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McGovern News!
October 28, 2022
We sure packed A LOT into this week! We wrapped up unit 1 in ELA, have been progress monitoring some of our students to ensure we are closing gaps, had picture day and walk to school day!
Thank you to Mr. Shoenfelt for organizing a a fun walk to school day. We are so excited to carry on McGovern traditions. Special thanks to our district personnel, faculty and staff, Medway police and fire, the VFW, our bus drivers and crossing guards and YOU, our families for making today a success. Students really enjoyed the event and we are really glad the weather cooperated!
Please find important updates below, like the Scholastic Book Fair that starts on Monday.
As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to your child's teacher or me with any questions or concerns.
Have a great weekend.
Best,
Amy McDonald, Principal
Orange and Black Day
Halloween is on Monday and we are continuing with our tradition of inviting students and staff to wear orange and black! This is a tradition at McGovern School, where it's common to see a lot of creative outfits and hats. We ask that students not wear any costumes or masks to school.
Classroom T-shirts
If you have not ordered a T shirt and would like to order one for the price of $10, please email Caitlin Creed.
If you would like a T-shirt but have any type of financial hardship which would prevent you from ordering please email Amy McDonald and we are happy to help.
Productive Struggle
The article is a quick read and well worth finding the benefits of productive struggle in our children. Building this skill at home helps us tremendously at school too (we are working on it there too!) How will you provide opportunities for productive struggle for your child this week?
Principal Coffee Hours
I am pleased to share that the first coffee hour will be held on Monday, November 14th from either 9:00-10:00 am OR 4:00-5:00 pm (it will be the same presentation at each time slot). I will provide families with an update on our beginning of year data as well as talk about our new literacy curriculum, myView.
Please mark your calendars for upcoming coffee hours this year:
November 14, 2022
December 12, 2022
January 23, 2023
March 13, 2023
May 8, 2023
I hope to see families at our first coffee hour of the year!
Walk to School Day
Picture Retakes
Please click here to view the Geskus Families FAQ's for our upcoming picture day.
Veteran's Day Project
myView Unit 2 is starting next week!
We're entering into new units in ELA! Our students did an amazing job in unit 1 learning foundational skills, reading various genres of text, and engaging in a research project.
Below you will find some brief information about each unit. Each grade’s unit has a science focus and will build on students' skills with reading and writing informational texts.
Kindergarten
Reading:
Unit Theme: Living Together
Essential Question: What do living things need?
Genre: Informational Text
Writing:
Writing Informational Texts (List Books)
Grade 1
Reading:
Unit Theme: I Spy
Essential Question: How do living things grow and change?
Genre: Informational Text
Writing:
Writing Informational Texts
Open Lab Night 2022
The Center for the Advancement of STEM Education (CASE) invites you to Open Lab Night 2022, an event for the entire community, especially K-12 students. Open Lab Night features STEM activities and demonstrations. This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Parking is available in the Bridgewater State University Parking Garage. The BSU Observatory may be open past the time of Open Lab Night (weather permitting).
Date: Wednesday, November 9th 5:00 – 8:00 PM
Location: Dana Mohler-Faria Science & Mathematics Center
The registration link is https://forms.gle/tMhreVwof3ffmBKp8
Please note: BSU requires participants to wear masks in educational spaces (classrooms and labs). All participants in a group must follow these guidelines.
McGovern Food Drive to Support Medway Village Food Pantry
The Kindergarten class is partnering with Medway Village Food Pantry to run a FOOD DRIVE from October 31st-November 10th. Please use this link for information about the best items to donate.
Thank you for your participation!
Preschool Drop In Sessions
Parents of preschool students are invited to a drop in session with Sue Frederick, Assistant Director of Student Services. Preschool parents are welcome to come and share their experience and/or ask any questions they may have. Please see this flyer for more information.
Student Absences
Community Forum: Columbus Day or Indigenous People Day Designation
The School Committee would like to invite interested community members to join a Public Forum to discuss future school calendars reflecting the observance of Columbus Day and/or Indigenous Peoples Day. Please join us on Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. in the Presentation Room at Medway Middle School. The School Committee will have the option to vote on this decision at the conclusion of the forum.
Equity Steering Committee Underway
FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH APPLICATION
During the 2022-2023 school year, all students will receive free breakfast and lunch at school. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has provided money to do this for one year through the State budget.
We do need your help to ensure that families and our district receive all the financial resources for which it qualifies. Please fill out and submit the application for free and reduced price school meals. When a family qualifies by completing this form it provides additional support both locally and through the state. In addition, financial support to the Medway Public Schools is impacted based on the number of students who qualify for free or reduced priced meals.
The information you provide is confidential. We follow strict federal rules to keep your information private.
Nurse's Notes
Halloween is just around the corner and the holiday season will soon be upon us. With this comes celebrations and sweet treats. This is just a reminder that hard candy, lollipops, caramels and other treats, as well as cough drops and throat lozenges, place active children at risk for choking. Please refrain from sending these items to school with your child.
Many of you have probably read or heard about the recent increase of respiratory illnesses, especially Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), in young children. Below is a link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention RSV website for your information. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s health, I refer you to your child’s health care provider.
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) | CDC
If your child needs to take medication at school, prescription or over the counter, orders from your child’s health care provider are needed. The medication in its original container or a pharmacy labeled bottle must be brought to the Nurse’s Office by an adult. Students are not to carry medications to and from school.
As always, I am available to discuss your child’s health care needs at school. I can be reached by phone at 508-533-6626 extension 5354 or email at pmckay@medwayschools.org.
Thank you, stay healthy, and enjoy the Season!
Penny McKay, RN
Family Conferences
Conference Dates:
11/8: Afternoon Conferences (half day for students)
11/9: Evening Conferences
11/17: Afternoon Conferences (Half day for students)
Community Education
Our Fall Brochure continues to offer many one-night adult enrichment and wellness classes through December. Call a friend and enjoy an evening out at our Paint & Sip Event at the Thayer House or create the following - Sea Glass Trees, Autumn Candle Centerpieces, Holiday Boxwood Trees, Messages From Spirit, Divination Tools 101, Holiday Wreath with the Community Farm, Jewelry Making for Parent & Child, plus much more!
The Book Fair is Coming THIS Week!
The Fall SCHOLASTIC Book Fair is starting Monday, October 31st!!
Students will have the option to purchase books during their regular library time.
McGovern is hosting the Book Fair (in person, for students only) from October 31st-November 4th, and online from October 31-November 13th.
If you are sending your child in with money for the book fair please send the money in a ziplock bag and label it with their first and last name as well as their teachers name.
Please account for Sales Tax when sending your child in with money or setting up an E-Wallet.
Parents and guardians can shop online and have items shipped directly to them.
Free shipping on all book orders over $25
E -Wallets can be set up for students. Directions on how to set e-wallets up can be found on the link below.
*Please note that any money you put onto an e-wallet is considered store credit. Any remaining funds will be turned into a Scholastic Gift Card and non-refundable.
Here is the link to access the Fair:
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/mcgovern
Or use this QR code!
Please email Mat Holt at McGovern MHolt@medwayschools.org if you have any questions.
Reminders!
Supporting Shriners Hospital
At least 4 families in Medway have been helped by Shriners Hospital for Children in Boston over the years. The Jackson family, the Davis family, the Fagerson family, and most recently the MacLeod family this summer. All at no cost thanks to the incredible Shriners Hospital!
Shriners hospital collects can tabs for money. If you would like to join us in thanking Shriners Hospital on behalf of these families you can collect can tabs and drop them at the fire station or police station. If you have a student at McGovern School you can have them bring them to school to drop in a container in our main office. Thank you for your support!
COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine Clinic
School Van Drivers
The district is currently hiring two drivers for 7D vans. Pay is up to $25/hour and the position is benefits eligible. The position is for four hours per day, and summer work is available but not mandatory. Interested candidates can email transportation@medwayschools.org or call 508-321-4728.
Follow us on Social Media!
Did you know there are several ways to follow us on social media? Please see below for our links. Please also note that we will not be interacting with our Facebook page, as it is a place for us to post information. As always, if you have any questions regarding your child and/or the school, please reach out to your child's teacher, the front office, or administration.
McGovern Elementary School: Twitter: @McGovernElem
Facebook: @mcgovernelem
Instagram: @mcgovernelem
T.H.R.I.V.E. Speaker Series
This school year, Medway T.H.R.I.V.E. is offering opportunities for parents/guardians to learn how they can promote student self-efficacy and sleep. Joanie Geltman, MSW, will share best practices for growing children’s self-efficacy, and Judith Owens, MD, will help parents and guardians understand the impact of sleep on academic and athletic achievement. Full event details can be found here.
Breakfast and Lunch
Guardian and Student Information Review Process
MPS requests that all guardians complete the Online Registration process, better known as the “beginning of year packet”, within the Parent Portal. Please complete the application by September 30, 2022. Completing the online registration ensures we have the most accurate and up to date information for your child(ren) and helps us stay in touch with families. To access the Online Registration Process, please login to the Parent Portal via a computer. This is the URL address https://medwayma.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/medway.jsp then choose MORE > Online Registration from the left menu. Follow the prompts to review and confirm the information we have on file. Please note that it may be difficult to complete the forms via a smartphone. Guardians without a portal account can email parent@medwayschools.org for an activation code.
Important Dates!
October 31: Halloween, wear orange and black
October 31-November 4: Scholastic Book Fair
November 1: School-wide Pajama day
November 3: COVID-19/Flu Vaccine Clinic, 3:30-6:00 PM- Burke-Memorial School
November 4: Arena Day, No Preschool Classes
November 6: Daylight Savings Time, move clocks back one hour
November 8: Early Release Day, 12:00 PM (K and 1); 11:30 ALL preschool, no PM classes
November 9: Evening Conferences
November 11: No School, Veteran's Day
November 17: Early Release Day, 12:00 PM (K and 1); 11:30 ALL preschool, no PM classes
November 23: Early Release Day, 12:00 PM (K and 1); 11:30 ALL preschool, no PM classes
November 24/25: No School, Thanksgiving Recess
November 30: School Site Council, 3:20 pm
December 2: Arena Day, No Preschool Classes
Do you need the Smore Newsletter Translated?
Here is the link for the master directions in English.
Here is the link for Spanish.
Here is the link for French.
Here is the link for Russian.
Here is the link for Arabic
Here is the link for Portuguese.
Here is the link for Chinese (traditional).
Here is the link for Tamil.
Here is the link for Telugu.
Haga clic en los siguientes enlaces para obtener instrucciones sobre cómo traducir el boletín.
Aquí está el enlace para español.
Here is the link for Spanish.
Veuillez cliquer sur les liens suivants pour savoir comment traduire le bulletin d'information.
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.
Clique nos links a seguir para obter instruções sobre como traduzir o boletim informativo.
Aqui está o link para o espanhol.
Here is the link for Portuguese.
單擊以下鏈接以獲取有關如何翻譯時事通訊的說明。
這是西班牙語的鏈接。
Here is the link for Chinese (traditional).
செய்திமடலை எவ்வாறு மொழிபெயர்ப்பது என்பது குறித்த வழிமுறைகளுக்கு பின்வரும் இணைப்புகளைக் கிளிக் செய்யவும்.
ஸ்பானிஷ் மொழிக்கான இணைப்பு இதோ.
Here is the link for Tamil.
వార్తాలేఖను ఎలా అనువదించాలో సూచనల కోసం క్రింది లింక్లపై క్లిక్ చేయండి.
స్పానిష్ కోసం ఇక్కడ లింక్ ఉంది.
Here is the link for Telugu.
انقر فوق الروابط التالية للحصول على إرشادات حول كيفية ترجمة النشرة الإخبارية.
هنا هو الرابط
Here is the link for Arabic