Meeting Demand: Schools Expanding Mandarin Chinese for 2014

Marlborough schools are planning to expand their offerings of Mandarin Chinese to open the language up to all the students who want to learn it.

In a move designed to meet student and parent demand, the Marlborough Public Schools are looking to add a full-time Mandarin Chinese position to double the number of students who can learn the language. “We are not able to enroll all the students who want to be in Mandarin," said Interim Superintdent Steven Dlott. "It is a really a vibrant language for the 20th century." The addition of another full-time position to teach Mandarin Chinese will allow for 75 students in grade 7 who could not take the language to take it in the coming year. Currently 50 7th graders and 75 8th graders are taking Mandarin, said Dlott. The students taking the classes are doing very well this year, said Chinese Teacher Qiong Liu. There is a lot to learn with …

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Celebration of the Year Held at Whitcomb

Artwork and culture was on display throughout the Whitcomb Middle School Wednesday evening.

The second annual World Language Festival Wednesday evening put the best work of the year on display for parents and students to see, experience and even taste. "It's a celebration of what we have been doing this year," said Whitcomb Principal Mary Murphy of the event that featured language, games and food from around the world. In its second year, the language festival encompasses the languages of Latin, French Spanish and Mandarin Chinese taught at the school, said Latin Teacher Jocelyn Demuth who organized the event. In addition to showcasing the culture of the different languages, the festival encourages group work with multiple students working on one presentation. "That's part of the lesson," said Demuth of the students learning to …

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Student Accused of Indecent Assault; Touching Female Student on Bus

A Marlborough student has been accused of indecent assault and battery after police were called about a sex offense.

Police have charged a 17 year-old student with assault and battery following an incident on a school bus. “The victim and the suspect are both students," said Det. Scott DeCiero of the Community Services Bureau of the Marlborough Police Department. On March 26, Manuel A. Teo Jr., 17, of 39 Ringold Street allegedly innapropriately touched a female student on a bus, according to police. As the female student walked by on the bus, Teo reportedly came up behind her and touched her between her legs, according to Det. DeCiero. Both the victim and Teo are students at the Phoenix Program at the Hildreth School, according to police. The incident was reported on Wednesday, March 27, and police went to the school in the morning to speak with the …

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Marlborough Public Schools Closed

Weather closes schools.

Due to the winter storm, all Marlborough Public Schools will be closed today, said school officials. For more info on the storm and snow fall totals keep your eye to Marlborough Patch.

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You Ask, Patch Answers

How Do Police Work With Marlborough Schools?

With a number of recent visits to the schools by police a reader wanted to know more about the working relationship between Marlborough Police and Marlborough's Schools.

Communication and a formal agreement form the basis for a good working relationship between Marlborough's Schools and the Police Department, according to Police Chief Mark Leonard. “Most of the incidents are relatively minor ... each thing is somewhat unique," he said before explaining that police will investigate whether the incident warrants a criminal complaint and the school will deal with the matter through their channels. The schools and the police department have a formal contract, that the District Attorney's Office also weighs in on, in order to lay out the exact relationship between the two entities. It spells out exactly what must be reported to the police by school officials and vice versa, said Chief Leonard. “It makes sure …

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School Superintendent Signed for $185,000

The School Committee voted in a new, permanent Superintendent Tuesday night.

The School Committee voted 6 to 1 to accept a three year contract with Richard Langlois as the new permanent Superintendent for the school district. "I look forward to stepping in July 1st," said Langlois who currently works as the Superintendent for the Saugus School District. "I think this is a great partnership and great marriage." The committeevoted 6 to 1 to approve the $185,000 contract that includes 25 vacation days, 30 sick days and $2,000 for travel expenses. Interim Superintendent Stephen Dlott was signed for $180,000 for the year, although he was to be paid for a shorter term, said Mayor Arthur Vigeant. School Committee Member Mark Hediger was the sole negative vote, saying that he did not approve of language which shifted the …

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Marlborough Public Schools, Assabet and AMSA Closed Tuesday

Marlborough Public Schools will be closed Tuesday due to Hurricane Sandy.

The Marlborough Public Schools, Assabet Regional Vocational High School and AMSA Charter School will be closed Tuesday. The decision was made Monday night by both districts to cancel classes on Tuesday due to Hurricane Sandy and the resulting power outages and flooding, according to a release sent out by the district that appears on the Marlborough Public School's website and Assabet's website. Marlborough saw power outtages Monday. Fire officials reported debri in roadways and ongoing wind that required National Grid to put off full repair efforts until the wind died down. Receive updates to this story and other breaking news in your inbox or smartphone by signing up for our newsletter here

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School Committee Asks for $2.6 Million

The School Committee is requesting money to fund core services.

The School Committee is asking for $2,581,967 in additional funds through a supplemental appropriation. The additional funds — that represents a 5.3 percent increase over the FY '13 appropriated budget of $50,852,532 — will be voted on by the City Council at their Monday meeting, said Mayor Arthur Vigeant. The appropriation was the result of a truncated discussion of the FY '13 budget that was being resolved under the leadership of Former Superintendent Anthony Pope, said officials. The appropriations were grouped under five major categories that were presented to the committee by Interim Superintendent Steven Dlott. Exactly where all the funds would come from was not finalized during the committee's discussion. The city did see higher …

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Patch Facts

5 Things: $2.5 Million more to the Schools

An additional $2.5 million is proposed to go towards the schools; we have what you need to know today right here.

1. The "Perversion Files" of the Boy Scouts were recently released. A total of 179 Massachusetts cases are included in the released files. Three of those are from Marlborough. 2. A section of Cook Lane will be closed today, as it was yesterday, for construction work. A section of Lincoln Street was closed yesterday following an automobile accident. 3. Ever wonder what it is like working in a prison? Hear a first-hand account from local blogger Connie Mish. 4. $2,581,967. That is the amount of the supplemental appropriation for the 2013 Fiscal Year Budget the School Committee will be discussing tonight. The committee is also expected to vote on a consultant for the superintendent search. 5. Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian will be …

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Whitcomb Remembers William White

Teacher William White is being remembered at Whitcomb Middle School after dying unexpectedly over the weekend.

William White, who taught at the Whitcomb Middle School, is remembered as passionate and engaging by his colleagues while the entire school attempts to deal with his loss. "People have routines. He is a character. That is the only way to describe him. He was a character," said Teacher Donna Roche of the man who had taught in Marlborough for 29 years. "He was a wonderful man; a teddy bear. He tried to have a gruff exterior but it didn't work." William White's unexpected death Sunday night has left a palpable absence at the school, said four teachers who worked closely with him. White was a man of routine and passions that included drag racing. When these passions and routines came together at the school, they engaged students, said the …

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