
With the 1963-1964 academic year fast approaching, Norwood Superintendent of Schools Philip O. Coakley has announced that school administrators will be on duty from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of next week to handle student registration.
Parents enrolling children in the public school system for the very first time are reminded that they must present an official birth certificate and a valid vaccination certificate at the time of registration. Kindergarten classes across the district are officially scheduled to begin on Monday, September 9, while all other schools for grades one through twelve will open their doors for the new term on Wednesday, September 4. Elementary schools will operate on a half-day schedule for the opening day, whereas junior and senior high schools will conduct regular full-day sessions beginning September 4.
Preparations for the new school year were formally initiated yesterday morning during an administrative organizational meeting held in the superintendent’s office to review upcoming curriculum and operational priorities. A general meeting for all school principals is scheduled for Tuesday, September 3, at 10:00 a.m. in their respective buildings. Additionally, a comprehensive orientation program for newly hired teachers will take place on Thursday and Friday, August 29 and 30. The orientation agenda features a Thursday morning coffee hour at the Prescott School Auditorium, where Superintendent Coakley will deliver welcoming remarks. Assistant Superintendent James R. Donovan will then introduce “Our Town and Schools,” followed by an administrative panel discussion titled “What Do We Teach” and “Time for Learning” featuring elementary principals. Special Services Directors and Supervisors will round out the professional program with a panel presentation focused on “Special Services at the Secondary Level,” with the orientation culminating in a guided tour of Norwood.
Concurrent with administrative planning, Dr. Coakley reported that summer maintenance and capital improvement projects across the district are progressing rapidly. Contracts have been activated for the complete refurbishing of girls’ restrooms at the Balch, Shattuck, and Winslow schools, while extensive roof repairs and flashing replacement work are nearly complete at the Balch School. Furthermore, the installation of a modern intercom system at the Balch School—awarded to the DeMambro Company—matches the advanced equipment recently installed at the junior high school. Exterior and interior painting at both the Shattuck and Winslow schools is slated to finish before classes resume, and a new flagpole, illuminated sign, light post, and spotlight have been successfully erected at the Administration Building.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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Youth Enriched at Summer School-August 13, 1974
Directing over 600 local students, Norwood’s public summer school program completed its 30-day session, highlighting strong popularity for enrichment classes in arts and trades alongside vital remedial and special education tutoring.

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Norwood School Committee Votes to Relocate School Administration Offices-August 1, 1974
The Norwood School Committee voted 5-2 to relocate central school administration offices to the Winslow School, pending cost estimates from Superintendent Philip O. Coakley.
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Uncertainty Looms Over Norwood Junior High South Opening Date-July 12, 1974
After three years of double sessions following a 1971 fire, Norwood officials faced the possibility of further delays for the new Junior High South.

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Unfinished Junior High To Open On Schedule-July 8, 1974
Discover the construction history of the $4.5 million Junior High South project in 1974, detailing the challenges faced during the transition from the old Washington Street school.

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School Board Rejects ‘Floating Principal’ Proposal-July 03, 1974
The Norwood School Committee held a contentious session on the evening of July 2, 1974, where, following two weeks of deliberation and a lengthy 90-minute executive session, the board voted 5-1 to reject a proposal to create a new administrative position titled “floating principal.“ The concept, initially championed by Committee Member Joseph M. Pentowski, was…

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School Drop-In Centers Possible In Fall-June 24, 1974
Citing summer custodial constraints and a lack of air conditioning, town officials vote to survey local youths during the summer to prepare for a fall launch.

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Public Schools Face Delays and Possible State Action on Mandatory Hot Lunch Program-August 31, 1973
Parents of elementary school students in Norwood will need to continue packing brown-bag lunches for the start of the academic year. School Superintendent Philip O. Coakley announced that the town will fail to meet the state-mandated September deadline for implementing a universal public school hot lunch program, exposing the municipality to potential legal action by…

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Andy Scafati Recalls 40 Seasons in Athletics Ahead of Norwood Retirement-September 7, 1972
Longtime Norwood High School athletic director Andy Scafati reflects on 40 years in sports and the remarkable expansion of the town’s athletic programs as he prepares to step down.

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School Board Reverses Vote, Keeps NorWest Woods Pupils at Oldham-August 29, 1972
In a reversal of a previous decision, the School Committee has voted to keep 46 elementary school children from the Nor-West Woods apartment complex at the Oldham School, rescinding a July 5 vote that would have transferred them to the Shattuck School. Superintendent Dr. Philip O. Coakley explained that the committee revoted on the matter…

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Norwood Sets $38 Tax Rate on Court-Ordered 100% Property Valuation for 1972-August 16, 1972
Announcing a 1972 tax rate of $38 per $1,000 under a court-ordered 100 percent property valuation, Assessor Chairman James J. Drummey concluded a major reassessment by Cole, Layer and Trumble.

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