Assabet Valley Receives $90,000 Grant

A STEM grant to the regional high school is set to bolster life sciences.

Editor's Note: The following information was submitted by the Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School. Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School will receive a $90,284 grant from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. “This grant provides for the inclusion of computers and mobile devices in classrooms and laboratories," said Jim DeBartolomeis, the lead teacher in Assabet’s science department. The grant monies will provide Macbook laptops, safety storage areas, digital microscopes and cameras and software to the science department, AP textbooks, iPads, safe storage, and Insight 360 Plus student response systems for the math department, as well as VEX kits, a Structural Stress Analyzer and adaptor for the engineering department. …

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Beloved Teacher William White, Gone at 53

Whitcomb Middle School Teacher William White died unexpectedly Sunday night.

William White, an inspiration to students, died unexpectedly Sunday night. "He is known and loved by thousands of students as the tech engineering teacher that taught them to model and race wooden cars," said Whitcomb Principal Mary Murphy of Mr. White who died of a heart attack. Murphy said that among the comments from students about Mr. White are: Mr. White had been an educator for the past 32 years, beginning his career with Marlborough in 1983 as an industrial arts teacher at the middle school. He also taught in the high school and served as the coordinator of technology education from 2002 through 2008. This year he was part of the seventh-grade STEM team as the technology/engineering teacher. Let Patch save you time. Get great local …

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STEM: Measuring Success Beyond Test Scores

As STEM enters its second year, officials say that they will look beyond test scores to measure the program's effectiveness.

While the STEM Early College High School program continues to be praised by officials and students alike, any quantitative measure of success has yet to be seen. Officials are saying that while grades will be evaluated for the program that focuses on a team-based, integrated approach to education, a more holistic approach will be given to evaluating the programs success. "We don't want to look at just grades," said Maureen Greulich, the district's instructional leadership director. Different measures of success will be evaluated alongside grades, she said. Some statistics have already come into focus. Last year, freshman that were in the STEM program had a 5 percent higher attendance rate, — at 92 percent — than freshmen not in the program…

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5 Things: Wine and Cheese Festival and STEM

From a cheese festival this weekend to continued work through the STEM program; we have what you need to know in Marlborough right here.

1. The 8th Annual Vin Bin Wine and Cheese Festival will be held this Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. It sounds like a fun time right in the downtown and is free to anyone interested. 2. A rugby team has come through with 200 pounds of food for the United Way of Tri-County in Marlborough. 3. Something must have been in the water, or in this case the oil, as it was a big day for accidents Wednesday. Did you have any close calls? 4. Marlborough continues to lag behind in MCAS scores. This comes as the district continues a focus on STEM Early College High School Program which is attempting to bring a more hands-on style of education to the classroom. 5. Speaking of STEM, the measures of success of this investment have not fully materialized. However…

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Education Secretary Praises STEM Approach

Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville spoke to the benefits of the STEM approach as he toured Marlborough High School Tuesday.

Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville praised the implementation of the STEM Early College High School program during a visit Tuesday. "Educators here and the educational leadership in this district have been willing to reach out and embrace a new concept and tackle it in a team way," said Secretary Reville. "This is what we are about right now, is build school systems that prepare young people for careers and college success in the future." Marlborough had the first Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics program up and running in the state. There are currently six in operation. The visit from the secretary coincides with the state being half way through Race to the Top funds — which provides part of the funding for the…

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Mass. Secretary of Education Visits Stem

Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville visited the STEM Early College High School program earlier today.

The Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville asked questions of students and teachers as he observed the STEM Early College High School program earlier today. "This is one of the most important concepts in our Race to the Top efforts state wide and Marlborough High School has a distinguished reputation for working in these areas and we thought this would be a good place to see the early college high school program," said the secretary. The program that focuses on integrated teaching of science, technology, engineering and mathematics is in its second year. There are currently 389 students at the middle and high school enrolled in the program. Reville praised the efforts at the school while on the tour. Full coverage of the …

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STEM Set for Strong Second Year

With over 200 students entering the STEM program and 200 returning, the STEM program continues to be popular among students.

Roughly 200 students participated in the first year of the STEM (Science Technology, Engineering and Math) and Early College High School academic programs in place at the Whitcomb Middle School and at Marlborough High. As the program enters its second year, 135 sixth graders and 75 ninth graders have signed on to the science, math and technology focused learning program. "It really does get students who wouldn't traditionally look at science and math as a career path to get interested in it and follow up," said Beth Wagner, the communications liaison for Marlborough Public Schools. The program is part of Race to the Top where the state was awarded $250 million from the U.S. Department of Education to be funded through academic year 2013-…

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need To Know Today: Feb. 27

Marlborough schools recently got a boost from a state-issued grant, and at least two residents will be running for cancer research in the upcoming Boston Marathon.

1. Do you represent or own a Marlborough business? If so, look it up on Marlborough Patch and claim the listing. It's a great way to let everyone know what you have going on! Also, if you know of a great local business that isn't yet in our directory, email josh.gray@patch.com with the name of the business and I'll get it in the works. Also, you can check out this great one minute video on the claiming process.  2. Pete Binkewicz and Meghan Lipcon, of Marlborough, will be running in the 116th Boston Marathon to help conquer cancer as members of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team. These Marlborough residents, along with Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge teammates from across the United States and around the world, will run Massachusetts’ …

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5 Things You Need to Know Today: Jan. 31

There is an upcoming STEM event for Marlborough parents, and the MEDC has named new board members.

Our weekday morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations. 1. Do you represent or own a Marlborough business? If so, look it up on Marlborough Patch and claim the listing. It's a great way to let everyone know what you have going on! Also, if you know of a great local business that isn't yet in our directory, email josh.gray@patch.com with the name of the business and I'll get it in the works.  2. At its annual meeting held on Jan. 25, The Marlborough Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) appointed eight new board members. These new members represent leading personalities in the community in their respective fields. They are…

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Marlborough Students Participate in Biotech Shadow Day

On Thursday, June 8, students from several schools in Marlborough participated in this annual event.

On Thursday, June 8, 650 Massachusetts high school students, including a handful from Marlborough High School and Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School, shadowed life sciences professionals across the Commonwealth for the second annual Statewide Biotechnology Job Shadow Day. The program is sponsored and planned by the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation (MassBioEd) and the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MassBio) with the goal of increasing students’ interest in pursuing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers. The job shadow day encourages collaboration between the life sciences industry and its future employees and includes company tours and one-on-one mentoring. In total, 19 Massachusetts …

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