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You've probably seen the full reports on social media, network TV or in other major media, so we will simply repeat:
• Franklin Basketball Beat Newton North to Win its First Ever State Championship!
• FHS Cheerleaders Took First Place at National Competition.
• And, FHS Thespians are Celebrating the Continued Success of the Yellow Boat, which is sailing (it is hoped) toward the State Finals.
Franklin Public Schools Receives Grant to Further STEM Career Learning
Meanwhile, on the academic side of Franklin High School, Superintendent Lucas Giguere, High School Principal Dr. Maria Weber, and Franklin Middle School Principal Craig Williams have announced that Franklin Public Schools will expand its Project Lead The Way (PLTW) programs to provide hands-on, applied learning and in-depth teacher professional development.
Franklin Public Schools have received additional grant funds from the One8 Foundation to offer new applied learning curricular programming from PLTW that will better prepare students for school and career success. PLTW is a nonprofit organization providing a transformative learning experience for PreK-12 students and teachers through computer science, engineering, and biomedical science coursework. With the PLTW curriculum, students apply their knowledge to solve real-world problems.
“Expanding the Project Lead The Way curriculum resources and instructional materials available to our teachers will strengthen our students’ STEM futures,” said Eric Stark, Franklin Public Schools Director of Curriculum STEM. “I am proud of the real-world connections students are making and the challenges they are tackling.”
Franklin joins more than 12,000 schools across the country offering PLTW programs to millions of students.
“We are thrilled to bring more high-quality applied learning opportunities to our students and look forward to the impact this expansion will have on our school community,” said Principal Williams.
Since 2017, the One8 Foundation, the Massachusetts STEM Advisory Council, the Workforce Skill Cabinet, and the Massachusetts Life Science Center have supported expanding PLTW programming for students across the Commonwealth to better prepare them for a rapidly changing, data-rich world. PLTW coursework in biomedical science, engineering, and computer science provides students the skills to access opportunities in sectors that power the state economy.
“Students are hungry for experiences that allow them to apply what they are learning to solve real-world, meaningful problems,” said Joanna Jacobson, President of the One8 Foundation. “Providing equitable access to hands-on applied learning programs that deliver academic gains while building critical thinking and complex problem-solving skills ensures students are engaged and interested in school and prepared for success in this ever-changing world.”
Franklin Middle School will use grant funds to expand its PLTW Gateway program. Specifically, students will experience Computer Science for Innovators and Makers, Design and Modeling, and Medical Detectives units.
In one class this year, students worked their way through the design process and created a toy or game for other students.
“To ensure these toys were not just another STEM project but truly functional for occupational therapy, I collaborated with the occupational therapists (OTs) from Annie Sullivan Middle School and Helen Keller Elementary School for feedback and guidance,” said STEM Teacher Emily Carens. “I had the privilege of delivering the completed projects to the Occupational Therapy (OT) room, and the OTs were beyond grateful and impressed by the creativity, effort, and thoughtfulness students put into their work. Students demonstrated empathy and problem-solving skills, creating toys that will make a real difference in their school community. PLTW helped make this possible by creating the curriculum to show students that they can make an impact on their community.”
Franklin High School will use grant funds to start its PLTW Biomedical Science program. Students may take Principles of Biomedical Science and Human Body Systems as part of its developing Innovation Career Pathway. Funds from the grant will support teacher professional development and the purchase of materials and equipment for PLTW courses.
In addition, as a school with PLTW programming in Massachusetts, Franklin Middle and High School will have access to a regular set of teacher professional learning opportunities, student project showcases, and connections to industry professionals offered by the Mass Learning Project and the One8 Applied Learning Hub.
IMAGE CAPTION: Students worked their way through the design process and created toys and games for other students. Some of the toys/games they created and donated included a tabletop cornhole game, a build-your-own burger set, assorted blocks, a puzzle, fidget boards, teacups, and an operation-style game. (Photo Courtesy Franklin Public Schools)
