About Middlesex County, MA

Newsweek magazine has released their list of America's 1300 Top Public High Schools. They rank the schools according to this formula: "Public schools are ranked according to a ratio devised by Jay Mathews: the number of Advanced Placement, Intl. Baccalaureate and/or Cambridge tests taken by all students at a school in 2007 divided by the number of graduating seniors."

Hopkinton High School ranks number 496 which puts it in the top 2% of schools ranked by this method.

For the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS), all 10th graders in the state are tested and scored according to their performance: advanced, proficient, needs improvement, or failing. Hopkinton 10th graders scored a combined 84% advanced and proficient in both the English and Math exam (these are the only two subjects tested in 10th grade) with an impressive 58% scoring advanced in Math. See full results of MCAS testing for Hopkinton.

In addition to stellar performance, the school is aesthetically beautiful (look for photo soon) and offers a state of the art athletic center, fitness, facility, and performing arts stage.

I thought I would do a series of highlights of Acton, Massachusetts. I've lived here for over 20 years, and sometimes I take things for granted that are special about this place. If anyone is considering a move to this area, Acton has is a lot to offer. Here is the first in the series:

NARA Park

The Acton Recreation department had a great beach party at NARA Park last night. I shared the experience with my 4 year old granddaughter, who loved it. She did the water slides, danced to the live music, then helped me paddle a canoe around the pond. (Note to self: remind her next time not to stand up in the canoe.)

NARA (short for North Acton Recreation Area) park is a local gem. The small man-made pond has a sandy beach, snack bar, and boats (paddle and canoe) for your use. A volleyball net is set up on the beach, too. There are several playing fields and an amphitheater/pavillion.

In addition to daily swimming, fishing, picnicing, and paddle boating, they have special events all year round. During the summer there are concerts and movies; in Spetember is "Acton Day", and in winter there is a "Winterfest."

Probably the best known event is the Fourth of July fireworks display.

What Was REALLY Cooking. . . ???

Bon Appetit! Was Julia Child Sending A Secret Code?

Papers to be released on Thursday indicate that Julia Child, the indomitable PBS hostess from Cambridge Ma, had more cooking in her pot than just chicken! Documents indicate that Chef Julia was an early operative during WW II, for the office that later became known as the CIA.

Child was a beloved former resident of Cambridge and was world renowned for her culinary talents. Apparently this Massachusetts resident knew more than how to skin a chicken! Yes indeed, our dear Julia was in fact. . . a spy!!

Long known as a role model for Martha Stewart, it seems that the cooking icon may have been more like the forerunner for Angelina Jolie's character from "Mr. & Mrs. Smith!"

*courtesy API

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/International-spy-ring-revealed-alma-mater-Office-of-Strategic-Services-Chicago-White-Sox-catcher-Moe-Berg-File/ss/events/us/081308spyringinterna/s:/ap/20080813/ap_on_go_ot/spies_revealed

Click this link for further information:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080813/ap_on_go_ot/spies_revealed

* Courtesy of Yahoo News, API

JOHN PRESCOTT

-BostonKayakGuy

Call John Prescott 508-523-9252 regarding your professional real estate services.

Top Real Estate Agent for more than 14 years, serving the real estate needs of Wellesley, South Natick, Weston, Needham, Wayland, Newton, Framingham and other MetWest communities. www.johnprescott.net

"Boston Kayak Guy. . . The MetWest Real Estate Scene"

JOHN PRESCOTT

Vice President

Century 21 Commonwealth

508-523-9252

"Boston Kayak Guy. . . The MetWest Real Estate Scene"

Have you heard it? The clock is ticking!

Exactly 2 weeks from today, you'll hear even more. There will be the frantic search; cabinets and cupboards being opened and closed. Drawers closed in frustration. Doors slammed.

Clothes will be taken from the closet. Some will land on the floor. Missing shoes will be retrieved.

Breakfast will remain untouched in some instances. Hairdryers will be humming. iPods will be removed from the bedroom, family room, car, ...and other sundry places.

Running feet will be heard...out the front door. Car doors will be slammed; buses will be waiting.

Moms and Dads will start their engines. And they'll all be headed to the biggest gathering of friends since summer began.

That's right! You guessed it!

Two weeks from today, August 27th to be exact, the kids go back to school!!!

Natick Schools open their doors to welcome back their students in just 2 weeks.

For some, it will be the end of vacation; and for others,. . . it will be the beginning.

*

NATICK SCHOOL CALENDAR 2008 - 2009

http://www.natick.k12.ma.us/departments/curriculumassessment/documents/Info%20Bulletin%2008-091.pdf

Natick High School 15 West Street Natick, MA 01760 ph: 508-647-6600 John Hughes Principal ph: 508-647-6603 john_hughes@natick.k12.ma.us Rose Bertucci Vice Principal ph: 508-647-6619 rose_bertucci@natick.k12.ma.us Zachary Galvin Vice Principal ph: 508-647-6620 zachary_galvin@natick.k12.ma.us Kennedy Middle School 165 Mill Street Natick, MA 01760 ph: 508-647-6650 Rosemary Vickery Principal rosemary_vickery@natick.k12.ma.us Wilson Middle School 22 Rutledge Road Natick, MA 01760 ph: 508-647-6670 Anna Nolin Principal anna_nolin@natick.k12.ma.us Bennett-Hemenway Elementary School 22 East Evergreen Road Natick, MA 01760 ph: 508-647-6580 Ian Kelly Principal ian_kelly@natick.k12.ma.us Brown Elementary School One Jean Burke Drive Natick, MA 01760 ph: 508-647-6660 Bernadine Small Principal bernadine_small@natick.k12.ma.us Johnson Elementary School 99 South Main Street Natick, MA 01760 ph: 508-647-6680 Barbara Brown Principal barbara_brown@natick.k12.ma.us Lilja Elementary School 41 Bacon Street Natick, MA 01760 ph: 508-647-6570 Mary Canner Principal mary_canner@natick.k12.ma.us Memorial Elementary School 107 Eliot Street Natick, MA 01760 ph: 508-647-6590 Beverly McCloskey Principal beverly_mccloskey@natick.k12.ma.us

* Photos and School Information Courtesy of Natick Public Schools

JOHN PRESCOTT

-BostonKayakGuy

Call John Prescott 508-523-9252 regarding your professional real estate services.

Top Real Estate Agent for more than 14 years, serving the real estate needs of Wellesley, South Natick, Weston, Needham, Wayland, Newton, Framingham and other MetWest communities. www.johnprescott.net

“Boston Kayak Guy. . . The MetWest Real Estate Scene”

JOHN PRESCOTT

Vice President

Century 21 Commonwealth

508-523-9252

“Boston Kayak Guy. . . The MetWest Real Estate Scene”

* courtesy of Natick Public Schools

www.natick.k12.ma.us/.../schoolprincipals.cfm

A friend of mine, Mary Mady, has been very successful in forming a new organization for adult education in the area. The Bedford Learning Connection. Here is a brief on the programs and a web link to go see if you find anything that you would like to learn about.

The Bedford Learning Connection, Inc.
P. O. Box 765, Bedford, MA 01730
www.bedfordlearningconnection.org

The BLC is a nonprofit community organization that offers a unique curriculum of community education classes and workshops presented by individuals and town organizations and businesses. Courses include arts and crafts, home and garden workshops, outdoor courses and events, lectures, discussions, languages, storytelling, green home remodeling, and organic gardening. Courses are held in various locations in Bedford and BLC also belongs to an online course network with over 300 instructor-led 6 week professional and personal interest courses.