Marlborough School Dates

All the important school dates have been set, but do you know your vacations from your half days?

With the school year starting the first thing on many students minds, and something all parents know they have to plan for, is vacations and time off. This year, the first day off is this Friday making the labor day weekend a four day get-away. The following are the vacations through the Winter Break. A full calendar of the school year is available on the district's website. All the numbers you need in the district are also available in the calendar. We have included them in a photo for you to quickly be able to reference.

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Marlborough School Numbers

We have all the important numbers you need in the school district right here and waiting for your use.

The school district has compiled an exhaustive list of numbers for the different schools in the district. Whether you need to get in touch with a specific principal or someone in the main district office, we have the numbers here. A list with the school's addresses, hours and early-release times is included in one of the photos with this story.

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What's for Lunch: Marlborough School Lunches

The school lunches for the school year have been announced, with more fresh fruit and vegetables.

Children attending the Marlborough Public Schools this year will be treated to additional fruits and vegetables. The new requirements are intended to lead to healthier meals and will include expanded use of legumes and lo-fat or skim milk. Nutrient dense whole grain bread, wraps, rolls and pasta are always used. High schoolers on their first day of class will be treated to a chicken patty sandwich with tater tots, fresh apple, carrot sticks and a cup of peaches. Whitcomb middle school students will be eating a chicken patty sandwich with tater tots, apple and chocolate pudding. Included below are the menus for the first month with the full schedules available by clicking through. Any questions or for additional information about the menus …

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Marlborough Schools Post Bus Routes

The full routes are on the district's website along with updated morning routes.

Information from the Marlborough Public Schools. Find posted below the afternoon and updated morning bus routes for the 2012-2013 school year. Bus routes for the morning had previously been posted by the district. Students should be at their stops 10 minutes prior to their scheduled pick-up times for the first few weeks of school. Questions and/or concerns about the routes can be forwarded to the appropriate building principal(s). Adjustments will be on an ongoing basis as warranted, and revised lists will be posted as they become available.

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Per Capita Education Spending: How Does Marlborough Compare?

Find out how the city's per capita spending on education compares to nearby cities and towns in Massachusetts.

As the school year approaches, parents will hear about new investments in their local school system or, sometimes, cuts to teachers and budgets. But how much does Marlborough spend on education for each person in the city—in financial terms, its per capita education spending? The Pioneer Institute, a Massachusetts public policy research organization, recently released a spreadsheet tool to accompany its new handbook, "Guide to Sound Fiscal Management for Municipalities." The spreadsheet tool allows anyone to compare how much a city or town spends on various services, and how much the city or town spends per capita. Patch used the tool to compare 10 cities and towns in the area on per capita education spending. The Pioneer Institute cited …

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Marlborough Schools Post Morning Bus Routes

The full routes are on the district's website.

Information from the Marlborough Public Schools. Find posted below the morning bus routes for the 2012-2013 school year. Afternoon routes will be posted as soon as they are available. Students should be at their stops 10 minutes prior to their scheduled pick-up times for the first few weeks of school. Questions and/or concerns about the routes can be forwarded to the appropriate building principal(s). Adjustments will be on an ongoing basis as warranted, and revised lists will be posted as they become available.

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Frugal Family

Yoga and School Supply Deals

Here are ways to save on school supplies, get a free children’s book, and a great yoga deal to relax during the end of summer home stretch!

1) Dog Days of Summer Yoga Special at Earthsong Yoga. Four classes for $35.  Vinyasa with Tory, Saturdays at 9-10:15 a.m. on Aug. 4, 11, 18 and 25. This is a time-sensitive deal and six registrants are needed by Aug. 4, for the deal to happen. Regular drop-in rates apply. Click here to register. Earthsong Yoga is located at 186 Main St. in Marlborough. 2) Backpack Deal at OfficeMax: Want to get a backpack for a penny? Well, this deal is almost like that. MaxPerks reward members who purchase up to two backpacks this week will get back most of the cost of the backpacks in bonus rewards in September. For example, spend $59.99 on a backpack, get $59.98 back in MaxPerks Bonus Rewards. There were quite a few backpacks available at different …

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Lunch Box Memories

Do you remember your favorite lunch box? Today's kids have as many options as ever but nothing will take the place of the Partridge Family or Scooby-Doo.

Lunch boxes have changed in design and shape over the years, but the basic idea is the same. Along with space inside for a cold drink, sandwich and snack, the cover is devoted to a favorite cartoon, character, TV show or movie. That's why Justin Bieber and Darth Vader and Japanese cartoon characters are staring out at shoppers from the shelves of Target. Back in the '70s, the lunch boxes were aluminum. In the '80s, they gave way to plastic. Vintage lunch boxes now are highly collectible. They are displayed as collections in people's homes, and sometimes they get their own art gallery shows. (Yes, I've gone to one.) Do you remember a favorite lunch box? What was it? Have a picture handy? Share it with Patch!

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Raising Marlborough: A Local Education

OPINION: School Bus Safety

Riding the bus can be fun!

With Marlborough public schools starting next Tuesday, and the AMSA and Assabet Valley welcoming students today, parents must talk to their children now about bus safety. According to Mass.gov, most school bus-related accidents involve students boarding and exiting the bus,with children ages 4-7 being at the highest risk. It is up to parents to teach their children to be safe pedestrians as well as safe passengers. Mass.gov suggests that parents “ teach young children to take 5 giant steps (10 ft.) in front of the bus and to wait for the driver’s signal before crossing.”   By following these tips, parents can help to drastically reduce the number of school-bus related accidents:  The Danger Zone: Six feet on either side and 10 feet in …

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