MURSD District Update

MURSD: We Empower All Learners To Thrive.

Email: mcohen@mursd.org
Website: https://www.mursd.org/
Location: 150 North Ave, Mendon, MA, USA
Phone: 508-634-1585
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MURSDInspires/
Twitter: @mendonuptonrsd

November 1, 2023

Dear Mendon-Upton School Community,

I hope this email finds you well. As I reflect upon the last month, there is so much for us to be proud of in our district. At each of our school committee meetings and through our website and other communications, we try to give you a window into the extraordinary learning experiences we provide students. There is not nearly enough room in this portion of the newsletter for me to share all of the incredible opportunities that make MURSD a special place for students. The following is a list of a few recent moments:

• Last week 8th grade students engaged in a project-based learning experience in Boston and high school student representatives participated in a Senate Immersion Program at the State House.
• We will welcome Spanish Exchange students to Nipmuc in December, and our students will travel to visit their new Spanish friends later in the Spring.
• Our Innovative Career Pathway program in computer science has been launched at Nipmuc and a second Pathway in business and marketing is in the planning phases.
• Our Model United Nations students will participate in a conference at UCONN, while locally student councils at each of our schools pan events for their peers.
• Our elementary students are immersed in reading and more reading in every nook and corner of our buildings where our schools have embraced literacy with enthusiasm and creativity.

Our students are engaged in inquiry, creativity, and critical thinking. Our students are provided learning experiences that are relevant, real-world, and interactive. This is what we are all about in the Mendon-Upton Regional School District--a true commitment to ensuring that all learners thrive. Our theory of action from our strategic plan outlines that:

• "If we create a collaborative school culture where we know, value, support, and empower each learner...while providing engaging, meaningful, and authentic learning experiences, then we will unleash the potential of each learner and enable them to be ready for anything."

Thank you for entrusting your children to our care each day. We take this privilege seriously and we are committed to preparing them for whatever the future entails. Please know that there are resources to help you stay up-to-date with the exciting opportunities students across our district experience every day. You will find more to come soon on our website in the news section.

This month we are highlighting Nipmuc Regional High School. Stay tuned for highlights from other schools in future updates.

• Nipmuc Regional High School Students Show Excellence on Advanced Placement Exams
• Mini-Grant Will Support Science Learning at Nipmuc Regional High School
• Nipmuc Regional High School Teacher, Mrs. Julie Ahmed-Jussaume Honored for Promising Practices in Education

Warm regards,

Maureen Cohen

Superintendent of Schools

Hosting an exchange student encourages connections in your home and community, cultivating lifelong friendships. Nipmuc is welcoming 27 exchange students from La Divina Pastora School in Spain and we need a few more host families. They will arrive on December 3rd in the evening and leave on December 19th early in the morning.

If you are interested in the wonderful experience of hosting a Spanish exchange student, please contact Ana Soto at asoto@mursd.org.

The Nipmuc Drama Guild presents “Tuck Everlasting” this weekend. You can purchase tickets ahead of time by credit card with the link below. Tickets will also be sold at the door using cash or check made out to MURSD for $10 for students and senior citizens and $15 for adults. Come out and support the drama guild this weekend.

Friday, November 3rd at 7pm

Saturday, November 4th with shows at 2pm and 7pm.

You can pre-purchase tickets by credit card by clicking here.

Co-directors Matt Fear and Tamosin Johnson-Hellegers will lead the cast with Assistant Director Nipmuc Senior, Isabella Deligiannides. This story is about an eleven-year-old Winnie Foster who yearns for a life of adventure beyond her white picket fence. When she becomes unexpectedly entwined with the Tuck Family, she experiences more than she could have imagined.

At Nipmuc, we seek to provide authentic learning experiences to our students that connect the Massachusetts state frameworks to our MURSD Portrait of a Learner through engaging learning experiences. Last week, the Social Studies Department arranged for 80 members of the Junior class to attend the award-winning Senate Immersion Module (SIM) at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute. The SIM is a program for middle and high school students that uses negotiation and debate skills to learn about the legislative process. Using high-tech technology on tablets provided by the Institute, for groups of students worked together to create a bill on a historic issues or current policies affecting the country.

The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate is dedicated to educating the public about the important role of the Senate in our government, encouraging participatory democracy, invigorating civil discourse, and inspiring the next generation of citizens and leaders to engage in the civil life of their communities.

The School Advisory Council is a representative, school-based committee composed of the principal, parents/caregivers, teachers, and community members. The role of the SAC is to assist the principal in reflecting on programming, shaping school goals, and guiding teaching and learning. We are looking for parents/caregivers to join our School Advisory Council (SAC) for the coming year in a few of our schools. Reach out to your school principal for more information.

As we are approaching colder weather, it is a good time to share information regarding our school closure process. Information is communicated through our automated notification systems through calls, text, e-mails, on our website, and on social media.

I will endeavor to make the decision to close or delay school prior to 6:00 a.m. in order to give you ample time to make arrangements for your children; however, at times information may come in after that time period. Whenever possible, I will make decisions the night before to help families with planning. Please know that we are faced with more frequent unpredictable and extreme weather and if the timing falls where it is midday and would impact us if there was an early dismissal (which takes place between 10:30-12:45 for all schools), then I will err on the side of caution to avoid driving during dismissal in the middle of a storm.

All decisions are made based on road conditions, accumulation of snow and/or ice, duration of precipitation, access to power, bus transportation needs, and school building and parking lot conditions. Other regional information could be considered that involves large numbers of neighboring towns closing, which impact our ability to staff our schools. The decision-making process involves consultation with other local school district superintendents as well as local DPW and police departments in both Mendon and Upton.

--Maureen Cohen, Superintendent

As an organization, we are committed to providing a high-quality education to our students and understand the importance of building a supportive and collaborative workplace. We are also committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all individuals are valued and respected for their unique perspectives and contributions. If you are seeking a workplace that values creativity, inclusivity, and making a positive impact on the lives of students, consider joining our team.

Not all superheroes wear capes; some substitute teach!! Are you looking for an opportunity with a flexible schedule? Are you a college student home during winter break and looking for some extra income? We currently have openings and would like to hear from you.

Substitute teachers play an important role in the continuity of educational instruction for our children.

STARTING DATE: As soon as possible.

SALARY: $110 per day

QUALIFICATIONS: You must submit your application, resume, completed CORI form, and fingerprint results to be considered a candidate.

Please help us spread the word! Please call us at 508-634-1590 if interested.

Every month we seek nominations from our entire Mendon-Upton School Community to highlight members of our community who have made a positive impact. If you have someone who has inspired you or who you would like to celebrate, please click on the form below to submit a #MURSDThrives YOU INSPIRE ME nomination.

We have many nominations this month!

You Inspire Me: Caleigh Saucier, Miscoe Hill MS Administrative Assistant

• Caleigh works tirelessly to do the right thing. In addition to her endless administrative assistant responsibilities, Caleigh has been imparting her knowledge of Miscoe with the 2 new administrative assistants in the office all while just becoming a year round employee herself! Recently Caleigh has taken on the use of "Talking Points" to communicate with non-English speaking parents. Caleigh effortlessly prioritizes and finds efficient ways to complete tasks. Miscoe is incredibly lucky to have her!

You Inspire Me: Jen O'Brien, Nipmuc Regional HS Counseling Administrative Assistant

• Jen wears many hats at Nipmuc! Through her role registering new families at Nipmuc, Jen diligently collects all of the necessary information and pays careful attention to detail. She is also very accommodating and goes above and beyond to meet the diverse needs of families when they enroll at our school. Jen is the perfect person to welcome families to Nipmuc for the first time. Thank you for all you do, Jen!

You Inspire Me: Lauren St. Pierre, Clough ES 2nd Grade Teacher

• No matter what the question is, Lauren is always quick to help you find the answer! She always has a smile on her face for her students and it's quiet evident they love having her as a teacher. She jumps to any challenge given and always puts 100% into anything new she tries!

You Inspire Me: Marabeth Ishler, Miscoe Hill MS STAR Teacher

• She always goes out of her way to help any child in need. On top of her extensive case load she has opened her doors to many other children in crisis. She exemplifies what a true "teacher" should be!

You Inspire Me: Wanda Monroe, Memorial ES PreK Teacher

• She spends some much time making sure the preschool class runs smoothly. They always have new activities to engage in. She makes learning fun for all the preschool friends!

You Inspire Me: Jen Hall, Clough ES Technology Teacher/District Webmaster

• Jen goes above and beyond daily for her students and staff. She is always ready to help and has a smile on her face all day

You Inspire Me: Steve Dellarovere, Nipmuc HS Wellness Teacher

• Steve is amazing to work with. His humility shines through in every interaction, making collaboration meaningful and enjoyable. But it's not just his fantastic work ethic that stands out; it's the genuine care he shows for the well-being of our students. He has gone above and beyond by designing a Health and Wellness curriculum that is not only comprehensive but also places the students' needs and best interests at the forefront. The thoughtful structure and content of the program truly reflect his commitment to nurturing a healthier, happier, and more informed student body with opportunities to bring in community experts. Steve has been an incredibly supportive to me as a colleague. He is not just open to sharing his wealth of knowledge; he actively encourages and welcomes new ideas and perspectives to continually enrich his expertise.

You Inspire Me: Alyssa Crawford, Miscoe Hill MS Grade 5 Spanish Immersion Teacher

• Alyssa goes above and beyond in her role as a S.I. teacher and in support of all of her students. She prepares materials that will support the needs of all students and differentiates so that all students succeed. Alyssa is masterful at implementing strategies to help support all learners. She is an inspiring and dedicated teacher who I am always learning and growing from.

You Inspire Me: Alex Perkins, Clough ES Paraprofessional

• Alex comes to Clough every day with a smile on her face and goes wherever she is needed. From regular duties, to covering a class, to sitting with a disregulated student, she is a bright light this year and we are lucky to have her.

You Inspire Me: Nancy Lopes, Memorial Grade 1 Teacher

• As a new member of the team, while all of the team has been supportive and helpful, Nancy specifically has been the one to answer most of my questions, help me plan, and be a great leader through this transition. I've been inspired and grateful for her ability to lead, and her willingness to be such a team member.

You Inspire Me: Jim Gorman, Nipmuc Science Teacher and Department Chair

• What I appreciate about Jim is that he is always patient and always supportive of teachers and students.

The following provides some highlighted events:

November 1-2 Caregiver-Teacher Conferences, half-day for students

November 6 Nipmuc Picture Retakes

November 7 No School-Professional Development Day for Teachers

November 8 Nipmuc Picture Retake Day

November 10 No School- Observance of Veteran's Day

November 13 School Committee meeting

November 14 Clough PTO

November 22 Early Release (No After School Program)

November 23- Mendon Turkey Trot

November 23-26 Thanksgiving Break

Links to School Back-to-School Communications Below

This free webinar is for parents and caregivers and will feature medical and mental health professionals who will focus on the early signs of ADHD, anxiety and depression in children while also recognizing what typical, developing behaviors are. This will be on Thursday, November 16th at 7pm. To Register visit www.milfordregional.org and select "Classes and events" on the homepage and view "Webinars."

The Mendon-Upton Education Foundation is a volunteer organization committed to enhancing academic opportunities for the children of the Mendon-Upton School District by providing funding, ideas, and other resources to educators while cultivating friendships

Please check out the most recent MUEF Newsletter.

New this year, we’ll have chip timing and a costume contest. You can even start a team and use it as a fundraiser! This is a family-friendly 5k run on Thanksgiving morning. Walkers welcome too! We start and end the race at Clough Elementary and all proceeds of this race go to the Clough PTO.

Make sure to register early, the first 150 registrants get a free race t-shirt!

Link to register: https://runsignup.com/Race/MA/Mendon/mendonmaturkeytrot

Follow us on Facebook for all the updates: https://www.facebook.com/mendonturkeytrot