It’s that time of the year again – back to school! And so I figured what a great time to share some pertinent information* about the schools in Weston, MA….

I. Weston Public Schools, 89 Wellesley Street, 781-786-5200. The Weston public schools consist of three elementary schools (Country, Woodland and Field) as well as the middle and high schools.

Elementary Schools – Weston enjoys two parallel Kindergarten through Grade 3 schools, Country and Woodland. Once a child enters one of the schools, his/her siblings will follow at that same school. Then for Grades 4 and 5, the children come together from Country and Woodland Schools and enter Field School. “Elementary class sizes average 20.4 in Grades K through 5.” Here is more specific information on the elementary schools:

• Country School, 2 Alphabet Lane, 781-786-5400
• Field School, 99 School Street, 781-529-8000 – Note that a newly-built Field School is in process and slated to be complete by September 2014. Click here for updates from the Field School Project Committee.
• Woodland School, 10 Alphabet Lane, 781-786-5300

Weston Middle School, 456 Wellesley Street, 781-786-5600 – The Middle School educates children in Grades 6 through 8, and it is “organized in a ‘house’ system, with students in each house sharing the same set of subject matter teachers. This arrangement allows for a more personal and supervised education appropriate for young adolescents…. Middle School class sizes average 22.4.”

Weston High School, 444 Wellesley, Street, 781-786-5800 – The High School consists of students in grades 9 through 12. There were 179 students in the 2012 graduating class.** Note that Weston High School was just ranked #1 in Boston Magazine’s Best Schools 2012 issue.

II. Weston Private Schools and Colleges

Cambridge School of Weston, 45 Georgian Road, 781-642-8600 – “The Cambridge School of Weston is a [co-educational] innovative, collaborative, day and boarding community fostering educational depth and richness for students in grades 9 through 12 since 1886.”

The Gifford School, 177 Boston Post Road, 781-899-9500 – The Gifford School “is a private, nonprofit, coeducational day school providing a specialized educational and clinical program for students who face a variety of learning, behavioral and/or emotional challenges. Gifford serves over 100 students ranging from eight year olds to high school seniors. Students come from over 60 cities and towns throughout Massachusetts.”

The Meadowbrook School, 10 Farm Road, 781-894-1193 – “The Meadowbrook School of Weston [is] a co-educational independent day school for students in grades Junior Kindergarten through 8.”

Regis College, 235 Wellesley Street, 781-768-7000 – “Founded in 1927 by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston (CSJ), Regis welcomes students of many faiths and provides everyone with opportunities for spiritual development and community service that are hallmarks of the CSJ tradition. Regis was a women’s college until [its] successful transition to coeducation beginning in 2007. Now [it] enroll[s] 1,600 men and women, both undergraduate and postgraduate.”

The Rivers School, 333 Winter Street, 781-235-9300 – “The Rivers School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for students in grades 6 through 12.”

Tremont School, 57 Brown Street, 781-235-4805 – “The Tremont School is a new, independent, co-educational day school in metrowest Boston for grades 5 through 12, specifically designed to offer a lively, project-based curriculum for a deliberately diverse group of students.”

III. Weston Preschools & Day Care Programs

Interestingly, Weston Patch featured a Reader’s Choice Poll in March 2012, “The Best Preschool or Day Care in Weston is…”, and according to the poll, “With 998 votes and six comments, Roxbury-Weston Programs, Inc., came in first place, with North Avenue Nursery School following with 837 votes and 14 comments. Beginnings School, Weston Wing, Red Barn Nursery School and The Mosaic School rounded out the top six.”

Beginning Child Development Center, 210 South Avenue, 781-891-1011 – Beginnings offers programs for infants and toddlers as well as for preschool, Junior Kindergarten, SPARK Kindergarten and an Afterschool Program for children in Kindergarten through Grade 3.

Countryside Playschool, 130 Newton Street, 781-899-5417 – Countryside Playschool is a preschool which “accepts 2 to 3 year olds.”

The Learning Zone, 101 River Road, 781-642-6787 – The Learning Zone offers programs to infants and toddlers as well as part time and full-time preschool and full and part day Kindergarten. The children range in age from one month to 6 years.

The Mosaic School, 2 North Avenue, 781-647-1155 – The Mosaic School is a “small early childhood program” for children 15 months to 5 years.

North Avenue Nursery School, 377 North Avenue, 781-894-4377 – This school operates two classes, one for ages 3 and 4 and a pre Kindergarten for ages 4 and 5.

Red Barn Nursery School, 724 Boston Post Road, 781-893-8020 – “The Red Barn tradition is one of parents and teachers working together for the benefit of all the children. The school was established in 1943 and is one of the oldest cooperative nursery schools in the Boston area.” Children range in age from 2.9 to 5 years (pre Kindergarten).

Regis College Children’s Center, 235 Wellesley Street, 781-768-7096 – “The Regis College Children’s Center enrolls children ages 15 months to 5 years old. The RCCC provides child care and education services to children of Regis College staff and faculty, and families of surrounding communities.” Regis also offers a private Kindergarten program called Academy Kindergarten.

Roxbury-Weston Programs, Inc., 349 Boston Post Road, 781-891-6710 – “When [Roxbury-Weston] began, [it was] a socially relevant and progressive project by joining children from diverse communities together to learn, play and understand each other. The communities [it] served knew the value of a good education and the greater value of social understanding and thinking. Today Roxbury-Weston Programs is the longest running voluntary desegregation education program in the country.” Children range in age from 2.9 to 5 years (pre Kindergarten).

Weston Windows, 2 and 10 Alphabet Lane (at Country and Woodland Elementary Schools), 781-786-5240 – “It is the philosophy of this program that all children are unique and special. [The program offers] a developmentally-appropriate preschool classroom that supports both children with special needs and children who are developing at a typical pace [and that] recognizes each child’s strengths, individual needs, pace and style of learning.” There are two classrooms at both Country and Woodland Schools.

Weston Wing, 313 North Avenue, 781-891-9021 – “Weston Wing is a non-profit nursery school/child care center…. Parents may enroll their children for three, four or five days per week, … and parents of young toddlers have the additional option to choose a two day morning, extended day, or full day program. Weston Wing enrolls 78 children per day.”

I hope this information about the Weston schools helps answer some general questions and serves as a preliminary guide. For more detailed information or with specific questions, please click on the link to the school’s website or call the school directly. On a personal note, my children attended the Red Barn Nursery School and Weston Windows, and then have come up the Woodland Elementary School track into Field and the Middle Schools. And so if you have questions about these particular schools, please contact me, Lisa Curlett (781-267-2844 or www.homesalesbylisa.com). Please also contact me for more information about the real estate market in Weston, Wellesley, Wayland and the surrounding towns or for a complimentary home appraisal.

* The quoted information throughout this post is taken from each school’s particular website.

** Source: Weston PTO 2011-2012 Student Directory.

Are you familiar with US Weekly Magazine’s “25 Things You Don’t Know about Me,” which features celebrities getting personal and sharing some lesser known facts about themselves?  As I was reading last week’s segment on Madeleine Stowe, I thought it would be such a great idea to bring this same concept to Weston, MA….  I’m starting with just 10, and then I’ll continue with more fascinating fun facts over time….

So without further ado, here are 10 Things You Might Not Know About Weston, MA:

1. Weston is celebrating its 300th anniversary in 2013.  According to Wikipedia, “The Town of Weston was originally established as the West Precinct of Watertown in 1698, and the town was separately incorporated as the town of Weston in 1713.”  Planning for the big celebration is just getting underway, and if you’re interested, you can request to be part of the Weston 300 Group on Facebook or email the group at Weston300@groups.facebook.com.

2. Weston has more than 2,000 acres of conservation land.  The Weston Forest & Trail Association owns 186 acres, and there are approximately 100 miles of trails.  Known for its rural feel, open space, trails, meadows and woods, Weston is conveniently located a mere 12* miles from Boston – it’s the best of both worlds.

3. Weston has two reservoirs: First, the Weston Reservoir, located off of Ash Street, is part of the greater Boston’s water supply and maintained by the MWRA (Massachusetts Water Resources Authority).  This is a popular spot for residents and visitors to walk their dogs, enjoy for exercise and simply just appreciate the beauty of it.  Second, the Norumbega Reservoir, located off of Glen Road and Oak Street, is a 125 million gallon water storage tank now used to hold water.  This reservoir was opened to the public a few years ago for recreational use.

4. Weston has a government comprised of the following – an Open Town Meeting, Board of Selectmen and Town Manager.  As delineated on the town’s website, “The Town Meeting is the legislative body and must approve all spending, changes in the Town By-laws and Zoning By-laws.  It is conducted by the elected Town Moderator.  Any citizen of Weston who is a registered voter may participate in Town Meeting.”

5. Weston just approved an override for a new Field School, the elementary school housing grades 4 and 5.  The new school is scheduled to open in September 2014.  Weston is also in the midst of constructing a new science wing for its high school, which is expected to open for the 2012-2013 school year.

6. Weston was Ranked #1 Best Public High School by Boston Magazine in 2010 and 2009.

7. Weston has a Recreation Department, which provides wonderful programs, classes and activities for all ages.  Here is the Spring/Summer 2012 Brochure so you can get a glimpse of what Weston Recreation is all about. In addition to the approximately 500 programs offered over the course of the year to more than 7,500 participants, the Recreation Department also manages Memorial Pool and coordinates the Concerts on the Town Green during the summer on Wednesday evenings.  The concerts are a great way for the entire family to have fun together, enjoy the music, dance, picnic and more.

8. Weston is and has been the home to many well-known figures, including David Ortiz, Jerry Remy, Bobby Orr, Jim Pallotta and Steve Pagliuca.

9. Weston is a somewhat dry town.  From 1838 to 2008, Weston was a dry town, but in 2008, the town voted that Omni Foods could sell wine in its supermarket.  The sale of beer and hard liquor are still prohibited, however.

10. Weston was briefly considered, in 1967, as a site for a stadium for the professional football team then known as the Boston Patriots.  As most of us know, the stadium was ultimately built in Foxborough, MA, and today it is known as Gillette Stadium.

These are just some of the fun facts about Weston, MA.  There are many more to come…so stay tuned.  But in the meantime, do you have any special Weston facts that you’d like to share? I can’t wait to hear….

* This mileage distance is per the town’s website found under the “About Weston” section. I have also seen other sources saying the distance between Weston and Boston is 15 miles.

Before we get to the task at hand of reporting on the Weston, MA real estate activity over the last two weeks, I want to say three words to you – Field School Project.  Tonight (Monday, November 14, 2011) is an important evening for the Weston Public Schools – it’s a Special Town Meeting and the final vote for the Field School Project.  To give you some background, Field School is part of Weston’s elementary school system and houses grades 4 and 5.  The building, which was built in 1950 as the Weston High School, is in need of significant structural repair, and as Wicked Local summarizes the situation, “After years of study and deliberation, the Weston Public Schools is requesting funds to construct a new school building to replace the existing two-story modern-style brick structure.”  The town voted on Saturday, November 12, 2011, for a Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion to fund the Field School Project, and it passed 849 (yes) to 231 (No).  And although Saturday’s vote passed with a majority, there is still one more step in the process.  The Special Town Meeting is tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium, and according to the town, “The primary purpose for the Special Town Meeting will be to approve the construction of a new Field School, which must pass with two-thirds (2/3) majority in order for the project to move forward.”  Please support the Weston Public Schools, and vote tonight!  And for even more information on the process and project, click Important Information Regarding the Field School.

Now on to the real estate front…. Market activity was solid in the last two weeks in Weston. Six single-family homes came on the market, and four sold.* As a point of reference, our inventory (95) is consistent with where it was in my last report (96) as well as where it was this time last year (96). And despite our recent activity, Thanksgiving and the holidays are quickly approaching, which usually means a bit of a slowdown in the real estate market, and so it will be interesting to see what these next few weeks bring.

To fully enjoy all of the market stats, please click Weston Pinnacle Report 10-31-2011-11-13-2011 for the details.  And if you are considering putting your house on the market in the spring, please call me for a complimentary home appraisal or with questions about the market.

* Sold means “pending/under agreement” and not yet closed.