Edward Devotion School

Edward Devotion School

The Edward Devotion Elementary School, affectionately known as "Devo," (which tends to confuse a lot of people) 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),[1] the constable for what was then Muddy River around 1650. Devotion's 17th-century house[2] is preserved by the Brookline Historical Society[3] 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 800 students from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade, drawn primarily from the Coolidge Corner 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 languages are spoken at the school. Parents are "encouraged to share their cultural traditions in the classroom."

Student life

The school has a Parent Teacher Organization supporting activities including field trips, "Arts Council," a science fair, Math night, and an International Night.

Until 2005, the school librarian was award-winning author Norman H. Finkelstein who wrote the book The Other 1492[4] (not to be confused with the similarly named professor Norman Finkelstein). Another former librarian, Christine McDonnell, is an author of many popular children's books including Dog Wants to Play and Ballet Bug. She retired in 2014.

The interim principal of the Edward Devotion School is Joseph Connelly.

In popular culture

The school is the inspiration for Abigail Adams Junior High School, the fictional school featured in the Beacon Street Girls children's books series.

References

  1. ↑ Biographical entry
  2. ↑ House website
  3. ↑ Brookline Historical Society website
  4. ↑ Photo-article showing Finkelstein with Devotion students

External links

Coordinates: 42°20′40.35″N 71°07′26.19″W / 42.3445417°N 71.1239417°W / 42.3445417; -71.1239417

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