This is the time of year when we begin to read many admissions files for students who are applying to Franklin Academy. In one section of the Parent's Questionnaire, there is this question - What else would you like the Admissions Committee to know about your child? Here is one response that I found to be particularly moving and right on target:

"Jim and I are very worried for our child. He is unhappy and lost. Unless we find a school for Tom that better addresses his social and academic needs, we worry about him dropping out of school and depression. When we started to talk about boarding schools, he was clear that he did not want to go away from home. I asked him to only look at your school. After the initial visit of a couple hours, he told me that he would consider your school. Within days he told me he wanted to go to your school and wanted to go as soon as possible. This is an incredible statement on my son's part. I would never have expected him to be so positive about your school. I think that Tom saw the possibility of happiness."

I believe that such expressions of hope find fulfillment at Franklin Academy. The model for our school is built upon a very specific mission statement that brings to campus students who possess similar strengths, share common interests, and face comparable challenges. We have created a school community where everyone feels safe, connected, and understood. We have designed a school day and a year-round calendar to allow ample time for work and sufficient time for rest. We emphasize small classes, a low student-teacher ratio, teaching teams to serve a specific group of students, and residential supervision that is handled by every teacher and administrator. The curriculum addresses students with an auditory learning style preference and focuses on the acquisition of vital social and academic skills to prepare students for college work and life-long learning. The physical environment of our compact campus, the single occupancy dorm rooms, and family style dining provide a comfortable, home-away-from-home living and learning experience for our students.

Now, Franklin Academy's administration, in partnership with the Board of Trustees, is forging an exciting strategic plan for the school. High on the priority list are a library and media center, new classrooms and labs, and three new dormitories - each designed as homes to house twelve students and two faculty families. It is also our intention to secure accreditation through the New England Association of Schools and Colleges at the earliest possible moment, and our work to achieve this important objective begins immediately.

I trust that you are pleased with your child's experiences at Franklin Academy, and I am delighted to enclose two copies of the 2005-06 re-enrollment contract. As you read through the contract, you will discover that there is a tuition increase - our first in two years to fund continuing improvements to our program and to allow Franklin Academy to cover 100% of its operating costs. Please sign one copy and return it with the enrollment deposit by Monday, March 7. After that date, we will begin enrolling new students to fill vacancies where they might exist.

Sincerely,


Frederick Weissbach
Headmaster