When Does Summer Vacation End?

The school committee recently approved the 2013-2014 Westborough school calendar.

Although spring officially starts today, Westborough parents now know when summer vacation ends. Students' first day of school is Aug. 28, according to the 2013-2014 school calendar the school committee approved last week. The calendar is "one of the better ones that we've had in a long time," School Superintendent Marianne O'Connor said. Classes are in session for "five full weeks," starting the week of Sept. 9, she said. There also is a seven-week uninterrupted stretch, starting the week of Feb. 24, the calendar notes. The winter breaks are Dec. 23 to Jan. 1 and Feb. 18 to Feb. 21. Spring break is April 22 to April 25. The 181st and last day of school is June 16, a half-day for students only. Five snow days would push the end of school …

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Counting Down the School Days?

When is the last day of school in Westborough?

No Additional Half-Day in Westborough

Parents and community members raised concerns, O'Connor says.

The additional half-day sought by Westborough School Superintendent Marianne O'Connor this spring has been scrapped because parents and community members raised concerns about it. School officials have worked on “other methods" to address the reason behind the proposed half day, "so we don’t interrupt student instruction,” O'Connor told the school committee Wednesday night. “We listened to the community. We listened to the parents," she said. Last month, O'Connor asked the school board to consider adding a half-day, possibly around March, to allow school officials to “work with faculty on their goals” as they relate to the schools' new supervision and evaluation system.

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Insurance Provider Gives Schools Grants

Part of the $9,760 will allow the schools to process repair requests more efficiently.

Repair requests in the Westborough public schools will be processed more efficiently through part of $9,760 in grants from the town's property and casualty insurance provider. The Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association awarded Westborough $6,760 "to implement an online maintenance work order system in the schools," and $3,000 "to expand the school system’s maintenance safety training program," the agency said today in a press release. The Westborough schools are piloting the online system, which "allows employees to access work order information online and promotes timely completion – which in turn will contribute to a safer and healthier and more vital campus," according to the release. "Through the expanded safety training, …

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Update: Westborough Schools Closed Friday

But, all school offices will be open until noon Friday.

There's no school in Westborough on Friday due to the impending blizzard. School Superintendent Marianne O'Connor said this afternoon that the community education, and morning and afternoon extended day programs, also are closed. All Friday night and Saturday activities are cancelled, she added. And the ACT exam scheduled for Saturday at Westborough High School is cancelled. The new date has not been announced. However, all school offices will be open until noon Friday until further notice, O'Connor said.

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Scott Snowdin

6:53 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013

Always easy to second guess without any of the responsibilities   more ›

School Cost, Bus Concerns Raised on Westborough Woods

Educating the children residing there would cost Westborough 'probably $1.5 to $2 million' annually, Levine-Kanji says.

A proposed 250-unit housing project on Route 9 near Otis Street would cost Westborough “probably $1.5 to $2 million additional cost per year to educate the kids,” school committee Chairman Ilyse Levine-Kanji says. The Westborough Zoning Board of Appeals’ public hearing on 346 Turnpike Road LLC's request for a comprehensive permit resumes at 7:45 p.m. Feb. 11 in Forbes Municipal Building Room 24. The hearing opened on Jan. 14. The 314,230-square-foot Westborough Woods project proposed for 346 Turnpike Road consists of 250 rental apartments, of which 62 would be affordable; a 6,234-square-foot clubhouse with outdoor swimming pool; and a 5,234-square-foot retail building, according to the Sept. 7 Certificate of the state Secretary of Energy …

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School Supt. Seeks Additional Half-Day

School officials would 'work with faculty on their goals,' she says.

The Westborough public schools might have an additional morning half day this year. School Superintendent Marianne O’Connor asked the school committee Wednesday night to consider allowing the scheduling change, possibly around March, to allow school officials to “work with faculty on their goals.” The schools are using a new supervision and evaluation system this year. “I know that’s going to be difficult for families,” O’Connor said of the half day. The plan would be contingent upon school buses being available, she said.  

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Mill Pond Principal Search Starts

The job has been advertised in the district and elsewhere.

Westborough school officials have advertised for a Mill Pond School principal both in the district and elsewhere, Superintendent Marianne O'Connor said Wednesday night. O'Connor told the school committee that faculty feedback prompted her decision. She said she met with the faculty recently, and invited comments on the principal search both there and in writing. The advertisement on Boston.com seeks an "educational leader to inspire a culturally diverse grades 4, 5, 6 school of 850 students.​" Candidates should have "at least 5 years administrative experience" as well as "appropriate MA licensure," the ad notes. Principal Reene Hatherley will retire this summer, ending 34 years in education, including 30 as a teacher and administrator in …

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Snow Closes Westborough Schools

NWS: 3 to 5 inches expected today.

Snow has closed the Westborough public schools today. School Superintendent Marianne O'Connor posted the announcement on the school district's website. The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church also is closed, church officials announced in an e-mail. The Westborough Senior Center is closed. Readers are asked to send their event cancellation and closing announcements to Westborough Patch Editor Michael Gelbwasser at Michael.Gelbwasser@patch.com. The National Weather Service in Taunton is forecasting 3 to 6 inches of snow for Westborough. A winter weather advisory is in effect until 7 p.m. Westborough Patch will update this story as information becomes available. Readers are encouraged to submit their snow photos below.

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