PRINCIPAL’S PAD

Eileen and Kevin Keane are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Ronan George Keane. Ronan came into this world prematurely on April 30^th, weighing 4lb 11oz.  Mother and son are doing well.

Congratulations to Julian Chapell, Melissa Gomez, Darris Jordan, Lauren Lob, Ali Pappas, and Jieun Park.  These students were selected as readers for the Poetry Fest held on May 10th at the Newton Free Library.  I applaud their willingness to present their poems to the public.  Well done.  All poems submitted by students are included in "Write Now", a journal of poetry.  You can see the journal on line at the Children's Room Website at www.ci.newton.ma.us/library/kidspage/writenow/write_now04/wn_journal2004/journal_home2004.htm
This is an annual event.  We hope to see more Franklin students participate next year.

I greatly appreciate the cards and well wishes I have received this month following the illness and death of my father and the subsequent sudden death of my sister-in-law. Your kind thoughts and support have helped make the losses a little easier to bear. Thank you.

MCAS testing is scheduled next week for the fourth and fifth graders.  Please remind your children to get plenty of rest and to eat a healthy breakfast so they will be in their prime for the testing sessions.

As we head into the final stretch of the school year, please watch for notices of individual classroom projects as well as all school events that celebrate student achievement, bring closure, and assist with transitions.

Many thanks to Maria Galvagno for her hard work organizing and setting up our spring book fair.  We hope you have an opportunity to browse the
wonderful selections.

NEWS FROM THE PTO EXECUTIVE BOARD

We are truly in the home stretch of the school year.  By the time you get this, we will have had our least PTO general meeting, elected new officers and had the Book Fair (thanks to Maria Galvagno, Ellen Bradley, Carol McKrill and other Book Fair organizers).  The last day of school has been set for Monday, June 21, with a noon dismissal.    

A special note of appreciation to Linda Farina, Mary Baker, their committee members – Stephanie Cunning, Mark Faulkner, Lenor Mahoney, Lisa Miller, Jane Milne Keen, Orry Panaggio, Isabelle Thacker and Vee Zabrecky – and many others who made our Monte Carlo night such a success.  We needed a home run with this event and we got one.  This puts us in a position to follow through on our plans for the kindergarten playground fund and for current technology spending. 

Next year’s school budget got some good news in the form of an additional $700,000 allocated from the City budget to make up for the cumulative cuts in state funding.  This allowed 13 positions to be added back, about half of the total cuts proposed by the Superintendent.  The school system technology spending cut of 50% remains, so our efforts to supplement this area are warranted.

The Franklin School Fair is coming up on Saturday, May 22 (see next page).  Please put in a couple of hours helping here.  This is a fun day the kids really enjoy.  Call Ruth Comstock to book your volunteer time.  Call Kim Freedman with tag sale items or to help on the 22^nd.

We are still collecting Cans for Computers.  Keep those redeemable cans and bottles coming!  [Keep your non-redeemable recyclables for your green bin at home.]  Angela Torcasio of Dreams Hair Salon at 561 Moody Street in Waltham is continuing her Cuts for Computers offer - $2 for every haircut donated to our Technology Fund – through June 30^th.

For the PTO Executive Board,

Kelley Brown & Linda Witt-Chappell

Franklin Friends Return This Weekend!

Saturday and Sunday, May 15 & 16, Franklin Friends gather again as one of many teams helping to raise research funds for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. The event starts at 7:00 pm at Newton North High School track. Candle service starts after sunset. Team members take turns walking the track throughout the night. Join us. For team and event info, call Allan Cohen,, Alison McCarty , Diane Cabrera,  or Ellen Bradley,  or e-mail Allan.

LIBRARY NEEDS VOLUNTEERS!  

Dear Franklin Community,

If you have a spare half-hour or so...
there are a huge number of new materials in the library media center.
They need to have the barcode and barcode-label protector put on, spine
labels made and attached and covered with a label protector, dust jackets covered,  Franklin School stamp inside,  and a date due slip sticky put in...

 I would be thrilled to show you how to do this-- or even how to do one
step of the process.

Every little bit helps!

Julianne Toomey-Kautz

Library Media Teacher

SPRING FAIR!

The annual Franklin School Spring Fair is coming up on Saturday, May 22 (rain date, May 23). There will be live music, games and activities, food, and fun for the whole family! We will also be having a book and tag sale, and a plant sale, so plan to come browse for bargains.

Volunteers needed! We are looking for folks to give us a hand the day of the fair to help us set up, work at a booth, flip burgers, take tickets at the moonbounce, twirl cotton candy or take a shift at the tag sale table. We especially need people who can offer us some time in the afternoon, particularly from 1:00 to 3:00, or to help us clean up from 3:00 to 5:00. If you have any time to offer at all, please call Ruth Comstock.

Spring Fair Tag Sale: Go through your basement! Your attic! Garage! Donate your unwanted and extraneous items to the PTO Tag Sale at the Spring Fair on May 22.  Books and CDs, Computer Games, Toys, Sporting Goods, Baby Equipment, or Housewares in good condition.  If you have lots of items or large items to donate, or you can help on the 22nd, please call Kim Freedman.

We are still collecting redeemable cans, plastics, and glass as part of the Technology Fund Drive through JUNE.  We are collecting items that are redeemable in Massachusetts (ex: MA 5˘).  Please do not send recyclable, non-redeemable items such as water & milk gallons, juice bottles, etc.  Items may be dropped off in the bright blue recycle barrel located inside the school. Parent volunteers are needed to return the items.  Are you available for one week to return these items at a Redemption Center of your choice?  Please email Maria Rufo-Bueno at MMLGM@aol.com if you can help! 

COLOR DAY IS COMING! 

Color Day is scheduled for Tuesday, June 1st from 9am-12:30pm. (Rain date: June 8)  If you have never volunteered for Color Day before, this is a great day spent with the entire Franklin community.  Parent volunteers help run games and races, cook and/or serve lunch, and have a great time with the kids and each other.  We hope you can join in the excitement this year.  We had over 60 parent volunteers last year and are counting on you again to help make this event the crowning moment of the school year.  Look for sign-up sheets coming home soon.  If you cannot volunteer on Color Day, we could use some help with donations of gas grills and coolers w/ice.  Please contact Lenor Mahoney or Mary Beth McIntyre.

Hair Cuts for Computers

Angela Torcasio – Hair Stylist and Owner of DREAMS HAIR SALON at 561 Moody Street, Waltham (formerly of Supercuts in Auburndale) is offering a promotion to the Franklin School Community (Students, Teacher and Families).  Angela will give the PTO $2.00 for each haircut she does on a member of the Franklin School Community. This money will go to the Technology Fund.

Hair cuts are $10.00 for Children 10 and under and $12.00 for over 10 years of age.

Hours are: Monday 10:00 am-4:00 pm

Tuesday through Friday 9:30 a.m.- 4:00p.m.

Saturday 9:00 am to 1:00 p.m.

Walk-ins welcome or call for an appointment at 781-647-8886

Valid through June 30^th , 2004

Understanding Our Differences

Looking for Volunteers for the Third Grade

On Friday May 21st the 3rd graders will participate in the Deafness Unit of Understanding our Differences.  We are looking for volunteers to help run this session from 10:45-12:45.  There will be hands on activities and a speaker.  There will be one volunteer meeting prior to the 21st.  This nationally recognized, award-winning program is part of the Newton Public Schools' curriculum and takes place in all fifteen elementary schools each year. It is taught by volunteers. The goal of the program is to increase information, understanding and acceptance of people with disabilities and individual differences in our community.  

The 3rd and the 4th grade have completed several sessions this year exploring and understanding differences focused on Blindness, Learning Disabilities, Physical Disabilities, Diabetes, and Developmental Disabilities.  Thanks to Beth Lloyd and Julie Heffernan for all of their efforts in coordinating the 4th grade program this year.  Parental support makes a vital contribution to the success of these programs.  Please contact Mary Beth McIntyre  or Vee Zabrecky if you can help with the program on the 21st or are interested in volunteering next year. 

Words of Wellness

A look At The Foods We Eat According to Health Magazine

A new way to look at cinnamon:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers recently found that daily
cinnamon supplements reduced total cholesterol, bad cholesterol, and triglycerides anywhere from 13 to 30 percent in a study of 60 men and women with type II diabetes.  These benefits are considerably more than those seen of statin drugs.  And Richard Anderson, Ph.D., the study’s
author, thinks cinnamon may be just as useful for healthy people. In previous test tube studies, Anderson found the spice contains a polyphenol similar to insulin, the hormone that clears sugar from the blood.  Cinnamon seems to help the body use insulin more efficiently.  “This reduces insulin resistance, which is the cuase of type II diabetes and a major risk factor for heart disease,” Anderson says.  In the latest research, cinnamon also cut blood sugar levels by 20 – 30 percent, which can help prevent the damage diabetes can inflict on nerves and blood vessels.  “Some people who were taking medications for diabetes
have been able to get off them and use cinnamon alone,”  Anderson says.
    The spice has no known risks and negligible calories.  Study participants
got a bang from just half a teaspoon a day, which is easily added to your diet.  If you go the supplement route, though, skip cinnamon oils because the polyphenols are removed in processing.

Beans: the perfect food?
Turns out beans are chock-full of more than just protein, vitamins, calcium, and fiber.  U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers, trying to figure out which beans are best for you, discovered the legumes pack more
antioxidants than previously thought.  Black beans for instance, have the same amount of cancer- and heart disease fighting phytochemicals as grapes and cranberries.  As a rule, darker beans contain more of the good stuff. The researchers say eating one half-cup serving two or three times per week is a beneficial as drinking a glass of red wine each day.

Single Parent Support Group

The Newton Child Care Commission is sponsoring our 6th Single Parent Support Group on May 17th at 6:30 pm, Plowshares Child Care location at
Newton North High School.  The presenter will be Tod Gross, Psy.D from
Adams St. Associates. Childcare will be provided along with dinner. 
Please call Ann for further information or to register. 

Franklin School PTO

International Day Committee

The International Committee is in the Process of preparing a Franklin School Cookbook.   This cookbook will be used as a Fundraiser for the Franklin School.   We are planning to have the Cookbook published by September, 2004.

We need everyone’s help to make this a success.

We are asking that each family submit at least one recipe.  If each family submits one recipe we will have over 200 recipes.   You are welcome to submit more recipes if you would like.   Please use one sheet for each recipe.  Please fill out the recipe sheet (attached to the end of the newsletter) and return it to you child’s teacher.  More recipe sheets are available in the office.  Please return all recipes by May 30^th.

With each recipe that you submit your name will be entered into a drawing for a FRANKLIN SCHOOL COOKBOOK

If you have any questions please contact Joanne Caruso or Ellen Whalley   

The Newton Community Service Centers' Summer Camp at Hale Reservation has a limited number of openings for Summer, 2004 day camp. Summer Camp at Hale Reservation is a fun, affordable way for children to enjoy non-competitive sports, traditional camp activities including boating and swimming, and make new friends! Transportation from NCSC to Hale Reservation is provided. Newton Community Service Centers is convenient to the Commuter Rail, MBTA buses, the Green Line, and the Mass Pike.  Please call Jen at 617-969-5906 x.131 or visit www.NCSCweb.org for and application and more information.

SPORTS UPDATE

Sport Camp @ Franklin! 

Come for a fun week of sport camp, either full or half day.  The camp consists of learning the basic of sports in a non-competitive,safe environment.  All campers are required to bring drinks, snacks and lunch if staying the full day.  Campers will receive a t-shirt and other gifts. Please note that children will be grouped by age. All health immunization forms must be submitted to Newton Community Education prior to the camp week.  This camp is for any child entering grades 1-5.

Half day is 9-12:30

Full Day is 9-3:30

Week 1-July 19-23

Week 1 (KS02-01) half day $154

Week 1 (KS02-02) full day  $240

Week 2 July 26-30

Week 2 (KS02-03) half day $154

Week 2 (KS02-04 full day   $240

Please call Newton Community Education and sign up soon.

617-559-6999

********************************

A Step Ahead Basketball  School Summer Clinics

Location: Cabot Park and School,  Newton MA
Dates: July 12th – August 13th

Who: Boys & Girls, ages 7-17
Times: 8:30 - 2:30 (extended day 8:30 - 3:30)

***Partial Scholarships Available***

For more information log onto out website at www.asahoops.com call director Brendan Smith at 617-909-5990 or E-mail him at Coachb@asahoops.com

Eyewear Study Looking for Participants

Dear Parents of spectacle wearers:
Below is outlined a study for which we are currently recruiting.  We would like to give every eligible child the opportunity to participate.  Please contact us if you are interested in your child taking part.

Marjorie J. Rah, O.D., PhD and the ACHIEVE Staff

Purpose: To determine the effects of wearing glasses and contact lenses on children’s self-esteem.

Eligibility: 8-11 year old near-sighted children who have not yet worn contact lenses. We will perform a free screening examination to see if the children have prescriptions within the specified range, clear vision with correction,
and no eye or general health problems (i.e. Diabetes) that may affect vision.

To participate:  All children in the study will be randomly (selected by chance) assigned to wear contact lenses or glasses for a period of three years.  The study involves only routine eye care procedures, except that each child will be asked to complete surveys about self-esteem and how glasses or contact lenses affect their daily activities. 
The research portion of the study will compare the contact lens group reports of self-esteem to the glasses group reports of self esteem.  A comparison between the effects of glasses and contact lenses on daily activities and the progression of nearsightedness will also be made between the two groups. 

 
Benefit to children and parents for participating in the study for three years:
·    Three years of free eye examinations from experienced optometrists
·    Three years of glasses free or at greatly reduced cost
·    Three years of free contact lenses and solutions (may be provided during or after the study)

All testing is performed at the New England Eye Institute, a teaching affiliate of the New England College of Optometry.  Please call Paulette Tattersall, Study Coordinator at (617)-236-6315, for more information or to schedule an appointment.  Email:tattersallp@ne-optometry.edu

The Newton Public School District is not affiliated with the ACHIEVE Study.  Allowing recruitment through the school does not indicate endorsement. 

CLASSIFIED

Ads do not constitute PTO endorsement of products or services.

For rent this summer - Franklin family-owned and loved house on Cape Cod. Quiet,
peaceful area near beach, marsh and nature trails. Off route 6A in East Sandwich.
All weeks available. The Cartwrights, .

Cottage for Rent – W. Yarmouth, Cape Cod.  Sleeps 5; family-friendly.  $600/week.  Call Diane .

Orlando, FLA:  5-day getaway.  2-bedroom villa sleeps 6 people.  Minutes from Disney.  Sun., Oct. 3 to Thurs., Oct. 7.  Call Kathy for more info.  No smoking/no pets.

Kids picnic table and/or a  covered sandbox. Call for  pick-up.

FREE PET:Very cute hampster looking for home - 2 month old Brown bear hampster (with quiet temperment) complete with cage and some toys is looking for new home. Call us if you would like him to join your family.   Meg Turner

Wanted: Looking for a private tennis coach for my 11-year old son. Please call Qing or to leave a message.

Tutoring – Summer.  Former NPS teacher available.  15 years experience in language arts, reading, study skills, organization skills, special education, learning disabilities, English as a second language, and more.  Masters degree in Special Ed.  Contact Terry at 617-244-3810.

Do you need your lawn cut for the summer months?  Call PJ’s Lawn Care.  1-617-244-5157.

The Piccadilly Square Street Fair is scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 13th from noon to 4:00 p.m. on Union Street in Newton Center.  Entertainment, food, and fun for the entire family to enjoy!   Come see Petunia the Clown, get your face painted, snack on summer treats, shop at your favorite local retailers, or relax with a chair massage.  Please join us for what is sure to be a fantastic community event!