FHS Graduation
Currently scheduled for Friday, June 7th at 5:30pm, the graduation ceremony can be watched on cable and online in the following places:
Cable: Astound HD Channel 1100, Astound Channel 3, Verizon Channel 43, and Comcast Channel 9
Online: https://www.accessfram.tv/aftv-live-stream
Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/framinghamps/live
In the event it rains on June 7th, then the new date for the ceremony would be June 9th at 1pm. Communication regarding any change to the even will be sent in advance.
Pride Month
Pride Month is celebrated in the United States every June. What began as a tribute to those involved in the Stonewall Uprising which occurred at the end of June 1969, is now a month dedicated to the uplifting of LGBTQIA+ voices, celebrating LGBTQIA+ culture, and the support of LGBTQIA+ rights. It is part activism and part celebration of all the LGBTQIA+ community has achieved over the years.
As a result, many pride events are held during this month to recognize the impact LGBTQIA+ people have had in the world, as well as to show support to our LGTBQ+ friends and family members. There are lots of ways you can get involved — as well as learn some important social history along the way.
Also, remember the City of Framingham's Pride Flag Raising Event is this Sunday, June 2, 2024 from 2:00PM–4:30PM (Memorial Building Plaza)
Gun Violence Awareness Month
June is Gun Violence Awareness Month where communities across the nation #WearOrange to raise awareness about gun violence in our country. There are campaigns with the Sandy Hook Promise and Brady, organizations that create resources for communities, to help raise awareness and start conversations.
Every day, more than 300 people are directly impacted by gun violence in the United States. Gun Violence Awareness Month was created to draw attention to this tragic reality and demand life-saving change.
June 5th: #FPSPrideDay
Please join us in creating a visual representation of the supportive community that we have for our LGBTQ colleagues, students, and families.
We invite members of the FPS Community to participate by wearing purple or rainbow attire on Wednesday, June 5th. We hope you join us!
Get your gear ready and share your photos with us!
How to show your support:
1. Wear purple or rainbow colors on Wednesday, June 5th.
2. Snap a selfie or a group photo.
3. Share your photos using the instructions below.
BONUS! Be sure to let us know what school you represent!
You can upload your selfie(s) or group photo(s) to share from the District's social media channels throughout the day:
June 7th - June 9th: Wear Orange Weekend
June 7th this year is recognized by U.S. public health, education, and advocacy groups as National Gun Violence Awareness Day. This observance is also known as “Wear Orange Day” and kicks off "Wear Orange Weekend".
Why Orange?
The color orange has a long and proud history in the gun safety movement. Whether worn by hunters in the woods of Pennsylvania, activists in New York City, or Hadiya’s loved ones in Chicago, orange honors the more than 120 lives cut short and the hundreds more wounded by gun violence every day - and it demands action. Orange is a color that demands to be seen.
Why Are We Sharing This?
Deaths and injuries from firearms pose a substantial risk to public health. Access to a firearm is the common denominator in every firearm-related death or injury. So today, we are reminding the community about the Resolution on the Safe Storage of Firearms passed by our School Committee in November 2022, as well as providing some education and action options associated with the Wear Orange campaign.
Learn more about the #WearOrange movement and other gun violence awareness campaigns here
June 14th: Flag Day
When the American Revolution broke out in 1775, most regiments participating in the war for independence against the British fought under their own flags. In June of 1775, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to create the Continental Army—a unified colonial fighting force—with the hopes of a more organized battle against its colonial oppressors. This led to the creation of what was, essentially, the first “American” flag, the Continental Colors.
For some, this version of the flag was too similar to that of the British and George Washington soon realized that flying a flag that was even remotely close to the British flag was not a great confidence-builder for the revolutionary effort, so he pursued a new symbol of freedom.
On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress took a break from writing the Articles of Confederation and passed a resolution stating that “the flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white,” and that “the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”
Over 100 years later, in 1916, then President Woodrow Wilson marked the anniversary of that decree by officially establishing June 14 as Flag Day.
Source: https://www.history.com/news/what-is-flag-day (see more about Flag Day and facts about the U.S. Flag)
June 16th: National Neurodiversity Day
National Neurodiversity Day, also referred to as ND Pride Day and Neurodivergent Pride Day has been organized since 2018 by The Neurodiversity Foundation and takes place in mid-June each year. While it is a newer movement and growing, the goal is to support acceptance, inclusion and appreciation in society of people who are most unlike most others. They position it as a day to "celebrate your own unique traits, and how it benefits the world". We all have something unique and awesome to contribute, and on this day, all are invited to show what they are proud of!
On Neurodiversity Pride Day, you are invited to take a moment to reflect on what you are proud for in your own life, the love you bring to your families and friends, the value you add to teams and the everyday courage it takes to be yourself. It's a day to turn the page of a difficult past or present, and rejoice in the fact, that there is only one person like yourself. And that this uniqueness, is something to be proud of. You, be you, and this day invites all to celebrate your own way, the way you want to do so yourself.
Sources: https://www.neurodiversityprideday.com/ and Neurodiversity Foundation (based in Amsterdam)
June 19th: Juneteenth
What is Juneteenth?
On June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas federal orders announced that slavery was now illegal. This took place two months after the surrender by the Confederates. Earlier attempts at “freeing the slaves” like the Emancipation Proclamation (1863) did not free enslaved people. Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery and marks a second independence day that is celebrated in the Black and African American community.
What is the Juneteenth flag and what does it represent?
- The centered star represents Texas, the Lone Star State. It was in Galveston in 1865 where Union soldiers informed the country's last remaining enslaved people that, under the Emancipation Proclamation issued two years earlier, they were free. But the star also goes beyond Texas, representing the freedom of African Americans in all 50 states.
- The bursting outline around the star is inspired by a nova, a term that astronomers use to mean a new star. On the Juneteenth flag, this represents a new beginning for the African Americans of Galveston and throughout the land.
- The curve that extends across the width of the flag represents a new horizon: the opportunities and promise that lie ahead for black Americans.
- The red, white and blue represent the American flag, a reminder that slaves and their descendants were and are Americans.
Why should we all know and celebrate this holiday?
Juneteenth is more than an observance of freedom, it’s also a time to share the experiences of those who fought—literally and figuratively—to seek true freedom for future generations. The history of Juneteenth acknowledges hard history while also empowering students to be advocates for change.
A celebration of freedom for any American is a celebration of the ideals that make our country what it is today. American identity emerged from shared faith in the transcendental ideal of liberty, not from shared blood. Therefore, any celebration of American freedom is a celebration for us all. Juneteenth is about liberty, not about race.
Source: FPS News Item from 2022 (individual sources included within)
June 20th: First Day of Summer
The first day of summer in North America is Thursday, June 20th. It also happens to be the longest day of the year! Why? Because on this day we will see the most hours of sunlight in the year. (though the amount of sunlight you’ll see depends on where you live. Most of the United States will see around 14-16 hours of sunlight.)
In the Northern Hemisphere, the June solstice (aka summer solstice) occurs when the Sun travels along its northernmost path in the sky. This marks the astronomical start of summer in the northern half of the globe. (In the Southern Hemisphere, it's the opposite: the June solstice marks the astronomical start of winter.)
Sources: USA Today
June 20th: ASK Day
ASK (Asking Saves Kids) Day is a day to remind parents and caretakers to ask "Is there an unlocked gun where my child plays?". ASK Day falls on June 21st, the first day of summer, every year due to this being a time when kids typically spend more time at the homes of friends and other family members.
In the United States, 4.6 million children live in homes with access to an unlocked or unsupervised gun. Every year thousands of kids are injured or killed as a result. June 21 marks the first day of summer, a time when many children are out of school, spending more time at home and at the homes of others. Parents ask all types of questions before their children visit other homes. ASK Day is when we remind parents, guardians, and caretakers to add one more question, ask: "Is there an unlocked gun where my child plays?"
It's a simple question, but it could save a life.