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McGovern News!
August 25, 2023
It was great to see so many families at our recent events including our Preschool Playground Night, Kindergarten Playground Night, and Open House! I can't believe it, but the school year is here! Before we start next week, everyone at McGovern wishes you a fun and, hopefully, a little relaxing last summer weekend!
Please read below for important updates/information, school routines and important dates. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me in the main office. Looking forward to an amazing school year!
Best,
Amy McDonald, Principal
Welcome to McGovern!
We have several new staff members joining the McGovern community. Please join me in welcoming the following new staff members:
Ms. Jennifer Barrucci, Paraprofessional (Welcome back to McGovern!)
Ms. Marcia Berkowitz, ETS
Ms. Liz Collins, Kindergarten Teacher
Ms. Olivia Dalton, Paraprofessional
Ms. Suzanne Friel, Kindergarten Teacher
Ms. Meredith Golden, Preschool Paraprofessional
Ms. Tara Hebert, Preschool paraprofessional
Ms. Kaitlin Kelly, ELL Teacher
Ms. Susan Koh, Music Teacher
Ms. Hannah McNally, Paraprofessional
Ms. Susanna O'Leary, Paraprofessional
Ms. Chloe Olsen, Special Education Teacher
Ms. Robea Nordman, Visual Arts Teacher
Ms. Kelsey Norton, Paraprofessional
Ms. Alka Pai, Paraprofessional
Ms. Amanda Rice, Secretary
Ms. Lisa Richards, Paraprofessional
Ms. Danielle Sarno, Paraprofessional
We are thrilled to have such a talented group of professionals join our team!
Orientations & First Days of School
The first day of school for First Grade students is Wednesday, August 30, 2023 and it is a full school day. Kindergarten students and their parents are invited to an orientation on August 30th and the times can be found below:
9:30-10:00 AM: Rooms 4, 5, 6, 15
10:10-10:40 AM: Rooms 8, 9, 13, 14
The first day for Kindergarten students is on Thursday, August 31st and it is a full school day. Drop off begins at 8:35 AM and pick up is at 3:00 PM. Please note that kindergarten and first grade students who do not ride the bus should not be dropped off at school before 8:35 AM as there is no supervision for students before 8:35 AM.
Preschool students and their parents will have the opportunity to attend an orientation at McGovern School on August 30th in two different sessions. Full day and AM Preschool students and their parents can visit their classrooms on August 30th at 9:30 AM and preschool students and their parents assigned to PM Preschool are invited to attend an orientation on August 30th at 1:15 PM.
The first day for Preschool students is Thursday, August 31, 2023. The morning session runs from 8:35-11:05 AM, the afternoon session runs from 12:30-3:00 PM and the Full Day session runs from 8:35 AM - 3:00 PM.
Please mark your calendars that there is no school on Friday, September 1, or Monday, September 4th. School will resume on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.
Building Updates
Medway App!
- Community Update from the Superintendent, monthly
- McGovern News from me, bi-weekly
- Teacher newsletters, bi-weekly
All community updates and the McGovern News will be emailed and can also be found on the district and school websites or through our Medway Public Schools app which can be accessed through the QR Code below. Teachers will email their newsletters directly to their class.
ACTION REQUIRED: Annual Student Information Update
In an effort to prioritize the safety and efficiency, we require all parents and students to complete a yearly review and sign off on the information, policies, and procedures.
To streamline this process and make it convenient for everyone, we have integrated this review into our user-friendly Parent Portal system, which we refer to as "Online Registration" or "The Yearly Information Update" in our communications.
It is important that all families complete by this review, update any information that may have changed since last year, and sign-off on required policies and procedures by September 7, 2023. Families with 5th and 9th grade students should know that this process must be completed before a school-issued chromebook will be deployed to their child.
For more information, please review the Technology Department communication and instructions here.
The Parent Portal can be accessed by clicking here. Please log in and complete the review by clicking MORE > New Student Reg & Update > 2023-24 New Student Registration and Annual Update by September 7.
Bus Routes
Drop Off and Pick Up
When dropping off your child(ren) enter the McGovern School driveway by staying in the right hand lane. At the top of the driveway, bear right into the faculty parking lot. Proceed
to the end and turn left into the student drop-off and pick-up lane.
Drop off, for all grades, is between 8:35-8:50 AM. Please stay in your car and staff will begin unloading cars at 8:35 AM. This is a live drop off that goes until 8:50 AM. Once teachers have helped your child(ren) out of the car, please proceed immediately to the exit lane to leave the complex. At no time should vehicles pass other cars, be parked, or left unattended in the pick-up and drop-off lane. If you arrive at 8:50 AM or after, please do not get in the drop off loop, but park in the circle and escort your child to the main office as they will be marked tardy. Students are marked tardy if they are not in their classrooms and in their seats by 8:50 AM.
Important Notes:
Please do not drop-off your child at the school before 8:35 AM. There is no supervision for the children prior to this time.
At no time should vehicles be parked or left unattended in the pick-up and drop-off lane.
Please respect the handicapped parking policy.
It is most helpful if students are able to get into car/booster seats and buckle themselves safely and independently.
No vehicles are allowed in the circle area in front of the building during the drop-off and pick-up period.
Buses only, will be utilizing the middle lane in the driveway. Other vehicles will be restricted to the outside enter and exit lanes.
Children should never be dropped off or picked up in the faculty parking area as crossing the parking lot alone poses a safety issue.
Pick-up and drop-off is restricted to the designated areas.
All students who arrive after the start time of 8:50 should go to the school office. They will be marked tardy. For safety reasons, all students must be accompanied by an adult and be checked in at the office. Please do not bring your child to his/her classroom.Teachers are unable to converse with parents after the arrival of their students.
Bicycles
Children in Grade 1 may ride their bikes to school if an adult accompanies them both to and from school. Helmets must be worn.
Changes to Transportation Routines
If you absolutely need to change your child’s typical dismissal or transportation routine, please send a note into school that morning with your child describing the change. Note that children are not permitted to ride home on another child’s bus for the purpose of play dates.
Pick Up:
We follow the same process as drop off. Please have the school issued name plate/car placard in the front passenger side window. This not only allows us to organize students quickly, but is a safety measure to ensure we are putting children into the correct car. Once staff has loaded your student into the car, please pull away and exit the complex. At no time should vehicles pass other cars, be parked, or left unattended in the pick-up and drop-off lane. This is a rolling pick up line, so please pay attention to the driver in front of you.
For the safety of all, please acknowledge a slow speed limit, especially if you are running late, In addition, please do not text or be on your phone during pick up and drop off.
Breakfast and Lunch
Children need healthy meals to learn. Accordingly, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is providing free breakfast and lunch for all students. In addition, the Medway Public Schools offer reduced fees (PK tuition, athletic fees, trip fees) for qualifying families. In order to determine eligibility, families are encouraged to submit a Free & Reduced Breakfast/Lunch application.
Action Requested: Free and Reduced Lunch Application
While breakfast and lunch will be provided free to all students, we continue to ask families to complete the Free and Reduced Lunch Application. This information is important so that we can 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 supports 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.
Nurses Notes
Reminders!
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Important Dates
August 30th - First day of school for 1st grade students, PK & K orientations (see above)
August 31st - First day of school for preschool and kindergarten students
September 1st: No School
September 4th: No School, Labor Day
September 8th: No Preschool
September 22nd: No Preschool
September 25th: No School, Yom Kippur
September 28th - Preschool Back to School Night for Parents/Guardians (not students) 5:30 PM
September 28th - Kindergarten Back to School Night for Parents/Guardians (not students) 5:30 PM
September 28th - 1st Grade Back to School Night for Parents/Guardians (not students) 6:45 PM
October 6th: No Preschool
October 9: No School, Indigenous People’s Day
October 18th: Early Release Day, Dismissal 12:00 pm (PK 11:30 am)
October 20th: No Preschool