District News and Announcements
May Edition
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OVERVIEW
In addition to the regular communication you may receive from teachers, school leaders, and Dr. Tremblay regarding academics, COVID-19, and operational updates, the District also wants to share news, announcements, and opportunities that impact the broader community. Please see below for several timely messages from various community partners and District leaders.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Come Join Us!
When: May 21st from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Where: Harmony Grove Elementary School
Snacks will also be provided!
50th Anniversary of Title IX: A Celebration Event
The FHS Athletics Department is hosting a special event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Beginning with a speaking program, current and former members of FHS Athletic Teams will share what Title IX means to them and will also showcase all of the athletic options available to females in Framingham.
Community Catch-up Clinics for School and Camp Required Immunizations
FPS, in partnership with the Framingham Department of Public Health and Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center are hosting a series of Community Catch-up Clinics to get Framingham students caught up on their required routine vaccinations for school and camp.
Learn about the Community Catch-up Clinics (in English, Spanish, and Portuguese)
Framingham High School Drama Company Presents... High School Musical
Get your tickets at https://www.showtix4u.com/#ticketing
SAGE iNight Event
The Framingham Sage Department presents iNight 2022 on Thursday June 9th from 6pm.- 7:30pm at Cameron Middle School (215 Elm Street).
This event and presentation celebrates Sage students from 4th - 8th grade as they explain their independent investigation projects. Earlier this year, students selected topics of interest, worked to solve a problem, produced something creative, and/or facilitated self-growth. We are excited for you to see what creative projects they pursued and for the students to showcase their products and solutions!
Food Services Updates
A Letter from Our New Director of Food Services
My name is Dario Nardi and I am the new Food Service Director for the Framingham Public Schools. I am married to my wife Donna and I have two daughters, Darien and Logan, my dog Parker, and a grand-dog Hank.
My previous position I was the Food Service Director for the West Springfield Public Schools for the past sixteen years. I have twenty-four years experience in School Food Service and thirty-two years in the Food Service industry. I also served as Chairman of the Board of Selectmen for six years in the town of Warren where my family resides.
I take my role in School Nutrition very seriously. I know the challenges parents face every day. I can assure you no child will ever go without a meal in Framingham. I take great pride in ensuring our students have everything they need to meet their nutritional needs.
With that said, I can not do it alone and I am fortunate to have very talented staff in our department. I pride myself on being innovative and thinking outside the box. I told our staff never to be afraid to make a mistake. A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new. I truly believe you learn more from failure than you do from continued success.
This is a team effort and my staff does an amazing job. Their efforts do not go unnoticed and together we will do great things.
I became who I am professionally by learning from others. I have taken bits and pieces from so many great people in my life who helped mold me into who I am today.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Tremblay, Superintendent of Schools, and Lincoln Lynch, the Director of Finance and Operations, for the opportunity to serve the residents of Framingham. I truly look forward to the future and what lies ahead.
New App for Lunch Menus
Last Day of School Reminder!
UPDATED!! The last day for PEL Preschool Programs at the Metrowest YMCA and Framingham State University Centers for Early Childhood Education students is Friday, June 17th.
UPDATED!! The last day for BLOCKS Preschool students is Wednesday, June 22nd.
The last day of school for FPS Students in Kindergarten through Grade 11 is Thursday, June 23rd. This is a half-day and lunch is not served.
Character Trait of the Month - Compassion
We've defined Compassion as 'an emotional response to empathy or sympathy and creates a desire to help'. The Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum is all connected to this theme/trait and is supported with activities during morning meeting, mindfulness, discussions, books, art, team-building, games and more!
Feel free to explore the Compassion Smore which is being utilized for the month of May and contains activities, book recommendations, and other ideas about how to show compassion. In partnership with Open Spirit in Framingham, check out these custom made videos about our theme of the month. They include mindfulness and yoga with our themes.
Meditation to Spread Compassion
CONVERSATION STARTERS ABOUT COMPASSION:
- What is compassion?
- How do you show compassion?
- How do you feel when someone shows compassion or empathy towards you? Why?
- How does it make others feel to receive compassion?
- Why is showing compassion for others important?
- What does a classroom that shows compassion look like and sound like?
Good News Network
Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
FHS hosted an inaugural Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on May 7th at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center.
Rebecca Maynard's Fellowship Experience in La Paz, Mexico
On March 5th, 2022 Ms. Maynard traveled to La Paz, Mexico to join a group of like-minded educators on an eight-day teacher fellowship. The trip was through Ecology Project International (EPI), a non-profit organization that seeks to spread environmental awareness through hands-on learning. Their goal is to reinvigorate teachers so they strive to incorporate more engaging and exploratory activities in their classrooms.
Please read the complete reflection and see the photos from this life-changing experience!
FHS Environmental Club
Cape Cod Field Trip
Through a grant funded and awarded by the Baker-Polito administration, Environmental Science students at FHS were able to do field work related to climate change in Massachusetts on the shores of Cape Cod for two days. Students were immersed in the ecology of tidal flats, relating sea level rise to the effect on such a crucial habitat, and taking a closer look at the relationship between horseshoe crabs and migrating birds. They also went aboard a research vessel from Woods Hole to study eel grass habitats in Vineyard Sound and learn why it is such a vital part of the ocean ecosystem.
Drumlin Farms Field Trip
Students from the FHS Environmental Club visited Drumlin Farm and had an amazing time. So many smiling faces (and happy animals)!
Congratulations to McCarthy ELD Coach, Ms. Jill Kimball!
Congratulations to McCarthy ELD Coach, Ms. Jill Kimball, for being nominated and selected as a MassCUE Featured Educator! (The following excerpt was pulled from a nomination shared by Christie C. White, M.Ed., ESL Teacher at McCarthy Elementary School)
Jill Kimball is one of those rare educators who truly ‘walks the talk’. Her work as a classroom teacher, coach and member of several statewide committees for emergent bilingual students embodies her educational philosophy to “effectively serve multilingual learners in educational opportunity and excellence while empowering students through proficiency in English”. For over 20 years, Jill has filled many roles – all in the service of emergent bilingual students. She has managed that rare balance between master classroom teacher and administrative leadership in a variety of state-level committees and initiatives. Ms. Kimball has been a course instructor for a variety of relevant licensure programs (SEI Leadership and Administration, RETELL Teacher and Administrator level), as well as a scorer for our state SEI Educator Licensure test. Currently, Jill works as an English Language Development Coach at McCarthy Elementary in Framingham where she assists staff who work with that schools’ multilingual learners. In all aspects of her work, Jill is an excellent example of an outstanding MassCUE educator!
Ms. Kimball will be showcased for the month of September on their website and social media. This is a well-deserved honor. Her colleagues at McCarthy School are exceedingly proud to know her as a colleague and as a friend. Congratulations Jill!
Tenacity Team
At the end of April, the Framingham Flyers competed in the Tenacity Challenge at Bedford High School. Tenacity Challenge is an annual academic scholarship competition for Latinx and African American students from urban and suburban high schools across Massachusetts. The competition consists of a Math Quiz Bowl, Literature Response, History Argument, and the Tenacity Art Challenge.
Teams work all year round to prepare for Tenacity, and our students put it together in a couple of months. Now that's Tenacity! Their hard work and efforts earned them 3rd place in the History Argument Challenge!
FHS Astronomy Club
Fuller 6th Grade Opal Team "Student Doctors"
Fuller’s 6th grade Opal Team “student doctors” learned all about human anatomy by comparing it to a frog’s internal and external anatomy through a dissection lab in Mrs. Gallagher’s class. The “student doctors” used a diagram as a guide for cutting and locating organs, and they were given specific instructions about which organs to remove, weigh, and label.
Each “student doctor” group was accompanied by a parent volunteer where they assisted the students speaking both English and their native language. The students were thrilled to have their family members in their classes and to be able to share this exciting learning experience with them.
This real-life opportunity has already inspired students to think about the medical and research fields for their future careers!
Spring Into the Arts 2022
Framingham High School held the final round of its 17th annual senior class poetry slam at the FHS Library on April 28th. So much talent!
FHS Senior Department Awards
Congratulations to the FHS Class of 2022 Departmental Award Recipients who were honored on Thursday, May 12th.
McCarthy 3rd Grade Buoyancy Lesson
Third graders from McCarthy Elementary School learned about buoyancy and boat design with their teachers Ms. Christie White and Ms. Andressa Antunes.
After experimenting with pennies and aluminum foil, students designed and made their own boats out of foil. The third graders made predictions about how many pennies their boats would hold and then tested them in water. After collecting data, students analyzed the results using a bar chart and reflected on which designs were stronger and why.
The Hap - 7th Edition
The Hap is a monthly digital newspaper by and for Framingham High School students - and now for the larger community to enjoy. Please feel free to spread the news!
May 19th Edition (#7): https://www.smore.com/j658g-the-hap
Dual Language Program Updates
May is a busy month not only because many of our students took AP exam(s), but also because our Seniors begin to talk their last steps at FHS! See the contents of the May Newsletter below and if anything catches your eye, read them in the newsletter directly!
Check out the amazing interviews done by eight graders in the Spanish Language Arts class to celebrate Women's History month with the podcast "Extraordinarias"
Check out our Senior's accomplishments
Congratulations to our 7th grader Adriana De Groat who attended the Robotic Competition in Texas.
Congratulations to one of our Seniors who is the winner of the Poetry Slam! 1st place: Zoe Green-Kaberman.
As always check out what is happening inside our classrooms.
Community Corner
City of Framingham - Pride Month Celebration
Saturday June 4th from 3pm
Memorial Building Plaza
150 Concord Street, Framingham
For the fourth consecutive year, the City of Framingham will observe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month during a two-hour event on Saturday, June 4, on the City Hall Plaza in front of the Memorial Building.
The ceremony will feature perspectives from emerging student leaders as well as civic officials. Reverend Debbie Clark of Edwards Church will emcee the 3 pm program, which will be followed by opportunities for attendees to visit informational tables set up on the plaza.
June 1 marks the first day of LGBTQ Pride Month to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan.
Juneteenth Fest 2022
Saturday, June 18th from 2pm - 7pm
Farm Pond Park
Dudley Rd, Framingham
This event offers education, enrichment, and empowerment as we commemorate a prominent moment In American history!
May Initiatives / Celebrations
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month) is an annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States. The AAPI umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent—including East, Southeast and South Asia—and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have contributed significantly to many facets of American culture and society, including science and medicine, literature and art, sports and recreation, government and politics, and activism and law. In 2021, Kamala Harris became the first Asian American Vice President of the United States.
AAPI Heritage Month celebrates the unique journey of all AAPI immigrants and citizens in the United States and their unique life experiences, traditions and cultures.
Source: https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/asian-american-pacific-islander-heritage-month
Support for the Asian Student Association at FHS
A message from FHS's Asian Student Association President:
With a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in recent years, the AAPI community has been reminded of racism, xenophobia, and hatred. As we approach AAPI Heritage Month, we wanted to do more than just raise awareness about the ongoing hate. We wanted to celebrate our brave, diverse, talented, and resilient community. The Framingham High School Asian Student Association will get 100% of the proceeds. Please fill our this form to place in your order.
Any questions email gwong9249@fpsed.org. We appreciate everyone's support for the ASA!
National Armed Forces Day - Saturday, May 21st
Armed Forces Day is a special holiday for people to come together and thank the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. First conceived by President Harry S. Truman, the holiday was established in 1949. The creation of a single day celebration for all five branches of the United States military made sense due to its recent unification under the Department of Defense. Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday of every May, this year falling on May 21.
Many events take place in cities across the U.S. to pay homage to those who serve on this day. These include military service displays for the public such as air shows, parades, open days, educational exhibits for children, and ‘Support the Troops’ motorbike rallies. Many people also go on picnics to celebrate this day with family members and friends who are veterans.
Submit Your Good News!
The Media and Communications Office hopes to increase the frequency of these good news and opportunity compilations. We are improving and refining the submission process over time and always appreciate hearing from staff, parents/guardians, and students with events, accolades, shoutouts, and more.
Submit good news to communications@framingham.k12.ma.us or submit this Google Form for a special shoutout in future newsletters and social media posts!
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.