Middle School Principal Leaving; School Will Not Hire A New Principal

The McAuliffe Regional Charter Public School instead of hiring a new principal will hire two instructional coaches as part of its expeditionary model.

Christa McAuliffe Regional Charter Public School Executive Director Kristin Harrison announced Monday that Principal Deborah Langlois will be leaving the Framingham-based charter school at the end of the school year. Langlois is seeking other opportunities, and the community wishes her the best on her future endeavors, said Harrison in an email to parents. This was her second year as principal. Rather than search for a single principal to lead the school’s instructional program, McAuliffe instead will be hiring two "Instructional Coaches," said Harrison. The Instructional Coaches, typical school leader roles in Expeditionary Learning schools, will work closely to engage all teachers in professional growth, to support curriculum development…

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McAuliffe Charter Kicks Off Campus Campaign Fund

The Christa McAuliffe Regional Public Charter School held a gala to celebrate its 10th anniversary and kicked off its fundraising campaign for a new campus.

The Christa McAuliffe Regional Public Charter School held a gala to celebrate its 10th anniversary and kicked off its fundraising campaign for a new campus. About 150 people attended the Exceptional Evening Gala at Village Hall on March, 21. The event had to be rescheduled from November 2012, due to a snowstorm. The event featured a silent and live auction. The Framingham-based charter school needs a new home, as it has outgrown its current location in dowtown Framingham at the former St. Stephen's School. Applications to the Framingham-based middle school this year were up 20 percent over last year, said Director Kristin Harrison. This year, 261 applicants were submitted for admission for grade 6. The majority of applicants live in the …

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Exploring Education

VIDEO: Carly Rae Jepsen Helps Teach McAuliffe Students Spanish

More than 125 sixth grade students from the Christa McAuliffe Regional Charter Public School showed off what they have learned in Spanish, French and Advanced Spanish classes with a concert Thursday night.

More than 125 sixth grade students from the Christa McAuliffe Regional Charter Public School showed off what they have learned in Spanish, French and Advanced Spanish classes with a concert Thursday night. Students learned Spanish words by translating popular songs like Carly Rae Jepsen's Call Me Maybe into Spanish and the classic song the Lions Sleeps Tonight into French. They also performed popular Dominican Republic and Shakira songs already known in Spanish. Each of the three classes performed a trio of songs. Clips from each of the classes is in the attached video, as well as clip of the final song sung in English, in which the students sing about changing the world. Students from the Framingham-based charter school, are admitted via …

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Exploring Education

School Honors Namesake With Space Expedition Science Fair

The grade 8 scholars presented their space projects at the 3rd Annual Christa McAuliffe Remembrance event.

Recently, eighth grade scholars at the Christa McAuliffe Regional Charter Public School presented their space expedition projects to the community during the 3rd Annual Christa McAuliffe Remembrance Event, which honors the legacy of Christa McAuliffe and the Challenger 51-L Crew. McAuliffe and the Challenger Crew died tragically when the space shuttle exploded on Jan. 28, 1986. McAuliffe, who grew up in Framingham attended Marian High and Framingham State University before becoming NASA's first Teacher in Space. The Charter School, which recently celebrated its 10th, year, held its first  remembrance event in 2011, on the 25th anniversary of the McAuliffe's tragic  death. The grand prize winner of the 2011 space exploration event was then …

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Whiz Kids

McAuliffe Regional Charter School Math Counts Team Qualifies for States

The Christa McAuliffe Charter Public School math team took fourth place at the MetroWest MathCounts earlier this month, qualifying for the state competition in March.

The Christa McAuliffe Charter Public School math team took fourth place at the Metrowest MathCounts earlier this month at the Meadowbrook School in Weston. More than 200 students from 27 schools competed in the MetroWest regionals. The McAuliffe team, by placing fourth, qualified for the state competition on March 9 in Boston. Coach Tom Bogue, a former MathCounts participant and a junior at Framingham High School led the team of Josh Dunbrack, Zach Dunbrack, Dave Rosch and Ariel Steinmaltz who were all eighth grade student. Two sixth grade students - Pranav Manjunath and Lucas Michelon De Caux - were team alternates and competed as individuals. Josh Dunbrack had the fifth highest qualifying score for individual competitors. He captured …

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Tears at Charter School Lottery; Applications Up 20 Percent

The Christa McAuliffe Regional Public Charter School held its annual lottery for admission Thursday night.

Tears were flowing at the Thursday night's Christa McAuliffe Regional Public Charter School annual lottery. Some were tears of joy and some tears of dispair as they learned the fate of their child's application. Gustavo Andrade, who was accepted as student #122, can't wait to go to McAuliffe. "I'm very happy," he said with a big smile. He was helping his mom fill out the application forms immediately after the lottery. The current fifth grader at Wilson Elementary in Framingham, had to translate for his mom, who only spoke Portuguese. "I heard McAuliffe is the #1 middle school in Framingham. I wanted by son to get the best education," she told Framingham Patch via translation from her son. She said she hopes her two younger daughters can …

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State Agrees to Increase Size of Christa McAuliffe Charter School

The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education unanimously voted today to increase the school's enrollment from 306 to 396 students.

The Christa McAuliffe Regional Charter Public School in Framingham will accept more students for September, after the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education unanimously voted Tuesday to approve the school’s request to increase the maximum enrollment from 306 to 396 students. McAuliffe is a Level 1 Expeditionary Learning middle school (grades 6-7-8) serving eight MetroWest communities: Ashland, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Marlborough, Natick, Southborough and Sudbury. The regional public charter school applied to the state to increase its enrollment in July 2012, in order to "stabilize the size of each grade level and ensure consistency per grade level," with six classes and three teams, said Director Kristin …

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Exploring Education

McAuliffefest Showcases Charter School's Guiding Principles, Students' Learning

Sixth, seventh and eighth grade scholars at the regional middle school showcase their achievements and learning progress during the annual hour-long event.

The Christa McAuliffe Regional Public Charter School held its annual McAuliffefest Thursday night for parents. Sixth, seventh and eighth grade scholars at the regional middle school showcase their learning during the annual hour-long event.  McAuliffefest celebrates the scholars' communication skills as well as the school's Expeditionary Learning Design Principles including "Responsibility for Learning and Success and Failure." Projects ranged from cell comparison, to math theories, to African geography lessons, to Spanish and French language. The school will hold its annual lottery for incoming students Feb. 7.

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Exploring Education

Charter School Hosts Legislative Delegation

The eighth grade students asked the legislators what inspired them to get involved in politics and government.

Friday morning, eighth grade scholars at the Christa McAuliffe Regional Charter School in Framingham had the opportunity to ask questions of the school's state representatives and state senator as part of the first-ever state legislator day at the middle school. Sen. Karen Spilka, who grew up in New York City, wanted to be a diver when she was younger. She started her political career as a social worker, after graduating from Northeastern University she told a classroom full of eighth grade scholars. Rep. Tom Conroy said an issue close to his heart is trying to solving homelessness. Representatives David Linsky and Alice Peisch talked to students about how long it takes a bill to become a law, how many bills sit in committee and never make…

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McAuliffe Charter Hosting Special Event for 5th Grade Girls

Sign your fifth grade daughter up to engage in an afternoon of hands-on learning and team-building with McAuliffe teachers & current female scholars; registration is required

The Christa McAuliffe Regional Charter Public School is holding a special event for fifth grade girls on Monday, Dec. 17 from 4-6 p.m. Sign your fifth grade daughter up to engage in an afternoon of hands-on learning and team-building with McAuliffe teachers & current female scholars. The charter is a middle school for grades 6-7-8 and admission is via lottery. There are still a few spots available in Monday's special girls only event. To register, email dopenshaw@mcaulifferegional.org

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