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January 6, 2025

Welcome back!

I hope your break was restful and you are ready to head into 2025 energized for the rest of semester 2.

We have a faculty meeting scheduled for this Thursday, January 9 at 2:50pm in the library. We will have a presentation from the Tourette's Association on best practices for working with and supporting students with Tourette's. 

We are 2 1/2 weeks from midyear exams. Please make sure you share your exam expectations with your classes as well as how students can access you for assistance during the week. You should plan to be available for students during the period you normally have a class scheduled, following the modified schedule. As a reminder, here is the exam schedule. 

Recently, at a Site Council meeting, we were reminded of the expectation to recite the Pledge of Allegiance daily at the start of the school day. We have been remiss in doing this for some time. While we work on a schoolwide implementation of saying the pledge, I ask that you start the first class period of the day either leading your class or asking a student to lead the pledge. Everyone should start this practice today, January 6. 

The MA state law on this is shared here: MA General Laws-Part I-Title XII-Chapter71-section 69

Section 69. The school committee shall provide for each schoolhouse under its control, which is not otherwise supplied, flags of the United States of silk or bunting not less than two feet long, such flags or bunting to be manufactured in the United States, and suitable apparatus for their display as hereinafter provided. A flag shall be displayed, weather permitting, on the school building or grounds on every school day and on every legal holiday or day proclaimed by the governor or the President of the United States for special observance, provided that on stormy school days, it shall be displayed inside the building. A flag shall be displayed in each assembly hall or other room in each such schoolhouse where the opening exercises on each school day are held. Each teacher at the commencement of the first class of each day in all grades in all public schools shall lead the class in a group recitation of the ''Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag''. A flag shall be displayed in each classroom in each such schoolhouse. Failure for a period of five consecutive days by the principal or teacher in charge of a school equipped as aforesaid to display the flag as above required, or failure for a period of two consecutive weeks by a teacher to salute the flag and recite said pledge as aforesaid, or to cause the pupils under his charge so to do, shall be punished for every such period by a fine of not more than five dollars. Failure of the committee to equip a school as herein provided shall subject the members thereof to a like penalty.


Please see the message below from Framingham State University:

As we approach the beginning of the Spring semester, educators might be looking for professional development courses. Framingham State University offers several professional development programs at very competitive prices that allow educators to gain 1 or 2 graduate credits per course. Educators may learn more about our offerings here (https://www.framingham.edu/academics/continuing-education/continuing-professional-education-workforce-development/professional-development-educators). Our staff is happy to assist educators with any questions, they can email professionaldevelopment@framingham.edu. If you could please pass this information along to any interested educators, we would greatly appreciate it.

·       Online Professional Development Courses for Educators: Online, 4-week, 1 graduate credit, $225 registration fee per course (courses start January 13)

·       Applied Spanish, Portuguese, and Cultural Topics for Educators: Online with Zoom sessions, full semester, 2 graduate credits, $450 registration fee per course (courses start January 21)

 

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