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McGovern News!
May 17, 2021
We have just about a month left of school, which seems next to impossible to believe. We pack a lot into these last few weeks and as you will read below, I am grateful to include some of our end of year celebrations and traditions into our schedule.
The weather has been a great change of pace and I hope you enjoyed the sunshine this weekend! As you know, recess and our wellness classes are outside. Please be sure to apply sunscreen to your child prior to school.
There are several important updates in this week's newsletter. Please take the time to read the information below. Finally, Wednesday, May 19, 2021 is an early release day with dismissal at 12:00 PM. There is no afternoon preschool on Wednesday and no lunches are served.
Best,
Amy McDonald, Principal
End of Year Celebrations and Traditions
Trip to Memorial: Our 1st grade students will visit Memorial School on either June 7th or 10th for a tour of the building and meeting with Mr. Kelly. Teachers will send home permission slips in the coming days.
The schedule is below:
Monday, June 7:
9:00-9:45 (bus loads at 8:50 am)
Los, Kelly, O'Connell
10:00-10:45 (bus loads at 9:50ish)
Lomuscio, Barrows, Pierangeli, Rioux
Thursday, June 10:
9:00-9:45 (bus loads at 8:50 am)
Caveny, Barucci, Jackson, virtual school students(need to be transported to Memorial by their own parent/guardian)
Field Day: Date, TBD
Mr. Kelley and I met with MEPTO last week and we are going to pull off FIELD DAY! It will absolutely look different than in year's past, but we are excited to plan this special event for students. We are in the early stages of planning and I hope to share an update by the beginning of next week.
Important Summer Planning Underway
Kindergarten Screening
Kindergarten Camp
The summer kindergarten program, Kindergarten Camp is for incoming Kindergarten students; it will be held during the week of July 12-16, 2021. The program will introduce our incoming kindergarten learners to the kindergarten experience and help them to begin to feel comfortable with a typical kindergarten day. This experience also allows the students to become better acquainted with the McGovern School. You can find out more information about our program by clicking on the Kindergarten Camp Flyer.
Guardian and Student Information Changes
Kindergarten Scientists
Dismissal
Please be sure you are in the pickup line by 3:10 PM. Thank you!
K-5 Literacy Audit
We are excited to inform you that our district has partnered with The Hill for Literacy to conduct a K-5 Literacy Audit. This is a comprehensive review of our English Language Arts curriculum, assessment, resources, instructional practices and interventions, to name a few. Each school has developed a Literacy Leadership Team and there are several phases and components of the audit. Through this process, we will develop a literacy plan that clearly articulates action steps for the areas of leadership routines, multi-tiered instructional model, professional learning, data-based decision making and family engagement.
We are eager to work with The Hill in this process. Updates will be provided as we move through the audit.
Reminders!
Travel Reminder
From Dr. Pires' recent communication:
As a friendly reminder, as you prepare for February break, please keep in mind the State’s travel policy and general guidelines. The Governor’s order requires you to quarantine for 10 days or produce a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72-hours prior to your arrival in Massachusetts. If not obtained before entry to Massachusetts, a test may be obtained after arrival. However, all such arriving travelers must immediately begin the 10-day quarantine until a negative test result has been received.
For additional information, please refer to the gathering guidance and the Massachusetts Travel Form, click on the links below:
CDC Guidelines on Safe Celebrations
In addition there have been changes to the travel restrictions regarding children. Testing for children, 10 years and younger, who are traveling with an adult from their household is not required. Children 10 years and younger should mimic the quarantine requirement and testing options completed by the household adult they accompanied for travel. If the accompanying adult chooses to quarantine, the child must also quarantine. If the accompanying adult chooses to obtain a test, the child and adult must quarantine until the adult’s negative test result is received. The complete Travel Order can be found here.
Covid Response Hotline
In order to ensure confidentiality and begin Contact Tracing as soon as possible, the District has established lines of communication if ever you need to report a positive COVID Test.
Report a student positive COVID test results by either emailing or calling the hotline below:
- covid@medwayschools.org
- 508-321-4779
Medway Public Schools COVID-19 Information Hub
To provide families with the latest information and resources related to COVID-19, we have created a COVID-19 information hub, which can be accessed here, and by visiting our district’s homepage. Please visit this site for information about school/community COVID-19 health data, positive test reporting, student protocols, and local testing sites.
Meal Access for Remote Learners
As we prepare for more students to make their full return to school, remote meal distribution will now take place on Thursday mornings from 7 am to 9 am. Beginning Thursday, April 1, 2021 students who have opted for remote learning may pick-up meals at Medway Middle School on Thursdays from 7 am to 9 am at the Door # 24 on the Kelly Street entrance side of the building. A week's worth of meals will be offered during this pick-up date each week. Please see the food services website for menus. https://medwayschools.nutrislice.com/ Please contact Shawn Fallon at sfallon@medwayschools.org if you have any questions or concerns.
Dressing for Recess and Outdoor Time
Please be sure to dress your child in layers. Students go out for recess daily for 25 minutes. In addition, students may have music or wellness classes, which are also taught outside for 40 minutes.
Now that the weather is getting nicer, it is often cooler in the morning and there is up to 30 degrees difference by afternoon. In addition, please remember that we keep windows open on the bus and in the classroom to increase air flow.
Students can always take a layer off if they are hot, but the same can't be said if they are cold.
Communication
Important Dates!
May 17-28: Panorama testing window
May 19: Early Release Day, 12:00 PM, NO afternoon Preschool
May 19: Virtual School material pick up
May 24-26: Kindergarten Screening, by appointment only
May 31: No School, Memorial Day
June 1-2: Preschool Screening, by appointment only
June 9: Virtual School material pick up
June 7/10: Visits to Memorial School for 1st Grade
June 17: Last day of school, students
June 18 & 21: Professional Development Days
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