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McGovern News!
October 18, 2021
Last week was a busy, short week! It was also a thrilling weekend for New England sports and we packed in a Red Sox win, a special fall edition of the Boston Marathon and a Patriots win as well. BUSY!
At school, teachers have been digging into data and really working hard to understand the DIBELs, a new universal screening tool we implemented this September and iReady data. We've had very productive conversations about whole class needs and what individual/small group needs there are for remediation or enrichment. Our faculty and staff are working incredibly hard to be responsive to the data and make shifts in their daily practice to reach all learners in the classroom. We have paired this with all of the professional development we have had so far on the "Science of Reading" and are working hard to increase our phonemic awareness instruction in the classroom.
Your child may have come home and shared some of the interactive things they are doing with rhyming, segmenting and blending sounds. These crucial, foundational skills will support students in learning how to decode texts. We are very excited about all of the "new"...and a bit overwhelmed at times! I have been inspired by all that our educators have accomplished in just a few short weeks.
Please read below for additional important reminders. Have a great weekend and GO SOX!
Best,
Amy McDonald, Principal
McGovern School... The "I CAN" School
Include
Cooperate
Achieve
Nurture
At McGovern, we believe that each individual has their own unique gifts that make our community and the world a better place. Webster's Dictionary defines include as, "To take in or comprise as a part of a whole or group." In the most basic sense, to include someone means to bring them into a group so they feel part of something. Children are naturally masterful at this.
We strive to consistently teach our students how to include everyone within our community and recognize that our differences are gifts that make us each special and unique. Through our Responsive Classroom training and other professional development opportunities, our educators are experts in talking with students about inclusion: how it feels to be included/ if you are not included; strategies for problem solving/conflict resolution; and language for students to use.
In the classroom, this could look like:
- inviting a friend into a conversation about a book you read
- noticing when someone looks sad and asking them if they are ok
- welcoming a new student into the classroom by saying, "Good morning, my name is..."
On the playground, this could look like:
- noticing a friend sitting on the "Buddy Bench" and asking them to play with you
- Inviting classmates to play a game of soccer
- Noticing when a friend got hurt, asking if they are ok and getting an adult to help
Feeling included is important for so many reasons. It builds a sense of connection, confidence, value, respect and recognition. Here is a great, simple resource from the National Bullying Prevention Center that you may find helpful in talking with your child about how to include someone. What are ways you can encourage your child to include people in the community?
The Classroom Volunteer Program is Back!
- Volunteer Coordinator
- Assisting in the classroom
- Assisting in the main office
- Lunchroom
- Mentor
- Reading with a student
- Working with small groups of students
- Helping with science experiments and lessons
- Teaching and playing organized games at recess
- Shelving library books in the morning
- and any other ideas you may have!
If you are interested in being a regular volunteer, please fill out our "Volunteer Application Form." Once it is completed, we will send you the online Parent Volunteer Training, which you would need to complete prior to volunteering. You will also need to be CORI checked in the main office.
We also encourage visitors that are less frequent to be Mystery Readers, chaperone field trips, do a special activity/project, etc. You would not need to complete the more in depth Volunteer Training Program to be a visitor, but you still need to be CORI checked in the main office.
Administrators' Webinar
Veteran's Day Display
As we look ahead to Veteran's Day in November, we would like to create a meaningful display bulletin board honoring the veterans in our greater McGovern community. We would love families with active service members or veterans to send in a photograph of their special veteran in uniform (with their kids if possible!). Our intention is that these photos will spark conversations that teach kids about these special members of our community. Please submit photos by October 26th and write your child's name and room number on the back of the photo so we can properly return them.
Picture Day is Coming!
Get your smiles ready, picture day is coming! McGovern picture day is on Thursday, October 28, 2021. To help students get ready, our BCBA made a social story for students that you may find helpful. You can find the Picture Day Social Story here.
This week we will send home flyers for School Pictures and information on how to order pictures from our new vendor Coffee Pond. This is in preparation for our School Picture day of 10/28/21.
2021 Health Screenings
As required by Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations, 105 CMR 200.000 hearing, stereopsis and vision screenings for all kindergarten and first grade students will be conducted. In addition heights and weights for first grade students will be obtained. These screenings will take place starting in October. Every effort will be made to protect student privacy during the process. As always, you do have the right to “opt out” of the screenings. Please notify Penny Mckay in writing, (letter or email) by Wednesday, October 20th if you wish to opt out of a certain screening.
Given the previous changes to the height and weight measurements of 105 CMR 200.500, a letter informing you of your child’s body mass index will not be sent home. However, if your child does not meet the hearing and vision requirements, a letter requesting/suggesting further evaluation and follow up with your provider in these areas will be sent home. As always, data from your child’s screening results is entered by a nurse into your child’s confidential health record only.
If you have any questions, please contact nurse Penny McKay, RN, MSN via phone 508-533-6626 ext. 5354 or email pmckay@medwayschools.org.
Important Infinite Campus Message: PLEASE COMPLETE
The Parent Portal within Infinite Campus, our student management system, is a vital resource to help families stay up to date on students’ assignments, grades, and contact information. If you are a family that does not have an account, please email parent@medwayschools.org and we will forward a personal activation code to create one. ALL families are asked to please complete the Online Registration [OLR] option, better known as the “beginning of year packet,” within the parent portal system. This process allows parents to see the information we have on file and make updates if needed. We also require review and sign-off of our Responsible Use Policy and Handbook as part of this process. If you haven't already, please complete this process by selecting MORE (on the left menu) then Online Registration from the menu options.
Save the Date Parent Event- Lisa Damour: Under Pressure
Medway T.H.R.I.V.E. and Medway SEPAC are excited to host a virtual parent event on Nov 3, 2021 at 7:00 PM. Lisa Damour, Ph.D., the New York Times bestselling author of Untangled, returns with an urgently needed guide to the alarming increase in anxiety and stress experienced by girls from elementary school through college. Damour details the many facets of girls’ lives where tension takes hold and offers critical coping strategies that will help parents to reduce their daughters’ anxiety and address the toxic pressures to which our culture subjects girls and young women. To register please click here.
MEPTO Fall Meeting
MEPTO Fall Meeting
October, 20th at 7pm
Location - Memorial Library
Topic - Medway Elementary Literacy programs
Last year our K-5 Literacy programs and practices underwent a District led audit to explore our strong practices and identify the needs of our curriculum. This year, the District is taking that information and is: making some initial programmatic changes, exploring other curriculum needs, and engaging in a lot of new learning. Come meet with our elementary school principals to hear about this exciting work and ask questions. We look forward to our first meeting of the 2021/2022 school year!
Sincerely,
MEPTO board
REMINDERS!
Community Education
Registration for both After School and Early Release Day programs began on Tuesday, October 5, at 5:00pm. Many new and interesting In Person programs are available!
To view programs, click here. To register on FamilyID, click here.
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!
Oct 20: MEPTO Meeting, 7:00-8:00 PM, Memorial School Library
Oct 24: MEPTO's Pumpkin Fair, 12:00-4:00 PM, Medway Middle School
Oct 25-Nov 12: MEPTO T-shirt Sale, more info coming soon
Oct 28: School Picture Day
Nov 2: Election Day
Nov 3: THRIVE/SEPAC, Under Pressure, 7:00-8:30 PM
Nov 5: Arena Day, NO PRESCHOOL CLASSES
Nov 7: Daylight Savings, turn clocks back 1 hour
Nov 11: Veterans' Day, No School
Nov 10: School Site Council, 3:15-4:15 PM Agenda (rescheduled from 10/13)
Nov 24: Early Release, 12:00 PM
Nov 25-26: Thanksgiving Recess, No School
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