Hello, Franklin Community!
Next week, December 5-9, we will celebrate Inclusive Schools Week. Franklin, along with all Newton Public Schools, is an inclusive school, and we recognize that inclusion makes for a richer and more diverse learning environment for all students. An Inclusive School means all children, regardless of their neurotype, strengths, or challenges they may face, are placed in age-appropriate general education classrooms. Inclusive Schools Week presents us and our students with an opportunity to celebrate all learners at the school and appreciate what makes us all different as an integral part of the Franklin Elementary community. Inclusion is possible because of our outstanding educators at Franklin. Every teacher at our school fosters inclusive learning environments in their classrooms, but we want to take a moment to celebrate and appreciate the work of our Student Services Staff. The Students Services Staff are:
Special Education Teachers: Alyssa Accorsini, Allison Hitchings, Nicole Gallagher, Katie Perry, and Hannah Wald
Team Specialist: Lindsey Mueller
Instructional Assistants and Behavior Therapists: Rebecca Caruso, Danielle Coppola, Josyane Correia, Jillian Costello, Sally Goldstein Elkind, Nicole Gallagher, Junu Giri, Farzana Jalalkhan, Danielle Lualdi, Tara Lundy, George Makrin, Shannon Pruzinsky, Sarah Woodbury
Social-Emotional Learning Interventionist: Tiyana Portis
Social-Emotional Learning Coach: Ana Coly
Occupational Therapist: Roberta Sherman
Speech and Language Pathologist: Emily O’Brien, Darcy Larson
Psychologist: Toni-Marie Kelly
Social Worker: Daniela MacKinnon
Board Certified Behavior Analyst: Meghan Bowes
Literacy Intervention Specialists: Kristen Conrad, Gena Rovelli
Literacy Aides: Jeannine Bissonette, Carrie Tetrault
Math Intervention: Josie Peterson
English Language Learning Specialists: Olga Yurchenko, Laurie Conde
In addition to the special activities the staff has planned for all students, Franklin SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) will be hosting a breakfast for the Student Services Staff on Friday, December 9th, and we need your help! Sign up to bring something HERE. We appreciate your generosity with this event! We'll also be sending out a wishlist for these educators who may be missed in the classroom collections. Did you know? Today, December 2nd, is also National Special Education Day. Today marks the anniversary of the nation's first federal special education law--signed by President Gerald Ford on December 2, 1975. Celebration of the day officially began in 2005--marking the 30th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Today we celebrate all that Franklin staff do daily for students and families! In addition, Newton SEPAC is having a Family Social next Sunday, December 11th, from 1:30pm - 3:30pm at Hyde Playground/Field in Newton Highlands. Please see the flyer attached for more details and for the RSVP link!
Yael Mito Franklin SEPAC Liaison *Want to learn more about inclusion and how you can continue the conversation at home? Please reach out! For more information on the SEPAC, please email me at yaelmito@gmail.com