Welcome to the Framingham Public Schools

A Guide for Bilingual Families

New to the Framingham

Public Schools

Bilingual Education Department

73 Mt. Wayte Avenue, Suite #5, Framingham, MA 01702

(508) 626-9171

Welcome Bilingual Families!

The Bilingual Education Department of the Framingham Public Schools would like to welcome your family to our schools. We are glad you have chosen Framingham Public Schools for your child’s ed-ucation. FPS has a diverse student population and currently services students from over 70 countries, in-cluding Brazil, China, Haiti, India, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, Vietnam and several Spanish-speaking countries. We celebrate all the richness and benefits we get from being such a diverse community! We are committed to providing a safe and welcoming learning environment in order to increase achievement and access for all students irrespective of their immigration status, national origin, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, sex and gender identity, socioeconomic status, disabil-ity status, and/or beliefs.

As your child starts a new school, whether it is his first time in school, moving between towns,

cities, states or even countries, our goal is to make this transition as smooth as possible. This

booklet was created to help familiarize you with the Framingham Public Schools as a bilingual fami-

ly. We hope you find this document helpful and welcoming.

BILINGUAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Ms. Genoveffa Grieci, Director ~ Ms. Jennifer LaBollita, Assistant Director

73 Mt. Wayte Avenue, Suite #5, Framingham MA 01702

(508) 626-9171

TRANSLATION OFFICE

translationcoordinator@framingham.k12.ma.us

(508) 782-7227

BILINGUAL FAMILY ENGAGEMENT OFFICE

bilingualparents @framingham.k12.ma.us

(508) 782-7292

LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT OFFICE

vbertelli @framingham.k12.ma.us

(508) 782-6946

SCHOOLS 3

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

Framingham Public Schools

FPS Mission

The mission of the Framingham Public Schools, a system that understands and values our diversity, is to educate each student to learn and live productively as a critically thinking, responsible citizen in a multicultural, democratic society by providing academically challenging instructional programs taught by a highly qualified and diverse staff and supported by comprehensive services in partnership with our entire community.

FPS Core Beliefs

Learning is the central purpose of schools

Human differences are to be respected

Collegiality and professionalism characterize the school community

Individuals are responsible for their behavior

Vision 2020

Excellence and Equity, A Strategic Plan for Achieving Edu-cational Excellence in the Framingham Public Schools.

www.framingham.k12.ma.us

Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Robert A. Tremblay 73 Mt. Wayte Ave., Suite 5 Framingham, MA 01702

508-626-9118

FPS in social media

www.facebook.com/

framinghamps

www.twitter.com/

framinghamps

www.instagram.com/

framinghamschools

SCHOOLS 4

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

OUR SCHOOLS

Pre-School

BLOCKS Pre-School at FHS

115 A St.

Framingham, MA 01701

508-620-4963

https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/blocks

BLOCKS Pre-School at Juniper Hill

29 Upper Joclyn Ave.

Framingham, MA 01701

508-788-2380

https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/blocks

Barbieri Elementary

100 Dudley Rd.

Framingham, MA 01702

508-626-9187

http://framingham.k12.ma.us/barbieri

Brophy Elementary

575 Pleasant St.

Framingham, MA 01701

508-626-9158 https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/

brophy

Dunning Elementary

48 Frost St.

Framingham, MA 01701

508-626-9155 https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/

dunning

Hemenway Elementary

729 Water St.

Framingham, MA 01701

508-626-9150 https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/

hemenway

King Elementary

454 Water St.

Framingham, MA 01701

508-782-7201 https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/

king

McCarthy Elementary

8 Flagg Dr.

Framingham, MA 01702

508-626-9161 https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/

mccarthy

Potter Road Elementary

492 Potter Rd.

Framingham, MA 01701

508-626-9110 https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/

potter

Stapleton Elementary

25 Elm St.

Framingham, MA 01701

508-626-9144 https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/

stapleton

Woodrow Wilson Elementary

169 Leland St.

Framingham, MA 01702

508-626-9164 https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/

wilson

Elementary

Middle

Cameron Middle

215 Elm St.

Framingham, MA 01701

508-879-2290 https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/

cameron

Fuller Middle

31 Flagg Dr.

Framingham, MA 01702

508-620-4956 https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/

fuller

Walsh Middle

301 Brook St.

Framingham, MA 01701

508-626-9181 https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/

walsh

High

Framingham High School

115 A St.

Framingham, MA 01701

508-620-4963

https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/framinghamhigh

Thayer Campus of FHS

50 Lawrence St.

Framingham, MA 01702

508-626-9191

https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/thayer

SCHOOLS 5

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

SCHOOL ASSIGNMENT

Students entering Kindergarten will be assigned through a Controlled Choice Program. Under Con-trolled Choice, families are able to choose from among all nine Framingham elementary schools. Stu-dents who require a specialized program (Special Education or English Language Learner Program) will be placed per the guidelines of each department in consultation with the family.

Each student is designated a Home District school based on their home address. Students who live within one mile of the King School may currently qualify for two Home Districts. During the registration appointment, parents will be asked to choose which Home District they wish to designate as their own.

Home District may influence school assignment. If you have questions about your student’s Home Dis-trict School, please call or email the Parent Information Center. Some schools may have few or no seats available after siblings and first choice Home District students have been assigned.

IMPORTANT: Students receive a preference (not a guarantee) to their Home District School ONLY if they make the Home District School their first choice (after special programs).

Home District

Feeding System

SCHOOLS 6

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

BILINGUAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

The Bilingual Education Department offers research-based programs and exemplary instruction for English learners in the Framingham Public Schools. FPS has a diverse student population and currently ser-vices students from over 70 countries, including Brazil, China, Haiti, India, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, Vi-etnam and several Spanish-speaking countries. The district is committed to offering the highest quality of educational services to all students, and admin-isters ELE programs with the goal of developing English language proficiency and achieving state content-area standards, while simultaneously valuing students' native languages and cultural backgrounds.

8,545 K-12 students in 9 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 1

high school

Our students speak 70 different languages (including English) and

come from 69 different countries (including the US)

53.9% of all FPS students speak a language in addition to/other than

English at home

2,000 English Learners (23.4% of district), 619 Former ELs-years 1

-4 (7.2%)

1,412 ELs are in K-5 (31.3% of K-5 enrollment)

*As of 5/30/18. From FPS X2. Excludes sped referral, therapy only, outplaced, preschool

SCHOOLS 7

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

ELL SCREENING PROCESS

All students entering the Framingham Public Schools whose home language includes a language other than English are tested for English language proficiency. (G.L.c. 71A, sec. 4,5 – “The district has procedures that actively seek to identify limited English proficient students.” – Coordinated Pro-gram Review Procedures – Massachusetts Depart-ment of Education).

Students will be assessed by means of a screening process. The screening process is conducted on an individual basis and concludes when the language assessment specialist has sufficient information to determine dominance and/or English language

proficiency. A home language survey is used to collect information from families. The instrument used for assessment is WIDA.

WIDA is an English language proficiency "screener" test given to incoming students who may be desig-nated as English language learners. It assists educators with programmatic placement decisions such as identification and placement of ELLs. The W-APT is one component of WIDA's comprehensive assess-ment system.

Each form of the test assesses the four language domains of Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. Test items are written from indicators of WIDA's five English Language Proficiency (ELP) standards: So-cial & Instructional Language, Language of Language Arts, Language of Mathematics, Language of Sci-ence and Language of Social Studies.

Additionally, students speaking either Spanish or Portuguese, the two largest speaking populations of the district, are assessed in their native language using the LAS-Language Assessment Scales screening tool in Spanish and a locally-created assessment tool in Portuguese.

Results of these assessments support teachers and coaches to create and implement educational learning plans for each student in the Bilingual Program.

Results of screening process

The screening process will help educators determine if a student is a candidate for English language support services. The Bilingual Education Department of Framingham Public Schools offers different programs for English Language Learners, the tester will suggest which programs is best suited for each student.

SCHOOLS 8

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

PROGRAM OPTIONS

The SEI program focuses on the progress of EL students in developing listening, comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing skills in English, and in meeting academic standards of the general curriculum. There are two components to the instruction in the SEI model: English as a Second Language, and sheltered content instruction.

ESL- English as a Second Language is explicit, direct instruction about the English language intended to promote English language acquisition by EL students and to help them “catch up” to their student peers who are proficient in English. ESL instruction includes learning outcomes in speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing. It is a required part of any academic program for EL students.

Sheltered content instruction is instruction that includes approaches, strategies, and methodology that make the content of the general curriculum more comprehensible to students who are not yet proficient in English.

Where is the SEI Program located? All schools in the district have SEI programs.

TBE relies on a transfer of academic skills, gradual and persistent, from the student’s native language into English. Instruction in the native language allows students to master content curricula at the same rate as their English dominant peers while they build sufficient skills in English to transition into learning in an English only environment. In Framingham, TBE programs are available for students whose native language is Spanish or Portuguese. Academic content is taught in the native language by certified TBE teachers for the appropriate grade level or content area and English language instruction is provided by certified ESL teachers. Where are the TBE Bilingual programs located? Spanish Bilingual Program (TBE): at Brophy (1-5), Fuller, and Framingham High School Portuguese Bilingual Program (TBE): at Woodrow Wilson, Fuller, and Framingham High School

It’s a program in which students develop language proficiency in two languages by receiving instruction in English and a partner language in a classroom that is comprised of approximately half native English speakers and half native partner language speak-ers. Content curricula are taught in both languages to the integrated group of students. Where is Two-Way Program Offered? Spanish Two-Way Program: at Barbieri, Brophy (K), Walsh Middle, and Framingham High School Portuguese Two-Way Program: at Potter Road (K-1)

The Differentiated Rigorous English & Academic Achievement Modules Program (DREAM) is for Students with Limited or Inter-rupted Formal Education (SLIFE). “SLIFE students are English learners who have experienced interrupted education due to war, civil unrest, migration, or other factors; who have never had the opportunity to participate in any type of schooling before en-tering school in the United States; or who have experienced limited education in their home countries due to lack of resources or trained teachers, the type of schooling they participated in, or other circumstances” (DeCapua & Marshall, 2010). Literacy and numeracy skills are reinforced by trained teachers while students learn English and progress to grade-level content. Once students have met reclassification criteria, they then transition into the TBE or SEI program that best meets their needs. Where is DREAM-SLIFE Program Offered? at Fuller Middle School and Framingham High School

Both federal and state law allows parents of EL students to opt-out of all EL programs or services. Once a child has been initially identified, as required, a parent may choose to place the child in a general education classroom that is not specifically designed for English language acquisition. The child will continue to be monitored and assessed by the Bilingual Education Department and will continue to be reported as EL to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education until the child meets the exit criterion.

SEI—Sheltered English Immersion

TBE—Transitional Bilingual Education

Two-Way Bilingual Program

DREAM—SLIFE

Opt-Out

SCHOOLS 9

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

ACCESS FOR ELLS 2.0

ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 is an English language proficiency assessment for Grades K–12. The test is adminis-tered every year to help school districts monitor the English language development of students identi-fied as English language learners. ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 measures students’ abilities to understand and produce English used within school settings. The four sections of the test are Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing. Scores from ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 can be used in many ways. As parents or guardians, you can use the scores to advocate for your child. Teachers use the scores to plan instruction and assessments. Districts use the scores to evaluate their language support programs, to monitor student progress in acquiring English, and to determine if a student is eligible to exit an English language support program. Scores are also used to meet federal and state accountability requirements.

The Individual Student Report shows the eight scores your child could receive on the test. If your child took all four sections of the test, he/she will receive all eight scores. NA, or not available, indi-cates no score was reported. There are four Language Domain scores and four Composite Scores. Scale Scores are reported as numbers that range from 100 – 600, for example 356 or 220. These scores reflect your child’s grade lev-el and difficulty level of the test items that he/she successfully completed. Scale scores are helpful to see the progress your child makes in English language development from year to year. The graph on the report shows your child’s Scale Score for each of the eight scores, and it also shows the Confidence Band for each of his/her Scale Scores.

Confidence Bands are the shaded area around each of your child’s Scale Scores. This shows the possi-ble range for your child’s score with a 95% probability of accuracy. In other words, if your child took the same test repeatedly, there is a 95% chance that his/her scores would be within the shaded range. We encourage families to look at all of the scores reported for their child. Here are some suggestions for how to interpret, or make sense of, your child’s scores: Look at the Language Domain scores. Look at his/her Proficiency Level scores for Listening, Speak-

ing, Reading and Writing. Which scores are closer to 6.0? Which scores are closer to 1.0?

Look at the Composite Scores. Look at his/her Proficiency Level scores for Oral Language, Literacy, Comprehension, and the Overall Score. Which scores are closer to 6.0? Which scores are closer to 1.0?

Individual Student Report

SCHOOLS 10

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE

How will I know when to go to the conference? Usually, your child’s teacher will contact you to schedule a meeting time. If you work during the day and can only go to the conferences after working hours, be sure to let your child’s teach-er know that so you can schedule a meeting time that is convenient for both of you. Why does my child’s teacher want to meet with me? In the U.S. educational system, teach-ers believe that a strong partnership between home and school will help children succeed in school. If your child’s teacher schedules a meeting with you, it does not necessarily mean that your child is in trouble. Teachers welcome input from the parents about their children, such as information about what the child likes to do or what they are good at. Teachers also un-derstand that each student is different and learns differently, and that no one knows your child better than you do. You may provide some insight that will help the teacher work more effectively with your child at school. It is also helpful for teachers to know if a child is experiencing a difficult situation outside of school, such as a divorce, the death of a relative, a medical problem, or anything else that may affect the child’s mood or behavior. Knowing such changes will help the teacher provide the child with the necessary support in the class-room.

What information will my child's teacher give me? Your child's teacher will probably show you some samples of your child's work, and may dis-cuss your child's progress, grades, homework,

and behavior. The teacher may also ask you about any concerns that she has about your child, as well as questions about his study hab-its. These questions are intended to help the teacher provide your child with any additional support needed in the classroom, and are not intended to make you feel uncomfortable or de-fensive.

Why is it important to go to a parent-teacher conference? Going to the parent-teacher con-ference provides you and the teacher an oppor-tunity to work together as a team in order to help your child. You each have an important perspective to share — as the parent, you know your child's personality, habits, strengths, and weaknesses. The teacher, on the other hand, has been trained professionally in the best methods of teaching, meeting individual stu-dent's needs, how to control classroom behav-ior, and how to help your child succeed in school. Working together you will be able to find ways that each of you can provide the appropri-ate and necessary support for your child.

The conference is also an opportunity for you to ask questions about your child's progress, to learn more about the class and what the stu-dents are studying, and to find out if you child is having difficulty with anything in particular. In addition, the more you know about your chil-dren's school and classes, the more likely they will be to talk about daily experiences with you. They will appreciate your concern and involve-ment, and they will be more likely to approach you when they have problems.

I t is common for elementary school teachers to meet individually with the parents of every child in the class twice a year. This meeting is not just for parents of children with problems or complaints. This is a standard part of the school’s efforts to build a strong partnership between parents and teachers.

Whether your child is having a positive or negative experience in school, parent-teacher conferences will help you and your child’s teacher find ways to work together to ensure your child’s success.

SCHOOLS 11

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE

Parent-Teacher Conference Checklist

BEFORE THE CONFERENCE

Ask your child how he/she feels about school

Ask your child if there is anything that he wants you to talk about with his teacher.

Tell your child that you and the teacher are meeting to help her.

Make a list of topics that you want to talk about with the teacher.

Prepare a list of questions such as:

What are my child's strongest and weakest subjects.

Does my child hand homework in on time?

Does my child participate in class?

Does my child seem happy at school?

What can I do at home to help?

DURING THE CONFERENCE

Arrive 5-10 minutes before your meeting.

End the meeting on time. Other parents will probably have a conference after yours.

Relax and be yourself.

Stay calm during the conference.

Ask the most important questions first.

If your child receives special services such as English classes, ask about your child's progress in those classes.

Ask for explanations of anything you don't understand

Ask your child's teacher for ways that you can help your child at home.

Thank the teacher.

AFTER THE CONFERENCE

Talk about the conference with your child.

Talk about the positive points, and be direct about problems.

Tell your child about any plans you and the teacher created.

Keep in touch with the teacher during the school year

SCHOOLS 12

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

TRANSLATION & INTERPRETATION

If you do not feel comfortable speaking with your child's teacher in English, you have the right to re-quest that an interpreter attend the conference. It is very important that students are not the inter-preters. Students may not feel comfortable interpreting for their parents and they may not know the appropriate vocabulary to interpret the educational information. Language assistance is free and provided by appropriate and competent staff.

The Translation Office’s mission is to provide effective translation and interpreting services to fami-lies whose primary language is not English in order to ensure access to all aspects of their children’s education. The Translation Office was established to facilitate communication between families and schools and strengthen family-school partnership. We provide interpreting services for meetings and events, such as parent teacher conferences, new student registration, open houses, and curriculum nights. The Translation Office also works directly with the schools to translate important documents to our district’s two major languages: Portuguese and Spanish. For families that speak other languages, we provide oral translation services upon request. If you would like to request an interpreter or oral translation services, please contact the Translation Office, Bilingual Department.

Request an interpreter for your Parent-Teacher Conference:

Translation Office

Bernardo Llorente

Manager of Translation & Interpreting Services

73 Mt. Wayte Avenue, Suite #5

Framingham, MA 01702

508-782-7227

translationcoordinator@framingham.k12.ma.us

What if I don’t speak English?

Translation Office

SCHOOLS 13

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

The Bilingual Parent Advisory Council is an organization for parents and guardians of children en-

rolled as an English Learner in a Two-Way, TBE, SLIFE or SEI program within a Framingham Public

School.

BPAC seeks to serve as a united voice for students who are learning English as a second language and

their families. BPAC promotes the education and integration of students who speak different lan-

guages with a focus on ensuring quality of education, socialization, and cultural interaction. Gather

concerns from families and present them to the appropriate administrators and Board of Education

and also work with administration officials responsible for bilingual/ESL programs to identify system-

ic problems and to develop, implement, and evaluate improvement plans.

The BPAC meets every other month during the school year and cover different topics relevant to the

bilingual students and their families.

If you want to be part of the BPAC send an email to bilingualparents@framingham.k12.ma.us or

attend one the meetings.

BPAC—Bilingual Parent Advisory Council

P arent and family engagement is critical to the success of children in school. In fact, a home environment that encourages learning is more important for student achievement than in-come, education level or cultural background. Children whose parents are involved in their

education go farther in school. Many international newcomers are surprised at how involved American parents are with their chil-dren’s school. The earlier you get involved in your child’s education, the more effect it has on their success. That involvement can be as simple as talking about school. Children who talk regularly about school with their parents perform better academically. Other important activities are to actively or-ganize and monitor your student’s time and help them with homework. Reading is particularly affect-ed by home activities. The most important activity parents can do for their child’s reading success is to read aloud to them. Be in constant communication with your child’s teacher Observe or help in the classroom Volunteer time in the school library, student clubs, or special events Attend PTO meetings Attend school activities and events Volunteer as a chaperone for your child’s class field trip Cooperate with time, money or items to sells in fundraising events Be an active member of the BPAC!

SCHOOLS 14

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I contact a teacher? Every teacher has an email and a voice mail where you can contact. You can find a teacher/staff email at the Framingham Public School’s websites under Staff Directory https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/domain/246. Some teachers use a folder that comes home everyday for homework and notes, others use apps like ClassDojo to communicate with parents. In most cases, teachers are able to respond to messages left at the main office through notes or phone calls. If I have a concern, whom should I call? You should always speak with your child’s class-room teacher first. The teacher may suggest you speak with the school guidance counselor or the principal if he/she thinks it is an issue that would best be handled by them. How do I volunteer as a parent? Framingham Schools enjoy an active PTO. This is a sure way to help your school with special events, including plays, concerts, book fairs, science fair, family math night, fundraising and cultural activi-ties for the family. Classroom teachers also wel-come parents to share an expertise, cultural cus-toms, assist in the class, volunteer at the library or chaperone a field trip. Parents who wish to volun-teer must complete a CORI form. How will I know about events at the school? Teachers often use a folder that students bring home every day in their backpacks. This folder can hold information about events, field trips, homework assignments, schedule, PTO events and announcements sent from the school. Some

schools also notify parents via email or recorded calls. It is really important that the school has your updated email and phone in order to com-municate with you. What is the dress code? Most of the schools determine the specifics but generally any clothing which distracts from the learning environment is prohibited. See your schools’ handbook for more specific guidelines. Do I have to buy textbooks for my child in the elementary grades? You don’t have to buy textbooks for your child. In the elementary grades, teachers use a rich variety of materials. Am I expected to attend the Open House? Yes, the expectation is that a parent/guardian attends each child’s open house. This is your in-troduction to your child’s year at school. Teachers provide very important information at the Open House including an overview of the curriculum, daily routines and expectations, homework, grad-ing policies (if applicable), etc. It as also an oppor-tunity to meet other parents in the class. How much homework should my child have each night? Homework assignments vary with each teacher. Typically, one can expect that as a child moves up through the grades, there will be more homework assigned. Your child’s teacher will explain his/her expectations about homework at your child’s Open House. All children should read each night. If a child is too young to read alone, parents should read with the child.

Frequently Asked Questions

This section aims to answer questions that parents frequently ask. Please check with your individual school to verify the exact procedures as they may vary.

SCHOOLS 15

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

Immunizations

To attend Framingham Public Schools, all students in grades Pre-K-12 must be fully immunized against vaccine preventable diseases in accordance with MA DPH regulations and requirements. Official docu-mentation of required immunizations from a child’s health care provider must be provided to the school nurse before a child of any age can begin attendance to school. Your can view Massachusetts immuniza-tion requirements at: http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/cdc/immunization/guidelines-ma-school-requirements.pdf. Only medical and religious exemptions from immunization requirements will be ac-cepted. If a child will not be immunized for medical reasons, a statement from the child’s healthcare pro-vider must be provided to the school nurse. Religious exemptions must be stated in writing and present-ed to the child’s school nurse.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How can I help my child with homework? You can support your child at home by providing a quiet, well lit place for him/her to do homework. Some children prefer to work alone, others like to have a parent nearby. In any case, children should be able to do homework without the distractions of television, radios, music, etc. If your child is having difficulty completing homework assign-ments, contact your child’s teacher. He/she may have some specific suggestions for ways in which you can help your youngster.

Will my child receive report cards? In grades K-5, teacher-parent conferences are scheduled two times a year. Usually, conferences are held on Early Release Days, but they can also be arranged at mutually convenient times. Teach-ers prepare a written report on each child for the parent conference. In grade 6 and up, students receive report cards with letter grades. Report cards are uploaded and available on the Student portal at the end of each trimester. Dates are set by the district at the start of every new school year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Medication Policy

Prescription medication may be given in school only after the school nurse receives written orders from the student's healthcare provider/dentist and signed consent from the parent/guardian. New medication orders are required at the start of the school year and expire at the end of each school year. Only medi-cations in original prescription containers, currently prescribed by a physician and brought to the nurse’s office by a parent or other adult, will be given at school. Under certain circumstances, in consultation with the school nurse, a student may self-administer asthma inhalers, insulin, or Epi-pens® during the school day. Contact your school nurse for more information. Over the counter (OTC) medications including Advil, Tylenol, etc. can be given during the school day after the parent/guardian completes an OTC medication permission form. The form must be completed each school year. Your school nurse can provide you with a copy of the OTC Medication Form or you can ac-cess it on the Policies and Forms section of the Health and Wellness Department in the FPS website.

SCHOOLS 16

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

ATTENDANCE

What do I need to do if my child will be absent from school? When a student is absent from school, parents/guardians are responsible for notifying the school on the day of the absence by calling the school office or absence reporting line and providing the following information: Parent/guardian name, student’s name, return phone number and reason for the absence. What is an excused absence? FPS recognizes that students will, at times, have legitimate reasons to be absent. These reasons are referred to as excused absences and include the following: Student illness or injury Death in the family Observance of a religious holiday Court summons (student’s name must appear

on the summons) School approved activities College visits (documentation required) Suspension Legal, immigration, military or other similar

obligations. What is an unexcused absence? An absence is considered unexcused when a stu-dent misses school for reasons that are not ac-cepted by the school, with or without parent per-mission. Unexcused absences including the fol-lowing: Attending parent/guardian appointments Attending parent/guardian court summons Family travel/vacation Staying home to take care of or visit family

members Missing the school bus Sleeping late

Weather-related absences other than when the district has canceled school

Undocumented illness/injury that exceeds more than three days

Will my child’s absences be excused if I need to take them to another country for a family funer-al for an extended period of time? For extended trips to another country due to the death of an immediate family member, 5 days of absence will be excused. Any absences beyond 5 days will be unexcused. If I have to pick up my child early, what should I do? A written request must be made if an early dis-missal is anticipated. Children may not leave the building alone and must be picked up by a parent or guardian at the office. Parents should make every effort to schedule appointments outside of school time. How will I know if there is a snow day? In case of severe storms, “No Schools” announce-ments will be broadcast in the morning over the major radio and TV stations. Framingham Public Schools will notify the parents by a recorded call. The announcement will also be posted on the Framingham Public Schools website http://www.framingham.k12.ma.us. The snow days must be made up at the end of school calendar to complete the 180 days of instruction.

Students are expected in school everyday and on time. We ask families to honor the teaching and learning time. The 180 school day is a minimal number to help our students develop their skills and become life long learners.

If your child is absent for an extended period of time

you will have to make an appointment to re-register

your child in the school system. There is no guaran-

tee that your child will attend the same school.

SCHOOLS 17

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

FOOD SERVICES

What meals are served in the schools? We serve breakfast and lunch at all schools every-day as well as milk and various snacks. How much do breakfast, lunch, and milk cost? Breakfast at all schools - $1.75 Elementary School lunch - $2.75 High School lunch - $3.00 Middle School lunch - $3.00 Reduced breakfast - $0.30 Reduced lunch - $0.40 Milk - $0.60 Please note all rates are reviewed annually How will I know what is being served for lunch each day? You can find the menus at the Framingham Public Schools website. Go to Departments, Food Ser-vices, Menus. Also, each month you will receive the Lunch Menu in your child’s folder. Can I pre-pay for lunch? Yes. We accept personal checks made out to "Framingham Food Service" in an amount no greater than $25.00. All checks may be giver to the cashiers at any school. You can also set up online payments with MySchoolBucks program.

How do I make an account for the MySchool-Bucks program? You need to create an account at www.myschoolbucks.com. On this site you will create your account and add money to your child's school meal account. All you need is your

child's name, student ID number and school ZIP code. By having money in each child's account prior to entering the cafeteria, we find the lunch lines move along much faster so your child has more time to eat and be with friends.

Also, parents will have the ability to print out a copy of your child's eating history report. This re-port will show you all the dates and times on which your child has purchased a breakfast and or lunch within the past thirty days.

Is there financial assistance available? Yes. Free & Reduced Lunch Applications are dis-tributed to all students the first day of school and are to be filled out by a parent or guardian; the forms can then be given to the homeroom teach-er. Financial assistance needs to be renewed eve-ry year by the first week of October to keep a cur-rent student status. Do we serve lunch on an early dismissal day? On early dismissal days only the elementary schools are served lunch before being released. What if my child doesn’t like the lunch offered? The lunch provided by the school is optional. You can choose to send lunch to your child from home.

School Lunch & Breakfast

Framingham Public Schools offers breakfast and lunch at all of our schools. We serve meals that incorpo-rate a variety of foods that are appealing to children and which follow the dietary guidelines and meet the meal pattern requirements for lunch and breakfast established by the United States Department of Agri-culture

SCHOOLS 18

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

SCHOOL VOCABULARY

ACCESS for ELLs ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 is an English language profi-ciency assessment for Grades K–12. The test is administered every year to help school districts monitor the English language development of stu-dents identified as English language learners. Chaperone A parent or family member who volunteers to go in a class field trip to help the teacher during the day. Early Release Day Early release days are designated Thursdays throughout the school year that students are re-leased from school two hours early. EL: English Language Learner Students who are eligible to receive support at school with their English language development. Field Trip A class trip away from the school. Field trips may cost money to cover transportation and/or admis-sion fees. Fire Drill A fire drill is a method of practicing how a building would be evacuated in the event of a fire or other emergencies. In most cases, the school's ex-isting fire alarm system is activated and the build-ing is evacuated as if the emergency had oc-curred . Homeroom A classroom in which a group of students assem-bles daily with the same teacher before dispersing to other classes. IEP: Individualized Education Plan A written education plan developed by a team of professionals and parents for a school-aged child who qualifies for Special Education services.

MCAS The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System is a series of tests that are given to chil-dren at each public school. Tests include English Language, Arts, Math, Science and History/Social Science and are given each year to specific grades. Open House/Curriculum Night An opportunity for families to come to school to meet the teacher, visit the classroom, become familiar with classroom expectations, and better understand the grade level curriculum. Parent-Teacher Conference A meeting between parents / guardians and the teacher to discuss the progress of their child. Permission Slip A form to be signed by a parent/guardian, giving permission to do a special activity or go on a field trip. Principal A principal is someone who is the leader of an en-tire community within a school. He or she is re-sponsible for managing the major administrative tasks and supervising all students and teachers. PTO The Parent Teacher Organization is an active par-ent body of each school. The PTO is the primary fundraiser for the schools. The PTO helps with costs of field trips, classroom supplies, playground equipment, family fun nights, art activities and more. PTOs usually holds meeting once a month during the school year. Pull-out Programs Students receive instruction in small groups out-side of the classroom

SCHOOLS 19

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

SCHOOL VOCABULARY

Recess A time during the school day for children to play outside. In inclement weather, students often re-main indoors for recess. Report Card A written notice about a child’s progress in school. The document summarizes the student’s progress in all subject areas, teacher comments may also be included. Schools Counselors / Guidance Counselors Schools counselors are licensed professionals trained to address the academic, personal/social and career development need of students. School Social Workers School Social Workers are trained mental health professionals who provide services to address so-cial and emotional barriers to student achieve-ment. School Psychologists School Psychologists utilize their expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior to increase academic achievement and help children succeed emotionally and socially in the school environ-ment. School Committee The Framingham School Committee is comprised of nine members. Members work together in-setting goals and policy, deciding the school budg-et, negotiating contracts, managing the Superin-tendent and advocating at the local, state and federal levels for our students.

Shelter-in-place Drill Schools conduct shelter-in-place drills to address and prepare students and school personnel for possible incidents, To shelter-in-place means to take immediate shelter where you are and isolate your inside environment form the outside envi-ronment. Snow Day A day on which a school or other buildings in town are closed due to heavy snowfall or other extreme winter weather. 504 Plan An individualized plan developed for a student who qualifies for Special Education services. The plan specifies what accommodations and/or ser-vices the student will receive in school.

RESOURCES 20

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

NEW TO THE U.S.A.

911 Emergency number to get immediate police, fire

or medical help.

1-800-222-1222 Poison Emergency

211 Mass 211 serves as a resource for finding govern-

ment benefits and services, nonprofit organizations,

support groups, volunteer opportunities, donation pro-

grams, and other local resources.

1-800-632-8188 Parental Stress Hotline: A 24 hour

hotline for Massachusetts parents and caregivers under

stress.

1-800-273-8255 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

508-532-5920 Framingham Police Department

508-532-5930 Framingham Fire Department

Important Telephone Numbers

Driving and Parking

M oving to a new country can be challenging because of many factors: language, weather, tra-

ditions and things in general are done a different way. We have compiled valuable infor-

mation to make your transition easier.

Children must ride in the back seat using either a car seat, a booster seat, or an adult sized seat belt,

depending on your child’s weight and height.

When a school bus is in the process of picking up or dropping off passengers, all vehicle traffic must

come to a stop. When the bus is stopped, “STOP” signs will pop out of it and it will flash red lights. At

this point, all traffic, including oncoming traffic must stop and wait for the bus to complete its opera-

tion and move on.

The laws require drivers, upon noticing either emergency vehicle with sirens and/or flashing lights, to

move away from the vehicle by one lane, or if that is not possible, slow down to either a reasonable

speed or a fixed speed below the limit.

If a police car is following you with its siren blaring or emergency lights flashing, pull over to the right

and come to a complete stop in a safe place. Do not get out of your car, wait for the officer come to

your car. If you get a ticket, do not try to pay your fine in cash to the policeman, he may think you

are trying to bribe him.

The City of Framingham enforces a year-round odd / even side parking restriction program. During

even years parking is allowed on the even-numbered side of streets from January 1st to December

31st. During odd years parking is allowed on the odd-numbered side from January 1st to December

31st.

RESOURCES 21

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

CONVERSION BETWEEN METRIC AND US CUSTOMARY SYSTEMS

FROM US CUSTOMARY TO METRIC FROM METRIC TO US CUSTOMARY

When you know Multiply by To find When you know Multiply by To find

inches 25.4

2.54

millimeters

centimeters

millimeters 0.04 inches

feet 30.48 centimeters centimeters 0.39 inches

yards 0.91 meters meters 3.28

1.09

feet

yards

miles 1.61 kilometers kilometers 0.62 miles

fluid ounces 29.57 millimeters milliliters (liquid) 0.03 fluid ounces

pints (liquid) 0.47 liters (liquid) liters (liquid) 1.06

0.26

2.12

quarts (liquid)

gallons

pints (liquid)

quarts (liquid) 0.95 liters (liquid) liters (dry) 1.82

0.90

pints (dry)

quarts (dry)

gallons 3.79 liters (liquid) grams 0.035 ounces

pint (dry) 0.55 liters (dry) kilograms 2.20 pounds

quarts (dry) 1.10 liters (dry) metric tons (1,000 kg) 1.10 short tons

ounces 28.35 grams square centimeters 0.155 square inches

pounds 0.45 kilograms square meters 1.20 square yards

short tons ( 2,000lbs) 0.91 metric tons square kilometers 0.39 square miles

square inches 6.45 square centimeters hectares 2.47 acres

square feet 0.09 square meters

square yards 0.84 square meters Centigrade 9/5(C) +32 Fahrenheit

square miles 2.59 square kilometers Fahrenheit 5/9 (F-32) Centigrade

acres 0.40 hectares 0°C =32°F 10°C=50°F 20°C=68°F 30°C=86°F 40°C=104°F

NEW TO THE U.S.A.

Metric Conversions

1 cup flour = 140 gr

1 cup sugar = 200 gr

1 pound = .45 kg

1 kg = 2.2 pounds

Boiling water= 212°F = 100°C

Freezing = 32°F = 0°C

Moderate oven = 350°F = 180°F

0°C = 32°F

10°C = 50°F

20°C = 68°F

30°C = 86°F

40°C = 104°F

50°C = 122°F

Temperatures

RESOURCES 22

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

FAMILY RESOURCES

Explorers (Elementary) / Aviators, Adventur-ers & Discoverers (Middle School)

Community Resource Development 73 Mount Wayte Avenue Framingham, Massachusetts 01702 508-626-9115 Boys and Girls Club of Metrowest Framingham Clubhouse 25 Clinton Street, Framingham, MA 01702 508-620-7145 www.bgcmetrowest.org

Metrowest YMCA Framingham 280 Old Connecticut Path, Framingham MA 01701 508-435-9345 x115 schoolsout@metrowestymca.org SMOC 12 Roxana Street, Framingham MA 01702 508-620-2373 Suburban Child 10 Roxanna Street, Framingham, MA 01702 508-879-6544

After School Programs

Main Library

49 Lexington Street Framingham, MA 01702 508-532-5570

McAuliffe Branch

746 Water Street Framingham, MA 01701 508-532-5636

Framingham Public Library

The Framingham Public Library is a great resource for families. In the library you can find books, e-books, magazines, music and movies in different languages, story hours and activities for children, discounted museum passes, homework help, computers, ESL classes, concerts, tax forms and more Massachusetts residents may obtain a library card in person by presenting identification and proof of current address. There is no waiting period for a library card. You must be at least five years old to get a card.

Parks and Recreation Department

A variety of activities offered to children and adults every season including sports, crafts, skating lessons, swimming lessons, family and adult trips. 475 Union Ave. Framingham, MA 01702 Phone: (508) 532-5960 www.framinghamrec.com

RESOURCES 23

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

TRANSPORTATION

Metro West Regional Transit Authority (MWTRA) provides public transportation along 12 different bus routes connecting the entire MetroWest community, as well as 3 commuter shuttles and a Boston Hospi-tal Shuttle.

15 Blandin Ave, Framingham, MA. 01702 Phone: 508-935-2222 www.mwrta.com/

Metrowest Regional Transit Authority

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) offers a commuter train line between Boston—Framingham—Worcester. www.mbta.com

MBTA

RESOURCES 24

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

ADULT LEARNING PROGRAMS

Framingham Adult English as a Second Lan-guage PLUS

Morning and evening english classes at six levels (by lottery), GED and Citizenship classes. New classes begin in September and January. All clas-ses are free. Morning ESL: Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 8:45 – 10:45 am Location: BRACE at St. Tarcisius Church, 560 Waverly Street Evening ESL: Tuesday/Thursday 6:30 – 9:30 pm Location: Fuller Middle School, 31 Flagg Drive HiSET/GED: Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 6:30 – 9:30 pm Location: Fuller Middle School U. S. Citizenship: Wednesday 6:30 – 9:00 pm Loca-tion: Fuller Middle School, 31 Flagg Drive P.O. Box 4860 Framingham, MA 01704 Phone: 508 626-4282 www.faesl.org Brazilian-American Center (BRACE) English as a second language twice a week for 4 months. $250 including materials. 560 Waverly St, Framingham MA 01702 Phone: 508-628-0360/508-628-3721 www.brazilianamericancenter.org Framingham State University Intensive English and Community ESL Program: Intensive Morning, Intensive Afternoon, Commu-nity Evening, and Community Saturday English Classes: Reading, Writing, Grammar, TOEFL Prepa-ration, Business English, Pronunciation, Oral Com-munication, Vocabulary Building; Bridge to Uni-versity and Professional Success Program and Specialized Study. Jonathan Maynard Building, 14 Vernon Street Framingham, MA 01701 Phone: 508-626-1510 www.framingham.edu/esl

Joan Brack Adult Learning Center ESL, HiSET and Young Parents Program. ESL clas-ses are offered year round. Class times are Tues-days, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 9am-12pm. The Young Parents Program is a 20 hour a week GED program and provides an afternoon of par-enting and literacy instruction by a qualified par-enting instructor. HiSET classes are offered Tues-day through Friday 10am to 3pm. SMOC Opportunity Center 7 Bishop Street Fram-ingham, MA 01702 508-620-2677 www.smoc.org/joan-brack-adult-learning-center.php LEAP – Learning English for Adults Program Free ESL and Citizenship classes. First Parish Church in Framingham 24 Vernon Street Framingham, MA 01701 Phone: 508-872-3111 Location of classes: 110 Edgell Road, Framingham MassBay Community College Beginner to Advanced Level ESL, TOEFL Prep. 19 Flagg Drive, Framingham, MA 01702 Phone: 781-239-2700 www.Massbay.edu/communityESL Literacy Unlimited at the Framingham

Public Library Free Conversation classes for adults and one on one tutoring 49 Lexington Street Framingham, MA 01702 508-532-5574 / www.framinghamlibrary.org/literacy/our-program/ Keefe at Night ESL, HiSET, Citizenship and more evening classes. 750 Winter St Framingham, MA 01702 Phone: 508-935-0202 / www.keefeatnight.org

Adult Learning Programs

RESOURCES 25

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

FAMILY SUPPORT RESOURCES

The Massachusetts Adult Literacy Hotline

The Massachusetts Adult Literacy Hotline pro-vides referrals to over 300 adult education pro-grams that offer one-on-one tutoring, small-group or classroom instruction to adult learners.

1-800-477-8844

www.massliteracyhotline.org/hotline/

Autism Alliance

The Autism Alliance is a Massachusetts-based or-ganization providing support, programs, and re-sources to families and individuals affected by au-tism spectrum disorders.

1881 Worcester Road, Suite 100A

Framingham, MA 01701

(508) 652-9900

www.autismalliance.org

JFS of Metrowest

Jewish Family Service of Metrowest (JFS) is a non-profit, community-based organization dedicated to standing up for those left behind and provides services to over 5,000 people in need within the Metrowest and Greater Boston regions each year, including extended day academic support for low income children, nutrition and basic family assis-tance for struggling families, citizenship and immi-grant programs and geriatric care management and other support services that enable frail older adults to live independently.

475 Franklin Street, Suite 101, Framingham MA 01702

508-875-3100

www.jfsmw.org

Mass. Alliance of Portuguese Speakers

MAPS Framingham work with and for the Brazili-an, Cabo Verdean, Portuguese and other Portu-guese-speaking communities to increase access

and remove barriers to health, education and so-cial services through direct services, advocacy, leadership and community development.

24 Union Avenue, Suites 8 & 10, Framingham MA 01702 508-872-2652

http://www.maps-inc.org

Health Care for All

We work to answer health insurance questions, troubleshoot issues with state insurance pro-grams and make appropriate referrals.

One Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110

617-350-7279, HELPLINE: (800) 272-4232

www.hcfama.org

BRACE

The Brazilian-American Center offer courses, sem-inars, lectures and events that educate, train and entertain people, helping them integrate better into American society, while also preserving Bra-zilian culture, traditions, language and religious beliefs.

560 Waverly St, Framingham, MA 01702

508-628-3721 / 508-628-0360

www.brazilianamericancenter.org

MetroWest Free Medical Program

The MetroWest Free Medical Program offers free medical care to those who are uninsured and un-derinsured in the MetroWest communities.

Sudbury Services: no appointmenet needed. Tues-day evenings. 105 Hudson Road, Sudbury MA 01776 English: 508-656-0740 - Portuguese & Spanish: 508-656-0741

Framingham Services: By appointment only. Mon-day and Thursday evenings. 110 Edgell Rd, Fram-ingham MA 01701. Vision Care: 508-656-0885 Women’s Health Care: 508-656-0834

www.metrowestfreemedicalprogram.org

Organizations

RESOURCES 26

A Guide For Families New to the Framingham Public Schools

FAMILY SUPPORT RESOURCES

SMOC

The South Middlesex Opportunity Council pro-vides services that include mental health services, substance abuse services, crisis intervention, criminal justice and re-entry programs, employ-ment and adult education, fuel financial assis-tance, housing assistance.

7 Bishop Street, Framingham, MA 01702 508-872-4853

www.smoc.org

The Latino Health Insurance Program

Helping minorities get access to medical care and food in Massachusetts.

88 Waverly St. #1 Floor, Framingham, MA 01702

508-875-1237

www.lhiprogram.org

Advocates

Meeting the needs of individuals and families fac-ing diverse life challenges through the provision of counseling, residential and home based sup-port, school and court outreach.

1881 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA 01701 508-628-630 www.advocates.org

United Way of Tri-County

Supporting families through health, education in-come and basic needs initiatives that include: MASS211, Distribution Centers and Food Bank.

46 Park Street, Framingham MA 01702

888-811-3291

www.uwotc.org

MetroWest Legal Services

Provides free civil legal aid to low-income people and victims of crime who would be denied justice without our help. Our priority practice areas in-clude: Family Law, Housing, Homeless Advocacy, Government Benefits (including Social Security), Education, Elder Law & Immigration.

63 Fountain Street, Suite 304, Framingham MA, 01702

508-620-1830 / 800-696-1501

www.mwlegal.org

A Place to Turn

A Place To Turn is committed to providing emer-gency food and clothing to our neighbors in the Metrowest community. We will serve those in need in an atmosphere of caring and mutual re-spect.

99 Hartford St. Natick, MA 01760

508-655-8868

www.aplacetoturn-natick.org

Daniel’s Table

Our focus is to provide home-style meals that are produced with care and served with dignity.

508-815-4728

www.danielstable.org

FRAMINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS