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McGovern News!
October 1, 2021
We were thrilled to invite families in for our Back To School Night last night...we missed you! I am so appreciative to our educators for working so hard to plan and implement an informative and engaging Back to School night experience. Each of them made connections with families, which by extension is building a strong relationship with students. We know that strong educator/student relationships lead to student engagement, a better school environment and experience, and ultimately higher academic success, so KUDOS to everyone for strengthening this critical foundation.
If you missed the event, not to worry! Teachers will be reaching out in the coming week with a phone call and sharing their slideshow presentations with all of the same information that was shared last night. As a reminder, Mrs. Macedo and I will host a family webinar and you can find the details below.
Our teachers have been working incredibly hard to get to know your children as learners and people. The data they have collected will be incredibly useful for us to examine in order to get a clear picture of students' academic and social emotional needs as well as how to best plan for core instruction as well as intervention. During the webinar and fall MEPTO meeting, we will be talking about all of the shifts and improvements we have been making to our literacy instruction. We are really excited about the new learning we are all doing about the science of reading and including it in our daily planning and practice.
Have a great weekend!
Best,
Amy McDonald, Principal
Teaching and Learning Shout Outs!
School Pictures
We wanted to provide you with an update related to school photos. Over the past few years, we received feedback from several families that our school photography vendor was not meeting the needs of our community, specifically in the area of customer service. This summer, we engaged in a vetting process for potential school photographers for our PreK-8 schools. School Site Council representatives from each of the schools joined school administrators for this process.
We are pleased to share that we are moving forward with Coffee Pond Photography. Coffee Pond began in 1982 and serves many communities throughout the Northeast. We have engaged in a one year partnership with them with the hopes of continuing on for years to come.
You may know that school pictures actually serve as a school fundraiser. Our former provider also provided schools with a percentage of the sales to support school specific programming and special events/projects. This aspect of fundraising will continue as we move forward with Coffee Pond.
Information about school picture packages will be sent home soon and the picture dates are as follows:
McGovern: October, 28, 2021
Memorial: October 28, 2021
Middle School: October 26, 2021
We know that school pictures capture a special moment in time and we are excited to move forward with Coffee Pond.
Scholastic Book Fair
Administrators' Webinar
You can register for the event here. The recording will also be shared with families in the newsletter.
Flu Shot Clinic
A free flu vaccination clinic will be taking place Oct 14, 2021 from 3:00 PM-5:00 PM at Medway High School and Oct 20, 2021from 10:00 AM- 1:00 PM at Medway Senior Center. The clinic is open to all Medway residents, ages 3+. For more details please click here.
COVID-19 Testing
Our first week of testing was a success. I want to thank all faculty and staff for their flexibility with the schedule and supporting students through the process. Our students did amazingly well for their first go at this!
We will continue next with testing next week. If you are interested in having your student participate, you can still sign up. this is an important component to our COVID-19 mitigation strategy. Please see below for resources shared last week.
To support students we have created the below resources. Teachers will also review the nasal swabbing process with students. You know your child best, if it is helpful to review again at home, please feel free to do so.
COVID-19 Testing Social Story: thank you Ms. Slevin!
Here is information that the district shared with families:
Dear Medway families,
As we begin to plan the start of pool testing at our elementary schools, we understand there is some fear among these younger students. Many students have experienced, watched or heard of COVID-19 testing and expect that what will happen in school is the same. We want to reassure our students that this is not like the nasopharyngeal swab specimen collection, which has a reputation for causing discomfort. Below you will find resources and tips for helping your younger student(s) prepare for pool testing.
● Video: 0:19-1:33
○ Gives more information about self-administered testing.
● Video
○ This video has a second grader explain and demonstrate how to self-administer a test.
● CIC Webpage
○ CIC Health is the company we are paired with for pool testing.
● Q-tips
○ The swabs look just like a Q-tip but with the softer end only on one side. We encourage families to let their students get more comfortable with the swab by getting a Q-tip at home for them to feel. You can run it over their hands and over their nose so they see that it does not hurt. You can try and have your student close their eyes while you run the Q-tip over the bridge of their nose or on their arms. This way, when the nurse is holding the swab the student understands it does not hurt but rather tickles!
■ This tip is for students to understand what the swab feels like as they cannot touch the sterile swab we will be using. Please do not attempt to do a practice test with a Q-tip and insert it into your students nose.
Q-tips are not a substitute for a medical swab.
● Connect with others
○ If your student has an older sibling, cousin or friend who is already participating in pool testing, encourage your student to talk with them! Our 5-12 students have done amazing with pool testing and we have seen them encouraging each other when they see a nervous peer. Allow your student to ask them questions and learn that this is a quick and painless swab.
If you are in need of more information, resources or answers to your questions, you are encouraged to reach out to Kylie O’Neill koneill@medwayschools.org or 508-533-3222 EXT 3156.
Community Education
Registration for both After School and Early Release Day programs begins 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 on Tuesday, October 5, click here.
Medway Friends of the Performing Arts (MFPA)
The MFPA first monthly meeting for the 2021 - 2022 school year will be held on Tuesday October 12, 2021. The MFPA meets the second Tuesday of the month and will currently start the year off with virtual meetings. The monthly meeting schedule is found below and is also located on the Medway Public School district calendar.
We are always looking for new members and welcome everyone to join us for a meeting. Listen in or bring new ideas, as we continue to work towards fostering the performing arts in our Medway schools.
We have several volunteer opportunities throughout the school year as we anticipate the return of many beloved performances. More details to come!
If you are interested in joining our first meeting to see what we are all about, please RSVP to medwayfriendsofperformingarts@gmail.com and a link will be shared with the Zoom information.
Tuesday October 12, 2021
Tuesday November 9, 2021
Tuesday January 11, 2021
Tuesday February 8, 2022
Tuesday March 8, 2022
Tuesday April 12, 2022
Tuesday May 10, 2022
All meetings will be held at 7:00pm, whether in person or virtually
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!
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 8-15: Scholastic Book Fair
Oct 11: No School, Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day
Oct 13: School Site Council, 3:15-4:15 PM Agenda
Oct 20: MEPTO Meeting, 7:00-8:00 PM, Memorial School Library
Oct 24: MEPTO's Pumpkin Fair, 12-4 PM, Medway Middle School
Oct 28: School Picture Day
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