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Indigenous People's Day Event - Monday, October 14th
The City of Framingham, Framingham Public Schools, and a coalition of community partners will host an Indigenous People’s Day event on Monday, October 14, 2024, at Farm Pond Park from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. At the Farm Pond event, attendees will hear from Indigenous speakers, students, and other guests, starting at 1 p.m. There will also be a performance and food trucks available, and attendees are welcome to bring their own food as well. If the weather doesn't cooperate, the event will move indoors to the Barbieri Elementary School gym. Parking will be available at the school. Join us in celebrating the resilience and heritage of Indigenous peoples on this important day.
Monday, Oct 07 2024
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MCAS and Accountability Results
The 2024 MCAS and Accountability results, released on Tuesday, September 24, 2025, by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), weigh heavily on the Framingham Public Schools. The Massachusetts Accountability Model uses multiple data points to calculate a school’s percentile and criterion targets. These factors include achievement, student growth, English language proficiency, chronic absenteeism, advanced coursework, and other indicators. As a result of these factors, 11 out of 13 of our schools experienced accountability percentile dips in comparison to the 2023 ratings. Cameron Middle School, McCarthy Elementary School, and Potter Road Elementary School have been added to the overall classification of “requiring assistance or intervention.” Framingham High School is no longer designated as “requiring assistance or intervention.” Particular attention at the state level has been on the statistics across the Commonwealth with respect to chronic absenteeism. The state’s overall rate for chronic absenteeism, classified by students missing more than 10% of the school year, or 18 days in an entire school year, is a significant area to attend to. For context, students are in school for 16 school days in the month of November. Essentially, chronic absenteeism is the equivalent of missing an entire month of learning. The data demonstrates that students who are not chronically absent across the Commonwealth see an increase of 14-18 points in English Language Arts (ELA) and 16-19 points in Mathematics in comparison to peers who are chronically absent. In short, attendance matters in the ability for students to access Tier I curriculum and meet grade level expectations. While the Framingham Public Schools recognizes that grades 3-8 demonstrated meeting or exceeding targets across subgroups in most cases for chronic absenteeism, strategic approaches have been taken to address the challenges as it remains that one in three students are absent regularly. Our high school rates of chronic absenteeism are similar in that one in three students are absent regularly however, various subgroups continue to struggle with meeting targets set by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Thus, a priority across all schools and classrooms is to pay particular attention to establishing a greater sense of belonging and engaging families for improved attendance. Framingham High School's performance in English Language Arts (ELA) reveals a seven-point gap compared to the state average, with 45% of students meeting or exceeding expectations. In science, 42% of students meet or exceed expectations, which is 7 percentage points below the state average. Math performance shows 39% of students achieving this benchmark, lagging by about nine percentage points behind the state average. Overall, while Framingham High School demonstrates a solid foundation across subjects, there remains a notable difference between the school's results and state benchmarks, particularly in math and science. Compared to the previous year, performance in Science and ELA shows no significant change. The performance of students in grades 3-8 remains an area of significant focus as we continue to address the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The scores are largely consistent with the previous year. In Science, 26% of students in grades 5 and 8 are meeting or exceeding expectations. Similarly, Math performance shows a slight decrease of one percentage point, with 21% of students achieving grade-level proficiency. Meanwhile, English Language Arts (ELA) performance reveals that only 22% of students in grades 3-8 are meeting or exceeding expectations, underscoring a continued challenge by which the Framingham Public Schools Strategic Plan, the identified Instructional Priority, and continued partnerships with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education address directly. Third graders who took the MCAS exam in the Spring of 2024 were Kindergarten students during the pandemic, and the results across Framingham and the Commonwealth confirms that unfinished learning from the pandemic continues to impact students’ academic performance. We recognize the impact and are continuing the work towards improved progress through multiple action steps. The Framingham Public Schools has just completed the first year of its seven-year strategic plan, which focused on a coherence model prioritizing high-quality instruction. Last school year, the Offices of Teaching and Learning and Student Supports focused their efforts on the implementation of high-quality curriculum for Literacy across all elementary schools while also engaging in a review, adoption, and implementation for the 2024-2025 school year for middle schools. It is important to note that research indicates that an implementation dip, a temporary decline in academic performance, often occurs when a new curriculum is adopted. This is a natural part of the change practice of adopting new curriculum as teachers, students, and leaders adjust to the new materials, instructional strategies, and assessment methods. Once new curriculum becomes fully integrated, performance tends to stabilize and improve. Additionally, the Framingham Public Schools has begun the implementation of a three-year rollout of a new science curriculum in middle school, OpenSciEd. Throughout the 2024-2025 school year, a curriculum council composed of representatives across the district, particularly in grades preK-8 will engage in a review process to evaluate and select a new math curriculum that will be implemented in the 2025-2026 school year. The district strategic plan is additionally focused on the efforts of expansion opportunities for our youngest learners in order to provide earlier access to buld foundational early literacy and numeracy skills. Over the course of the last two years, we have expanded opportunities for PreKindergarten for children throughout Framingham and have moved from 62 seats in 2021-2022 to 204 seats for 2024-2025 school year. In future years, we look forward to further expansion to ensure increased early childhood opportunities to build the foundational skills for learning. We recognize that instilling a strong commitment to attendance and academic success at an early age will continue to support our efforts to have all students and schools meet and achieve expectations.
Friday, Sep 27 2024
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Explorers 10/3 Full Day Program Registration
Get ready to roar into action as your student sets off on a thrilling safari experience! Registration is now open for Explorers’ Thursday October 3rd Full Day program. Brace yourself for a day packed with wild animal activities, untamed outdoor exploration, and pulse-pounding team challenges. With plenty of exhilarating adventures around every corner, this is one safari your explorer will never forget. Don’t miss out—secure your spot on this wild ride today! Details: Registration is open to all Framingham Public School students Pre-K through 5th Grade Time: 7:30am - 5:30pm Location: King Elementary School, 454 Water St, Framingham, MA 01701 Transportation is not provided. Parent drop off and pick up is required. “Breakfast Breaks” will be provided and Lunch will be a turkey sandwich. If your child wants to pack a breakfast or lunch instead of these options, we kindly ask that it is nut-free. Pricing: Non-Explorers rate, $80: Families who are not currently enrolled in the Explorers before and after school program at their specific school. Explorers rate, $65: Families that are currently enrolled in the Explorers before and after school program at their specific school receive a discounted rate for all non school days and vacation programs. This discount will be automatically applied at checkout. FPS Employee Discount: Employees of FPS are eligible for a 10% discount using promo code: FPSTAFF Registration Deadlines & Details : Click here to register ! Direct link: http://fpscrd.myrec.com/info/activities/program_details.aspx?ProgramID=29969 Registration will close once our program reaches spacing capacity at 100 students. To register, an account must be created. [Monday, Sep 30 at 8:20 AM] Explorers 10/3 Full Day Program has reached it's registration capacity and is now closed.
Friday, Sep 27 2024
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School Safety Month Updates
School Safety Month Not displaying correctly? View in browser In October we will focus on safety across all schools in Framingham. October include National Fire Prevention Week, America's Safe Schools Week, and National Bus Safety Week. Dear FPS Families and Colleagues, I hope this message finds you well at the start of this school year. At Framingham Public Schools, the safety and well-being of our students and staff are the highest priority. A safe learning environment is a shared responsibility and we are committed to taking proactive steps to prepare everyone for potential emergency situations. We are excited to share with you that again this academic year, we are reviewing safety training lessons and drills for staff and students. These trainings were created in partnership and collaboration between the Departments of Health and Wellness and Department of Safety and Security, with valuable input from the Department of Special Education. We are committed to making FPS a safe and inclusive learning environment. Your support and partnership in this endeavor are greatly appreciated. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or require further information about our safety initiatives. We look forward to working together to ensure a secure and nurturing school environment for all. Warm regards, The Departments of Health & Wellness and Safety & Security Students will engage in 3 lessons to support a common understanding of school safety. The lessons teach students in a trauma informed and developmentally appropriate way what to do during a stay in place, a lockdown, and an evacuation. This means that we approach the lessons in a way that makes kids and staff feel safe, especially if they’ve had previous exposure to dangerous experiences. Students will practice identifying their “Stay Safe Choices” and/or actions in the event that an unsafe person/people or animal is inside or outside. Lessons were created using the Safe and Sounds Schools Curriculum . Lesson's will be delivered by classroom teachers with support staff pushing in as needed. Discussions on current events around school violence will not take place, rather if a student wants to discuss these events further, they will be referred to a support staff member. Lesson Vocabulary Evacuation : An evacuation might be used if there is an unsafe person, animal, fire, or other danger inside the school. Lockdown : A lockdown might be used if there is an unsafe person or animal near the classroom. I a lock down doors are locked, sometimes might be turned off, sometimes shades are closed, and students are encouraged to spread out in the room. Stay in Place: A stay in place may be used if someone is having a medical emergency and needs privacy or if the power goes out. We believe that the combination of safety lessons, followed by announced safety drills, are crucial in equipping our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate emergencies and make informed decisions. Announced Safety Drills: Similar to how students practice evacuating the school buildings in case of fire, these announced ( meaning we will tell students when the drill is happening and it is a practice/drill) safety drills are an opportunity to practice and prepare for various situations, which includes staying in place, locking down, and evacuating and further reinforce what is taught in the lessons. TIMELINE First 2 weeks of October: Lessons delivered to students October 7th- Alternative Activity Forms Due if Opting out of Drills Second 2 weeks of October: Announced drills occur at schools If you choose to opt your child out of the safety drill, we kindly request that you complete the alternative activity form by October 7th, 2024 . This will ensure that appropriate arrangements are made to accommodate your child's exemption from the safety drill and participation in an alternative safety lesson. Please note that by opting for an alternative lesson, your child will only learn about stay in place, lockdown, and evacuate, with their teacher and class, but will not participate in any school-wide drills this year. We encourage you to discuss these important topics with your child at home to ensure they have the knowledge and skills needed to navigate a potential emergency. Sesame School: School Safety Drills (English and Spanish) Healthy Children.Org What Parents Need to Know (English and Spanish) National Association of School Psychologists (English/ Spanish/ Portuguese) Department of Health and Wellness For more information please reach out Sara DeLuca sdeluca@framingham.k12.ma.us
Thursday, Sep 26 2024
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Distribution of Materials - September 2024
Distribution of Materials Distribution of Materials September 2024 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! Framingham-based, youth-oriented service groups are permitted to distribute recruitment material at four (4) periods during the school year. This Smore is one way that the District shares submitted material to all FPS families. For more information on this, please visit the FPS Website: Distribution of Recruitment Material . PDF Program and Information Packet - English PDF Program and Information Packet - Spanish PDF Program and Information Packet - Portuguese Framingham Youth Hockey Learn to Play Hockey Marital Arts Classes - Fall Specials 2024-2025 After-School Program Distribution Guidelines: Please complete the online application https://forms.gle/qpsR8W4K4dHyEAKa9 (If you have trouble with the online form, please complete the Application for Distribution on the next page and send the form along with the flyers to: Amy Kane for approval. Materials will not be distributed without approval from the Superintendent’s Office. According to School Committee policy, “All material to be distributed through the Framingham Schools must be provided in three languages (English, Spanish and Portuguese).” Only Framingham-based, non-profit, youth oriented groups will be considered for approval. Materials are distributed under the auspices of the School Department; therefore all messages must be free of grammatical and spelling errors to receive approval. All materials must contain the statement “Translations provided by… ” (please include the translation source) PDFs delivered for digital / electronic distribution should be at least partially accessible**. Please allow 5 - 10 business days to process your request. If approved, you will receive your distribution instructions. If a printed distribution is approved, it will be the responsibility of the organization to package and deliver the materials to the schools. **Accessibility: For people who have visual impairments and depend on a screen reader to receive their information - a scanned PDF is not accessible. The scanned document is essentially an image that has no identifiable text for a machine to read. The best kind of PDF will have tags, links, alt-text for images, and proper titles and headings. At the very least, the text should be 'selectable'. Please see this article to learn more: https://itaccessibility.arizona.edu/content/pdf-accessibility Framingham Public Schools 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.
Thursday, Sep 26 2024
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A Message from the Department of Special Education
Framingham Public Schools Department of Special Education will conduct appointment-based special education screenings in October, November, January, March and May, for children ages 3-5 years old, during the 2024-2025 school year. If you suspect your child may have a disability in any area, including: learning, social, language or gross/fine motor development, a screening will assist in determining if further/formal assessment of skills in any area is warranted. Screenings take place at BLOCKS Preschool at 29 Upper Joclyn Ave. in Framingham and take approximately 45 minutes. If you would like to schedule a preschool screening, please contact: Donna Angus at (508) 782-6990 or email: dangus@framingham.k12.ma.us . El Departamento de Educación Especial de las Escuelas Públicas Framingham llevará a cabo evaluaciones de educación especial con cita previa en octubre, noviembre, enero, marzo y mayo para niños de 3 a 5 años durante el año escolar 2024-2025. Si sospecha que su hijo/a puede tener una discapacidad en cualquier área, incluyendo: aprendizaje, social, lenguaje o desarrollo motor grueso/fino, una prueba ayudará a determinar si se justifica una evaluación formal/adicional de las habilidades en cualquier área. Las evaluaciones se llevan a cabo en BLOCKS Preschool en 29 Upper Joclyn Ave. en Framingham y duran aproximadamente 45 minutos. Si desea programar una evaluación preescolar, comuníquese con: Donna Angus al (508) 782-6990 o envíe un correo electrónico a: dangus@framingham.k12.ma.us . O Departamento de Educação Especial das Escolas Públicas de Framingham realizará avaliações para educação especial com hora marcada nos meses de outubro, novembro, janeiro, março e maio, para crianças de 3 a 5 anos, durante o ano letivo de 2024-2025. Se você suspeita que seu filho possa ter uma deficiência em qualquer área, incluindo: aprendizagem, social, linguagem ou desenvolvimento motor grosso/fino, uma triagem ajudará a determinar se uma avaliação adicional/formal de habilidades em qualquer área é necessária. As triagens acontecem na BLOCKS Preschool na 29 Upper Joclyn Ave. em Framingham e duram aproximadamente 45 minutos. Se você gostaria de agendar uma triagem pré-escolar, por favor, entre em contato com: Donna Angus em (508) 782-6990 ou e-mail: dangus@framingham.k12.ma.us .
Wednesday, Sep 25 2024
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Free Event in Conjunction with Suicide Prevention Month
In conjunction with Suicide Prevention Month, Call2Talk is coming to Framingham Public Schools for a FREE film screening of My Ascension, a film to spread hope and fight suicide, on Wednesday, September 25th at 6pm. The 90 minute film screening will be followed by an important dialogue related to preventing youth suicide in our community. There will be two special guests, Emma Benoit from My Ascension and MC, David O'Leary from Magic 106.7! This is best suited for children in grades 7-12. Register for the free event today at www.mass211.org/call2talk and email c2tfilm@mass211.org with any questions! Register for the event here: www.mass211.org/call2talk Learn more about suicide prevention month in this newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/9zp3v
Monday, Sep 23 2024
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FHS Athletic Department Announcement
FHS Athletic Dept. Announcement Sept. 20th Framingham High School Football Game Not displaying correctly? View in browser We are excited to host Wellesley High School this Friday as they take on our very own Framingham Flyers Varsity Football team! Please see the following reminders about procedures for game entry and fan decorum: All high school students must present a physical student ID to enter the game. Sticker IDs, class schedules, and AspenX2 accounts will NOT be accepted. All students should enter the main entry gate closest to the home stands. There is no entry into the game for students after the second quarter. There is no re-entry back into Bowditch Stadium once you leave. Students cannot bring in backpacks or bags - clear and/or see through bags are allowed. This is a family friendly event! Please be mindful of language and chants used. All students in grades kindergarten through 8th must have an adult with them at all times while at the game. Only football and FPS staff are allowed on the sidelines or track area. Bowditch Field Athletic & Cultural Complex Updates framinghamma.gov Event Information FHS Football Game ALL FANS SHOULD ARRANGE FOR A RIDE PRIOR TO THE END OF THE GAME THE FACILITY WILL BE CLOSED NO LATER THAN 20 MINUTES AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE GAME When? Friday, Sep 20, 2024, 06:00 PM Where? Bowditch Field Athletic and Cultural Complex, Union Avenue, Framingham, MA, USA Kourtney Costello Kourtney is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters
Friday, Sep 20 2024
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Episode 2 of The Bobcast Featuring Michelle Kinsella!
In this inspiring episode of The Bobcast , Superintendent Bob sits down with a special guest, a 28-year veteran health teacher who has taken on a remarkable new challenge—becoming a world marathoner! Tune in as she shares her journey from the classroom to the marathon circuit, her training for the big race in April 2024, and how her passion for health and fitness has transformed both her life and the lives of her students. Don't miss this motivating conversation about perseverance, goal-setting, and the power of a healthy lifestyle. Catch the full episode on YouTube !
Wednesday, Sep 18 2024
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The First DNA of the School Year!
DNA - District News & Announcements September 2024 Not displaying correctly? View in browser September 2024 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 & 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! Are you receiving ParentSquare messages in the incorrect language? Follow the directions in this help article to change your language preferences, or call your school to have them assist you! View more helpful resources in the Google Folder linked at the button below! ParentSquare Family Resources Be sure to complete the form at the button below to acknowledge the receipt of the Family-Student Handbook. This needs to be completed by September 20th. Receipt of Handbook Form Event Information My Ascension Film Screening and Q&A Session Presented by Call2Talk In conjunction with Suicide Prevention Month, Call2Talk is coming to Framingham Public Schools for a film screening of My Ascension, a film to spread hope and fight suicide. The 90 minute film screening will be followed by an important dialogue related to preventing youth suicide in our community. There will be two special guests, Emma Benoit from My Ascension and MC, David O'Leary from Magic 106.7! This is best suited for children in grades 7-12. Register for the free event today at www.mass211.org/call2talk and email c2tfilm@mass211.org with any questions! When? Wednesday, Sep 25, 2024, 06:00 PM Where? Fuller Middle School, Flagg Drive, Framingham, MA, USA 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! Welcome Back Everyone! The first day of school was such an exciting time across the district. Thank you to everyone who shared photos of their students on the first day. The photos did not disappoint! You can see a full album of photos here. If you would like to submit your first day photo, click here to upload your photo! First Camp Potter! Potter Road held its first "Camp Potter" during the first 10 days of SEL. Camp Potter provided all students with the opportunity to engage in fun and interactive team building activities. Over the course of three days, staff facilitators led grade level classrooms through a series of activities that built classroom and school community with a focus on our core values. Cameron Updates! All Cameron administrators attended the community events prior to school starting, making many valuable connections with Cameron families. On September 17th Viking Sports will come to Cameron to provide a team building event for each grade. We hosted Viking Sports last spring and the students had a blast and made great connections with their classmates. This year we had a record number of students auditioning for our fall play Peter Pan Jr! We are very excited to see the final production. Cameron PTO will be hosting our first annual family picnic 9/25. Families are invited to bring chairs or blankets and join us for a community dinner. KFB Trash Bash 250 World Cleanup Day is Friday 9/20 & National Cleanup Day is Saturday 9/21. Keep Framingham Beautiful will extend these dates from Thursday 9/19 through Monday 9/23 and celebrate with our Trash Bash 250 long weekend event. Be a part of something BIG as our 250 Framingham Trash Bash participants will join an estimated 20+ million volunteers world wide! Here’s how you can help: 1. Do your own personal litter cleanup 2. Organize a small cleanup with co-workers or neighbors 3. Join our weekend group cleanups 9/21 or 9/22 4. Post your results to our Facebook group A few High School clubs are doing a cleanup on Thursday 9/19, Dunning PTO is planning a cleanup, Potter Road and Stapleton Explorers Friday 9/20, maybe Brophy and Fuller too! Please fill out this google form if you can participate in this incredible community effort. If you have any questions, send us an email: KeepFraminghamBeautiful@gmail.com Let's bash that trash. The City of Framingham is Looking for an Arts Representative for the Mayor's Community Center Advisory Committee The 25-member Advisory Committee to the Mayor met in June and has a second meeting scheduled for Thursday, September 26. Applicants must be a Framingham resident to apply. If you're interested, you can apply here! The deadline to apply is Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Questions on qualifications as an arts organization representative can be directed to the City’s Citizen Participation Officer, Nicole Horton-Stimpson, at nhs@framinghamma.gov Episode 2 Coming Soon! Be sure to stay tuned for the next episode of the Bobcast dropping on September 17th! This will be available on our YouTube page and on Spotify. The episode will also air on FEC-TV at 6:00pm on Wednesday, September 18th. Check out a preview of who the next guest is... 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 ! Transportation Opportunities Next school year we will be moving transportation in-house! Check out information about this program in the trilingual fliers below! Framingham Public Schools 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.
Monday, Sep 16 2024