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Say Something Anonymous Reporting System
We are committed to creating and sustaining a comprehensive, coordinated effort to improve the overall safety and well-being of our students, educators, and administrators.
Doing this effectively requires a proactive approach with programs that equip students, parents, teachers, administrators, mental health, and local law enforcement to take meaningful action to protect our schools.
Our students are aware of the problems and struggles that their peers are facing on a day-to-day basis. We must empower them to know the signs of potential danger and give them the tools to help each other with the assistance of trained and caring adults. As you know, most conversations are taking place on social media; therefore, it is critical that we teach our students to look out for one another in text, video, and photos and act quickly to help a fellow student.
We are happy to announce the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System launch at Medway Middle School. To train students, our grade seven and eight students will be viewing a Say Something training video on October 5, 2023. The video educates students on the prevalence of school shootings, the impact they can have by reporting concerns, and how to report a tip. Our grade five and six students will be trained remotely by a live instructor who will use developmentally appropriate language to help students understand the importance of reporting and how to report a tip. This training will also occur on October 5th.
The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System trains youth and adults to recognize warning signs -- especially within social media -- of individuals who may be in crisis and to tell a trusted adult directly or via the anonymous reporting system.
Specifically, the Say Something program educates participants to:
Recognize the warning signs of someone who may be at risk of harming themselves or others.
Take every warning sign and threat seriously; act immediately to get help by talking to a trusted adult OR reporting it through the telephone hotline, mobile app, or website that is available 24/7/365
Sustain the curriculum and awareness via student clubs, in-school activities, call-to-action weeks, and ongoing training.
The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System program is provided at no cost by Sandy Hook Promise (SHP), a national nonprofit organization. More than 21 million people have participated in their research-based “Know the Signs” programs that include Say Something. They have a proven track record of working effectively with kids, parents, and teachers to improve school safety and strengthen an inclusive school culture. The program is age-appropriate and evidence-informed. To date, the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System and other SHP prevention programs have stopped multiple school shootings, suicides, and gun threats, as well as reducing other acts of violence and victimization like bullying/ cyberbullying and helping thwart cutting, drug use, and more.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact me directly.
Amanda
News from the Librarian - Young Adult Permission Form
Attention 5th and 6th grade families,
The book collection at the Medway Middle School library contains a wide range of titles to accommodate individual student needs. The middle school library collection includes books that are categorized as Young Adult (YA) novels. YA novels are generally intended for readers 12 years and older. The reading level, subject matter, and story lines of YA literature are typically consistent with the age and experience of the main character (students like to read about children older than them) and Young Adult literature spans the spectrum of fiction genres. YA stories that focus on the specific challenges of youth are sometimes referred to as coming-of-age novels. YA novels in our collection are marked with a red YA sticker on the spine. The Medway Public Library uses a similar sticker. Please consider having conversations about books with your child/ren.
As a parent, you have the right to decide which books are appropriate for your child. If you DO NOT WANT your child to check out YA books, please complete the YA Permission Form .This form, if you choose to submit, is due Friday, October 11, 2023.
If we do not receive a form from you, we will assume that you grant your child permission to borrow YA books.
These permission slips will be in effect for the 2023-2024 school year. If you would like to change your student’s permissions during the school year, please email Sarah Doyle at sdoyle@medwayschools.org.
Social Emotional Learning Wellness Lessons
We know that middle school students are facing increasingly demanding academic and social pressures which can affect their mood, relationships, ability to cope with stress, and academic performance. The Medway Middle School counseling department is excited to implement lessons to help your child develop skills demonstrated to increase resiliency, improve academic achievement, decrease behavior problems, and help students better navigate strong emotions and build healthy relationships. These skills are called social and emotional skills. Throughout the school year, students will be engaging in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in their Wellness classes and the lessons will be delivered by our school counseling department. Many of our SEL lessons are adapted from the University of Michigan TRAILS to Wellness Program and all lessons are connected to Massachusetts State Health Standards.
You can click the link below to learn more about our plan to engage students in SEL lessons in their Wellness Classes.
Curriculum Night - Feedback
It was wonderful to see so many families at Curriculum Night last Tuesday, evening. In an effort to improve our practice, we ask that families share feedback on their experience at Curriculum Night. Please take a moment to fill out this feedback form
Clubs and Activities Site
We are pleased to launch the Medway Middle School Clubs and Activities Site. Families are encouraged to view this site to learn more about our Clubs and Activities, find links to Club and Activity pages, or to learn more about our advisors and club meeting times. Please feel free to reach out to any of our advisors if you have questions about any of our clubs and activities.
Late Bus Returns to Medway Middle School
We are pleased to announce that the Medway Middle School Late Bus will return to service on Monday, October 2nd. Students who are staying afterschool for organized afterschool sports clubs or activities may ride the late bus. Additionally, students who have arranged to stay afterschool with a teacher may also take the late bus. The Late Bus will run on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons.
Students who intend to ride the late bus home from school will receive a late bus pass from their coach , teacher or advisor. We expect that Late Bus #2 will depart Medway Middle School between 3:15 and 3:20 during the first week. We expect that Late BUS #1 will depart Medway Middle School at 3:45pm. We are actively working with our Transportation Office to move up the departure time of Late Bus #1. While waiting for the late bus, students will be supervised and will encouraged to complete homework.
Late Bus Routes can be found here.
DESE Updated Health and Physical Education Standards
For the first time in over 20 years, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has updated its Health and Physical Education Standards. Our Wellness Department has identified a three-year plan to move towards full adoption of the new standards. This plan has three distinct phases: understand, update, and teach:
2023/24 school year- understand the new standards, identify gaps that exist within our wellness and social and emotional learning curricula, and begin a professional learning plan to address any professional knowledge gaps that exist
2024/25- update wellness and social and emotional learning curricula to ensure that all standards are addressed
- 2025/26- begin to teach the updated curricula
Medway Elementary and Secondary Parent Teacher Organization
Please take a moment to review the MSPTO meeting dates for the 2023-2024 school year. We encourage all families to attend at least one MSPTO meeting this year.
October 25, 2023 at 7pm in the MMS Library
November 29, 2023 - Annual Pop-Up Shop in the MHS Lobby at 6pm followed by meeting in Guidance area at 7:30pm
January 24, 2024 at 7pm on Zoom
March 20, 2024 at 7pm on Zoom
April 24, 2024 at 7pm in the MMS Library
May 22, 2024 at 7pm in the MHS Guidance area
Important Dates
October
October 2- Middle School Late Bus Begins
October 2- First Community Service , WEB, Yearbook and Robotics Club Meetings 2:00-3:10 pm
October 3- First Green Team Meeting 2:00-3:10 pm
October 4- Picture Day
October 3- & 10 Jazz Band Auditions 2:00-3:10 pm
October 5- First Comic Book Club and Science Fair Club Meetings 2:00-3:30 pm
October 6- Beginning of Year- Panorama Survey
October 9- School Closed - Indigenous People's Day
October 10- First TADA Meeting 2:00-3:10 pm
October 17th- First Student Council Meeting 2:00-3:10pm
October 18- Early Release Day- Professional Development
October 24- Tri-County Information Day for 8th Grade Students
October 26- First Math Club Meeting 2:00-3:10pm
