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McGovern News!
December 3, 2021
I hope you enjoyed the Thanksgiving recess with friends and family and that you were able to find some downtime over the break. Happy Hanukkah to all of our community members celebrating. I am wishing you and your family peace and light this holiday season.
It's really hard to believe we started the month of December. Our positivity committee has come up with some fun December holiday event days we invite students, faculty and staff to participate in. Please see below for more information.
Finally, we completed our first day of parent/guardian/teacher conferences yesterday and look forward to our next one on Tuesday. If you have not scheduled a conference with your child's teacher, please take this opportunity to learn about how they are doing academically and social emotionally. These important conversations between home and school give families a clear picture of where students currently are performing, goals for the future and an opportunity for families to ask any questions. Our teachers look forward to connecting with families and having individualized conversations to strengthen our partnership.
Have a great weekend!
Best,
Amy McDonald, Principal
McGovern School... The "I CAN" School
Include
Cooperate
Achieve
Nurture
Nurture means to care for and encourage the growth or development of. This comes naturally to early childhood educators and they pour their heart and soul into teaching every single day.
As we know, child development is much more than academics, we focus on the whole child. Of course our talented faculty and staff nurture your child's academics, but equally as important they nurture social-emotional, physical, and creative capacities. It is a priority that children feel comfortable enough to take risks, experiment, try new things, and make mistakes.
Our teachers spend time every day fostering nurturing environments for students to thrive in. We help students to be part of a community, learn how to problem solve, get along with others, maintain focus, and to try their best. This can look different for each student. We pay attention to the cues students give us and provide reinforcement, healthy limits and redirection, clear and consistent rules and expectations, and opportunities to "mess up" in a safe environment. Students have to know they can make a mistake and we can work to fix or restore it. We do not expect perfection, ever. We only expect that children try their best.
When student have a stronger sense of self, they are more likely to take risks and thrive academically.
Here is a quick article with practical ideas that you can do at home to nuture all aspects of your child. I am sure none are new ideas to you but always a good reminder!
Winter Clothing
If you family has a need for any of these items, please contact our school adjustment counselor at aslevin@medwayschools.org
December Holiday Spirit Days at McGovern!
Dec 6 - wear blue and/or white for Hanukkah
Dec 10 - wear black and red and/or green for Kwanza
Dec 17- wear an Ugly Sweater or red and green for Christmas
Dec 23- Pajama Day
We encourage all students, faculty and staff to participate in our spirit days!
MFPA Update
Medway Friends of the Performing Arts has two updates below, please take a look. We are so thankful for their partnership. MFPA generously donated funds to cover our 4th Grade band instrument masks recently. Thank you MFPA!
Medway High School Winter Concert & Art Show
Save some room for some treats?!
December 4th is the return to the auditorium for the first band and chorus concert since December 2019! Come listen to our talented music students and enjoy the creative display of the art students!
Need some treats for the holidays, make a visit to the MFPA Bake Sale/Cookie Walk! The holiday treats will be available for purchase throughout the evening. All proceeds go directly back to the Medway Performing Arts students, including lesson grants, scholarships, and enrichment activities for the music curriculum.
We are still looking for a few more bakers. Please email medwayfriendsofperformingarts@gmail.com by December 5th if you are interested. All baked good donations must be individually wrapped and dropped off at the high school lobby by 5pm.
MEDWAY PERFORMING ARTS GEAR IS HERE!
The MPFA is excited to announce the arrival of Medway Performing Arts gear! Use the link below to access the online ordering site for a variety of items including t-shirts, sweatshirts, blankets and more. Time to show off some pride for the talented Medway students in Band, Chorus, and Drama.
A portion of all orders will directly benefit the MFPA to help us support the Performing Arts at all Medway Schools.
Picture Retake Day
Students will receive their picture packages early next week. If you ordered a digital sharing file (and no prints), those photos will be emailed to the address provided by parents.
There will be picture retake day on Tuesday December 14th. To have your student's picture retaken, students should bring in their physical packages to hand to a photographer before they sit for their retake. Students who have not taken a photo can sit for their school pictures on this day as well.
If you have any school-based questions do not hesitate to reach out. For any questions about things like: late orders, missing orders, refunds, etc. please contact Coffeepond's Lifeguard customer service team directly at 1-800-632-2323 EXT "0" or Lifeguards@coffeepond.com
Nutrislice App
You can always view the most up-to-date menu on the Nutrislice App. While the website doesn't always update changes, the app does, type in McGovern, and get the most up to date menu! You can find the app here:
COVID Vaccine Second Dose
In partnership with the Town, we have hosted two Pediatric Vaccination clinics. Participants should have their second appointments already scheduled. Please make sure you know the return date for the clinic you have attended and share those completed vaccine cards with the District!
November 18 Follow up Clinic: December 9th
For those who participated in the November 18th clinic. December 9th is your follow-up date. This will take place from 3:00-7:00 PM in the Burke-Memorial Cafeteria. You should have already to registered during the last clinic.
November 29th Follow up Clinic: December 20, 2021
This clinic will take place in the Medway Middle School Presentation Room (door 7) again, from 3:00-6:00 PM. Please park in the side parking lot.
Proof of Student Vaccination Request
As your elementary and middle school children become fully vaccinated we ask you to please share proof of their vaccination with our school nurses by completing this form: K-8 Vaccination Status Response. If your student attends Medway High School and we have previously reached out to you for proof of immunization and you have yet to respond you may share their information through the use of this form: 9-12 Vaccination Status Response.
MPS COVID INformation HUB
Family- Teacher Conferences
State policy requires any person in a school building to wear a mask. If any family would prefer a virtual conference please just let your child's teacher know. If you have any questions or challenges with conference registration after receiving the classroom teacher's email, please reach out to them directly. We are excited to welcome our families back to our building to discuss student progress and goals!
Important- Please Complete
REMINDERS!
TEST AND STAY FLOW CHARTS
Test and Stay Flow Chart
Face Covering Policy
On August 31st, School Committee voted to reinstate last year's Face Covering Policy. Click here for the complete policy. This outlines the types of masks to be worn in school and when wearing a mask is required. Please see the face covering requirements for anyone inside the school building:
A face covering that covers the nose and mouth must be worn by all individuals in school buildings and on school transportation. Bandanas, neck gaiters, single layer face coverings, and face coverings with vents, ports or perforations of any kind are not permitted as an approved face covering.
Additionally, face masks or face coverings will not be required:
during mask breaks;
while eating or drinking;
while outside.
Breakfast and Lunch
Every child needs a healthy, nutritious meal to learn. Medway Public Schools offers nutritious meals to children each school day and breakfast and lunch will continue to remain free of charge through this school year. Please be sure to check out the menu here to ensure your child likes what is being served that day. You can find the menus by clicking on this link.
Communication
Important Dates!
Dec 7: Early Release, 11:30 AM (PK); 12:00 PM (K and 1), no lunch served
Dec 8: School Site Council, 3:15-4:15 PM
Dec 23: Early Release, 11:30 AM (PK); 12:00 PM (K and 1)
Dec 24-Jan 2: No School, Winter Recess
Jan 3: School Resumes
Do you need the Smore Newsletter Translated?
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Here is the link for French.
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Haga clic en los siguientes enlaces para obtener instrucciones sobre cómo traducir el boletín.
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Here is the link for French.
Пожалуйста, нажмите следующие ссылки для получения инструкций о том, как перевести информационный бюллетень.
Вот ссылка на русский.
Here is the link for Russian.