Healthy Waltham teaches second-graders about punpkins

In a school district where more than one-third of the student population speaks English as a second language teachers and students in sixth-10th grade can brag about high English scores on the 2009 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exams.

Gann Academy, the Jewish high school based in Waltham and serving the Greater Boston community, announced this week that a small group of anonymous donors donated $12.25 million to the school. The school’s most significant contribution in its 13-year history, it was restricted to eliminating the long-term debt.

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Plympton Elementary School fourth-graders enjoyed fun and interesting science experiments on Tuesday with  Johnny Sadoff of the visiting High Tough High Tech enrichment program.

The president of Brandeis University, who came under intense criticism for recommending that the school close its art museum and sell parts of its $350 million collection, says he is stepping down. 

Kennedy Middle School seventh-graders place pinwheels in front of the school Monday. About 70 students made a commitment to peace for United Nations' International Peace Day.

Shuffling into the Whittemore Elementary School gymnasium in their stocking feet, a classroom full of third-graders turned their eyes toward a massive, hand-painted inflatable globe.

Waltham Community Access will air President Obama's "Message of Hope and Responsibility for America’s Students"  on MAC-TV today, 7 p.m.; tomorrow, 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 11, 3  and 6 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 12, 12:30 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 13, 3:30 and 8 p.m. MAC-TV can be found on Comcast Channel 98 (22 without a box), RCN Channel 15 and Verizon Channel 43. 

Kindergartners lined up for the first day of school Tuesday at Stanley Elementary School. Here are a few of the highlights.

School bus routes for Waltham Public Schools for 2009-2010.