Edward Devotion School
Encyclopedia
The Edward Devotion Elementary School, affectionately known as "Devo," is a public elementary school
located at 345 Harvard Street, Brookline, Massachusetts
, USA. The school was founded in 1894 on land bequeathed to the town by Edward Devotion (1667–1744), and is probably named for his eponymous grandfather (1621–1685) the Constable
for what was then Muddy River around 1650. Devotion's 17th century house is preserved by the Brookline Historical Society and stands amidst part of its original gardens in the school's forecourt.
The school was attended by John F. Kennedy from kindergarten in 1922 to third grade.
neighborhood, and is the largest of eight public elementary schools in Brookline. The school emphasizes diversity, featuring Hebrew language
and Societal and Behavioural Special Education
programs, and English as a second language to one third of the student body. Approximately 28 different languages are spoken at the school. Parents are "encouraged to share their cultural traditions in the classroom."
The school has a Parent Teacher Organization
supporting activities including field trip
s, "Arts Council," a science fair
and Math and Science
Nights, "Reading in the Morning," a Diversity committee, an International Night and a Cabaret
.
Until 2005, the school librarian was award-winning author Norman H. Finkelstein who wrote the book "The Other 1492" (not to be confused with the similarly named professor Norman Finkelstein
).
children's books series.
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
located at 345 Harvard Street, Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
, USA. The school was founded in 1894 on land bequeathed to the town by Edward Devotion (1667–1744), and is probably named for his eponymous grandfather (1621–1685) the Constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
for what was then Muddy River around 1650. Devotion's 17th century house is preserved by the Brookline Historical Society and stands amidst part of its original gardens in the school's forecourt.
The school was attended by John F. Kennedy from kindergarten in 1922 to third grade.
Demographics
The school is attended by over 700 students from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade, drawn primarily from the Coolidge CornerCoolidge Corner
Coolidge Corner is a neighborhood of Brookline, Massachusetts, centered around the intersection of Beacon Street and Harvard Street. The neighborhood takes its name from the Coolidge brothers' general store that opened in 1857 at that intersection on the location of today's S.S...
neighborhood, and is the largest of eight public elementary schools in Brookline. The school emphasizes diversity, featuring Hebrew language
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
and Societal and Behavioural Special Education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
programs, and English as a second language to one third of the student body. Approximately 28 different languages are spoken at the school. Parents are "encouraged to share their cultural traditions in the classroom."
The school has a Parent Teacher Organization
Parent-Teacher Association
In the U.S. a parent-teacher association or Parent-Teacher-Student Association is a formal organization composed of parents, teachers and staff that is intended to facilitate parental participation in a public or private school. Most public and private K-8 schools in the U.S. have a PTA, a...
supporting activities including field trip
Field trip
A field trip or excursion, known as school trip in the UK and school tour in Ireland, is a journey by a group of people to a place away from their normal environment...
s, "Arts Council," a science fair
Science fair
A science fair is generally a competition where contestants present their science project results in the form of a report, display board, and models that they have created. Science fairs allow students in grade schools and high schools to compete in science and/or technology activities...
and Math and Science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
Nights, "Reading in the Morning," a Diversity committee, an International Night and a Cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
.
Until 2005, the school librarian was award-winning author Norman H. Finkelstein who wrote the book "The Other 1492" (not to be confused with the similarly named professor Norman Finkelstein
Norman Finkelstein
Norman Gary Finkelstein is an American political scientist, activist and author. His primary fields of research are the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the politics of the Holocaust. He is a graduate of Binghamton University and received his Ph.D in Political Science from Princeton University...
).
Current events
The principal of the Edward Devotion School is Mr. Steve Silvestri, replacing Mr. Gerardo Martinez, who is now principal of a different school. A search for a new principal is taking place, as Mr. Silvestri is just filling in while a new principal is found.Sports
The Devotion School has been known as the "sports" school, placing first many times in all sports between the Brookline public middle schools. Devotion has a football league called the DFL (for Devotion Football League), The DVL (for Devotion Volleyball League), and The DDL (for Devotion Dodgeball League).Information
The school is the inspiration for Abigail Adams Junior High School, the fictional school featured in the Beacon Street GirlsBeacon Street Girls
The Beacon Street Girls is a book series by Annie Bryant. The series, which is published by B*tween Productions, Inc., is designed for girls aged 9–14, and typically produced following consultations with various specialists in issues for girls...
children's books series.