LETTER: Thanks for Supporting Elementary School Progress

Joe Markey and Mike Shepard of Hopkinton's Elementary School Building Committee are thankful the residents supported the next step in finding a solution to Center School.

Dear Editor, We would like to thank Town Meeting for the confidence expressed in the unanimous vote on Article 17, funding a feasibility study to address the constraints at Center School.  Our goal on the Elementary School Building Committee is to develop a solution that will be actively embraced by the community; achieving this will require your continued active involvement. At our upcoming meetings we will focus on developing and publishing a timeline for community engagement, even as we await a formal project selection response from the MSBA. Thanks to your involvement, your confidence expressed at Town Meeting, and to the partnership to date with the Board of Selectmen and School Committee, we find ourselves at a favorable new starting…

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Newsweek Names Hopkinton High as #257 High School in USA

The magazine's 2013 rankings came out Monday.

On mobile? You can see interactive map here. Newsweek has ranked Hopkinton High School as the #257 high school in the country. For its rankings, Newsweek sent out a survey to more than 5,000 high schools in the U.S., with about 2,500 schools responding in 2013. You can see the details about Hopkinton High School's ranking, and every other ranked high school by clicking on the markers in the interactive map above. The survey scores were then weighted and calculated using several criteria including on-time graduation and college acceptance rates. In addition, instead of averaging the number of courses offered, this year Newsweek considered the percentage of students enrolled in AP, IB or Advance International Certificate courses. The final …

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Theater Students Protest Budget Cuts, Win Budget Amendment

Dozens of students protested outside town meeting after a proposed budget cut could force a drama teacher to leave Holliston High.

Students held signs before town meeting on Monday in protest of a potential 25 percent cut to the salary of Brian Hickey, Drama teacher at Holliston High School.  The salary cut is on a list of more than a dozen items that could be slashed from the school's budget to help reconcile a gap in the budget.  Hickey has said publicly he will leave the school if the proposed 25 percent salary cut takes place.  "He is the best, he pushed me to a higher level of acting and he gets the best out of everyone," Ben Rutberg, a sophomore at Holliston High School, said.  Once town meeting began, the riled up crowd was eager to discuss the schools budget and they voted to add $19,835 to the school's budget. "The added dollar amount is equivalent to one …

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Beloved Holliston Theatre Teacher's Hours Proposed to Be Cut

Brian Hickey's position is one of the items up for discussion at Holliston town meeting tonight.

Barn Burner to Help Kamitian Field Sports Facility

The Holliston Athletic Boosters Association is hoping you will have a hootin' good time while supporting their endeavor to build a new ticket booth, snack stand and bathroom facility at the high school athletic fields.

Here's a situation many residents of Holliston have encountered while cheering for the panthers at the high school: it's halftime and you need to use the restroom, but the closest one is inside the school and they don't allow re-entry to the games. This one also may be familiar: your child wants to go get a snack but the concession stand is almost out of sight so you need to walk over with them. Well, the Holliston Athletic Boosters Association has a solution and they need your help to make it a reality. The boosters are hoping to build a new $75,000 facility at the entrance to the main field and they expect it to be ready for the fall sports season. "It feels like a real community effort," Patty Osten said. "Many local businesses, clubs …

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Middle School Principal Leaving; School Will Not Hire A New Principal

The McAuliffe Regional Charter Public School instead of hiring a new principal will hire instead two instructional coaches as part of its expeditionary model.

Christa McAuliffe Regional Charter Public School Executive Director Kristin Harrison announced Monday that Principal Deborah Langlois will be leaving the Framingham-based charter school at the end of the school year. Several dozen students from Holliston and Hopkinton attend the school. Langlois is seeking other opportunities, and the community wishes her the best on her future endeavors, said Harrison in an email to parents. This was her second year as principal. Rather than search for a single principal to lead the school’s instructional program, McAuliffe instead will be hiring two "Instructional Coaches," said Harrison. The Instructional Coaches, typical school leader roles in Expeditionary Learning schools, will work closely to engage…

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BLOG: Ellen Scordino for Hopkinton School Committee

As we strive to have the best educational opportunities and facilities for our children, we believe Ellen brings to the table a fresh positive voice.

BLOG: Amy Ritterbusch for Hopkinton School Committee

I’m writing to express my strong support for Amy Ritterbusch, who is running for School Committee in the upcoming Hopkinton town election.

Students Return to Normal At Elmwood School

Principal Ljungberg reached out to parents with a letter today outlining their response to the Boston Marathon bombing.

While the Boston Marathon bombing and subsequent investigation occurred during school vacation weeks, schools in Hopkinton are still doing everything they can to provide help for students. David Ljungberg, principal at the Elmwood School, sent a letter to parents yesterday outlining the schools response to the tragedy. “First, teachers were all vigilant and mindful in bringing back as much routine and structure as was possible after the [April] break,” Ljungberg said. “Teachers were told not to broach the topic of the marathon events. I instead asked teachers to direct students who brought up questions of concerns to ask their parents at home in a safer, more private environment.” Ljungberg and Assistant Principal Timothy Kearnan both …

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