GEA Forum Focusses on Social Media

The Grafton Education Alliance (GEA) hosted a Social Media Forum, for parents and teens, on Monday, May 7th at 7pm at Grafton High School.

Social media was the focus of a recent forum hosted by the Grafton Education Alliance (GEA). The forum featured a panel discussion with Grafton Police Chief, Norman Crepeau, Melanie Wexler of JCSI Staffing, Melissa Fischer, MD and Neil Spellman of WPI Cyber Security.

Aproximately 50 people attended the event and learned about the benefits and risks of utilizing social media such as Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. Among the interesting statistics presented at the event were the following: LinkedIn currently has 135 million users, and 11 percent of the world population has a Facebook account.

Copies of the presentations given by the panelists, as well as Internet safety tips, are available on the GEA website: www.graftoneducation.org.

Grafton Soccer Club Captures Spelling Bee Title

The Grafton Soccer Club team came in 1st place at the recent Grafton Education Alliance Community Spelling Bee. The three member team, The Magic Spells, consisted of Shelly Dwyer, Jill Recchia and Siobhan Toscano. They ousted last year's winners by correctly spelling "muishond."

Twenty-four, three-member teams competed in the Bee. In addition to the Best Speller award, prizes were also awarded in the following categories:

• Most Original Costume - "Team Lions,"
  sponsored by Grafton Lion's Club


• Most Original Team Name - "The Drag Bunters,"
  sponsored by Grafton Girls Softball Association


• Most Team Spirit - " The "Board of Spellectman"
  sponsored by the Grafton News

The following businesses and organizations fielded teams at the event: Apple Tree Arts, Board of Selectman, Daily Grafton, Grafton Library, Grafton Girls Softball, Grafton Lion's Club, Grafton Little League, Grafton Pop Warner, Grafton Soccer, Grafton Youth Lacrosse, Grafton Elementary School PTG, North Grafton Elementary School PTG, South Grafton Elementary School PTG, Grafton Middle School PTG, GHS Jr. National Honor Society, GHS Sr. National Honor Society, Savers Bank, Bruce Spinney, Gaudette Insurance, and Optimal Performance Center.

Thank you to the following raffle prize donors: Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, John Dowling, Brook Padgett, Jay Cummings, Westport Winery, Grafton Recreation Department, The Alper Family, YMCA Boroughs Branch, Grafton Police Department, Grafton Education Alliance, Liz Cardoza, CSR Financial Services, Peggy's Place, Blackstone Valley Theatre, and George Peterson.

The following individuals and businesses provided financial support to the event: Anderson Automotive, Grafton Suburban Credit Union, Grafton SPED PAC, Millbury Federal Credit Union, Pam Kates, Representative George Peterson, Temp-Flex Cable and Wyman Gordon Company.

In-kind donations were provided by the following: Joe Garabedian of Buggy Whip Catering, Pepperoni Express, Michael & Ann Bartosiewicz of Bushel N Peck , Polar Beverages and Stop & Shop.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Grafton Education Alliance initiatives.

Advocacy within Your Community to Support New School Building Projects

A Guide Based on the Grafton, MA experience in 2010

After our successful advocacy campaign to approve funding for a new high school, we composed the following Guide to our strategies. We hope the information that follows will assist your community in the same endeavor.

Click here to find out more...