

Parmenter ES- 1

Annie Sullivan MS- 0

Remington MS- 0

Horace Mann MS- 1

FHS-1

As a result of our COVID-19 testing and quarantine updates, we will no longer be contact tracing for in-school exposures. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented will remain in place (If you have not yet signed up, click here). As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

Additionally, we request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_________________________________________________

Sent 2/15/2022 to all FPS Families Regarding School Committee Meeting:

*SPECIAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING FEBRUARY 16TH, 2022 AT 5PM*

Topic: Face Coverings

Last week Governor Baker and Commissioner Riley held a press conference announcing that the Massachusetts Department of Secondary and Elementary Education will not be extending the mask mandate in school buildings past February 28th, 2022. This decision comes after consulting with medical experts and state health officials. The memorandum cites "the Commonwealth's high vaccination rates and widespread availability of COVID-19 testing for school personal and students" to support this decision. You can view the full memo here:https://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/on-desktop/2022-0209mask-requirement-up...

Without a state order, the decision on masking falls to local decision making. The Franklin School Committee is holding a special meeting on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 at 5:00 PM to discuss masking. The agenda and links can be accessed here:https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/events/scagenda_2-...

As for Franklin High School, FHS received a waiver from the state in November because over 80% of the population at Franklin High School had been vaccinated. The School Committee amended their policy in November to allow for masks to be optional at FHS for vaccinated individuals if the 14-day % positivity rate is below 4% (the current rate is above 4%). Therefore, masks are still required at FHS currently. Optional masking at FHS will also be discussed at Wednesday’s meeting.

Masking will continue to be required on all school buses, per federal order. Masking is also required, per DPH, in school health offices.

READ MORE

_________________________________________________

Sent 2/14/2022 to all FPS Families regarding COVID Daily case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, February 14th, five (5) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received by 3:30 PM today. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 0

Kennedy ES- 0

Keller ES- 1

Oak St. ES- 0

Parmenter ES- 0

Annie Sullivan MS- 0

Remington MS- 1

Horace Mann MS- 1

FHS-2

As a result of our COVID-19 testing and quarantine updates, we will no longer be contact tracing for in-school exposures. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented will remain in place (If you have not yet signed up, click here). As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

Additionally, we request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_________________________________________________

Sent 2/14/2022 to all FPS Families regarding a delayed opening for poor road conditions:

Dear Franklin Community,

Due to the road conditions, the Franklin Public Schools will have a 2-hour delay this morning, Monday, February 14, 2022. Those who work in central office should arrive as you are safely able to do so.

A separate email about ECDC sessions will be sent.

Please drive safely.

Franklin Public Schools

_________________________________________________

Sent 2/11/2022 to all FPS Families COVID Daily case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, February 11th, two (2) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received by 2:30 PM today. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 0

Kennedy ES- 0

Keller ES- 0

Oak St. ES- 0

Parmenter ES- 0

Annie Sullivan MS- 0

Remington MS- 0

Horace Mann MS- 0

FHS-2

As a result of our COVID-19 testing and quarantine updates, we will no longer be contact tracing for in-school exposures. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented will remain in place (If you have not yet signed up, click here). As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

Additionally, we request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_________________________________________________

Sent 2/10/2022 to all FPS Families COVID Daily case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, February 10th, three (3) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received by 3:30 PM today. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 0

Kennedy ES- 1

Keller ES- 1

Oak St. ES- 0

Parmenter ES- 0

Annie Sullivan MS- 0

Remington MS- 0

Horace Mann MS- 1

FHS-0

As a result of our COVID-19 testing and quarantine updates, we will no longer be contact tracing for in-school exposures. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented will remain in place (If you have not yet signed up, click here). As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

Additionally, we request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_________________________________________________

Sent 2/8/2022 to all FPS Families COVID daily case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, February 8th, eight (8) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received by 3:30 PM today. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 0

Kennedy ES- 0

Keller ES- 1

Oak St. ES- 0

Parmenter ES- 0

Annie Sullivan MS- 0

Remington MS- 1

Horace Mann MS- 1

FHS-5

As a result of our COVID-19 testing and quarantine updates, we will no longer be contact tracing for in-school exposures. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented will remain in place (If you have not yet signed up, click here). As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

Additionally, we request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_________________________________________________

Sent 2/7/2022 to all FPS Families COVID daily case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, February 7th, fourteen (14) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received by 3:30 PM today. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 1

Kennedy ES- 1

Keller ES- 1

Oak St. ES- 0

Parmenter ES- 1

Annie Sullivan MS- 2

Remington MS- 1

Horace Mann MS- 1

FHS-6

As a result of our COVID-19 testing and quarantine updates, we will no longer be contact tracing for in-school exposures. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented will remain in place (If you have not yet signed up, click here). As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

Additionally, we request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_________________________________________________

Sent 2/3/2022 to all FPA Families regarding a snow day for 2/4/2022:

Dear Franklin Community,

The weather is expected to bring icy conditions and flash freezing in the morning, with sleet and snow to fall later in the day. As a result of this forecast, the Franklin Public Schools will be CLOSED with a snow day on Friday, February 4.

For the safety of all staff, district and school offices will also be closed. Those who are able to work from home should do so as you are able.

There will be no after school or evening activities.  I hope everyone has a nice weekend. Stay safe.

Sara Ahern

Superintendent of Schools

_________________________________________________

Sent 2/3/2022 to all FPS Families COVID daily case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, February 3rd, fourteen (14) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received by 3:30 PM today. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 1

Kennedy ES- 0

Keller ES- 2

Oak St. ES- 1

Parmenter ES- 1

Annie Sullivan MS- 1

Remington MS- 1

Horace Mann MS- 1

FHS-6

In accordance with DESE and DPH, Franklin Public Schools has updated our COVID-19 Testing Program to offer free in-home rapid antigen testing. As a result of our COVID-19 testing and quarantine updates, we will no longer be contact tracing for in-school exposures. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented will remain in place (If you have not yet signed up, click here). As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

We will be updating our Covid-19 testing and quarantine protocols on the website by the end of the week. If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

Additionally, we request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_________________________________________________

Sent 2/2/22 to all Senior students regarding new lunch time Directed Study perk that begins on 2/7/22:

Hello Class of 2022,

We know that you haven't had the most traditional high school experience.  Along the way though you have continued to rise to the expectations we have set for you.  Let's keep up that great work as we enter into your final semester at FHS!  Last week our School Committee approved the allowance for seniors to utilize Senior Perks during lunch block if you have directed study. Extending senior perks to include lunch block directed study means that senior students in good standing will be allowed to leave campus during lunch period for students in directed study. We believe that, as students are about to head off to college, career, military and life, we can trust them with 80 minutes of free time. We will track your departure and arrival from campus through a sign in/out process. Any grade below a C- means students aren’t eligible to use Senior Perks, and instead, they will be scheduled into a directed study hall.   This perk will begin 2/7/2022.

Here are the logistics of signing in and out during that time.

Logistical Process:

When students scheduled for directed study are leaving for lunch block after their third period class, they must:

Remain in their third period class until the end of the period at 11:10

Stop to sign out using the QR code in the hallway outside of the main office

All students must sign out and leave through the main entrance

When students scheduled for directed study are returning from lunch block after fourth period they must:

Have their ID so that they may enter the building.  If you do not have your ID please visit the main office to order a replacement.

Stop to sign in using the QR code in the hallway outside of the main office

Arrive in time to check in and make it to their fifth period class on time at 1:05

Failure by our students to follow any of these procedures being put into place could result in the loss of the senior perk.

Let us know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Mr. Hanna, Ms. Weber, Ms. Klein, Mr. Augusta, and Ms. Santosuosso

_________________________________________________

Sent 2/2/2022 to all FPS Families regarding COVID daily case update: 

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, February 2nd, four (4) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received by 3:30 PM today. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 0

Kennedy ES- 0

Keller ES- 0

Oak St. ES- 0

Parmenter ES- 1

Annie Sullivan MS- 0

Remington MS- 1

Horace Mann MS- 1

FHS-1

In accordance with DESE and DPH, Franklin Public Schools has updated our COVID-19 Testing Program to offer free in-home rapid antigen testing starting today. As a result of our COVID-19 testing and quarantine updates, today was the last day for contact tracing for in-school exposures. Should your student become symptomatic during the school day, symptomatic testing for those who consented will remain in place (If you have not yet signed up, click here). As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

We will be updating our Covid-19 testing and quarantine protocols on the website by the end of the week. If your student has not yet opted-in for the voluntary at-home rapid antigen testing program and is interested in doing so, the District Opt-in Form can be accessed here: https://buff.ly/3gg9xAD. 

Additionally, we request that families notify your school nurse if your student was an out of school close contact and is required to quarantine. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report the positive result using the positive result notification link. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_________________________________________________

Sent 2/1/2022 to all 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students and families regarding course selection for 2022-2023 school year

FHS Families,

Course Selection

Starting this week and continuing through early March, all FHS students in grades 9-11 will be completing the preliminary course request process for next year.  This presents an excellent time to talk with your student about their interests, abilities, and future aspirations.  Encourage them to consider the most beneficial selection of courses in light of their future plans.  It is important that they create requests that ensures their eligibility for the type of post-secondary path they seek, allows them to explore different academic and elective interests, and keeps in mind the necessity for maintaining a balance in their lives.  

The 2022-2023 Program of Studies is a resource that describes all courses at FHS.

Teachers have made recommendations for students through ASPEN and students will work on their course requests with their guidance counselors during their English classes as follow:

9th grade  Jan. 31- Feb. 8

10th Grade Feb. 9 - Feb 18

11th Grade Feb. 28 - March 4

Please feel free to reach out to your son/daughter’s guidance counselor at any time during this process.

Sincerely,

Heather McVay

Director of Guidance

_________________________________________________

Sent 1/31/2022 to all FPS families regarding COVID daily case update: 

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, January 31st, twenty-eight (28) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received by 3:30 PM today. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 1

Jefferson ES- 2

Kennedy ES- 4

Keller ES- 4

Oak St. ES- 1

Parmenter ES- 0

Annie Sullivan MS- 0

Remington MS- 4

Horace Mann MS- 4

FHS-8

We have been cleaning the classroom and the school, identifying and, if necessary, informing individuals who were at risk of exposure or in close contact. Families of students identified as close contacts will be notified privately by a school nurse. Please note that contact tracing is taking longer than expected due to the high volume of positive cases. As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms, keep your child home and call your primary care physician if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

Additionally, we are asking those parents/guardians whose students are tested for COVID-19 to please report the results to the school nurse of your child’s school. We are working hard to understand the impact of the virus on our school community and this information is a critical piece of that puzzle. 

As noted in a previous communication regarding COVID-19, please visit the following link for more information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing. You can also find a list of testing sites here. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_________________________________________________

Sent 1/30/2022 to all FHS Families-latest FHS Newsletter:

FHS Families,

Here is a link to our latest newsletter.  Lots of important information about all things FHS!   Looking forward to another exciting week at FHS!

Josh Hanna

_________________________________________________

Sent 1/28/2022 to all FPS Families-Franklin Public Schools DISTRICT newsletter:

Good afternoon

Please see the attached Franklin Public Schools January 2022 District Newsletter.

Thank you,

Franklin Public Schools

___________________________________________________

Sent 1/28/2022 to all Senior families regarding new Senior Perks:

FHS Class of 2022 Families,

I'm sharing an important update regarding Senior Perks at FHS.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  Wishing you all a peaceful weekend.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna 

_________________________________________________

Sent 1/27/2022 to all FPS families regarding COVID daily case update: 

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, January 27th, thirteen (13) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received by 3:30 PM today. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 1

Kennedy ES- 1

Keller ES- 2

Oak St. ES- 0

Parmenter ES- 0

Annie Sullivan MS- 1

Remington MS- 2

Horace Mann MS- 0

FHS-6

We have been sanitizing the classroom and the school, identifying and, if necessary, informing individuals who were at risk of exposure or in close contact. Families of students identified as close contacts will be notified privately by a school nurse.  As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms, keep your child home and call your primary care physician if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

Additionally, we are asking those parents/guardians whose students are tested for COVID-19 to please report the results to the school nurse of your child’s school. We are working hard to understand the impact of the virus on our school community and this information is a critical piece of that puzzle. 

As noted in a previous communication regarding COVID-19, please visit the following link for more information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing. You can also find a list of testing sites here. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_________________________________________________

Sent 1/27/2022 to all FPS families- Lifelong Learning Summer Programs:

Good Afternoon

We have posted our 2022 summer programs for students in grades K through 12. By clicking on the links below you will be able to view class descriptions, dates, cost, etc. and arrange your schedule before registration opens on February 1st at 6:00 am.

Summer Art, Grades 6-9

Summer Music, Grades 3-9

Preparing for College, Grade 12

Ready.Set. Kindergarten!, Grade K

STAR, Grades K-6

Summer STEM, Grades 1-10

Solutions Summer Adventure, Grades K-5

Please let us know if you have any questions and we hope to see you this summer!

The Lifelong Learning Staff
www.franklinlifelonglearning.com
Email: lifelong@franklinps.net
Phone: (508) 553-4814

____________________________________________

Sent 1/27/2022 to all FHS Families regarding a false fire alarm this morning:

FHS Community,

I wanted to let you know that the Emergency vehicles that were at the front of the building this morning were responding to a false alarm.  Our students and staff were safe to stay in the building and our sprinkler system is being serviced so that we don't have continued false alarms.  Credit to the fast responding FFD and FPD for assistance.  Please let me know if you have any additional questions.  I hope you all have a peaceful day.

Sincerely,

Josh Hanna

__________________________________________

Sent 1/26/2022 to all FPS Families regarding COVID daily case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, January 25th, fourteen (14) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received by 3:30 PM today. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 4

Kennedy ES- 0

Keller ES- 0

Oak St. ES- 2

Parmenter ES- 0

Annie Sullivan MS- 0

Remington MS- 0

Horace Mann MS- 3

FHS-5

We have been sanitizing the classroom and the school, identifying and, if necessary, informing individuals who were at risk of exposure or in close contact. Families of students identified as close contacts will be notified privately by a school nurse. Please note that contact tracing is taking longer than expected due to the high volume of positive cases. As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms, keep your child home and call your primary care physician if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

Additionally, we are asking those parents/guardians whose students are tested for COVID-19 to please report the results to the school nurse of your child’s school. We are working hard to understand the impact of the virus on our school community and this information is a critical piece of that puzzle. 

As noted in a previous communication regarding COVID-19, please visit the following link for more information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing. You can also find a list of testing sites here. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

__________________________________________________________

Sent 1/26/2022 to all FHS Families regarding a search committee forming to select a new FHS Athletic Director:

Dear Families of Franklin High School Student-Athletes:

As you are aware, Thomas Angelo will be retiring as the Franklin High School Athletic Director at the end of this school year. We are sad to see Mr. Angelo leave, and we wish him all the best in his retirement.  

We have begun the process of selecting a new Athletic Director. We are seeking parents/guardians of Franklin High School student-athletes who are interested in serving on the Interview Committee. This committee will interview candidates in the first round and recommend finalists to move forward in the process. 

Volunteers for this committee must be able to fulfill all of the following time commitments:

Monday, February 28, Organizational Meeting 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Tuesday, March 1,  Interviews from 3:30 PM - 7:30 PM 

Thursday, March 3, Interviews from 3:30 PM - 7:30 PM

If you are interested in participating in the Interview Committee, please complete this form expressing your interest in serving no later than 4:00 PM on Monday, February 7. Selected participants will be notified by Friday, February 11, and will receive more information at that time.  

Please note that we will be selecting a limited number of people to participate on the team, and those selected will represent respective stakeholders during the first round. FHS Athletic families will have the opportunity to meet finalists and provide feedback to the Superintendent before a final decision is made.

Thank you in advance for your interest in serving on this committee.

Sincerely, 

Lucas Giguere

Assistant Superintendent

Franklin Public Schools

____________________________________________

Sent 1/25/2022 to all FPS Families regarding COVID daily case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, January 24th, eight (8) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received by 3:30 PM today. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 0

Kennedy ES- 1

Keller ES- 3

Oak St. ES- 0

Parmenter ES- 0

Annie Sullivan MS- 0

Remington MS- 1

Horace Mann MS- 1

FHS-2

We have been sanitizing the classroom and the school, identifying and, if necessary, informing individuals who were at risk of exposure or in close contact. Families of students identified as close contacts will be notified privately by a school nurse. Please note that contact tracing is taking longer than expected due to the high volume of positive cases. As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms, keep your child home and call your primary care physician if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

Additionally, we are asking those parents/guardians whose students are tested for COVID-19 to please report the results to the school nurse of your child’s school. We are working hard to understand the impact of the virus on our school community and this information is a critical piece of that puzzle. 

As noted in a previous communication regarding COVID-19, please visit the following link for more information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing. You can also find a list of testing sites here. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

____________________________________________

Sent 1/24/2022 to all FPS Families regarding COVID daily case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, January 24th, thirty-nine (39) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received by 3:30 PM today. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 2

Kennedy ES- 2

Keller ES- 7

Oak St. ES- 2

Parmenter ES- 1

Annie Sullivan MS- 1

Remington MS- 6

Horace Mann MS- 5

FHS- 13

We have been sanitizing the classroom and the school, identifying and, if necessary, informing individuals who were at risk of exposure or in close contact. Families of students identified as close contacts will be notified privately by a school nurse. Please note that contact tracing is taking longer than expected due to the high volume of positive cases. As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms, keep your child home and call your primary care physician if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

Additionally, we are asking those parents/guardians whose students are tested for COVID-19 to please report the results to the school nurse of your child’s school. We are working hard to understand the impact of the virus on our school community and this information is a critical piece of that puzzle. 

As noted in a previous communication regarding COVID-19, please visit the following link for more information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing. You can also find a list of testing sites here. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_______________________________________

Sent 1/21/2022 to all FPS Families regarding COVID daily case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, January 21st, twenty-two (22) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received by 3:30 PM today. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 0

Kennedy ES- 2

Keller ES- 5

Oak St. ES- 3

Parmenter ES- 0

Annie Sullivan MS- 3

Remington MS- 1

Horace Mann MS- 1

FHS- 7

We have been sanitizing the classroom and the school, identifying and, if necessary, informing individuals who were at risk of exposure or in close contact. Families of students identified as close contacts will be notified privately by a school nurse. Please note that contact tracing is taking longer than expected due to the high volume of positive cases. As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms, keep your child home and call your primary care physician if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

Additionally, we are asking those parents/guardians whose students are tested for COVID-19 to please report the results to the school nurse of your child’s school. We are working hard to understand the impact of the virus on our school community and this information is a critical piece of that puzzle. 

As noted in a previous communication regarding COVID-19, please visit the following link for more information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing. You can also find a list of testing sites here. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_______________________________________

Sent 1/20/2022 to all FPS Families regarding COVID daily case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, January 20th, twenty-two (22) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received by 3:30 PM today. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 0

Kennedy ES- 1

Keller ES- 0

Oak St. ES- 1

Parmenter ES- 4

Annie Sullivan MS- 1

Remington MS- 0

Horace Mann MS- 8

FHS- 7

We have been sanitizing the classroom and the school, identifying and, if necessary, informing individuals who were at risk of exposure or in close contact. Families of students identified as close contacts will be notified privately by a school nurse. Please note that contact tracing is taking longer than expected due to the high volume of positive cases. As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms, keep your child home and call your primary care physician if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

Additionally, we are asking those parents/guardians whose students are tested for COVID-19 to please report the results to the school nurse of your child’s school. We are working hard to understand the impact of the virus on our school community and this information is a critical piece of that puzzle. 

As noted in a previous communication regarding COVID-19, please visit the following link for more information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing. You can also find a list of testing sites here. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_______________________________________

Sent 1/20/2022 to all Senior families regarding Seniors and the option to take March MCAS :

Good Morning Class of 2022 and Families,

Please see this important information about the last opportunity for students in the Class of 2022 to participate in the MCAS for scholarship purposes. 

Thank you, 

Heather McVay, Director of Guidance

_______________________________

Sent 1/19/2022 to all FPS Families regarding COVID daily case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, January 19th, twenty-one (21) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received by 3:30 PM today. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 0

Kennedy ES- 1

Keller ES- 1

Oak St. ES- 2

Parmenter ES- 2

Annie Sullivan MS- 2

Remington MS- 3

Horace Mann MS- 4

FHS- 6

We have been sanitizing the classroom and the school, identifying and, if necessary, informing individuals who were at risk of exposure or in close contact. Families of students identified as close contacts will be notified privately by a school nurse. Please note that contact tracing is taking longer than expected due to the high volume of positive cases. As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms, keep your child home and call your primary care physician if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

Additionally, we are asking those parents/guardians whose students are tested for COVID-19 to please report the results to the school nurse of your child’s school. We are working hard to understand the impact of the virus on our school community and this information is a critical piece of that puzzle. 

As noted in a previous communication regarding COVID-19, please visit the following link for more information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing. You can also find a list of testing sites here. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

______________________________________

Sent 1/18/2022 to all FPS Families regarding COVID daily case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, January 18th, sixty-nine (69) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received Saturday, 1/15 through today by 3:30 PM. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 7

Kennedy ES- 5

Keller ES- 8

Oak St. ES- 9

Parmenter ES- 3

Annie Sullivan MS- 4

Remington MS- 3

Horace Mann MS- 9

FHS- 21

We have been sanitizing the classroom and the school, identifying and, if necessary, informing individuals who were at risk of exposure or in close contact. Families of students identified as close contacts will be notified privately by a school nurse. Please note that contact tracing is taking longer than expected due to the high volume of positive cases. As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms, keep your child home and call your primary care physician if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

Additionally, we are asking those parents/guardians whose students are tested for COVID-19 to please report the results to the school nurse of your child’s school. We are working hard to understand the impact of the virus on our school community and this information is a critical piece of that puzzle. 

As noted in a previous communication regarding COVID-19, please visit the following link for more information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing. You can also find a list of testing sites here. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_________________________________________________

Sent 1/17/2022 to all FHS Families-the FHS Newsletter and more:

Good Morning FHS,

Here is a link to our latest FHS Newsletter.  Lots of important information about all things FHS! As mentioned in the FHS News.  we will be collecting signatures (before school and during lunch) for students who are committed to taking part in making FHS a no place for Hate School.  The signatures will be digitized and used in the poster (see attached) to recognize our commitment to making FHS a no place for Hate School.  

Dr. Martin Luther King's life is being celebrated today.  Our commitment to continually finding ways to improve our school is in honor of his life's work.  Dr. King once said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”  Looking forward to celebrating the continued light and love that we create everyday at FHS.  

Sincerely,

Mr. Hanna, Ms. Weber, Ms. Klein, Mr. Augusta, and Ms. Santosuosso

_______________________________________

Sent 1/14/2022 to all FHS Families regarding the FPS Spectator Code of Conduct:

Happy Friday FHS Families,

I wanted to touch base with two particular items.

1.  As we enter into the middle of our winter season here is a reminder of our FHS Spectator Code of Conduct.  When we follow this code we are able to enjoy the games and represent the FHS community at the highest level.

2.  As we are still following a mask mandate in school this also applies to our MIAA contests both home and away.  Recently the MIAA shared an update on their mask policy.  We desperately want to continue to allow for fans at all of our contests.  Please bring a mask and wear it.  Thank you for your anticipated support.

Sincerely,

Josh Hanna, Principal

_________________________________________

Sent 1/14/2022 to all FPS Families regarding COVID daily case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, January 14th, twenty-five (25) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received today by 3:30 PM. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 2

Kennedy ES- 0

Keller ES- 3

Oak St. ES- 3

Parmenter ES- 3

Annie Sullivan MS- 0

Remington MS- 2

Horace Mann MS- 2

FHS- 10

We have been sanitizing the classroom and the school, identifying and, if necessary, informing individuals who were at risk of exposure or in close contact. Families of students identified as close contacts will be notified privately by a school nurse. Please note that contact tracing is taking longer than expected due to the high volume of positive cases. As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms, keep your child home and call your primary care physician if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

Additionally, we are asking those parents/guardians whose students are tested for COVID-19 to please report the results to the school nurse of your child’s school. We are working hard to understand the impact of the virus on our school community and this information is a critical piece of that puzzle. 

As noted in a previous communication regarding COVID-19, please visit the following link for more information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing. You can also find a list of testing sites here. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_____________________________________

Sent 1/13/2022 to all FPS Families regarding COVID daily case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, January 13th, thirty-seven (37) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received today by 3:30 PM. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 1

Jefferson ES- 3

Kennedy ES- 2

Keller ES- 2

Oak St. ES- 3

Parmenter ES- 4

Annie Sullivan MS- 1

Remington MS- 3

Horace Mann MS- 2

FHS- 16

We have been sanitizing the classroom and the school, identifying and, if necessary, informing individuals who were at risk of exposure or in close contact. Families of students identified as close contacts will be notified privately by a school nurse. Please note that contact tracing is taking longer than expected due to the high volume of positive cases. As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms, keep your child home and call your primary care physician if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

Additionally, we are asking those parents/guardians whose students are tested for COVID-19 to please report the results to the school nurse of your child’s school. We are working hard to understand the impact of the virus on our school community and this information is a critical piece of that puzzle. 

As noted in a previous communication regarding COVID-19, please visit the following link for more information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing. You can also find a list of testing sites here. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

___________________________________

Sent 1/12/2022 to all FPS Families regarding Superintendent Sara Ahern: 

Dear Franklin Families, 

I am writing to let you know that the Barnstable School Committee voted me as their successful candidate for Superintendent earlier this evening, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2022. I accepted the position, pending contract negotiations. This was a position that I pursued for personal reasons. 

Please know how mixed my feelings are. I am very excited about this personal and professional opportunity. On the other, I am already mourning a departure from Franklin -- a place where I am so proud of the students, faculty, staff, administration, and families. I truly cherish the relationships I have developed with people in this community. 

From day 1 here, I have marveled every day at the dedication of FPS faculty and staff. Franklin families are so supportive of educators, the schools, and their children. I have also always felt that Franklin supports its children in a multitude of ways. Franklin is an amazing place and I have such gratitude towards Franklin. 

Please know how loyal I will remain to Franklin in the months ahead, being sure to attend to the needs of Franklin Public Schools students, about whom I care so much. 

Fondly, 

Sara Ahern 

_______________________________________

Sent 1/12/2022 to all FPS Families -COVID Case update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, January 12th, twenty-seven (27) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received today by 3:30 PM. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Jefferson ES- 1

Kennedy ES- 2

Keller ES- 3

Oak St. ES- 3

Parmenter ES- 0

Annie Sullivan MS- 5

Remington MS- 10

Horace Mann MS- 5

FHS- 11

We have been sanitizing the classroom and the school, identifying and, if necessary, informing individuals who were at risk of exposure or in close contact. Families of students identified as close contacts will be notified privately by a school nurse. Please note that contact tracing is taking longer than expected due to the high volume of positive cases. As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms, keep your child home and call your primary care physician if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

Additionally, we are asking those parents/guardians whose students are tested for COVID-19 to please report the results to the school nurse of your child’s school. We are working hard to understand the impact of the virus on our school community and this information is a critical piece of that puzzle. 

As noted in a previous communication regarding COVID-19, please visit the following link for more information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing. You can also find a list of testing sites here. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_______________________________________

Sent 1/11/2022 to all FPS Families-COVID Case Update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, January 11th, twenty-eight (28) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received today by 3:30 PM. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 1

Kennedy ES- 0

Oak St. ES- 0

Parmenter ES- 1

Jefferson ES- 1

Keller ES- 4

Remington MS- 3

Horace Mann MS- 3

Annie Sullivan MS- 0

FHS- 15

We have been sanitizing the classroom and the school, identifying and, if necessary, informing individuals who were at risk of exposure or in close contact. Families of students identified as close contacts will be notified privately by a school nurse. Please note that contact tracing is taking longer than expected due to the high volume of positive cases. As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms, and keep your child home and call your primary care physician if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

Additionally, we are asking those parents/guardians whose students are tested for COVID-19 to please report the results to the school nurse of your child’s school. We are working hard to understand the impact of the virus on our school community and this information is a critical piece of that puzzle. 

As noted in a previous communication regarding COVID-19, please visit the following link for more information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing. You can also find a list of testing sites here. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

____________________________________________

Sent 1/10/2022 to all FPS Families regarding COVID case # update:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, January 10th, ninety-eight (98) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received on Friday, 1/7 through today by 3:30 PM. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 2

Kennedy ES- 6

Oak St. ES- 5

Horace Mann MS- 13

Parmenter ES- 5

Jefferson ES- 11

Remington MS- 7

Keller ES- 17

Annie Sullivan MS- 14

FHS- 18

We have been sanitizing the classroom and the school, identifying and, if necessary, informing individuals who were at risk of exposure or in close contact. Families of students identified as close contacts will be notified privately by a school nurse. Please note that contact tracing is taking longer than expected due to the high volume of positive cases. As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms, and keep your child home and call your primary care physician if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

Additionally, we are asking those parents/guardians whose students are tested for COVID-19 to please report the results to the school nurse of your child’s school. We are working hard to understand the impact of the virus on our school community and this information is a critical piece of that puzzle. 

As noted in a previous communication regarding COVID-19, please visit the following link for more information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing. You can also find a list of testing sites here. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

____________________________________________

Sent 1/6/2022 to all FPS Families regarding a Snow Day on 1/7/2022:

Snow Day - January 7, 2022

Dear Franklin Community,

The weather is expected to bring 6 to 9 inches of snow here locally in Franklin, beginning to fall overnight and lasting through early afternoon. As a result of this forecast, the Franklin Public Schools will be CLOSED with a snow day on Friday, January 7, 2022.

District and school offices will also be closed.

There will be no after school or evening activities.  I hope everyone has a nice weekend. Stay safe.

Sara Ahern

Superintendent of Schools

________________________________________

Sent 1/6/2022 to all FPS Families regarding the number of COVID cases in the district as of 1/6/22:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, January 6th, forty-three (43) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  This case count is based on information received by 3:30 PM today. The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Kennedy ES- 1 

Parmenter ES- 2

Oak St. ES- 2 

Jefferson ES- 2 

Keller ES- 2

Remington MS- 7

Annie Sullivan MS- 4

Horace Mann MS- 8

FHS- 15

We have been sanitizing the classroom and the school, identifying and, if necessary, informing individuals who were at risk of exposure or in close contact. Families of students identified as close contacts will be notified privately by a school nurse. As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms, and keep your child home and call your primary care physician if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

Additionally, we are asking those parents/guardians whose students are tested for COVID-19 to please report the results to the school nurse of your child’s school. We are working hard to understand the impact of the virus on our school community and this information is a critical piece of that puzzle. 

As noted in a previous communication regarding COVID-19, please visit the following link for more information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing. You can also find a list of testing sites here. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

____________________________________________

Sent 1/5/2022 to all FPS families regarding school closures in the area:

Dear Franklin Community,

You have likely seen the news reports that some schools in our local area had to close today due to high COVID-19 cases among faculty/staff or cases that affect their families. We are also hearing about daycare closures due to COVID.

Like other districts, Franklin Public Schools is seeing a large volume of students and staff testing positive. I don’t mean to alarm you, however we publish weekly case counts and I think it is important to give you both a preview and an honest snapshot of what we are experiencing. Yesterday’s COVID informational letter identified 20 individuals within the school setting who tested positive. (Today’s letter indicated 30). The total number of individuals testing positive yesterday alone was 68 when individuals who were isolating at home are included.  These numbers are straining our ability to adequately staff our schools.

We are not experiencing evidence of school-based spread. I wish to reassure you that our schools have significantly more mitigation measures in place than public and private settings, generally.

We are doing our best to collaborate across the district and deploy substitutes in order to provide adequate coverage to keep students safe in the learning environment. Our efforts also include coverage by building and central office administrators.

I share this information with you to: 

emphasize the hard work the team is doing in an aim to keep schools open and to keep everyone safe  

and ask you to prepare for the possibility that on any given day, we may need to close a school if we feel that we can not safely operate the school based on the number of adults we have to supervise.

As with our snow notifications, a decision to close will be made as early as possible for your planning purposes. It may be the night prior to school but it may also be in the morning. We will aim to make the decision and initiate notifications by cell, text, and email by 5:30 AM and no later than 6:00 AM.

Days missed will need to be made up at the end of the year as all students are required to have 180 days of instruction. Moving to remote instruction is not an option.

Thank you for your understanding, flexibility, patience, and cooperation,

Sara Ahern

Superintendent of Schools

____________________________________________

Sent 1/5/2022 to all FPS families regarding covid updates:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that today, January 5th, thirty (30) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC- 0

Kennedy ES- 2

Remington MS-1

Parmenter- 1

Oak St. ES- 3

Annie Sullivan MS- 1

Jefferson ES- 2

Horace Mann MS- 0

FHS- 16

Keller ES- 4

We have been sanitizing the schools, identifying and, if necessary, informing individuals who were at risk of exposure or in close contact, and supporting everyone navigating this stressful experience. We do not have evidence of in-school transmission. 

Though we cannot provide specific information about our school community members who tested positive, your child was not a non-exempt close contact of the affected school members unless previously notified by a school nurse. As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms, and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

Additionally, we are asking those parents/guardians whose students are tested for COVID-19 to please report the results to the school nurse of your child’s school. We are working hard to understand the impact of the virus on our school community and this information is a critical piece of that puzzle. 

As noted in a previous communication regarding COVID-19, please visit the following link for more information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing. You can also find a list of testing sites here. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely, 

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

____________________________________________

Sent 1/4/2022 to all FPS Families regarding COVID cases by school:

Dear Franklin Public Schools Families,

Report of COVID cases for January 4, 2022

As you might imagine, we are experiencing an uptick in daily case reporting which involves a significant amount of contact tracing. As means of streamlining our communications during this very busy time, we are writing to inform you that beginning today we will be reporting the daily positive COVID cases across the district to all families. On January 4, twenty (20) individuals, who were present in our school buildings, tested positive for COVID-19.  The district publishes a total case count of cases (including those who were not in our buildings during the infectious period) weekly, on Mondays, through the COVID dashboard on our website.

The cases break down as follows:

ECDC -2

Kennedy ES - 1

Remington MS -1

Parmenter -2

Oak St. ES -1

Annie Sullivan MS - 1

Jefferson ES -2

Horace Mann MS -1

FHS -7

Keller ES -2

We have been sanitizing the schools, identifying and, if necessary, informing individuals who were at risk of exposure or in close contact, and supporting everyone navigating this stressful experience. We do not have evidence of in school transmission. 

Though we cannot provide specific information about our school community members who tested positive, your child was not a close contact (defined as being within 6 feet of the person for at least 15 minutes cumulatively, masked or unmasked over a 24 hour period) of the affected school members unless previously notified by a school nurse. As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms, and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

Additionally, we are asking those parents/guardians whose students are tested for COVID-19 to please report the results to the school nurse of your child’s school. We are working hard to understand the impact of the virus on our school community and this information is a critical piece of that puzzle. 

As noted in a previous communication regarding COVID-19, please visit the following link for more information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing. You can also find a list of testing sites here. 

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families.  If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Fagan RN, COVID-19 Resource Nurse, via email at fagans@franklinps.net or by phone at 508-553-4811

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely, 

Paula Marano

Director of Student Services

_________________________________________

Sent 1/3/2022 to all FPS Families, some beginning of the year information from the Superintendent:

Dear Franklin Families,

I am writing to formally wish you all a Happy New Year! My apologies for not doing so on January 1.

It was delightful to have students and staff in school today as we welcomed everyone back to the district this morning following our winter break. As noted in my communication on Saturday, we used the first two hours of the day to distribute tests to faculty/staff, distribute KN-95 masks to faculty/staff, assess staffing numbers and verify coverage, and shore up our effective mitigation strategies including fully stocking PPE and creating distance, where possible, among student desks. Thank you for your patience in understanding that we were putting this time to good use.

It was very evident to me today, as we visited each school site to offer support, how much we have collectively learned as a community in managing COVID for these past 22 months. Indeed, with a collective effort, care and consideration for each other, and good communication, we will weather yet another series of adjustments and spike of cases.

I will share the following links, again, for your reference:

If you would like to have your child participate in our testing program and you have not yet signed up, you may do so at the following link: https://www.cic-health.com/consent/ma

Current DESE/DPH Guidance on Testing and Quarantine Protocols

FPS Cleaning Protocols

Our Back to School Health and Safety Website is currently being updated. We are taking extra time to be sure that it is completely accurate with new information. It will be updated soon!

Again, Happy New Year, Franklin!

Best,

Sara Ahern

Superintendent of Schools

_____________________________________________

Sent 1/2/2022 to all FPS Families-reminder of the 2 hr delay on Monday, 1/3/2022:

Dear FPS Community,

There will be a 2-hour delayed opening for students on Monday, January 3, 2022. Faculty and staff report on time. Please see the Superintendent's email from January 1 for additional details.

Franklin Public Schools

__________________________________

Sent 1/1/2022 to all FPS Families regarding 2 hr delayed opening on Monday, January 3rd, and more...

Dear Franklin Families,

I imagine that there is a lot of nervousness as we return from break and a lot of questions. I will attempt to address as many of these as possible in this communication. 

I’d like to take a moment to reassure everyone of how much we have collectively learned as a community in managing COVID for these past 22 months. With a collective effort, care and consideration for each other, and good communication, we will weather yet another series of adjustments and spike of cases.

As we return from break, we recommit to our health and safety measures, there are some updates to the testing and quarantine protocols, and it is a good time to remind everyone of our layered mitigation measures and our health and safety practices. 

Although some districts have canceled, I do not feel that the data warrants this level of disruption to our routines. However, in order to adequately prepare for students’ arrival on Monday morning, given some additional safety measures being put into place, we will have a two-hour delayed start for students on Monday, January 3. 

When Franklin Public Schools has a delayed opening, ECDC will have a cancellation/delayed opening as follows: 

ECDC morning session (9:15-11:45) will be canceled

ECDC full day and extended sessions (9:15-3:15 and 9:15-1:15) will delay opening as indicated (for example, if there is a 2-hour delay, the school will open for students at 11:15 and dismiss at the regularly scheduled time).

The delayed opening will NOT impact the afternoon session (12:45-3:15)

As with a spike in cases last winter, we remain committed to having our school buildings open and doing so as long as we can safely supervise students. We will be continually assessing staffing and coverage. If you know of anyone interested in serving as a substitute, please direct them to the employment section of our website.

Additional Safety Measures Being Implemented

Mask wearing

Masks and face coverings are still required by all individuals in all of our schools, unless an exemption has been granted. KN-95 masks are being provided to faculty and staff, courtesy of DESE, and will be distributed to staff on Monday morning.

Parents/guardians are reminded to please provide your child with a mask for school. We have supplies to provide them as an extra in the event that one is forgotten or that one breaks, but we do not have an unlimited supply to provide all children with masks each day. We also encourage you to consider upgrading your child’s mask .

COVID-19 Testing

We will continue with Test and Stay of school-based, non-exempt close contacts and with testing of symptomatic individuals.

We are exploring the possibility of initiating pool testing with our testing vendor.

You may still sign up for testing: https://www.cic-health.com/consent/ma

DESE is providing faculty and staff with rapid antigen tests. Faculty and staff will be able to pick these up on Sunday or Monday to use prior to return to school. Testing is not required but is an encouraged optional service.  Unfortunately, there are no antigen tests being provided for students. Tests can be difficult to obtain, but families may want to consider testing their child at home prior to coming to school on Monday. Testing of students will not be required.

Distancing

Although there is no distancing requirement in place, we will recommit to distancing as possible, especially when students are eating.

Ventilation

All classrooms and workspaces have been outfitted with portable HEPA filtration units. They will be turned on each morning in classrooms and workspaces. All filters were recently changed this fall.

Windows will be opened, as tolerated, to promote fresh air circulating.

Hand Hygiene

We will continue to implement good hand hygiene practices.

Students will wash their hands regularly throughout the day (using hand sanitizer, if needed)

Custodians are being asked to double-check hand sanitizer units and restock, if needed.

Faculty and staff will check sanitization supplies in classrooms and offices and we will be sure that they are stocked for student arrival on Monday.

Meetings

We are moving meetings to a remote environment, wherever possible, until February vacation.

Vaccination

Families are encouraged to vaccinate their children as a means of protection against severe illness and infection.

Families are also encouraged to have their child receive a booster shot, if eligible.

Families are also encouraged to have their child vaccinated against the flu.

Updates to Testing and Quarantine Protocols

The CDC adjusted its protocol recommendations over winter break. DESE and DPH issued an update on December 30, 2021, which went into effect immediately.  Their guidance is linked above and will be updated on our website on Monday. Two of the main changes in this document include (but are not limited to):

The isolation time for COVID-19 positive individuals is reduced to be as low as 5 days after symptom onset or after positive PCR or antigen test, if asymptomatic. Individuals may return to school on Day 6 if they have been without a fever for 24 hours, and experienced improvement in other symptoms. 

Non-exempt school-based close contacts participating in “Test and Stay” will do so for 5 days (previously 7 days).

Reminder about Additional Layered Mitigation Strategies

We have UVGI installed throughout FHS and in common spaces of our smaller schools

FPS Cleaning Protocols

Individuals monitor for symptoms and stay home when sick, and test if appropriate.

I know that this is a time of high concern. Our mitigation strategies are intentionally layered and no one measure is perfect but, taken together, they have been supporting a safe school environment. 

We appreciate your understanding of taking some time Monday morning to effectively shore up these additional mitigation efforts to promote a healthy environment.

Sincerely,

Sara Ahern

Superintendent of Schools

____________________________________

Sent 12/18/21 to all FPS Families as a follow up to yesterday's communication from the Superintendent:

Good Evening FPS Family,

The tragic events that unfolded yesterday have resulted in an incomprehensible trauma for one of our FPS families, as well as shock, heartbreak, and anguish for our community. As we collectively begin to take action to support our FPS students, Jonathan and Juliana Owen, as well as their extended family, I wanted to provide an update regarding these current efforts.  

The Owen family is experiencing the unimaginable, and as a result, our hearts are hurting along with them.  I have confidence in the professional support we collectively provided in the immediate aftermath of Friday morning’s tragedy, and I have unwavering confidence in the support we all will provide moving forward.  There are undoubtedly challenging days ahead, but our team of educators, counselors, and leaders is dedicated and capable.  We will move forward together to ensure our FPS staff fully supports Jonathan and Juliana.  

Some staff members have reached out, asking how they can help.  I curated a list of current ways to support the Owen children and the Branco family (including Mary, Shirley’s mother).  Please note it is entirely voluntary for those who wish to contribute.  Here are six ways:  

Go Fund Me - Shirley In Our Hearts Memorial Fund  

https://www.gofundme.com/f/shirleys 

Meal Train - An meal donation website organized to schedule deliveries over time

https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/rqod32

Venmo - Direct Donation - @Shirley-in-our-heart  https://venmo.com/ 

Domestic Violence Ended (DOVE) Advocacy and Support Organization 

www.dovema.org

Prayer Vigil for Shirley Owen

Sunday, December 19th at 5:00 pm 

Town Common - St. Mary’s Church

Private Facebook Group entitled:  “Help us support the Owen Children and Branco Family”  This group is providing regular updates and curating lists of needs; the administrators of the FB group are a small group of Shirley’s close personal friends. 

On a personal note, I have learned through my experiences that when tragic events unfold, I cannot take anyone’s pain away from them.  I can only add my love and my support. I can let them know they are not alone.  As we manage to support the recent trauma impacting Jonathan and Juliana’s family, I know many of you will be managing your own grief process.  Please reach out to me if I can be of direct support to you.  

Respectfully,

Lucas Giguere

Assistant Superintendent

Franklin Public Schools

____________________________________

Sent 12/17/21 to all FPS families from the Superintendent's Office:

Dear FPS Families and All Franklin Faculty/Staff,

We have been responding to a situation this morning and want to reassure you that it is unrelated to the TikTok
challenge about which we communicated yesterday.

The Franklin Police Department, Franklin Fire Department, Norfolk County District Attorney and the Office of
the State Fire Marshall are investigating a fire and death that occurred earlier this morning. According to a
press release from the DA, this is being investigated as a homicide. As this is an active investigation, we are
limited in what we can share and encourage you to refer to the Franklin Police Department and Norfolk County
District Attorney’s office for additional information as it is made available. We expect additional information to
come from their office through a press briefing later today.

Counselors have been available today to speak to students who have learned of the situation and are
experiencing distress.

We recognize that this incident will have a profound impact on our community as a whole as well as to those
with ties to the community members involved. As the situation evolves, we want to emphasize resources
available to our FPS families and reiterate that we are committed to supporting our FPS community. We will
communicate our plans for additional community support as it becomes available.

The following resources may be helpful to you and your family in the interim:

NASP- Addressing Grief

When Bad Things Happen

Parental Stress Line (Parents helping parents support)

William James Referral Service for Franklin

Trauma and Resilience- Mass Gen

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network

How to help friends and family grieve the loss of a loved one

How to talk with teens on grieving the loss of a loved one

NASP: Supporting Students Experiencing Childhood Trauma: Tips for Parents and Educators

Support group for children and teens who have lost a loved one

Sincerely,
Franklin Public Schools

___________________________________________

Sent 12/16/2021 to all FPS Families from Assistant Superintendent Lucas Giguere regarding the latest TikTok challenge:

Dear Franklin Families,

I find myself in the unfortunate position of, once again, writing to inform you of the latest TikTok challenge.
There have been reports of a “School Threat Challenge" encouraging followers, on Dec. 17, 2021, to call in bomb
threats, school shooting threats, etc., at schools in the United States. We do not believe these posts originated
in our area.

We must remain vigilant when it involves these types of threats. Any situation that involves threats to our
schools is taken seriously and acted upon immediately using our well-established threat assessment protocols.
Our partnership with the Franklin Police Department is an essential component for quickly investigating and
assessing the level of concern. As a precautionary measure, we have notified the Franklin Police Department,
and we will have a police presence at each school tomorrow. As of this afternoon, Dec. 16, 2021, the Franklin
Public Schools have not received any threats.

As I stated in my last “November Tik Tok Challenge” communication, social media is a powerful tool often used
to influence others, and not always for good. I enlist your support and strongly encourage you to discuss the
negative impact of engaging in inappropriate TikTok challenges with your children. Students must understand
that making violent threats towards the school is a criminal act, and violators will face disciplinary action,
including suspension, expulsion, and criminal charges for making threats against the school.

Despite the apparent threat these trends present to our community, many of our students are engaging in
positive behaviors across the district worth acknowledging.

I hope this information allows you to connect with your children about the concerning content on TikTok and
other social media platforms. For resources on how to support your children’s healthy and safe technology use,
we encourage families to access Common Sense Media for their social media monitoring guidance.

Respectfully,

Lucas Giguere
Assistant Superintendent

_____________________________________

Sent 12/15/2021 to all FHS families regarding an update/adjustment to the mask policy :

Dear FHS Community,

We have an update regarding our positivity rate within the Franklin community.  We learned, through a conversation with the Franklin Health Department today, that our 14-day % positivity rate is 4.24% and we anticipate that this value is going to be reported in the MA DPH COVID dashboard tomorrow evening.  As an adjustment we will be encouraging all vaccinated students and staff to wear masks tomorrow Thursday, December 16th. As you know, unvaccinated students and staff are required to wear masks. We will be returning to the school committee’s policy mandate that all students and staff wear masks beginning Friday, December 17th, regardless of vaccination status.  This mandate will be in place as long as our 14-day % positivity rate is above 4%.  I can appreciate the varied responses to this message and would like to welcome anyone with any questions to email me directly.

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna, Principal

_____________________________________________

Sent 12/13/2021 to all FHS Families regarding the smell of natural gas in the building today:

FHS Families,

Earlier this morning the FHS administration was made aware of the smell of natural gas coming from a chemistry room on the 3rd floor.  The space was examined and determined to be in line with the lesson plan of that classroom.  For additional precaution our school plumber and the Franklin Fire Department were contacted.  The school was and continues to remain safe.  Teachers were alerted to open windows in classrooms where the smell exists.  Let me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

____________________________________________

Sent 12/12/21 to all FHS Families -here is the newest FHS newsletter:

Happy Sunday FHS Families

Click here for the most recent newsletter.  Great things happening at FHS!

Thanks,

FHS Administration

_____________________________________________

Sent 12/10/21 to all FHS Families regarding a Mask policy update:

FHS Families,

Please click here for the latest information on our updated masking policy.

Sincerely,

Josh Hanna, Principal

_____________________________________________

Sent 12/7/2021 to all FHS Families-a reminder to complete the Mask Choice Authorization form by Weds 12/8 at 8 AM

FHS Families,

This is a reminder that if you want your student to be permitted to attend school without wearing a mask beginning Monday, 12/13/21 you MUST complete the form below by tomorrow, Wednesday, 12/8/21 at 8:00 AM. If we do not receive an authorization form from you, your student will be required to remain masked while at school.

Here is the link to complete the authorization form: 

Franklin High School Family Mask Choice Authorization Form (This must be completed by Wednesday 12/8 at 8 AM)

**************************************************

The original letter was emailed home 12/5/2021:

FHS Families,

I’m writing with an update to the Mask wearing policy at Franklin High School.  Beginning on Monday 12/13 fully vaccinated students and staff will have the option to mask or unmask, provided that the positivity rate remains below 4% in Franklin and there are no clusters or in-school transmission at FHS.  We are aware that there may be increased concern related to news about the Omicron variant. We are monitoring this information closely and remaining informed about local metrics.  Below are links to important information regarding this transition.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  

Video Message Outlining Transition Plan 

Slide Show With Details Of Approved Plan

Franklin High School Family Mask Choice Authorization Form (This must be completed by Wednesday 12/8 at 8 AM)

I appreciate your cooperation in making this transition to an adjustment to our mask wearing policy smooth for members of the FHS school community.

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna, Principal

__________________________________________

Sent 12/6/2021 to all Junior families regarding Zoom College Planning meeting to be held Weds. 12/8 at 6:30 PM

Class of 2023 Families,

As a reminder, the Guidance staff will be hosting a webinar via Zoom this Wednesday evening, December 8th at 6:30pm.  We will discuss next steps/timeline as it relates to college planning.  

The invitation to the webinar:

You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Dec 8, 2021 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Class of 2023 Post Secondary Planning

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89772807785?pwd=OURodWxkeFN6aXVKS3ljSU5DMDhXZz09
Passcode: 958166

Or One tap mobile :
    US: +13126266799,,89772807785#,,,,*958166#  or +16465588656,,89772807785#,,,,*958166#

Or Telephone:
    Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
    US: +1 312 626 6799  or +1 646 558 8656  or +1 301 715 8592  or +1 346 248 7799  or +1 720 707 2699  or +1 253 215 8782
    Webinar ID: 897 7280 7785  Passcode: 958166

    International numbers available: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kv6n1vvFK

_____________________________________________

Sent 12/5/21 to all FHS Families regarding an update to our mask wearing policy:

FHS Families,

I’m writing with an update to the Mask wearing policy at Franklin High School.  Beginning on Monday 12/13 fully vaccinated students and staff will have the option to mask or unmask, provided that the positivity rate remains below 4% in Franklin and there are no clusters or in-school transmission at FHS.  We are aware that there may be increased concern related to news about the Omicron variant. We are monitoring this information closely and remaining informed about local metrics.  Below are links to important information regarding this transition.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  

Video Message Outlining Transition Plan 

Slide Show With Details Of Approved Plan

Franklin High School Family Mask Choice Authorization Form (This must be completed by Wednesday 12/8 at 8 AM)

I appreciate your cooperation in making this transition to an adjustment to our mask wearing policy smooth for members of the FHS school community.

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna, Principal

__________________________________________

Sent 11/30/21 to all FHS Families regarding a social media concern:

FHS Families,

Please take a moment to read this important letter regarding a social media concern.  It would be greatly appreciated if you could have a conversation at home about responsible use of social media apps.  Thanks for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna

__________________________________________

Sent 11/28/21 to all FHS Families-the latest FHS Newsletter:

All,

We hope you are enjoying your Thanksgiving weekend!  Huge weeks ahead at FHS.  Read all about it in the newsletter.  

Mr. Hanna, Ms. Weber, Ms. Klein, Mr. Augusta, and Ms. Santosuosso

__________________________________________

Sent 11/23/21 to all FHS Families-a Thanksgiving message from Mr. Hanna:

HS Students & Staff

Wishing you all a peaceful and happy Thanksgiving and a restful holiday break.  We have so much to be thankful for at Franklin High School.  Although the beginning of the school year has brought a series of challenges, we are beginning to see and feel improvements.  This is a result of hard work by our students, faculty and staff!  

Examples:

A significant decrease in vandalism / destruction to school property

Improved student responsibility for cleaning our lunch areas

Improved fan behavior at athletic events - loud and proud

Successful performances by our Teams, Clubs, and Theater Company.  In many instances, the best in the entire state. 

Multiple clubs working together with the Anti-Defamation League to earn a No Place For Hate designation

Just this afternoon a highly successful Full School FHS Pep Rally 

As we enter into the holiday season and celebration of the past year, it is with great pride that we look upon the work we have all done to get our school back on track.  Already looking forward to the things we will be accomplishing as our school year continues.    

Enjoy and Stay well,

Mr. Hanna

_________________________________________________

Sent 11/23/2021 to all FHS families regarding a decision on a mask waiver:

Dear FHS Families,

You may be aware that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved a waiver of mandatory mask wearing at Franklin High School, since the vaccination status is above 80% among students and staff. With the waiver, local districts can make a decision about whether or not vaccinated students and staff may have a choice of wearing a mask in school. Unvaccinated students and staff are required to wear masks per DESE's mandate.

The Franklin School Committee is meeting tonight and an agenda item for discussion/action is about a proposed timeline and proposed implementation.  The meeting begins at 7 PM and is available to view via Zoom, if you wish to tune in. 

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86166272236?pwd=SXpKNU1NOE4xb083ZGl5eWNRWTZYZz09

Kind regards,

Franklin Public Schools

__________________________________________

Sent 11/23/2021 to Junior families regarding Calendar Raffle Fundraiser:

FHS Juniors & Parents/Guardians of Juniors,

The Class of 2023 is kicking off a calendar raffle fundraiser for our class.  You have the opportunity to sell raffle tickets and earn a FREE PROM TICKET.

Prizes

The raffle will take place each day in January and the prizes vary from $25 gift cards up to a night out in the North End!  Each raffle ticket costs $20.  

Student Reward

If you sell 15 tickets, you earn a FREE PROM TICKET.

How to sell

1.  Juniors can get a book of 15 calendars to sell from Mr. Leighton or Mr. Picillo. The paper tickets are due back by WEDNESDAY, December 22nd.  Paper tickets can be purchased by cash or check (payable to TOWN OF FRANKLIN).

2. Juniors and parents can also sell online by emailing or posting this link in emails or on social media.  (Make sure the buyer enters the junior’s name as “seller” to get credit). Online sales will run until December 31st.  This gives each seller an opportunity at holiday gatherings to sell 15 calendars and in turn, attend prom FOR FREE!

What will the funds go toward?

As you are well aware our class has had very limited opportunities to have banquets, hold events and fundraise.  As we prepare for Prom, we are hoping to raise funds to lower the cost for prom.

Questions?  

Reach out to your Class Officers or Class Advisors.

Thanks!

Class of 2023 Advisors:

Mr John Leighton

Mr. Dustin Picillo

Class of 2023 Officers

Ravin Chaudhury - President

Shaw Downing - Vice President

Ji-Yann Chin- Treasurer

Payten Crandall - Secretary

__________________________________________

Sent 11/23/2021 to Senior Families regarding Chipotle fundraiser being cancelled:

Hi Senior Class & Families,

It came to our attention last night that the fundraiser at Chipotle scheduled for tonight was actually set up for the Cheer Boosters and not for the Class of 2022. Please stay tuned for updates with future fundraisers, but in the meantime, the Cheer Boosters are running the Chipotle fundraiser tonight, so if you go to Chipotle, you can let them know you're there to support the FHS Cheer Boosters.

We apologize for this confusion.

Also, if you have not ordered your caps and gowns, Jostens has extended the deadline until December 3rd, so please order as soon as possible.

Please reach out to Class Advisors : Abby Leone-Murphy and Alyssa Taranto with any questions.

__________________________________________

Sent 11/23/2021 to Senior Families regarding Yearbook updates: 

Class of 2022 and Families,

Please click HERE to read a letter with updates regarding your FHS Yearbook and related information.

Alyssa Taranto

Yearbook Advisor

__________________________________________

Sent 11/18/21 to all FPS Families regarding tonight's Mental Health and Substance Abuse event.

Good Afternoon Franklin Community,

This is a reminder of our Critical Conversations about Mental Health and Substance Use event tonight at 6:00 pm in the Franklin High School Auditorium. 

We encourage all FPS parents/guardians raising children of all ages to join us for a panel discussion followed by in-person breakout rooms and experience a “Hidden in Plain Sight” display that demonstrates how substances may be hidden in a child’s bedroom.

Our goal is to gain a deeper understanding of the state of mental health and substance use related to youth through a variety of lenses provided by our panelists and presenters.

Attendees will become:

●      Equipped to have sensitive conversations with the children in their lives about the way mental health and substance use are impacting their spaces and social-emotional well-being. 

●      Better at recognizing and addressing the warning signs of mental health decline in our kids and behaviors that demonstrate managing trauma and stress in unhealthy ways. 

●      Knowledgeable of the resources available to support families impacted by substance use or mental health concerns.

Event details can be found here Critical Conversations Flyer or by visiting our website at https://www.franklinps.net/district/events/83206 

Those who attend via Zoom will be able to view the presentation and panel discussion only by using the link below.  Breakout rooms will occur in person only.  

Zoom Webinar Link:

●      https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82446743454?pwd=ckQxUllGNE9JZXNleW5ERHN4WHloUT09

         Passcode: 825902

Interested in learning more about how to best support your child? Then we will see you tonight, November 18th, at 7:00 PM in the FHS auditorium.    

Sincerely, 

Franklin Substance Abuse Task Force 

___________________________________________

Sent 11/17/21 to all Junior Families : Save the date-Junior Post Secondary Planning Webinar Dec 8th:

Good afternoon Parents/Guardians of the Class of 2023,

To help frame the next few months as it relates to post secondary planning, the FHS Guidance Department will be hosting a Parent Information Webinar on Wednesday, December 8th at 6:30pm through Zoom. A link will be shared with families as we get closer to the event.

For those with conflicts, the webinar will be recorded and posted to the Guidance Website.

Thank you,

FHS Guidance

___________________________________________

Sent 11/17/21 to all FHS Families regarding Winter Sports Registration:

FHS Families,

Just a friendly reminder that registration for FHS Winter Sports on FamilyID will close Monday November 22nd at 10pm. Your student must be registered by then in order to try-out/practice on Monday November 29th. A valid physical must also be provided with registration or directly to the Athletic office before that date.

Any student NOT registered by November 22nd will miss the first day of try outs/practice.  FamilyID will then re-open for late registrations at 6pm November 29th.  

Thank you,

FHS Athletic Department

___________________________________________

Sent 11/13/21  to all FHS Families regarding the FHS Newsletter:

FHS Families,

Please click here for the most up to date FHS Student Newsletter.  Wishing you all a peaceful weekend.

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna

___________________________________________

Sent 11/8/21 to all Seniors and their families regarding ordering their caps and gowns by November 19th:

Hi Class of 2022 and Families,

It is already time to order caps and gowns!! Please see the information below along with this video for ordering information. Jostens is asking that you order your cap and gown by November 19, 2021.

To order Caps and Gowns, use this link. 

If you are interested in a Class Ring, use this link  - USE CODE: SENIORGIFT40 to save $40 OFF YOUR CLASS RING

Please reach out to your Class Advisors  Abby Leone-Murphy (leonea@franklinps.net)  and Alyssa Taranto (tarantoa@franklinps.net) with questions or concerns.

___________________________________________

Sent 11/4/2021 to all FPS Families from the Superintendent: Response #2 to School Committee Discourse:

Dear Franklin Community,

I am writing to follow up on actions taken and planned after last week’s disruption at the Franklin School Committee meeting as well as student representative comments related to bullying and harassment at school. We have been processing the impact and have been working to solidify a safe and respectful environment for civic discourse and promote healing.

We recognize that gathering student feedback is instrumental in appropriately addressing student needs. Members of the administration met with students about becoming a “No Place for Hate School” and had a productive dialogue that assessed morale and drove hope for a better FHS for all. In attendance were student representatives from A World of Difference, the Diversity Awareness Club, and the Sexuality and Gender Alliance. Additionally, we also reviewed historical bullying and harassment data.  Our data leads us to suspect that incidents are being under-reported. We also listened for more information about perceptions of inaction.

In response, we have done or are doing the following things:

On November 2nd, all K-12 school adjustment counselors and school psychologists participated in a professional development webinar series on supporting LGBTQIA+ students and understanding legal rights. We have also disseminated DESE guidance to counselors and principals issued on October 28, 2021 related to the Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity. This will be an agenda item for an upcoming administrative meeting.

We are developing an after school resource group for high school students to gather and talk about their experiences with bias-based incidents as well as actions that can be taken to make for a more equitable experience at school.

We are accelerating the process of hiring a Director of Equity and Student Supports. We anticipate initiating this search within the next few weeks.

We are accelerating plans to survey all students in Franklin High School for their perceptions of school climate and culture. We are in the process of preparing this survey with a highly regarded third-party resource (Panorama) and expect to be able to survey students the week after Thanksgiving. We anticipate surveying middle school students in the near future as well. This data will give us a greater understanding of the perspective of the student body and areas of focus for action. It will also serve as a baseline by which we can measure our improvement efforts.

In response to potential under reporting and perception of inaction, we will revise our online reporting language and clearly define its use. Additionally, we will prioritize communicating the reporting, investigation, and response process.

The high school administration is holding class meetings to start the beginning of quarter 2. Respectful, inclusive behavior of all will be a theme. They will also use this time to invite additional students to participate in the development of a series of activities for the school community towards becoming a “No Place for Hate School”. These activities will activate a school-wide effort that integrates productive dialogue and active learning on the topics of bias, bullying, and allyship.

The community can expect stronger protocols and processes during the School Committee meetings. The Chair of the School Committee will communicate the expectations for respectful civic discourse as well as the processes for handling disruptive behavior for both in person and virtual participants. These expectations will be readily available once enacted by our incoming Chairperson.

Our actions will not be limited to those above, but these actions are the ones most immediately tied to the meeting last week. We will continue to keep the community informed of our efforts to affirm diversity, promote equity and accountability, and foster inclusion throughout the year.

With continued respect for all in Franklin,

Sara Ahern

Superintendent of Schools

___________________________________________

Sent 11/4/2021 to all FHS Senior students regarding the mess left in the library after lunch each day, and how it will affect Senior Perks:

FHS Seniors,

I'm writing regarding the Library lunch area.  Yesterday after school, these pictures (only students can view these photos) were taken.  This is not an acceptable way to leave our lunch area.  The expectation is that you leave the area, as seen in this picture. (only students can view this photo)   If the library continues to look like this, then Senior Perks will be suspended.  You will have the opportunity to earn senior perks back if this library lunch area remains clean and in order for one full cycle (7 school days in a row).  It is your responsibility to clean up after yourself.   I’m excited to share additional Senior Perks I have planned but cannot move forward if we cannot meet these expectations.  Let's all help in showing respect to the FHS community.  

Sincerely,

Mr. Hanna

___________________________________________

Sent 11/3/21 to all FPS families from the Superintendent regarding fan behavior at games

FHS Letter to Families

RE: Upcoming FHS State Tournament & Varsity Athletic Contests

Please read this: Letter to Families regarding expectations for behavior at sporting events, removal and required parent supervision for all non-Franklin High School Students.

Thank you.

___________________________________________

Sent 11/3/2021 to all FHS Families regarding Parent -Teacher Conferences:

Hello FHS Families,

Please read this letter from Mr. Hanna containing information and sign up links for FHS Parent-Teacher Conferences that will take place on Wednesday, November 10th and Friday, November 12th.

_________________________________________________

Sent 10/31/2021 to all FHS Families-a link to the next volume of the FHS Newsletter:

FHS Families,

Please click here for the most recent FHS Student Newsletter.  

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

________________________________________

Sent 10/29/2021 to all FHS Families regarding the Metrowest  MWAHS Survey:

Dear Parent or Guardian,

To make sure we give the best possible education and services to children in Franklin, we want to learn about their attitudes and behaviors with regard to a variety of health issues. In order to accomplish this, students attending Franklin High School are being asked to participate in a survey called the MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey. Franklin High School has been participating in this survey since 2006. The questions on the survey cover many topics including alcohol, tobacco and other drug use; violence and safety; nutrition and physical activity; sexual behaviors; online behaviors; and mental health. This project will help our district develop and enhance its health education and prevention programs. We will be giving this online survey to students in grades 9-12 on Monday November 15, 2021.

The survey is anonymous, meaning your child will not be asked to provide their name, and no one will know how they respond. There will be no identifying information collected on the survey, and there will be no way to link your child’s responses to their identity.

Completing this survey is voluntary. Your child’s grades in school will not be affected by whether or not they participate. Your child can also decide not to take the survey or skip any question they don’t wish to answer.

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment is a Federal Law that requires us to notify you ahead of time about the survey, and give you the chance to look at it, so you can let us know if you don’t want your child to take part.  If you want to see the survey before deciding, a copy will be available in the Main Office at Franklin High School from Monday November 1 through Friday November 5 from 7:00 am until 3:00 pm.  

If you DO NOT want your child to take part in the survey, please email Kristin Letendre Smith at letendrek@franklinps.net by Monday November 8, 2021. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kristin Letendre Smith, Director: Health & Physical Education at 508-613-1660 and/or letendrek@franklinps.net.

Sincerely,

Joshua F. Hanna

Principal, Franklin High School

______________________________________________

Sent 10/29/2021 to all FHS Families-a video message from Mr. Hanna:

FHS Students and Staff,

It has been a challenging week and I wanted to share some thoughts with you as you head into the weekend.  I'm looking forward to continuing the work of leading and supporting Franklin High School.  I hope you all have a peaceful weekend.

Sincerely,

Mr. Hanna

_____________________________________________

Sent 10/27/2021 to all FPS families regarding a recent School Committee meeting incident:

October 27, 2021

Please see this message from the Superintendent of Schools. Translated versions will be posted to the District website tomorrow.

Franklin Public Schools

_____________________________________________

Sent 10/27/21 to all FHS students and families regarding Winter Sports Registration:

Good Morning Panther Families,

Please CLICK HERE to read a letter from FHS Athletic Director Mr. Tom Angelo regarding the requirements to register for Winter Sports.

FHS Winter Sports Registration will be open through November 22nd.

Please contact the Athletic Department with any questions.

_____________________________________________

Sent 10/27/21 to all students taking AP courses (except those taking USHistory 1) and their families -a reminder of last day to pay for AP Exams

Good Morning FHS AP Students and Families,

This email serves as a reminder that any student who plans to take an AP exam in May must pay for their exam(s) by Monday, November 1st, if they have not already done so.

AP Exam payments should be made online at:  https://unipaygold.unibank.com/transactioninfo.aspx?TID=18365  The link for this payment can also be found on the ONLINE PAYMENTS button of the FHS Website.

Please reach out to your child's guidance counselor with any questions. 

______________________________________________

Sent 10/26/21 to all FHS Students and families regarding recent restroom vandalism:

FHS,

Please read this letter around recent vandalism found in FHS bathrooms.  If you are aware of or have any information around  who is responsible for this please let me know.  An anonymous form is in the letter if you would prefer to go unidentified.  This kind of behavior has no place in a school community.  We are better than this.

Sincerely,

Mr. Hanna

_____________________________________

Sent 10/13/2021 to all FHS Families regarding the Extracurricular Activity Fee:

Dear Panther Students & Families:

We hope you’ve had the opportunity to explore the many extracurricular clubs and activities Franklin High School offers by participating in the club fair held last month.  Perhaps you were even able to attend some of the meetings that take place every week. 

As you may be aware, a once yearly $75 participation fee applies to those students who join a non-athletic, extracurricular club or organization. This $75 payment provides students with an opportunity to join as many clubs or activities as they wish.

At this time, students who wish to continue their participation in one or more activities must have paid the $75 Extracurricular Activity Fee by November 15, 2021.

This fee allows us to continue offering over 50 clubs and activities that appeal to the varied interests of our students.  Please note that for many activities, the $75 Extracurricular Activity Fee will be the only cost.  For some clubs, however, such as the Ski & Board Club, additional costs related to club specific trips and transportation will apply. 

Any family that qualifies for the federal free lunch program will be exempt from the $75 Extracurricular Activity Fee, and those who qualify for the federal reduced lunch program will receive a reduction in their fee.  Please contact Ms. Santosuosso at 508-613-1417 or santosuossoj@franklinps.net if this applies.

To pay for your student’s activity fee, please use this link through Unibank which allows you to pay by electronic check, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express. The Unibank payment link is also located on the FHS Website-click on Online Payments button in the middle of the homepage and select Extracurricular Activity Fee from the list of payments.

If you are unable to pay online, you may send in a check for $75, made payable to the “Town of Franklin,” and have your student drop it off at the FHS Main Office. If you opt to pay the fee by check, please make sure “Activity Fee”, your student’s name, and student ID number are written on the memo line of the check.

If you have specific questions about your child’s activity fee, please feel free to call Assistant Principal Ms. Jennifer Santosuosso at (508)-613-1417 or santosuossoj@franklinps.net.

Yours truly,

Joshua Hanna

Principal

_____________________________________

Sent 10/13/2021 to all Seniors and their families -last chance to dismiss your child early to prepare for Prom

Senior Parents/Guardians,

If you have not already done so, and you would like for your senior to be dismissed at 11:120 on Friday,. 10/15 in order to prepare for Prom, please complete THIS FORM. The form will close tonight, so do not delay.

Thank you,

Maria Weber, Assistant Principal

_____________________________________

Sent 10/12/2021 to all student that are taking AP courses (except those taking AP US History 1) and their families:

Good afternoon, 

We are reaching out to all students in AP courses to let you know about AP exam payment. Although AP exams are not administered until May, schools must order the exams in early November.  Therefore, payment will be due in the coming weeks. 

Instructions for how to pay for each exam, as well as testing dates can be found by clicking>> HERE. An exam will not be secured for any students who have not paid by the deadline.  

The Unibank >> online payment portal will be open between October 13 - November 1st.  

If your child qualifies for free/reduced lunch, please reach out to their guidance counselor for information on reduced fees during this payment period.  

Thank you

FHS Guidance

_____________________________________

Sent 10/6/21 to all Senior Families regarding PROM updates:

Hi Class of 2022 and families,

We hope this email finds you well. We are so excited that the Prom is coming-up next week on Friday, October 15th! The class officers and representatives have been working hard to make the Prom a fun time for all. 

More information will be coming from administration regarding the logistics around the Prom, but as a reminder, if students (seniors only) are looking to get dismissed early (at 11:10 AM) on the day of Prom to prepare, this form needs to be completed by this Friday, October 8th.

If you previously bought tickets and you or your guest do not plan to attend the Prom, we ask that you let Mrs. Leone-Murphy and Ms. Taranto know asap as we are finalizing details for the Prom.

As always, please reach out to us if any questions come-up. We look forward to seeing many of you next week!

Sincerely,

Class of 2022 Advisors:

Mrs. Leone-Murphy (leonea@franklinps.net)

Ms. Taranto (tarantoa@franklinps.net)

_____________________________________

Sent 10/1/2021 to Senior Families regarding dismissing your senior student early on the school day of Prom:

FHS Senior Families,

I'm writing with information for FHS students who are attending the FHS Prom on 10/15.  Normally the Prom is held on a half day to account for the appointments and time necessary to prepare for the event.  Unfortunately for this Fall we were not able to align our schedules.  Understanding that this is an important event, we are making an exception to our attendance policy and allowing for a dismissal to not count against the student record.  

Please complete this form by 10/8/21 if you would like your student to be dismissed early from school on 10/15/21. If you are bringing a guest from a different grade please share the form with them.  

Students are required to stay until 11:10 am (the end of 3rd period) in order to be eligible for entrance to the prom. Special requests that do not meet this time frame need approval from administration. Please fill out this form for each child you would like to dismiss. Any student leaving without permission is subject to In School Suspension and will not be able to attend Prom. This process will allow us to provide notes and create a smoother dismissal for students who complete the form ahead of time.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  Looking forward to a fantastic evening!

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

______________________________________________

Sent 9/30 to all FPS Families from Assistant Superintendent Mr. Lucas Giguere regarding TikTok Challenge:

Dear Franklin Families,

I am writing to inform you and enlist your support regarding the recent TikTok trend encouraging students to engage in a series of inappropriate, unsafe conduct and behavior at school. 

As you may know, TikTok is a social network where users can create and share video-based content to popular hashtags and audio clips, resulting in various trends and challenges.  I want to ensure that you, as parents/guardians, are fully informed about the negative influences of TikTok.  I want to enlist your support and strongly encourage you to discuss the negative impact of engaging in inappropriate Tik Tok challenges with your children.

Challenges are planned each month, and October's disturbing trend on Tik Tok is promoting that students slap a teacher in the face.  Please make sure that your child is fully aware that students participating in this behavior that violates our district's core values and code of conduct will be subject to disciplinary action consistent with our Student Handbooks.  

It is important that our students understand that if anyone slaps or attempts to slap any staff member, they will be subject to disciplinary action and may be subject to criminal charges. I want to remind you that Massachusetts General Law,  c.71 Section 37 states in part, "Any student who assaults a principal, assistant principal, teacher, teacher's aide or other educational staff on school premises or at school-sponsored or school-related events, including athletic games, may be subject to expulsion from the school."  

For context, September's challenge was called the "devious licks" challenge. A "lick" is a term referring to theft. This trend encouraged students to steal and vandalize school property-specifically school bathrooms. Viral incidents included students stealing soap dispensers, toilets, and hand sanitizers.  As a result, schools across the nation are reporting thousands of dollars in damages, closure of essential facilities, and accidents among faculty and students. Unfortunately, we experienced incidents of vandalism and theft in a few of our schools as well, which we investigated and addressed.  We understand that TikTok has since disabled and removed content and search capabilities relating to the 'devious licks' trend.

Despite the apparent threat these trends present to our community,  many of our students are engaging in positive behaviors across the district worth recognizing.  This message is intended to inform our community and create an opportunity to connect with your children and learn about what they may be exposed to if they are on TikTok.  I hope this information allows you to empower your child to engage in responsible digital citizenship and make good decisions.

Respectfully,

Lucas Giguere 

Assistant Superintendent 

__________________________________________________

Sent 9/30 to famiies of Seniors regarding a College Planning Webinar:

Good morning Class of 2022 Families, 

As a reminder, the FHS Guidance Staff will be hosting a College Planning webinar next Wednesday, October 6th at 6:30pm. 

The following topics will be discussed:

  Application process

  Naviance

  NCAA/Athletics

  Financial Aid overview

The webinar will be recorded and posted to the FHS website for those who are unable to attend.  

The link to attend the webinar is below:  

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81238311955?pwd=d01CSGE0ZENLV0p2TE9jNFIzNWU4Zz09

Thank you,

Heather McVay

Director of Guidance

_______________________________________

Sent 9/28/21 to all FHS Families regarding graffiti incident at FHS:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining a recent incident of Hate Speech Graffiti found on our campus.  I was glad to find out that it was not a student at FHS who did this,  but it is a reminder of the work our community does have around respecting differences.  We all have a right to feel respected and safe in our school.  I'm looking forward to continuing to support FHS in making it a great place for everyone.  As always, let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna

___________________________________________

Sent 9/27/21 to all FHS Families-a welcome letter from your PCC:

Dear FHS Families,

Welcome Back! I hope that your students had a great first (almost) month of school!  It is nice that they are back in person, seeing their friends, meeting their teachers, and getting reacquainted with FHS.

Allow me to introduce your PCC Board for this school year: I am Jennifer O’Duggan, FHS PCC President, and my daughter is a senior this year. Our Secretary is Shari Feldman, who has a sophomore at FHS and a 7th-grader at HMMS, and our Treasurer is Lisa Zonghi, who also has a sophomore at FHS and a 6th-grader at HMMS. This will be my last year at FHS, so, if you are interested in a seat on next year’s Board, or if you know anyone who is, please email a member of the current Board. We are always looking for new people to contribute fresh ideas!!

We kicked off the year with a Welcome Back Luncheon for the staff, administration, and teachers catered by Oliva’s in Milford.  It was a huge success, and everyone was incredibly grateful. The pictures are posted on our Facebook Page for your viewing (see link below). We have also been granted 501(c)3 status by the IRS, which allows us to accept direct monetary donations, and, to this date, we have already raised over $2,300! Thank you to everyone that has donated. With these donations (in addition to holding smaller fundraising efforts, i.e. dinner nights out), we can continue to help with activities like Senior Awards Night, Senior Breakfast, and the Senior Car Parade, but we are also looking to assist FHS in other ways: supplementing admin/teachers in the classroom, contributing to school-wide projects, or providing materials for school-wide activities, just to name a few.

Our meetings this year will be on Tuesday evenings from 7-8PM, both in-person and virtually. We had our first meeting last night, at which Mr. Hanna presented a school improvement plan, which will be shared on our social media. The schedule of meetings will be posted on our PCC page of the FHS website, as well as on our social media pages. Please follow us on our various social media accounts, as we post most of our information on Facebook (Franklin High School PCC) and Twitter (@FHS_PCC). You can also contact us via email at fhspcc@gmail.com. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.  Thank you for your time and we look forward to meeting you all at our next meeting. 

Best Regards,

Jenn O’Duggan, President

Shari Feldman, Secretary 

Lisa Zonghi, Treasurer

___________________________________________

Sent 9/22/2031 to all Sophomore families regarding PSATs for Sophomores:

Good afternoon Parents/Guardians of FHS Sophomores,

As you may be aware, FHS will be hosting the PSAT's on Saturday, October 16th. In past years, we have been able to offer the opportunity for a limited number of interested Sophomores to participate.  Unfortunately this year we are not able to offer this opportunity because of an historically large Junior participation which accounts for all available tests.    

We are however offering the opportunity to be put on a wait list in the event that we have cancellations.  If an opportunity for some Sophomores to test does become possible, a lottery system will be used to determine who is offered the opportunity. Students/families would be notified the week before the test and the associated $25 testing fee would then be collected.  

If you are interested in adding your child's name to a waitlist, please reach out to his/her guidance counselor no later than Monday, September 27th. 

Before emailing your child’s guidance counselor some things to consider are:  

 Is your child interested in taking the exam (Saturday morning 7:30am-12:30pm)?

Disinterested students tend to under perform and not yield an accurate picture of ability.

Is it an appropriate time to take the test from an academic standpoint? (Students perform best when in at least Algebra 2 as well as have strong vocabulary and reading comprehension skills). 

Students who are not prepared often walk away feeling disappointed or lack confidence in their ability to manage the test in future years.

In the event that your Sophomore student is not able to or chooses not to test this year, please know that there are opportunities for students to take free, full length practice tests online.  Additionally, they will have the opportunity to test next year as Juniors.

FHS Guidance

_____________________________________________________

Sent 9/21/2021 to all FHS Families regarding mandatory School Year Forms:

Good afternoon FHS Families,

It is that time of the year where we ask you to complete the mandatory school year forms for each of your FHS students. We do not send home paper forms, all of it is online now. These forms are best viewed/completed using a Google Chrome browser. 

Parents of 9th grade students

You are required to complete these three online forms (if you have not already done so) by clicking on the name of each form:

Nurse Emergency Card Form

FHS Student Release: Photo/Video/Audio, and Remote Learning consent

Handbook Receipt Form

If your student has a Chromebook that they kept from their middle school, please complete these two additional forms below as well. If they received a Chromebook here at FHS, you have already completed these two forms in order for them to pick up that Chromebook, so there is no need to complete them again.

Chromebook Consent/Participation Form

Acceptable Use of Technology Form

____________________________________________________________________________

Parents of 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students

You are required to complete only these three online forms (if you have not already done so) by clicking on the name of each form:

Nurse Emergency Card Form

FHS Student Release: Photo/Video/Audio, and Remote Learning consent

Handbook Receipt Form

Please note, if your student went through the New Student Registration process this summer or fall, you have already completed all of the above required forms for your student and do not need to do so again.

Thank you for your prompt attention to these forms.

Sincerely,

Ivy Patten, FHS Registrar

_____________________________________________________

Sent 9/20/2021 to Class of 2022 Parents/Guardians regarding MCAS:

Good Afternoon Parents/Guardians of FHS Seniors,

Please review this information for important/time sensitive information about MCAS and the Class of 2022.  

FHS Guidance

___________________________________________________

Sent 9/17/2021 to Senior Families regarding Prom Updates:

Hi Class of 2022 families,

We are LESS than ONE month away from the prom: October 15th! Remember you can access the prom contract on our Class page on the FHS website, and there is a link here as well. This is required to be filled-out before attending the event and purchasing tickets. 

Also, we have the raffle tickets for the calendar raffle. Please go to Ms. Taranto before or after school in room 128 for raffle tickets. Remember, you can earn a free prom ticket if you sell $150 or more, and if you have already paid for the prom, it will go towards a future event ticket! Your support with this raffle helps decrease the cost of all the future events we have planned!

We are also ONE month away from Senior Portraits and Baby Pictures being due for the Yearbook! For full information use this link

Please reach out to Mrs. Leone-Murphy or Ms. Taranto with any questions or concerns!

___________________________________________________

Sent 9/17/2021 to all FHS Families regarding Curriculum Open House Night:

FHS Families,

Please click on this link for important information regarding our September 30th Curriculum Open House Night.  We are looking forward to a fantastic evening.

Sincerely,

Josh Hanna, Principal

_____________________________________________________

Sent 9/8/2021 to all Senior families regarding Prom:

Hi Class of 2022 and Families,

We hope you're having a wonderful start to your senior year! We wanted to reach out with a couple of updates. First, the prom, originally scheduled for May 2021 is happening on October 15, 2021. Students are allowed to bring dates and the tickets are $115 per person. You are required to fill out the Prom contract linked here in order to attend. Please read through the Student Handbook which is located in the contract. All rules in the handbook will be enforced at the prom. The link to pay for prom tickets is in the contract. 

Also, class dues are required to be paid each year. If you are new to Franklin High School, you only have to pay for the years you have attended FHS. Please pay for your class dues here. To attend any of the events, including the prom, senior banquet, and senior week activities, including graduation, dues must be paid. 

All class dues need to be paid through junior year, the contract needs to be signed, and prom ticket payments need to be made by September 25th to attend the prom. No exceptions will be made after that as we need to give Lombardo's a final count of those attending, including payment, a couple weeks prior to the event.

Please be on the look-out for more information regarding a class meeting later this week where more information will be shared.

If any questions come up about Class of 2022 events, please do not hesitate to reach out to the class of 2022 advisors, Abby Leone-Murphy and Alyssa Taranto.

_____________________________________________________

Sent 9/2/2021 regarding PSAT's for the Junior Class of 2023

PSAT/NMSQT Information for Class of 2023

The PSAT/NMSQT will be given at Franklin High School on Saturday, October 16, 2021 from 7:30am – 12:00pm

Members of the Class of 2023 (only) at Franklin High School are eligible to take the PSAT exam.

Students from other schools/school districts must take the exam at their own school.

There is no makeup date for the PSAT - this is a National Test Date.

There is a $25 fee to take the exam.  Students must register and pay online (see link below) to reserve a test.

Online registration will begin tomorrow, Friday, September 3rd and will end on Friday, September 10th.  

Please register your 11th grade student for the PSAT by clicking HERE

Students who receive free/reduced lunch may register through their guidance counselor.

More information about the PSAT/NMSQT, including practice tests, can be found by clicking here.   

Please reach out to your child's guidance counselor with any questions.

Sincerely, 

FHS Guidance

________________________________________

Sent 8/26/2021 to all FPS Families regarding music programs:
To all FPS families grades 3 thru 12,

Franklin Public Schools Lifelong Music Academy offers affordable weekly after-school musical instruction to students from September to May.  Plus, students perform in two evening concerts, one in December and one in April.  Learn more by selecting an option below. 

The Band School of Franklin:  For students in grades 4-9, Tuesdays at Horace Mann Middle School starting September 28th.  

Elementary Glee:  For students in grades 3, 4, and 5, Tuesdays at Franklin High School starting September 28th. 

The String School of Franklin:  For students in grades 3-12, Mondays at Horace Mann Middle School starting September 27th. 

Lifelong Music Academy also offers Private Music Lessons in 14 different instruments to students in grades 3-12, plus adults. Lessons are Monday thru Thursday at Franklin High School.  Choose from 30-minute, 45-minute, or 60-minute weekly lessons.

We look forward to seeing new and returning students soon!

Sheila Darcey

Director, Lifelong Music Academy

MusicAcademy@franklinps.net

508-613-1481

___________________________________

Sent 8/24/2021 to all FHS Students and families regarding student schedules being available to view:

Good afternoon, 

Students are now able to view their schedules in ASPEN (My Info top tab/ Current Schedule side tab).  Guidance Counselors will be available tomorrow and Thursday (8/25 and 8/26) to meet virtually with students who have large-scale issues with their schedules (misplaced in a class, scheduled for the wrong class, request for a level change). As previously communicated, requests for elective changes will not be accommodated.  

Students should make an appointment to see their counselor, if needed. These will be done through Google Meet. Links to counselor calendars can be found at the bottom of this email.  Freshmen can access (learn the name of their Guidance Counselor) their guidance counselor by following these instructions:

     1.  Log into ASPEN

     2.  Click "My Info" tab on the top

     3.  Guidance Counselor's name in bottom left corner

Students who need their ASPEN password reset should first try using the Forgot My Password link on the Aspen login page and if that does not resolve it, you can request it through this link. Please note that passwords do not get reset immediately.  Requests will be monitored and completed throughout the day, but it may take as long as 24 hours for a password to be reset.  

Thank you, 

FHS Guidance and Admin

To find the name of your counselor in your student Aspen account look under the MY INFO top tab, MY DETAILS side tab, and DEMOGRAPHICS tab. Counselor name is at the bottom of the box on this page.

Trish Gardner 

Ricky Guyette

Julie Horner

Abby Leone-Murphy

Heather McVay

Kate Ryder

David Soulard

Jodie Walsh

Sent 8/17/21 regarding 2021-22 chromebook insurance for FHS Students:

Dear FHS Families,

The Franklin High School Chromebook Insurance Payment Portal is now open on Unibank. It will remain open until September 16th.   The cost is $40 per student for this school year (including next summer).

>> Although it is optional, purchasing Chromebook Insurance for your student is highly recommended. 

>> Students that have been approved for Free or Reduced Price lunch will not have to purchase Chromebook Insurance this year.

What does Chromebook Insurance cover?

Chromebook insurance covers accidental damage, up to 3 screen breaks, Chromebook and charger malfunctions, and theft of the Chromebook.  (A device is considered stolen only after the student has filed a report directly with the Franklin Police)

What does Chromebook Insurance not cover?

Chromebook Insurance does not cover lost or misplaced devices or chargers, or intentional damage to a Chromebook or charger. If it is determined that a student has intentionally damaged their Chromebook, they will be responsible for paying the full $250.00 to replace it; if it is determined that a student has intentionally damaged their Chromebook charger, they will be responsible for paying $54 to replace it.

>> If you purchased Chromebook Insurance for your student during the 2020-21 School Year, that will expire on August 31st.   When you purchase this year’s Chromebook insurance your student will be covered from the date of purchase.

Here is the link to purchase the FHS Chromebook Insurance on Unibank

This link can also be found on the FHS Website ( https://www.franklinps.net/fhs ) under ONLINE PAYMENTS.

>> Please note, this Chromebook Insurance payment portal is for FHS students only. If you have students in other Franklin Public Schools, you will be able to purchase Chromebook Insurance through that school sometime in the very near future.

>> If you prefer to pay by check for Chromebook Insurance, make out a check for $40.00 to TOWN OF FRANKLIN; Write your student’s name and “chromebook insurance” on the memo line of the check and drop it off in the FHS Main Office before September 16th. Your student will be covered from the day we receive the check.

_____________________________________________

Sent 8/11/2021 to all FHS families regarding Fall Sports:

FHS Families of students wanting to play Fall Sports,

Just a reminder that registration closes for all Fall Sports on Monday August 16th at 11:00pm.

Your student must be registered on Familyid.com and have provided the athletic department with a valid physical in order to try-out/practice on August 23rd. 

Students will not be allowed to participate unless this is done.

Thank you.

Athletic Department

Franklin High School

(508)-613-1501

_____________________________________

Sent 8/13/2021 to all FHS Families regarding Back to School:

FHS Families,

Please click this link for our back to school letter.  Enjoy the last few weeks of the summer!

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

2021-2022 School Year items above this line

Sent  7/30/21 to all FPS Families regarding a mid summer update from the Superintendent's Office:

Dear Franklin Faculty/Staff and Families:

I most sincerely hope that you are doing well and enjoying your summers. Although it has been a little rainier than usual, this summer seems to be a welcome opportunity for some rest, relaxation, and reconnection after a most difficult 17 months.

While we do get some rest, FPS continues to be busy in the summer. We at Franklin Public Schools are actively engaged in some exciting summer activities. In Lifelong Learning, we are running a Summer Solutions Program, Ready Set Kindergarten just concluded, and we are planning for High School Experience (HSE) to welcome and orient our rising Freshmen at Franklin High School. We also are running an abbreviated program for rising sophomores. Our Extended School Year program hosts students with special needs who require summer services. We have summer learning programs to support skill development on early literacy and mathematics for students who met the criteria for involvement, and we are also running a high school summer school for the first time in many years. Summer curriculum projects are underway and building administrators are actively planning back to school activities, bus routes are being determined, and we look forward to our goal setting retreats and New Teacher Orientation in late August.

Naturally, we are also in the process of planning our health and safety practices for the fall. We will be opening our doors to students full-time and in-person five days a week (not including holidays) and there will be no remote only option. Our school calendar for next year can be found at this link: https://www.franklinps.net/district/about-us/pages/school-calendars Sch... the fall will, undoubtedly, be a much more “normal” return than the Fall of 2020. That being said, we must still employ health and safety strategies in light of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, particularly the Delta variant.

We anticipate that we will maintain many of our layered mitigation strategies including ventilation practices to increase air exchange, the use of portable HEPA filters and UVGI (ultraviolet germicidal irradiation), good hand hygiene practices, and encouraging individuals with symptoms to stay home sick.

Earlier today, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Department of Public Health issued new guidance which can be found here: https://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/on-desktop.html

As this information has just been released, we are reviewing this guidance carefully and will be considering this against the policies and practices that we had in place last year and this summer. More information will be forthcoming from the District in mid-August about the specific Franklin Public Schools expectations for the fall.

To summarize the DESE/DPH guidance they are:

Strongly recommending masking for children in grades K-6 when indoors

Strongly recommending masking for unvaccinated staff, unvaccinated students in grades 7 and above, and unvaccinated visitors

At-risk individuals or those with at-risk individuals at home use masks, whether or not they are vaccinated

Allowing vaccinated individuals who choose to wear masks to do so

Masking on buses and in school health offices

Highly encouraging districts to establish COVID-19 testing programs

Apply a “test and stay” protocol in lieu of quarantine requirements for close contacts -"Under test and stay, asymptomatic close contacts will have the option to remain in school and be tested daily”--DESE.

Vaccination among children is strong in Franklin. 62% of children 12-15 are fully vaccinated and 68% of children 16-19 are fully vaccinated and the numbers are increasing. We encourage parents/guardians of children who have not been vaccinated and are able to be vaccinated to pursue vaccination. Here are some helpful links related to vaccination:

Vaccine sites, safety information, and helpful Q&As: https://www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine

Medical perspective on COVID-19 vaccine and children: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB_I2P7K8nA    and: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIz7_OdU7D8 (Spanish Version)

Additional information and materials: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/stop-covid-19-vaccine-education-and-ou...(multiple languages)

As information becomes available about vaccinations for children under 12, we will continue to keep you informed.

I hope you continue to enjoy the summer. We will update you again soon.

Kindly,

Sara Ahern

Superintendent of Schools

_________________________________________________

Sent 7/12/2021 to all Class of 2021 Grads regarding Prom pictures from Lifetouch:

Dear Parents and Students of the Class of 2021,

The prom pictures from Lifetouch have arrived.

Please click here to view the gallery.

Thank you,

Ms. Calcagno, Class of 2021 Advisor

_____________________________________

Sent 7/6/2021 to all rising FHS Juniors and Seniors regarding parking registration for the next school year:

FHS Juniors and Seniors,

Parking Information for the 2021-2022 School Year

Students who wish to park on campus during the 2021-2022 school year are required to complete this form to register their cars as soon as possible. STUDENTS should complete this form using their School Gmail account.  Parents/Guardians will not be able to access the registration form. 

Registration does not guarantee that you will be assigned a parking space. Priority will be given to seniors and any remaining spots will be given to registered juniors through a lottery system.   

The registration form will be accessible through August 11. Students who are permitted to park on campus will be informed via their FHS gmail account the week of August 16. This email will provide information about how and when students will pick up their parking pass.  

Our student parking lots on campus will not accommodate all student drivers. It is highly recommended that underclassmen consider a carpooling situation with a driving senior student (if possible) or consider other means of transportation such as registering for the school bus.

If you register and pay for the school bus and then find out your student has been granted a parking space, you can get a refund from the Transportation Office, as long as you request it before the first day of school. If you try to register for the school bus in August, the Transportation Office cannot guarantee there will be any spaces left on the bus for your student.

Please direct any questions to FHS Assistant Principal Ms. Maria Weber at: weberm@franklinps.net 

____________________________

____________________________________________________

Sent 6/29/2021 to all FPS families regarding BUS transportation for the next school year:

Transportation Office Update – June 29, 2021

2021-2022 School Year

The date to guarantee a seat on the bus is July 8, 2021.

The final sign up for the bus is July 8th.  Please go online to the Family ID link below to sign your student up for the bus for the 2021-2022 school year.  All student who wish to ride must sign up for the bus.  The cost for the 2021-2022 school year is $360 per student with a 3 student cap.  All payments must be made online via Unipay.  The final payment for the bus is due August 15th.  Bus passes will not be issued until the final payment is received.

FamilyID Create Account Link:  https://account.familyid.com/signup

FamilyID Sign Up Link:  https://www.familyid.com/organizations/franklin-public-schools-transport...

Unipay Payment Link:  https://unipaygold.unibank.com/transactioninfo.aspx?TID=25580

Thank you,

Franklin Public Schools

Transportation Office

508-553-4815

___________________________________________

Sent 6/18/2021 to all FHS families re: FHS Response to hate symbol update:

FHS Families,

I'm writing with an update to the hate symbols found in the building last week.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

I wish you all a peaceful weekend.

Sincerely,

Mr Hanna

___________________________________

Sent 6/14/2021 to all 9th, 10th and 11th grade families regarding updates and year end information from our School Nurse:

FHS Families of current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students,

Please click here to read a letter from our School Nurse, Mrs. Conroy, regarding important updates for the next school year, and year-end information for those students that currently have medications/supplies in the Health Office.

Thank you,

FHS Health Office

____________________________________

Sent 6/13/2021 to all FHS students and faculty regarding the incident of graffitti found in the building last week:

FHS Educators and Students,

I hope you all were able to have a peaceful weekend.  I wanted to let you know about three things that will be happening this week at FHS related to the Swastikas found drawn in one of our bathrooms last week.  

1.  Tomorrow outside of the cafeteria will be a large poster that students and staff are welcomed to sign / share a message of love and support and objection to hate.  This poster will be available to sign throughout the Wednesday outside of the cafeteria.  .  We had someone write something hateful on our walls, this will act as a peaceful response to the hateful act and allow us to show each other how we can be thoughtful and respectful, two of our core values, towards each other..

2.  After school on Tuesday from 2:15 - 3:15 will be a gathering for students and faculty/staff to meet with an administrator/counseling team to process their feelings. We will look at the work of the poster that will have been signed and we can discuss ways to continue to improve upon the thoughtful and respectful nature of the school that we care so much about.

3. We are continuing to explore additional educational paths to create a more learned community regarding Anti Semitism. This work will be included in our 2021 - 2022 school improvement goals.

Our work will continue around the area of making our school a respectful place for all.

See you all tomorrow morning.

Mr. Hanna

_____________________________________

Sent 6/10/2021 to all FHS Families regarding graffitti found in a restroom at FHS:

FHS Families,

Please click here to read a letter outlining an incident related to a Hate Symbol found at Franklin High School. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.  

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna

_____________________________________

Sent 6/10/2021 to all FHS families with students working remotely-regarding course materials return:

Good afternoon FHS students who are working remotely,

As the school year draws to a close, we would like to collect course materials from all remote students.  Please label all materials with your full name and drop them off at the Main Office from 11AM-3PM on June 17th, 18th or 21st.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to Assistant Principal Ms. Santosuosso at: santosuossoj@franklinps.net with any questions.

Thank you,  

FHS Administration

__________________________________________

Sent 6/7/2021 to all FPS families regarding the heat wave and its impact on schools:

June 7, 2021

Dear FPS Faculty/Staff and Families,

Thank you to everyone for your patience and cooperation during the current hot weather we are experiencing.  We’d like to extend a specific thank you to our administration for putting together schedules for rotating classes through cooler spaces, having extra water, making adjustments to the day, and supporting educators and students. These efforts help to keep everyone as comfortable as possible in the current conditions.

We are planning to hold a full day of school tomorrow, June 8, 2021. In preparation, classroom windows will be open on the upper floors overnight to promote circulation of cooler air. Air conditioning will continue to run in air-conditioned spaces.

We will continue to have modified school practices as follows:

Classes will have extra mask breaks

Principals will monitor the heat index and move recess indoors, if necessary

Activity will be lightened

Extra water breaks will be permitted

Classes will rotate through air conditioned spaces, as needed and as available

Please prepare children for school tomorrow:

Wear light clothing

Bring extra water to school

As with snow, parents/guardians may make a different decision, if you feel it to be in the best interest of their child. Parents/guardians may keep them home absent for tomorrow. Families should call the attendance line if opting to keep their child home.

Please stay safe during these weather conditions and check on the well-being of your neighbors, as well.

Kind regards,

Franklin Public Schools

____________________________________

Sent 6/7/2021 to all FHS families regarding a COVID positive test result within the FHS Community:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining a covid positive case within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

___________________________________

Sent 6/6/2021 to all FPS families regarding the heat wave:

June 6, 2021

Dear Franklin Public Schools Community,

As you know, we are currently experiencing very high temperatures and are under a heat advisory until 8:00 PM Monday evening (June 7). We are in the process of planning for school tomorrow in a way that keeps everyone safe. Moving all to a remote learning day is not an option permitted by DESE. 

At this time, we are planning for a full day of school tomorrow, June 7. Our Facilities Department is in the process of setting up ventilation so that cooler air from overnight can come into the PreK-8 school spaces by maximizing air exchange in HVAC units, opening windows, and running air conditioning (in spaces where available such as school libraries and offices).  As Davis Thayer has no centrally air-conditioned spaces, window units will be placed in the building (as electrical service allows) in order to provide a measure of relief.

School practices will be modified as follows:

Classes will have extra mask breaks (we are not permitted to relax the DESE mask requirement)

Principals will monitor the heat index and move recess indoors, if necessary

Activity will be lightened

Extra water breaks will be permitted

Classes will rotate through air conditioned spaces, as needed and as available

Please prepare your child for school tomorrow:

Wear light clothing

Bring extra water to school

As with snow, parents/guardians may make a different decision, if you feel it to be in the best interest of your child. You may keep them home absent for tomorrow. Families should call the attendance line if you opt to keep your child home.

Please stay safe during these weather conditions and check on the well-being of your neighbors, as well.

Kind regards,

Franklin Public Schools

___________________________________________

Sent 6/4/2021 to all FHS families regarding a COVID-19 vaccine clinic to be held

Dear Franklin Middle and High School Families,

We have the opportunity to bring a COVID-19 vaccine clinic to our schools to support the vaccination of students and household members (18+ years of age). The students will receive their COVID-19 vaccinations at the mobile clinics at the following schools on the days/times indicated.  The household members may choose which site and time works best for them.

The schedule is as follows:
     Monday 6/14/21
          7:30-10:30     Remington Middle School
          11:00-2:00     Annie Sullivan Middle School
     Tuesday 6/15/21
          7:30-10:30     Franklin High School
          11:00-2:00     Horace Mann Middle School

The DPH-appointed staff will administer the vaccine and the FPS nurses will be assisting with the required post-vaccination observation times.  

Please complete the sign-up form in order to properly schedule everyone

SIGN UP FORM:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScuzscgxjfMySgjT89tQRRMTOo3jZei...

Also, please complete the 3 consent forms below by clicking on each and printing them out. The student will need to bring these forms on the day of the vaccine clinic.  Your student cannot receive the vaccine without the signed consent forms.

Pfizer COVID vaccine consent form

COVID-19 VACCINE CLINIC AGREEMENT

Purple Shield Medical Vaccine Consent Form

**There is a required second dose, given 3 weeks after the first, in order to be considered fully vaccinated.  The second dose will be offered on 7/6/21 & 7/7/21 at the same sites.  If you do not return to the mobile clinic for the second dose you will be responsible for arranging your second dose with another facility/clinic during that same time period.

If you have any questions please contact Patty Elias, Director of Student Health Services, at 508-541-5263 or eliasp@franklinps.net.  

If you need the attached forms translated, please email Denise Miller at: millerd@franklinps.net

Franklin Public Schools

___________________________________________

Sent 6/2/2021 to all 9th graders and their families regarding Biology MCAS to be held June 8th-9th:

Good Afternoon FHS Grade 9 Parents/Guardians, 

This email serves as a reminder that all 9th grade students will be participating in the Biology MCAS on June 8-9th  Here are a few reminders for a successful testing experience:

The MCAS is only being offered as an “in person” test; there is no option to test remotely.  Therefore, our fully remote students will still be expected to test.  If you are unable to take the test this year, you will have another opportunity next year.  For remote families only - please notify your child’s guidance counselor ASAP if he/she will NOT participate in MCAS testing this year.  

Fully remote students should plan on being picked up at approximately 9:45am on each testing day.

Students should bring plenty of #2 pencils

Although the test is designed to be completed without a calculator, students may bring their own calculator if they choose.  

Dismissals are not permitted during the MCAS testing period (7:35am-9:45am).  Please plan any appointments around this time.  

Students will be given testing room assignments later this week via their Biology classes. 

Please get a good night's sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time!

Sincerely,

FHS Administration

________________________________________________

Sent 6/4/2021 to all FPS families regarding bus transportation for next year:

Dear Parent/Guardian:

We are excited to announce that we are now offering the convenience of online registration for bus transportation through FamilyID

 Please access the Franklin Public Schools Transportation Website for detailed steps in registering for

busing or see the attached document.

For additional information or assistance you may contact Denise Johnson, Coordinator of Transportation at schoolbus@franklinps.net

Transportation hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30am to 3:00pm

Thank you.

Miriam A. Goodman

School Business Administrator

________________________________________________

Sent 6/2/2021 to all 9th, 10th, and 11th grade families regarding yearbook distribution for underclassmen:

Yearbook distribution for Underclassman Grades 9 - 11 will take place on Monday June 7th during the lunch block (A: 11:15am - 1:00pm) in front of the Cafeteria. 

If students have not yet purchased a yearbook, but would still like one, we have 30 copies remaining available for purchase. These will be sold on a first come first serve basis during distribution and cost $100. We will accept cash or a check made out to: The Town of Franklin. 

If there are any questions or concerns please reach out to Yearbook Advisor Alyssa Taranto at: tarantoa@franklinps.net

_________________________________________________________________________

Sent 5/27/2021 to al Seniors and their families regarding changes and updates to Senior Week info:

Dear Senior families,

We are almost there! Graduation is just around the corner.

Please click here to read a letter from your Senior Class Advisors. This letter contains specific information on everything to expect next week and some changes that have been made.

Thank you,

Jenna Calcagno and Shannon Picillo
Senior Class Advisors

________________________________________

Sent 5/26/2021 to Seniors and their families regarding yearbook distribution into senior boxes:

Dear Seniors & Families, 

Congratulations on finishing up your senior year of high school! 

1. Your yearbooks will be distributed as part of your senior graduation boxes.

If you have not yet ordered a yearbook, there is still time! Our publisher has extended our online sales through May 31st and a copy can be purchased here. After May 31st, you will only be able to purchase through Ms. Taranto with cash or a check made out to The Town of Franklin for $100. To Date, we currently have 54 copies remaining. 

2. New this year, we will be sending out a 20 Page Spring Supplement as an extension of the yearbook. This will include coverage of spring sports, senior week, prom and graduation parade. If you would like to submit pictures for any of these sections, please email them to Ms. Taranto at TarantoA@FranklinPs.net

All questions and concerns should be directed to Ms. Taranto at:  tarantoa@Franklinps.net

Thanks,

Alyssa Taranto, FHS Yearbook Advisor

_____________________________________________

Sent 5/25/2021 to all Seniors regarding the senior final exam schedule:

Class of 2021,

I've received some questions regarding the exam schedule for this week.  Here is a link that outlines the next few weeks.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Mr. Hanna

_____________________________________________

Sent 5/25/2021 to all FHS families regarding Pool Testing: 

All,

Pool testing will not occur today May 25th because of Senior Exams / AP  testing.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Mr. Hanna

_______________________________________________

Sent 5/25/2021 Sent 5/24/2021 to grade 11 Students and Families regarding summer programs for rising seniors:

Hello,

Don't forget to help your student get a jump start on the college application process. We are pleased to offer Writing Your College Essay and Common Application Boot Camp programns this summer.

For more details CLICK HERE for more information and to register.

Christopher Nayler, Lifelong Learning Director
508-553-4822

___________________________________________

Sent 5/24/2021 to all 9th, 10th, and 11th grade families PCC is asking for volunteers and help with Senior Activities: 

FHS Parents/Guardians of 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students,

The FHS PCC is looking for volunteers to donate items and help serve, clean up, and take photos at the Senior Breakfast that will be held June 3rd; and they are seeking for volunteers to help direct traffic at the various schools for the Senior Car Parade that will be held on June 5th.

Please click here to view the specific needs for each event.

Thank you!

Your FHS PCC

________________________________________

Sent 5/21/2021 to all Seniors and their families regarding updates to the Graduation Ceremony as the state changed its guidelines:

Families of FHS Seniors,

Please click this link for updated information on our graduation and car parade plan.  We are all looking forward for a great celebration!  

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

**************************

FHS Seniors,

I wanted to share a letter that outlines some adjustments made to your graduation ceremony.  Click here to read the letter.  I hope you all have a nice weekend.

Sincerely,

Mr. Hanna

______________________________________

Sent 5/21/21 to all FHS 9th, 10th and 11th grade families regarding the Summer Strength and Conditioning program:

Hello FHS Families! 

We are excited to announce the return of our Summer Strength and Conditioning Program for students entering grades 5-12! 

The mission of the 2021 Summer Strength and Conditioning program is to create and develop a strong work ethic among our student athletes; through proper running mechanics, lifting form and technique athletes will maximize performance on the court, field and ice. Strength and Conditioning will instill and build upon self confidence not only in body but also in mind. Dedication to this program creates a culture of what it means to be a Panther.

We will be following protocols that align with our in school policies and procedures for Covid-19. All students will be required to wear masks, and maintain appropriate distancing. Due to the limitations of Covid-19 we are capping the number of participants in each group. All athletes will be able to participate, but will be in smaller groups than in years past. 

During registration you will be asked to select multiple options for time slots, while we anticipate being able to offer everyone their preferred time slot, we are preparing for alternatives.

Please use the links below for more information and to register:

2021 Strength and Conditioning Flyer 

Program Details

Registration Link

If you have any questions please email Mike Masto, mastom@franklinps.net

Thank you!

Camp Co-Directors,

Mike Masto and Matt McLaughlin

____________________________________________

Sent 5/20/2021 to all 9th, 10th, and 11th grade families asking for volunteers for the Senior Car Parade:

Hello Parents/Guardians of FHS 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students,

The Senior Car Parade needs your help on Saturday June 5th. We need volunteers to help direct traffic at the three Franklin middle schools. FHS has provided high visibility vests for volunteers (that will need to be returned when you leave).  Many parents of seniors will be in the cars with their graduates so they would be unavailable to assist in this manner.

Please use the link below to go to the SignUp Genius page to help make this a great day for our graduates!

Link to SignUp Genius page

Thank you in advance for volunteering to help!

FHS PCC

____________________________________________

Sent 5/20/2021 to all Seniors and their families regarding the last day to buy PROM tickets:

Hello Class of 2021 families,

Today, May 20th, is the last day to purchase Prom tickets. Seniors should have received a reminder email yesterday if they had not yet purchased a PROM ticket.

Prom tickets may be purchased on Unibank by clicking here >>PROM tickets<< before the end of the day today.

Thank you for your attention to this. 

Jenna Calcagno, Class of 2021 Advisor

____________________________________________

Sent 5/17/2021 to all PFS Families-updates from the Superintendent:

Dear Franklin Families,

I hope that you and your family are doing well and are enjoying the beautiful spring we are having. I am writing with a few brief items of information.

New DESE Guidance

Earlier today, Governor Baker and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education issued new guidance, which is based on research and medical recommendations. While several areas are addressed, the most visible one is an update to mask expectations. According to the new guidance, students will not have to wear masks outside, even when distancing can not be maintained. This will pertain to outdoor recess, outdoor physical education, and outdoor learning spaces.  As this information is new to us in the District, we are in the process of making logistical plans for this adjustment including communicating our expectations to faculty/staff and to our students. We anticipate implementing this later this week and will be in touch with more information.

We are still waiting to hear from the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletics Association about mask expectations for MIAA events. More information will be forthcoming about high school sports.

Students and faculty/staff will still have to wear masks indoors in our schools and on school buses.

The full text of the guidance can be found on the DESE website: https://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/faq/

Clarification about Pool Testing

There seems to be some confusion about the purpose of pool testing. It is not intended to be diagnostic in nature. Instead, we use pool testing to screen asymptomatic individuals for the presence of the COVID-19 virus. Individuals from the positive pool then have follow-up diagnostic tests completed. If your child is symptomatic, pool testing is not a substitute for diagnostic testing. We recommend that you reach out to your child’s doctor for assistance in those circumstances.

Last Day of School (Grades PreK-11)

As the District had ONE snow day in February, the last day of school will be Tuesday, June 22, 2021. It will be a half-day for students.

Have a wonderful evening,

Sara Ahern

Superintendent of Schools

____________________________________________

Sent 5/17/21 to all Senior Families regarding some additional activities, planned by senior parents, for senior week:

TIME SENSITIVE INFORMATION FOR SENIORS!

Greetings Families of Graduating Seniors,

Your FHS PCC wanted to make you aware of a couple of additional activities that will take place on May 30th and May 31st, during senior week, organized by some senior parents. Please note these events are not FHS sponsored or PCC sponsored events but your students are free to participate if they wish. Please see information below about the two events.  If you have questions about either event, please reach out to: Jennifer Tefft at jennifer@swalley.net

SUNDAY, DAY MAY 30th 

CANOBIE LAKE PARK TRIP (last day to buy tickets is this Wednesday, 5/19)

PLEASE VENMO YOUR TICKET REQUESTS ASAP (no later than Wednesday, May 19th) SO WE CAN PURCHASE THEM WITHIN THE REQUIRED 2 WEEK ADVANCE WINDOW 

 Price: $28 per person

 Students will need to transport themselves

 We need a minimum of 100 students in order to secure the group rate

 Physical tickets will be distributed prior to May 30th (Pick up time and location tbd)

 To Order Tickets: Please VENMO $28 TO @Jennifer-Tefft-1

 Please put “Canobie” in the VENMO message and make sure to include student’s first and   last name.

If you would like to pay by check please email Jennifer@swalley.net

***Please note- no senior will be turned away due to financial hardship. Please email us and we will make sure no one is left out!  

MONDAY MAY 31 12pm-3pm  

SENIOR PICNIC at KING STREET PARK

The Franklin Rec. Department will be supplying all game and sporting equipment for Volleyball, Basketball, Whiffle Ball, Pickle Ball etc.  We will also have lawn games, a photo booth, dunk tank, food and an ice cream truck.  Just an opportunity to hang out and have fun with your senior classmates! We are running a GoFundMe page to cover some of the costs of the picnic (hopefully all of them depending on participation.) 

Here is the link to the GoFundMe for this event: ​https://gofund.me/803abf30

If you have questions about either event, please reach out to: Jennifer Tefft at jennifer@swalley.net

__________________________________________

Sent 5/17 to all 9th graders and their families regarding BIOLOGY MCAS administration June 8th & 9th

Dear Families of current FHS 9th graders,

Please Click HERE to read a letter from Principal Hanna regarding 9th graders taking the upcoming Biology MCAS on June 8th and June 9th.

FHS Administration

__________________________________________

Sent 5/7/21 to all Senior Families regarding Graduation, Senior week, and Prom:

Class of 2021 FHS Families,

Please read this important letter detailing Senior Class Events.  Wishing you all a peaceful weekend.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

______________________________________

Sent 5/4/2021 to all FHS Families regarding COVID positive tests results in the FHS Community:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining a covid positive case within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

___________________________________________

Sent 5/4/2021 to all FHS families whose students are learning remotely for the rest of the year:

Families of FHS Virtual Students, 

We have received over 125 requests for changes to the In-Person/Virtual learning model and continue to process those. As much as we would like for all students to attend in person, unfortunately due to COVID space constraints, we are no longer able to accept new requests to change a student's learning model from Virtual to In-Person.  Rest assured, teachers and support services will continue to remain in place as usual.

Kind regards,

FHS Administration

___________________________________

Sent 5/3/2021 to all FHS Families regarding COVID positive test results in the FHS Community: 

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining three covid positive cases within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

___________________________________

Sent 5/3/2021 to all Sophomores and their families regarding next week's MCAS administration:

To all FHS 10th grade students and their families,

Please click this link to view information about the upcoming Grade 10 ELA and Math MCAS scheduled for next week.  

Heather McVay

Director of Guidance

508-613-1442

_______________________________

Sent 5/3/2021 to all Junior families regarding a reminder to complete the form if you are planning to take MCAS in June.

FHS Juniors and their families,

This email serves as a reminder to any Junior wishing to opt into taking the MCAS this June to please fill out this form by the close of school tomorrow, Tuesday, May 4th. 

Thank you,

Heather McVay

Director of Guidance

508-613-1442

________________________________

Sent 5/3/2021 to all Seniors and their families regarding PROM and Senior week updates:

Dear Seniors, and Senior Families,

Please click HERE to read a letter from your Senior Class Advisors regarding some updates on PROM and  Senior week.

Class of 2021 Advisors:

Ms. Jenna Calcagno

Ms. Shannon Picillo

_______________________________

Sent 4/29/2021 to all FPS families from the Superintendent regarding Clarification and some updates:

Dear Franklin Families,

We hope that you and your family are doing well. We are writing with a few items of information and some clarification about mask wearing in the school setting.

Health and Safety Protocols

Mask Wearing

You may be aware that earlier this week, Governor Baker announced that rules about wearing masks in some outdoor settings is being relaxed. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has reinforced that we should continue to follow the established health and safety practices including mask wearing. Notably, mask wearing will continue to be required outdoors when physical distancing is hard to maintain and also at public events. As a result, we will continue to implement our mask wearing policy where all students and staff will be wearing masks both indoors and outdoors, except during mask breaks. This includes during recess on our playgrounds and also during high school athletics.  

Close Contact Definition and Quarantine Requirements - Clarification

We are also writing to clarify about how Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services changed protocols for close contacts in the school setting. The new guidance now reads: "Close contacts who were exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual in the classroom or on the bus while both individuals were masked do not have to quarantine unless they were within 3 feet of distance of the COVID-19 positive individual for a total of 15 minutes during a 24-hour period. Also, individuals who are fully vaccinated or who have had confirmed COVID-19 in the last 90 days do not need to quarantine as long as they do not have symptoms." This does not pertain to clubs and extracurriculars, including athletics. It does not pertain to lunch and it does not pertain if the individuals were not wearing masks. Other aspects of the quarantine protocol remain in place.

We will now be issuing three different communications regarding COVID-19 positive cases. We will contact close contacts who have been within 3 feet and provide quarantine guidance. We will notify close contacts who have been between 3 and 6 feet, but who do not need to quarantine.  And we will continue to send a general notification to the school community to inform about a case.

Food Services

NEW TIMES for free lunch pickup behind Franklin High School; Effective May 3, 2021,  distribution will be from 11am-12pm.

DESE has announced that the US Department of Agriculture is extending the school meal waivers through 2021-2022 which will allow our schools to serve free meals to all children through not only the end of this school year, but also the summer and through the 2021-2022 school year.  Meal distribution will continue at Franklin High School. 

P-EBT benefits will no longer be provided to fully in person students. Children in school will receive free breakfast and lunch. If food insecurity is an issue, we can be of assistance and support in an alternative way and we encourage you to reach out to your school Principal.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Sara Ahern

Superintendent of Schools

Please send questions to: reopening@franklinps.net

_______________________________________

Sent 4/29/2021 to all FHS families regarding COVID positive test results at FHS:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining a covid positive case within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

_______________________________________

Sent to all 9th and 10th grade families regarding a time change for the NHS Info Session:

Class of 2023 and Class of 2024 students and families,

The start time for the National Honor Society Information session that will be held on Tuesday, May 4th has been changed to 3:15pm.

Thank you,

NHS Advisors

Mr. Corona

Dr. Fidler

________________________________________

Sent 4/28/2021 to all 11th graders and their families regarding an update to MCAS requirement for the Class of 2022:

Dear Class of 2022 and Parents/Guardians, 

Please read the following letter for some important updates about the MCAS requirement for your class.  

If you are choosing to take the MCAS test this spring, we are asking for your response on the form, no later than May 4th. 

Thank you,

Mr. Hanna

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The Letter:

Dear Class of 2022 & Parents/Guardians,

The Commissioner of Education recently announced (4/20/21) that MCAS testing is no longer a graduation requirement for the Class of 2022 for English & Mathematics.  In the Fall of 2020 he had announced that the Science exam was waived for this class as well.  

With this announcement, the Commissioner stated that schools must offer members of the Class of 2022 the opportunity to participate in English and Mathematics MCAS testing for the purposes of eligibility for the John & Abigail Adams Scholarship and/or the Stanley Koplik Certificate of Mastery. 

Important information about the Adams Scholarship:

1.  It is offered to the top 25% of students in the district earning at least a score of Proficient and Advanced on the English and Mathematics MCAS exams.  Historically over 40% of FHS students score Advanced in both categories, so not all students who earn these minimum scores will be recipients of the scholarship.

The scholarship covers tuition at public schools in Massachusetts only (Community Colleges, State Universities & the UMass institutions).  The value of the Adams Scholarship for the 2020-2021 school year was as follows:

                               UMass Amherst/Boston: $1,714 
                               UMass Lowell: $1,454
                               UMass Dartmouth: $1,414
                               Bridgewater & Salem State: $910
                               Westfield, Fitchburg, Framingham, Worcester: $970
                               Mass Maritime: $1,554
                               Mass College of Art & MCLA: $1,030
                               Community College: Varies between $920-980 

2.  The Stanley Koplik Certificate of Mastery requires that students earn a minimum of Proficient and Advanced on both the English and Mathematics MCAS exams and then fulfill other criteria as well, including specific scores on Advanced Placement Exams as well as another form of national or local academic recognition.  Details can be found on the DESE website at: https://www.doe.mass.edu/scholarships/mastery/.  Please note that the availability of scholarship money with this recognition is dependent on the availability of funds from the state for that given year. 

3.  Implications for Seal of Biliteracy:
Any student in the class of 2022 who wants to be eligible to earn the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy must opt in for ELA MCAS.  The State uses the ELA MCAS as the only acceptable measure to assess a student's English language proficiency.  To learn more about the State Seal of Biliteracy, please visit our FPS Seal of Biliteracy website: https://franklinsealofbiliteracy.weebly.com/

We share all of this information so that you may make an informed decision as to whether or not you would  would like to "OPT IN" to taking the exams this spring.  Students choosing to opt in to the ELA/MATH MCAS this spring will test on June 8-11th.   Please note that this in an IN PERSON test only.  There is no option to take the test remotely.  There will be another opportunity to test in the fall, as well. 

If you wish to participate in the June MCAS exam, please complete the form. If you do not wish to take the exam or you wish to take it in the fall, you do not need to do anything at this time.

Please complete the form we sent to you no later than 5/4/21, so that we can make appropriate arrangements for your exam.  

Best regards,

Josh Hanna
Principal 

_______________________________________

Sent 4/27/2021 to all 9th and 10th grade families regarding an information session about applying to National Honor Society:

Good afternoon 9th and 10th grade Panther families,

If your current 9th or 10th grader is interested in applying to the National Honor Society(NHS), please click here to view a flyer showing an NHS information session to be held Tuesday, May 4th from 2:20pm-3:00 pm.

Sincerely,

NHS Advisors

Mr. Corona  coronan@franklinps.net

Dr. Fidler  fidlerc@franklinps.net

________________________________________

Sent 4/26/2021 to all FHS families regarding COVID positive cases at FHS:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining six covid positive cases within the FHS community since 4/15/21.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

________________________________________

Sent 4/25/2021 to all FHS families regarding a couple of updates:

FHS Families,

I hope you had a nice vacation!  I wanted to share a couple of important pieces of information.  

1.  Here is a link to the pick up drop off map for FHS.  Following this will help with the traffic backup before and after school.  

2.  Here is a link to our most recent FHS Student Newsletter.(Volume 2)  This will be a twice a month communication.  

Looking forward to getting back to school tomorrow!  As always, let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

___________________________________________

Sent 4/15/2021 to all FHS Families regarding a COVID positive case at FHS:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining a covid positive case within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

__________________________________________

Sent 4/14/2021 to all FHS Families regarding a COVID positive case at FHS:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining a covid positive case within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

_________________________________________

Sent 4/13/2021 to all FHS Families regarding a COVID positive case at FHS:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining a covid positive case within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

_________________________________________

Sent 4/12/2021 to all FHS Families regarding a COVID positive case at FHS:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining a covid positive case within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

_________________________________________

Sent 4/12/2021 to all FHS families to remind them that the last day for Spring Sports registration on FamilyID is Friday, 4/16/2021

Good Afternoon Panther Families,

This Friday, April 16th is the last day to register your student(s) on FamilyID for a Spring Sport. 

Spring Sports include:

Baseball

Softball

Boys & Girls Lacrosse

Boys & Girls Outdoor Track

Boys & Girls Tennis

Cheerleading (Winter)

Spring Wrestling

A valid physical must also be turned into the Athletic Office or uploaded on Family ID by April 16th. 

All try-outs and practices start Monday, April 26th.

FHS Athletic Office

(508) 613-1501

_____________________________________________

Sent 4/9/2021 to 9th, 10th, and 11th grade families regarding a reminder to pick up school photos in the FHS Main Office:

Hello Panther Families!

Hope this message finds you well. 

As a reminder to those students whose pictures were taken on School Picture Days, proofs and packages can be picked up at the Main Office of the High School Monday-Friday between 8AM-3PM.  Students attending school in-person can stop by the office to pick them while in school.

Thank you,

FHS Administration

_______________________________________

Sent 4/8/2021 to all FHS Families regarding Covid Positive Test Results at FHS:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining two covid positive cases within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

_______________________________________

Sent 4/8/2021 to all FHS Families regarding final days to purchase an FHS Yearbook:

FHS Families,

This is just a friendly reminder that now is the time to order your yearbook, if you haven't already done so! We have under 100 copies left available for purchase so make sure you don't end up on the waiting list! Online sales close April 30th!

Josten's FHS Yearbook Purchase Link: https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productDetail/1065973/Franklin-High-S...

Questions or concerns should be directed to:

Yearbook Advisor Ms. Alyssa Taranto at tarantoa@franklinps.net

_______________________________________

Sent 4/8/2021 to Senior Families regarding Prom updates :

Dear Parents/Guardians of the Class of 2021,

As the end of the year approaches, our class officers continue to work diligently to organize a Prom that is celebratory and that adheres to the CDC guidelines.  

Prom is scheduled as part of Senior Week. As mentioned in a previous email communication, Prom will occur on BOTH June 1st and June 2nd outdoors in a tented area at Lake Pearl in Wrentham.  With the current CDC guidelines, each date has two cohorts of students. There will be one cohort attending from 4-6 pm and another from 7:30-9:30 pm on each day.  Each cohort will not exceed 150 students. Students will provide their own transportation to and from Lake Pearl. We know that nothing is better than having prom all together as one class of 450 classmates, but we are unfortunately not able to provide that large of an event this year. 

We sent out this > form to the students last week so that they can request preferred table guests. We ask that all students complete it by Tuesday, April 13th. Please note that if a student does not have a preference for with whom they sit at Prom, they will still complete the form with themselves as the “representative”.  

We remind students to check their email and Google Classroom regularly, as guidelines may change.  We will inform them about the date and time that they will be scheduled to attend prom before the end of April. We will also be in touch again in May with prom ticket prices and information on other scheduled Senior Week events.

Please contact Class of 2021 advisor, Jenna Calcagno, with any questions at: calcagnoj@franklinps.net 

Thank you for your attention to this,

Jenna Calcagno and Shannon Picillo, The Class of 2021 Advisors

__________________________________________

Sent 4/6/2021 to all 11th grade families regarding updates from the 2022 Class Advisors:

Dear Students and Families,

We hope you are doing well and having a great school year. We wanted to reach out with some updates with regards to events for the Class of 2022. We have a couple of fundraisers under way to help decrease the prices of future events, including a Flocking FHS fundraiser that started in the fall and we are going to start it up again in the spring, so please be on the lookout for that! We also are going to have a Puzzle Challenge fundraiser that is in the works for the late spring/early summer. We will keep you updated with more details around that!

Fundraisers are one way we collect money for the Class of 2022. Class Dues are the other. If you have not paid class dues yet through this school year, here is the link to the Class Dues website. Class dues are required to be paid in order to participate in class events. 

Another update that we wanted to share with you is in regards to the Prom. Our original date was set for May 8th of this school year, however, because our goal is to have the entire class together for the Prom, but based on current state guidelines, we wouldn’t be able to have a function with that number, so we have made the decision to postpone the Prom until October 15th, 2021. While we understand that prom is typically a tradition for junior year, we are working to make the actual event the best experience possible, ideally with the all of the Class of 2022 together.

We are continuing to work and plan for senior events to happen as they typically do for our Franklin High School students and look forward to continuing to work together with the fun senior year events that occur, including the Senior Banquet scheduled for April 1st, 2022.

If you have any questions, as always, please reach out to Abby Leone-Murphy and Alyssa Taranto, the Class Advisors for the Class of 2022.

Sincerely,

Abby Leone-Murphy and Alyssa Taranto

_____________________________________

Sent 4/5/2021 to all FHS Families regarding COVID positive cases at FHS:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining two covid positive cases within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

_____________________________________

Sent 4/1/2021 to all FHS Families regarding FHS UPDATES

I'm writing with updated information regarding the adjustment to our schedule beginning on 4/12/21.  Please click here to view the letter.  I wish you all a peaceful weekend.

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna

____________________________________

Sent 3/29/2021 to all FPS families from the Superintendent's Office regarding district wide health and safety reminders, travel advisory information, and information related to pool testing so far

Click HERE to read the letter from Dr. Ahern

___________________________________

Sent 3/26/2021 to all FHS Families regarding COVID positive test results at FHS:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining three covid positive cases within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

___________________________________

Sent 3/25 to All FHS Families regarding the return to in-person learning on April 12th:

FHS Community,

As I stated last week, I’m writing with an update to our return to in-person learning beginning on April 12th.  We have completed the analysis of the most recent survey results with our building’s available space while factoring in state and local standards for safety.  We have determined that we will be able to safely offer in-person learning 5 days a week to the students who opted for in person learning beginning on April 12th.  We will be sharing more details regarding our schedule and other expectations over the coming days. We appreciate your patience and are looking forward to returning more students to FHS!

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna

_______________________________

Sent 3/25 to families of Senior students regarding the Senior Assassin/Senior Elimination game:

Good Afternoon Class of 2021 FHS Families:

We wanted to bring to your attention something that has become an unofficial tradition at Franklin High School: the game known as Senior Assassin/Senior Elimination.  Historically, this has been a game organized by members of the senior class where students are assigned a classmate they are supposed to metaphorically “assassinate” / “eliminate” with water guns, nerf guns, and/or water balloons while “staying alive” themselves.  

This game is in no way affiliated with Franklin High School; however, in recent years, FHS/FPS has lost plausible deniability.

FHS opposes the continuation of this game as we have multiple concerns regarding the personal safety of our FHS students and the safety of other members of the Franklin community.  We have reason to believe this game has and could continue to: 

Involve car chases, hiding on rooftops, trespassing on private property, hunting one another after dark.

Negatively impact student attendance and classroom focus.

Negatively impact at places of employment, homes, and satellite FHS locations used for athletic events/practices.

We remind students and their families that any participation in the game on or around school grounds will result in disciplinary consequences.

We conclude by asking our students to refrain from playing this game due to the potential safety risks involved.  We recognize that this may have been a tradition for FHS students, but it is the belief of Franklin High School that the risks far outweigh the benefits.  

It is our hope that we will continue to work together as a school with staff, parents, and community to find safe ways for our students to bond with one another and celebrate their personal and collective achievements as we head toward graduation on June 4th.

Sincerely,

FHS Administration

_______________________________________

Sent 3/24/3032 to all FHS Familis regarding COVID positive test results at FHS:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining a covid positive case within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

_______________________________________

Sent 3/22/2021 to all FHS Families regarding COVID positive test results at FHS:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining four covid positive cases within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

______________________________________

Sent 3/22/2021 to families of 10th and 11th graders regarding MCAS dates in May:

MCAS Letter to 10th grade families:

March 22, 2021

Dear Parent/Guardian of a Grade 10 Student,

As you may have heard, the Department of Secondary Education is planning an MCAS administration for all 10th grade students in May.  

​The test dates for sophomores are May 11-12 (ELA) and  May 13-14 (Math).  Testing is required to be done in person; there is no digital test option for our remote students.

Additional retest opportunities will be provided in the students’ junior and senior year if a passing score is not met. It is important to note that meeting the Competency Determination (passing score in ELA and math) is a ​requirement for graduating from high school ​and ​earning a diploma​. This testing may also be used to determine whether a student qualifies for the Adams and Koplik scholarships. 

We are providing this initial information to keep you as up-to-date and as informed as possible.  We will continue to administer statewide tests following all health and safety requirements, particularly around physical distancing.

Should you have any questions regarding MCAS, please contact your child’s guidance counselor. 

Sincerely, 

Josh Hanna, Principal

_______________________________________________________________________

MCAS Letter to 11th grade families:

March 22, 2021

Dear Parent/Guardian of Grade 11 Student,

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is planning to offer ​MCAS testing for juniors in ELA and Mathematics in May​. Since students in the class of 2022 did not have the opportunity to test last spring due to statewide school closures, all juniors will be required to take these tests before graduation, as passing the MCAS is still a state graduation requirement.

All juniors will be scheduled to take both the ELA and Math exams in May. ​

The test dates for juniors are May 3-4  (ELA) and  May 6-7 (Math).  Testing is required to be done in person; there is no digital test option for our remote students.

Additional retest opportunities will be provided in the students’ senior year if Competency Determination (CD) requirement is not met. It is important to note that meeting the Competency Determination is a ​requirement for graduating from high school ​and ​earning a diploma​. This testing may also be used to determine whether a student qualifies for the Adams and Koplik scholarships. It is most beneficial to maximize the number of opportunities a student has at successfully meeting the CD requirements.

We are providing this initial information to keep you as up-to-date and as informed as possible.  We will continue to administer statewide tests following all health and safety requirements, particularly around physical distancing.  Please note, DESE will not be providing an option for remote testing.  Therefore, it is the expectation that our fully remote students be present in the building to test on the dates outlined above.   

Should you have any questions regarding MCAS, please contact your child’s guidance counselor. 

Sincerely, 

Josh Hanna, Principal

___________________________________

Sent 3/18/2021 to all FHS Senior families regarding refunds for school lunch balances over $10.00

Dear Parent/Guardian of a Franklin High School Senior,

Recently, the Franklin School Committee voted to approve refunds of meal balances over $10.00 for FHS Seniors due to the continued waiver from the USDA allowing Franklin to serve free meals through the end of the school year.  For those seniors with younger siblings in the district, we will automatically transfer any balance to a younger sibling. Adjustments can always be made to sibling accounts for families with multiple siblings. Food service balances for students in grades K-11 will continue to carry forward into next year, per School Committee policy.

We also continue to receive requests to make donations to support our food service program; should you wish to make an optional donation to the School Lunch Program in order to pay outstanding lunch balances on behalf of a student experiencing financial hardship, you may do so online at this link. 

You may also donate your student’s remaining balance by completing this quick form

We will begin processing refunds in the next several weeks and thank you in advance for your patience.  Should you have any questions or require assistance, you may contact Suzanne Sherrin at sherrins@franklinps.net

Sincerely,

Franklin High School

______________________________________________

Sent 3/17/2021 to all FHS families regarding Covid positive test results at FHS:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining a covid positive case within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

______________________________________________

Sent 3/17/2021 to 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students and their families regarding an update about parking on FHS campus:

FHS Families of 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students, 

Decisions about student parking at FHS will be made after a reopening plan is finalized.

Parking passes will be distributed to students depending on the number of students we expect in person each day, the number of requests for spots, and the number of parking spots available in our lots.

Seniors will be given priority, followed by juniors, and then sophomores.  

More information will be forthcoming within the next few weeks. Thank you for your understanding. 

Maria Weber

Assistant Principal

______________________________________

Sent 3/17/2021 to all Juniors and their families regarding a Class of 2022 virtual meeting to be held for students on March 24th at 9AM:

Hi Class of 2022,

We hope all is well!

The Class of 2022 Class Advisors and Officers will be hosting a virtual class meeting for students on Wednesday, March 24th at 9:00 AM with updates of what the Class Officers and Advisors have been working on.

Please mark your calendars accordingly.

Please use this >> link to attend the meeting. 

Sincerely,

Abby Leone-Murphy and Alyssa Taranto

Class of 2022 Advisors

__________________________________________

Sent 3/17/2021 to all FHS Families regarging a survey to take to confirm REMOTE or InPerson learning for your student beginning April 12th:

FHS Families,

Sending a reminder to complete this survey by 5:00 pm tonight.  This data is critical for our planning for return to full in person learning to begin on April 12th.  As always don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

__________________________________________

Sent 3/12/2021 from Dr. Ahern to all FPS families regarding a return to In Person learning:

Dear Franklin Families,

This week marks the year anniversary of our school closure and pandemic response and it is not lost on me. I want to begin this very important informational e-mail acknowledging the collective efforts across Franklin. First, I am incredibly proud of the efforts of each administrator and educator in the Franklin school system and all of our staff. Our employees are serving students in ways we never could have imagined; we’ve learned along the way and there has been much adaptation and growth. I also want to recognize your efforts and resilience as Franklin families. Without a doubt, school closure, remote learning, and hybrid instruction has been very difficult on family life. Community organizations deserve our acknowledgement as they have mobilized to support families including the YMCA, Adirondack Club, and the Franklin Food Pantry, among others. Throughout the entire pandemic, there has been strong collaboration between my office and that of the Town Administrator. I feel so fortunate to be the Superintendent in a town with excellent collaboration and I am grateful for the support from the Health, Technology, Facilities, DPW, Fire, Police and other town departments. I hope everyone in the Franklin community takes a moment to reflect on the year and pat yourselves on the back for the collective effort. We are not out of the woods yet, and continued diligence is important. But there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I outlined a framework for a return to in person school for grades K-5 (date: Monday, April 5) and grades 6-12 (target date: Monday, April 12) at the recent School Committee meeting. The presentation can be found on our reopening site: https://sites.google.com/franklinps.net/returntoschoolplan/next-steps

In summary:

Hybrid instruction is being phased out in Districts across the state.

Students in grades K-5 will begin full and in person instruction five days a week on April 5.

Our target date for students in grades 6-12 to begin full and in person instruction five days a week is April 12.

The Wednesday schedule is still being worked out but will no longer be fully remote.

Parents/guardians will continue to have a remote learning option (see below for level-based information).

Students will be in school at distances between 3-6 feet, which will depend on classroom square footage and class size. There will be distancing of 6 feet for faculty and staff whenever possible.

Distancing during lunch will be 6 feet. 

All health and safety practices will be in place: mask wearing, hand hygiene, symptom screening, ventilation strategies, and daily disinfecting/cleaning. We are also continuing our pool testing pilot; new participants are still welcome to sign up. Please inquire with school buildings on how to do this.

Physical distancing restrictions have been lifted on buses, expanding bus ridership capacity. All riders must be masked, hand sanitization will be in place, and windows will be open at least two inches.

Attendance requirements will be strengthened and students will be required to be in school for in person learning. More information will be coming soon.

Instruction will be provided for students needing to quarantine. We anticipate larger numbers of close contacts being identified as the standard for close contacts will continue to be based on 6 feet of distance. Cases within the community are trending downwards, however.

K-5 Families

We are not going to survey K-5 families. If your child is in the hybrid learning model and you would like to request Virtual Learning Academy for remote only instruction, please submit a request in writing to your child’s school principal. If your child is in the Virtual Learning Academy and you would like to request a seat for in school learning, please submit your request in writing to the VLA administrator (kaufmane@franklinps.net). Seats in both our current classes and the VLA are limited. Large numbers of requests in either direction may be difficult to accommodate and may require an adjustment of teachers. The deadline to submit a request is 5 PM on Monday, March 15.

Grades 6-12 Families

The middle schools principals are currently collaborating on a survey and will send it to families next week. This survey will ask for a commitment to in person instruction or remote only instruction for the remainder of the school year.

High School Families

At this time, the high school is surveying families about commitments to in person instruction or remote only instruction for the remainder of the school year.  Returning full and in person with our current schedule is dependent on a percentage of FHS students remaining remote. We appreciate you taking another survey under a new model. Please complete this survey by Wednesday, March 17 by 5 PM. Mr. Hanna will be holding a Q and A session on Monday, March 15 at the PCC meeting 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm. 

At this time, we are holding our plans to collapse the 3 cohorts to 2 so that we can focus on a full and in person return in April.

If you have questions about District policies/practices about reopening, please email our reopening email account:  reopening@franklinps.net  There will be a virtual “coffee” with the Superintendent at 6 PM on Wednesday, March 17 to answer questions about the overall framework. A link will be sent next week.

Building based specifics are best addressed by the school administration. They will continue to communicate with you through their regular avenues such as their newsletters and personal communications with you.

To sign up for busing, please visit our website: https://www.franklinps.net/district/transportation

More information will be forthcoming about options for childcare through our Solutions program.

Sincerely,  

Sara Ahern, Superintendent of Schools

Franklin Public Schools

________________________________________

Sent 3/10/2021 regarding Covid Positive Test results at FHS:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining a covid positive case within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

________________________________________

Sent 3/8/2021 regarding Covid Positive Test results at FHS:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining a Covid positive case within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

________________________________________

Sent 3/8/2021 regarding Pool Testing:

FHS Families,

Today was our first day of Covid-19 pool testing.  We tested over 60 staff and students.  Having worked through and solved a few logistical challenges we wanted to re-share how to sign up for future testing.  

Link to sign up: https://app.beacontesting.com/profile/new?code=JVPZZF

Organizational code:YNQQQI  (ALL CAPS)

When you look at your child's profile, if it does not say FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL, they are not registered with us. 

Follow these next steps:

- Click your child's name

- Click edit profile

At the bottom of the page, you will see a toggle for "I HAVE AN ORGANIZATIONAL CODE"

Hit that button and add in the organizational code: YNQQQI (ALL CAPS)

To learn more about our COVID-19 Testing Program, visit the Franklin Public Schools website: https://sites.google.com/franklinps.net/returntoschoolplan/next-steps

Please reach out to Asst. Principal Cathy Klien with any questions. 

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

________________________________________

Sent 3/6/2021 from Principal Hanna regarding quesitons parent have about the potential to return to full in person learning:

FHS Families,

I can imagine that many questions have been asked since the updated news from FPS regarding a full in person return to school.  I will be following up with more detailed next steps after the Tuesday night school committee meeting.  In the meantime please feel free to reach out with any questions and I will do my best to answer them in a timely fashion.  Thanks for your patience.

Sincerely,

Josh Hanna

_____________________________________

Sent 3/5/2021 regarding COVID positive test result at FHS:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining a covid positive case within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

____________________________________

Sent 3/5/2021 Sent from the Superintendent's Office regarding a return to full in-person learning (REVISED LETTER)

REVISED

Dear Franklin Families,

We hope you are doing well this afternoon.

As you know, we have been exploring full and in-person learning at the various levels throughout the district and thank you for your contributions to our efforts in completing several surveys recently. There is much support among FPS families for in-person learning. Please be assured that we are always taking all health and safety aspects of COVID-19 mitigation into great consideration.

As mentioned in last Sunday’s letter, I will be presenting a framework for full and in-person learning to the School Committee at their March 9 Regular School Committee meeting.  This will also be a meeting about the recommended budget for FY 22. We encourage you to attend the meeting (limit of 500 via Zoom) or watch it live on TV.

Working collaboratively with the FEA, we want to let you know that right now the plan would be to have K-5 return Monday, April 5, and Middle and High School return Monday, April 12. Details will be presented Tuesday at the School Committee meeting as a “Discussion Only” agenda item.  

Please note that remote learning will remain for the remainder of the school year.

We know there will be questions and concerns. The School Committee meeting is a regularly scheduled business meeting and will not be an open forum for families’ Q and A. We will be sure to provide opportunities for families to learn more at a future date.

Have a nice weekend,

Sara Ahern

Superintendent of Schools

_______________________________________

Sent 3/5/2021 from the Superintendent's Office regarding a return to full in-person learning: 

Dear Franklin Families,

We hope you are doing well this afternoon.

As you know, we have been exploring full and in-person learning at the various levels throughout the district and thank you for your contributions to our efforts in completing several surveys recently. There is much support among FPS families for in-person learning. Please be assured that we are always taking all health and safety aspects of COVID-19 mitigation into great consideration.

As mentioned in last Sunday’s letter, I will be presenting a framework for full and in-person learning to the School Committee at their March 9 Regular School Committee meeting.  This will also be a meeting about the recommended budget for FY 22. We encourage you to attend the meeting (limit of 500 via Zoom) or watch it live on TV.

Working collaboratively with the FEA, we want to let you know that right now the plan would be to have K-5 return Monday, April 5, and Middle and High School return Monday, April 12. Details will be presented Tuesday at the School Committee meeting as a “Discussion Only” agenda item. 

We know there will be questions and concerns. The School Committee meeting is a regularly scheduled business meeting and will not be an open forum for families’ Q and A. We will be sure to provide opportunities for families to learn more at a future date.

Have a nice weekend,

Sara Ahern

Superintendent of Schools

_______________________________________

Sent 3/4/2021 regarding COVID positive test results at FHS:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining a covid positive case within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

_______________________________________

Sent 3/4 to all FHS students who will be taking AP Exams in May, regarding a change in the exam schedule:

Good afternoon AP Students and Families, 

Updated information about 2021 AP Exams was posted by the College Board on February 4th. As you may already know, the College Board is providing schools with additional flexibility and options during this unique year and is offering 3 administration windows for all AP courses, with 25 AP courses having digital, at-home testing options.

You may also be aware that FHS is required to administer the MCAS to all 10th and 11th graders during the month of May.  In an effort to reduce the number of students having conflicts with AP and MCAS testing, and to conclude testing for seniors before graduation, FHS will be administering AP exams during the 2nd testing window only,  with the exception of French Language, which will be during the 1st administration (due to space/equipment restrictions). 

Please see the new AP Exam schedule >> Here  

Please note that the testing dates/times within each testing window are set by the College Board and can not be changed.  

You will notice that many exams will be taken digitally, at home.  Students will not have the option to take a digital exam in school.  The only exams being taken on paper, in school are ones that do not offer a digital exam until mid June, after our seniors have graduated. 

All tests (paper and digital) will be full-length, 3+ hour exams. This is not a change in information this year, but they will be significantly different from 2020’s digital AP exams (which were 45 minutes long). If taking an exam digitally, this would require a student to log in approximately 30 minutes prior to the start of the exam. It is important to ensure a distraction-free testing environment for the entirety of the 3+ hour exam.

More information about the digital exams will be forthcoming. 

Next steps: 

1. If you have decided NOT to take your AP exams, you must communicate with Mrs. McVay (mcvayh@franklinps.net) ASAP. You will receive a refund later this spring for any tests that you don't take. 

2.  There are a few students who have two AP exams at the same time.  Mrs. McVay will be communicating with you to schedule a make-up exam for one of these exams.  

3.  Continue to check your emails for AP updates.  

We appreciate your flexibility, understanding and patience with us as we adapt and adhere to the new AP expectations in an ever changing environment.

Please be sure to make note of the new AP exam dates 

Please reach out with any questions. 

Sincerely, 

Josh Hanna and Heather McVay

_______________________________________

Sent 3/2/2021 Regarding a reminder to complete the survey indicating Remote or Hybrid for your student for the duration of the school year with (2) cohorts:

Dear FHS Parents/Guardians,

This is a reminder that the survey we sent you regarding number of cohorts moving from 3 to 2, and selecting a mode of learning for your student, will close at 5 PM today.

Thus far, only 1,100 families have completed the survey for their student(s). We have 1735 students, so we are missing many responses.

The survey will close at 5 PM today

If you have not already done so, please complete the survey letting the FHS Administration know whether your student will attend school remotely or will become part of the 2 new cohorts moving forward until the end of the school year.  Further information about the new cohorts and a timetable for the change will be forthcoming.

You will need to complete a separate survey for each of your Franklin High School students.

The decision you commit to on this survey will be binding for the duration of the school year (unless we move back to a full in-person mode before the end of the school year)

Access the survey HERE

Please note, if you do not complete this survey for your FHS student(s), your student(s) will continue and finish the school year in the current model (Hybrid or Remote) listed in their Aspen account.

Thank you,

FHS Administration 

_________________________________________

Sent 3/1/2021 to all FHS Families regarding Covid Positive test results at FHS:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining two covid positive cases within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

_________________________________________

Sent 3/1/2021 to all FHS families as a reminder to complete the survey on selecting Remote or Hybrid for the remainder of the school year (we are transitioning to 2 cohorts instead of 3)

FHS Parents/Guardians,

If you have not already done so, please complete this >> very brief survey letting the FHS Administration know what your student plans to do when the FHS cohorts are reconfigured into 2 groups, down from the original 3 groups.

***The survey will close at 5 PM tomorrow, Tuesday, March 2nd.***

You will need to complete a separate survey for each of your Franklin High School students.

The decision you commit to on this survey will be binding for the duration of the school year. 

Thank you,

FHS Administration 

______________________________

Sent 3/1/2021 to all seniors and their families regarding the Local Scholarships listing and application:

Good afternoon FHS Senior Families,

Thanks to the amazing generosity of local families and businesses, Franklin High School is able to award scholarships for post-secondary education to graduating seniors.  

Information on this year's local scholarships can be found HERE.

Please read the instructions on the packet/application very carefully.  

The application deadline for all FHS Local Scholarships is Friday, March 19th (no exceptions).    

As always, please reach out to your guidance counselor with any questions.  

Thank you, 

FHS Guidance

______________________________

Sent 2/28/2021 to all FHS Families from the Superintendent's Office regarding an Instructional Mode update and survey for parents to complete by March 2nd:

Click to view a letter from Superintendent Sara Ahern.

______________________________

Sent 2/26/2021 to all FPS Families-most recent FPS Newsletter:

Good Afternoon

Please click HERE to see the most recent FPS Newsletter.

Thank you,

Franklin Public Schools

______________________________

Sent 2/25/2021 to all FHS Families regarding COVID positive test results at FHS:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining twoCOVID positive cases within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

______________________________

Sent 2/24/2021 to all Seniors and their families regarding the Seal of Biliteracy:

Senior Panther Families,

Click here to view information regarding an opportunity for your Franklin High School Senior to earn the Seal of Biliteracy.  Scroll down to view the letter in your home language.

Laura Evans
Director of World Languages
Franklin Public Schools
508-613-1620
evansl@franklinps.net

____________________________________

Sent 2/24/2021 to all FHS Families regarding a COVID positive test result at FHS:

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining one covid positive case within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

____________________________________

Sent 2/23/2021 to all 9th, 10th, and 11th grade families regarding course requests for next school year: 

Upcoming Course Request process

During the month of March, all students in grades 9-11 will be requesting courses for next year.  This presents an excellent time to talk with your children about their interests, abilities, and future aspirations.  Encourage them to consider the most beneficial selection of courses in light of their future plans.  It is important that they create a schedule that ensures their eligibility for the type of post-secondary path they seek, allows them to explore different academic and elective interests, and keeps in mind the necessity of maintaining a balance in their lives.  

The Program of Studies is a resource that describes all courses at FHS, as well as a recommended course of study, prerequisites, graduation requirements, etc. We would encourage students and families to look through this before requesting courses for next year.

Teachers are currently making recommendations for students through ASPEN and will be having conversations with them about these recommendations.

Students and parents will be able to view recommendations in ASPEN on March 1st.  

Students will receive detailed instructions, including a video on how to request courses in ASPEN.  Each grade level will have a window of opportunity to complete this task - see timeline below.

                    March 1-7             Class of 2024

                    March 8-14           Class of 2023

                    March 15-21         Class of 2022

At the close of each course request window, guidance counselors will be reviewing student selections and reaching out to students for whom they have questions or concerns. Further, at the close of the schedule request window for each grade, students will no longer be able to adjust their requests independently and would need to email their guidance counselor to do so. Please be sure to complete the course request process during the time allotted. Please also note that students are not selecting seats in classes at this time. They are simply indicating their desire to take a particular course, thus upperclassmen are in no way disadvantaged by selecting their courses later than those in earlier grades.

Heather McVay

Director of Guidance

____________________________________________

Sent 2/22/2021 to all FHS Families regarding COVID positive test results at FHS

FHS Families,

Please find this letter outlining seven covid positive cases within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

_____________________________________________

Sent 2/22/2021 to all FHS Families regarding the current schedule and plans for the near future

FHS Families,

Please find this letter detailing answers to questions that we have received regarding the current FHS schedule.  We look forward to continuing to adjust around the complexities of this school year.  

Sincerely,

Sara Ahern and Josh Hanna

_____________________________________________

Sent 2/19/21 to all FPS families from the Superintendent regarding Physical Distancing Survey and Travel

Dear Franklin Families,

We are writing today with a few reminders.

As noted in a 2/10/21 communication, the Franklin Public Schools is in the process of developing a return to school plan for full and in-person instruction. It is premature to discuss a timeline, as we are just in the beginning phases of the pool testing pilot; however, we are exploring options that return students to school this spring. 

As previously communicated, being full and in person is not feasible at 6 feet of social distancing. In order to bring more students into the school setting, we will need to explore utilizing social distancing with students at less than 6 feet of distance, with all appropriate COVID mitigation strategies in place.

In order to assist our planning, we are surveying families across the district.  If you have not already completed it, please access the survey here, and complete it by Monday, February 22, 2021.

Lastly, information about pool testing has been posted to our Reopening Webpage and will continue to be updated.  FAQs will be coming soon.

Consent forms and registration information about pool testing has been sent by your child's school.

Additionally, we wish to remind you about travel expectations. If your family traveled over February break, we ask that you have your child tested (regardless of age) upon your return.  At this time, a PCR test is required by the MA travel order.

Enjoy the rest of your February break!

Franklin Public Schools

____________________________________

Sent 2/18/2021 regarding School and District Report cards from DESE

Dear Families:

Every year, each public school and school district in Massachusetts receives a report card. Just as your child’s report card shows how they are doing in different subjects, the district and school report cards are designed to show families how our district and each school is doing in different areas. Click HERE for our district and school report cards. Please note that there are not MCAS results from last spring for grades 3-8 due to the Coronavirus closure. 

The report card includes multiple measures of a district and individual school performance – more than just MCAS scores. It represents another way of looking at district and school performance, by providing information on student achievement, teacher qualifications, student learning opportunities, and more.  

Report cards are designed to be useful tools for everyone connected to our school community. Families can use the information to have meaningful conversations with us about what the district and a particular school are doing well and where there is room for improvement. Community and education leaders can use the information to better understand how to support students and our entire school community. We encourage you to become involved in helping us improve the Franklin Public Schools. We see families as critical partners in the success of our students, and we are grateful for your continued support.

Finally, if your child attends a school that receives federal Title I funds (Parmenter and Davis Thayer only), you also have the right to request the following information about the qualifications of your child’s classroom teachers:

Whether your child’s teacher is licensed in the grade levels and subject areas they teach,
Whether your child’s teacher is teaching under an emergency license or waiver,
The college degree and major of your child’s teacher, and
Whether your child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.
If you have questions about our district and school report cards, would like to become involved in school improvement activities, or would like to request information about the qualifications of your child’s classroom teacher, please contact the principal of your child’s school.

Sincerely,

Dr. Sara Ahern

Superintendent of Schools

_____________________________________

Sent 2/13/2021- Regarding Signing up for FHS’s new COVID-19 Testing Program 

We have an exciting opportunity to help with our plans to return more students to school while keeping our learning environment as safe as possible.  When you get a moment please read this letter that outlines how to register your student / students for our new Covid-19 Pool Testing Program.  As always let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Josh Hanna

___________________________________

Sent 2/12/2021 to all FPS Families regarding reopening after February Break

Click Here to read the letter from the Superintendent.

___________________________________

Sent 2/10/2021 to all PFS families from the Superintendent regarding a timeline for plans to bring back full in person learning

Good Afternoon

Please see this letter from the Superintendent.

Updated Info on Pooled testing

Thank you,

Franklin Public Schools

_________________________________________

Sent 2/10/2021 to 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students and families regarding an additional day to have school photos taken: 2/17

Hello Panther Students and Families,

We've added an additional School Picture Day on February 17th from 8:30-12:30PM in the Franklin High School Library for those students in grades 9,10, and 11 who were unable to attend previously.  Kindly use this link to sign up for a time slot.

Feel free to reach out to Jennifer Santosuosso (santosuossoj@franklinps.net) with any questions.

Sincerely,

FHS Administration

_____________________________________

Sent 2/9/2021 from the Superintendent to all FPS families regarding today's expected snow storm:

Dear Franklin Community,

The weather forecast is calling for light snow to begin this morning with heavier snow showers developing in the afternoon making dismissal difficult.

Therefore, we will hold school (both in-person/hybrid and remote) today, Tuesday, February 9, on a half day schedule. Schools will be dismissed as follows:

ECDC: 12:15 PM

Elementary Schools: 11:45 AM

Middle Schools:10:45 AM (10:50 AM at HMMS)

High Schools: 10:55 AM

Snow day decisions never please everyone. The rationale for a half day involves preserving in person learning wherever possible, as we know that this face to face time is of great value to our students. Throughout this winter season, we are keeping track of the impact of these decisions on our different cohorts and we will make adjustments, if we are able.

As always on snowy days, parents/guardians may exercise their discretion to keep their child home if they feel it is unsafe.

Stay safe and warm.

Kind regards,
Sara Ahern

______________________________

Sent 2/8/2021 from the Superintendent to all FPS families regarding the impending snow storm:

Dear Franklin Community,

We are watching the weather forecast carefully as inclement weather is expected for tomorrow, Tuesday, February 9, 2021. As we know, storms can be unpredictable.

A final decision for tomorrow will be made in the early morning hours, between 5 and 5:30 AM. At this time, we are writing to alert you of the possibility of a half-day schedule tomorrow given the anticipated timeline of accumulating snow. This message is being shared with you in advance so that you can make necessary childcare arrangements.  Dismissals on a half day schedule are as follows: 

ECDC: 12:15 PM

Elementary Schools: 11:45 AM

Middle Schools:10:45 AM (10:50 AM at HMMS)

High School: 10:55 AM

We know that in person learning time is valued by your children and you as parents/guardians. We are keeping track of in person learning time and will aim to adjust the schedule, if necessary, for balance between cohorts.

Notifications go out via email, text, phone call, social media, our website, and the news stations.

Sincerely, 

Franklin Public Schools

________________________________________

Sent 2/8/2021 to all FHS Families regarding a Covid Positive test result at FHS: 

FHS Community,

Please find this letter outlining one covid positive case within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

____________________________________

Sent 2/8/2021 to Seniors and their Families regarding an extension of the deadline to order caps and gowns for graduation:

Good morning Parents/Guardians of the Class of 2021,

If you have not ordered a CAP & GOWN for your senior, we have extended the deadline to Friday, February 12th. 

Please click on the Video below to learn the order details and place your order.

https://view.vidreach.io/Q/Yt5A60Q0

Your cap and gown is custom made for YOU. It is very important that you order your cap and gown now and ON TIME!   By ordering now, we can be sure that your cap and gown is delivered in plenty of time for graduation! 

Sincerely,

Jostens

QUESTIONS? Please Contact:

FHS Senior Class Advisors:

Jenna Calcagno

Shannon Picillo

______________________________________

Sent 2/4/2021 to all FHS Families regarding a COVID positive test result at FHS:

FHS Community,

Please find this letter outlining one covid positive case within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

_______________________________________

Sent 2/4/2021 to Senior families regarding Updates to Senior end of the year activites:

Dear Class of 2021 parents/guardians,

Please read this message regarding this year's senior class events. 

This information was presented to all seniors today.  Thank you for your attention to this.

Senior Class Advisors

Ms. Calcagno & Ms. Picillo

________________________________

Sent 2/4/2021 to Senior families regarding the last week to place a parent shout-out in the yearbook:

Hello Families of the Class of 2021

There is only 1 week left to place a parent shout out in the 2021 yearbook! This is the perfect opportunity to include pictures from kindergarten to senior year. Ad sales close on February 11, 2021 so make sure you don't miss out. To place your ad and find out more, check out our info sheet. 

Questions can be emailed to Yearbook@franklinps.net

_______________________________

Sent 2/4/2021 to 9th, 10th. and 11th grade families regarding an additional day added for school pictures:

Good afternoon, Panther Students & Families!

For those students who were unable to attend Picture Day on January 30th and cannot attend on February 6th, we've added a rain date. 

Students can now sign up to have their picture taken on Wednesday, February 10th from 8:30-3:30 PM in the high school library.  

As a reminder, students whose pictures are not taken during Picture Day will not be included in the yearbook.  We're unable to accept individual photo submissions or use photos taken by LifeTouch in previous years.  No purchase is necessary for photos to be taken.

Please reach out to Mrs. Santosuosso (santosuossoj@franklinps.net) with any questions.

Thank you, 

FHS Administration

____________________________________

Sent 2/2/2021 to all FPS Families from the Superintendent's Office regarding a Snow Day on 2/2/2021:

Dear Franklin Community,

Due to the lingering effects from the snow storm, Franklin Public Schools will be closed on February 2, 2021 for a snow day. The day will be made up at the end of the school year.

School offices will be closed. FPS Central Office will open on a delayed schedule at 10 AM. 

Thank you and stay safe and warm.

Franklin Public Schools

___________________________________

Sent 2/1/2021 to all FPS Families from the Superintendent's Office regarding an inclement weather update for tomorrow (Tuesday, 2/2/2021)

Dear Franklin Community,

We are monitoring the weather forecast carefully and we have been in touch with the Department of Public Works for the Town of Franklin. At this time, the storm is still occurring and is forecast to snow for a few more hours, before turning to mixed precipitation,and then rain. This rain/snow line and the timing of its transition will be very important in determining the overall amount of snow and impact to our community.

It is early to tell the exact impact of the storm. We will monitor the weather forecast overnight into the early morning hours and provide a decision on tomorrow around 5:30 AM. We will inform you first thing in the morning about the plan for tomorrow through our multiple avenues including e-mail, text, our website, phone calls, social media, and news outlets.

Kindly,

Franklin Public Schools

______________________________________

Sent 2/1/2021 to all FHS Families regarding Covid positive test results at FHS:

FHS Community,

Please find this letter outlining four covid positive cases within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

_______________________________________

Sent 1/31/2021 to all FHS families-a bell schedule for tomorrow's half day of school (due to impending snow storm)

All,

Here is our bell schedule for tomorrow (Monday, 2/1/2021).  Let me know if you have any questions.

Mr. Hanna

½ Day Bell Schedule:

7:35 – 8:15       1st Period (no homeroom period)

8:20 – 8:55       2nd Period

9:00 – 9:35        3rd Period

9:40 – 10:15       4th Period

10:20 – 10:55     5th Period   

_______________________________________

Sent 1/31/2021 to all FPS families regarding a half day of school on Monday to prepare for the snowstorm:

Dear Franklin community,

The weather forecast is calling for a significant snow storm to move into our area through the day tomorrow and developing into heavy snow in the afternoon hours, and lingering into Tuesday where mixed precipitation and big wind gusts are possible. 

Therefore, we will hold school (both in-person/hybrid and remote) tomorrow, Monday, February 1, on a half-day schedule. Schools will be dismissed as follows:

ECDC: 12:15 PM

Elementary Schools: 11:45 AM

Middle Schools:10:45 AM (10:50 AM at HMMS)

High School: 10:55 AM

Although the actual impact of the storm could change, at this time, we are anticipating that the weather event will impact Tuesday. We are planning for the possibility that Tuesday, February 2, will be a traditional snow day. 

There were many strong feelings conveyed from members of the community with the call to have a remote learning day back in December and we had communicated in November that we would monitor our approach and make adjustments, as necessary. We also know that there are strong feelings among community members who feel that a remote learning day would be better for continuity in instruction. Planning for a remote day due to snow is more involved and complicated than the typical remote Wednesday, which is something we learned from December. As school will be abbreviated tomorrow, planning for a remote day on Tuesday will be more difficult. Additionally, having a snow day will result in the school day needing to be made up at the end of the year. This could yield a day with better quality instruction should health metrics related to the virus continue to improve this spring.

Snow day decisions never please everyone, but I hope that sharing this rationale provides you with a better understanding for our approach.

I will continue to keep the community apprised of a final decision for Tuesday, as winter weather can be unpredictable and the storm may not be as bad as forecasted.  For now, we will have a half-day of school on Monday and the next update will come by Monday evening. Updates will come in the form of e-mails, text messages, phone calls, posts on our Websites, posts to news outlets (TV and radio), and our Twitter and Facebook social media pages.

Kind regards,
Sara Ahern

Superintendent of Schools

_________________________________________

Sent 1/30/2021 to all Class of 2023 Families regarding the online store for this class:

Dear Class of 2023 Families,

We are excited to announce that we have opened an online store for some FHS Class of 2023 merchandise!

You can click here to access the store, or you can visit our Twitter and Instagram pages @2023_fhs. The Class of 2023 benefits from all sales, so every purchase helps. We appreciate your support during these times, as we try to raise money for prom and other future class events.

Thank you and stay safe!

Your Class of 2023 Officers

_________________________________________

Sent 1/29/2021 to all FHS Families regarding Covid Positive test results at FHS

FHS Community,

Please find this letter outlining two covid positive cases within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

_________________________________________

Sent 1/27/2021 to all 9th, 10th, and 11th grade families as a reminder of picture days on 1/30 and 2/6:

Hi Panther 9th, 10th, and 11th grade Students & Families,

As a reminder, Picture Day is taking place on Saturday, January 30th & Saturday, February 6th this year.  Please be sure to sign up using this link.  As a reminder, students who do not get their picture taken will not be included in the school's yearbook.  Prior student pictures or individually submitted pictures will not be used or accepted.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Jennifer Santosuosso at santosuossoj@franklinps.net or (508)-613-1417.

Thank you,

Jennifer Santosuosso, Assistant Principal

Franklin High School

___________________________________

Sent 1/26/2021 to all FHS Families regarding Covid Positive test results at FHS: 

FHS Community,

Please find this letter outlining two covid positive cases within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

___________________________________

Sent 1/25/2021 to all Senior Families regarding caps and gowns for graduation

Hello families of 2021 graduates,

We have been working closely with Mr. Hanna and the FHS administration to plan Graduation this year.  The planning process is still in the works, but we wanted to communicate some general details about the event. We are planning an outdoor graduation ceremony at FHS on Friday, June 4th 2021 at 5:00 pm. (Rain date: Saturday, June 5th).  

Please click the video below about ordering caps and gowns and place your order via this link.  Orders must be placed by February 5th, 2021. 

Video: https://view.vidreach.io/Q/RwaLYcqe

There is a link to place your order right below the video. 

Order your Cap & Gown by FEBRUARY 5th to be sure your Graduation Regalia is delivered with your class.  LATE FEES will be applied after the deadline! 

We understand that there are a lot of questions about Prom and Graduation. We will be sending an email home with updates regarding prom before February vacation. We will continue to communicate updates regarding graduation. 

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Best, 

Shannon Picillo and Jenna Calcagno Class of 2021 Advisors

_______________________________________

Sent 1/23 to all FPS Families regarding Superintendent's Updates

Dear Franklin Community:

Please see this letter from the Superintendent.

Franklin Public Schools

_______________________________________

Sent 1/22/21 to all FHS families regarding Covid Positive test results at FHS:

FHS Community,

Please find this letter outlining two covid positive cases within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

_______________________________________

Sent 1/21/2021 to all FHS families regarding some new updates from Principal Hanna:

FHS Community,

I hope the beginning of the new year has treated you well.  Please click this link to view a video created to share some personal thoughts of mine.  I’ve so missed getting to know you all on a more personal level throughout this school year.  In the past we would have shared many positive experiences during the past few months, unfortunately those moments have been few and far between.  As stated in the video, I believe brighter days are ahead.

Below is a reminder and some new information:

As a reminder, Tuesday January 26th FHS will be hosting a PSAT test session for registered members of the class of 2022.  This will require our school to adjust it’s hybrid schedule.  Cohort C students not registered for the PSAT will be learning from home / remotely that day. 

Here is a link to the FHS Hybrid Semester 2 Schedule.

Here is a link to the Student Survey to help FHS with making adjustments during the 2nd semester.

As always don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Go Panthers!

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna

_______________________________________

Sent 1/20/2021 to all FHS Families regarding a Covid positive test result at FHS:

FHS Community,

Please find this letter outlining one covid positive case within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

________________________________________

Sent 1/19/2021 to all FHS 9th,10th, and 11th grade Families regarding School Picture Days:

Hello FHS Panther Families,

School Picture Days for 9th, 10th, and 11th graders will take place on Saturday, January 30th, and Saturday, February 6th from 8:30-3:30PM in the Franklin High School gymnasium.  Students who wish to be included in the school's yearbook must sign up for a time slot to have their picture taken.

Please click this link for more information on the FHS School Picture days. You can select a time slot for your student on this site and if you wish to purchase pictures, you will be directed to the LifeTouch website to do so.

FHS Administration

_______________________________________

Sent 1/19/2021 to all FHS Families regarding Covid positive test results at FHS

FHS Community,

Please find this letter outlining two Covid positive cases within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

_________________________________________________

Sent 1/13/2021 to all FHS families regarding Covid positive test results at FHS:

FHS Community,

Please find this letter outlining two covid positive cases within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

_______________________________________________

Sent 1/12/2021 to all FHS families regarding the bell schedule for the remote learning half day of school on Weds. 1/13/2021:

Dear FHS Families, 

This is a reminder that tomorrow, Wednesday,1/13/2021, is a remote learning half day of school. Here is the schedule for tomorrow :

FHS Half Day Bell Schedule:
7:35 – 8:15 1st Period (no homeroom period)
8:20 – 8:55 2nd Period
9:00 – 9:35 3rd Period
9:40 – 10:15 4th Period
10:20 – 10:55 5th Period

______________________________________________

Sent 1/11/2021 to all FHS families regarding Covid positive test results at FHS:

FHS Community,

Please find this letter outlining six covid positive cases within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

______________________________________________

Sent 1/11/2021 to all FPS families regarding private music lessons from Lifelong Learning Institute:

Good Afternoon,

Lifelong Music Academy offers one-on-one virtual private music lessons for band and strings students. The extra instruction helps reinforce what students learn during the school day as well as improve skills and expand their musical repertoire. Please click here to view a flyer for more information.

Christopher Nayler, Director

508-553-4822

www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com

___________________________________________

Sent 1/8/2021 to all FHS Families regarding COVID Positive test results at FHS

FHS Community,

Please find this letter outlining three covid positive cases within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

__________________________________________

Sent 1/7/2021 to all FHS Families regarding COVID Positive test results at FHS

FHS Community,

Please find this letter outlining four covid positive cases within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

________________________________________

Sent 1/7/2021 to Senior families regarding Yearbook Ads

Dear FHS Senior Parents and Guardians,

Looking for a creative way to keep this year as normal as possible for your student?  Place a shout-out ad in the yearbook!

Yearbooks are treasured items that they will look back on and seeing your message will bring a smile as they remember your love and support during these important years.

Ads are being accepted through February 11, 2021, for full details on how to place an ad, please use the link below to access the information sheet.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NQ46RMH6pS8N1ofO2it6EHvAq4yrNFh-9ZDv...

Sincerely,

Alyssa Taranto

FHS Yearbook Advisor

____________________________________________

Sent 1/7/2021 to 9th and 10th grade families regarding FAA Information night: 

The FAA is a rigorous, 3-year interdisciplinary pathway offered at Franklin High School for grades 10, 11, and 12. Using multiple intelligence and interdisciplinary teaching models, students experience their academic courses (English, History, Science) with strong connections to architecture, design, music, theatre, visual arts, and video production.

The Franklin Arts Academy prepares a diverse community of aspiring scholars and artists to be successful in their college and professional careers and to be engaged members of our democratic society. The FAA operates as a focused learning community within the comprehensive school system of Franklin High School. The FAA offers both Honors and College Preparatory course levels. 

Entrance to the FAA for upcoming 10th and 11th graders  through an application and review process. To find out more, join us at our Info Night!

Info Night: Wednesday January 13th at 6:30pm

Franklin Arts Academy Virtual Info Night 1/13/21 at 6:30 PM

Zoom Meeting ID: 991 4100 5731

Passcode: FAAinfo 

Applications Due: February 12th to Guidance

New members will receive their acceptance letters mid March. 

Applications Available: Here or in our Application Google Classroom 

Class code: qlxf3ap

For More Information or Questions Please Reach Out To:

Alyssa Taranto | TarantoA@FranklinPS.net

Helen Hoffenberg |  HoffenbergH@FranklinPS.net

____________________________________________

Sent 1/6/2021 to all FPS Families regarding the Washington Election certification

Click here to view Dr. Ahern's letter.

____________________________________________

Sent 1/6/2021 to all FHS Families regarding a COVID positive test result at FHS:

FHS Community,

Please find this letter outlining a covid positive case within the FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule.  

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

_______________________________________________

Sent 1/4/2021 to all FPS Families regarding a Reopening Update from the Superintendent: 

Good Afternoon

Please see this letter re: January 4th Reopening Update.

Thank you,

Franklin Public Schools

___________________________________________

Sent 1/3/2021 to all FHS Families regarding Remote Learning Day on Monday, 1/4/2021

January 3, 2021,

Dear Franklin High School Community:

This is a reminder that tomorrow, Monday, January 4, 2021 will be a remote learning day for Franklin Public Schools students. As noted in previous communications, we have been following our process for contact tracing upon learning of new cases since December 23, however we have been on winter break and feel it safest to return to a remote learning day to allow for follow up. 

If your FHS child tested positive for COVID-19 or has been identified as a close contact and you have not already done so, please report this information to FPS by contacting FHS School Nurse Melissa Conroy at 508-613-1400 ext.1472 or via email at conroym@franklinps.net

Thank you. Happy New Year!

Franklin Public Schools

____________________________________

Sent 12/30/20 to all FHS Families regarding updates to school re-opening after Holiday Break

FHS Community,

Wishing you all a very happy and healthy New Year!  I think we can all agree in our hopes for 2021 to allow for us to get back to many of the things in life that we enjoy!  

I wanted to share a few important things with you before getting back to school next week.  

As we are in a constant state of making adjustments to meet the needs of the students of FHS reestablishing what mode students wish to learn in acts as important data.  In an effort to have the most up to date information would Parents / Guardians please take this survey. If you would like to stay with the current mode you are in then you don't have to fill out the survey.   Survey For Remote / Hybrid

We are launching a New Wednesday Schedule .  This will have many benefits as listed on the link.  This schedule will begin on 1/6/21.

Tuesday January 26th FHS will be hosting a PSAT test session.  This will require our school to adjust the hybrid schedule.  Students not registered for the PSAT will be learning from home that day.   

The cohort schedule for 2nd semester will be shared over the next few weeks.  We will be using the survey data from above to determine any adjustments.  

This school year has had its fair share of challenges.  I know I’m looking forward to brighter days ahead!  As always let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  Stay safe and I’m looking forward to seeing you all over the next few weeks!

Sincerely,

Josh Hanna

____________________________________

Sent 12/22/20 to all FHS Families regarding COVID Positive test results at FHS:

FHS Community,

Please click this link to read a letter outlining one positive Covid test results within our FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna

____________________________________

Sent 12/21/20 to all FHS Families regarding COVID Positive test results at FHS:

FHS Community,

Please click this link to read a letter outlining six positive Covid test results within our FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna

_________________________________________

Sent 12/18/20 to all FHS Families regarding COVID Positive test results at FHS:

FHS Community,

Please click this link to read a letter outlining a positive Covid test results within our FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna

________________________________________________

Sent 12/16 to all FPS Families regarding a Remote day on 12/17 for inclement weather:

December 16, 2020

Dear Franklin Families and Faculty/Staff,

We are monitoring the forecast very carefully. At this time, a long duration storm is forecasted with snow falling overnight into tomorrow and accumulating to between 10-15 inches. The snow is forecasted to be light and fluffy, which poses a lesser risk for power outages.

Given this forecast, Franklin Public Schools will have a Remote Learning day for all schools on Thursday, December 17, 2020.

In the event of a power outage, families should call their child's school office. VLA families should call the Superintendent’s Office.  Voicemails will be transcribed into emails and forwarded to secretaries. Students will be marked present if they participate in school using asynchronous materials provided by their teacher.

If a staff member loses power, they should contact their building administrator. A building administrator will be in touch with families of their class(es) directly.

We will monitor power outages in the area and, in the event of widespread outages, many need to alter the plan and call a snow day.

We acknowledge that this may come as a disappointment to some who love the tradition of a snow day. At this time, we think it best to continue with the plans we set in place within the past few weeks for remote learning, a model we used early in the year with the idea that we could quickly move back to it during the school year. We will monitor the experience on remote learning days during snow events to inform future decision making.

Additional information about inclement weather can be found on our website.

Sincerely,

Franklin Public Schools

__________________________________________

Sent 12/15 to all FHS Families regarding COVID positive test results at FHS:

FHS Community,

Please click this link to read a letter outlining positive Covid test results within our FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna

_____________________________________________

Sent 12/14 to all FHS Families regarding a COVID positive test result at FHS:

FHS Community,

Please click this link to read a letter outlining positive Covid test results within our FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna

___________________________________________

Sent 12/13 to all FHS Families regarding a COVID positive test result at FHS:

FHS Community,

Please click this link to read a letter outlining positive Covid test results within our FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna

___________________________________________

Sent 12/12/2020 to all FHS Families regarding Covid Positive test results at FHS:

FHS Community,

Please click this link to read a letter outlining positive Covid test results within our FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna

__________________________________

Sent 12/11/20-Reopening Update from the Superintendent sent to all FPS families

__________________________________

Sent 12/8/2020 to all FPS families regarding the Superintendent's 12/8 Report to School Committee

Superintendent's Report to School Committee 12/8/2020

Read report

__________________________________

Sent 12/7/2020 to all 11th grade families regarding a fundraiser for the Class of 2022

Dear Class of 2022 Students and Families,

We hope you are doing well! As the Class of 2022 Advisors, we wanted to share a fun and exciting fundraiser starting tomorrow, December 8th, running through the last week of January that we are promoting to support the Class of 2022: Flocking Franklin High School. Please see this page with more information. 

We look forward to seeing all the flamingos around town! Please reach out to the Class Advisors, Abby Leone-Murphy and Alyssa Taranto, with any questions!

Sincerely,

Abby Leone-Murphy and Alyssa Taranto

____________________________________

Sent 12/2/2020 to all FHS families regarding a food drive for the Franklin Food Pantry

Dear Franklin High School Families,

Your PCC is partnering with the Franklin Food Pantry for a food drive during the holiday season. The Franklin Food Pantry is an essential organization that helps many of the families in our community who are in need of help throughout the year. Right now, the Food Pantry needs our help to collect items for bags that will be distributed to families prior to the Pantry’s Holiday Meal distribution. We are kicking off the drive on December 1st and will run it through December 15th.  Due to COVID regulations, we will be collecting the donations at my home, and then the PCC will be delivering them to the Food Pantry on December 16th.  Here is a list of what the Food Pantry has requested this year:

   Canned Pasta (Chef Boyardee)

   Campbell's Chunky Soups

   Goldfish Crackers (regular size any flavor)

   Granola Bars (not oversized – box of 5 or 6)

If you are able to help out this year, please drop off donations in a bag or box and leave them on my porch with your name so I know which family made the donation.  My address is 50 Gallison Street, Franklin, MA - last house on the right. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at fhspcc@gmail.com.

Thank you from your FHS PCC Board!

Jenn O’Duggan, President

Lisa Zonghi, Treasurer

Shari Feldman, Secretary 

______________________________________

Sent 12/1/20 to all FHS Families regarding the Extracurricular Activity Fee:

Dear Panther Students & Families:

We hope you’ve had the opportunity to explore the many extracurricular clubs and activities Franklin High School offers by participating in the virtual club fair held last month.  Perhaps you were even able to drop in on the several virtual and in-person meetings that take place every week. 

As you may be aware, a once yearly $75 participation fee applies to those students who join a non-athletic, extracurricular club or organization. This $75 payment provides students with an opportunity to join as many clubs or activities as they wish.

At this time, students who wish to continue their participation in one or more activities must have paid the $75 Extracurricular Activity Fee.

This fee allows us to continue offering over 50 clubs and activities that appeal to the varied interests of our students.  Please note that for many activities, the $75 Extracurricular Activity Fee will be the only cost.  For some clubs, however, such as the Ski & Board Club, additional costs related to club specific trips and transportation will apply. 

Any family that qualifies for the federal free lunch program will be exempt from the $75 Extracurricular Activity Fee, and those who qualify for the federal reduced lunch program will receive a reduction in their fee.  Please contact Ms. Santosuosso at 508-613-1417 or santosuossoj@franklinps.net if this applies.

To pay for your student’s activity fee, please use this link through Unibank which allows you to pay by electronic check, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express. The Unibank payment link is also located on the FHS Website-click on Online Payments in the middle of the homepage and select Extracurricular Activity Fee from the list of payments.

If you are unable to pay online, you may send in a check for $75, made payable to the “Town of Franklin,” and have your student drop it off at the Main Office. If you opt to pay the fee by check, please make sure “Activity Fee”, your student’s name, and student ID number are on the memo line of the check.

If you have specific questions about your child’s activity fee, please feel free to call Ms. Jennifer Santosuosso at 508-613-1417 or santosuossoj@franklinps.net.

Yours truly,

Joshua Hanna

Principal

_________________________________

Sent 12/1/20 to all FHS Families regarding COVID positive test results at FHS

FHS Community,

Please click this link to read a letter outlining positive Covid test results within our FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna

_____________________________________

Sent 12/1/2020 to all Junior Families regarding FHS Guidance Information Night

Good afternoon, 

As a reminder, the Guidance Staff will be hosting a presentation via Zoom this Thursday evening, December 3rd at 6:30pm to discuss topics related to post-secondary planning.  The presentation for the evening can be found here.

Below is the information for the Zoom meeting:

When: Dec 3, 2020 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: FHS Guidance Class of 2022 Post Secondary Planning

Please click the link below to join the webinar on ZOOM:

https://zoom.us/j/94576058324?pwd=SFFhLzhxa0N5NCtEekFjVnJPekNVZz09
Passcode: 283374
Or iPhone one-tap :

    US: +13126266799,,94576058324#,,,,,,0#,,283374#  

or

+16465588656,,94576058324#,,,,,,0#,,283374#

Or Telephone:

    Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
        US: +1 312 626 6799  or +1 646 558 8656  or +1 301 715 8592  or +1 346 248 7799  or +1 669 900 9128  or +1 253 215 8782
Webinar ID: 945 7605 8324
Passcode: 283374
    International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/adRbW3bn4Y

_________________________________

Sent 11/30/2020 Regarding COVID positive test results at FHS

FHS Community,

Please click this link to read a letter outlining some positive Covid test results within our FHS community.  This will not impact our current schedule. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna

_________________________________

Sent 11/30/2020 to all Seniors regarding purchasing Senior T Shirts

Dear Class of 2021 students and families,

We hope everyone had a fun and restful Thanksgiving break! As many of you may know, the Class of 2021 is currently selling senior class t-shirts! Priced at $15, these can serve as great memoirs for students beyond high school after graduation.

This is just a friendly reminder that orders must be placed by Tuesday, December 8th at the Unibank link here. This link can also be found on the FHS Website under the ONLINE PAYMENTS button.

Sincerely,

The Class of 2021 Officers

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Sent 11/30/2020 to all FHS families regarding the last day to purchase a discounted yearbook

FHS Parents/Guardians,

Today is the last day to order your FHS yearbook at the lowest price of the year! Prices increase to $85 December 1st. 

We are also accepting Parent Ads/Shout Outs now through February 11, 2021.

For more information about yearbook pricing and parent ads, click here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NQ46RMH6pS8N1ofO2it6EHvAq4yrNFh-9ZDv...

Alyssa Taranto

Yearbook Advisor

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Sent 11/23 to all FHS Students regarding Student Government:

FHS Students,

Your Student Government has been working hard for you!  Recently we sat down to answer a number of questions about Hybrid Learning at FHS.  Please take a look at the video they created:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLieuVHXY14&feature=emb_title . It's been great getting to meet so many of you over the past few days.  Looking forward to welcoming more students into the building over the next few weeks.  As always, let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Mr. Hanna

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Sent 11/20 to all FHS Families regarding a COVID positive test at FHS

FHS Community,

Please click this link to read a letter outlining a positive Covid test result within our FHS community.  This will not impact our return to hybrid learning next week. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna

__________________________________

Sent 11/18/2020 to all FHS Families regarding a COVID positive test at FHS:

FHS Community,

Please click this link to read a letter outlining a positive Covid case within our community.  This will not impact our return to hybrid learning tomorrow.  Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  Sincerely,

Josh Hanna

_____________________________________________

Sent 11/18/2020 to all FHS students and Families regarding the FHS Club Fair

Dear Panther Students & Families,

Extracurricular activities are an integral part of the school culture at Franklin High School as they provide an opportunity for students to get involved in their school community and meet a diverse group of people with various interests. 

As a way to showcase the clubs and activities FHS offers, we invite you click on this link to join our Virtual Club Fair throughout the month of November. 

Enjoy exploring the club pages, reaching out to the club advisors for more information, or dropping in on a club meeting and discovering where you'd like to participate.  

~FHS Administration

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Sent 11/16/2020 to all FHS Families regarding first day of Hybrid Learning

FHS Community,

I’m excited to write this letter after a successful first day of Hybrid learning.  Being able to observe teachers and students interacting with each other was true happiness.  The walls of Franklin High were smiling today.   Looking forward to welcoming more friends to the building over the next few weeks!  

I wanted to take a moment and address what will likely continue to be a part of teaching and learning during these challenging times.  We have a shortage of substitute teachers.  This is a problem for classes that are in person when a teacher is unable to be present in the building.  In some cases the teacher that is not in the building is still able to teach their class from their home.  In those cases we will have the teacher work from home.  In those cases students will be moved to a common area (Library, Auditorium, or Cafeteria) of the building to allow for one or two substitute teachers to monitor a small number of  classes.  All of these areas have individual desks marked at 6 feet apart, all facing in the same direction.  This is not an ideal set up, but with a shortage of substitute teachers and the unpredictable nature of people being forced to quarantine this is the best option.  As we have since early July we will continue to make adjustments that will focus on supporting the students of Franklin High School.  If you're interested in working as a substitute teacher at Franklin High School, please let me know! 

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna

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Sent 11/13/2020 to all FHS Families regarding COVID positive test results:

FHS Community,

Please click here for a letter concerning Covid-19 positive test results within the Franklin High School community.  This information will not impact our move to hybrid model this upcoming Monday.  As always, let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna

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Sent 11/12/2020 to all Franklin High School Families regarding updates:

FHS Community,

We are excited at FHS to be welcoming more students into the building over the next few weeks.  As a reminder the 3 most important things we will do during this transition will be to wear a mask, keep a 6 foot social distance, and wash our hands.  When we all do these 3 things we will keep us all safe.  Here is a video outlining some things to expect when you enter the building.  

Below are some important updates:

Cohort C begins our Hybrid Schedule next week.  Here is the link to our Updated Bell Schedule for all students remote or hybrid.  Notice FHS Remote Bell Schedule for Wednesdays.  

Given the reality of the first quarter in terms of all of the changes, Quarter 1 is going to be extended until 11/30.   We are extending the quarter as a way to provide students and staff with the opportunity to meet in person, build relationships, and provide students the opportunity to benefit from in-person teacher assistance.  Quarter 1 report cards will be available through Aspen on 12/8.  For Seniors who have an early action or early decision college application deadline, our counselors have reached out to admissions offices and they have assured us that they will accept 1st quarter grades when they are available.  

Please take a minute to fill out these mandatory forms for your students. 

Nurse Emergency Form

Handbook Receipt Form

Student Release Form (Photo/Video/Audio/Remote Learning consent)

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Josh Hanna

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Sent 11/5/2020 regarding Extracurricular Activities

November 5, 2020

Good evening, FHS Community.

We are writing with an update related to our efforts over recent days to have athletes and performers return to outdoor events next week, which have been determined to be safe by our health and safety officials. We want the FHS community to know the plan and rationale behind seeking to move forward. We know that co-curriculars play a huge role in the social-emotional development of our students. 

Please see this PDF for information that was shared with our athletes, performers, families and staff.

Franklin Public Schools 

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Sent 11/5/2020 to all FHS Families regarding Parent Teacher Confrerence Information:

FHS Parents/Guardians,

Please click HERE to read a letter from the FHS Administration explaining how to sign up for FHS Parent Teacher Conferences that will be held next week on Tuesday November 10th, and Thursday, November 12th.

__________________________________________________

Sent 11/5/2020 to Class of 2021 Families regarding Prom Plans:

Dear Class of 2021 students and families,

We know that this is a very busy time for all, but we wanted to take a moment to update you on what we currently know about the Class of 2021 events.  

When the pandemic started last spring, we rescheduled the prom to December 5th.  As we approach the rescheduled date and with the current large gathering restrictions, it will not be possible to have our prom on that date.  We have now rescheduled the prom to April 16th, 2021, in hopes that things will change enough so that we can still have a traditional prom.

If we decide to cancel the prom, you will hear from us in early 2021.  We realize that some parents have paid for the prom tickets already and we have full intentions of refunding that money if we are to move forward with the cancellation.  

In closing, our class officers are working hard to think of creative and safe ways to celebrate their last year at the high school.  Please stay tuned throughout the school year for more information.

We appreciate your time and patience,

The Class of 2021 advisors

Jenna Calcagno (calcagnoj@franklinps.net) and Shannon Picillo (picillos@franklips.net)  

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Sent 11/3/2020 to all FHS Families regarding FHS Remote Update

November 3, 2020

Please see this letter related to an update on the FHS change to remote learning start date.

Kind regards,

Franklin Public Schools

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Sent 11/3/2020 to all FHS Families regarding a COVID Positive test at FHS

FHS Families,

Please click on this link for important information regarding a covid positive case at Franklin High School.  

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Sent 11/3/2020 to all Freshman Families regarding Guidance Counselor appointments with 9th graders:

Good morning, 

Guidance counselors are excited to meet their freshman over the coming weeks. With the delayed start, counselors will begin to schedule virtual meetings next week.  The meetings will continue through the months of November and December.   The purpose of these meetings is to introduce ourselves, have an opportunity to talk to the students about their interests, goals, etc., and to reflect on how their transition to high school has been. 

At this point, all 9th graders have been invited to their counselor's Google Classroom.  We have posted information that they may find helpful during the remote learning time, as well as information that will be helpful once we transition to the hybrid model. 

We are emailing you today to ask that you help us by reminding your son/daughter to join their Google Classroom, as well as to check their emails regularly so they are aware of when their meeting with their guidance counselor has been scheduled. 

Thank you in advance!

FHS Guidance

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Sent 11/2/2020 to all FHS Families regarding our DECA club:

Dear FHS Parents and Students,

I wanted to introduce myself and give you some information about our DECA chapter at FHS. My name is Miguel
Carmo and I teach Business classes at Franklin High School. I am also the DECA advisor.

DECA is a collegiate and high school based organization that prepares students for careers in all aspects of business,marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship. Students may compete in a variety of different events:
Written projects (10-20 pages) and presentations (20 min)

     Business plans

     Marketing plans

     Community Service and Public Relations projects

     Financial literacy and Entrepreneurship promotion projects

Or
Roleplay events- Students work individually or in pairs. First, students take a 100 question multiple choice exam. The day of the competition students are given a hypothetical business situation (they will not know the situation
beforehand) and must prepare solutions to the situation after 30 min of preparation.
We believe that the program provides authentic learning experiences that are difficult to replicate in a classroom
setting. Our students have the opportunity to build valuable skill sets for the 21st century.

We hope that this program has some of the following outcomes:

- Ability to work collaboratively on extensive group projects

- Identifying problems and developing solutions that are rational and research backed

- Authentic learning experiences that involve working and communicating with the local business community.

- Provide a wide variety of leadership opportunities

- Growth in confidence skills while in a safe environment

- Scholarship and job opportunities

- Improvement of communication skills

Although DECA can be a valuable program there is a cost associated with participating. We plan on making a strong fundraiser effort to minimize the cost. DECA also provides financial need based scholarships to the State Competition.
Please feel free to reach out to me at carmom@franklinps.net if you are interested or have any questions about our DECA program.

Sincerely,
Miguel Carmo

Membership form and club dues ($35) are due by November 5th.
Students are also required to pay a student activity fee of $75. This fee covers all activities for the school year. If families are eligible for free or reduced lunch please reach out for more information.
FHS Unibank Payment Portal: https://www.franklinps.net/fhs/pages/online-payments

LINKS:
Google Classroom code: rvt6dtx
DECA Introduction Slideshow 2020-2021
Deca.org
DECA Membership Form (You are not committing to participating. This just puts you on our radar to reach out and ask follow up questions.
Sample Student Marketing Plan

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Sent 11/1/2020 from the Franklin School Superintendent to all FHS Families regarding a delay to the start of Hybrid learning.

Dear FHS Faculty/Staff and Families,

We are disappointed to inform you that FHS will delay the transition to hybrid and be remote until November 16. Please click here to read the letter that was emailed home.

Franklin Public Schools

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Sent 10/30/2020 to all FPS families from the Superintendent regarding DT Facilities Analysis Community Information Night

Dear Franklin Community,

The Franklin School Committee's DT Facilities Analysis Subcommittee is hosting a community information session about the recent Comprehensive Facilities Analysis Report and Presentation from architects at Kaestle Boos, Inc. The event is being held virtually on ZOOM on Wednesday, November 4, 2020 from 7:00 -- 8:15 PM.

This report was developed as part of the process of studying the potential closure of Davis Thayer Elementary School.

The agenda (with participation information) can be found at the following link:

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/agenda_dt_...

Sincerely,
Franklin Public Schools

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Sent 10/26 to all FHS Families-Welcome Letter from the FHS PCC

Dear FHS Families:

Welcome to the start of another school year!

I wanted to take a moment to introduce your 2020-21 PCC Board members.

I am Jennifer O’Duggan, your newly-elected PCC President. I have been a resident of Franklin for 17 years now and have two daughters. One is 20 years old and a 2019 graduate of Franklin High School who is currently working full-time at a daycare center.  My other daughter is 16, a Junior at FHS, and a member of the FHS Varsity Cheerleading team. From the time my girls were school age, I have been volunteering in the schools--first Parmenter, then Remington, and now FHS.

Shari Feldman is our new secretary this year. She has a daughter who is a Freshman at FHS and a son who is a 6th-grader at HMMS. She has served on both the Oak Street and HMMS PCCs in various capacities and is looking forward to getting involved at FHS!

Lisa Zonghi is our new treasurer, and she has a son who is a Freshman and a daughter who is a 5th-grader at Oak Street.  As with Shari, Lisa has also served on the Board of Oak Street and HMMS PCC’s but in the Treasurer capacity.

For those of you new to FHS, the PCC serves in a different capacity than in elementary and middle school. Our primary role as the FHS PCC is to be your source of communication for all things FHS, including providing you with any updates that may come from Principal Hanna or FPS. All of our communications are posted on our Facebook Page (Franklin High School PCC), and on our Twitter account: @FHS_PCC. We host PCC meetings every other month, which for now will be virtual via Google Meet. Here are the future meeting dates: 

November 9th 2020 7PM

January 25th 2021 7PM

March 15th 2021 7PM

May 10th 2021 7PM

June 7th 20201 7PM

Please visit the PCC link on the FHS website to find the agendas and minutes from our meetings: https://www.franklinps.net/fhs/students-families/pages/pcc. The Board’s contact information and all of our meeting dates are posted there. You can find the agendas and minutes on our Facebook page, as well. We recently had our first PCC Meeting and it was a huge success! 42 parents joined us on Google Meet to meet us and Principal Hanna, get their pre-submitted questions answered, and have a great discussion.

The PCC serves other functions, as well. We do fundraise, but it is difficult because various clubs and activity groups, such as athletic teams, music boosters, and cheer boosters (which I am the President of, as well), all fundraise during the year for their individual groups. This makes it harder for the PCC to compete for those fundraising dollars, so, while it is certainly not out of the question for us to fundraise, the PCC just has to be more creative. We have a Hospitality committee that oversees Teacher Appreciation Week, which generally consists of organizing and setting up breakfasts and luncheons for the teachers. We also volunteer in school when needed, i.e. assisting with Picture Day or any other time that the staff needs our help. Sometimes we’ll put out a request asking for parents to help out, as well. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for meeting topics, you can reach out to any of us via Facebook, Twitter, or at fhspcc@gmail.com.  

We hope you and families are all well during these unprecedented times.  Take care! 

Jennifer O’Duggan

FHS PCC President

________________________________

Sent 10/25 by to all Franklin Public Schools families from the District regarding Facilities Analysis Update:

Dear Franklin Community Members,

We are writing to keep you informed about the progress of the School Committee's Facilities Analysis. An architect from Kaestle Boos will be presenting a Comprehensive Facilities Analysis report at Tuesday's School Committee meeting on October 27, which begins at 7 PM. This is a follow up to the presentation from the September 30 Facilities Analysis Subcommittee meeting. The report analyzes the capacity of our K-8 school buildings, assesses each for educational adequacy, and makes recommendations for the future based on anticipated enrollment decreases. The presentation and report are posted to the web within the School Committee's Meeting Packet. https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/pages/october-27-20...

The meeting will be accessible to the public via Zoom (capacity of 500) and broadcast on Franklin TV.  The Facilities Analysis Subcommittee will host a follow up community information session to discuss the report at greater length during the first week of November. Final date and time will be clarified soon.

This is one step of the Subcommittee's 5-step process to examine the possible retirement of the Davis Thayer Elementary School. Data is still being gathered at this time and no decisions have been made. More information can be found here: https://www.franklinps.net/district/davis-thayer-facilities-analysis

Thank you,

Franklin Public Schools

Sara E. Ahern, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Franklin Public Schools

355 East Central Street

Suite 3

Franklin, MA  02038

508-553-4819

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Sent 10/25 to all FHS Families regarding updates for this week ahead:

FHS Community,

We are excited at FHS to be welcoming more students into the building over the next few weeks.  As a reminder the 3 most important things we will do during this transition will be to wear a mask, keep a 6 foot distance, and wash our hands.  When we all do these 3 things we will keep us all safe.  Below are some important updates.

1.  Our bell schedule that will begin tomorrow (10/26) as we transition into a hybrid model of teaching and learning.  This graphic shows the times that classes will be held throughout the remainder of the school year.  For the students, more information regarding where you will eat lunch will be coming out over the next few days. 

2.  This link outlines the FHS 2020 / 2021 Bus routes.

3.  Please take a moment to fill out this survey asking for your choice of remote or hybrid learning.  We have over 1500 responses but still need over 200 more.  

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  I hope everyone is able to enjoy a peaceful Sunday.  

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna

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Sent 10/23 to all FHS families regarding a move to our normal bell schedule on Monday, 10/26

FHS Staff and Students,

Thanks for all your efforts over the past few months.  I know how hard you all have been working.  I wanted to share an update to our bell schedule that will begin next week as we transition into a hybrid model of teaching and learning.  THIS graphic shows the times that classes will be held throughout the remainder of the school year. 

For the students, more information regarding where you will eat lunch will be coming out over the next few days.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  Have a nice weekend everyone.

Sincerely,

Mr. Hanna

____________________________________

10/21/2020-Updates from the Superintendent's Office sent to all FPS families

October 20, 2020 

Dear Franklin Community, 

It has been delightful to welcome students in grades 2, 3, and 6 as part of cohort A yesterday and today. We also look  forward to welcoming these grades for cohort B on Thursday, and eagerly anticipate hybrid students in grades 4-5 and 7-8  next week. We also look forward to welcoming students back to Franklin High School! 

Designation of Yellow Status and Implications for a Red Designation 

Many families are keeping informed of health data related to COVID-19. We are writing to share additional information  related to how we follow health data for decision-making. 

Last week, Franklin was designated as a “yellow” community in the weekly Department of Public Health health report; we  are continuing with our plans to transition into a hybrid learning model while continuing to monitor health metrics on a  weekly basis. DESE guides us that hybrid learning would be the expected model with a yellow designation, or remote if  there were to be extenuating circumstances. Franklin’s yellow status results from the number of average daily positive  cases per 100,000, which is currently 5.5 At this level, DESE guidance points us towards continuing with our transition to  hybrid.  

We monitor the weekly health report (published at 6 PM on Wednesdays) and take the information into consideration  when making decisions among our instructional models. DESE advises us to use three weeks worth of data in our review  so that we can analyze trends. Franklin recently went to a yellow designation, after having been green for the past several  weeks. We are also guided to consider the demographic circumstances around which positive cases are being reported.  A cluster of cases is sometimes the cause for a change in shading. 

Some families have asked about our plans should Franklin move to a red status. 

A red status would involve having more than 8 average daily cases per 100,000. We would continue to look at trends in  data over successive weeks. We would also consider the demographic circumstances. Depending on the individuals  involved and whether or not there is a cluster of cases, one option would be to continue to support hybrid instruction if, for  example, the spread was contained within a certain population and does not involve schools. This is being seen in  neighboring communities where they are remaining hybrid although they have been designated at the red level. If Franklin  ended up with a red designation, depending on the specific details, another alternative might be to return to remote for  most students, but keep in-person learning continuing for specialized programs. Alternatively, we might pivot to remote  learning for all.  

Decisions are made thoughtfully, based on multiple data points, in collaboration with the Health Department in Franklin. Health and Safety Practices 

This is a good time to remind everyone of our universal health and safety practices including wearing a mask, washing  hands or using hand sanitizer, and maintaining physical distancing of at least 6 feet. We are vigilant about following these  in our schools and encourage good health and safety practices across the community. 

Families are reminded that they should contact their child’s school nurse in the event that their child tests positive for  COVID-19. By doing so, we will be able to appropriately support the child and family, conduct contact tracing within the  school setting, and add extra cleaning/disinfecting to the necessary school spaces. 

We hope this information provides reinforcement and additional detail surrounding our decision-making among  instructional models. 

Sincerely, 

Franklin Public Schools 

Please e-mail reopening@franklinps.net with questions.

https://sites.google.com/franklinps.net/returntoschoolplan/home

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10/20/2020 Sent to all FHS families regarding choice of hybrid or remote and Flu Shot requirement-

FHS Parents / Guardians:

Two quick things:

1.  If you haven't already please take a moment to fill out this form regarding your choice to move to Hybrid or Remote learning begiining on 11/02/20.  So far we have 1,104 responses.  We are hoping to have everyone response by the end of this week. 

2.  Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, Massachusetts Department of Public Health will now require an influenza (flu) vaccine, for the current flu season, for all students.  Influenza vaccine is always important to receive to reduce the risk of getting sick with influenza, reduce the severity of disease if one does get sick (including the risk of hospitalization) due to influenza, as well as preventing the spread of influenza to others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza vaccine will be especially critical to reduce the overall impact of respiratory illness on the population, protect vulnerable populations from severe illness, and decrease the overall burden on the healthcare system.

Documentation of this vaccine should be submitted to your child’s school nurse by 12/31/2020.  If you have already submitted documentation, please disregard this request. 

This immunization is required for ALL modules of learning, including remote.

Please contact FHS School Nurse:  Melissa Conroy, RN with any questions or concerns.

conroym@franklinps.net

Phone: 508 613 1472

Fax: 508 613 1520

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

__________________________________

Sent 10/19/2020 to all FHS Families regarding cohorts being available in Aspen

Good afternoon FHS Community,

As previously communicated, cohorts are now viewable on the Family & Student Portal on Aspen. 

You can find this information under the Student Tab- under My Info/Details and in the Family Tab, click details under the Demographics tab. 

If you are unable to access your Aspen account or need your password reset please email Mrs. Ivy Patten patteni@franklinps.net or Mrs. Marybeth Dolan dolanm@franklinps.net for support. 

We have received a number requests to change cohorts. Due to the several factors and several weeks of scheduling the cohorts, we are unable to make the changes at this time. 

If you have not done so already, please complete the Remote or Hybrid Survey so that we can continue to properly plan for what students to expect in each cohort. 

Thanks,

FHS Administration

_______________________________________________

10/19-Sent to all FHS families-Reminder tomorrow is last day to purchase Chromebook Insurance

FHS Parents, Guardians,

This is a reminder that if you have not yet purchased it and would still like to, tomorrow, Tuesday, October 20th, is the last day to purchase Chromebook Insurance for your Franklin High School Student.  The Chromebook Insurance payment portal will be open tomorrow until 11:59 PM.

To purchase Chromebook Insurance via Unibank, click this link

The payment portal link can also be found on the FHS website, ONLINE PAYMENTS button.

Sincerely,

FHS Administration

_____________________________________________

Sent 10/19 to all FPS families- Regarding the FPS Newsletter

Good Afternoon

Please CLICK HERE to read the Franklin Public Schools Newsletter.

Thank you,

Franklin Public Schools

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Sent 10/13/2020 to all FPS families regarding the Superintendent's Report to School Committee

Click HERE to view Superintendent's Report to School Committee dated 10/13/2020

_____________________________________________

Sent 10/11/2020 to all FHS families with updates on asynchronous learning during SAT administration,  and Back to School Open House on 10/15 via Zoom Meeting:

FHS Community,

I hope you are enjoying a peaceful weekend.  I wanted to update you all on important information regarding the week ahead.

Wednesday will be asynchronous learning for FHS.  This decision was made to accommodate the 270+ seniors who will be taking the SAT’s at FHS.  Our faculty will be unable to proctor the SAT’s and at the same time teach their classes.  I know that asynchronous learning is not ideal, but this is a small sacrifice we can make to support our senior students.  

Thursday night, October 15th will be our Back to School / Open House evening. The presentation will answer many questions regarding the move to the hybrid model that was shared on Friday 10/09/20.   I will be sending out zoom meeting links on Wednesday.  

Parents / Guardians of students with the last names beginning with A-K will be invited to a 6:00 pm presentation.   

Parents / Guardians of students with the last names L-Z will be invited to a 6:45 pm presentation.  

Parents / Guardians of 9th grade students will have an additional link sent to offer specific information regarding transition from 8th to 9th grade.  This meeting will be at 7:30 pm.  Parents / Guardians of 9th grade students are encouraged to attend both meetings as the presentations will be different.

I’m looking forward to “meeting” you all over zoom later this week.  The first few months of working in the FHS community has further proved the truth regarding the reputation of the town of Franklin.  I’ve found it to be a kind, hardworking, thoughtful, supportive, and passionate collection of students, educators, and parents.  These attributes will serve us well over the next few months.  

Thanks,

Josh Hanna

________________________________________________

Sent 10/9 to all FHS Families regarding the FHS Hybrid schedule:

FHS Community,

We are excited to share with you updated information regarding our transition to a hybrid schedule.  We appreciate everyone's patience and flexibility during the last few weeks. We have been asking for feedback along the way and have made adjustments to start our hybrid model two weeks earlier than originally scheduled.  Many thanks goes out to the hundreds of staff to make this transition possible. 

This hybrid schedule document will outline the remaining days of 1st semester which ends on 02/02/21.  Over the course of the next few months we will share our 2nd semester schedule.  This allows us to make adjustments as regulation from the Massachusetts Department of Education may change.  Our new hybrid schedule  brings students into the building one day more over the course of 3 weeks than our original model.  The new hybrid schedule also allows for more consistent scheduling for families.  

The cohort that you are in will be shared over email by 10/20/20, siblings are in the same cohort.  Through the cohort assignment process many factors had to be considered.  We ask that you reach out to your Assistant Principal ( Ryan Augusta, Jenn Santosuosso, or Maria Weber) to request a cohort change.  To be clear we may be unable to meet your request as keeping our classes to a particular size within each cohort is essential.  We are really looking forward to welcoming back more students to FHS!

Sincerely,

Franklin High School

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Sent 10/9/2020 regarding re-opening update from the Superintendent's Office:

October 9, 2020

Please see this letter regarding the reopening update from FPS.

Franklin Public Schools

___________________________________________

Sent 10/4 to all FPS Families from the Superintendent

Dear FHS Families, FPS Families, and FPS Faculty:

Please see the letter bdelow that describes a potentially positive COVID case at FHS and our response. We are including all of you in the communication so that all are aware of the situation and our response.

Kind regards,

Franklin Public Schools

Dear Franklin Families, 

We are writing to inform you that a person in our Franklin High School community is potentially positive for COVID-19. 

Our first responsibility is to keep our students and staff safe. We have been planning for this scenario during our reopening planning process and have a comprehensive plan in place to sanitize the school, inform individuals who were at risk of exposure or in close contact, and support everyone navigating this stressful experience. 

Students and staff in the building have been closely adhering to the safety protocols including mask-wearing, hand washing, and physical distancing. We are grateful to our faculty/staff and families/students for continued efforts to monitor symptoms and stay home when not feeling well. These measures, taken in combination, greatly reduce the risk of transmission. 

Though we cannot provide specific information about our school community member who is potentially positive for COVID-19, your child was not a close contact (defined as being within 6 feet of the person for at least 15 minutes) of the affected school member. As always, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms, and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well. 

Parents/guardians of students who were in close contact with the community members have been notified privately. All close contacts should be tested but must self-quarantine for 14 days after the last exposure to the person who tested positive, regardless of the test result. We are also following all Department of Health protocols, including collaborating with our local board of health to complete contact tracing. Additionally, we are asking those parents/guardians whose students are tested for COVID-19 to please report the results to the school nurse. Staff members are to report positive test results to their supervisor. We are working hard to understand the impact of the virus on our school community and this information is a critical piece of that puzzle. 

To further prevent potential transmission of the virus to other staff and students, we have sanitized the school with a focus on those areas frequented by the community member that is potentially positive. We will continue to be vigilant in adhering to all of the protocols that have been put in place. 

Out of an abundance of caution, we are going to be closing the affected classroom(s) for a period of 3 days. We will re-evaluate on Tuesday, October 6. We will be providing remote learning for affected students and those required to quarantine at home to continue to provide instruction, structure, and an emotional connection to the classroom during a time that we know will be challenging for those children and families involved. Affected students and their families will be receiving additional information directly. 

As noted in a previous communication regarding COVID-19, please visit the following link for more information on COVID-19 symptoms and testing: 

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/about-covid-19-testing#where-can-get-a...?

You can also find a map of testing sites at 

https://memamaps.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=eba3f03... 631cb095febf13.

Please contact us immediately should you or someone in your home begin to show symptoms.

We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please e-mail reopening@franklinps.net. 

Thank you for your continued support. 

Sincerely, 

Franklin Public Schools

________________________________________

Sent 9/29 to all FHS Families regarding Chromebook Insurance Payment portal now being open:

Dear Franklin High School Parents/Guardians,

The payment portal for 2020-2021 Chromebook Insurance is now open. Please note, this payment portal is for Franklin High School students only. If you have students in other FPS schools, you cannot purchase Chromebook Insurance for them through this payment site. Your student's coverage begins as soon as you purchase the insurance.

Please read this notice before purchasing FHS Chromebook Insurance

Chromebook Insurance FAQ’s

What is the cost of the Chromebook Insurance for the 2020-2021 school year?

The cost is $25 per student.

What is covered by the Chromebook Insurance?

Although not mandatory, it is highly recommended that you purchase the insurance for your student’s Chromebook. Insurance covers standard breakage, malfunctions and anything accidental including broken screens (up to 3 total broken screens per school year). Chromebook insurance also includes coverage of the Chromebook charger for damage or malfunctions.  Loss due to theft of a Chromebook is covered as long as there is an official police report filed.

What does Chromebook Insurance NOT cover?

If you choose not to purchase Chromebook Insurance and have an issue such as a broken screen or damage (cracks or pieces chipped off) anywhere on the Chromebook this will incur a $250.00 charge. Insurance does NOT cover intentional damage, the loss of the Chromebook, nor loss of the Chromebook charger. (the charger costs $54 to replace)

How long am I covered if I purchase Chromebook Insurance now?

Your student’s Chromebook will be covered from the day you purchase the insurance until the day before the next school year begins.

Link to purchase Chromebook Insurance for your FHS Student(s)

This link can also be found on the FHS website/ ONLINE PAYMENTS button.

_____________________________________________________

Sent 9/29 to Senior Families regarding SAT's at FHS and other Guidance updates:

Hello Senior families

A couple of reminders as we start the week:

1.  For ordering and planning purposes, tomorrow, (Wed., September 30th) will be the last day to register your son/daughter for the SAT School Day on October 14th.  No late registrations will be accepted.  Please register online https://unipaygold.unibank.com/transactioninfo.aspx?TID=28653

2.  The Guidance Department will host a College Planning Webinar tomorrow night, (9/30) at 6:30pm.  The Zoom link is as follows: 

https://zoom.us/j/93907178604?pwd=Nk5Kd1hsSlFHZWpJSExUcllsVTR4dz09

A recorded version of the presentation, along with a FAQ document will be posted to the FHS Guidance website by the end of the week. 

A copy of the presentation is included for your reference. 

Thank you,

FHS Guidance 

___________________________________

Sent 9/25/2020 to all Franklin High School families regarding updates from Principal Hanna

FHS Community,

Thank you to all the staff, students and families for helping FHS successfully start the school year!   I recognize the adjustment our entire school community has had to make to get to this point.  To that end, we continue to work on multiple aspects of our reopening, and we want to bring you up to speed on a few things.

We are close to being able to share specific information around our move to a hybrid model of teaching and learning.  Over the next few weeks we will be sharing details regarding which cohort students will be in, when they will be scheduled to be in the building (potentially before November 19th), how transportation will work, and any additional safety protocols.  

If your student is going to be absent (unable to participate in a remote day of learning), please email the house office (found on the students schedule) secretary to which your child belongs.

1st floor house office: Susan Robidoux at:  robidouxs@franklinps.net

2nd floor house office: Kathy Falvey at:  falveyk@franklinps.net

3rd floor house office: Jennifer Petrillo at:  petrilloj@franklinps.net

The following forms are required to be completed for all FHS Students.  Please take a few moments to fill them out.  

Nurse Emergency Card Form

Handbook and COVID addendum receipt form

Photo/Video/Audio and Remote Learning consent  

 Any students in need of any materials / supplies from FHS please complete this form.

Wishing you all a peaceful weekend.

Josh Hanna

___________________________________

Sent 9/21/2020 to Senior Families regarding SAT's for FHS Seniors and Guidance College Application process Zoom Meeting

Hello Franklin Parents of Seniors, 

As we come to the close of the first week of a very unique start to Senior year I want to bring to your attention two opportunities for you and your students:

As has happened annually over the past many years, the Franklin High School Guidance Department will host an evening event to review elements of the application process, steps to take moving forward, and share current information they have gathered through attendance at counselor only webinars as well as conversations with individual college representatives. This informative evening will take place on Wednesday, September 30 at 6:30pm via Zoom and the link will be shared prior to the event.  This event will also be recorded for anyone who might not be able to attend.

Secondly, after careful consideration and much conversation, helped out by our practice of getting staff into the building safely over the past two weeks, we are now able to host an administration of the SAT for Franklin High School Seniors only. We understand that some families have gone to great lengths and considerable stress related to standardized testing already but it has not been until multiple elements of staff returning to the building were in place that we could confidently provide this opportunity.

In order for us to be able to hold this event exclusively for our Seniors, the test must be administered during the school day on October 14. Staff will be in the building and will serve as test administrators. Those staff serving as test administrators will provide asynchronous activities for their classes that day and student attendance will be excused for those taking the SAT.

All town and school safety procedures will be in place, including physical distancing and mask wearing, for the duration of the time in the building. Desks will be placed 6 feet apart and masks will be kept on at all times while in the building, with the exception of one brief visual  confirmation of the student's identity.

The cost of the test, as set by the College Board, is $52.  Due to the length of the exam/school day, we will only be offering the SAT without essay. SAT Subject Tests are also not available per College Board. Families who wish to participate in this administration of the SAT will pay fees through UniBank to Franklin Public Schools. Students approved for free or reduced lunch should communicate with their Guidance Counselor prior to signing up on Unibank in order to access a College Board provided fee waiver. Franklin Public Schools will then pay all associated fees following the administration of the test. Franklin Public Schools retains no money from the associated cost of $52. Should there be a spike in cases as the test date approaches, Franklin High School will communicate about any cancellation and related full refund.

As you consider whether this opportunity is appropriate for your student, we ask that you consider whether they have taken the test previously, whether your student will be comfortable entering the building and wearing a mask for the entirety of the exam, and whether their college plans call for them to take this test given the test optional stance of nearly every college in the country. If you wish to register please follow the link here to the online payment portal on the FHS website.  

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna & FHS Guidance Dept. 

__________________________________

Sent 9/21/2020 to Senior Families regarding Yearbooks, senior portraits and other yearbook related information:

Hello FHS Class of 2021 Families!

Please click here to view information on the FHS 2021 Yearbook. This includes how to upload senior portraits, how to purchase a yearbook, and other information from your Yearbook Advisor, Ms. Alyssa Taranto.

Please note, if you have difficulty viewing the page, have your student log into their Chromebook to view it.

A link to the page is also posted on the Class of 2021 page of the FHS Website.

Questions? Please contact Ms. Taranto at tarantoa@franklinps.net

Link to upload directly to ReplayIT   (UserID is: 415463932)

_________________________________________

Sent 9/21/2020 to all FPS families regarding Remote Learning Support Sessions for Parents & Guardians from the Superintendent:

Remote Learning Support Sessions for Parents & Guardians

September 22nd - 24th

The FPS Digital Learning Integrationists will be holding Parent/Guardian support sessions throughout the year. Our first session, “Navigating the Remote Learning Environment”, will focus on the basics of navigating Google Classroom and Google Meetings. Click here for the schedule and session links 

Read more

_____________________________

Sent 9/10 to 10th, 11th, and 12th grade families regarding item pick up for upperclassmen and freshmen that did not pick up items 9/9 or 9/10:

Materials Pick Up information for:

9th graders who have not yet picked up Chromebook and textbooks: click HERE and follow these procedures to pick up your items on Monday, September 14th -you can arrive anytime from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM; there is no set scheduled time slot

10th Graders-Click HERE to view pick up schedule and procedures (you should only come to pick up items if you have one or more of the teachers on the list; if you do not have any of these teachers, then do not come to pick up)  

11th Graders-Click HERE to view pick up schedule and procedures (you should only come to pick up items if you have one or more of the teachers on the list; if you do not have any of these teachers, then do not come to pick up)  

12th Graders-Click HERE to view pick up schedule and procedures (you should only come to pick up items if you have one or more of the teachers on the list; if you do not have any of these teachers, then do not come to pick up) 

-------------------------------------------------------------

Sent 9/9 to Freshman Families regarding materials pick up

FHS 9th Grade Students and Families,

Following up after the first day of issuing learning materials and chromebooks.  We will be handing out materials tomorrow (Thursday, 9/10) according to our schedule, and again Monday, (9/14) from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM.  If you weren't able to make it today or can't come tomorrow (Thursday 9/10) please come Monday at any time between 9AM and 2:00 PM. Follow the procedures previously communicated.  I appreciate your flexibility as we fine tune our process of getting materials into the hands of our students.  

I've also received a number of emails reporting problems with accessing the Virtual Freshman Orientation Signup google form.  Please make sure that it is your student that is accessing this form with their school gmail account. If they have forgotten their password let me know and we will re-set it.  

Sincerely,

Josh Hanna

____________________

Sent 9/8 to Freshman Families regarding virtual Orientation

Incoming 9th Grade FHS Students & Families,

We are very excited to welcome you to the FHS family!  Becoming a Panther is a very exciting time in life.  Although the orientation this year will be different then in years past we are confident that you will all feel welcomed!  Beginning next week, Franklin High School will be offering virtual freshman orientation meetings on September 14th & 15th for groups of up to 5 incoming freshmen with a FHS peer leader.

Please discuss this with your friends before signing up for a 30 minute time slot. (Duplicate names will be assigned) So please double check before you sign up.  This is our first step in getting you connected with this amazing High School.   Students will need to sign up for Virtual Orientation using their school gmail account.

Sincerely,

Joshua Hanna

____________________

Sent 9/8/20 to all FHS families regarding student schedules

Good afternoon, 

Students are now able to view their schedules in their ASPEN accounts.  Counselors will be available tomorrow and Thursday (9/9 and 9/10) to meet virtually with students who have large scale issues with their schedules (misplaced in a class, scheduled for the wrong class, request for a level change). As previously communicated, requests for elective changes will not be accommodated.  

Students should make an appointment to see their counselor, if needed. These will be done through Google Meet. Links to counselor calendars can be found below.  Students must use their school gmail to access the counselors' calendars.  

Freshmen can learn the name of their Guidance Counselor by following these instructions:

Log into ASPEN

Click the "My Info" tab on the top

Guidance Counselor's name in bottom left corner

Students who need their ASPEN password reset should email either Mrs. Dolan (dolanm@franklinps.net) or Mrs. Patten (patteni@franklinps.net).  

Thank you!

FHS Guidance and Admin

Click to schedule an appointment with your Counselor:

Ms. Gardner

Mr. Guyette

Ms. Horner

Ms. Leone-Murphy

Ms. McVay

Ms. Ryder

Mr. Soulard

Ms. Walsh

Sent 9/3/2020 to 9th graders and their families regarding materials and Chromebook pick up:

Hello Class of 2024:

Welcome 9th grade Panthers! 

We are sharing the process for collecting your school-distributed materials and chromebook to get you started with remote learning this year. In order to get you these materials from FHS safely and efficiently, we ask that you follow the procedures detailed below. This process will occur over a two day period on Wednesday, Sept. 9th and Thursday, Sept 10th.  Please come during your designated time only, noted below**     Please read carefully so we can be prepared for your arrival. 

Before you arrive:

1. Wear a mask.

2. Tape a sign with your first and last name clearly written to the passenger side window so you can easily be identified when you arrive.

When you arrive:

3. Academic Stations: Enter the parent drop-off lane from the Panther Way entrance. Your car will be greeted by an FHS staff member.  Continue into the bus loop and proceed as directed to each station where you will stop to pick up items.  Course materials such as textbooks will be distributed by subject in the front of the building.  (Note: Not all classes will have materials to send home). After stopping at each academic station, proceed past the gym and take a right (the football field will be in front of you).  Follow the road around to the back of the building where you will stop to receive your chromebook. 

4. Chromebook Distribution: Pickup will be located at the rear of Franklin High School.  The location to stop your vehicle will be marked with a sign on the sidewalk. Please pull up to the sign and make sure your name is visible. All devices have been disinfected with electrostatic sanitizing equipment prior to distribution. 

In order to be eligible to pick up your chromebook, please complete both of these online forms PRIOR to arriving to avoid delays at the Chromebook Distribution station:

                          Chromebook /Consent Participation form

                          Acceptable Use of Technology form

5. To exit the campus, continue past the tennis courts to return to Panther Way.

We anticipate there being some wait time in vehicles as we distribute items.  Thank you in advance for your patience!

                                          Please come to FHS during your designated time only**

Wednesday September 9th

Thursday September 10th

If your last name begins with : Arrive on Wednesday 9/9 at:
If your last name begins with : Arrive On Thursday 9/10 at:

A8:30 AM
J-K8:00 AM

B9:00 AM
L9:00 AM

C10:00 AM
M-N10:00 AM

D11:00 AM
O-P11:00AM

E-G12:00 Noon
Q-S12:00 NOON

H-I1:00 PM
T-W1:00 PM

X-Z2:00 PM

** For those families that cannot come at their designated time, we are making arrangements for an alternate pick up day/time. We will communicate that informaiton as soon as arrangements have been finalized.

To see pick up map, please click here to go to the letter from FHS Admin

_______________________________________________________

Sent September 1st to Senior Families regarding SAT testing and other Guidance information:

Good afternoon Families of the Class of 2021, 

Throughout the summer FPS, FHS, and FHS Guidance have done our best to communicate reliable and confirmed information that we received as quickly as possible. We all genuinely understand and are sorry for the loss of opportunities that students and families have had in so many ways, including the college research and application process. As it relates to the CollegeBoard SAT Program, please allow us to clarify some information:

FHS has long been a testing site for SATs. This has been done as a service to students in our community. Staff who participate in this program do so of their own accord and are paid employees of the CollegeBoard in their role as SAT test administrators.

In response to the COVID shutdown of this past spring and the uncertainty of opening buildings in this school year, FHS made the decision in early June to close as a test center for the 2020-21 school year. This was immediately communicated to the CollegeBoard in early June and confirmed again in July.  

It has been CollegeBoard's responsibility to work to reassign any student that was assigned to FHS as a test center. CollegeBoard's policy has been to wait as long as possible before informing a student that their administration has been canceled with the hope that they (CollegeBoard) could find those students an alternate testing site. FHS has no ability to impact or communicate those changes.

We have been notified by families that the CB website still shows FHS as a test center for September 26th.  However, this is NOT the case.  

FHS Guidance staff have done a review of testing policy for the 20 most frequently applied to colleges for FHS students and have found consistency in the test optional policy for these schools. While we have not been able to confirm this for all programs at all schools, test optional is the prevailing policy at the overwhelming majority of schools, programs, and for scholarship consideration at these schools.

Guidance Counselors look forward to working with families in the coming weeks to support the development or fine tuning of college application plans for students. In that work we will continue to reach out to colleges on behalf of students but, as we always have, we encourage students and families to communicate directly with college admissions representatives when there are questions/concerns.

FHS and FPS continue to explore the possibility of an in-school school day administration which is the only way we would be able to limit participation to just FHS students. This is complicated by the need for:

safe entry and exit plans for students, 

staff needed to safely administer the test adhering to current protocol,

school calendar and schedule of teaching for all students and staff school wide

Please look for an email from your son/daughter’s guidance counselor later this week which will outline some thoughts/activities we have planned to move students forward with their post secondary planning.

Sincerely, 

FHS Admin and FHS Guidance

_________________________________________

Sent 8/31 to all FHS Families regarding schedules

Good afternoon FHS Students & Families

We are so excited to have our teachers back at FHS this week as we are preparing for school to begin on 9/16/20. Getting schedules to staff today resulted in a brief access for some students, parents and guardians this afternoon that was unintentional. Schedules will be shared by the end of the day Tuesday, September 8th as previously Communicated. Counselors will be available that following week to resolve scheduling issues around course leveling (CP/H/AP) and inaccurate academic courses at this time. 

We are very much looking forward to the school year and please be on the lookout for more information to come. 

FHS Admin Team

_________________________________________

Sent August 27th to all Franklin High School families and students regarding updates on chromebooks and schedules.

Hello FHS Families,

Please CLICK HERE to read updates from the FHS Administration and Guidance regarding student schedules and chromebooks.

_______________________________________________________________

Sent August 25th to all FPS families from the Superintendent regarding further re-opening plans

Dear Franklin Community,

Reopening Plan Approved
The School Committee approved the Franklin Public Schools Reopening Plan at its August 11, 2020 meeting.
Franklin Public Schools will be starting predominantly remotely and phasing into a hybrid model based on
preparedness and health data. The Reopening Website has been updated to reflect the plan and the
Comprehensive Plan has also been posted.

We will continue to provide updates and communications on what to expect to our students and families both
at the district and school levels.
https://sites.google.com/franklinps.net/returntoschoolplan/home

We anticipate that there will continue to be changes to the plan as we work on implementation details. The
plan will be adjusted in the coming days and specific details impacting families will be communicated from the
district and/or school buildings.

First Day of School
The first day of school for the 2020-2021 school year will be Wednesday, September 16, 2020 and the school
year will be 170 days. The School Committee adopted this new start date on August 11; the Committee will be
reviewing a calendar with proposed revisions of parent/teacher conference dates and professional
development for adoption at its next meeting on August 25, 2020.

Remote Only Commitment K-5
Thank you to the many families who recently completed a survey for students entering grades K-5.
Understanding your intention and a commitment to proceed with Remote Only education, once we transition to
a hybrid model, is very important for our ongoing planning. At this time, there is enough interest in Remote
Only that we are working towards a model where remote only students in grades K-5 will be grouped together
by grade level with students across all elementary schools and taught by designated remote-only FPS
teachers. Curriculum, instruction, and pacing will be aligned with grade level hybrid classrooms in the district.

Should families wish to change from Remote Only to Hybrid, we will provide opportunities at the end of each
trimester, and ask for four weeks of notice to be provided. Students will then be assigned to a Hybrid
classroom in their assigned school with assigned days for a cohort.

For those of you who selected Remote Only for your child/children, please be on the lookout for a confirmation
welcome letter.

Remote Only Commitment Grades 6-8
Thank you to the many families who recently completed a survey for students entering grades 6-8. Like with
grades 6-8, understanding your intention and a commitment to proceed with Remote Only education, once we
transition to a hybrid model, is very important for our ongoing planning. At this time and based on interest, we
are planning to have the Remote Only students continue to proceed in class with the students assigned to
hybrid cohorts.

Borrowing a Chromebook and Optional Insurance
Families who wish to be issued a Chromebook as we begin the school year may do so by requesting one
through the Technology Department. The current Chromebooks are part of an older fleet of devices that we
have been using in the District for the past several years.

Form to Request a Device/Remote Support

We have ordered new Chromebooks, however, we anticipate a shipping delay. When these Chromebooks
come in, families will have the opportunity to swap an older Chromebook for a new one. Families will be
responsible for the care of these Chromebooks, consistent with expectations for care of other school materials.
Families will be responsible for replacement in the event of breakage. In order to assist families, Franklin
Public Schools will be offering families the optional opportunity to purchase $40/year insurance to cover
Chromebook failures and accidents. (Intentional damage is not covered). This is something that has been
offered to our high school families as long as the 1:1 Chromebook model has been in place (since 2014).
Details about this insurance option will be clarified in future communications, after the new Chromebooks have
arrived and are ready for distribution.

Bus Transportation
Even though the deadline has passed, parents/guardians can still register their student(s) for bus
transportation via this google form, and we will do our best to accommodate families’ needs.

Please wait to make payment until further implementation plans and timelines are announced. We expect that
our busing contract will be amended this year with a varied schedule and reduced seating capacity. At this
time, we are unsure of what and when refunds will be issued, so we encourage you to wait to make payment
until we can assure that your student will have a seat. We will communicate future payment deadlines as they
are determined.
The FPS transportation website has been updated with further information. Please contact
schoolbus@franklinps.net with questions or to remove an already registered student.

Influenza Vaccine Requirement
Beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, influenza vaccine will be required for all students. Documentation
of immunization status should be submitted to schools. This immunization is required in all models of learning,
including Remote. Vaccinating against influenza is important for several reasons. Influenza vaccine is always
important to receive to reduce the risk of getting sick with influenza, reduce the severity of disease if one does

get sick (including the risk of hospitalization) due to influenza, as well as preventing the spread of influenza to
others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza vaccine will be especially critical to reduce the overall impact
of respiratory illness on the population, protect vulnerable populations from severe illness, and decrease the
overall burden on the healthcare system.

Exceptions may be granted for those for whom the vaccine is medically contraindicated or for families who
attest in writing that the vaccine violates sincerely held religious beliefs. Families must submit a letter to the
school nurse requesting an exemption and indicating the reason.

Please continue to send questions to reopening@franklinps.net and we will incorporate your questions into our
FAQ page.

Sincerely,
Franklin Public Schools

Please contact the Superintendent’s Office at 508-553-4819 with questions.
Alternatively, you can e-mail reopening@franklinps.net as noted above.

___________________________________________

Sent August 19th to all FPS families regarding a follow up to the August 14th notification

Dear Franklin Community,

We are writing with a follow up to the community regarding the August 14th communication regarding a reported positive COVID case at Franklin High School. At the request of the family, we have permission to share that the student had never been symptomatic and it was a false positive; the testing was done proactively as part of a planned family trip to Maine.

We regret that our communication caused distress and raised alarm in the community, particularly as some individuals seem to have inferred that there was irresponsible behavior among boys’ soccer players who were engaging in the sport through out-of-season workouts (of which our athletic department and coaches do not participate). Based on the information available, it is our understanding that these out-of-season workouts were conducted in accordance with appropriate safety measures and expectations and that the parties involved followed appropriate preventative protocols (e.g. contact tracing, isolation, testing) without further incident.

The intent of our original letter was to be informative within the community about appropriate steps to take in the event of exposure to COVID-19. Additionally, the letter was intended to provide families with recently issued guidance about sports so that you can assist your children in engaging in valuable physical exercise and the social benefits that athletics involves.

As part of the Reopening Plan, we will be publishing further information for families and staff about the protocols and procedures that will be in place for this school year related to symptomatic students and staff. These measures will include reporting, contact tracing, additional cleaning and disinfecting, and strict adherence to the Universal Health and Safety Practices.

The Coronavirus Pandemic has left us all emotional and on high alert. Please continue to extend kindness and grace to each other.

Sincerely,

Franklin Public Schools

Please direct any questions to 508-553-4819

____________________________________________________

Sent Friday, August 14th by the Superintendent's Office to all Franklin Public School Families-
Dear Franklin Community,

Our Athletic Department was informed that a Franklin High School student who had been engaged in
out-of-season workouts with members of the boys’ soccer team tested positive for COVID-19. Per MIAA rules,
our athletic coaches and athletic department are not involved in these types of out-of-season summer
workouts. These out-of-season summer workouts do not occur within our school buildings.

We think it is important to inform you, however, of this information as a reminder of the health and safety
practices that should be followed. Close contacts of anyone testing positive for COVID-19 should stay at home
and be tested 4-5 days after exposure. Individuals who test positive should remain home (except to get
medical care), monitor symptoms, notify the school, notify personal close contacts, and answer the call from
the MA Community Tracing Collaborative. Most people who have relatively mild illness will need to stay in
self-isolation for at least 10 days and until at least 3 days have passed with no fever and improvement in other
symptoms. If an individual is not tested, they should remain home in self-quarantine for 14 days from exposure.

We wish to remind you of the importance of universal health and safety practices including mask wearing,
physical distancing, and good hand hygiene. Additionally, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and
Environmental Affairs recently issued guidance on safe activities for low, medium, and high risk sporting
activities of which you may wish to be aware:
https://www.mass.gov/doc/safety-standards-for-youth-and-adult-amateur-sp...
nload

I also wish to assure you that in the event of a positive case within the school setting, additional measures
would be followed depending on the facts of the situation. Most specifically, the pertinent spaces within the
building would be promptly closed off and promptly cleaned and disinfected. Close contacts would receive a
communication with instructions on steps they should follow including isolation and testing or a 14-day
quarantine.

We recognize that news like this can be scary to learn about. By working together collectively, we can take
steps and measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within our community.

Sincerely,
Franklin Public Schools

Please direct any questions to 508-553-4819

______________________________________________

Sent Sunday August 9th to all Franklin Public School Families-

Click HERE to view the School re-opening proposal to be submitted to the state 8/14 after a school committee vote on 8/11

______________________________________________

Click HERE to view Mr. Hanna's weekly update videos on the Principal's Page found under the About Us tab.

______________________________________________

Sent Wednesday, August 5th to all Class of 2024 students who were registered for the High School Experience program:

In light of developing return to school guidelines, we write to inform you that High School Experience will not take place as scheduled on August 11th-13th. 

We recognize that it is still critical to address the needs of the Class of 2024 as they transition into Franklin High School. To that end, we have already begun planning a reimagined orientation and transition opportunities to be made available to all incoming freshmen. More details on these opportunities in the weeks ahead including information regarding:

 Chromebook distribution

 Accessing student schedules through the Aspen portal

 Building tours

 Connections with current FHS students

 Alternative 9th grade orientation information

All families will be refunded for fees paid toward High School Experience. Refunds will be processed as quickly as possible and as follows:

For those who paid by credit card within the last 120 days, refunds will be issued to your credit card. Credit card refunds typically take up to 10 business days to reflect on statements.

For those who paid by credit card more than 120 days ago or for those who paid by e-check at any time, refunds will be issued by paper check sent to your home address. Refunds by paper check typically take up to 5 weeks to process.

We look forward to welcoming the Class of 2024 this fall!

Chris Nayler
Director, Lifelong Learning

Joshua Hanna
Principal, Franklin High School

Kristin Letendre
Director, High School Experience

_________________________________________________________

Sent Tuesday, August 4th to all Class of 2021 and Class of 2022 students and families regarding parking registration:

Hello Families of the Classes of 2021 and 2022,

At this time students who wish to park on the FHS campus next year are required to complete the parking registration form to register their cars by August 30th. Registration does not guarantee that you will be assigned a parking space.  

Students who are permitted to park on campus will be notified via their FHS email the week of September 1st. Priority will be given to seniors and any remaining spots will be given to registered juniors by a lottery system.

Information about how to pick up your parking pass will be communicated in the September 1st email. 

If you do not have your license yet but have a set date from the registry, please note that in the license # field. A spot will be held for a period of time for those students who are experiencing delays from the registry due to the pandemic however, students must present a valid drivers license in order to pick up the parking pass. 

Please note that these dates are subject to change due to the uncertainty of when students are expected to return for a hybrid or full in-person schedule. 

Please email Mrs. Weber with any questions : weberm@franklinps.net

____________________________________________________________

Sent Saturday, August 1st to all FPS Families regarding the school Re-Opening Plan to be implemented

Click HERE to read Dr, Ahern's  letter regarding what our school re-opening will look like.

____________________________________________________________

Sent July 29th to all Franklin Public School Families regarding the new FPS School Re-Opening website

Good afternoon Franklin Community,

We are pleased to share the link for the Franklin Public Schools' Reopening Website: 

https://sites.google.com/franklinps.net/returntoschoolplan/home

Please bookmark this page to see the latest information about school reopening in the fall of 2020. We will be actively updating in the days and weeks ahead.

Franklin Public Schools

_____________________________________________________

Sent July 26th to all Franklin Public School Families with survey and chat links regarding school re-opening plans

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/july_26_me...

_____________________________________________________

Sent July 23rd to all Franklin Public Schools Families regarding Re-Opening Plans

Click Here to read a letter from Superintendent Sara Ahern regarding Re-Opening Plans

____________________________________________________

Sent July 14th to families of rising 11th and 12th graders:

Families of the Class of 2021 and Class of 2022,

Information about student parking for the upcoming 2020/2021 school year will become available soon after decisions are made about the re-entry process for school.

Thank you for your patience as we deal with the uncertainty of the situation.

Maria Weber
Assistant Principal
Franklin High School

____________________________________

Sent July 7th to all FPS families-School Committee Newsletter

Click here to read the newsletter

_______________________________________________

Sent June 29th to all FPS Families-a guide from the Massachusetts DESE regarding re-opening of schools

Click here to view the guide from DESE

_______________________________________________

Sent June 29th to all Franklin High School Families regarding change in Administration staffing at the High School:

Good evening FHS Families, Faculty/Staff, and Families of rising grade 9 Panthers:

This is a follow-up communication to you to elaborate on the reorganization of the HS leadership team mentioned in the budget update to the community.

I realize how difficult this past spring has been and the many questions that people have as we prepare to reopen.  As part of the many challenges we are currently facing, we are anticipating budget impacts that will affect staffing at every level and across different positions within the organization.  While the extent of those impacts remains somewhat fluid and we still hope to be able to restore many of the teaching positions previously cut, we have had to take a close look at the organization of our administrative positions at all levels and buildings.  As part of an overall reorganization of administrators at the High School level, the position of Deputy Principal has reluctantly been eliminated.  With this elimination, the High School leadership will be comprised of the building principal and four assistant principals, who are all supported by department heads, district directors, and the central office team.  

While I am confident that we will have ample leadership support for the High School, I can understand that change is not easy.  To assist our new leadership team, we have a solid training and mentoring program, as well as numerous individuals in our system with institutional knowledge that will help the team get off to a great start. 

Planning for the fall is already underway with Mr. Josh Hanna, the new FHS principal, already jumping in and participating actively.  I encourage faculty/staff, students, and families to get to know him over the summer through a series of virtual meetings he will be scheduling.

Please know we are excited and prepared to support the transition of leadership at Franklin High School and the return of the high school students at the start of the 2020-2021 school year. 

With respect,

Sara Ahern

Superintendent of Schools

__________________________________________________________________________

Sent June 29th to all Franklin Public School Families regarding initial re-opening update

Click here to view letter from the Superintendent regarding initial re-opening plans

_________________________________________________________________________

Sent 6/25/20 to Class of 2021 Families regarding Senior Yearbook Portraits

Hello Class of 2021 Families,

Please click HERE to view important information from Yearbook Advisor Ms.Taranto regarding your student's senior portrait for the yearbook. The link to this information can also be found on the FHS Website, Class of 2021 page. 

If you have any questions, please email Ms. Taranto : tarantoa@franklinps.net

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Sent 6/16 to all FHS families -end of year memo

Dear Panther Families:

Well...here we are.  We are three days away from the official end of a school year like none of us has ever seen.  Let’s begin by celebrating the close of the 2019-2020 school year (almost!), a wonderful graduation ceremony, and the declining numbers of Covid-19 across our state.

As we usually do, we will attempt to condense the information into shorter bullet points, but please reach out to administration with any and all questions/thoughts/reactions/comment.

Thank you isn’t enough, but it is a start.  Thank you to all parents, guardians, and supports who have helped our students throughout the year, but especially the past three months.  There have been times where you have played the role of teacher, counselor, friend, parent, and quarantine enforcer...often all simultaneously.  We know it hasn’t been easy.  And we appreciate it!

Classes are still in session through this Thursday.  

This week will be an opportunity for student and staff passion projects, clarification & reinforcement, goodbyes, and a chance to make up any work that is not yet completed.  Students should reach out to specific teachers with questions.

As is always the case with the last day of school, this Thursday is officially a half day.  That means the remote learning hours at FHS will shift from 8:30 to 10:30.

Yearbooks have JUST been delivered to FHS.  Be on the lookout for communication from the yearbook staff for plans around distribution.

We are currently in the midst of our material collection process for Grades 9-11.  Thank you to the many staff who have helped last week and this week!  Individual student schedules for collection were emailed last week.

Chromebooks will NOT be collected over the summer!

Please click here for our suggested summer reading list.  This year’s theme: “Our Journey, Our Franklin.”

A separate communication will be forthcoming when end of the year grades are available online.

We encourage you to keep a close eye on the upcoming budget meetings and proceedings in the coming weeks.  Most meetings are available to join via zoom and are live-streamed on the Franklin Public Access TV website.

At this time, MUCH is still very unknown about what next year will look like.  As Dr. Ahern shared, there is a town wide task force dedicated to the reopening of Franklin schools in the fall.  More information will be forthcoming.

As we conclude, we wish you, your children, your families, and your friends a tremendously safe, healthy, and relaxing summer.  We wish we could be delivering this message in person, but please know we are thinking of all of you.

Paul Peri

Bill Klements

Maria Weber

Cathy Klein

Jenn Santosuosso

Ryan Augusta

________________________________________________________________

Sent 6/15/2020 to all Franklin Public Schools families regarding re-opening of school Fall 2020

Please click HERE to view a letter from Franklin Public Schools detailing latest updates on the process for determining Fall School re-opening

_______________________________________________________________

Sent 6/2/2020 FPS Joint Statement sent to all Franklin Public Schools Families

Click HERE to view a letter from the Franklin Public Schools

_______________________________________________________________

Click here for information on Awards Night for Seniors, and Senior parade routes.

__________________________________________________

Sent 5/29/2020 to all Senior Families regarding Diploma Ceremony information:

Hello FHS Class of 2020 Students, Families, Friends and Loved Ones...

Please click on the link below and read through the accompanying information.

https://padlet.com/5711013/2020summertimeline

The 2020 Graduation Committee is excited to share the following with you:

Diploma Ceremony June 1-3

Each senior has been invited to take part in a Diploma Ceremony next week. Graduates will arrive in cap and gown and all family members must be in masks or face coverings. Please park in front of the high school and enter the community entrance nearest the gym at your designated time. (Each student has a unique time to enter).  Please remain in your vehicle until your time to enter. 

(See Diagram Below).  Here is the list of times for graduates.

When you enter the building, you will enter the gym and follow the signs. Each student will have a two minute window to get your diploma, cross the stage, have the administrators read your name and be professionally filmed and photographed. The video will be part of the Graduation TV broadcast airing Friday night, June 5th at 6:00pm.

Following the diploma ceremony, you and your family will exit the gym at the back left corner of the gymnasium.  You may then enter the turf in front of the school where there will be three photo stations.  At your photo station, there will be a Franklin High School backdrop and a professional photographer to take pictures of you and your family. Your family is welcome to take any pictures during this time.  (These professional photos will be available on a Class of 2020 smugmug) Note: You will have about 6 minutes at the photo station before the next graduate will be coming in. Please be timely so we do not get back ups. Once finished at the photo station, you and your family will exit the turf by the gate closest to the parking lot.  

Please note, ALL photos taken on the turf by the professional photographers will be posted on smugmug and will therefore be accessible by any graduate. If you are not comfortable with your graduate and family photo being posted on a communal website, please do not get photographed on the turf.  Thank you. 

We appreciate your adherence to all safety protocols to make this a safe and enjoyable moment for all.  This event is for immediate family members only and everyone is expected to be in masks and maintain safe social distancing.  We appreciate your desire to interact with your peers, but this will not be the time to congregate as it will violate the social distancing protocol that we must adhere to.

In case of inclement weather, we will move the photo stations inside to the cafeteria, Auditorium and Library. Please make every effort to be on time as we are attempting to create 432 individual diploma ceremonies.  If you miss your time, we will attempt to reschedule you for Thursday, June 3rd.

We are so excited to see you have your graduation moment!  

P.S.

On Friday, June 5th, Franklin High School seniors are invited to join the town for the first ever graduation parade!

Franklin Police will escort the graduates through town, circling the town common and with a final culminating at FHS.  

Exact parade routes will be released soon, as will the exact times, however, we would like to invite the community to prepare to celebrate the class of 2020 by lining our parade routes!  We owe huge thanks to Lieutenant West as we continue to work together to put the final touches on this part of the celebration!

After the parade, the graduation ceremony will be aired on Franklin TV and streamed on Youtube.  

Sincerely,

2020 Graduation Committee

-------------------------------------------------------

Sent 5/14/20202 to Senior Families regarding updated plans for Graduation and end of year for seniors:

Dear Class of 2020 Graduates and Families,

We truly hope this finds everyone healthy and safe!  On behalf of the Class of 2020 class officers and advisors, we are so excited to share the Graduation Plans for June 5th!  We know not everyone was able to see this week’s digital school committee meeting where much of this plan was originally presented and we are aware of the number of questions that exist in the Franklin community around our upcoming graduation ceremony. Much of what is contained below was presented publicly for the first time Tuesday night at the School Committee meeting.  The video of the Zoom call presentation will be posted to Franklin Public Access website showcasing the slideshow and the article from the Milford Daily News can be found here.  We also recognize this is an extensive notification and we apologize for its length.  We just want to ensure that we cover as much as we are able to at this time!

Planning for this monumental event has been ongoing since before the closure, as a high school graduation ceremony is a very special moment in a person’s life.  As a community, we hope that this plan captures the best of what we are able to do in this unique time.  We have been working in conjunction with other towns, administrations, and have had eyes and ears to what other schools are doing around the country.  We are in line with the majority of high schools in America, and especially with those in the Hockomock League and around Massachusetts.

Our hearts go out to the Class of 2020, as they have lost so much.  We fully recognize that family, friends, and graduates want to be physically together, however due to local/state/federal guidelines we are not able to pull together 450-7,000 people in a manner that is safe or in keeping with appropriate guidelines.  Our truest sincerest hope is that this blend of virtual pre-recorded speeches, in conjunction with a town-wide community celebratory parade and diploma ceremony will create an incredibly memorable event.

We want to reiterate and highlight that each graduate will have their moment!  Each graduate, upon reaching the front of the FHS building, will have their name called and will ‘walk across the stage’ to receive their diploma.  Photographers will be on site, as will local news and cable television.  We continue to work with the outstanding Peter Fasciano with Franklin TV and Radio.  It is our hope that the day’s celebrations will be broadcast on Franklin Public Radio 102.9 FM.

As conversations continue with different community stakeholders (central office staff, facilities, police, fire, students, parents) some details are yet to be finalized.  However, we are excited to share the following:

The FHS Class of 2020 graduation ceremony will take place on Friday, June 5th.  Times are yet to be determined.

The FHS Class of 2020 graduation ceremony will be a blend of pre-recorded online speeches and events as well as a live parade/diploma presentation for the graduates.

Speeches, military honors, the national anthem, and other recognitions will be filmed ahead of time and broadcast through Franklin Public Access.

There will be an opportunity for students and their families to drive to the high school, maintain physical distancing, and for students to receive their diplomas.

Some information can be found below.  Further details on this topic will be forthcoming.

We are working on finalizing details of some sort of celebratory parade route before or after the diploma pickups.  These conversations are ongoing with the Franklin Police Department.  This will be an opportunity for the town to come together in support of our graduates and their families as they roll through our town.  Specific details of location, time, staging area for parade(s) will be forthcoming.

The 2020 Graduation Plan - All plans subject to change

May 25-29-The class president, vice-president, valedictorian, salutatorian, principal and superintendent each present their graduation speech at FHS at specific separate times.  These speeches are pre-recorded for the June 5th graduation day.

Students will report to FHS to turn in chromebooks, other materials, settle obligations, and pick up individual boxes with caps, gowns, honor cords, records, and other materials typically distributed during the days leading to graduation.  Further communication on this topic will be forthcoming.

June 1-3-Graduation staging will be set up at FHS (either inside or on the turf field) and during specific scheduled times each graduate will report to FHS with their family, in their cap and gown, and will be provided with a picture opportunity.  The class officers will be asking for these pictures to be submitted to them for a graduation video.

June 5-Graduation Day!  Students and families are invited to decorate their cars and details of parade route(s) will be shared at a later time.  

Graduates will enter through Panther Way where the faculty and staff of FPS/FHS will applaud and celebrate the Class of 2020.  

Graduates will then enter the driveway in front of the building.  Much like the two podiums on stage during graduation, Mr. Klements will be staged at the main entrance and Mr. Peri will be staged at the community entrance.  Students will be directed to which location (prior to and during the ceremony) to accept their FHS diploma.

Why June 5th?

The Health & Safety of our Class of 2020 is the #1 priority and any plan for graduation cannot place students’ heath at risk.

All students must be included and no decision will be made that excludes students from participating in graduation

Public Safety & Medical Personnel are available in adequate numbers to maintain the safety of all participants. 

Currently:

Stay at Home Advisory extended to May 18th by Governor Baker, with further announcements coming soon

Current Closure of Non-Essential Businesses Executive Order restricts gathering to 10 or fewer

Anyone over the age of 2 must wear a mask in public as of May 6

Governor Baker’s Four Phase Plan is beginning on May 18

The state of Rhode Island and many communities throughout MA have cancelled events for July & August

Up to 20% of the senior class has either life threatening allergies or underlying medical issues that make them higher risk for exposure.  This number increases when we look at extended family.

Utilizing this date of June 5th brings the following benefits and challenges:

ALL students are able to participate

This original date of graduation brings a sense of closure to senior year

We would still hold open the possibility of future celebrations in the fall (e.g. cook-out, recognition/celebration near Thanksgiving, etc.)

Franklin Police and Fire Departments are currently available to assist with this event

Medical personnel from Franklin Public Schools are available

Risks to student health are minimized by this approach

Students are able to receive their diploma but are not standing together, in person as a complete senior class

Physical distancing and gathering size restrictions do not allow for the same number of guests or in-person family participation on campus

A significant portion of the senior class has either life threatening allergies or underlying medical issues that make them high risk for exposure during an in-person graduation

At this time, we are all having to find ways to celebrate life’s great moments differently.  As we work to celebrate and honor the tremendous accomplishment of our graduates, we will continue to do our best to make them, their families, and our community proud.  Thank you to everyone for your continued support of Franklin High School and our Class of 2020.

Sincerely,

FHS Administration and FHS Senior Class Officers and Advisors

_________________________________

5/11/2020 Sent to Senior families regarding "Adopt a Senior" Facebook page:

Dear Class of 2020 parents, guardians, and families,

As you may be aware, a Facebook page has been created for the seniors of Franklin High: “2020 Franklin High School (MA) Adopt a Senior”.  While it is not officially connected with Franklin High School, we are emailing you to help spread the word.

The Class of 2020 is made up of over 425 outstanding seniors and currently there are over 250 parents that have posted a photo of their student along with a very brief bio.  Once the photo is posted a member of the community “adopts” the senior and arranges for a gift to be dropped off at the student’s home.  Currently every student has been “adopted” and there are over 586 members on this page.

In our collective efforts for equity, please check out the Facebook page “2020 Franklin High School (MA) Adopt a Senior” for more information.  Additionally, you may also contact Daniela Masters dmaster11@verizon.net or Laura Gagnon lauraeileengagnon@gmail.com with any questions.

Thanks and appreciation to Daniela Masters, Laura Gagnon, Roseanne Szczepanowski and Nicole Nesbit along with our community celebrating our seniors during this remarkably unique time!

Sincerely,

FHS Administration

Sent May 8th to all Senior families regarding last day of online learning for Senior class:

Hello Panther Families-

As we head into the weekend we wanted to share with you the news that May 22nd is scheduled to be the final day for remote (online) learning for the members of our Class of 2020. There will be much more planned in terms of celebrations, collection of items, distribution of caps, gowns, records, and materials.  These will take place between May 22nd and graduation.

Meetings with key community stakeholders are on-going.  While it will look a little different this year, we have every confidence that the remarkable Franklin community will come together to honor our graduates in a special and meaningful ceremony.

Our administration would like to highlight the incredible leadership of Class President Danny Harrington, Vice President Chorr-Kin Chin, Treasurer Adam Gendrea, and Secretary Breanna Atwood in conjunction with class advisors John Leighton and Dustin Picillo.

Much more to come,

FHS Admin

___________________________________________

Sent 5/6/2020 to all FPS families regarding selection of new FHS Principal

Dear Franklin High School Community,

I am very pleased to share the news that Mr. Joshua Hanna has accepted my offer to be named the principal of Franklin High School. 

We were fortunate to have three excellent candidates emerge as finalists from a rigorous and thorough search process. Candidates were interviewed by an Interview Committee composed of faculty, administrators, parents/guardians, students, and two School Committee members. Finalists joined the district in a remote site visit to converse with students, parents/guardians, administrators, and faculty/staff in mid-April.  Feedback from the visits was reviewed and considered carefully and references were checked.  I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the members of the Interview Committee, led by Assistant Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Director of Human Resources Lisa Trainor.  I would also like to thank members of our student focus group, parents/guardians, administrators, and faculty/staff members who contributed feedback. 

Mr. Hanna has been serving as Assistant Principal at Hopkinton High School since 2013.  Prior to this role, he was a Social Studies Teacher and Social Studies Department Head at Natick High School. While in Hopkinton, Mr. Hanna has guided work around social/emotional learning, founded the Passion Project Club for the Class of 2023, created the Top of the Hill Program, led the Crisis Response Team, and served as designated school official for the F1 International Student Program. Mr. Hanna received a Bachelor’s Degree from Framingham State in History and he earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Simmons College.

We look forward to welcoming Mr. Hanna to the PANTHERS community. More communication from Mr. Hanna will be forthcoming as we prepare for the 2020-2021 school year.

Kind regards,

Sara Ahern

Superintendent of Schools

_________________________________________________

Sent 5/4/2020 to all FHS Families regarding general updates:

Hello Panther students and families,

We hope you are healthy and well.  We wanted to begin by hanging a sign on the fact it has been a bit since one of our communications has come out of the high school.  Over the past few weeks as there have been multiple emails from the schools and the district office, we didn’t want to overwhelm anyone with too much communication.  Having said that, as the calendar shifts to May, we wanted to reach out with some updates from the past several weeks.  Some of what is found below has been communicated previously.

Academics/Grading

As always, should you have questions about any of your children’s academics or assignments we encourage you to contact their teachers directly.

A reminder that all assignments and grades for Quarter 4 will be graded on a Pass/Not Pass (P/NP) and will not be factored into the end of the year average.

School committee has recently approved a temporary policy that gives teachers discretion to raise the final average for students by a maximum of three points for students who have put forth a very strong effort throughout this unusual end to the year.

Please note: this is intended to recognize students whose performance would have been strong enough to naturally raise their average during an ordinary grading period.

FHS staff and administration are not in a position to honor any requests to raise averages beyond what was presented to and agreed upon by the School Committee.  Thank you for your understanding.

News/Events/Accolades

A news story from Channel 5, featuring our senior boys

The original video (currently over 16K views!)

Unified music sings “I Want It That Way” by The Backstreet Boys

Panther News, Special Edition: May 1, 2020 (Panther TV is definitely a youtube channel worth following, by the way!)

A news story from Channel 10, featuring three of our lacrosse players

Some positivity from our 40% club, in the form of haiku

A letter from Conlon H, FHS ‘20, to his fellow classmates

Kudos to Ryan D, FHS ‘20, for her incredible effort to help our community!

As always, we encourage you to follow both the Franklin High twitter page as well as the Class of 2020 twitter page for up to date information and updates

A tremendous thank you to Signs by Cam for help with many of our community initiatives and always being a Franklin First community partner

Seniors/Graduation

Thank you to all community members who have sent in ideas/thoughts/suggestions about how to make the Class of 2020 graduation a celebration worthy of our tremendous graduates!

We have been in constant contact with our central office, class officers and advisors, and state and local officials.  More information will be forthcoming soon with updates and plans.

In the meantime, we ask all students to PLEASE observe physical distancing and refrain from gathering in large groups...especially on/near school grounds.  Even well intentioned moments of fellowship could jeopardize our ability to design future plans and events.  Thank you!

As always, we are here for you, thinking of you, and miss you all!

Mr. Peri, Mr. Klements, Ms. Klein, Ms. Augusta, Ms. Weber, and Ms. Santosuosso

PS-Today begins Teacher Appreciation Week!  Be on the lookout for additional communication and opportunities to recognize our incredible staff!

____________________________________________

Sent  5/4 from the FHS PCC to all FHS Families regarding teacher appreciation week:

Hello Parents and Guardians!

We hope you and your families are all healthy and faring well as we make our way through this pandemic.

Getting right to business, tomorrow kicks off Teacher Appreciation Week and although our teachers aren’t in the building they are still hard at work researching the best ways to teach, running classrooms remotely, correcting students' work and keeping the learning happening. In the past due to your generous donations we’ve been able to show our appreciation for the teachers with a week long celebration that included a breakfast, luncheon, candy bar and raffle.

Things are looking a little different this year but we’d still like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for what they’ve done and continue to do for our children.

We’d love to be able to honor the 180 staff that support our children by sending each staff member a token of appreciation. If you would like to participate please go to your paypal account and donate to: FHSPCC@gmail.com. Please put your name and “teacher appreciation” in the notes section for tracking purposes.

We greatly appreciate your consideration. Please feel free to contact
myself or Deb Matthy if you have any questions.

With gratitude,

Wendy Mollo                                 Deb Matthy
Wmollo1@verizon.net                  debmatthy@gmail.com

ReplyForward

________________________________________________

Sent 4/21/2020 to all FPS Families regarding extension of the school closure to the end of the school year:

Dear Franklin Families, 

Update on School Closure

Earlier today, Governor Baker announced that schools will be closed through the remainder of the school year.  As such, FPS will continue with Remote Learning, following DESE guidance, for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. We anticipate additional DESE guidance will be issued towards the end of this week.

At the top of our minds at the moment is our graduating senior class; we are thinking of you and recognize the difficulty of hearing this news today. FHS administrators sent a message earlier today and conveyed that they are meeting with class officers and advisors later this week. We wish to emphasize excerpts from their message, which was shared with the Class of 2020 and families:

“Even before this news we have been monitoring communication from the state as well 

as the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  We are collecting ideas and have begun exploring different options for non traditional graduation ceremonies.... 

We are considering ALL options for how to keep (or reinvent) traditions to maintain the once in a lifetime atmosphere of the end of senior year.  We are considering alternate locations, timelines, processes, digital events, etc...

And MOST importantly.   We miss you all, we love you, our hearts ache for what you have already missed, and we are constantly brainstorming ways to recapture the magic of your senior year!”

Indeed, we miss our students and our hearts go out especially to the members of our senior class and their families. We will continue to communicate with the Class of 2020 as well as the community about the developing plans and celebrations.

With the announcement of school closure, we anticipate opening the buildings again, thereby providing students with an opportunity to retrieve items.  More information will be forthcoming about this.

We have received several questions about refunds of user fees, in light of today’s announcement.  As mentioned at the April 14, 2020 School Committee meeting, refunds for user fees are under consideration, depending on the type of fee.  More information will be coming soon about this and we appreciate your patience.

Feedback on Remote Learning

The first two weeks of Phase II of Remote Learning have concluded and the District is eager to gather system-wide feedback from our families and from our students.  We will use this information to guide conversations and make adjustments, as appropriate. Please use the following link(s) to complete the surveys relevant to your family:

Elementary Parent/Guardian Survey:  https://forms.gle/r9DWe819k8cFBn1L8https://forms.gle/r9DWe819k8cFBn1L8

MS/HS Parent/Guardian Survey:  https://forms.gle/sHwju4Wy9pT8EjFq9

Parent/Guardian surveys will close on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at 8 PM.

Tomorrow, a survey will be sent directly to students in grades 6-12 to their @franklinps.net email addresses to learn more from them directly about their remote learning experiences.  Please ask your child to check their school e-mail address.
 

School Lunch

Our Food Services Department has just been awarded a DESE/USDA grant, allowing for expansion of our offerings.  Please see the additional attachment with an important update about school lunch being offered, Monday through Friday, from 11 AM to 1 PM to any child 21 years or younger within Franklin.

Sincerely,
Franklin Public Schools

Please contact the Superintendent’s Office at 508-553-4819 with any questions.  Please leave a voicemail. Although we are working remotely, voicemails are sent to email and will be responded to in a timely fashion.

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Sent 4/21/2020 to all Seniors and their families regarding plans for graduation activities:

Good Afternoon FHS Class of 2020 and families,

We hope you and yours are safe, healthy, and well.  We are thinking of you. We know there are many questions about upcoming plans for graduation.   We, like you, are still processing the governor’s decision to close school for the remainder of the school year.

Even before this news we have been monitoring communication from the state as well as the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  We are collecting ideas and have begun exploring different options for non traditional graduation ceremonies. We also recognize there are many ideas floating around in Franklin and on social media.

In addition to graduation, we are also thinking about other important matters to seniors including Senior Week, final grades, Awards Night,  etc. We have meetings planned for this week with the senior class advisors and class officers and will share that information as soon as we are able.

A few things to keep in mind:

We know there is misinformation out there.  Please be wary of rumors. Any information about plans, postponements, cancellations, or anything in between will come either from the high school, central office, and/or your class officers.

We are considering ALL options for how to keep (or reinvent) traditions to maintain the once in a lifetime atmosphere of the end of senior year.  We are considering alternate locations, timelines, processes, digital events, etc.

Something we are also taking into account is the size of the FHS Class of 2020.  Some ideas we are hearing that work for some schools could be difficult to implement with a class of more than 450 graduates.

And MOST importantly.   We miss you all, we love you, our hearts ache for what you have already missed, and we are constantly brainstorming ways to recapture the magic of your senior year! 

Truly and sincerely, we will find a way to see you soon!

Mr. Peri, Mr. Klements, Mrs. Klein, Mrs. Weber, Mrs. Santosuosso and Mr. Augusta

___________________________________________________

Sent 4/15/2020 to all FPS families more information about remote learning

Dear Franklin Families,

I hope that this communication finds you and your family well. As we continue with Week 2 of our Remote Learning Plan (RLP) we wanted to provide you with information on several topics: MCAS Testing, Deepening Learning, and Grading Practices. If you have questions, please be in touch with your child(ren)’s teacher(s) or the school principal. I am also happy to answer questions as needed. We miss your children and hope that you are all staying safe.

MCAS Testing Spring 2020
As you likely have heard in the news, MCAS testing for this spring has been canceled for
Grades 3-10 due to the extended closure of schools. For high school students, there are still unresolved topics related to the MCAS competency determination that is required for high school graduation. As soon as we get more information pertaining to high school students from the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, we will pass this along to you.

What does it mean to deepen learning for high school students?
For our high school learners, this can mean a variety of things during this period of remote
learning. Opportunities must be provided for all learners to continue, reinforce, enrich, extend, deepen, and advance their learning. We understand the pressure for students to develop skills and acquire content knowledge in preparation for the next course in a sequence or for college and careers. Content will be carefully selected by our teachers to advance the curriculum in thoughtful ways to ensure that students will be able to be successful with new material in the remote learning environment. We also know and fully understand that there will be impacts on our work when we return to school and into the next school year as some students will excel in learning at home and others may not. Our job as a district and within each school will be to meet each student where they are and to work toward success for each child.
Reinforcing, deepening, enriching and extending, or advancing knowledge and skills is the heart
of the Remote Learning Plan (RLP). Every school, college, and university in the world is facing the same sort of dilemmas as the Franklin Public Schools. We have already heard from colleges that non-traditional grading systems for term 4 will not impact our students in the college application process. More specific information on grading will be forthcoming.
Families can best assist students by creating a schedule and routines that support participation in
our virtual learning environment and with at-home independent academic expectations. The Remote Learning Plan specifically states that parents should not be put in the position of needing to be the teacher. If your child is struggling with content, skills, or meeting the academic expectations of the teachers or if your child needs more challenging work, please reach out to the teacher. This is no different than if we were physically in school. Communication becomes even more essential as the teachers no longer see your students as regularly.
We are just beginning week 2 of the Remote Learning Plan and there is a learning curve for both
teachers and students. Please be patient with us and let us know where we have hit the mark and been successful for your family and where we may need to adjust our practice. We know that we won’t be perfect, but we all want the very best for each of our students. We will be seeking formal feedback about the student experience from families soon.

Grading Within the Remote Learning Environment
The primary approach for high school students in our Remote Learning Plan calls for an
emphasis on learning to the fullest potential and providing access for all students. Many staff, students, and families have ongoing concerns related to Covid-19 which may hamper their ability to “do school” as usual. Minimizing the emphasis on grading is a deliberate effort to reduce the anxiety about grades, and hopefully overall anxiety, during a very stressful time in our lives. We respectfully ask that you encourage and support your child(ren) to participate in all learning activities, either with their class or independently, to the fullest extent possible.
 

Students at the high school level will be graded either Pass or Not Pass (P/NP) for assignments
during this period of closure. Participation and assignment completion is expected from students.
However, we recognize that there may be times that students cannot complete an assignment and we have directed teachers to be flexible about this. Final exams for the year have been canceled as we feel that when we return to school, it is far more important to use all available time for teaching and learning rather than assessing.
Pass/ Not Pass grades will be used through to the end of the year. The calculation for the final
grade for each course for the year will be done using the following parameters:

Term grades for terms 1, 2, and 3 will have equal weight in the calculation.

Term 4 will be graded Pass/Not Pass and will be considered by the teacher in assigning the final grade for the year.

The final grade for the year, in most cases, will be no lower than the grade earned for the first 3 terms.

Students will have the opportunity to improve upon the grade earned during the first 3 terms by demonstrating growth and mastery of the content concepts and skills. Simply achieving a P is not enough to increase the grade as growth must be in evidence. Teachers will provide greater detail on how this can be done in each course.

A grade of NP in term 4 may cause this grade to go down, in some cases.

In summary, the basic stance of the grading for the last term during the period of closure and
potentially for the cumulative grade of the year is to hold students harmless in this unique situation.

The GPA for all students is calculated using the grade for the entire year. Individual terms grades
do not (and have not) been a part of that calculation. Therefore, there is no impact on the GPA by using the P/NP system in term 4. The GPA impact, as always, is up to each student to determine for themselves in that grades are earned, not given. If a student is willing and able to demonstrate growth since the end of term 3, teachers will have the discretion to increase the final grade from the earned average of the first 3 terms as they consider the final grade for the course for the year.

We certainly understand that this approach is a departure from traditional grading. In many ways,
it creates new opportunities for us to consider learning and growth in new ways. We encourage students to work collaboratively with their teachers throughout Term 4 to ensure the best possible outcomes for all.

Thank you,

Franklin Public Schools

________________________________________________________

Sent April 14th to all FHS Families (including those with 8th graders) regarding an update to the FHS Principal Search:

Dear Franklin High School and Franklin Grade 8 Families,

Good evening. As you likely know, we are engaging in a search process for the next FHS principal. The Interview Team is to be commended for their work last week in interviewing semi-finalists and forwarding 3 candidates to me as finalists. I would like to thank the Interview Committee, Chaired by Assistant Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Director of Human Resources Lisa Trainor, for their work.
This committee was composed of teachers and staff, administrators, parents/guardians, students, and two School Committee members. They spent many hours interviewing candidates and deliberating. We are most grateful to their work.

The finalists were announced at this evening’s School Committee meeting and are:

Mr. Rick Arena: Currently the Assistant Principal at Groton-Dunstable Regional High School(G-D), Rick Arena has served the students of those communities for most of his career. A graduate of Bowdoin College with a master’s from Simmons, he was a high school teacher for fifteen years, innovative travel and club advisor, coach, a Dean and an Assistant Pr incipal. He has been involved in significant scheduling and curriculum changes, created and taught several courses and served as G-D’s first football and lacrosse coach.
The one constant is his focus on having students place a high value on individual progress and the contributions they can make beyond the classroom. He has a lifetime record of serving the common good through organizations such as the Kidney Transplant/Dialysis Association, elected Town Meeting, Cub Scouts, youth sports and civic and social groups. Rick enjoys hosting large family events, working on house projects, exercising, music and cooking. He lives on a pond in Westford with his wife, two sons, a water-obsessed lab and a very mellow cat.

Mr. Josh Hanna: Mr. Hanna holds a Master of Science in Education degree in Educational Leadership from Simmons College, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in US History from Framingham State University. He has worked at the Hopkinton High School since 2013 as an Assistant Principal. He previously served as a Social Studies Teacher and Coach at Natick High School from 2000 - 2013.

Mr. William Klements: Mr. Klements is currently in his fourth year as the deputy principal at Franklin High School. He has also served as an assistant principal at Sharon High School and prior to that taught English at Norwood High School. He has taught at the Boston College School for Continuing Education and began his career as an educational researcher conducting site visits and conducting data analysis in conjunction with the National Science Foundation. Mr. Klements holds a Bachelor of Arts from Providence College and Masters in Education from Boston College and Endicott College. He lives in Plainville with his wife and five children.

As a next step, each candidate will participate in a virtual “site visit”. Typically we host finalists to our school, providing an opportunity for groups to engage with the candidate and for the candidate to learn more about the school. We will try to replicate this as best we can in a series of virtual meetings with principals, central office leadership, the high school leadership team, faculty/staff, a student focus group, and a parent/guardian focus group. Most of these will be closed to participants, but the parent/guardian focus group will be broadcast in order for families to be able to view the candidates and their interactions among focus group members.
Additionally, I will interview each candidate and conduct reference checking. Following the visits, I will seek feedback from each group. The feedback I get from the process is very valuable to me in making what I consider to be one of the most important decisions a Superintendent makes.

Virtual Site Visits will be conducted on Tuesday, April 21; Wednesday, April 22; and Thursday, April 23.

More information will be coming soon about the opportunity for families to learn more about each candidatethrough the virtual forums
Please contact me at 508-553-4819 or via email (aherns@franklinps.net) if you have any questions.

Kind regards,
Sara Ahern
Superintendent of Schools

________________________________________________________

Sent 4/7/2020 to families of 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students regarding reviewing course selections for next year:

Good morning, 

I hope you and your family are doing well in these challenging times. As we continue to prepare for next school year, we are in the process of creating the master schedule and want to give all families an opportunity to review the courses that were requested during the course selection process which occurred in February and early March.

The current list of your student's course requests can be viewed in Aspen via the student Aspen login by going to the My Info top tab, then the Requests side tab.

Requests can also be viewed via the parent portal by selecting the student name then going to the Schedule side tab, Requests side tab.

The courses listed in the top box are the current requests. The courses in the bottom box are the recommendations that teachers made in January. Student schedules, when created this spring, will be made based on the course requests at the top, not the teacher recommendations. (Please note, the courses listed are current requests and are not guaranteed. Every effort is made to meet each and every student requests but that historically is not the case. Resolution to any potential conflicts will occur in May and June.)

If there are changes to the requests that you wish to make, please reach out to your student's guidance counselor by email no later than Tuesday, April 14th. While changes may be possible after this time, the likelihood of getting all requested classes does decrease. 

If you need help resetting an ASPEN password, please reach out to Marybeth Dolan (dolanm@frankinps.net).

Thank you,

FHS Guidance

________________________________________________________

Sent April 6, 2020 from the Superintendent's Office:

Dear Franklin Families,

Remote Learning Presentation

We would like to thank those who could join us last night as we presented the FPS Remote Learning Plan and answered questions. A recorded version of the presentation can now be found on our YouTube channel at the following link:  https://youtu.be/zTFW_Vpqnhk

We apologize for our technological difficulties and appreciate the patience everyone exhibited.  

Chromebook Borrowing

We appreciate that everyone is adjusting to the remote learning framework this week.  As noted, we will seek feedback to monitor the roll out.

We anticipate that there will be requests for Chromebooks. We would like to allow for a few more days of adjustment as everyone gets used to this new framework. We will be back in touch with further information about another round of Chromebook borrowing.

Kindly,

Franklin Public Schools

________________________________________________________

Sent 4/6/2020 to all Seniors and their families regarding local scholarships:

Good afternoon Class of 2020,

We hope this email finds you all hanging in there and staying healthy.  

As mentioned in prior communications, we have significantly changed the local scholarship process for this year, given our circumstances.  We hope you find the digital forms easy to use.  

PLEASE read the instructions carefully and reach out to your guidance counselor with any questions. There have been some changes to various requirements; everything is spelled out in the document. 

We have pushed the deadline back to Monday, April 20th at 3:00 PM.  

All the information you need to complete the Local Scholarship information can be found here.  

Be well!

FHS Guidance

________________________________________________

Sent Sunday, April 5, 2020 to all FHS families regarding tomorrow's start to remote learning

Good Evening FHS Community-

We know there has been much communication from both FHS and the district. As such, we are keeping this as short and concise as possible.  You will find three categories in this letter...Schedule, Grading, Behavior

Dr. Ahern sent out a link last week for a community forum (linked here) for any FHS specific questions.  This will take place tonight at 7:00.  We encourage you to attend. Mr. Peri and Mr. Klements will be present as well.

Schedule:  If you not had an opportunity to go through the district’s Remote Learning Plan, it is most important to note that sessions begin tomorrow, Monday 4/6 at 10:00am.  The schedule for the week can be found by clicking HERE.

Grading:  Final grades for Q3 will be shared with students and families during the second half of this week.

 We recognize there are many questions about grading for Q4.  Students will be graded on a Pass/Not Pass system for the quarter.  In answer to several of the most common questions

Q4 will not impact students’ overall academic standing or GPA, except in the event of a NP

The year end average for students who earn a P, will involve averaging the first three quarters.  Should a student demonstrate increased mastery of skill/content, teachers will be empowered to raise the final average.

Students are expected to put forth a good faith effort.

Teachers will demonstrate incredible flexibility and communicate frequently with the families of students who are not participating.

Behavior:  Lastly, we have already received several complaints/concerns about students behaving inappropriately during our new phase of online learning.  For many reasons, this is unacceptable. Teachers are balancing their own family’s needs in an effort to make this plan work.  Rude, disruptive, or inconsiderate behavior by students will not be tolerated. Thank you for reinforcing this message with your children!

Sincerely,

Franklin High School Administration

_________________________________________

Sent Thursday, April 2, 2020 to all Franklin High School families as a follow up to the previous information from Dr. Ahern:

Good Evening High School Staff and Families-

This comes as an FHS specific follow up to Dr. Ahern’s email from earlier this afternoon.   We encourage you to go through the Remote Learning Plan (RLP) as there is much useful information contained within.  However, with acknowledgement that it is lengthy, we wanted to write to clarify a few questions and provide reassurance in regards to tomorrow’s “Soft Launch.”

Regarding the “Soft Launch” on Friday, April 3rd

The spirit of Friday’s launch is to re-establish communication with staff and students. Many teachers and students have been doing so, which is great!  

Some teachers have already sent out invitations to their classes for something called Google hangouts, or Google meet.   This is NOT a requirement, but is a nice way to connect face to face. It is also an opportunity to ensure that all parties know how to send, receive, and connect via Google.

Included in the RLP is a schedule for when classes will meet Mon-Fri.  We recognize that tomorrow is not as scheduled. If anyone has a conflict...that’s OK!!

At a minimum we are asking students to check their email and their Google Classroom pages tomorrow, and we are asking staff to communicate with their students in some way.  Google meet, email, postings on Google Classroom...we’re flexible! Just connect with one another!

We very much recognize that there may be some classes that conflict tomorrow.  This is ok! If a conflict does exist tomorrow, students may choose what class to ‘attend’.  As we head into our schedule for Monday, this will no longer be an issue.  

Thank you for your time, patience, flexibility and understanding as Franklin Public Schools enters Phase II of its Remote Learning Plan. 

Be well and stay safe!!

FHS Administration

______________________________________

Sent Thursday, April 2, 2020 to all Franklin Public Schools Families regarding remote learning:

Dear Franklin Families,

We want you to know that we are thinking about our students and families at this difficult time. We are all missing our regular routine and our connections with the children who attend Franklin Public Schools.

Remote Learning Update

As you are aware, Governor Baker extended school closure through May 4 and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education provided districts with updated guidance on remote learning. We have been spending time aligning to this updated guidance and are prepared to begin phase II of Remote Learning on Monday, April 6.  There is a “soft launch” of the learning plan tomorrow, April 3, where teachers who have yet to connect with students this week via Google Meet will be doing so. 

We are pleased to share the Franklin Public Schools Remote Learning Framework, accessible by the following link: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fID4qLBUoxvsQ28MaqFDzm-kpnxdXEXmUxNQ...

An important distinction from our phase I message is that student participation is expected. Connection to school and educators is very important for students at all times, and especially now with the disruption we are experiencing.  We recognize that our students, families, educators, and leaders are doing something they have never done before. As a result, we know that it will be imperfect. Additionally, we know there must be flexibility within the structure; it is a balance we are trying to strike.

Questions 

District administrators will be holding Google Meet calls by level on Sunday, April 5, 2020, in order to share some brief thoughts about the plan and to answer questions.  

We invite you to ask questions ahead of time by completing the following form: https://forms.gle/vFCCkr6jBW9oywMTA

We will hold these virtual meetings at the following times, which you can access via a live stream:

ECDC/Elementary Schools

Live stream link: https://stream.meet.google.com/stream/6b95aa95-32ff-48f6-a425-07edcb108b65

Sunday April 5, 2020 at 5 PM

-------------------------

Middle Schools

Live stream link: https://stream.meet.google.com/stream/1c015a61-de41-4c92-9f32-27984c2b337b

Sunday April 5, 2020 at 6 PM

-----------------------

Franklin High School

Live stream link: https://stream.meet.google.com/stream/39cd3395-eb78-4ddd-a365-c993f159047b

Sunday April 5, 2020 at 7 PM

Questions will be answered during the presentations, which we will record and publish to our Coronavirus portal.  Additionally, the form will be open during the presentation to ask questions at that time.

We will be monitoring Remote Learning over time, seeking feedback from all groups, and making adjustments along the way.

You can expect to hear from me again tomorrow, prior to the weekend.

Kind regards,

Sara E. Ahern

Superintendent of Schools

________________________________________________________________________

Sent Sunday, March 29th to all FHS families regarding Q3, Q4 school work, moving forward:

Good Afternoon Panther Families-

Once again, we hope this finds you in good health.

We are writing with some updates, with much more to come.   There will be further communication about what is coming next, but this is in regard to what can be expected for Quarter 3 grades.

At this point, the decision has been made to close quarter 3 grades under the following stipulations:

The last day of the quarter will be considered March 12th.   Based on previous communication to, from, and with teachers, most of this work should already be completed.

Students will have the ability to make up any remaining quarter 3 assignments during the week of March 30 through April 3rd.  This can include work that was missing prior to school closing on March 12th. Your teachers will be demonstrating flexibility and understanding during this unique phase in this process. We encourage you to reach out to them directly with questions about your assignments and grade. Teachers will be checking and replying to emails daily.

Quarter 3 grades will be available on Aspen sometime after April 6th (more to come on this).

Quarter 4 will begin on April 6th (much more to come on this).

Work that has been done online in the interim (between 3/12 and 4/6) will not be graded. As the district deemed this 'optional enrichment'

Your teachers will use the following as their guiding focus...quarter 3 grades should strive to be a true representation of student progress.  This will be much more of a fluid process than any of us have previously experienced.

Your teachers have been working incredibly hard and will continue to do so in the coming weeks. We appreciate your grace and patience as we navigate this together.

Looking forward to when we can see each other again,

FHS Administration

___________________________________________

Sent Wednesday, March 25th to all Franklin Public Schools Families regarding extended closure:

Dear Franklin Families and Faculty/Staff,

As you may know, Governor Baker announced earlier today that he signed an executive order that all Massachusetts schools will remain closed through April, opening no earlier than Monday, May 4, 2020.

Both the Governor and Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Commissioner explained how the Department has been working to develop new guidance about Remote Learning in light of this extension. Superintendents are expecting to receive this guidance tomorrow and, after reviewing it, we will follow these guidelines and work cooperatively with the Franklin Education Association to build upon our initial engagement and enrichment since last week.

Per Commissioner Riley’s announcement this afternoon, our plan will begin in early April.

We will continue to keep the community informed as we continue to navigate these unprecedented circumstances. We sincerely hope that you are feeling well and that your families are staying safe.

Kind regards,

Sara Ahern

Superintendent of Schools

__________________________________________

Sent Tuesday, March 17th to all FPS Families from the Superintendent's Office-many updates

Good evening, 

We apologize for the lengthy e-mail, however we wish to cover numerous matters related to enrichment opportunities, learning resources, and continued engagement during this three week closure.  -- FPS

Dear Families,

We hope that you are doing well as we all navigate this unprecedented time in education and society. We hope that the information below provides some guidance in “Keeping the Learning Alive” at home. This information was also shared with teachers today and our purpose in sharing it with you is to ensure that students and families are on the same page with regard to expectations. There is no one right answer as to how to do this but we share a common goal: we all wish the very best for our students while they are not in school. Flexibility is key as things continue to change and shift. We will continue to communicate directly with you and encourage you to reach out via email to your child’s teacher(s) or principal if you have questions or comments.  Together, we will get through this! 

This letter will be translated into multiple languages and posted to our webpage on March 18, 2020.

Counseling Support

INTERFACE Referral Service

This is a stressful time and support is available to you and your family. If someone in your Franklin family, including your child is in crisis, where they are a threat to themselves or others, you should call 911.  As always, if you feel that someone in your Franklin family, including your child would benefit from outpatient mental health services we encourage you to utilize the INTERFACE Referral Service, which is free to all Franklin residents.   

Teaching and Learning

Logistical Items:

Report Cards (Pre-K and Elementary) 

Report cards will be generated and sent home upon return to school.

Progress reports will also be sent home upon return from school.

Grading

Grading is suspended until we return from school. Teachers may provide feedback on anything students choose to share electronically while out of school. 

Teachers have been asked to complete any grading for assignments that were turned in on or by Thursday, March 12. If appropriate, feedback will be sent to students and families electronically.

Report card dates, etc. will be reviewed and revised as needed upon return to school 

Expectations of Teachers for Keeping the Learning Alive:

Communication

Teachers and principals will be checking their email daily. Responses should come to you in a reasonable period of time, but please understand that they too are dealing with the impacts of the Coronavirus in their own homes. 

Teachers will be reaching out to students and families to reconnect. We have asked that they establish a predictable, routine check-in process. We believe that it is critical that students and teachers maintain the connections that have been formed. Relationships are the most important aspect of the home/school partnership, especially during times of stress, such as this unusual extended closure of school. 

You may also hear from school adjustment counselors, special education teachers, specialists, Unified Arts teachers, etc. Again, the goal is to maintain connections with our students. Your help in facilitating this is greatly appreciated. 

If you have a specific need that we can help with, please email or reach out to your child’s teacher(s) or principal. We are here to help and support both students and families. We care deeply about and miss our students.  

Instruction:

The goal of “Keeping Learning Alive” is to provide enrichment opportunities and resources to students and families. There is to be no NEW or forward instruction during the time that we are out of school. While we are working to allow for Chromebook borrowing and connecting families to low cost Internet access, not all students have the learning support they need to complete/learn new work. Therefore, the emphasis is on enrichment, practice, and depth.

You will shortly begin to see teachers sharing resources with you to “Keep Learning Alive”.  These resources may come from the new FPS Learning page, DESE curated resources (coming soon), or from the teacher/team/grade.This is not online coursework; it is enrichment and alternative learning opportunities.

We are not transferring responsibility for learning or homeschooling to families.These activities are optional for families and student participation is not required. We do encourage it, to the extent possible for your family. 

We do encourage you to set a regular routine with your children and hope that you will choose to participate in some of the activity suggestions coming your way. A sample schedule for younger children is shared on the family resources section of the FPS Learning page.

The materials you receive will not replicate a regular school day.

Please connect with your child’s principal if you need Internet access. There are some low-cost options available to you.

Our faculty is eager to connect with students and is/has been actively planning from home to make resources available to children. For us, it was so heartwarming and uplifting to connect with hundreds of our educators across the district during two live virtual calls earlier today. We are all invested in supporting students during this difficult time.

For questions about the FPS Learning Plan, please contact your child’s teacher, principal, or Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, Dr. Joyce Edwards (edwardsj@franklinps.net).

Student Services

New Referrals/Initial Eligibility:

We, along with other schools in the Commonwealth, will freeze evaluation, referral, and individual education plan distribution timelines for all students in a referral cycle during school closure.  This means that as soon as schools open again, the timelines will commence as is required by state and federal regulations.

Annual Reviews/Evaluations in Process:

We, along with other schools in the Commonwealth, will freeze evaluation, annual review, and individual education plan distribution timelines for all students on IEPs and 504s during school closure.  This means that as soon as schools open again, the timelines will commence as is required by state and federal regulations. Team Chairs will be working with families to understand the impact of the closure on students and to reschedule meetings.

Home ABA Services:

Home ABA services funded by Franklin Public Schools will be suspended until further notice.

Home/Hospital Tutoring:

Home and Hospital Tutoring occurs outside of the school buildings, and as such, families can decide whether or not they will allow tutoring staff into their homes.  As a practice, Franklin Public Schools does not provide tutoring when school is not in session. For students currently receiving home or hospital tutoring, please understand that our ability to send contracted service providers into homes is contingent upon student’s and staff’s perceived health and wellness in accordance with state and CDC guidelines.

OOD/Residential Placements:

For students in Out-of-District day or residential placements, Franklin Public Schools will follow the attendance recommendations of the individual school or facility.  If the Out-of-District day school is in session, we will continue to transport your child.

365 Day Residential Placements:

For students in 365-day residential placements, Franklin Public Schools will follow the attendance recommendations of the individual school or facility. 

For Questions about Student Services, please contact your child’s special education liaison, service provider, principal, or the Director of Student Services, Ms. Paula Marano (maranop@franklinps.net).

English Language Development

Teachers from the English as a Second Language Department will be reaching out to families with information and supportive materials later this week.  

Once again, we cannot stress enough that our goal for this time out of school is to maintain the positive relationships we have with students. We are here to help and welcome your comments and suggestions. This situation is new for all of us and your collaboration is encouraged and welcomed. Please take care of yourself and your family.

Respectfully,

Franklin Public Schools

______________________________________________

Sent Monday, March 16th to all FPS Families-coronavirus information updates from Superintendent's Office

Dear Franklin Families,

Hello.  We are thinking about you at this difficult time. 

As we begin to plan enrichment learning opportunities and curate resources for families during the time of school closure, we are reaching out regarding device access. 

If your grade K-8 child does not have a home device with which to access the digital resources please complete this form to request a Chromebook for use during this time: https://forms.gle/C6USf4w2WStx7cRQ8. Please complete this by noon on Tuesday, March 17.

If you are unable to complete this form electronically, please e-mail your child’s principal to request a Chromebook. 

Building principals will soon share the times when the building will be open over the next few days for children to pick up essential items and, if requested, borrow a Chromebook for educational purposes. We will apply appropriate social distancing practices during this time.

Here is a reminder about access to Grab and Go Breakfast/Lunch:

During this period of closure, families who feel that their student would benefit from having a grab-and-go lunch and/or breakfast may pick up meals via the back driveway of Franklin High School between the hours of 11:30 am and 1:00 pm Monday through Friday. If transportation is a concern, please reach out to the Student Services Office at (508) 553-4811 by 12:30 PM who will assist you.

Breakfast -- cereal, yogurt, juice
Lunch -- sandwiches and salad options

Stay safe and be well.

Kindly,

Franklin Public Schools

___________________________________________

Sent Sunday evening, March 15th, to all Franklin Public Schools families regarding extension of school closure

Governor Baker announced that public and private schools in Massachusetts will be closed for three weeks, through April 6. Therefore, Franklin Public Schools will be closed until April 6th, planning to resume operations on Tuesday, April 7th. 

Our last day of school is still expected to be Wednesday, June 24, 2020.

A key emphasis of the Governor is that this measure is designed to promote the slow of the Coronavirus infection through the practice of social distancing.  This article may be helpful to you in understanding what behaviors help to support this measure:

“Social Distancing: This is Not a Snow Day” by Asaf Bitton, MD, MPH,

To summarize the article, the author advises no playdates, no movie theaters, no parties, no sleepovers, among other social behaviors. The author suggests taking care of yourself and family members and, although challenging, that everyone practices social distancing. 

________________________________________________

Sent Sunday, March 15th to all FHS Families regarding a change in the day where students will have access to retrieve belongings

Good Afternoon Franklin Families-

We apologize for the change in plans, but due to continued cleaning of the building, we are moving the time for students to access FHS to gather their materials.

_________________________________________________

Instead, the time will now be Wednesday, March 18th, between the hours of 9:00 am and 12:00 pm.  The building will NOT be accessible to students or staff tomorrow, March 16th.

On Wednesday, all students should access the building through the main entrance.

While Mr. Peri, Mr. Klements, and other administration will be in the main office, teachers and staff will NOT be present.  This is a window of time designed for students to access any materials they may need during the coming weeks

Further communication about classes and academic expectations will be forthcoming.

We hope you are staying safe and healthy, and please know that we are already looking forward to seeing one another again!

Sincerely,

Mr. Peri, Mr. Klements, Mrs. Weber, Mr. Augusta, Mrs. Santosuosso, and Mrs. Klein

_______________________________________________

Sent Saturday, March 14th to all FHS families regarding FHB building being open Monday 3//15 from 9AM to 12 Noon for students to pick up belongings:

Good Evening Franklin Families-

This communication comes as a followup to recent communications from our central office.

For any FHS students who need to access the building to pick up chromebooks, instruments, books, or any other materials  the building will be accessible on Monday, March 16th, between the hours of 9:00 am and 12:00 pm.   

All students should access the building through the main entrance.

While Mr. Peri, Mr. Klements, and some assistant principals will be in the main office, teachers and staff will NOT be present.  This is a window of time designed for students to access any materials they may need during the coming weeks

Further communication about classes and academic expectations will be forthcoming.

We hope you are staying safe and healthy, and please know that we are already looking forward to seeing one another again!

Sincerely,

Mr. Peri, Mr. Klements, Mrs. Weber, Mr. Augusta, Mrs. Santosuosso, and Mrs. Klein

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Sent to all Franklin Public Schools families 3/13 regarding closing schools from March 13th through March 27th

Good afternoon,

After much consideration, out of an abundance of caution, Franklin Public Schools will be closed through March 27, 2020. We recognize that this creates a disruption in our daily lives. We did not make this decision lightly, but the health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority.

Please CLICK HERE for more town and school-based information.  Additional details will be forthcoming later today from FPS administration.

Kindly,

Franklin Public Schools

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Sent to all Franklin Public Schools families 3/12 regarding the closing of schools Friday, March 13th

This notice is to inform you that the Franklin Publioc Schools will be clposed Friday, March 13th. SAT's on Saturday, March 14th are cancelled. Click HERE to view a letter from Superintendent Sara Ahern.

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Sent to Seniors and their Families regarding FHS Local Scholarships

Good afternoon FHS Seniors,

Thanks to the amazing generosity of local families and businesses, Franklin High School is able to award scholarships for post-secondary education to graduating seniors.  These scholarships will be announced at our Awards Night in May.  

Information on this year's local scholarships can be found HERE  In addition, a copy of the scholarship application is also included.  Please read the instructions on the packet/application very carefully.  

The application deadline for all FHS Local Scholarships is Monday, April 13th by 2:15 (no exceptions).   Please return completed scholarship applications to the FHS Guidance office. 

As always, please reach out to your son/daughter's guidance counselor with any questions.  

Thank you, 

FHS Guidance

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Sent March 10th to all Franklin Public School Families regarding an update on Coronavirus protocols:

Good afternoon,

Please sclick HERE to view an update from the Superintendent about Coronavirus. This update and translated versions will be posted on the FPS website tomorrow.

Kind regards,

Franklin Public Schools

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Sent March 9th to Families of 10th graders regarding tomorrow's MCAS Infrastructure trial: 

Good Afternoon students and families of the Class 2022!

Tomorrow we will be having our MCAS Infrastructure Trial. 

A few key things to keep in mind:

This is just a trial.  It is to test internet connectivity and allow students to refamiliarize themselves with how the test works on their chromebooks.

PLEASE send students to school tomorrow with fully charged chromebooks.

We will have a limited number of loaner chromebooks for students who bring their own devices.

We will be testing tomorrow during second period.

Thank you, and enjoy this beautiful afternoon!

FHS Administration

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Sent March 8th to all FranklinPublic Schools families regarding Coronavirus:

Click HERE to view a letter from FPS Superintendent Ahern regarding an update on Coronavirus

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Sent March 3rd to All FHS Families-Monday Communication #4

Good Afternoon Panther Families!

We need to begin this memo by bragging just a little/a lot about an unbelievable list of accomplishments just from this weekend.  The hard work of our staff and our students is truly coming to fruition. This also couldn’t be done without much support from home.  Thank you!!

It seems like Panthers were everywhere in the state over the past few days:

Our Mock Trial Team finished in the Sweet 16 with tremendous scores and individual efforts

Our drama program won and advanced to the semi-final round in competition

Several of our art students were recognized at MAEA awards ceremony in Boston

DECA continues to crush it as they competed at the state level this weekend

Samhita Modak won and advanced in Poetry Out Loud

Cheer won the Hockomock!

Many team and individual accomplishments in track and field, swimming, as well as wrestling

Girls Basketball won and advanced-Tuesday night @WPI 7:45

Boys Hockey won and advanced-Thursday...just changed @Bourne 5:15

Boys Basketball won and advanced-Friday night @Worcester State 6:00

...and that was just this weekend.  As we tweeted out recently, if we missed anything please know it wasn’t from a lack of trying.   THANK YOU to everyone who makes these tremendous student accomplishments possible. So much Panther Pride!!!

We would also like to recognize and acknowledge that Franklin High School has recently experienced an uptick in staff that is currently out of the classroom.  From maternity leaves to personal health issues, we are working hard to find skilled, licensed, long term substitutes. Our department heads, our administrators, and our teachers are working each day to ensure that the highest possible levels of education are occurring.  Should you have any specific questions please reach out to administration.

Finally, due to all of the above mentioned successes, the senior class has a conflict this coming Friday between the Senior Banquet and playoff games in Worcester.  More information will be forthcoming.

Enjoy your day tomorrow, and we will be communicating again soon with even more examples of Panther Pride!

Sincerely,

Paul Peri, Principal

Bill Klements, Deputy Principal

Ryan Augusta, Asst. Principal

Maria Weber, Asst. Principal

Jenn Santosuosso, Asst. Principal

Cathy Klein, Supervisor of Special Education

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Sent March 2nd to all FHS Families regarding the mandatory Extracurricular Activity Fee

To Franklin High School Families:

As you may be aware, there is a once yearly $75 participation fee for non-athletic, extracurricular activities.  This fee applies only to those students who join an after school extra-curricular club or organization with the exception of National Honor Societies, Student Government, Peer Mentors, Peer leadership, SAGA, Community Service Club and Best Buddies.  

One $75 Extracurricular Activity Fee payment gives a student the opportunity to join as many clubs or activities as he/she wishes!.  Please note, this fee has increased by $25 from previous years.  While we are always reluctant to increase any fees at the building or district level, this allows for us to continue to provide a robust offering of clubs and activities that meets the needs and passions of our large and diverse school community.

At this time,  any student who wishes to continue his/her participation in one or more activities must have paid the $75 Extracurricular Activity Fee.

This fee allows us to continue to offer an array of activities that appeal to the varied interests of our students.  Please note that for many activities, the $75 Extracurricular Activity Fee will be the only cost.  For some clubs, such as the Ski Club, there will be additional costs related to the variety of optional activities offered to members.

Any family that qualifies for the federal free lunch program will be exempt from the $75 Extracurricular Activity Fee.

Link to pay the $75 Extracurricular Activity fee through Unibank 

The Unibank payment link is also located on the FHS Website -click on Online Payments in the middle of the home page and select Extracurricular Activity Fee from the list of payments

On the Unibank payment site, you can pay by electronic check, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express. Please note, if you pay by credit card, there is a $2.50 processing fee added by Unibank; there is a 25 cent fee if you pay by electronic check. 

If you are unable to pay online, you may send in a check for $75, made payable to the “Town of Franklin,” and have your student drop it off in the Main Office. If you opt to pay the fee by check, make sure “Activity Fee”, your student’s name, and student ID number are on the memo line of the check.

It is unfortunate that we have to add this fee to the others you already pay.  Thank you for your understanding and support.  

For a current list of our clubs and activities (other than athletics) please click HERE

If you are unsure as to whether or not you have already paid this fee for your student this school year, please contact Ms. Michelle Hart by email at:  hartm@franklinps.net

Yours truly,

Paul Peri

Principal

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Sent February 28th to all Franklin Public Schools families regarding Coronavirus:

Good morning Franklin Families and Faculty/Staff,

We are aware that many families and staff members have concerns and questions related to the news of the recent outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and how it may impact our local schools and community.  As a district, we are remaining informed of the health advisories being issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MA DPH), the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and other agencies.  For your reference, you may wish to view the following links, which are providing regular updates and recommendations:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

https://www.mass.gov/guides/information-on-the-outbreak-of-2019-novel-co...

https://www.mass.gov/guides/information-on-the-outbreak-of-2019-novel-co...

While this is a public health concern, the CDC and MA DPH continue to report that the immediate risk to the general public remains low at this time.

Please see the attached letter for additional school-based information related to prevention. 

Kind regards,

Franklin Public Schools