Welcome to the Freetown Elementary School

Dear Families,

                The degree to which a school serves its community is indicative of the character of the school.  This past year we have provided assistance to the town during the Swine Flu outbreak, provided an evening to town employees for ethics training, provided logistical support to the Fire Department for their training academy, served as a Red Cross Shelter and provided multiple areas within the building for town committees to meet.  To assist families that have suffered in the March and April floods we held a Flood Benefit Dinner during the evening of April 30th.  Our proudest moment of the year came with the dedication of the gymnasium in honor of Petty Officer Tyler Trahan.  We have met the needs of the community and continue to find ways in which we can help our friends and neighbors.

On Thursday, June 10th and Friday June 11th Freetown Elementary proudly presents its Eighth Annual Storytelling Festival.  Our Grade 3 Story Explorers will be telling their tales on June 10th while the Grade 4 Story Explorers will be telling theirs on June 11th.  Since late in September and early October the students have been practicing and rehearsing.  Please join us for two evenings of folk tales being brought to life!  Admission is free!

As we approach the last days in June we do so knowing that Mrs. Carter will be retiring after thirty-six years of dedicated service to the children and staff of Freetown Elementary School.  Over this span, Mrs. Carter has taught in Grades 1 and 2 as well as an Enrichment Program, served on the School Council and the Principal Advisory Council and a whole range of committees that have made our school a better place for your children.  She is currently the President of the Educators Association of Freetown-Lakeville Public Schools.  As a corner stone of our school, she will be missed in the years ahead.

Our staff has completed our Self-Study in the NEASC accreditation process.  In October a visiting team of educators will spend three days observing our programs, meeting with students, staff, parents and local officials.  This will provide them with sufficient information to make a determination for accreditation.

Recently, our third and fourth graders completed MCAS.  We are hoping that with the strategies and skills taught this year, in addition to our MCAS Tutorial Program, that our performance will improve.  I believe that our not making Adequate Yearly Progress in English Language Arts in 2008 and Adequate Yearly Progress in Mathematics in 2009 can be attributed to a reduction in staff and programs.

Over the past several years we have seen an enormous reduction in our budget.  The ramifications have been felt school-wide in increased class size, loss of programs, services and supplies.  As we approach Town Meeting, I am pleased to see that the Board of Selectmen has added $100,000 to our budget, which had been at level funding.  While this will allow us to maintain our current staffing levels, it will not help to reduce class sizes.  At the end of June we will be closing French and Art and not filling a retirement position.  We certainly recognize the economic times we are in and are grateful for the additional funding.  Please support us at Town Meeting on June 7th in the auditorium at our school.

I would like to thank all of you for your support throughout the year.  We have a great school and we can only become better!  Be safe and enjoy your summer!

Mr. Frizelle

Visitors to the Schools: Please click here and go to page 13 to review the policies governing visiting our school.