McGovern News

Happy New Year! I hope this message finds you well and that you had a wonderful winter break filled with joy and relaxation. It's always refreshing to reconnect with loved ones and recharge for the exciting challenges that lie ahead.

This week our teachers spent time reviewing routines and expectations. It is always good to come back to this after a vacation, and our students transitioned seamlessly back to school. While some were tired, it was great to see them fall back into the school routine with ease.

As we embark on the new year, January marks the beginning of mid-year assessments for our students. These assessments play a crucial role in gauging their progress and identifying areas for growth. It is an opportunity for us to celebrate their achievements and ensure that we are providing the support they need to thrive academically. In the coming weeks, you can expect more detailed information about the mid-year assessments.

Thank you for you continued support and partnership in your children's education. Here's to a successful and fulfilling 2025!

Best,

Amy McDonald, Principal

January is Poverty Awareness Month and is a time to deepen our understanding of the challenges faced by individuals and families living in poverty and to take action to make a difference. Nearly 1 in 10 people in the United States live below the poverty line, impacting access to basic needs like food, housing, healthcare, and education. This month serves as a reminder of the importance of empathy, advocacy, and systemic change in addressing poverty. Let’s use this opportunity to educate ourselves, support initiatives that uplift those in need, and work toward a more equitable society for all.

January 1st is the day that starts the new Georgian calendar year of 2025. New Year’s Day is a time to reflect on the past year and embrace fresh beginnings with hope and purpose. It’s a celebration of renewal, inspiring us to set intentions and look forward to the opportunities ahead.

World Braille Day, observed on January 4th, is a day to honor the significance of braille as means of communication amongst to blind and visually impaired community. It is set to take place on the birthday of Louis Braille, who created this writing system which serves a global reminder on the importance of fostering connections and demonstrating acceptance.

January 6th is known as Three Kings Day, and it is a Christian tradition to commemorate the visit of the three kings, known as the Magi, to the birth of Jesus with a festive celebration called the Feast of the Epiphany. In some traditions of western Christianity this day is celebrated as Little Christmas.

Orthodox Christians celebrate their Christmas Day on January 7th by attending church to participate in a special worship to commemorate the gifts that the Magi presented at the baptism of Jesus. Church traditions during this mass include burning frankincense and blessing palms.

January 14th is observed as the Orthodox New Year in accordance with the Julian calendar. It is also on this day that the Buddhist culture celebrate their new beginnings with the Mahayana New Year. The annual Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti is also observed on January 14th celebrates the transition of the sun and the solar deity, Surya, to mark a new beginning through feast, music and dance.

January 18th is Bodhi Day, the Buddhist holiday to celebrate the day that Gautama Buddha is believed to have reached enlightenment through meditation under a peepal tree to liberate himself from the root of suffering. This day is celebrated through meditation and lighting lamps to symbolize "enlightenment", as well as chanting sutras, decorating trees and telling Jataka tales.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a federal holiday that is observed on January 20th to commemorate the peaceful activism of this man, and his work with the Civil Rights Movement to obtain equality for all Americans. King's speeches and nonviolent protests against racial discrimination helped lead the movement to bring legislative reform to equalize the rights of all races.

January 27th is International Holocaust Remembrance Day to commemorate the six million victims lost to the Holocaust and honor the survivors that faced Nazi persecution. This day is designated so we recognize the global impact of the Holocaust, to learn the history and lessons from this atrocious event.

January 29th marks the Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is to welcome new prosperity and good luck for the coming year, and is emphasized by decorating with the color red to symbolize good fortune. The Lunar New is celebrated with the traditions of family reunions, elaborate feasts, lion dances and firework shows.

With the arrival of the new year, it is now time for us to start planning for kindergarten registration for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year! Kindergarten students must be 5 years old by August 31, 2025. Registration information will be available online, at the Superintendent's Office and at McGovern School. We expect that registration will open in early February.

Starting this week students began mid-year assessments. These are done through iReady, Panorama, and DIBELS assessments. This information is critical to ensuring your students are receiving the instruction and extension opportunities they require. These assessments will be completed over multiple weeks so that students are not over assessed in a small period of time. We're looking forward to seeing how our students have grown and will provide an update to families on how to interpret results once they are completed.

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:

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.

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.

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.

1. Be sure your child’s school has your updated contact information.
2. 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.

In prior years the District provided the opportunity for families to sign up to be notified when their child could use the bus during inclement weather, and when sidewalks were not plowed. With the change of transportation practices, including an opportunity for all students to participate, and the daily ridership on buses, this is no longer an option. We ask that families plan accordingly.

Who's ready to Shuffle?! Join the MEPTO on Saturday, March 8th, 2025, for a fun-filled 5K (3.1 miles) course that winds through the beautiful back roads of Medway.

Get your running (or walking) shoes on because Early Bird Registration for the 14th Annual MEPTO Shamrock Shuffle is NOW OPEN! Don’t miss out, register early and save as prices go up after January 15th. Please sign up by clicking the link below, and let’s ShamROCK this race! This event is perfect for ALL ages and abilities, so bring the whole family. Plus, every step you take supports the creative arts programs in ALL Medway schools.

If you're heading to Mount Wachusett this season, use the code DON-MEDWAYPTO to donate $10 from each lift ticket or beginner package back to MEPTO. This can done online to book your lift ticket or beginner package for any day during the season, and on the payment screen there will be a section to the code in the promotion box. Be sure to update the cart.

Back by popular demand, the Medway Foundation for Education will be hosting its annual Trivia Bee on Wednesday, February 26th at 7 pm. Details to come but interested individuals should start hitting the books and pulling together your team of 6 people for a fun night!

The children have been so excited to have some snowy days for their recess play. In order for students to use the playground when it is covered in snow they will need proper snow gear - boots, snow pants, winter jacket, etc. Please send in all snow gear with your child labeled in a bag. Any student without proper snow gear when there is snow on the playground will still be able to enjoy outdoor recess, but will be limited to the blacktop only. We do have some extra snow gear on hand just in case as well.

Earlier this summer, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) notified us that Medway Public Schools had been selected for a required district review.

The goal of this review is to look closely at the systems, policies, and practices that drive our day-to-day work. At the end of the process, we will receive a written report that highlights our strengths, identifies areas for growth, and makes recommendations to help us improve and better support our teachers and students.

The visit will take place the week of January 13. We will be looking for 4–6 family representatives from all levels—elementary, middle, and high school—to participate in the family focus groups. Additional details will be provided in an upcoming community update.

Earlier this month, Dr. Alex Hirshberg joined a Medway SEPAC meeting to present about how to support students with executive functioning. He was kind enough to record the video for Medway families to view. Please click the link below.

For the last several years, Medway Schools have collaborated with the Massachusetts Partnership for Youth (MPY) to provide professional development for our staff. MPY now offers a library of 10-minute videos and handouts for parents. Over 24 offerings include tips for parents regarding school success, student mental health, and more. The library can be accessed for free by clicking here.

Last year, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced the launch of MassLinks, the first fully virtual educational option for Massachusetts adults statewide who are seeking their high school equivalency or English language instruction. MassLinks classes are free for all adults, and Mount Wachusett Community College, in partnership with DESE’s Office for Adult and Community Learning Services, will deliver the instruction.

Please remember that approximately 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:

• January 24
• February 7
• March 7
• March 21
• April 4
• May 2
• May 23
• June 6

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

As the district works to improve morning arrival times for some problematic bus routes, one identified challenge has been buses losing minutes waiting for students to run up the street/leave their car/walk down the driveway etc. It would be helpful if parents could ensure that their child is fully at the bus stop waiting to board the bus as it arrives at the stop. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Children need healthy meals to learn. Medway Public Schools offers healthy meals every school day. As you may know, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, through the recent passage of the state budget, will again allow local districts to provide breakfast and lunch for all students at no cost.

However, families who submit an application for free or reduced lunch which is approved based on income guidelines may qualify for discounts on specified school fees, including but not limited to athletic fees, transportation fees, and preschool tuition. A district cover letter, the application and instructions can be found here.

A copy of the approved 2024-2025 school year calendar can be found here.

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.

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

Monday, January 20: No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Wednesday, January 22: School Site Council Meeting 3:20-4:20 pm

Friday, January 24: Arena Day (No Preschool)

Monday, January 27: MEPTO Meeting at McGovern Library 6:30-7:30 pm

Wednesday, January 29: Theme Day: Wear Red for the Lunar New Year

Early Release: 11:05 am Preschool dismissal

12 pm Kindergarten & First Grade dismissal

Friday, February 7: Arena Day (No Preschool)

Theme Day: Super Bowl Friday - wear football/sports team shirt

Monday, Feb. 17 - Friday, Feb. 21: Winter Vacation – No School