DNA - District News & Announcements
March 2024
District News and Announcements
March 2024
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OVERVIEW & DNA INTRODUCTION
This newsletter is affectionately called the DNA because it's a beautiful collection of unique stories and experiences contributing to the development and function of our school communities. (Also it's an acronym for District News and Announcements ;) )
We hope you enjoy seeing some of these behind the scenes stories and will join your fellow community members at upcoming events!
District Updates
Elementary iNight Recap
The Framingham community was invited to the celebration of grade 4-5 Sage students’ independent investigation projects. While it was very busy in the Walsh cafeteria, we were able to capture a few student interviews to learn about various research projects!
If you want to hear from students about their topics of interest, take a look at this compilation video of those interviews!
Good News Network
If your child's school is not included below, that does not mean they aren't doing wonderful, exciting things! We look forward to sharing even more news and updates in the Good News Network section of future District Newsletters!
A Few Degrees More: A Project B Gallery Installation
During the week of March 11th, some of our elementary students experienced a unique field trip to the Project B Gallery in the Saxonville Mills where they immersed themselves in a collaborative art and education exhibit called 'A Few Degrees More'. Behind the scenes, the gallery came together through a collaboration between science and arts students.
Led by Framingham High School Environmental Science students, the elementary visitors explored the sights and sounds to learn about the effects of climate change and the impact around the world and right here in MetroWest. FHS students explained invasive aquatic species, flooding, species decline, and coral bleaching. All of this was accompanied by tips on how they (and all of us) can make a difference and help to reduce the impacts of climate change.
Many thanks to Tom Benoit and Art Illman from the MetroWest Daily News who came to see and capture this special experience. Read the article and see the photos: MetroWest Daily News article
Additional thanks to the many folx behind the scenes who managed the logistics to make the exhibit and field trips happen!
Orchestra Community Concerts: 5th Graders Visit Younger Classroom
In an effort to give the 5th grade Orchestra students a small-scale, mid-year performance opportunity, Mr. Jack Corbett organized a classroom concert series where 5th Graders traveled into each of the Kindergarten classes.
During the week before February break, the orchestra students performed 2-3 songs for their youngest school peers at Barbieri, Harmony Grove, McCarthy and Stapleton. Orchestra students showed off their instruments through an educational opportunity for the kindergartners (and 2nd graders at McCarthy).
In addition to the musical aspect of this series, community building was evident. Smiles and hugs were exchanged between siblings, friends from the bus or before/after school programs, or even among students meeting each other for the first time.
The 5th graders took their role as leaders and models of positive attitudes and behaviors seriously. The kindergartners were excellent audiences with their active listening, applause, and compliments.
Nurse at Harmony Grove recognized as a Rising Star!
This past Saturday, Taina Rocha, BSBA, BSN, RN, was recognized by the Massachusetts School Nurse Organization (MSNO) as one of ten nurses who have proven to be a Rising Star in the school nurse profession. MSNO describes a Rising Star as a school nurse who has been in the school nursing practice for less than 5 years and has shown professionalism, passion for the specialty, growth in their practice and a positive impact on their students.
Congratulations, Taina, for a well deserved award!
Dual Language Program Happenings at Walsh and FHS
There is much to celebrate in the Dual Language Programs at Walsh and FHS! Please read through the March Newsletter to learn about classroom happenings and projects in the DL Programs at the secondary level: https://www.smore.com/n/nrw3e
Also, congratulations to Matias Cunningham and Krystel Salazar Díaz for being selected as the Dual Language student of the month for February and March respectively. !!Felicitaciones a los dos!!
Framingham Adult ESL Plus is Proud to be a Team Framingham Charity
Framingham Adult ESL Plus is proud to be a Team Framingham charity, and on March 14, they hosted 7 of their 8 runners for a rally at Fuller Middle School. The runners ran through the halls, among cheering crowds, to break the tape on the Fuller stage in front of a packed auditorium. The runners will raise money to help support free English classes for Framingham Adult ESL Plus.
Stapleton 3rd Graders Get a Lesson from Channel 5
On Wednesday, March 13 David Williams from WCVB Channel 5 Weather did a presentation for our Stapleton third graders. He shared how storms form and what they look like on radar. He also made sure students know storm safety. In addition to this information, students got to see how the weather is predicted and why newscasters don't wear green! Mr. Williams also answered a lot of great questions. It was great fun!
Giving the Glam to FHS
Giving the Glam, a Massachusetts-based non-profit, is carrying out their mission one school and one prom at a time. They work with teenagers who all come from different backgrounds and face unique challenges. Giving The Glam comes into their lives and helps guide and motivate them to overcome their challenges by building their self-esteem and by acquiring newfound confidence to help them create a viable plan for their own future.
Giving The Glam has been partnering with Framingham High School for five years. Approaching each prom season, they provide identified participants with everything they will need to enjoy the prom in style – gowns, tuxedos, accessories, hair and makeup, professional photos, a video, and car service to the venue. But in the end, it’s not so much about the clothes, hair, and makeup as it is about the rite of passage. From the young person’s point of view, it’s the opportunity and experience of a lifetime.
We will share more about this amazing partnership in the coming weeks. The photos included below are from a recent dress/tux selection day.
FHS Multicultural Night: A Delicious and Educational Experience
We are going back to just last Thursday, March 14th, when the Asian Student Association hosted their 2nd Annual Multicultural Night. Kudos to all the students who represented different cultures and shared amazing food and activities with the community!
Volunteers Needed!
ICYMI - the Environmental Awareness Club at Framingham High School is participating in a program called Tree-Plenish to create more sustainable schools by replenishing the environment with the resources used each year. Our community reached the goal and ordered 293 saplings and now needs volunteers to help plant those saplings around the city!
Planting Day is Saturday April 6, 2024. Please fill out this form to sign up your team! (2-4 team members are required (at least one with a driver’s license) and shifts are two-hours long)
FHS Student by Night, Successful Barber by Day: Part 2
If you read the December DNA, you might have seen the story about Wallace who is an 18 year-old FHS student by night and successful barber by day. Last month, Dr. Tremblay visited Wallace at Elegance Barbershop which he recently opened downtown. If you have four minutes to spare, tune into this haircut interview to get to know Wallace, how he got his start, and how he was able to make this dream a reality!
Oz: The Art Behind the Curtain, an art exhibition at Project B Gallery (March 24 - April 8)
The Fine and Performing Arts Department is proud to present Oz: The Art Behind the Curtain, an art exhibition at Project B Gallery (The Mill Contemporary Art Studios, Mill 1)
Gallery Dates: March 24th - April 8th Monday - Friday from 10am - 4pm
Reception: Thursday, April 4th from 5-7pm
Oz: The Art Behind the Curtain explores the intersection between visual art and musical theatre, and what made Framingham High School Drama Company’s outstanding production of The Wizard of Oz in January 2024 a visually stunning display of dynamic wonder and imagination. From the costumes, sets, and lighting designs to the photography and fiber art installations created by the FHS students in the Photography and 3D Art classes, Oz: The Art Behind the Curtain is a celebration of collaborative art making.
Visit the PreK - 12 Visual Art Show at FPL through March 27th
The Framingham Public Schools PreK-12 Visual Art Show is on view at the Framingham Public Library through March 27th, showcasing over 250 artworks from students in every school across the district. It is a true celebration of student diversity, creativity, vision, growth, and hard work!
Congrats to the Organizers of the Dunning Talent Show!
Bridget Donovan and the Dunning PTO did an absolutely AMAZING job organizing and producing the Dunning Talent Show. Students from all grade levels showed off their various talents throughout the night to an almost sold-out theater. Dunning has some wonderful singers, dancers, comedians, jugglers, martial artists, and performers! Bridget also demonstrated her choreography skills with a dance she performed with other Dunning staff.
THE HEART OF ROBIN HOOD was named METG State Finalist
The Framingham High School Drama Company's production of THE HEART OF ROBIN HOOD was named METG State Finalist! This is the 15th year FHSDC has made it to the State Finals in 20 years.
This means that Framingham will join 13 other productions in a showcase of the top work in the state. In addition to advancing to the State Finals on March 21-23, we received many All-Star Company Awards:
- Clara Noggle for excellence in acting in the role of Marion
- Joshua Marcena for excellence in acting in the role Robin Hood
- Lemon Tobar-Fawley for excellence in acting in the role of Plug, The Dog
- Annabel Francis for excellence in acting in the role of Alice
- Janie Harris and Chloe Hein for technical excellence in Lighting Design
- Tessa Varley and Lucy Wood for technical excellence in Scenic Design
The Heart of Robin Hood will perform at 2:00pm tomorrow, Friday, March 22nd at the Back Bay Events Center in Boston.
Please join us in congratulating our team of 88 students on a job well done. Thank you for your constant support of FHSDC!
Some Staff Shouts from Stapleton!
Shout out to Lily Robinson, Breanna,Tagliaferri, Megan Downing, Jessica Bradley, Ashley Newton, Kirsty Vitarelli, Catherine MacIsaac, and Jennifer Ferreyra
For finding swift and sustainable solutions that benefit the Stapleton Community and 5th Grade Students! With lots of teamwork and clear expectations, these teachers have made a ginormous impact on student voiced concerns and safety needs! Well Done 5th Grade Dream Team! You all ROCK!
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I would like to give a shout out to the TLC staff!!! You support the students and each other. Stapleton is lucky to have this amazing team.
Potter Students Explore Career Opportunities
Potter Road students, through the organization of school librarian Nicole Karpierz, have welcomed community readers throughout the month of March. Our school wide literacy theme for the month of March is: "Potter Road Kids Can Be...," where we are exploring various career opportunities with our students.
School leaders used different methods to expose students to the myriad of possibilities that exist beyond the classroom walls and how the skills they are learning today can shape their future careers. Visitors include: Framingham's Mayor (pictured), a firefighter, Framingham administrators, and several local business owners. Students have greatly enjoyed these visits and have learned about the many different professions that they can one day explore.
Additionally, Ms. Karpierz led a bulletin board execution that showcased several current Potter staff members with photos and explanations of what they did before they worked at Potter. What a great way to humanize our school and classroom leaders!
Stapleton Celebrates Math with 85 Families!
Shout out to Math Coach, Kris Callahan and many Stapleton teachers for creating a largely attended Math Night with our 85 families in attendance to learn more about Math Tasks and participate in math activities!
Stapleton Math Night was a huge success! This year we had 85 FAMILIES attend! Students participated in STEM challenges with dominos and using cups and popsicle sticks to save the counting bears from a lava flow! They also played some math games. Caregivers had the chance to learn about task based learning and MCAS 101. After the festivities there were some prize raffles and estimation jar guesses!! Do you know what 716 erasers look like? It was a great time for everyone and we look forward to next year!
Kudos to Hemenway 5th Graders for Using Project Earth as an Inspiration to Clean Their Campus!
Before February break, Hemenway fifth graders took inspiration from their recent literacy units, Project Earth, by spearheading a school yard clean-up. The reading and writing units centered around the essential question: “How can caring for the Earth and its living things improve life now and in the future?”. Its emphasis on the small actions all of us can take to make a better future inspired the students to make a tangible impact on their immediate surroundings.
The Friday before vacation they took matters into their own hands, rallying together to transform their school ground into a cleaner, greener space. Armed with gloves, trash bags, and an eagerness to make a difference, they combed through the school grounds, collected litter, sorted recyclables, and worked collaboratively to restore the natural beauty of their outdoor space. The Project Earth event not only served as a practical application of their learning but also as a powerful demonstration of the impact young minds can have on their community when they work together.
National Reading Month at Hemenway Means Character Dress Up Day!
Hemenway Elementary kicked off National Reading Month with a Special Spirit Day. Students dressed up as their favorite book character to celebrate their love of reading!
Book Recommendations by and for 4th and 5th Graders
Hemenway 5th graders selected their Sweet 16 list of books for March Book Madness 2024. Students nominated up to three chapter books that they thought every 4th or 5th grader should read. Over 120 books were nominated in that round! From that vote they determined the 16 top books. Check out the titles included below and see how many books you agree with and what books you should add to your reading list!
Cameron 8th Graders Enjoyed Science and Ice Cream!
This month Cameron's 8th grade students enjoyed a STEM presentation from SubZero Ice Cream! Students got to see demonstrations using liquid nitrogen, learned about the ideal gas law and density, and saw what a temperature of -321°F does to common objects like balloons and tea kettles. Finally, they got to see how SubZero Ice Cream uses liquid nitrogen to make their ice cream and everyone got to try a sample. It was a fun and engaging way to enjoy two of our favorite things at once... science and ice cream!
World World Behavior Analysis Day - March 20th
March 20 was World World Behavior Analysis Day! We are so lucky to have such a dedicated and hard working ABA team, ASD staff, and other BCBAs in our district! Today we celebrate all that you do for our students! Keep up all the amazing things you are doing!
Character Trait of the Month: Confidence
Character Trait of the Month: Confidence
Confidence is feeling sure of yourself and your abilities.
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 & more!
Conversation Starters About Confidence:
- What advice would you give to a friend that wasn’t feeling confident?
- What is one strength of yours that gives you confidence?
- Name some of the times when being confident is challenging.
- How can you remain confident, if someone puts you down?
Confidence Book List - Read Alouds
- How Full Is Your Bucket?: Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer (Spanish) (Portuguese)
- I Like Myself: Karen Beaumont (Spanish) (Portuguese)
- Crown An Ode To The Fresh Cut: Derrick Barnes
- The World Needs More Purple People: Kristen Bell and Benjamin Hart
In this story the main character learns a valuable bucket filling metaphor and watches it come to life as the day unfolds. Every moment matters. Each of us has an invisible bucket. When our bucket is full, we feel great.
In this story using rhymes and beautiful illustrations the reader learns to celebrate self-acceptance and self-love. The text uses high energy and imagination to encourage us all to have the self-esteem to appreciate everything about ourselves -inside and out.
This story pays tribute to the power of a new haircut for someone's self-esteem. The book poetically shows the excitement of connecting with your community while also appreciating an experience that builds your own confidence.
This story works to have the reader become a purple person by embracing what makes us each unique. While we are all unique we can also build our confidence by finding common ground with others.
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.
Need / Want a Job? We are Hiring!
Career Opportunities in FPS
We are currently still accepting job applications for many open positions for this academic year! Please explore for yourself or share our openings with your professional networks!
Please explore the Careers Page on the FPS website!
Bus Driver Openings
School Bus Drivers $25-$31/Hour
- $5,000 Sign-on Bonus for fully licensed school drivers.
- Must be at least 21
- Must have your license for 3 consecutive years
- Must have the ability to pass background checks and drug test
No CDL? No problem. NRT will pay $20 per hour to get your CDL. If completed in 60 days, $500 extra
incentive.
School Van Drivers $19-$20/Hour
7D drivers are needed! No 7D Certificate? They provide PAID training.
- Must be at least 21
- Must have your license for 3 consecutive years
- Must have the ability to pass background checks and drug test
LEARN MORE BY VISITING THE NRT WEBSITE: School Bus Driver-Paid Training- Framingham
Submit Your Good News!
The Media and Communications Office continues to refine and improve the submission process. We always appreciate hearing from staff, parents/guardians, and students with events, accolades, shoutouts, and more. Thank you for sharing your bright spots with us!
Submit your good news to the 'Good News' Google Form, which is now accessible in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Submitted content goes into 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 and (@framinghamschools) on Instagram. You can also join the conversation using #FraminghamSchools.