Thursday, May 17, 2012
Enter the mind of middle-schoolers as Diamond Middle School eight-graders will perform the original play at 4 and 7 p.m. this Friday, May 18.
“Freak Show,” an original play featuring eighth-graders from Diamond Middle School, ushers the audience into the minds of middle-schoolers — a trip that turns out to be as scary, and perhaps a little more perceptive, than one might expect. “Like the opening line, it’s definitely true: middle school is the most absurd environment imaginable,” said Spencer Hobbs, a member of the cast. “The real world is scary, but middle school isn’t much better.” From bullying to the invisible boy to a young gamer who goes so deep into his fantasy world that his parents are encouraged that he at least has Facebook friends, the skits provide smart yet ridiculous social commentary that aptly parallels the craziness of middle school life with a carnival – a “…
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-71.23229
William Diamond Middle School
99 Hancock St, Lexington, MA
/articles/welcome-to-the-freak-show
232113
/locations/7038872
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
National MATHCOUNTS competition held last weekend in Florida.
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Wednesday, May 16
The following information is from a Raytheon press release: Raytheon Company hosted the nation’s top 224 middle school math minds as the title sponsor of the 2012 Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition May 10 to 13 at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The MATHCOUNTS finalists are vying for the titles of 2012 National Champion and National Championship Team. Massachusetts’ winning MATHCOUNTS team is there, competing against the nation’s top 224 middle school math minds in the 2012 Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National competition, the equivalent of the Scripps Spelling Bee for math. This year’s Massachusetts team has memebers from Weston, Acton, Lexington and Winchester, and the members are thrilled to be …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Fourteenth in the state and 280th nationally? How do you think Lexington High stacks up against the rest of the best schools in America? Take our poll or share your thoughts in the comment section below.
It’s not news that Lexington’s is a highly regarded public school district. So it’s no surprise that the Lexington High was listed among the U.S. News & World Report’s “Best High Schools” list, released on Tuesday, May 8. Lexington landed in 14th place in the state and 280th nationally, according to the always controversial calculations. Other area schools to rank highly include Belmont (4th in the state), Weston (5th), Wellesley (12th), Acton-Boxborough (15th), Needham (17th) and Wayland (24th). Arlington, Winchester and Concord-Carlisle landed just outside of Massachusetts’ Top 25. The U.S. News & World Report rankings were released the same day Superintendent of Schools Paul Ash announced publicly that Lexington High School students …
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-71.23178
Lexington High School
251 Waltham St, Lexington, MA
/articles/lhs-lands-on-u-s-news-world-report-s-best-high-schools-list
232115
/locations/6982968
According to advice from legal counsel, the School Committee can review the data collected during the Wellman Report process, but members must be careful about discussing how it shapes their opinions.
Following a May 9 meeting with legal counsel, the Lexington School Committee will review data gathered during the compilation of the Wellman Report and potentially draw its own conclusions about the report with regard to alleged teacher moral issues within the district. The Wednesday afternoon meeting saw the School Committee consult both town and School Committee counsel about how to approach and use the data – including slips of paper and redacted it interviews consultant Bruce Wellman conducted with district employees – committee members voted April 25 to review. According to Town Counsel Kevin Bott, School Committee members can review the data individually to deepen their understanding of Wellman’s report and the climate within the …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Lexington School Committee also discussed awards won by Lexington Schools, English curriculum, exchange trips and other topics in Tuesday evenings meeting.
The Lexington School Committee met on Tuesday, May 8, amid mixed sentiment over recent awards won by students at Lexington High School and criticisms the handling of low teacher morale reports. With his evaluation on the agenda for the evening, members of the community spoke out against Superintendent of Schools Paul Ash, specifically noting a perceived violation of trust and lack of confidentiality in the district's handling of supposedly anonymous teacher comments collected in a study of teacher morale, which had their names attached. In the face of the scrutiny surrounding the Wellman Report, the committee voted to suspend discussion of the superintendent’s evaluation until a later date. The School Committee is meeting at 3 p.m. today, …
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-71.224282
Town Office Building
1625 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA
/articles/lexington-school-committee-met-tuesday-evening
232594
/locations/6982625
Town Meeting, Wellman report data, high school sports and more today in Lexington.
1. Town Meeting's Back in Action: Annual Town Meeting reconvenes at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Cary Hall to take up remaining articles dealing with the Wright Farm Land Acquisition and a request to rezone the Dana Home and an adjacent property to allow for redevelopment as a hotel and restaurant known as the Inn at Hastings Park. 2. School Committee Looks to Counsel on Wellman Report Data: The School Committee is meeting at 3 p.m. today at the Town Office Building and its agenda includes a discussion with School Committee Counsel and Town Counsel regarding the data collected from staff and relied upon as the basis for the Wellman Report. 3. Today in High School Sports: The Lexington High School sports schedule for today includes boys varsity …
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-71.223717
Cary Memorial Building
1605 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA
/articles/five-things-you-need-to-know-today-may-9-28f82cdd
232593
/locations/6968961
42.446449
-71.224282
Town Office Building
1625 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA
/articles/five-things-you-need-to-know-today-may-9-28f82cdd
232594
/locations/6968962
42.44148
-71.23178
Lexington High School
251 Waltham St, Lexington, MA
/articles/five-things-you-need-to-know-today-may-9-28f82cdd
232115
/locations/6968963
42.44844
-71.22795
Lexington Depot
13 Depot Sq, Lexington, MA
/articles/five-things-you-need-to-know-today-may-9-28f82cdd
232183
/locations/6968964
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
On short notice, the School Committee tomorrow will seek legal advice regarding how to proceed with the Wellman Report data it voted to review in late April.
The Lexington School Committee is meeting at 3 p.m. tomorrow, May 9, at the Town Office Building, and the only item on its agenda is a discussion with the School Committee and town counsel regarding the Wellman Report data voted to review. On April 25, the School Committee voted in favor of reviewing a redacted version of comments provided by school staff in interviews with consultant Bruce Wellman, who was hired to study alleged issues with teacher morale and professional relationships within the school district. However, two weeks later, that information has not yet been provided. Exactly how the School Commitee moves forward with that data could hinge on tomorrow’s discussion, according to School Committee Chair Mary Ann Stewart, who …
42.446449
-71.224282
Town Office Building
1625 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA
/articles/school-committee-seeking-counsel-on-wellman-data
232594
/locations/6969643
As executive director of the Massachusetts Water Works Association (MWWA), Pederson has helps Environmental Technology Students at Minuteman High.
The following feature was provided by Judy Bass, communications specialist for Minuteman High School in Lexington. Jennifer Pederson, executive director of the Massachusetts Water Works Association (MWWA), has served on the Advisory Committee of Minuteman High School’s Environmental Technology program for the past three years. She has been working closely with this program since 2008 to incorporate drinking water curriculum into Career and Technical Education (CTE) at Minuteman as well as at several other schools in Massachusetts that offer an Environmental Technology major. “The MWWA has a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to reach out to high schools with environmental and scientific programs,” …
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-71.264058
Minuteman High School
754 Marrett Rd, Lexington, MA
/articles/minuteman-high-profile-jennifer-pederson
188732
/locations/6960978
School Committee meeting, revelry on the golf course and more today in Lexington.
1. Superintendent Ash's Eval on the Agenda: The School Committee is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. tonight at the Town Office Building and its revised agenda includes a vote on school choice, a review of the English language arts curriculum and a discussion about Superintendent of Schools Paul Ash's evaluation. 2. Lex Tee It Up: As part of this month's Revolutionary Revelry calendar of events, the Lexington Recreation Department and New England Golf Corporation are hosting an afternoon of discounted golf between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. today at Pine Meadows Golf Club. For $15 per person, enjoy a relaxed, nine holes, skills contests with prizes, and a light lunch (burgers and hot dogs) after you golf. Players must have their own clubs, and electric…
42.446449
-71.224282
Town Office Building
1625 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA
/articles/five-things-you-need-to-know-today-may-8-d4fdb958
232594
/locations/6954222
42.45636
-71.250349
Pine Meadows Golf Club
255 Cedar St, Lexington, MA
/articles/five-things-you-need-to-know-today-may-8-d4fdb958
231766
/locations/6954223
42.439153
-71.2151
Youville Place Assisted Living Residence
10 Pelham Rd, Lexington, MA
/articles/five-things-you-need-to-know-today-may-8-d4fdb958
189238
/locations/6954224
Sunday, May 6, 2012
For the fourth consecutive year, Bridge designs were chosen for honors in a statewide bookmark contest sponsored by the Massachusetts School Library Association (MSLA).
Two Bridge Elementary School first-graders were honored at a ceremony at the State House in Boston on April 11 for their entries in a statewide bookmark contest sponsored by the Massachusetts School Library Association (MSLA). Madeline Kim and Medha Morparia submitted bookmark designs in the local contest held at Bridge School, sponsored by Lynnette Allen, school Library Teacher. The theme of the contest was ‘I’m Wild About My School Library.’ Nine local bookmark winners were submitted to the statewide contest. For the fourth consecutive year, Bridge designs were chosen for honors. Maddie and Medha’s designs were chosen by a panel of notable authors and illustrators as two of the three best designs submitted by all Kindergarten and 1st …
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-71.24243
Bridge Elementary School
55 Middleby Rd, Lexington, MA
/articles/bridge-students-honored-for-bookmark-designs
232081
/locations/6939519
Patrick Ball
10:25 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012
Nice catch, Charlie. I'll fix that right away. While I'm here, I should also add that yesterday, May 9, LEA President Phyllis Neufeld explained that consultant Bruce Wellman had redacted names and titles prior to the review by herself and Superintendent of Schools Paul Ash. Those two reviewed interview responses to ensure there was no other identifying info, according to Neufeld. more ›