Riverdale Elementary Student's Bathroom Beautification Committee

Jake and his classmates have spent hours of their own free time, to adorn the walls of the boys and girls rooms at Riverdale.

  It took 5th grade Riverdale Elementary student, Jake McHugh, a few pre-lunch visits to the boys room, before he spoke up. Now, don't get this wrong! The school's restrooms are clean, sanitary, and well-stocked. But, in Jake's eyes, they were just lacking something… character!  He approached Principal Dr. Krista Lucas and asked if “they” could do something to make the restrooms nicer. Never one to dismiss an idea, Dr. Lucas suggested that Jake speak to his classmates and come up with a plan. By the end of recess, Jake McHugh had a dozen boys and girls names in a notebook. Their “plan” was to “beautify” the school's restrooms.  Over the past few weeks, Dr. Lucas has formed a 5th grade team – the Bathroom Beautification Committee. Jake and …

• Photos (11)

Hundreds of Dedham Elementary Students Make Mark in Library Contest

Students participated in a statewide contest that earned one student Honorable Mention.

All students in the four public elementary schools in Dedham recently celebrated their school libraries by participating in the Massachusetts School Library Association (MSLA) bookmark contest. During library time students began designing bookmarks illustrating the theme, “I’m Wild about My School Library.” Students were encouraged to design a bookmark showcasing their favorite library experience or what they felt was the best part of their library program. In the end, the bookmark contest was a huge success! Over 100 students at Avery and Oakdale submitted bookmarks and about 40 students at Riverdale participated in the program. The top bookmarks from each division were submitted to the MSLA for judging. Some famous Massachusetts authors…

• Photos (1)

School Committee to Decide New Lines for Elementary Schools

The committee will vote on the proposal at Wednesday evening's meeting.

  With three elementary schools with room for additional students and the Oakdale Elementary School at capacity, the Dedham School Committee will consider Wednesday new district lines for incoming first graders for the upcoming school year. All four elementary schools will be effected with students moving out of the Oakdale district and into either Greenlodge, the new Avery or Riverdale. "We are trying to even out enrollments," said committee member Mayanne Briggs said. The committee will meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Town Hall. The changes will not effect any students currently enrolled in one of the elementary schools or any incoming first grader with a sibling enrolled in one of the elementary schools, Briggs said Tuesday. "It's a gradual…

•  18 Comments
• Photos (1)
• Documents (1)

Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: Feb. 17

Today's weather, a Red Sox contest and Dedham Open Studios returns.

"Five Things you Need to Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. 

• Photos (1)

Get Out

5 Things to Do This Weekend: February 10-12

It's a weekend with ways to relax in Dedham: a retro party, lots of chocolate tasting and hiking in February.

It's Thursday, and you've got no idea what you'll do for the weekend. Dedham Patch is coming to the rescue.

• Photos (2)

Dedham Elementary Schools Tackle English Scores

Principals laid out plans for improving English-language arts scores for the 2012 MCAS.

Dedham elementary students will get a boost from schools this year as the district looks to improve English-language arts MCAS scores. Elementary principals laid out a comphrensive plan Wednesday evening to the Dedham School Committee aimed to reverse ELA results. Three of the four elementary schools failed to meet adaquate yearly progress (AYP) in ELA for the aggregate. Oakdale Elementary School was the only to meet AYP, and in fact was the only school in the district to meet AYP for all subgroups and in the aggregate in both ELA and math. As part of the changes, elementary schools will add skill-building sessions after school to help kids improve their ELA skills, Avery School principal Clare Sullivan said. A similar program for math …

• Photos (4)