Threat of Winter Storm on Tuesday Postpones MCAS Testing in Winchester

Due to the expected winter storm on Tuesday, the state announced that the MCAS English Language Arts Composition test for students in grades 4, 7 and 10 has been postponed until Monday, March 25.

Since much of Massachusetts is expecting a winter storm on Tuesday, and with it the possibility of numerous school closings or delayed openings, the MCAS English Language Arts Composition test for students in grades 4, 7 and 10 has been postponed until Monday, March 25, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced on its website.  Originally this composition test was scheduled for Tuesday, March 19, but in an effort to make sure all schools administer the test on the same day, "all schools must administer the ELA Composition test to students in grades 4, 7, and 10 on Monday, March 25, including schools that are not affected by the weather," according to a memo from Elizabeth Davis, associate commissioner of …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need To Know Today, December 21

Hammond Real Estate is still holding its coat drive.

“Five Things You Need to Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. Check back later for more and let us know what you think of the feature in the comments section. Today is Wednesday, Dec. 21. Here are five things you need to know. To find out what is going on today in Winchester, check out our events listings.

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School Choice Deadline Nearing for Lynch Parents

Lynch parents have until Dec. 22 to make a decision on school choice.

Parents at Lynch school will have until the beginning of Christmas break to decide whether or not they want to keep their children at the school.   Lynch parents had expressed concern over the school’s recent MCAS sores. The MCAS results were released earlier this fall and identified the Lynch School for “Improvement – Year 1” in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math for all subgroups under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Since Lynch is a Title I school and a school that needs improvement, the district is required to give parents a school choice option. Lynch parents have the option to transfer their children to another school within the district. Parents will not need to make a decision on school choice until December 22, according to…

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Week in Review: MCAS Scores, Town Meeting and a Restaraunt Closing

Check out some of the top stories from the past week in Winchester.

Lynch parents showed up at Tuesday’s School Committee meeting to discuss the school’s MCAS scores. One parent told the committee that Winchester is not an “equitable school program." On Wednesday, Superintendent William McAlduff told the Lynch community that he had requested a waiver from the state to avoid school choice, but failed to follow up before the start of the school year, saying that he, “dropped the ball.” Parsons Table will officially close this Saturday, Nov. 12. A Tavola will open in the same space on November 22. A Winchester woman was arrested for drunk driving and hitting a pedestrian over the weekend. Winchester Hospital has been named No. 4 in the large employer category on the Globe 100’s Top Places to Work 2011. …

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Winchester Superintendent: 'I Dropped the Ball'

William McAlduff told Lynch parents that he failed to follow-up on a waiver request in an attempt to delay school choice.

Over a hundred Lynch parents filled the school cafeteria Wednesday night to ask questions and share concerns they had over the school’s recent MCAS sores. The MCAS results were released earlier this fall and identified the Lynch School for “Improvement – Year 1” in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math for all subgroups under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Since Lynch is a Title I school and a school that needs improvement, the district is required to give parents a school choice option. Lynch parents received a form recently and have the option to transfer their children to another school within the district. Parents will not need to make a decision on school choice until January, according to Superintendent William McAlduff, after …

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Lynch Parent: Winchester Not an 'Equitable Elementary School Program'

Lynch parents continued discussion with the School Department about the low MCAS scores.

When the MCAS results were released earlier this fall it identified the Lynch School for “Improvement – Year 1” in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math for all subgroups under the No Child Left Behind Act. Since Lynch is a Title I school and a school that needs improvement, the district is required to give parents a school choice option. Lynch parents received a form recently and will have the option to transfer their children to another school within the district. Parents will have 14 days from receiving the letter to make the decision. According to Superintendent William McAlduff, the choice forms are due on Nov. 18 with school assignments set for Nov. 29 and the placement would be effective Dec. 6 of this year. “These letters are …

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Week in Review: Town Manager Named and MCAS Concerns

Take a look back at some of the top news in Winchester from the past week.

The Winchester Board of Selectmen announced that at their posted public meeting Thursday evening they unanimously voted to select Mr. Richard Howard of Malden as their next Town Manager, contingent upon successful contract negotiations and remaining due diligence. Parents at Lynch school were concerned because this is the second year that Lynch’s scores have decreased, putting the school in the improvement status, in accordance with No Child Left Behind. The scores at Lynch (ELA – 72; Math – 71), while still ahead of the state scores (ELA – 69; Math – 58), have fallen behind the rest of the district’s elementary schools. Because MCAS scores at Lynch failed to meet the state standards and decreased for two straight years, Lynch is …

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Lynch Parents Concerned About Low MCAS Scores

For the second year in a row, Lynch score decreased and are the lowest in the district.

Earlier this fall, the state released last year’s MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) results. And while Winchester’s scores remained steady from the previous year, parents at the Lynch Elementary School noticed a troubling pattern. This is the second year that Lynch’s scores have decreased, putting the school in the improvement status, in accordance with No Child Left Behind. The scores at Lynch (ELA – 72; Math – 71), while still ahead of the state scores (ELA – 69; Math – 58), have fallen behind the rest of the district’s elementary schools. Ambrose students scored an 86 in ELA and 81 in math; Lincoln scored an 89 in ELA and 87 in math; Muraco had a 92 in ELA and 85 in math; and Vinson-Owen students scored a 92 in the …

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