5 Things to Know Today

Five Things: Middle School Holiday Dance

What Medford should know today, Friday, Dec. 7, 2012.

Here are five things to know today, Friday, Dec. 7: 1. Chance of rain. Today will have increasing clouds with a high near 48, and a 30 percent chance of rain, according to the National Weath Service. Tonight will have a 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 38. 2. Middle school dance. A holiday dance is scheduled at McGlynn Middle School tonight from 6-9 p.m. 3. Coffeehouse at Bestsellers. Held every other Friday evening, including tonight at 6 p.m., is Bestsellers Cafe's Coffeehouse, featuring a variety of live music from local musicians. The Coffeehouse is organized by staff members Christian and Tyler. Start your weekend with friends, music, food, beverages, all in a casual and cozy setting. 4. Open on the holidays? …

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Serena Do: A Stand-Out Student

McGlynn Middle School can take pride in Serena Do, a truly superlative eighth grader.

McGlynn Middle School has some exceptional students, and Builders Club is a natural magnet for them. But even in Builders Club, eighth grader Serena Do stands out. Serena joined Builders Club in the sixth grade, and credits it with giving her more confidence. “My experience in Builders Club has taught me to be more confident in myself. In a group, I grew more outgoing and honed my leadership abilities. Before, I was an introvert and always kept to myself. Becoming a part of the group made me feel more important and helped me develop.” But somehow Builders Club with its fundraisers and activities isn’t enough for her. Serena is also involved in middle school orchestra and the McGlynn Chamber String Ensemble, where her group earned a gold …

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Medford Students' String Ensemble Wins Gold Medal

The McGlynn String Ensemble of middle- and elementary-school students received the highest score at a statewide festival, despite only being able to practice once per week.

Article, info, and text provided by the Medford Public Schools: On Sunday April 1, the McGlynn String Ensemble, under the direction of Sophia Chang, received the highest score to win a Gold Medal rating from the Massachusetts Instrumental and Chorus Conductor’s Association (MICCA) Band and Orchestra Concert Festival. The Festival is a three-day event held in six locations across the state. This year over one hundred and sixty ensembles participated. The musical groups performed in front of a panel of adjudicators and were evaluated on a medal system. According to the MICCA website, it is their purpose to “encourage and support high performance standards by high school, middle school, and elementary school musical organizations.” The …

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