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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Whiz Kids

Donations More Than $3,000 Make Planting Trees at Zeh Possible

This student coordinated a fundraising effort to bring the trees back to her school.

Back in December, Maggie Del Re, a fifth grader at the Zeh Elementary School, had that idea that she wanted to replace the trees that had been destroyed outside of her school during the October snowstorm. That idea quickly became a reality, and Del Re coordinated a successful fundraiser that will now bring those trees to her school. With help from classmates and parents, more than $3,000 was raised to purchase trees for the Zeh School. "We are now in the process of picking trees and planning the planting ceremonies," wrote Del Re on her Treez 4 Zeh Facebook page. Del Re said the tree planting will begin on April 22, which is Earth Day. That week, students will participate in helping to plant the trees. A grand finale is planned for April …

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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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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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Spirit for Haiti, Marionettes, Black Out Bullying Day, Fitness and Drama

The school year is almost officially at the halfway mark and the year continues with students fundraising for a cause, watching an awesome puppet show, discussing anti-bullying, walking to school, and adding a little drama to the day.

Spirit for Haiti: Marking the second anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, four fifth grade students at Proctor School facilitated the Spirit for Haiti fundraiser for the month of January. Katelyn Reynolds, Lauren Earley, Katherine Lee, and Tyler Potter have been the key organizers for this event. They coordinated everything including all publicity. Assisting the people and children of Haiti is not a new thing for two of the girls. Earley’s family currently sponsors a little boy in Haiti who is an orphan and Reynolds’ mother is a nurse who travels to Haiti once a year for about two weeks with Partners in Development. Students had the opportunity to participate in fun themed Fridays for a small donation, such as Sports for …

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New Schools Appointments Include Food Service Director and Fifth Grade Teacher

The Superintendent of Schools made these changes to the staff at Northborough schools.

The following changes have been made by the Superintendent of Schools, Charles Gobron:  Mary Deffley has been appointed to the Melican Middle School and Lincoln Street School as a special education teacher long-term substitute, effective Dec. 8, 2011 through the end of the 2012 school year. Rose DiBenedetto is a long-term substitute at the Zeh School through the end of the 2012 school year. Effective as of Dec. 12, 2011, Maura Feeley has been appointed food service director. Kaitlyn Rojee, effective Jan. 3, is a long-term substitute in 7th and 8th grade math at the Melican Middle School. Zachary Rudloff took the position as grade 8 science teacher through the end of the 2012 school year as a long-term substitute at the Melican Middle …

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Hoofing It to Class: Zeh Works on Possibilities

An assessment team has been working with the Zeh School to determine possible routes for kids to walk to school.

Every month, the Zeh School promotes a Walk and Bike to School event as part of its Safe Routes to School Initiative. It encourages, said Sue Whitten, principal of the Zeh School, a little bit of before school exercise and family time. "We see many parents walking to school with our students," said Whitten. Recently, Zeh received an Infrastructure Assessment Grant from Safe Routes to School to explore the neighborhood around Zeh to assess what can be done to improve the infrastructure, and make it more conducive to walking or biking the route. "It isn’t a dollar amount, but assessment services from The Engineering Committee of Safe Routes to School," said Whitten. "They will be working with the community to gather information about the …

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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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