Armstrong Hosts First International Fair

Saturday's event featured 13 countries.

Saturday, one hallway at the Armstrong Elementary School led to Guatemala, Uruguay, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Venezuela. Visitors to one classroom during the school's first International Fair sampled food and saw displays of scenes from these countries. Parents and students answered visitors' questions, too. Similar activities featuring countries such as China and Singapore were held throughout the school, reflecting the wide range of cultures found in the community. The Armstrong Diversity Council's event featured 13 countries, each of which are represented in the Armstrong student body, council Chairman Janet Hart said. The event also featured Indian, Chinese, Bollywood and Brazilian dancing on the school stage. About 300 people…

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Family Fun Day Attracts 'Blue Jays'

The Armstrong Elementary School's annual event was Saturday.

The "Blue Jays" were out in Westborough on the fourth day of spring. The Armstrong Elementary School's annual Family Fun Day featured a variety of activities, including a magic show, arts and crafts and a bake sale.

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New Armstrong Safety Measures Start Today

Only the doors near the main office will be unlocked.

Entering the Armstrong Elementary School becomes slightly harder today. All doors except near the main office will be locked mornings and after school, part of new safety measures being implemented, Principal John Mendes told parents in a letter Thursday. The letter was in the school's virtual backpack that day. "Parents dropping their children off to the Extended Day Program in the morning will have to walk their children through the doors by the main office," Mendes wrote. "Parents dropping their children off to school in the morning before 8:50 will have to walk their children through the doors by the main office. "Students who make it to the general line up in the morning between 8:30–8:40 will not be affected as staff supervising our …

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Volunteers Pack Over 16,000 Meals

The Armstrong Elementary School's 'Change X Hunger' program ended Monday.

Monday, 16,224 meals were prepared in the Armstrong Elementary School cafeteria. The meals weren't served there. Instead, one-third were delivered to the in Worcester; one-third were delivered to the Friendly House in Worcester; and one-third were delivered to the Worcester Food Bank, parent Claudia Ramirez, said. Monday's packaging event marked the end of the Armstrong school's Change X Hunger fundraiser, which started in the fall. The program raised $4,005 in donations – exceeding its $2,500 goal. Armstrong is partnering with Outreach Inc. – Kids Care on the project. Volunteers worked for three hours Monday, starting at 9:30 a.m. By 10:25 a.m., dozens of Westborough students and parents had packed 2,500 meals, said Heidi Martin, whose …

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Paul Temple

12:33 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013

You can see some more video and interviews that Westborough TV did as well. Here is the link https://vimeo.com/57874604   more ›

Armstrong Hunger Campaign Exceeds Goal

Students and parents will package meals on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

This fall, Armstrong Elementary School set out to package 10,000 meals on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, toward fighting hunger in Worcester County. Next Monday, students and parents will package more than 16,000 meals – enough to feed 2,670 families of six people. Armstrong’s Change X Hunger program raised $4,005 in donations – exceeding its $2,500 goal to help the Worcester County Food Bank, parent Claudia Ramirez said Monday. Armstrong is partnering with Outreach Inc. – Kids Care on the project. Thermo Fisher Scientific was the largest donor, providing a $1,700 grant toward buying the meals, which cost 25 cents each, she said. Parents and students contributed the rest, she said. “That’s mostly due to Claudia’s tenacity in terms of …

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First-Grader Organizes Winter Coat Drive

Armstrong student Tessi Lawler is the second member of her family to do this. Sister Natasha held a drive in November 2011.

Some of the winter coats hanging at Westborough’s Armstrong Elementary School’s front hall are there “because some kids don’t have them,” first-grader Tessi Lawler says. Lawler started the winter coat, mitten, hat and glove drive for kids, and adults, on Jan. 7. The drive ends next Friday, Jan. 18. The donations will be brought to Foundations in Worcester, said Tessi’s mother, Maureen Lawler. “They have people come in all the time that are maybe homeless, or are looking for a place to live,” she said Wednesday. “When you go to Worcester, you see so many homeless people standing on the corner.” Tessi said all donated coats “need to be clean, and (have a) working zipper.” “We wouldn’t wear it, we don’t want to donate it,” Maureen said. Tessi…

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School Event Teaches Community About Diwali

The Armstrong Elementary School Diversity Council presented Thursday night's program.

Westborough resident Ruchi Khanna calls Diwali her "very favorite festival" of her childhood. She and her family attended "many fairs and markets," where "we would go out shopping for gifts and special Diwali sweets," Khanna recalls. Thursday night, Khanna shared her memories and traditions at the Armstrong Elementary School. The school's Diversity Council hosted a program about Diwali, which, Khanna noted, is "the festival of lights." The event featured a short narrated presentation, and food and activities associated with the festival. The program was the Diversity Council's second of four main events planned, member Janet Hart said. Events will be held in the spring and summer, she said. About one-third of Armstrong's student body comes…

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Patch Facts

5 Things: Learn About Indian Diwali Festival

Wondering what's happening in Westborough today?

Each morning, Westborough Patch presents “5 Things You Need to Know,” a collection of announcements, events, reminders and odd little ditties to help you organize your day. What will you be doing today? 1. Westborough High School holds a financial aid night at 8 p.m. 2. The Armstrong Diversity Council is sponsoring an event to celebrate the Indian Diwali Festival from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Armstrong Elementary School cafeteria. 3. Meridian Associates presents Westborough with a public EV charging station at 3:30 p.m. 4. The Westborough High School varsity volleyball team plays at Canton in the MIAA District Tournament at 7 p.m. 5. And the Westborough Public Library Board of Trustees meets at 7:15 p.m. at the library. The agenda is here.

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Armstrong Elementary Shows Halloween Spirit With Parade

Parents applauded during this morning's festivities.

M & Ms, ninjas and witches walked into the Armstrong Elementary School gymnasium this morning. Their parents watched them and applauded. The school's Halloween parade inspired kids -- and staff -- to come in a variety of costumes. Principal John Mendes showed his holiday spirit as well, dressing as a yellow Crayola crayon.

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Armstrong School Program Helping Worcester County Food Banks

'Change 4 Hunger' culminates in packaging meals on Jan. 21.

Lemonade stands at some Westborough school events this fall have symbolized  a need in Worcester County. “When 19 percent of Worcester County is undernourished, that’s a staggering number,” Armstrong Elementary School Principal John Mendes said Wednesday. “And then 11 percent are children.” Armstrong students and parents are trying to raise $2,500 to package 10,000 meals, each 25 cents, for Worcester County food banks. Students and community members will package the meals in the school cafeteria on Jan. 21, which is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Armstrong is partnering with Outreach Inc. on the project. As of Wednesday, the school’s “Change 4 Hunger” program had raised $600 through donations and events such as lemonade stands at …

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