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Jumpstart January with ParentSquare Pro Tips - Manag...

Jumpstart January! Become a ParentSquare Pro with these weekly tips January 14, 2025 To jumpstart the new year, we are going to be sharing ParentSquare tips weekly throughout the month of January. We hope this will help the community get more comfortable with the platform and become ParentSquare Pros by the end of the month! Our second set of pro tips are about managing your account.   Signing Up for ParentSquare How do I sign up? Parents/guardians, staff members, and students in grades 9-12 do not need to sign up for ParentSquare, but can simply log into their accounts using their FPS-associated email address. To log in, go to ParentSquare's website. If you are already logged into your FPS-associated email through your browser, click "sign in with Google" or "sign in with Microsoft." Or, download the app from Apple or Google. From there, we suggest you adjust your notification settings. If you are both a parent and staff member, and you are asked to "merge accounts," please do so. I received an activation email. What should I do? Periodically, the district or your school will send activation reminders to parents who have not activated their ParentSquare accounts. Open the invitation email or text. Click Activate your account or tap the link to activate your account. Create a Password for your ParentSquare account and click Register. Click Confirm for your phone number and/or email. A verification code will be sent to the email or phone number. Enter the verification code to confirm. Confirm your child or children by clicking Confirm. Use “Not My Child” if a child listed is not associated with yours. Select "Yes, This is Me" when you have confirmed your contact information and child(ren) associated with your account. If you are both a parent and staff member, and you are asked to "merge accounts," please do so. Updating Account Information How do I update my email and phone number? Parents and students: Call the main office of your school to have the office manager update your contact information in Aspen / X2. It will automatically sync with ParentSquare overnight. Staff: Update your contact information in Aspen / X2. You cannot update your contact information directly in ParentSquare. How do I add a student who's missing? If you are missing a child/school, it may be because: Your contact information does not match what we have in Aspen / X2. You have more than one ParentSquare account with different contact information To add a child or school: Contact your school’s office to update your contact information in Aspen / X2 and make sure it is the same for all your children. Staff Members Who Are Also Parents As a staff member and a parent, you will be able to have both your staff contacts and your parent contacts linked to the same account. Please "merge/combine" accounts. If you have a district-issued staff email on your staff record and a personal email address on your parent record, multiple accounts may have been created for you. If you already have the same phone listed on your staff and parent accounts, your accounts can be easily linked. The accounts will merge automatically once you complete the verification process and confirm both accounts. After this, both emails will be listed on your account, but you will be required to use your staff email to log in. If you already have separate registered accounts under different emails/phones, you can use the Combine Account option to merge them together. How do I add another parent on my child's ParentSquare account? ParentSquare has accounts for caregivers marked as the guardians in the Aspen / X2. Please check with your student’s school to verify how the parent is listed in Aspen / X2. If the additional parent is not listed as a guardian, the parent can request to be added by contacting the child's school. A front-desk staff member at the school can make changes in Aspen / X2. The changes will take effect within 24 hours.   How do I change my password? Go to parentsquare.com and on the login page click “Forgot Password.” Put in your email or phone number and you will be sent a link to reset your password. Why does my ParentSquare account have my spouse's or co-parent's name on it? If you and your spouse/co-parent share an email address, only one of you will be able to log in to ParentSquare using that email address. The other person should use their cell phone number to log on. We recommend that each parent/guardian have their own cell phone or email for emergency situations. You can update your contact information by contact your school’s main office to be assisted in updating your contact information in Aspen / X2. My email is correct in ParentSquare. Why am I not receiving emails? Check your spam folder to see if any ParentSquare messages ended up there, and mark them as “Not Spam.”  Add donotreply@parentsquare.com to your email contacts so your server recognizes our messages.  If you still are not receiving emails, please contact support@parentsquare.com so they can assist you. To update your email address or phone number, parents/guardians should call the main office of your child's school. Staff should update their contact information in Aspen / X2. You cannot update your contact information directly in ParentSquare.   Updating Language Preferences ParentSquare will automatically appear in the set language of a user's device, but you also have the option to change the language. Change your language on a web browser: From Home, click your name at the top-right and select My Account. On the left, select Language Settings. Click the drop-down menu and select your language and click Save. Change your language from the phone app: From Home, tap the Menu (triple bars) on the top-left. Select Account. Select Preferences. Select Language. Scroll through the list and tap on your language. Here is a help article on how to change your language settings.   Not a Caregiver? Unsubscribe from ParentSquare Sometimes, non-parents get messages from a school using ParentSquare. ParentSquare synchronizes with each school’s internal student information database. It contains contact details provided by families (on forms, during enrollment, etc.) Most likely a parent or staff member made a typo, and there is incorrect contact data for a parent or student that matches a real phone number or email. Only the school or district is authorized to update contact details. This maintains security and protects student privacy. Contact the school to have your contact information removed, contact the Educational Technology team at help@framingham.k12.ma.us   Learn more about ParentSquare Check out our ParentSquare Information for Families page on the website to learn more about the platform! See links to download the app, see frequently asked questions, and learn how to explore all that ParentSquare can do!

Tuesday, Jan 14 2025
January Assessment Updates

Assessment Updates Assessment Updates January 2025 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Not displaying correctly? View in browser Need Translation? | ¿Necesita traducción? | Precisa de tradução? ENGLISH : Need translation? Just click "Translate" at the top of your screen! ESPAÑOL : ¿Necesita traducción? Haga clic en "Translate" (traducir) en la parte superior de la pantalla. PORTUGUÊS : Precisa de tradução? Clique em “Translate” (traduzir) no topo da tela! OVERVIEW Dear Families, We are committed to providing your children with high-quality instruction, anchored in evidenced based practices, that lead to academic progress and success. One way we monitor progress is through a universal assessment in both literacy and mathematics. The Framingham Public Schools uses the tool "i-Ready" as this Universal Assessment to benchmark student progress in grades 1-8 three times per year, and in Kindergarten two times per year. ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE Fall Assessments Grades 1-8: September 18 - October 20 Kindergarten: October 23- November 17 Winter Assessments Grades 1-8: January 15 - February 14 Spring Assessments Kindergarten-Grade 8: May 12 - June 12 Each school determines the testing schedule within the designated window. EARLY LITERACY UNIVERSAL SCREENING ASSESSMENT (K -3) Our teachers have many ways to check your child’s reading development and growth, including an early literacy universal screening assessment. These assessments are brief tests that provide information about your child’s early reading skills. Screening makes it possible to see if a student is at risk of developing reading difficulties, including risk of dyslexia. Screening does not diagnose dyslexia or other disabilities, but it does help us understand which students may need additional support to be successful readers. We are required to assess students in grades K-3 at least twice per year consistent with Massachusetts regulation 603 CMR 28.03(1)(f). The goal of early universal literacy screening in Massachusetts is to determine if a student is significantly below relevant benchmarks for age-typical development in specific literacy skills. The regulation requires action steps by the school when students have a screening result that is significantly below relevant benchmarks for age typical development. Our district uses a screening assessment called iReady . It is one of several screening assessments approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Your child will be assessed two or three times during the school year, depending on grade level. It typically takes 30-60 minutes to complete this assessment, and the tentative schedule for this school year is shown above. Following the screening assessment, a team at each school will review all students’ results. If your child scores “significantly below benchmarks,” we will contact you within 30 school days of testing, to outline how we can support your child. Please reach out if you would like additional information. For questions about the early literacy universal screening, contact the Office of Teaching and Learning. For questions about your child’s testing results, contact your child’s teacher. Screening is another step that helps students at our school become proficient readers, and we are grateful for the continued support and partnership. What is i-Ready? i-Ready is an online program that will help us determine your child’s strengths and areas for growth, personalize their learning, and monitor their progress throughout the school year. i-Ready allows us to meet your child where they are and provides us with data to inform instruction. The i-Ready Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment that adjusts its questions based on student responses. Each item a student receives is based on their answer to the previous question. For example, a series of correct answers will result in slightly harder questions, while a series of incorrect answers will yield slightly easier ones. The purpose of this is not to give your child a score or grade but to determine how to best support their learning. When will my child take the i-Ready Diagnostic? Each grade and school has a planned schedule within the Assessment timeframes listed above. To best support your student following the tips below, please feel free to talk with your child(ren) or reach out to their teachers to find out their scheduled Assessment dates. What can I do to help? To help prepare your child for the i-Ready Diagnostic, encourage them to: Get a good night’s sleep and eat a full breakfast the day of the assessment. Try their best on each question and try not to rush. Try not to worry about questions to which they do not know the answers—remind them to try their best as this is an assessment that tests on the end of year grade level standards. Be respectful of other students who take longer to finish. i-Ready Family Guides: English i-Ready Family Guides: English i-Ready Family Guide: Spanish i-Ready Family Guide: Spanish i-Ready Family Guide: Portuguese i-Ready Family Guide: Portuguese iStation What is the Istation ISIP and why is my student taking it? Istation ISIP Español is a n adaptive Spanish language arts assessment designed to accurately reflect the reading level of each student and to measure growth over time. Students in Spanish-English Dual Language Bilingual Education programs take the assessment three times per year to measure their Spanish literacy performance and growth. Test questions range from easy to hard for each reading domain, as shown in the table below, based on pre-K through grade 6 Spanish reading language arts standards. To identify the student's overall reading ability and individual skill ability, the difficulty of the test questions presented changes with every response. If a student answers questions correctly, ISIP Español presents more challenging questions until the student shows mastery or responds with an incorrect answer. When a student answers a question incorrectly, ISIP Español will present less difficult questions until the student begins answering correctly again. The ability score shows how a student is doing compared to their previous performance and to other students at the same grade level. Once ISIP Español determines the difficulty level at which the student is able to perform, the test ends and the student is assigned an overall reading ability index, as well as ability indices for individual subtests. Since ISIP is adaptive and the test questions are displayed based on student performance, not age or grade, identical ability indices across grades mean the same thing. For example, a first grader who receives a score of 215 and a third grader who receives a score of 215 are performing at the same level. Like measuring a child’s height, measurements are added together to get class, school, and district averages. Ability indices make it possible to track a student’s growth from year to year. This ability index can be used by teachers to inform instruction around their students' strengths and weaknesses. Targeted instruction leads to better performance and maximum growth. When will my child take the Istation ISIP Español assessment? The ISIP Español assessment will be administered during the month of February. Grades K-5 complete a reading comprehension assessment and a writing assessment using Elefante Letrado. Based on the assessments, students are assigned a letter as a score. Each letter corresponds to a grade-based proficiency level, which are described in the table below. Level 1: 1st year (aa A B C) Reader is in the appropriation process of the alphabetical system but requires support from a literate person to be able to understand short texts of familiar genre with simple vocabulary and carry out the proposed tasks. Reader is able to do pseudo-readings, guided by illustrations or global form of words or text. Knows how to identify the subject, explicit information and the purpose of familiar textual genres. Level 2: 1st and 2nd years (D E F G H I J) Readers demonstrate a certain autonomy in reading by having already mastered the alphabetical system and being able to carry out individualized readings of familiar genre texts, with understanding beyond identifying the subject, the explicit statements, and the purpose of the text. Makes some inferences and establishes relationships between parties, text (beginning and end), or illustrations. Level 3: 2nd and 3rd years (K L M N O P Q R) Reader with greater autonomy for reading longer texts of different genres. AND is able to understand the text beyond the aspects found on the textual surface. Does more complex inferences, which allow a more global understanding of the text. Infers meanings of words and expressions in context. Establishes causal relationships and consequences. Level 4: 4th and 5th years (S T U V W X) Reader with more reading experience that allows the mobilization of strategies for a more complex understanding of text in order to establish relationships between the different parts. The reader is capable of identifying effects on mood, distinguish a fact from an opinion, recognize speaker, the interlocutor of the text, and highlight the different ways of treating the information in comparison with texts of the same theme. Level 5: 5th year (Y Z) Considered an advanced level of proficiency in reading in the case of students up to 11 years old. Includes a reader with abilities and competence that are less common to the age group focused on the platform. Some children in however, can demonstrate a more dynamic reading process – reader/text/author –, with regard to production of meaningful texts with much greater complexity, whether in terms of theme, genre and the vocabulary used. Marybeth O'Brien, Ed.D. Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment 508-782-6530 https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/55977_3 mobrien26@framingham.k12.ma.us

Tuesday, Jan 14 2025
School Committee Update: Live Translations at School...

Dear Members of the FPS Community, The Framingham Public Schools School Committee is pleased to announce that beginning in the new year, we will offer live interpretation through Zoom during our full School Committee meetings to ensure all members of our diverse community can fully participate and stay informed. This initiative will include: ASL Interpretation : Available on-screen during the main Zoom meeting. Language Interpretation Channels : Dedicated Zoom channels for live interpretation in Spanish and Portuguese . To access the meeting in your preferred language: Join the Zoom Meeting using the link provided in the meeting agenda. That link will bring you to a screen to register for the meeting. Once you have registered, you will be emailed information to join the meeting. Once the Chair and interpreters have read the announcement for interpretation, in your meeting/webinar controls, click Interpretation (with a world symbol) Click the language that you would like to hear. (Optional) To hear the interpreted language only, click Mute Original Audio . We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that reflects the diverse voices of our community. These interpretations are an important step in making our meetings accessible and engaging for all families. Thank you for your continued support of our schools. We look forward to connecting with you in the new year! Sincerely, Jessica Barnhill, School Committee Chair Framingham Public Schools School Committee

Friday, Jan 10 2025
Upcoming Events You Won't Want to Miss!

Check out the Monster Mashup Art Show at the Project B Gallery! We have an exciting art show opening tomorrow at Project B Gallery at The Mill Contemporary Art! Join us for the opening reception from 5-7pm and check out whimsical and fun collaborative works between Kindergarten students at King Elementary School and FHS ceramics, photography, video production, and 3D art students! We hope to see you there! Join in on Framingham Day with the Worcester Railers! The City of Framingham is teaming up with the Worcester Railers professional hockey team for a Framingham Day event in January 2025. This special 325th Celebration event is part of the City's ongoing efforts to engage the community in fun and meaningful activities. The collaboration promises an exciting day filled with thrilling hockey action, community spirit, and plenty of entertainment for fans of all ages. Framingham residents are invited to the Sunday, January 19 , Worcester Railers game against the Wheeling Nailers at 3:05 p.m. Doors open at 2 p.m. The Worcester Railers are a professional hockey team in the ECHL. Their home ice is at the DCU Center in downtown Worcester. The Railers are affiliated with the New York Islanders. Four dollars of every ticket sold will go to the Framingham Youth Hockey program. This generous contribution will help support the young athletes in the community, providing them with resources and opportunities to grow their skills and passion for the sport. The Framingham Youth Hockey program plays a vital role in nurturing future stars, and this fundraiser aims to ensure that they have access to high-quality training and equipment. Framingham residents will be singing at the game and will be featured throughout the event. Additionally, a few Framingham youth hockey players will take to the ice before the puck drops for the professional hockey match. Tickets are $26 and $29 plus fees. Framingham residents will be seated in sections 120, 121, 123, and 124. Use the QR code on the flyer below to purchase tickets for Framingham Day or visit https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/FraminghamTakeoverNight1.19.24 The game is one of the City’s 325th celebration events. The City of Framingham will turn 325 years old in 2025, and is celebrating with events all year long. The game also marks the 8th birthday for the Railers mascot TRAX. Whether you're a die-hard hockey enthusiast or simply looking for a fun outing with family and friends, Framingham Day at the Worcester Railers game is set to be an event you won't want to miss.

Thursday, Jan 09 2025
Jumpstart January with ParentSquare Pro Tips - Notif...

Jumpstart January! Become a ParentSquare Pro with these weekly tips January 7, 2025 To jumpstart the new year, we are going to be sharing ParentSquare tips weekly throughout the month of January. We hope this will help the community get more comfortable with the platform and become ParentSquare Pros by the end of the month! Our first pro tips are about notification settings.   Learning About ParentSquare Notification Settings Notification Setting Options In ParentSquare, parents/caregivers, staff, and students in grades 9-12 have three options for how often they receive notifications from the platform: Instant: Receive all messages instantly Digest: Receive all messages together in one daily communication around 6 PM.* Off: No notifications are sent.* *Please note: Regardless of your notification settings, you will continue to receive emergency notifications instantly. These notifications can be sent in the following ways: 1) A “Post” that is set to send immediately; 2) A Smart Alert or 3) An Urgent Alert. In addition, Direct Messages can still be received. Advice on Notification Settings and Alerts If you feel you are receiving too many messages from ParentSquare, we advise you log into your account and visit “Notification Settings,” then select “Digest.” Then, make sure “School Alerts” is selected as “On.”  By doing this, you will receive all notifications at about 6:00 PM with the exceptions of “School Alerts,” which are also called “Smart Alerts” and are intended for important information. The most severe emergency alerts are called “Urgent Alerts,” which cannot be disabled; you will receive Urgent Alerts regardless of your settings as these are intended to be used sparingly. You also have the option to select “Off” in Notification Settings, but to keep “School Alerts” selected “On.” Changing Settings vs. Opting Out of Texts Digest or Off: If you do not want to receive all messages instantly, we encourage you to select the “Digest” or “Off” notifications in the “Notifications Settings” feature. This allows you to customize how often you receive messages alerts via text or app. We encourage all caregivers to download the ParentSquare app from the Apple Store or Google Play Store, and to register your accounts.   How to Change Your Notification Settings Change Notification Settings on Mobile App From home, tap the Menu (triple bars) on the top left. Select Account. Select Notifications. Use the toggle to turn on or off the notifications by email, text, and app. Select Instant or Digest for email, text, or app. Change Notification Settings on Web Browser From Home, click your name in the top-right corner and select My Account. Select Notification Settings on the left. Choose your preferred Notification Settings for General Announcements and Messages (Off, Instant, or Digest) and School Alerts (On or Off).   Learn more about ParentSquare Check out our ParentSquare Information for Families page on the website to learn more about the platform! See links to download the app, see frequently asked questions, and learn how to explore all that ParentSquare can do!

Tuesday, Jan 07 2025
Welcome Back - Reminders from the Department of Heal...

Welcome Back - January 2025 Reminders from the Department of Health and Wellness ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Not displaying correctly? View in browser Need Translation? | ¿Necesita traducción? | Precisa de tradução? ENGLISH : Need translation? Just click "Translate" at the top of your screen! ESPAÑOL : ¿Necesita traducción? Haga clic en "Translate" (traducir) en la parte superior de la pantalla. PORTUGUÊS : Precisa de tradução? Clique em “Translate” (traduzir) no topo da tela! Welcome Back! We hope that everyone had a fun and relaxing December break. While we are not looking forward to the end of the holiday season, we are so excited to welcome your student back into our school buildings. The halls are just not the same without the sound of your kids laughing and having fun! In an effort to keep all students and staff healthy when they return to the school buildings, please take a look below for some health reminders. Norovirus (stomach flu) Norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea. Currently, Norovirus is quickly spreading throughout Massachusetts and it's important to know how to keep you and your family healthy. Hand sanitizer does not kill Norovirus. You must wash your hands with soap and warm water. Please click the following links for more information Noroviruses (Norwalk-like Viruses) Fact Sheet about Noroviruses (Norwalk-like Viruses) mass.gov Norovirus - Spanish Download 375.0 KB Norovirus - Portuguese.doc.pdf Download 397.4 KB Protocol for Staff Testing Positiv e for COVID/Flu or With Symptoms of a Respiratory Virus If you test positive for COVID-19/Flu , or have symptoms of a respiratory virus, y ou may return to work or school if you are: Fever free for 24hrs without the use of fever-reducing medications. Are experiencing improvement in other symptoms (ie, no runny nose, improving cough, no body aches, no sore throat, no nausea or vomiting). You feel well enough to be at work. Are able to wear a well-fitting mask until day 5. The day symptoms start is day one. If unable to wear a mask for the first five days of your illness, please stay home until day 6. Each day many parents are faced with a decision: should they keep their sick children at home or send them off to school? Often the way a child looks and acts can make the decision an obvious one. The following guidelines should be considered when making the decision: Fever – The child should remain at home with a fever greater than 99.4 degrees. The child can return to school after he/she has been fever free for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol or Motrin). Per FPS medication policy, medications will not be given in school for an elevated temperature and the student will be sent home. Diarrhea/Vomiting – A child with diarrhea and/or vomiting should stay at home and return to school only after being symptom-free for 24 hours. Conjunctivitis – Following a diagnosis of conjunctivitis, the child may return to school in 24 hours. Rashes – Common infectious diseases with rashes are most contagious in the early stages. A child with a suspicious rash should return to school only after a health care provider has made a diagnosis and authorized the child’s return to school. Colds – Consider keeping your child at home if he/she is experiencing discomfort from cold symptoms, such as nasal congestion and cough. A continuous green discharge from the nose may be a sign of infection. Consider having the child seen by your health care provider. A sick child cannot learn effectively and is unable to participate in classes in a meaningful way. Keeping a sick child home prevents the spread of illness in the school community and allows the child opportunity to rest and recover. If you have any questions, please reach out to your school nurse. School Nurse Directory Hand Hygiene Good handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, disposing of used tissues, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces can help to prevent illness. Clean Air Allowing more fresh air outside, spending time outdoors, and using indoor air purifiers can help keep air cleaner, decreasing respiratory illness transmission. Good Nutrition/Sleep/Exercise The benefits of good nutrition, sleep, and exercise cannot be underestimated. A balanced diet, 7-9 hours of sleep at night, and 30 minutes of moderate physical activity daily help the body fight infection and disease. This SMORE was created by Aurelia Medina District Nurse Leader

Tuesday, Dec 31 2024
Office of Teaching and Learning December Newsletter

Office of Teaching & Learning Monthly Newsletter December 23, 2024 Office of Teaching and Learning Welcome to the launch of the monthly 2024-2025 Teaching and Learning Newsletter! We are excited to share information from the following departments: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Early Education Expansion Multilingual Education Educational Technology  Fine and Performing Arts Each department works collaboratively to develop coherence in support of the District’s Instructional Priority; If student-centered educators utilize intentional lesson design that includes clear objectives, strategies, scaffolds, and extensions based on individual profiles of students (IEP needs, Language Proficiency levels, various data points) to provide access to grade-level Tier I instruction for all students, especially students who are dually identified, then students will be able to master priority grade-level literacy standards and communicate their progress and how their work supports their growth and achievement. An intentional focus on the priority and the named subgroups focuses efforts on closing the opportunity gap while providing high-quality instruction for all students. December Message and Updates The Holiday Season is upon us, and as we bring the 2024 year to an end, we take a look back at the incredible work of our FPS team. Our educators, department heads, school leaders, and staff have engaged in wonderful work to bring new curriculum into their teaching portfolio. As our district team has visited schools and classrooms, there is an air of excitement and engagement among students and staff focused on a variety of new materials. We recognize the effort it takes to implement new curriculum and thank you for your collaboration, planning, and reflection. This month's newsletter will showcase some of those efforts that are taking place across the district, and we look forward to more to come as the second half of the year unfolds. MCAS Updates: Competency Determination - Response to Question 2 The November election provided the opportunity for voters to decide whether MCAS testing should be used as a Competency Determination for graduation. The outcome of that vote was that MCAS will not be used as a competency determination for graduation. MCAS will still be a required assessment for all students as there is no opt out opportunity. The results will continue to be used in the calculation of accountability ratings for each school including proficiency levels, growth and participation.  In terms of graduation, each graduating senior must meet competency determination and Framingham Public Schools’ course requirements as outlined in the Program of Studies for Framingham High School in order to be eligible for graduation. For those that have passed MCAS in English Language Arts, Math and Science in high school that competency determination has been met. For those that have not as of the November retest administration, the district will be reviewing each student’s records to determine if a comparable competency determination has been met through aligned coursework. The process to determine coursework that satisfies competency determination for those who have yet to meet a qualifying score on MCAS will begin when we return from break and will prioritize the members of the Class of 2025. We will share additional updates on this process when we return in January.   We are applying through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to add Dual Language programs at Fuller and Cameron! Standards & Objectives: At-A-Glance Assessment WIDA ACCESS Assessment All students in the Framingham Public Schools that are identified as English Learners/Emergent Bilingual will participate in the ACCESS tests from January 6 to February 14, 2025.  Please review the Department of Multilingual Education Caregiver Smores by level below: elementary school middle school high school Spring 2025 MCAS Windows The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has released the testing windows for the Spring 2025 MCAS Administration. The guidelines are below. Each of the respective schools in FPS are identifying the specific dates for testing in each grade and will release the schedules in the upcoming month. Spring 2025 MCAS Tests for Grades 3–8 in ELA, Mathematics, STE and Civics Test Administration (All the windows include dates for make-up testing.) ELA testing window March 24–April 18 Mathematics testing window April 28–May 23 STE testing window for grades 5 and 8 April 28–May 23 Civics testing window for grade 8 April 28–June 6 Spring 2025 MCAS Tests for Grade 10 in ELA and Math English Language Arts (ELA) ELA Session 1 March 25 ELA Session 2 March 26 Mathematics Mathematics Session 1 May 20 Mathematics Session 2 May 21 Make-up testing Last date for all make-up testing   (Make-up testing can begin for each session after its initial administration date listed above.) ELA: April 3     Math: May 28 Science June 4 - High School Science Session 1 June 5 - High School Science Session 2 June 12 - Last date for all make-up testing (Make-up testing can begin for each session after its initial administration date listed above.) Grades K-8 Diagnostic Assessment Schedule Winter Assessments IReady Diagnostic/Early Literacy Grades 1-8: January 15 - February 14 (Kindergarten is assessed in the Fall and Spring) Elefante Letrado → Portuguese Dual Language Programs  February 1 - 7th, 2025 IStation → Spanish Dual Language Programs February 1 - 7th, 2025 Curriculum Student Showcase - AP Research Students at FHS Since 2020, FHS has offered AP Research, the final course in the AP Capstone program, which begins with AP Seminar.  In AP Research, students design and carry out a year-long investigation in a discipline of their choice, during which they review the existing body of knowledge on the topic, determine a gap in the field, and gather and analyze original data to answer their research question.  FHS's current AP Research cohort recently successfully defended their research proposals before the FPS Internal Review Board to have their research plans approved for ethical compliance.  The current cohort's areas of research are wide ranging. They range from an inquiry into the effects of the rise in music streaming on listeners' social relationships with music, to an inquiry into the effects of imposter syndrome for first-generation Latinx college students on their academic performance. We are very proud of their work! All Families invited to SAGE Puzzle Night! Please join the Elementary Sage Department at our second annual Puzzle Night. On January 14th, 2024, all elementary students and their families are invited to Walsh Middle Schoolś cafeteria from 5:30 - 7:00.  Whether you’re a puzzle master or just want to try something new, come join us for a night of fun, laughter, and problem-solving. Bring an old puzzle to trade at our puzzle swap! We can’t wait to see you there! Let’s puzzle together and make lasting family memories! 🌟 Literacy Across Schools: Professional Learning for K-5 Educators in Action Over the course of the last two weeks our K - 5 educators have been engaging in backwards planning sessions in preparation for the upcoming module. This opportunity allowed them to work with their grade level team and spend some time talking to grade level counterparts across the district. There was an overwhelming response in our feedback that this time was incredibly valued in order to continue towards invested use of our HQIM. We thank everyone for the engagement and continued work to design engaging lessons anchored in standards high expectations fo learning. Mathematics - Curriculum Council Update Members of the Math Curriculum Council have been researching different HQIM Curriculum options to potentially pilot within our district. These dedicated members have also created a purposeful list of non-negotiables that must be present within our curriculum to best support all of the learners within FPS. This list includes:  Rigor and Coherence within the structure of lessons and units Equitable and Accessible to ALL students, regardless of disability, socioeconomic status, or language.  Inclusive of a variety of assessment methods to build deeper conceptual understanding of mathematics. Our next meeting is January 6, 2025 Middle School Science - Open Sci Ed Curriculum Launches Our middle school science teachers conducted a science program review last year and chose Open Sci Ed as our new curriculum! Open Sci Ed is different from traditional science. All lessons are standards-aligned and use strategies for how students learn science best: through hands-on investigations, open ended conversations, and anchored in phenomena.  Our rollout of this new curriculum will be implemented over the next three years. During this school year, two units in grade 6, two units in grade 7, and 2 units will be taught. In 25/26. two more units will be added to each grade level, wrapping with the final 2 units being implemented in 26/27. The middle level science department looks forward to teaching this high quality instructional material to our students and district!  Link to family letter HERE Full STEAM Ahead! Our elementary schools have been busy with integrating engineering into their science classes! At Dunning elementary, they conducted a school wide engineering and design challenge of: “What tiny community structure can you create using only recyclable materials that fits on a 2’ by 2’ surface?”  Great structures were created throughout all grades! We look forward to your next engineering project!  In Harmony Grove, fourth grade student Flavia Azevedo, won a robot creation contest! Students were tasked with brainstorming how robots could solve a problem in the world. In coordination with Ms. Ferdinand, Harmony Grove’s art teacher, and Ms. Macena, Flavia was a winner in this contest sponsored by author Tricia Fuglestad. Congratulations!  Building Thinking Classrooms continues to be a cohesive teaching strategy leveraging student voice, allows students a variety of methods to problem solve, and work in collaborative groups. Our elementary teachers continue to support student learning through language and content appropriate pedagogy that supports all learners. Thank you!  Upcoming Grading Terms and Report Card Windows Elementary School Grading Window Elementary Semester 1: August 28 - February 26 Families can expect report cards on February 7th, 2024 Educators the Grading Window is as follows: Window Opens December 4, 2024 Window Closes January 24, 2024 Middle School Grading Window: Term 1: August 28 - December 2 Families can expect report cards on December 13th. High School Grading Window: Quarter 2: November 7 - January 30 CAREGIVER CONFERENCES Jan 23, Jan 30, Feb 6 May 15, May 22, May 29 Early Education Early Education at Framingham Public Schools continues to evolve with program and placement expansion aligned to the Pre-Kindergarten Strategic Plan and the vision for Universal Pre-K. Preschool learning opportunities are offered at our BLOCKS Preschool location for children who will be 3 years old by August 31st. Enrollment is ongoing for 3 year old children who are identified to receive special education services. Curriculum and instruction will be based on half day programming. The Preschool inclusion classes will meet for 2.5 hours per day on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Pre-K learning opportunities are offered at five Partnerships for Early Learners locations for children the year before entering Kindergarten. Children must be 4 years old by August 31, 2025. In addition to BLOCKS Preschool and McCarthy Elementary School (FPS), Framingham Public Schools is partnering with the MetroWest YMCA, Framingham State University - Centers for Early Childhood Education and Loving Nest Preschool; Partnerships for Early Learners (PEL). This is a Pre-K expansion program for Framingham-based families who are seeking to enroll their four year old children in an early education program the year before they enter Kindergarten. This Pre-K expansion program is dedicated to increasing access to high quality equitable teaching and learning opportunities for Framingham based, 4 year old children the year before entering Kindergarten. Curriculum and instruction will be based on a school day schedule. Extended day options are available at The MetroWest YMCA, Framingham State University - Centers for Early Childhood Education and Loving Nest Preschool that will enhance social emotional learning. Enrollment Intake Forms Fine & Performing Arts Fine and Performing Arts Website Thank you to Stapleton Art Teacher Robin Seeran for presenting a selection of Stapleton's Fall and Winter Artwork at the Saxonville Business Mixer and More! This was FPA's first collaborative community event, teaming up with Framingham organizations Open Spirit and Friends of Saxonville. It was a fun night where the community came together to get to know each other, learn about local businesses and events, and celebrate Stapleton Elementary's amazing student artwork! A huge bravo to the following music teachers for beautifully executing their December concerts: Abi Varsos- Provided 6th Grade Cameron students a unique opportunity to perform at their Community Meeting! It was wonderful to see students perform for their peers and set a beautiful tone for the assembly! Rejane De Musis- Planned and seamlessly executed a full 30 minute concert for each grade level (K-4) at McCarthy! It was wonderful to see students singing in three languages, translanguaging, showing strong performance etiquette, and using beautiful singing voices throughout all of the performances! Nancy Killoran and Cindy Moore- Put on two amazing 3rd and 4th grade concerts at Barbieri. Students sang in rounds, multiple part harmony, and combined percussion and recorders while showing strong stage presence and performance etiquette!  Rachel Pac and Mark Ragusa- Hosted in-school concerts at Stapleton for students in grades K-5 to practice performing for one another! Students supported each other, practiced being good audience members, sang and played their instruments with confidence, and made connections to the learning they are doing in the music classroom! It was a wonderful community event! Matt Zettler- Put on a whole school K-4 concert at Harmony Grove with a huge family turn out! Students sang beautifully and it was wonderful to see the whole Harmony Grove community come together through music! Cameron Middle School presents Peter Pan Jr. A big congratulations to Cameron Middle School's cast, crew, and staff, for their 4 amazing performances of Peter Pan Jr.! Thank you to Delaney Hollander, Chris Dupuis, Abi Varsos, Kyle Trumble, and Mariko Matsumura for all of their hard work, creativity, and dedication to this incredible production! Artists in Action! Shout out to elementary Art Teachers Leidy Cotrina (Dunning), Allison Ferdinand (Harmony Grove), and Selia Potas (Brophy) for using visuals to reinforce strong routines and a positive classroom culture rooted in high expectations throughout their art rooms! Shout out to Cameron Chorus and Music Appreciation Teacher Abi Varsos for explicitly teaching students how to talk about music and using accountable talk through sentence stems and word walls! Shout out to McCarthy Art Teacher Lynn Taylor for using anchor charts to support student independence and utilize new concepts and vocabulary when talking about art! Shout out to Cameron Theatre Arts Teacher Delaney Hollander and Fuller Band Teacher Diane Jasinski for utilizing frequent turn and talks and hand signals to support all students with accessing higher order thinking and discovering concepts independently! Up and Coming! Mark your calendars for two exciting events on Friday January 10th!  Join us for the Monster Mashup art exhibition opening reception at Project B Gallery at the Mill Contemporary Art Studios from 5-7pm! This is a collaborative art experience created by King Kindergarten and FHS Ceramics, Photography, Video Production, and 3D Art students! Framingham High School Drama Company presents: Grease! Join us for opening night at 7:30pm! Tickets available at CUR8.com Resource Center Transparency Center   OTL Previous Communications November Newsletter October Newsletter  2024 MCAS and Accountability Results September Assessment Updates Teaching and Learning Guiding Documents Instructional Plans and Guiding Documents District Coherence Model District Curriculum Accommodation Plan (DCAP) Instructional Framework Handbook Instructional Visioning Lesson Planning Tools Current Curriculum Frameworks - Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Standards Navigator   DESE MA Frameworks Family Guides Classroom Visit Rubrics TNTP Literacy Walkthrough Tool TNTP Reading Foundational Skills Classroom Observation Tool District Strategic Plans Office of Teaching and Learning and Office of Student Supports Strategic Plan (September 2023) Pre-K Strategic Plan (September 2023) Meet or Connect with Each OTL Department Office of Teaching and Learning  Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Team Department of Multilingual Education Team Department of Early Education (PreK) Team Department of Fine and Performing Arts Team Department of Educational Technology

Monday, Dec 23 2024
Early Education Enrollment Reminder

To be eligible for the Early Education enrollment lottery (1/6/2025), all Preschool and Pre-K intake forms must be submitted by Friday, December 27, 2024. https://earlyed.framingham.k12.ma.us/

Monday, Dec 23 2024
Director of Special Education Search 2025

Dear Framingham Community: The District is currently launching the search process for the next Director of Special Education. If you want to participate in the Screening and/or Interview Committee and/or complete the Focus Group Survey to identify key characteristics and priorities of the new Director, be sure to apply by Friday, January 10, 2025 . Thank you, Bob —- Want to be part of a team that will help with the process of identifying the new leadership for our Department of Special Education? This is an important opportunity to engage in a collaborative process that will help us determine the next Director of Special Education. Framingham Public Schools (FPS) encourages you to express your interest to serve either in Round 1 and/or Round 2 of this critical process. The process for the Director of Special Education search will be as follows: Round 1: Initial Candidate Screening Committee : We are seeking 9 volunteers to serve on the Round 1 Screening Committee. The Screening Committee will consist of 3 parents/community members, 3 educators, and 3 administrators. Where possible, preferential appointment will be provided to those who participated in the Spring 2024 Director of Special Education search committee. Members selected for this part of the process will: (a) Establish key characteristics of a Director of Special Education; (b) Review resumes and applications, and (c) Recommend initial candidates who will proceed to Round 2. The Committee will meet in-person. Coverage will be provided for educators by the District. Round 2: Stakeholder Interview Committee Interviews : We are seeking up to 15 volunteers to serve on the Round 2 Interviews. There will be three (3) separate screening committees, each representing a stakeholder group: parents/community members, educators, and administrators. Members selected for this part of the process will meet with their respective stakeholder group to conduct in-person 35-minute interviews with the selected candidates from Round 1 and assess their performance. No more than 5 individuals will make up each stakeholder group. All meetings will be in-person. Coverage will be provided for educators by the District. At the end of Round 2, selected candidates will proceed to Round 3. Round 3: Cabinet and Superintendent of Schools Interviews: The Superintendent and his Cabinet will interview the candidates and determine a finalist, who will then be presented to the School Committee in accordance with School Committee Policy BBA. The District is seeking volunteers to join the screening committee (Round 1) and/or Interview Committee (Round 2). If you wish to be considered, please complete the Application below BY January 10, 2025 . Screening/Interview Committees will be notified on January 13, 2025 . English: Director of Special Education Interview Committee Application Spanish: Solicitud para el comité de entrevistas y evaluación del Director(a) de Educación Especial Portuguese: Formulário de Inscrição para Comitê de Entrevista/Seleção de Diretor(a) de Educação Especial All Screening/Interview Committee members must undergo a full training, which includes an anti-bias training, and commit to a significant amount of time. Screening Committee members will have work to complete outside of designated meeting times and MUST attend ALL meetings for their respective Round and stay the ENTIRE time. All meetings will be IN PERSON. Coverage will be provided for educators by the District. However, due to the nature of some positions, staff may need to make up special education services for students at a later time. Round 1 Dates: Initial Candidate Screening Committee Meetings Orientation and Key Characteristics : 2/3 8:30 am - 12 pm at Farley (19 Flagg Drive) Application Review and Candidate Selection: 2/12 8 am - 12:30 pm at Farley (19 Flagg Drive) Round 2 Dates: Stakeholder Screening Committee Interviews Orientation & Questions: 2/13 9 am - 12:30 pm at Farley (19 Flagg Drive) Interviews : 2/24 8 am - 12:30 pm at Farley (19 Flagg Drive) 2/25 8 am - 12:30 pm at Farley (19 Flagg Drive) 2/26 8 am - 12:30 pm at Farley (19 Flagg Drive) (if needed) 2/27 8 am - 12:30 pm at Farley (19 Flagg Drive) (if needed) In rare circumstances, dates will need to change to ensure a better pool of applicants; in such a case, an announcement will be made as soon as possible. It is very important for us to have a diverse screening committee that celebrates and mirrors the diversity of our students. Please complete the application below BY Friday, January 10, 2025 . English: Director of Special Education Interview Committee Application Spanish: Solicitud para el comité de entrevistas y evaluación del Director(a) de Educación Especial Portuguese: Formulário de Inscrição para Comitê de Entrevista/Seleção de Diretor(a) de Educação Especial Inna London Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Volunteer Opportunities and Commitment Focus Group Survey : Community members may complete this google form by Friday, January 10, 2025 to help identify key characteristics of the new Director, as well as to share your input regarding their priorities in the first six (6) months. Screening/Interview Committees : If you wish to be considered to sit on the Interview Committee, please complete this Application by Friday, January 10, 2025. The Committee will be announced on or after Monday, January 13, 2025 . All meetings will be in person. Interview Committee members MUST attend ALL meetings and be FULLY PRESENT for the ENTIRE duration of each meeting date. If you require any accommodations, please let Inna London know in advance. Round 1 Dates: Initial Candidate Screening Committee Meetings Orientation and Key Characteristics : 2/3 8:30 am - 12 pm at Farley (19 Flagg Drive) Application Review and Candidate Selection: 2/12 8 am - 12:30 pm at Farley (19 Flagg Drive) Round 2 Dates: Stakeholder Screening Committee Interviews Orientation & Questions: 2/13 9 am - 12:30 pm at Farley (19 Flagg Drive) Interviews : 2/24 8 am - 12:30 pm at Farley (19 Flagg Drive) 2/25 8 am - 12:30 pm at Farley (19 Flagg Drive) 2/26 8 am - 12:30 pm at Farley (19 Flagg Drive) (if needed) 2/27 8 am - 12:30 pm at Farley (19 Flagg Drive) (if needed) In rare circumstances, dates will need to change to ensure a better pool of applicants; in such a case, an announcement will be made as soon as possible. It is very important for us to have a diverse screening committee that celebrates and mirrors the diversity of our students. Please complete the application BY Friday, January 10, 2025 . Bob Tremblay Superintendent of Schools

Friday, Dec 20 2024
The Bobcast Episode 5: Building Blocks of Success: C...

In this episode of The Bobcast, Superintendent Bob sits down with Amy Bright, the Assistant Superintendent of PreK-12 Education and Marybeth O'Brien, the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment to dive into key topics shaping education today. Together, they discuss the importance of maintaining curriculum consistency across schools, strategies for keeping learning engaging and fun for students, and the unique joys and challenges of working in public education. They also share their personal journeys into the field of education, offering a glimpse into what inspired them to pursue their careers. The episode wraps up with a lighthearted game, giving listeners a fun way to get to know these two passionate educators on a more personal level. Don’t miss this insightful and inspiring conversation!

Wednesday, Dec 18 2024