Good evening,
There are many exciting things happening across the district
APPONOCON was held this weekend and was a wonderful success!
Yesterday at AES was the annual Artapalooza and we have to thank Mrs. Tavares-Buker and everyone who helped support the program. The experience was magical.
Our FES choir led by Mr. Moriera performed the national anthem at the Providence Bruins game last Sunday and it was magnificent.
The Middle School Drama Department is performing ANNIE next Friday, 3/24, evening at 7pm with two shows on Saturday, 3/25, 3pm and 7pm.
A Special Dedication in honor of Mr. Paul Couto will take place outside the auditorium Friday, 3/24, at 6:15pm. The auditorium will be named in honor of Mr. Couto for the legacy he created as a husband, father, friend, teacher, student/educational advocate, and community member.
The High School, “Music in our Schools” Concert was outstanding.
Spring sports are getting ready tomorrow to begin so please be sure to have all paperwork in.
FES and FLMS are hosting a clothing Drive for Project 351 from March 20th to March 31st which is being organized by student Vincent Karppinen. There will be a donation box at the main entrance of each building. Like-new clean clothing please!
Applications for the PCC (Project Contemporary Competitiveness) summer program held at Stonehill College are available with your student’s counselor for grades 8-12 (going into grades 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 for September 2023).
The Spring Equinox begins on March 20th at 5:25 EST, and spring sports are here.
March 21st is World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), where the Down Syndrome community creates a single global voice advocating for the rights, inclusion and well being of angels with Down Syndrome. “Down Syndrome is due to an extra copy of the 21st chromosome. This gives someone with DS three copies of this chromosome instead of the typical number of two. Since there are three 21’s, World Down Syndrome Day is March 21st (3/21)”
A way to raise awareness for Down Syndrome is to participate in CRAZY SOCK DAY on Tuesday March 21st. The Down Syndrome Community decided that since chromosomes tend to have distinct shapes and pairs and that each one has a different length and shape and when studied closely resemble a striped sock. So on WDSD bold, colorful mismatched socks are worn as a symbol of support for the community. Each principal within FLRSD will be looking to take pictures of students supporting each other.
The powerful and necessary message of WDSD must also be blended with a reminder that lies in the hearts of so many wonderful people throughout our two towns: we MUST as a community unite, support, empower, understand, and listen to the experiences of everyone in order to come together and truly be an inclusive community. I ask that for WDSD: we take a pause and look at the experiences of every child, that we applaud our special education teachers, paraprofessionals and advocates, and our general education teachers and paraprofessionals who work tirelessly for all children, that we attend a SEPAC meeting (even if we do not have a special needs student in our home) and continue to work to support all of our students. And we must commit to the idea that our community looks deeply at ensuring that we have spaces throughout our schools for ALL of our students.
Below is a poem that was sent to me years ago and as the father of a daughter and a special ability son, who although he does not have Down Syndrome, is a perfect reminder about how we must see ALL our students. This poem has always touched me and it weaves perfectly within our work for ALL as it is a reminder that we understand, listen and share open space with all people.
It is our continued goal that we converse kindly rather than idly attack on social media which only perpetuates confrontation and impedes progress. As Audre Lourde reminds us “it is not our differences that divide us, it is our inability to recognize, accept and celebrate those differences that divide us”. I hope that this poem by a profoundly astute teenager resonates with you and that in some subtle, or not so subtle way, you are able to positively unite this week with someone you previously had not listened to.
Gabrielle and Geneviève are twins. Geneviève has Down syndrome. Gabrielle does not. As part of an English assignment when she was 18-years-old, Gabrielle had to write a poem. She chose to write on a subject dear to her heart. Her sister.
Walk With Me
by Gabrielle Hoover
Author note - I use “they” for all the wonderful people with Down Syndrome
“If you could walk a day in their shoes;
You’d see the world from a different point of view.
A new understanding for what they go through;
That they are not so different from me and you.
You’d see that they are judged and ridiculed every single day;
But never give an evil glance back your way,
Because they show compassion to everyone around,
And create lasting friendships that stay forever bound.
They do not care what other people think,
Because they are their own person, special and unique,
Who live their days, with a smile on their face,
Living life simplistically, moving at their own pace.
They have goals and aspirations, are always following their dreams,
With their mind set to it, they can achieve the extreme,
Because they deserve more credit than what they’ve been given,
You’ll see they are beautiful, passionate, successful and driven.
They love to sing, draw, write and dance,
Things you’d only see if you gave them a chance,
To be accepted and let their true colors show,
With real understanding you’ll see them grow.
So come now, and see what they can do,
You’ll discover a world that’s foreign and new,
Where love exists that is powerful and true,
On a walk with them that is long overdue”
As Gabrielle states so perfectly, we must begin to walk with each other, to listen and to fully understand and it is long overdue. I witness daily, with the lens of an educator for all and as a special education parent, the work of our Principals, Assistant Principals, Team Chairs, Teachers, Paraprofessionals , Secretaries, Schedulers, Library and IT Staff, School Psychologists, Counselors, Nurses, SRO, Counselors, Coaches, Advisors, Custodial, Maintenance, and Food Service Staff, as well as our Central Office Administrators and Staff, School Committee, Town Hall Officials and Employees, First Responders, and our amazing Community Partners most of whom work for creating understanding, and safe spaces for all of our students. It continues to change the trajectory of our wonderful communities.
May your week be filled with sharing happiness, colorful socks, a smile or two and may others bring the same to you two fold.
Be safe, be healthy, and be …. In peace
Alan
Alan Strauss, Superintendent
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PROJECT 351 CLOTHING DRIVE at FES & FLMS
Join us for a clothing drive fundraiser to benefit those most in need. Your donations of like-new children’s clothing will go a long way in helping others with their basic needs. The event will take place from March 20th-31st at the Freetown Elementary School and the Freetown-Lakeville Middle School during school hours. There will be boxes in the main entrance for your donations. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our neighbors.
Freetown Lakeville Regional School District School Links
Please click on the link(s) below for district information and easy access to your child’s school news
FLRSD: https://www.freelake.org/news
ARHS: https://www.freelake.org/o/arhs/news
FLMS: https://www.freelake.org/o/flms/news
GRAIS: https://www.freelake.org/o/grais/news
AES: https://www.freelake.org/o/aes/news
FES: https://www.freelake.org/o/fes/news
Below please find links to important forms and information. These are located on our website but hope this may assist you in locating them quickly (we will continue to add to this and if you have suggestions on what would be helpful to add please let us know) Thank you for the latest suggestions!