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COVID-19: Masking Decision Now Up To School Districts As Massachusetts Mandate Expires COVID-19: Masking Decision Now Up To School Districts As Massachusetts Mandate Expires
Covid-19: Masking Decision Now Up To School Districts As Massachusetts Mandate Expires With the statewide mask mandate expiring for students in Massachusetts schools, the decision on whether to send children to class with a facial covering now falls on parents and local school districts. As of Monday, Feb. 28, the statewide COVID-19 mandate in schools ended, leaving the decision to individual schools, most of which are opting to ditch the masks. The mandate had been in effect since last August and has been extended three times as new variants of the virus caused several separate spikes of new infections. Related story - COVID-19: School District In Western Mass Rescind…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: School District In Western Mass Rescinds Mask Policy COVID-19: School District In Western Mass Rescinds Mask Policy
Covid-19: School District In Western Mass Rescinds Mask Policy Mask-wearing will soon be an option for students and staff in a Western Massachusetts school district. In Hampden County, Westfield Schools Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski announced that the district’s School Committee voted to rescind its mask policy, effective as of Monday, Feb. 28. As of Feb. 28, mask-wearing will be voluntary for students and staff, including all extracurricular activities and athletic events. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker previously said that the state would be lifting mask requirements as of Feb. 28, though it would be up to individual school districts and local…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
MA Student Makes Splash On Jeopardy! College Championship MA Student Makes Splash On Jeopardy! College Championship
MA Student Makes Splash On Jeopardy! College Championship If the answer is Joey Kornman, the question must be: “Name that college student from Connecticut making waves on the Jeopardy! National College Championship.” Kornman, a classical studies major from West Hartford studying at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, is on to the “Jeopardy! National College Championship” semifinals after taking down two other students in the quarterfinal that aired on Wednesday, Jan. 9. Mayim Bialik with Joey Kornman in 'Jeopardy! National College Championship.Twitter/@BrandeisU Kornman won the night over Mitch Macek, a sophomore at Villanova Univer…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: Massachusetts School Mask Mandate Update Announced COVID-19: Massachusetts School Mask Mandate Update Announced
Covid-19: Massachusetts School Mask Mandate Update Announced Massachusetts Gov. Charlie announced that he's recommending the state school mask mandate be lifted, following the lead of neighboring states that have already announced similar measures. Beginning on Monday, Feb. 28, the requirement that students, teachers, and staff wear masks inside Massachusetts schools will be rescinded, the governor announced, touting the state’s improved COVID-19 data. "Our kids have had to put up with a lot of disruption, a lot of time alone, and has suffered a real learning loss over the past two years. There's no debating those points, no matter where you stand," …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Apparent School Violence Threat Under Investigation In Western Mass Apparent School Violence Threat Under Investigation In Western Mass
Apparent School Violence Threat Under Investigation In Western Mass Police in Western Massachusetts were called into action to investigate a rumor regarding an alleged threat made toward an area high school. In Hampden County, the Ludlow Police Department issued an alert after it was alerted to a threat regarding school violence at the high school shortly before 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 2. According to Lt. David R.G. Irwin, working with administrators at the Ludlow High School, they traced the rumor back to its source, a student at the high school, and ultimately determined that the threat was not credible.

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Bomb Threat Leads To Shelter-In-Place Order At Smith College Bomb Threat Leads To Shelter-In-Place Order At Smith College
Bomb Threat Leads To Shelter-In-Place Order At Smith College A bomb threat led to police locking down Smith College in Western Massachusetts, which issued a shelter-in-place order to start the day. Shortly before 6:15 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 28 in Hampshire County, Smith College in Northampton announced that the threat had been made against Burton Hall, which sits in the heart of the campus. Police said that the threat included an anonymous report of multiple explosive devices at Burton Hall that was made at 5:02 a.m. on Friday morning. In response, students were advised to avoid that area of the campus, and a shelter-in-place order was issued approxim…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Here's When SAT Will Go Completely Online, College Board Says Here's When SAT Will Go Completely Online, College Board Says
Here's When SAT Will Go Completely Online, College Board Says The SAT, a standardized test used for college admissions, is set to move to a completely digital format. Students outside of the United States will start taking the SAT digitally in 2023, and in the US, the digital test will start being administered in 2024, the College Board announced on Tuesday, Jan. 25. According to the announcement, a variety of other changes will be made to the exam.  The digital test will be shortened to about two hours instead of three, with shorter reading passages and topics that "will reflect a wider range of topics that represent the works students read in …

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by Nicole Valinote
Schools
Student From Massachusetts Advances To Finals Of Regeneron Competition Student From Massachusetts Advances To Finals Of Regeneron Competition
Student From Massachusetts Advances To Finals Of Regeneron Competition A pair of school students in New England were among 40 nationally that were chosen as finalists in the prestigious 2022 Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS). This year, approximately 1,800 students entered the Regeneron STS, where they “submit original research in critically important scientific fields of study.” The organization said that the search is “unique among high school competitions in the U.S. and globally, Regeneron STS focuses on identifying, inspiring, and engaging the nation's most promising young scientists.” Judges narrowed the field to just 300 semifinalists, based on the…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Report: Trump Forces School District In Region To Subsidize Golf Course Report: Trump Forces School District In Region To Subsidize Golf Course
Report: Trump Forces School District In Region To Subsidize Golf Course Former President Donald Trump’s wheeling and dealings have reportedly left a New York school district in a lurch. For years, the Trump National Golf Club Westchester in Briarcliff was the subject of a battle with the local government over its property tax bill, where the property’s value was inflated by the Trump Organization as part of a scheme that is being investigated by the Westchester District Attorney and New York Attorney General. Earlier story - NY Attorney General Subpoenas Donald Trump In Civil Fraud Inquiry Into His Business Practices Following a victory in court in the summer …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
These Massachusetts Students Named Regeneron Semifinalists These Massachusetts Students Named Regeneron Semifinalists
These Massachusetts Students Named Regeneron Semifinalists Nearly a dozen high school students in Massachusetts were among the 300 that were chosen as semifinalists at this year’s prestigious Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS). This year, approximately 1,800 students entered the Regeneron STS, where they “submit original research in critically important scientific fields of study.” The organization said that the search is “unique among high school competitions in the US and globally, (as the) Regeneron STS focuses on identifying, inspiring, and engaging the nation's most promising young scientists.” Judges narrowed the field to just 300, based o…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: School District In Hampshire County Implements Staggered Return To Class COVID-19: School District In Hampshire County Implements Staggered Return To Class
Covid-19: School District In Hampshire County Implements Staggered Return To Class A school district in Western Massachusetts is taking a unique approach to reopening classes to students amid the latest rise in COVID-19 infections. In Hampshire County, the Northampton School District announced that it will be staggering the return to classes for students to allow for the start of pool testing. According to district officials, Northampton High School and JFK middle schools will be open as planned on Monday, Jan. 3 and pool testing will be conducted. Bridge Street, Jackson Street, Leeds, and Ryan Road elementary schools will not be in session on Dec. 3 and will reopen on …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: Yale University Goes Remote As Cases Increase, Will Require Boosters COVID-19: Yale University Goes Remote As Cases Increase, Will Require Boosters
Covid-19: Yale University Goes Remote As Cases Increase, Will Require Boosters Yale University has moved final exams online amid concerns about the recent increase in COVID-19 cases. In a message to undergraduate students on Saturday, Dec. 18, university officials said the decision was made to allow students to return home early if they wish. "While Yale has not experienced the same increase in COVID rates as some other universities, we know that many of you are concerned about remaining on campus during the finals period," the letter, signed by officials reads. "Although the risk of transmission during in-person examinations is small, we want you to be able to go hom…

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by Nicole Valinote