Planned Lockdowns at High School, Ottoson on Friday Morning

The schools requested a search using police dogs at each building, according to Arlington Police Capt. Rich Flynn.

Editor's note: Article updated at 12:44 p.m. on Friday. Arlington High School and Ottoson Middle School were locked down on Friday morning while police searched each building with K-9 units, Arlington Police Capt. Rich Flynn said. Each search was a planned lockdown based on requests from the schools to search those buildings, Flynn said. "Those were planned events, nothing to be frightened about and everything turned out just fine," he said. Arlington High School interim principal Mary Villano said that the school runs a practice lockdown every year and Friday's served as this year's practice run. The K-9 units and officers from other communities get a chance to familiarize themselves with the building in case of an actual emergency. "We’…

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Bridget Bishop

10:35 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Maybe she didn't want all you wingnuts to warn your wingnut kids.   more ›

TELL US: Are Ottoson's Halloween Costume Rules Too Strict?

Let us know by posting a comment below.

Students at Ottoson Middle School won’t be allowed to wear full costumes, masks, face paint or colored hair spray on Halloween, according to a school newsletter. In fact, if students violate the school’s dress code at all, their parents will be called and asked to bring them a change of clothes. There is one exception: students will be allowed to wear hats if they bring a $1 donation to homeroom for the Arlington Food Pantry. In the past, students have been “discouraged” from dressing up for Halloween, according to the newsletter, as “it can be difficult to monitor students attire.” “This year we are going to allow students to show ‘Halloween Spirit’ with the [above] limitations,” the newsletter reads. “We would like to allow students to …

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Donald Mei

5:48 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012

Carol, You are a nice little sheep. Respect the authorities and never question their actions or intentions. Right? Uh, No. The administration works for YOU and ME and everyone else. They answer to us!!! We are their bosses!!! How else can I say that?? Here's the funny thing, I don't necessarily disagree with you or the administration. But don't EVER ever forget that your government exists to …   more ›

Police Log

Police Respond to Middle School Fight at Ottoson

Incidents and arrests in Arlington from Monday to Wednesday, Sept. 17-19.

The following information comes from the Arlington Police Department. When arrests are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction. Police Respond to Middle School Fight at Ottoson An Ottoson Middle School student allegedly started punching another student in the head Wednesday morning on the way into school. The student who threw the punches told police that the other student had been “aggravating him/her for quite some time and he/she couldn’t take it anymore and decided to punch [the other student] in the head,” according to the police report. The student who threw the punches allegedly came up from behind the other student. The incident was referred to another officer after police spoke with both students at the school. Get Arlington …

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Arlington Education Foundation Names Teachers of the Year

An Ottoson and an Arlington High teacher were recognized by parents and students for making a difference.

The following is from the Arlington Education Foundation. Judith Packer, Ottoson Middle School eighth-grade English teacher (pictured with two of her students), and Arlington High School math teacher Lindsey McPherson (pictured with AEF president Rebecca Steinitz) were awarded Arlington Education Foundation’s OMS and AHS 2012 STARS Teacher of the Year awards. AEF's STARS (School Teachers Are Really Special) program allows parents and students to recognize K-12 teachers who make a difference. AEF works to support and advance public education in Arlington, Mass. AEF funds system wide initiatives and creative new projects to enhance the educational experiences of Arlington’s teachers and students. In fiscal year 2012, AEF awarded nearly $100,…

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Ottoson Celebrates 'Day of Respect'

Students have been working to promote a 'culture of respect' at the school this year.

The following is from the Arlington Human Rights Commission. Ottoson Middle School (OMS) celebrated a Day of Respect on Friday, June 8, that began with the creation of a Chain of Respect and ended with an upbeat, outdoor assembly featuring world drumming and inspirational talks by OMS student leaders and faculty. The day's events, organized by OMS's Building Respect Task Force and Friends of the Gay/Straight Alliance, recognized the efforts that students have undertaken this year to promote a culture of respect and encouraged more students to get involved next year in the peer leadership program and Gay/Straight Alliance. The missions of these groups are to create a welcoming, inclusive and respectful school climate for all at Ottoson.   …

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Ottoson's Everyday Heroes Honored

The Arlington Human Rights Commission's Everyday Hero Award went to Ottoson Middle School's Building Respect Task Force and Friends of the Gay/Straight Alliance.

The following is a press release from the Arlington Human Rights Commission. The Arlington Human Rights Commission bestowed its Everyday Hero Award on Ottoson Middle School’s Building Respect Task Force and Friends of the Gay/Straight Alliance at a ceremony on Sunday, May 20, at the Whittemore-Robbins House.  Eighty people attended the event to celebrate and honor the groups’ efforts, aimed at fostering a respectful, inclusive climate at Ottoson. Everyday Hero Award The Everyday Hero Award recognizes community members who demonstrate an active commitment to fostering understanding of and respect for our differences. This year’s award was accepted by Ottoson Principal Tim Ruggere and other key members of the Building Respect Task Force and …

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Viewfinder

Ottoson Tech Ed Room Gets Facelift

Teachers, students and volunteers team up to renovate outdated woodshop and classroom at Ottoson Middle School.

Over February break, volunteers, students and teacher Allison Oropallo teamed up to to renovate an outdated technology education woodshop and classroom at Ottoson Middle School. The project started when Oropallo, of "All American Handyman" fame, received a call from an old high school classmate, P.J. Davey, who runs New Hampshire nonprofit Paint It Forward. Together they are repainting the entire technology education wing, replacing the flooring and putting in improved lighting. All of this is to create a more usable and innovative learning environment for students, Oropallo said. Oropallo and Davey have one week to complete the classroom makeover. With more than a hundred volunteers from the community and Arlington Public Schools, the duo…

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Dallin Museum Opens Art Contest

Arlington middle school students are invited to participate in event, part of the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Dallin's birth.

Editor's note: The following information comes from a Cyrus E. Dallin Art Museum press release. Officials at the Cyrus E. Dallin Art Museum are inviting Arlington middle school students to participate in an art contest, part of several events to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Dallin’s birth. A grand prize of $100 as well as other prizes will be awarded. The contest aims to encourage student creativity and artistic expression as well as bring greater awareness to Arlington students about the art and contributions of Cyrus Dallin and to increase community involvement at the Museum. The contest will culminate with an exhibit of student artwork at the Cutter Gallery, in the lower level of 611 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington. The exhibit …

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Education Foundation Awards Arlington Schools $12,000

Grants will support creative learning initiatives at several schools in town.

Editor’s note: The following information comes from an Arlington Education Foundation press release. Arlington Education Foundation wrapped up its fall grant cycle by awarding more than $12,000 in innovations in education grants to support creative learning initiatives in the Arlington Public Schools. Seven grants were awarded to teachers, staff and parents who will implement their projects in classrooms, libraries and academic departments. The World Languages Department at Arlington High School will implement the use of iPod Touches in their classes. Student studying a foreign language will create digital stories in their target language. This technology can also be used as interactive classroom “clickers” and to provide assessment data …

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Parent Vies for School Committee Seat

Candidate Matthew Pallett is concerned with the district's direction and wants to enact changes from the top.

A parent of two Arlington Public Schools students has pulled out papers to run for the School Committee, becoming the fourth candidate to show his intent to run for the committee's two open seats in this year's elections, the Town Clerk's Office confirmed Tuesday. Matthew Pallett, who has lived in Arlington for four years, said he first thought about running for School Committee when his family started having issues finding the support his special education child needs. With at son at Peirce Elementary School and a daughter at Ottoson Middle School, Pallett said he is an Arlington parent concerned with the direction the town is going. "I want the best for all our children," Pallett said in a phone interview. "I think to make real changes …

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