McGovern News!

This has been a cold week but it seems to break over the weekend for some milder temperatures next week!

As we approach the close of mid-year assessments on Monday, I want to express my gratitude for the hard work and dedication demonstrated by both our students and educators. These assessments provide valuable insights into student growth and opportunities for next steps.

Towards the end of January, we will embark on a series of data meetings to analyze and utilize this information effectively.

In the spirit of collaboration and continuous improvement, these data meetings will serve as a platform to discuss strategies, celebrate achievements, and address any areas that may benefit from additional support. Your involvement and partnership in your child's education are invaluable, and we look forward to keeping you informed throughout this process.

As we continue into the middle of the winter months, please remember to send in snow gear and warm clothes with your child. We try and go outside as much as we can. Students need to have a winter coat, snow pants, boots, a hat, and mittens. If a child is missing something, we will use our "bank" of winter clothes so they can go outside. Ensuring student comfort and safety is our priority, and we will make every effort to get them outdoors on days that are safe for exploration and play.

I hope you have a great weekend.
Best,

Amy McDonald, Principal

We will be sending a new round of attendance letters and working to support families who have barriers to consistent attendance. Any students with 5 or more absences will receive a letter from school. Please reach out to the main office if you are encountering problems with getting your child to school consistently and we'll follow up to try to support your efforts.

This week District principals worked with professionals from ACT Safety to work on school safety. The group met with principals to discuss District and school-specific safety procedures and practices. The feedback we got thus far was great and affirmed much of our day-to-day practices. We'll be working with this group to explore any areas of opportunity and continue to ensure a safe environment for our entire school community.

At the January 18, School Committee meeting, the committee approved the DRAFT 2024-2025 school year calendar. The calendar can be found here. The School Committee previously reviewed the calendar in draft form at a December meeting

We would like to provide you with a comprehensive update on the factors influencing the FY25 budget development process.

The FY25 budget is currently under development and we must navigate through increased costs in essential services such as personnel, utilities, transportation, and cleaning. These challenges are exacerbated by the prevailing high inflationary climate. Additionally, the evolving and multifaceted needs of our student population further contribute to the complexity of our budgetary considerations.

Compounding this situation is the classification of Medway Public Schools as a "minimum aid district" by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This designation results in relatively modest annual increases in state funding (typically $30-$60 per student). Consequently, the majority of additional funding crucial for our district's operations comes from a Town of Medway appropriation. We value the strong partnership with the Town and acknowledge the shared budgetary pressures faced by both the school district and the larger community.

In our commitment to maintaining high-quality programming and services that cater to the diverse needs of our students, we have embarked on a thorough review of growing needs, potential reductions, and plausible revenue sources. This process requires careful consideration and intense deliberation.

To keep you informed and engaged in this important process, we are committed to sharing upcoming events and resources designed to foster a transparent and inclusive dialogue with our community. Below is a list of resources and events that will provide you with opportunities to remain connected and participate in the discussions surrounding our budget development:

• December 19, 2023: The district held a webinar on the Fundamentals of School Finance. If you were unable to attend, the recording can be found here.

• January 11, 2024 at 6:00 p.m., FY25 Proposed Transportation Program Webinar: The district will host a webinar on the proposed changes to the Transportation Program. You can use this link to register. A recording of the webinar will be available after the event.

• February 1, 2024 at 6:00 p.m., Charting the Course - District Improvement Update and Budget Overview Presented to the School Committee: At the scheduled Medway School Committee meeting, Dr. Pires, Superintendent, and Ms. Abrams, Assistant Superintendent, will present Charting the Course: District Improvement Plan 2023-2024 Mid-year Update and FY25 Budget Overview to the School Committee. This presentation will highlight the priority areas to be addressed in the FY25 Recommended Superintendent’s Budget. The presentation will be shared with families following the presentation.

• February 8, 2024 at 6:00 p.m., Superintendent’s Chat: This event will provide an opportunity for community members to ask questions and share ideas about the planning around the FY25 budget.

• February 29, 2024 at 6:00 p.m., FY25 Superintendent’s Recommended Budget Presentation: At the scheduled Medway School Committee meeting, Dr. Pires and Ms. Leonhardt, Director of Finance and Operations, will present the FY25 Recommended Superintendent's Budget to the School Committee. This presentation will include specific information about possible additions and/or reductions.

• March (date TBD): Public Forum on the FY25 Budget: The School Committee and Dr. Pires will host a public forum for the community to participate in an interactive session about the FY25 budget.

• March 2024 (date TBD): Public Hearing on FY25 Budget: The formal hearing on the proposed FY25 budget will take place. This event provides an opportunity for community members to share public comments regarding the proposed FY25 budget with the School Committee. This is the final opportunity for community feedback prior to the School Committee vote on the FY25 budget. Feedback shared at the hearing will be acknowledged and noted, but there will not be a dialogue during the Budget Hearing.

• March 21, 2024: School Committee to Vote on FY25 Budget: At the March 21 School Committee meeting, the committee will vote to approve and forward the FY25 Medway Public Schools Budget to the Town of Medway to be included as part of the FY25 Town of Medway budget.

• May 13, 2024: Annual Town Meeting: Community members are encouraged to attend Medway’s Town Meeting on Monday, May 13, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., at Medway High School, 88 Summer Street, when residents will be asked to vote on the Town of Medway FY25 budget, which will be inclusive of the FY25 Medway Public School’s budget to be used for the 2024-2025 school year.

The Medway School District has upcoming early release days on Wednesday 1/31 and the following week Wednesday 2/7. Preschool students will dismiss at 11:05 AM and kindergarten and 1st grade will dismiss at 12:00 PM.

District release times:

• Medway Middle School: 11:02 a.m.
• Burke-Memorial Elementary: 11:30 a.m.
• Medway High School: 11:34 a.m.
• McGovern Elementary: 11:05 am (preschool) & 12:00 p.m. (K/1)

MEPTO has officially opened their Yearbook orders through March 29th. Yearbooks are directly managed by the organization as part of their support efforts. Students typically get their yearbooks shortly before the school year ends. There are scholarship opportunities for any families who are unable to purchase yearbooks and they should contact John Kelley with any of those needs. All questions related to yearbook should go directly to MEPTO at medwaypto@gmail.com. Please see directions below to order

1. Go to www.coffeepond.com.

2. Click on the Order Yearbooks button.

3. Enter the password BMMYB2024 and select online order and continue.

4. Enter the child’s name & grade and the book quantity.

5. Enter your email under contact and select add to cart.

6. If you have another child to order for, please select order for another child. If not, you can finish

checking out.

Yearbooks will be on sale through March 29, 2024.

Please remember that twice a month there are no preschool classes as it is an "Arena day". This is when we complete assessments for students in an IEP evaluation cycle, hold IEP meetings, and/or conduct training. Upcoming arena days are:

• March 1st

Medway Friends of the Performing Arts is a Community Support group whose mission is to foster and promote excellence in performing arts programs in the Medway Public Schools K-12 music and theater programs. They have done this by raising funds to provide things like: Scholarships, financial aid, equipment, instruments, support for curriculum-based enrichment activities for the music program, and so much more!
Their upcoming Musical Bing Night is on Thursday February 8th from 6 to 8 PM in the Medway Middle School Cafeteria.

• Mr. Doug Herbst is our Musical Bingo DJ again this year! Bring your dancing shoes!
• Doors open at 5:30 pm and Bingo starts promptly at 6:00 pm
• Pre-registration is required
• Fee is $10/person or $50/family

This is an all ages, family-friendly event. Space is limited, so register early. The last day to register is February 5th, based on availability.

Payment can be made after registering in advance via Venmo or cash/check at the door.

There will be prizes, concessions for purchase, raffles, and lots of fun!

The Medway Foundation for Education (MFE) is a non-profit organization charged with raising capital to fund innovative, educational projects throughout Medway’s public schools. Using the money generated from community events, contributions, and educational grants, MFE will allocate funds through a grant process to teacher-sponsored projects. Their partnership has resulted in close to $500,000 in support to Medway Public Schools since 2002. Please see the information below for volunteer opportunities in the Old News section:

MFE is excited to announce that they are holding both the Trivia Bee and the Dodgeball tournament this year.

Join us to have fun, compete and raise funds to help MFE support our schools!

The Trivia Bee will be held on Tuesday, February 27 at 7:00 p.m. at the Burke-Memorial School. New teams are always welcome and the MFE looks forward to welcoming back our tried and true past competitors! Minimum donation is $300 per table (6 players per table). Individuals and teams are invited to play AND we also are seeking sponsors for tables (to pay for teacher, student or other teams). To Register your team to compete in the MFE Trivia Bee OR to sponsor a table, please reach out to medwayfoundationforeducation@gmail.com.

DODGEBALL is back!! The tournament will be Saturday, March 23 at the Medway Middle School. More information will be shared soon. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, email MFEdodgeball@gmail.com. Team registration information will be out soon - check their Facebook, Instagram and website for updates.

As a reminder to all families, when picking up your child, you will need to bring your license with you to the main office. Not only is this for safety reasons, but we also have new staff in the front office. Please remember to bring this with you to the main office as you will be asked to get it if you forget it in your car. Thank you for your cooperation.

It is the goal of the district to hold school whenever possible. Parents and students should plan accordingly and leave plenty of time on winter mornings to arrive at school safely. Please know that the final decision about a child attending school during a weather event always rests with individual families. There may be occasions when deteriorating weather will mean that schools close due to unsafe conditions.

The superintendent will review anticipated road and sidewalk conditions, access to schools, projected weather forecasts, and consult with the police and public works departments in order to make a determination between approximately 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. if conditions will be safe for students to come to school.

The following plans will be in effect for inclement weather:

No School Announcement

If the superintendent has determined the conditions are unsafe, school will be canceled. The district will utilize the emergency notification system that will contact your home/cell phone and email using the information you have provided to your child’s school. The “no-school” announcement will also be shared on social media channels and carried on local television channels 4, 5, and 7.

All classes, school activities, before and after school programs, the Medway Extended Day program (MEDI), daycare program, adult education evening classes, and any school facilities use activities will be canceled. Transportation of students to out-of-district schools will also be canceled.

One or Two-Hour Delayed Opening Announcement

If the superintendent has been notified that the public works department needs additional time to plow or sand the streets to ensure safety, then a determination for a one or two-hour delay may be made. As with no-school announcements, the delayed opening announcement will be made using the emergency notification system to home/cell phone and email and carried on local television channels.

Please keep in mind:

• Bus routes will begin by a one or two-hour delay, including all special education transportation for out-of-district schools.

• Do not send your child to school earlier than the delayed opening, as the school grounds may not be plowed and there will be no staff available to supervise early arrivals.

• PreK ½ day sessions will take place if a one hour delay is called, and will be canceled for a two hour delay.

• School lunch will be served at its regularly scheduled time.

• Schools will be dismissed at their regular times.

Emergency Early Release Announcement

If a severe weather condition or other emergency develops during the school day, the district may release students before the typical end of the school day. Parents will be notified by home/cell phone and email and the announcement will be carried on local television channels, and displayed on the district website. As appropriate, the district will work with public safety officials to shelter students in the district if unable to send home.

Inclement Weather Bus Stops for Walkers

We understand that inclement weather days can present challenges when it comes to getting your child to school safely. Snow clearing responsibilities for our town begin with the main roads, followed by sidewalks around our schools. We recognize that this can be especially concerning for families whose children typically walk to and from school.

In the event that sidewalks are not passable and you are unable to find an alternative means of transportation for your child(ren) on these days, we are here to help. To assist us in providing a solution that ensures your child's safe travel to school, please complete the brief form linked here.

By completing this form, you'll enable us to notify you of the designated bus stop location where your child(ren) can board or exit the bus on such occasions. We have introduced this service to support safe transportation to school during inclement weather, and we appreciate your proactive participation.

It is important to note that these specialized bus stops will only be available to families who have signed up in advance. We will communicate additional information once the inclement weather bus stops have been established.

Additional Reminders for Parents

Be sure your child’s school has your updated contact information.

Have a family emergency plan in place so your child knows what to do if sent home for any of the reasons noted above.

If your child is regularly driven to school and you or they feel it is unsafe to drive during the inclement weather, please determine an alternative means of transportation to school.

Snack

Families are asked to provide students with a daily snack to bring to school. If there are any barriers to a family providing a daily snack, please reach out to our main office and they will connect you with an administrator or counselor and we will ensure that all students have snacks daily.

Free Breakfast and Lunch

We are thrilled to offer all students breakfast and lunch free of charge. All students are offered breakfast as they come through the doors at McGovern School and students chose their lunch in the cafeteria. If you do not want your students to eat breakfast or lunch, please have a conversation with your student about your home expectations.

Medway Schools has partnered with Care Solace, which offers mental health care coordination services and can help connect you, your child, and extended family members with appropriate community-based providers. Whether it's counseling, therapy, or other mental health services, Care Solace can assist you in finding the support your family may need. To access Care Solace's coordination services, simply reach out using the following options:

1. Call 888-515-0595: Their multilingual helpline is staffed 24/7/365.
2. 2. Visit www.caresolace.com/medway: On their website, you can explore mental health providers independently or click "Book Appointment" for personalized assistance through video chat, email, or phone.

You can find the 2023-2024 District calendar here.

English

To open the SMORE newsletter, click on the link above. Then, to translate the SMORE newsletter, click on the “Translate” button at the top of the page. Use the drop-down menu to select your language. The newsletter will then be translated.

Portuguese

Para abrir a newsletter SMORE, clique no link acima. Em seguida, para traduzir a newsletter SMORE, clique no botão “Traduzir” no topo da página. Use o menu suspenso para selecionar seu idioma. O boletim informativo será então traduzido.

Spanish

Para abrir el boletín SMORE, haga clic en el enlace de arriba. Luego, para traducir el boletín SMORE, haga clic en el botón "Traducir" en la parte superior de la página. Utilice el menú desplegable para seleccionar su idioma. Luego se traducirá el boletín.

Arabic

لفتح النشرة الإخبارية SMORE، انقر على الرابط أعلاه. وبعد ذلك، لترجمة نشرة SMORE الإخبارية، انقر فوق الزر "ترجمة" الموجود أعلى الصفحة. استخدم القائمة المنسدلة لاختيار لغتك. سيتم بعد ذلك ترجمة النشرة الإخبارية.

Haitian Creole

Pou ouvri bilten SMORE a, klike sou lyen anlè a. Lè sa a, pou tradui bilten SMORE a, klike sou bouton "Tradwi" ki anlè paj la. Sèvi ak meni ki dewoule a pou chwazi lang ou. Lè sa a, y ap tradui bilten an.

Medway Public Schools believes it is important that families and the broader community are provided with information about the important work going on in our schools. There is a great deal of communication that happens in the district. You can expect the following:

• Community Update from the Superintendent, monthly
• McGovern News from me, bi-weekly
• Teacher newsletters, bi-weekly

All community updates and the McGovern News will be emailed and can also be found on the district and school websites or through our Medway Public Schools app which can be accessed through the QR Code below. Teachers will email their newsletters directly to their class.

McGovern Elementary School:

Twitter: @McGovernElem

Facebook: @mcgovernelem

Instagram: @mcgovernelem

January 22nd: MEPTO Meeting 6:30 pm NEW LOCATION: McGovern School Library

January 31st: Elementary Early Release Day, Dismissal 12:00 pm (Preschool 11:05 am)

February 1st: Arena Day (No Preschool)

February 7th: Elementary Early Release Day, Dismissal 12:00 pm (Preschool 11:05 am)

February 19th-February23rd: February Vacation No school

February 26th: School Resumes

March 1st: Arena Day (No Preschool)