Foleys or Mr. Dooleys if you have to be in the city. Druid in Cambridge if its still there. Plough and Stars is not an Irish kit bar but if you want an absolute quality pub type experience that’s the money. Favorite was the Littlest Bar but that’s gone too. 😒

greatly diminished returns! I have seen our schools tank between my oldest’s time here and my youngest’s. And for what? We are still not properly funding and asking for more overrides🤷🏻‍♀️

they word it all over the state that mcas is required by law for grades 3-8 but the truth is the schools are required by law to OFFER it. Parents may refuse with no penalty for their student:

https://www.cpsd.us/departments/research_assessment_evaluation/mcas

Links

https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/story/news/education/2023/01/04/ma-advocates-educate-families-on-opting-out-of-mcas-standardized-test/69766963007/

You would have to ask our moron superintendent. The goal 2 years ago was to not have to pay as many teachers. But the experiment has failed - we are not providing adequate aides to make the set-up work nor are we providing the amount of team planning time we were told would be made available (for teachers to teach “across a curriculum” they need to meet on paid, scheduled time weekly). Teachers are basically handling social-emotional issues and not having enough time to teach. The staff admit they are getting though less than 2/3 the material than before this experiment.

It is only mandatory for grade 10. I am also a college professor and while I do appreciate the snapshot of “learning” MCAS can give our district, the time spent prepping for the test pretty much renders that data useless. Combine with how far behind my kids are this year due to our district’s experiment cutting SPED and forcing teaching teams to manage classrooms with remedial, honors level and standard level students combined and we really should not be wasting a minute on these. My 8th grader is excused this year (you can find a standard exemption letter online).

Salon Aaya in Somervile - see Linda❤️

I used to see Shiva Barton but looks like they have moved practices to Winchester. There is a practice off Mass Ave in Arlington (not far) called Balance Natural as well - have heard good things.

Sounds like western MA is your jam. Love it there. Amherst/Northampton has everything you need.

welcome! I’m on the North Shore in MA. The state varies a lot by where you go - I really really miss living in Cambridge and Somerville but we were priced out as buyers needing a family home. Up here the main difference between NC and my area is the people are not friendly. Like, at all. Also, winter is 100 months long. If you buy a place outside of Boston make sure you do a practice commute before signing anything. 18 miles from Boston=1 hour on the road or road/train combo.

we live in Marblehead and for years whenever I saw a Saint John’s Prep sticker (sjp) I yelled sarah jessica parker! in my head. I think it was 5 years before anyone told me what it actually was