Hi All;
It’s mid-October, but yesterday’s display of huge snowflakes and mild accumulation gave me the willies. It was a miserable day for those outside, and I’m hopeful it will warm up a bit this week. The Patriots certainly didn’t mind the snow!
As our minds start to think about the winter ahead, colds and the flu season are likely to follow. Many of you are likely aware of the upcoming flu vaccine clinics to be conducted by the Framingham Board of Health. FHS will host one of these clinics on Saturday, October 24 from 10:00 AM –2:00 PM. These are open to the public and will continue at various other FPS schools over the next four weekends. In addition, FPS employees can also partake in a flu vaccine clinic for all Framingham Town Employees that will be held on Thursday, November 12, from 12:00 – 4:00 PM at Nevins (Town) Hall. Please make sure you take advantage of these opportunities!
Underclassmen picture re-takes and FREE senior portraits will take place next week on Tuesday, October 27. They will happen in the main office conference room. Students wishing to have a picture re-taken should come to the conference room during their lunch period. Seniors can stop by at any time they are free during the day. If you are a parent and need to get a picture order form, you can download them yourself on-line via the FHS website.
Many of you are aware of the recent article in the Eagle’s Eye student newspaper written about the topic of illegal immigration. This article has upset many in the FHS community and has caused me to ponder the importance of thoughtful review and proofreading prior to any school-wide publication. It has also got me thinking about the process behind the publication of any article representing the school as a whole. I have also had to consider the difference between a “news story” and an “opinion” or editorial and how those different types of stories are researched, reviewed, and ultimately included in a written newspaper. In response, I’ve met with a group of concerned parents to discuss their reaction to the piece, and I have also met with advisor Dan Devlen and members of the ESL/Bilingual department who are eager to get involved and create a more robust infrastructure within the organization itself. I will be meeting with the editors of the paper to discuss the process and organization of the paper’s production so that I am clear on how ideas get from thoughts to words on paper. Dan has indicated that he is eager for contributions and help from both students and faculty. More involvement makes for a better final product, so if you are so inclined please just send Dan an e-mail expressing your interest. I appreciate your assistance in this area.
A free seminar offered at Framingham State College this week aims to give parents a lesson on how to prepare their child for college. The seminar, College Readiness: What Every Parent Should Know, will be held Oct. 22 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Dwight Performing Arts Center, and will be led by Dr. Lorretta Holloway, an English professor who has worked with students and parents on college preparedness. Topics that will be discussed include how to prepare children academically, what parents can do before their child
applies to college, what works habits are expected of college freshmen and what difficulties students face academically, and more. The seminar is free, and aimed at parents of middle and high school students. More information is available by contacting Dr. Holloway at 508-626-4810 or by emailing her.
The FHS Marching Band participated in the MICCA Southeast Marching Band Festival this past weekend at King Philip Regional HS in Wrentham, MA. Due to the rain and snow, the festival was moved inside but the bands were scored on their Music performance, Colorguard, Musical Effect, and an overall score. The band scored overall 3 Stars out of 5 and received 4 Stars on Music Performance. The band has worked really hard this year and will be traveling to Umass-Lowell for the Marching Band Finals next weekend. Congratulations to Band Director Brian Cervone and all the Marching Band students!
Congratulations to all the faculty and student backstage help for this past weekend’s highly successful benefit performance of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown! It was two nights of packed houses that were treated to some amazingly talented singing, dancing, and comedic/dramatic acting from our own FHS teachers and staff. Some great pictures of the event can be seen here.
It was a whole lot of fun and I’m hopeful that a good bit of money was raised to defray some of the exorbitant cost of the drama company’s summer, 2010 trip to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. Thank you to everyone involved!