Exploring Education

African, Japanese Stories Come To Life

Thanks to a grant from the Framingham Cultural Council storytellers brought African and Asian tales to life for McCarthy Elementary students.

Eshu Bumpus and Motoko brought stories from Africa and Asia to life for McCarthy Elementary School students. The first grade students giggled and laughed throughout the assembly. Part of the curriculum has students studying Japan and Kenya. Editor's Note: Click on the video link to watch an excerpt of the performance. The assembly and classroom programs were made possible by a grant from the Framingham Cultural Council awarded to teacher Doreen Leavey. The two storytellers can be booked via www.folktakes.net.  

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First-Ever McCarthy Elementary 5K Sunday

McCarthy Elementary PTO is holding its first ever 5K & Fun Run/Walk to benefit the fifth grade class Sunday morning. You can register the day of the event.

McCarthy Elementary School PTO is holding its first ever 5K & Fun Run/Walk to benefit the fifth grade class Sunday morning. This PTO fundraiser provides wonderful team building, physical and recreational opportunities for the incoming 5th grade class. It also helps bring the local community together in a way that improves lives through active, healthy lifestyle choices. Runners and walkers can register on site tomorrow, May 5 at 8:30 a.m. The half-mile fun run starts at 9:15 a.m. Cost is $10 per person. The 5K walk and run begins at 10 a.m. Cost: age14 and older $30 and age 13 and younger $20. Family maximum of $60. Click here for Map Registration, & bib pick up will be at McCarthy Elementary. Not into running? There will be vendors, arts…

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State: Achievement Gap Between Elementary Schools Widens

The achievement gap at Framingham's eight public elementary schools is widening according to report by the State of Massachusetts. At one elementary school, 79 percent of students were proficient in English, at another school only 33 percent.

There are "wide variations in proficiency rates across the eight elementary schools" in Framingham, according to a Massachusetts Elementary and Secondary Education District (DESE) Review report. The State's DESE review report looks at data from 2007 to 2011 and made in person visits to 12 of the 13 Framingham Public Schools in May 2012. "The differences in proficiency between the highest- and lowest-performing elementary schools widened during this period for both ELA (English language arts) and mathematics," concluded the report. Framingham does not have neighborhood elementary schools, instead parents have a limited school choice. Parents prioritize from 1-8 which elementary school they would like their child to attend. The District, …

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Sharon Machlis Gartenberg

10:42 am on Thursday, March 14, 2013

The fact that they say "1 year" for all students regardless of age tells me all I need to know about rules for ELL students: They're arbitrary and do not give useful data. I might agree that a child who comes here at age 6 could be ready to test in English after a year (especially if living in a household with well-educated parents). A student who arrives here at age 14? Much less likely.   more ›

McCarthy Elementary School Bus in Minor Crash

Reports from parents that Bus #8, carrying students from McCarthy Elementary, was in a minor crash this afternoon.

Reports from parents that Bus #8, carrying students from McCarthy Elementary School, was in a minor crash this afternoon just after 2:30 p.m. Parents reported to Framingham Patch that pick-up truck with a plow struck the bus on the left side, while students were on board the bus, near Hollis and Waushakum streets. McCarthy Elementary School contacted parents to let them know about the minor crash and that students would be late coming home on the bus. Framingham Police responded to the crash. Unconfirmed reports, that no one was injured. Framingham School buses drivers are under contract to Durham Bus Services.

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Parents Request Signs To Improve Safety in School Zone

McCarthy Elementary School parents will attend tonight's Framingham Traffic Roadway Safety Committee meeting to request more signs and to improve safety on Flagg Drive.

Last month, a second grade boy was struck by a car on Flagg Drive in front of McCarthy Elementary School. The driver was not at fault, but the accident got parent Kerry Najarian thinking about the signage on the road. Tonight, Najarian and other McCarthy Elementary School parents will attend the monthly meeting of the Framingham Traffic Roadway Safety Committee to request crosswalk signs with a goal of improving safety on Flagg Drive. Meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Memorial Building. "The road is very congested," said Najarian, the mother of twins at the elementary school. "There is a crosswalk, but many drivers don't slow down and some don't yield to the pedestrians in the crosswalk." Najarian said her husband picked up the kids and he …

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UPDATED: McCarthy Elementary Student Struck by a Car

A second grade student at McCarthy Elementary was struck by a car Monday morning.

UPDATED A second grade student at McCarthy Elementary School was struck by a car Monday morning just after 8 a.m. on Flagg Drive. School starts at 8:15 a.m. at McCarthy. The boy, age 7 was taken to MetroWest Medical Center for x-rays. McCarthy Elementary principal Matt Hanlon said Tuesday afternoon the boy is fine, with no broken bones. McCarthy parents reported he had a few cuts and scrapes. Framingham Police said the boy was hit by a Framingham man, 59, driving a Volvo. The incident happened on Flagg Drive. Framingham Police Lt. Ron Brandolini said it appeared the boy "ran out in the street." Police are investigating. Hanlon said a parent had parked the car at the Fuller Middle School lot across the street. The student ran ahead of his …

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Exploring Education

Museum of Science Helps McCarthy 4th Graders 'Rock' Science Education

A McCarthy Elementary School parent applied for and was granted a scholarship from the Museum of Science to bring its Geology: Rock Detectives program to Framingham.

There is not many days that kids go to school and get to play with rocks; but last week fourth graders at McCarthy Elementary School did. The students rocked their science lesson with assistance from the Museum of Science, which brought its Geology: Rock Detectives program to Framingham. In the workshop, students explored different types of rocks and learned how they form over geologic time. Working as a team, students identified various rocks and minerals through hands-on observations and experiments. Thanks to McCarthy parent Heather Ostendorff-Bach, every fourth grader in the school was able to participate in the program and it didn't cost McCarthy a penny. Ostendorff-Back applied for and received a $560 scholarship for the program from…

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Teachers Autograph Books

Local authors and McCarthy Elementary School third grade teachers James L. Parr and Kathy Kenney-Marshall sold and signed dozens of copies of their newest books at the Fountain Street Open Studios event Friday night.

Local authors and McCarthy Elementary School third grade teachers James L. Parr and Kathy Kenney-Marshall sold and signed dozens of copies of their newest books at the Fountain Street Open Studios event Friday night. Illustrator Eva Burns, who worked with Parr on his book also signed books. There were many teachers and students in attendance at the book signing. The books were published by Damianos Publishing, a new venture by Lynne Damianos. Parr's latest is My Name is James and other poems for all ages. It is a collection of witty and whimsical rhymes on a variety of topics from animals to school to growing up to the mundane activities of life/illustrated with line drawings and doodles. Kenney-Marshall's book Crumbs from the Table of …

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McCarthy Teachers To Autograph Copies of Their Newest Books

Local authors and McCarthy Elementary School third grade teachers will sign copies of their newest books at the Fountain Street Open Studios event Friday night only.

Local authors and McCarthy Elementary School third grade teachers James L. Parr and Kathy Kenney-Marshall will sign copies of their newest books at the Fountain Street Open Studios event Friday night only. The two authors will sell and autograph their latest works between 5:30 and 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30 at the Fountain Street Studios at Damianos Photography/Publishing located on the fourth floor east. Parr's latest is My Name is James and other poems for all ages. It is a collection of witty and whimsical rhymes on a variety of topics from animals to school to growing up to the mundane activities of life/illustrated with line drawings and doodles. Kenney-Marshall's book Crumbs from the Table of Life is a collection of humourous and …

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