Hopkinton Middle School Evacuated for Smoke

Students and staff were cleared out of the building around 10:30 this morning.

Just after 10:30 this morning students, staff and administrators began smelling smoke in and around the Hopkinton Middle School. The building was evacuated while the Hopkinton Fire Department responded and checked the building for burning. At 11 a.m. the building was cleared, in a release to parents Principal Alan Keller said the smell was believed to be the result of residents burning brush in the area.

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Macbeth Final Performances This Weekend

The Hopkinton Middle School students are performing Shakespeare's play tonight and tomorrow.

    The Hopkinton Middle School Drama Club will present William Shakespeare’s tragedy, “Macbeth,” on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 in the Hopkinton Middle School auditorium. Macbeth tells the story of a brave Scottish general who receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Encouraged by his wife, the madly ambitious Macbeth uses murder and treachery to fulfill this prophecy, but pays a steep price. The play features a cast and crew of 115 students.  Show times are at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Middle School Auditorium. Tickets are $10 for students and seniors and $12 for adults. Save $2 per ticket by bringing a new toy or book for the Project Just Because holiday gift program for…

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GALLERY: Oliver! is Coming to Town

Get ready for this weekend's Middle School performance of the classic Charles Dickens Story.

As the school year comes to a close everyone is finishing off their projects and getting ready to display their talents. Included in this group are students involved in the Middle School drama program who have been working hard on their production of Oliver! Check out some publicity shots in the gallery and be sure to get your tickets to this weekend's performances. Show times are at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 29 in the Hopkinton Middle School auditorium. The full ticket price is $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. The Project Just Because donation must be made at the time of purchase to get the $2 discount. Tickets will be available at the Middle School office or at the …

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: Nov 28

Today, we offer suggestions for how you can volunteer your time locally this holiday season.

Our weekday morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations. As we enter the holiday season, folks often wonder how they can help to give back. If you are seeking a place to volunteer your time, these places would love to have your help. 1. The Hopkinton Senior Center, 28 Mayhew St., is seeking wait staff for the noontime meal Monday through Friday now through Jan 1. You would be needed from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. You are welcome to give as many hours as you can. If you can only come one day or one hour a week, you would still be welcomed. For more information, call (508) 497-9730. 2. The Horizon for Homeless Children is offering …

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Photo of the Day: Words of Wisdom

Yoko Watkins visit to the Middle School will not be forgotten by the students that heard her message.

Traveling to Hopkinton has become an annual event for Yoko Watkins who made her 15th trip to town this week. She comes each year to discuss her book, So Far From the Bamboo Grove which was required summer reading for the seventh grade class.  With heart and clarity she spoke of experiences and challenges; her life.   Taking questions from the students, her answers were an opportunity to spread her wisdom.  “Travel,” Watkins said.  “Traveling is like reading a book from cover to cover.  If you don’t travel it’s like just reading its' title”  “Education is a force," Watkins said. "I was forced to go to school.  It wasn’t until I was done with my studies that I realized that education is a force.  Get your education, use that force!” Yoko …

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Nature's Classroom, Pearls Of Wisdom

Hopkinton moms weigh in on what worked and what didn't work in preparing our kids for Nature's Classroom.

For many of us sixth grade parents, sending our fledglings out of the nest for a week at Nature's Classroom, brought on a myriad of emotions. Will they be warm enough? Will they be homesick? Did we pack the right stuff? Will they have friends in their cabins? How will we survive without them for an entire week? Being a parent of an oldest sixth grader, who has never been gone for more than two days, these questions plagued me as well as many of my mom friends during the week. Vigorously visiting the Nature's Classroom blog, emailing friends, and checking informative messages from other moms on facebook helped to quell my fears. The kids looked like they were having a blast! When my son returned with a joyous smile on his face, I knew that …

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Lisa Stukel

8:49 am on Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Excellent suggestion Kathy! I couldn't agree more with incorporating their sleeping bags and pillow together in a larger bag! Thank you!   more ›

Photo of the Day: Nature's Classroom, Here We Come!

Over 250 sixth graders were packed and ready to leave town for five days at Nature's Classroom in Colebrook, CT.

Nature's Classroom is a residential environmental education program were students experience education in a new way.  Leaving electronics behind, the sixth graders will live, learn and develop a new confidence together.   

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Photo of the Day: Checkmate

Nate Loring made a calculated move on Kyle Kauzens during Chess Club held at the Hopkinton MIddle School.

A roomful of chess enthusiasts gathered Thursday to kick off this year's Chess Club at the Hopkinton Middle School.     Bruce LeBlanc is the advisor for the club and they will be meeting on Thursday's playing until 3:30 pm.  

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Hopkins Fifth Graders Want a Longer Recess (POLL) - UPDATED

These clever fifth graders at Hopkins obtained 30 signatures on petition for a longer recess.

When you want something done, for heaven's sake, ask a fifth grader who wants something. Matthew Bird and his friends were all chatting one day about the length of recess and they got talking about how they would love for it to be longer, or at least the length it was meant to be. "Recess is supposed to be 15 minutes long," Bird said. "But we often get sent out late or brought in early for specials." Bird would like to see recess extended to 20 to 25 minutes so even if recess gets cut short, they would still have time to play a game. "If we don't get our way, that's okay because it's only five minutes," Bird said. "But if we do we could play a short game of soccer, tag or football." Bird proposes that the five minutes extra be taken out of…

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