Medford Public Schools Launches App

The School Connect app is free and provides information and news for parents and residents.

Medford Public Schools has launched a new app so residents can stay up on the latest news and information from the school district, according to a post on the school website. The School Connect app is free and is available for both Apple and Android mobile devices. The school district says you can also get it for any other device with a web browser.  More information on how to get the app is available here. In the YouTube video embedded here to the right, Andrews Middle School Principal Paul D’Alleva explains how the School Connect app works.

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On the Agenda: School Committee to Discuss Transgender Law

Meeting tonight at Medford City Hall to include talk on transgender bill discussed by the city council.

Medford's School Committee will discuss the new state law tonight that will impact how Medford schools will handle the needs of transgender students. The committee will meet in the Howard F. Alden Auditorium in Medford City Hall starting at 7 p.m. Take a look at the agenda here. At last Tuesday's Medford City Council meeting, Councilor Robert Penta raised a number of concerns about the implementation of the law, signaling his support for an 11-page memo from the state on what schools should do. Penta said the memo informs schools they "need to accept a student's gender identity choice," and that "the student may access the restroom, locker room or changing facility that corresponds with the student's gender identity." School committee …

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You Ask...Patch Answers

When is the Last Day of School in Medford?

There have been five snow days in the district so far.

Poor conditions from Hurricane Sandy and the major winter storm from this month have resulted in five lost schools days due to weather for Medford Public Schools this year. So when will the final day of school be for Medford now? The answer: Wednesday, June 26, according to Medford Public Schools Superintendent Roy Belson. The calendar for the school year on the school website also reflects that date as the last day of school. With no snow days, the last day of school would have been a week earlier, Wednesday, June 19.

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Medford Schools Closed Tuesday

School officials hoping for a Wednesday re-opening.

For a third consecutive school day, Medford Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday as the city continues to dig out from one of the biggest snowstorms in years. School officials are hopeful for a Wednesday re-opening of Medford's schools. Here is a statement released by the school district late Monday afternoon: The Medford Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday, February 12, 2013.  It is our hope this will give residents another day to shovel sidewalks for our children who are walking to school. The DPW is clearing school bus stops and will continue to do so on Tuesday.  In addition the DPW will continue to knock down high mounds of snow to improve visibility and walking conditions. We are also clearing the roofs of our school …

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No School in Medford Monday

Superintendent says decision was made "to ensure the safety of our students and staff."

There will be no school in Medford Monday as the city continues efforts to clean up from the weekend's blizzard. Here is a statement released shortly before noon by Medford Public Schools Superintendent Roy Belson: In order to ensure the safety of our students and staff we have decided to close our schools on Monday, February 11, 2013. Sidewalks and streets still need to be cleaned as well as school parking lots.  We also expect a small storm on Monday morning to complicate the commute. Please stay warm and safe.  Young adults should do what they can to help elderly and infirm neighbors clear their properties. Thanks for your cooperation. Schools were also closed on Friday as the storm arrived.

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5 Things to Know Today

Five Things: Schools Out at Noon for Winter Break

What Medford should know today, Friday, Dec. 21, 2012.

Here are five things to know today, Friday, Dec. 21: 1. More rain. Showers today in Medford with patchy fog before 4 p.m. according to the National Weather Service. High near 51. There's a high wind watch in effect too. Tonight, showers likely, mainly before 7 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. 2. Winter break starts at noon. All Medford Public Schools students will be dismissed at 12 p.m. today for winter break. Kids will return to school on Wednesday, Jan. 2. 3. Winter solstice celebration. Celebrate the Winter Solstice at the new Mystic Art Gallery, 14 Main St., today from 6-9 p.m. Mingle with artists and friends., refreshments provided.  4. Coffeehouse at Bestsellers. Held every other Friday evening, including tonight at 6 p.m…

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Police Will Be Stationed at Medford Schools Following Newtown Tragedy

Medford is taking additional steps from now into January to increase security at the city's schools in the wake of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT.

Uniformed and plain clothes police officers will be stationed at all Medford Public School buildings from now into January, among other additional security measures announced by Superintendent Roy Belson. In an email, Belson said he met with Mayor Mike McGlynn, Police Chief Leo Sacco Jr. and other school and community officials review the district's safety procedures and safeguards in the wake of Friday's mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT where 20 children and six adults were killed before the shooter took his own life.  "While our assessment is that our schools are safe, we have decided to take additional action steps to increase coverage and strengthen rules that will add an extra dimension to our security at …

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Longer School Days Are Coming to Select Massachusetts Schools

Massachusetts is one of five states to add 300 hours of class time every year for certain schools. Will it help?

Will more time in school translate into greater student achievement? Federal and state officials are announcing today that Massachusetts, along with Connecticut, New York, Tennessee and Colorado, are participating in a pilot program to find out. The Christian Science Monitor reports that the program will add at least 300 hours of learning time in some schools starting next fall.  Fall River and Lawrence are the two Massachusetts towns included in the pilot project. Boston.com reports that this new program adds to an effort launched six years ago in Massachusetts to lengthen the school day in several school districts. The pilot program reportedly will last three years and include almost 20,000 students in 40 schools with an eye to bringing …

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AccuWeather: More Snow Days Likely in Medford this Year

AccuWeather.com predicts a "snow dump."

It's not even winter yet - in fact fall doesn't begin until September 22 - but Accuweather.com reports that unlike last winter, students (and teachers) can expect more snow days this winter. Despite a rare snowstorm last October, the winter of 2011-2012 was mild and relatively snowless. There were no snow days in Medford last school year. It was a stark contrast from the winter of 2010-2011 where the area saw one big snowstorm after another, causing numerous delays and cancellations.  Based on the Accuweather.com report, this year's winter may be a little more like it was two years ago.  While Accuweather does not release its full winter forecast until October, Accuweather meteorologist Meghan Evans writes, "Following a snow drought during…

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Medford Public Schools Bus Routes Schedule for 2012-2013 School Year

The Medford, Mass. Public Schools have released their bus schedule

The above PDF show the estimated times and locations for Medford's 16 bus routes. The file is courtesy of Medford Public Schools.

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