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 21, 2022

Dear Mendon-Upton School Community,

We find ourselves in the Thanksgiving Week and that always brings about a renewed sense of gratitude for me and I hope it does for you as well. When my boys were younger, we would go around and share what we were thankful for. The answers would be simple such as "My family" or "Football" or "Food." We'd draw out some cool turkey hands for name places at the table and I'd even try some fancy turkey inspired cupcake creation or appetizer I saw on Pinterest once, (which usually ended up looking like a Pinterest fail after-photo).

Now that my boys are in high school, more of our time is spent going to the Turkey Bowl football game, trying to convince them to do the Turkey Trot with me instead of sleeping late, or navigating driving them to be with their friends, rather than creating crafty Thanksgiving memories. Although times change as our children and students go through their various developmental stages, what still remains is the extra time allows all of us to take a breath, pause, and to enjoy these special moments with our family and friends. The time also provides me with a larger sense of gratitude beyond my family, and to the extended work family and school community. We have an incredibly special community here in the MURSD. All you have to do is walk through our doors of any of our schools or attend any of our events to see the kind and caring community of learners we have built here. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to spend each day with our MURSD family. Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving Break!

Warm Regards,

~Maureen Cohen

Superintendent of Schools

Recently, DESE provided all school districts in the state with an opportunity to receive at-home COVID-19 test kits for their school community. These tests are intended for use by students and staff to support the return to school process after Thanksgiving and winter breaks. This is a voluntary testing program and is not required prior to your child’s return. If you choose to participate, DESE recommends that tests be used no sooner than 24 hours prior to returning to school after these holiday breaks.

Each student and staff member will receive one iHealth test kit to take home on Tuesday, November 22nd. Each kit contains two COVID-19 tests. If you choose not to participate, please feel free to donate the test kit to someone else or dispose of it. Should your child test positive, please contact your school nurse to review the isolation protocols and determine a return to school date.

Thank you for your continued support in keeping our school community healthy.

Thank you to the numerous participants across the district who participated in focus groups, interviews, or had observations in their classrooms, gathered required documents, as part of the District Comprehensive Review. We received a few questions regarding the review and wanted to clarify one more time the purpose of the review.

Question #1: Why were we selected? Did we do something to trigger this?

• All school districts are required to go through the comprehensive review process every ten years or so. In fact, we have state compliance and monitoring reviews in 3, 5, and 6 year cycles every year. Since we were not in the cycle for other reviews such as targeted focus monitoring, Title Grant Reviews, or coordinated program reviews, we were on the short list to be selected.

Question #2: Did we ask to be reviewed? Why would we ask to go through this?

• No. We did not request to be reviewed; however, since we are always focused on continuous improvement cycles, we do plan to use information from the review to help better inform our practices and future strategic planning.

Question #3: Are we being evaluated? Will they give us action steps we have to complete?

• ​No. It is a review, not an evaluation. DESE partners with the American Institute for Research (AIR) to conduct the reviews to provide districts and district leaders with ways to reflect on progress and to strengthen performance. Using DESE’s District Standards and Indicators as a framework, the district review is designed to identify the systems, policies, and practices that drive the day-to-day work of the school district, as well as those factors that may help or hinder staff performance and, ultimately, student outcomes. Analysis of these systems, policies, and practices includes a focus on the ways in which the district works to improve and promote equity for underserved groups of students.

Question #4: When will we receive the report?

• The AIR representatives will process the interviews, observations, and documents and triangulate the data for patterns. They will put together their initial report, which is then sent to DESE and is finalized. The process takes 4-5 months and then we will receive a report, which is published on the DESE website as well.

We are in our last year of our current five-year strategic plan "Inspire." Every five years we craft a collective vision and strategic plan with stakeholder feedback from our Mendon and Upton school community. Every year of the strategic plan, we develop annual district goals and action steps to move the strategic plan forward. Then you will see school improvement plans at each of the schools that outline school improvement plans for the year developed by building school councils. To access the 2022-2023 district strategic goals, please go to the following link:

• District Strategic Goals 2022-2023
• District Strategic Plan Presentation

Our Strategic Goals were presented earlier this year and in subsequent School Committee meetings all of our school improvement plans, which are created in conjunction with our school advisory councils, have been presented. To view the school plans, please click on the links below;

School Improvement Plans

• Nipmuc High School
• Miscoe Hill Middle School
• Clough and Memorial Elementary Schools

• November 21-School Committee Meeting

• November 22-Winter Sports Meeting-Nipmuc auditorium

• November 23-Early Release

• November 24-25-Thanksgiving Recess

• December 5-School Committee Meeting

• December 6-SI Advisory Board Meeting

• December 7-Memorial PTO

• December 9- Early Release for students (1/2 Day PD Day)

• December 12-Miscoe PTO

• December 13-Clough PTO

BVExcel is a collaborative program that offers free evening credit-bearing classes throughout the semester at local schools in the Blackstone Valley. We are very excited to be opening the BVExcel spring registration. This spring, BVExcel is offering four classes: Manufacturing I/Intro to Welding, Manufacturing II/ Advanced Welding, Intro to Health Careers, and Robotics.

Click here to view course descriptions and get information on when and where courses meet.

Any questions can be directed to the BVExcel coordinator, Laura Ingemi (lingemi@hopedale.k12.ma.us), or to your Nipmuc school counselor.

BRYT Family Engagement opportunities are back! Whether you have a child who participated in Nipmuc's Return Support Services or not, you are invited to attend free "Parents Learning With Parents" virtual events. Learn from community members with expertise in areas most requested by parents such as parenting in the age of technology, questions you wanted to ask about crisis services, parenting while grieving, adolescent substance use, and more! You can find the link here that has all the information for the upcoming series. If you have any questions, please contact Erin Dailey (edailey@mursd.org)

The Mendon Brothers of the Brush are hosting the 3rd annual holiday decorating contest! For each participant, the Brothers of the Brush will make a donation towards the Mendon PD Stuff a Cruiser event. There are 2 categories this year...home (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and business!

To register, please complete the online form linked here, or print and mail to PO Box 551, Mendon. Rules are included in registration.

Please email photos to mendonbrothers@gmail.com by 12/16 in order to participate in the online judging component. A complete listing of participating houses will be shared so you can do your own drive through!

This portion of the newsletter will be dedicated to celebrating all members of our school community who are difference-makers. If you have someone you would like to highlight that is making a difference, please let us know by using the link below. Some will be highlighted here and everyone will receive individual recognition.

YOU INSPIRE ME: District Food Service Team

"Thank you to all members of our district food service team, who not only take such good care of working with our students, but who also step up to support ongoing district and school events when they are needed, and they always do it with style."

YOU INSPIRE ME: Chelsea Stone, Clough Art Teacher

"Mrs. Stone inspires me by teaching different techniques to express myself through my art."--student nomination.

YOU INSPIRE ME: Karen Parent and Marcy Verrone, Tutors at Clough ES

"These ladies never hesitate to go above and beyond to support students and teachers. They often work outside of their scheduled hours, step up to help with progress monitoring assessments, and make themselves available to help anyone in need. They are treasures!"

YOU INSPIRE ME: Amy Henderson, Memorial ES Special Educator

"Every time I see Amy, she is not only filled with positive energy, but she is implementing sound and evidence-based strategies for our students that are personalized and meaningful. Additionally, she is such a great team player and is always willing to help her colleagues out."

YOU INSPIRE ME: Julie Ahmed-Jussaume, Nipmuc World Language Teacher

"If you are looking to enter a creative and innovative classroom where students are immersed in Spanish discussions and innovative activities, look no further than Julie's class."