Family, Friends, and Neighbor Days
September 22, 2022
Family, Friends, and Neighbor Days (No Homework)
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Background
In 2018 the District introduced the concept of Family, Friends, and Neighbor Days. These were four identified days where no homework was assigned and students and their families were able to dedicate time to family, friends, or neighbors. The creation of these special days supported one of the four standards represented in the District's Strategic Plan includes Family and Community Engagement. The goals associated with this standard are driving Framingham Public Schools to foster community, family, and business partnerships that further support and engage our relationships and encourage collaboration.
If you look at the 2022 - 2023 District Calendar, you will see that there are 4 dates with this designation, which will (to the best of our ability) be held for family and community engagement. These days are called Family, Friends, and Neighbor Days.
The first Family, Friends, and Neighbor Day takes place tomorrow, September 22nd!
What happens on Family, Friends, and Neighbor Days?
In Dr. Tremblay’s vision of these days, the District will limit - or simply not assign - homework and we would avoid scheduling athletic practices/games, music rehearsals, and other school-driven commitments on family time in exchange for students to be afforded that time to engage with their family, friends, and neighbors.
Some of our school's are utilizing this time to build connections with families.
There are local Girls JV and Varsity Soccer games tomorrow, as well as a couple events through the Framingham Public Library. We're also sharing a slightly refreshed list of fun ideas that may bring you together in your own home. Please see below!
Ways to Participate
Play a game of Family Q&A. Here are 101 Questions to get you started.
Have a smartphone? FaceTime, WhatsApp, FB Messenger or just call a family member out of the blue to chat about something new.
Find and follow a How-to Draw video on YouTube - then compare your creations! Take it a step further by putting that drawing in the mail and send it to a family member or friend!
Try Geocaching as a family or make-up your own scavenger hunt.
Have a dance party in your living room, taking turns who picks songs. Parents / Grandparents can use this as an opportunity to introduce new (old) songs to their kids.
Play some ‘Minute-to-Win-it’ games. Here is some inspiration.
Play a card game: Go Fish, Rummy, Spades, etc. Need a refresher? Here are some other ideas.
Prepare and enjoy a meal together (members of your household)
Host a ‘Game Night’ with your family and/or friends, and/or neighbors. (If you're still conservative with your COVID precautions, you can still do this by limiting to those you normally spend time with and wear masks if playing with non-household members)
Take a family walk - before or after dinner. Be sure to dress for the weather.
- Take your trek around the track: Bowditch Field, Barry Bograd Memorial Field track, or Cushing are all great places to take your family movement time.
- You can also do a woodsy walk at Callahan State Park, Cowassock Woods, Nobscot Reservation, or Macomber Estate.
- The Cochituate Rail Trail (CRT) is another great, scenic walking path! A multi-use trail that runs from the Village of Saxonville in Framingham to Natick - a distance of 4 miles!
FPS and FPL Events
Girls Soccer Games - Come Cheer Them On!
Girls JV Soccer: Flyers vs. Walpole at 4pm (FHS Front Fields)
Girls Varsity Soccer: Flyers vs. Walpole at 4pm (Fuller Middle School Turf Fields)
Intro to Arduino
- September 22, 2022 , 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm / Main Library - SparkLab
- Arduino is back! If you missed one of our previous Intro courses, or want a refresher before we start a Halloween centric program series in October, here’s your chance to join in!
- Learn the basics of Arduino, and how you can use these microcontrollers in all sorts of projects.
- Registration required: Please click the link below to fill out the registration form.
- https://bit.ly/Arduino-Sept22
- Grades 5-12
Salt Crystal Leaves
- September 22, 2022 , 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm / Main Library | Spark Lab
- Make your very own crystallized leaf with the use of salt and water. Ages 8+
Lifelong Learning Lectures: A Burning Controversy
- September 22, 2022 , 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm / Main Library, Costin Room & YouTube Live: youtube.com/FraminghamPublicLibrary.
- Join the FPL for the return of our Lifelong Learning Lecture series with their first lecture: "A Burning Controversy: Did Native Americans Modify the Landscape of New England?" with Dr. Larry McKenna, Assistant Professor of Physics and Earth Science, FSU and Co-Founder of the Center for Climate Change Education.
Backstory:
In 1984, William Cronon published Changes in the Land, describing how Native Americans purposefully manipulated the forests of New England thousands of years prior to contact with Europeans.
A new crop of research done by relative newcomers to the field challenges the accepted story that Native Americans used fire to clear land for habitation, agriculture, and deer.
The burning controversy over Native peoples’ use of fire is a fascinating story, but also illustrates the surprisingly passionate and un-scientific way science actually gets done.
Show us your Family, Friends, and Neighbors Spirit!
If your family participates in any of these or other activities to engage and connect with your family, friends, and neighbors - please share how you’re spending this Family, Friends, and Neighbor Day.
Here are some guidelines and recommended tags!
The mission of the Framingham Public Schools is to educate each student to learn and live productively as a critically-thinking, responsible citizen in a multicultural, democratic society by providing academically challenging instructional programs taught by highly-qualified staff and supported by comprehensive services in partnership with our entire community. For news, updates, and announcements, follow Framingham Public Schools (@FraminghamPS) on Facebook, Twitter, and (@framinghamschools) on Instagram. You can also join the conversation using #FraminghamSchools.