Sharon Schools to Adopt NASA Astronaut Program for All Grade Levels

The district will be the first to adopt the "Train Like an Astronaut" program for students in all grades at the elementary level.

This school year, students in Sharon will have the chance to redefine the word "stellar".  While Sharon Public Schools has hosted NASA's "Train Like an Astronaut" program for Grades 3-5 for several years, starting this year, students of all grades in the elementary level will be able to participate.  "NASA is using the Sharon Public Schools as a role model district in offering TLA workshops to introduce the program to districts across the nation," said Tim Vigorito, Sharon's K-5 Wellness Facilitator and NASA Team USA Mission X Leader. "With the inclusion of art, technology, library and music planned additionally this year, the Sharon Team USA model will offer complete, integrated learning opportunities for the students." Vigorito attended …

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Sharon Schools Implement New State Nutritional Standards

The standards, known as "competitive foods", went into effect Aug. 1, and aim at reducing childhood obesity across the state.

Students in the Sharon Public School system may notice a bit of a change in their food options during the 2012-2013 school year, which officially begins today, Aug. 29.   Sharon school officials announced in a recent statement that they plan to comply with new state requirements regarding newly-adapted nutritional standards.  Those standards, which took effect on Aug. 1, are part of the Commonwealth's widespread effort to reduce childhood obesity. As a result, a number of changes will be made to food and beverages made available to students in public schools across the state during the day.  "In 2010, the Massachusetts state legislature passed the ‘Act Relative to School Nutrition’, which directed the Massachusetts Department of Health to …

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Books Help Sharon School Retirees Start Next Chapter

School Superintendent Timothy Farmer presented the gifts during a recent school committee meeting.

After school on Monday, several longtime Sharon public school employees will start the next chapter in their lives with page turners from Superintendent Timothy Farmer. Each staff member received a book from Farmer as a retirement present. Monday is Sharon's last day of school. "Some of the books have to do with things that you might choose to do as you wander the narrow roads of New England," Farmer said during a special presentation to the retirees during a recent school committee meeting. "Some of the books are a little more personal because I might know an interest that you have." This year's retirees are: Farmer said he understood that the school board tradition was to read a bit about each retiree. "And I thought, 'Wouldn't it be …

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Chat Live With the School Superintendent on April 27

School Superintendent Timothy Farmer will take questions from Sharon Patch readers live next week.

Have burning question for Sharon School Superintendent Timothy Farmer? Next week, Sharon Patch will give you the opportunity to ask it without leaving the comfort of your home (or your work desk). On Friday, April 27 at 11 a.m., Sharon Patch will hold its first (in a monthly series) live chat with Farmer, who will provide the answers you're looking for. Come back to Sharon Patch on Friday, April 27 at 11 a.m. and enter our chat room where you can type in your question. (The article with the chat room will go live in the morning, before the chat begins, so you can bookmark it and come back once we're underway, or enter your email address and receive a reminder before the chat starts.) Sharon Patch editor Michael Gelbwasser and Patch staff …

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Sharon Parents Want Autism Partnership to Remain in Place

Parents say they have unanswered questions.

The Sharon schools' partnership serving children on the autism spectrum should remain in place in the fall, the participating families tell the school committee. In a Feb. 27 letter and then during last Wednesday's school board meeting, parents said they're unclear why Director of Student Services Steven Kaplan has proposed changing the New England Center for Children-Sharon public schools partnership, even after meeting with him and Superintendent Timothy Farmer on Feb. 6. All 15 families affected want the program to remain this fall, one parent told the board. Kaplan told the school board Wednesday he considers his plan a staffing change, toward better serving a cohort of elementary students heading to Sharon Middle School, among other …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today, Feb. 8

Help the schools with their strategic planning.

"Five Things You Need To Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance. 1. Help with the schools' strategic planning The Sharon public schools has a strategic planning focus group scheduled for 7 p.m. in the school committee meeting room at Sharon Middle School. The steering committee seeks feedback about the strengths and weaknesses of the school district, as well as the vision, mission, and goals that should guide the Sharon public schools for the next several years. 2. Enjoy bagels and books A PJ Library Bagels and Books Drop-in Group will be offered from 9:30 to 11 a.m. every Wednesday at Temple Sinai of Sharon. Grab a bagel, hear a story and meet other parents while your children …

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A Look Ahead: Energy Efficiency, and Spielberg

Planning your week? Here are some Sharon happenings to consider.

Every Sunday, Sharon Patch will highlight some of the events happening during the coming week.  So if you're looking for something fun or interesting to do, or a cause to support, you'll find some ideas right here. Monday: The Sharon Garden Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Sharon Adult Center and Council on Aging. The group will learn about home composting – the basics of how to do it, why it's important, and the different types of composting including on-site, off-site and worm composting. And a program on creating a more energy efficient home will be held at 7 p.m. at the Sharon Public Library. Representatives from the Sustainable Sharon Coalition, MassEnergy, and Next Step Living Inc. will offer ways to easily create a more …

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[VIDEO] Gronk If You're a Patriots Fan In Sharon

Pats Pride is everywhere in town.

Red, white, blue and silver have replaced maroon and gold as Sharon's colors today. New England Patriots jerseys and pride are everywhere in town two days before the Pats play the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. Sharon Patch has been looking today for every sign of Patriots Pride it can find in the home of the Sharon Eagles. Share your photos -- and Super Bowl predictions -- here. And, "Go Patriots!"

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Sharon School Board Backs Preliminary School Budget

School officials will present their request to the finance committee Feb. 13.

The Sharon School Committee tonight endorsed Superintendent Timothy Farmer's preliminary budget proposal for next year. The school board voted to support the $36,959,801 proposal, which is $771,949, or 2.13 percent, above the current budget and includes adding the full-time equivalent of 3.87 staff. School officials will present the proposal to the finance committee Feb. 13 at the Sharon Town Offices, finance board Chairman Joel Lessard said Tuesday. Farmer said the priorities committee will indicate whether the schools' request is appropriate. Sharon voters will consider the budget proposal at the May 7 annual town meeting. The school board then will vote the final budget on May 23.

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