UPDATED: Residents Concerned That 'Northgate Sidewalks Not Plowed'

Residents of the Northgate Road neighborhood are concerned that some of the roads still have unplowed sidewalks.

As of 2 p.m. on Monday, Northgate's sidewalks were not plowed. For some residents, they say this is a concern because students walk to and from the Proctor School using that route. "Are they expected to walk on Northgate, literally...on the street?" wrote one Northgate resident in an email to Patch. "That poses great risk to them, since folks use it as a cut-through between Route 135 and Otis Street, to get to Route 9 or the new shopping center. Middle schoolers have bus stops on Northgate. They would have to walk in the street. It is disconcerting to me. The chances of a child being hit by a car is compounded when sidewalks are inaccessible." Maria Mihalek, who also lives in the neighborhood, was so concerned that she snapped photos (…

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Forever Summer Musical Production, Biography Fair, Principal Helper and Greek & Roman Mythology Awards

With temperatures in the the 90's for the last few days of school, it surely feels like summer has officially begun! The last few weeks of school were jammed pack with field trips, award nights, musical productions, plays, class programs, and farewells.

Forever Summer Musical Production: Ice cream, baseball games, and the beach. School is officially out and Peaslee School's fourth graders had such enthusiasm for the next few months that their end of the year musical was all about summer fun. Composed by Michael and Jill Gallina, Forever Summer had a cast of 58 students who sang and danced about summer activities that make us all wish that summer was forever. Fourth grade teachers Colleen Griffin, Melinda Kement and Donna McAuliffe, as well as other staff members, were busy working with the students through many rehearsals over the last few months. The play takes place in a one room schoolhouse where happy summer memories are told by the students. Many familiar songs such as Take Me Out to…

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The Backpack: Northborough School Notes

Drama at Zeh, Fun Morning Music at Proctor and Summer Reading

Nine more days of school left until summer vacation begins and the schools are winding down with fun programs and events, and the library wants kids to keep reading over the summer.

Zeh’s Drama Club, Take Two: The first year Drama Club at Zeh School has been working hard again. After 14 weeks of dedicated practice and rehearsals, a cast of  30 students in grades one through four performed its second fantastic production showcasing the students’ acting and voice talents. Following the winter production of The One Hundred Year Snooze in February, the spring production was The Emperor’s New Clothes. The script, music and lyrics are by Dave and Jean Perry and the play is based on the story by Hans Christian Anderson. The story is based on a very vain emperor who only cares about his appearance until two tailors swindle the Emperor into believing that they have used a fabric for his latest outfit, which is invisible to …

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A Memorial Day Assembly, Book Donations, a Career Fair, a Triathlon, and a Storytime

Memorial Day is Monday and Proctor School wanted all to remember it is just not a day off. Other schools are keeping busy with community service, career awareness, and other programs and events.

Memorial Day Assembly: Proctor School remembered the veterans who have served and are currently serving our country with an all school assembly.  Principal Margaret Donohoe has been holding this assembly for many years. “It’s a way for all of us to not just think of Monday as a day off,” she said. She also recognized Adam Costello, a father of Proctor students, who is currently serving our country. Coordinated by Proctor Library Teacher Joanne Giancolo, the ceremony began with the presentation of colors by American Legion Post 234 followed by the National Anthem. Service Officer Gerard Bourque of American Legion Picard Post 234 spoke to students, staff, and parents. Fifth graders Kaylin Blair, Aaron Nodoushani,  Katelyn Reynolds, Taylor …

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Appreciate the School Staff, Run for a Cause, and Board Game Buddies

This is a busy time of year at the schools, with only 29 more days left until the summer break begins. Classes are taking field trips, the final MCAS tests have been given, programs for incoming kindergarteners are being held, field days are being planned

Here are a few highlights of what has been happening in the schools: Staff Appreciation Week: Has a teacher or school staff member gone above and beyond for you or your child? This is the week to say thanks to those who work hard to give students a brighter future. It’s never too late to show gratitude to these professionals; a simple note to let them know how much you appreciate them will make their day. Many of the schools had their own plans to recognize and celebrate their teachers. One parent at Proctor School, a massage therapist, generously donated her time to give massages to the staff. Run for a Cause: The big race in town is only a week away. On Saturday, May 19, the Girls Learn International Club at Algonquin Regional High …

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Family Drumming, Patriotic Singing, Recycling, a Road Race and a Fair

It's spring! Time to clean out your basement and recycle those electronics. Time to dust off those running shoes and train for a 5K race. Time to attend a kids fair. Always time to spend with the family, maybe doing some drumming.

Proctor School Fair: Spring is in the air, and Proctor School is hosting its annual kids fair. According to Alison Cosgrove, the PTO fair chairperson, this year’s theme is Peace, Pride, Proctor. The fair will run at Proctor School on 26 Jefferson St. in Northborough from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 31. As always, there will be a variety of fun events and activities planned for the day including games, inflatables, face painting, nail painting, spin art, Frisbee, and a 50/50 raffle. In addition to the popular and fun classroom basket themed raffles, a silent auction will also be held. Two of the hot items ready for your bids include Red Sox tickets and two Celtic tickets with a pass to the Kids Tunnel, where your child has the …

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Olympics, Folktales, the Feinstein Challenge, and a Children's Book Award

Students are busy learning about the Olympics at Peaslee, performing folktales at Proctor, donating food for the food pantry, and reading the nominees for the Children's Book Award.

Olympics at Peaslee: It’s an Olympic year and Peaslee School is Going for the Gold. That is the theme of this year’s school fair, which will be held on March 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Peaslee School. Jackie Barnes, PTO co-chair, said the excitement is growing among the students as each class will have the opportunity to pass the Olympic torch starting with the fifth graders and working its way to the Kindergarten classes. The main office will receive the torch on March 23, the day before the fair, and if weather permits an outdoor ceremony will be held with the entire school. This year, local businesses have the opportunity to become sponsors of the fair. In continuing with the Olympic theme, sponsorship levels are Bronze ($25-$49), …

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The Backpack: Northborough School Notes

A Hundred Year Snooze, Teeth Talk, and a Live Wax Museum

Zeh School's Drama Club has their first production, while younger students at Proctor learn about dental hygiene. Fourth graders at Lincoln Street School finish their month long study of biographies with a live wax museum.

The Hundred Year Snooze at Zeh: The 26 first through fifth graders who belong to Zeh School’s new Drama Club were doing anything but snoozing as they had their red carpet moment when they rolled out their first production last week. The cast rehearsed their parts of The Hundred Year Snooze, a fresh new musical version of Sleeping Beauty, for 14 weeks after school. The comical script includes several songs and solos. Co-directors, music teacher Allyn Phelps and first grade teacher Tracey Loconto, were ready for opening night. Although this was the debut of acting skills for some of the cast, many were surprisingly involved in other productions previously. The talented cast included the following Zeh students: Ian Anderson, Kayla Albers, …

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After School Programs in Danger of Cancelation: Sign Up Now to Save Them

The Recreation Department is running a variety of after-school programs at local schools. Have you signed your kids up yet?

The Northborough Receation Department's program schedule begins next week. But, according to Director Allison Lane, due to low enrollment, some programs have already gotten the axe and others are on the chopping blog. And these are some good programs. The Rec Department is also promoting a new class called Wicked Gross Anatomy at the Peaslee and Zeh Schools this winter, as well as the return of the Beasties at Proctor. To register for any of these programs, go to www.northboroughrecreation.com   or call 393-5034 before 4 p.m. to sign up over the phone with a credit card. After School Programs School programming takes place right after school in each of Northborough’s four public schools. Kids enrolled in an after school program at their …

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Turkey Trotting at Proctor for the Food Pantry

In conjunction with the annual food drive for the Northborough Food Pantry, kids and families at Proctor trot in gym class.

To complement the Scouting for Food drive that occurred on Saturday, Nov. that collected goods for the Northborough Food Pantry, the Proctor School is holding its third annual Turkey Trot. As part of the Trot, families join their kids' physical education classes, and bring donations for the pantry through Nov. 11. During Andy Wilson's PE classes, students run, job, skip or walk around the gym for a period of time, and families are invited to join the first 15 minutes of their child's class. The Trot not only "celebrates the benefits of physical fitness," but urges families to donate to the food pantry. "Last year we collected 369 items and walked/danced/jogged a total of 380 miles," said Diane Gage, the school's nurse. This year our goal …

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