School At War History Lesson and Flag Raising Ceremony

From the Community Director
Franklin Lakes Middle School

The first Franklin Lakes Borough School No.1, is called Franklin Lakes Middle School (FAMS) today. School No. 1 played an important part as the Borough entered World War II. The students produced a newspaper called the “Victory News”. They mailed the paper to the post graduates who were fighting the war around the world. Many wrote back to thank the students for the Newspaper and also sent back stories of the war. The students did more than just write a newspaper, they raised money for the war effort. They did this by buying stamps and Saving Bonds. They were so successful that 92% of the student body bought Saving Bonds. To this end they received the “Schools at War Flag” for their dedication. An example hangs in the display case also with other period artifacts that would have been seen in and around the school at that time. 

In preparation for the Flag Assembly, FAMS students in grades 6-8 learned history of Franklin Lakes through an interactive museum lesson plan in their Social Studies classrooms, where they tried to guess the purpose/origin/source of each of the items that were placed in the display case in the middle school by Franklin Lakes Historian, Jack Goudsward. They completed a quick reading as a class before making their guesses; after, students walked to the display case where they had the chance to see the items with their own eyes, and in the classroom they discussed the importance of local history as well as the "answers" for the artifacts.

The Peer Leadership Corp represented the school during the Flag Assembly and Henry Cannon and Alex Krakowiak, two Grade 8 students, raised the flag for the group. The day of the Assembly students met with Jack Goudsward and had a chance to get any of their remaining questions answered.

Please click here to view the lesson plan and click here to view “Our School at War” 1941-1945 by, Jack Goudsward. Click here to view the photo album.