McGovern News

Happy November! As we settle into this season of gratitude and reflection, we want to take a moment to celebrate the hard work and achievements of our students. Each day we witness their growth, creativity, and resilience, and we are proud to support their journey. It has been a joy to visit classrooms and join in the celebrations of our students' hard work. Our first graders enthusiastically showcased their projects on community helpers, creating impressive life-sized posters and thoughtfully written pieces about the roles these important figures play in our community. It was wonderful to see so many families come together to celebrate their accomplishments!

Our kindergarten students celebrated their end of reading and writing units this week and visited each other's classrooms to engage in project-based learning. It was great to see the kindergarten children state their opinions about which museum they would like to visit and why.

Finally, our preschool students have been learning about friends, family, and our community. Through engaging activities and discussions, they are discovering the importance of relationships and how each person contributes to our shared experiences. This exploration helps cultivate empathy and understanding, setting a strong foundation for their social and emotional development.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Best,

Amy McDonald, Principal

A reminder that there will be no school on Tuesday, November 5th, as our faculty and staff have professional development.

November celebrates National American Indian and Alaskan Native Heritage Month, which honors the rich cultures, traditions, and histories of Native peoples. It highlights their vital contributions to society and raises awareness about the unique challenges they have faced historically, and continue to face today. The month also emphasizes the importance of preserving Indigenous languages, practices, and arts, promoting respect and understanding of the diverse Native American and Alaskan Native communities across the country.

All Saints' Day, observed on November 1st, is a Christian holiday honoring all saints, celebrated with church services and prayers. It is a day to remember the faithful who have reached heaven and inspire others to follow their example.

Veterans Day, observed on November 11, honors all military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. It’s a day to recognize their bravery, sacrifices, and dedication, celebrated with ceremonies, parades, and moments of reflection across the country.

World Children's Day, celebrated on November 20, promotes children's rights, well-being, and worldwide unity. Established by the United Nations, it highlights the importance of improving children’s lives and encourages action to create a better future for every child.

Thanksgiving, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States, is a holiday for giving thanks and gathering with loved ones. Traditionally, it includes a meal with foods like turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, and it’s a time to reflect on gratitude and togetherness.

Native American Heritage Day, observed on the Friday after Thanksgiving, honors the rich culture, history, and contributions of Native American peoples. It serves as a day for recognizing the challenges they have faced and promoting education and understanding of Indigenous heritage and rights.

It is hard to keep up with the changing weather...especially when we have 80 degree days at the start of November! With the cold weather coming soon, and the chillier mornings, please make sure your child is dressed properly for the weather and has a coat/jacket to wear for their outdoor recess. We go out as often as we can, unless it is too cold, rainy or snowy.

McGovern School will be running a food drive from November 4th through November 15th. All donations will benefit the Medway Food Pantry and the Medway Village Food Pantry. If you are able to donate, please click the link below for a list of most needed items. Thank you kindergarten team for sponsoring our food drive!

School Picture Retake day is set for Friday November 22, 2024. Retake day is for new students and staff members, transfer students, or for anyone who may have missed the initial picture day, OR for anyone who was unhappy with their original picture and would like to give it another try. If a student would like the retake photo to replace the original photo, please have the student return the original picture package to the photographer on picture day. We will replace the original package at no additional cost.

If this is the first time being photographed, just have the student/staff go to the camera and we’ll create a proof for them that will be sent to the school (and/or to their family email if we have that information). These proofs will be delivered approx. 4 weeks after picture day. An order code will be on the proof along with ordering instructions.

The short week before Thanksgiving break we will have dress-up Theme Days:

Monday November 25: Dress in your favorite fall colors

Tuesday November 26: Dress up as your favorite hobby or school activity

Wednesday November 27 (early release day): Wear you comfy clothes for a relaxing day before the early dismissal

As we have done in the past, we are planning to host a Community Safety Webinar on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. This event will highlight the district’s safety efforts to date and also provide a look forward as we continue to engage in efforts to maintain the highest level of attention on these vital practices. Registration will be required, please click below to register.

Don’t miss out on the Medway High School Theatre Program’s production of ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Come jump down the rabbit hole and enter this magical world with Alice on Saturday, November 2 at 2:00 & 7:00 p.m. Tickets are now on sale online, and will also be available to purchase at the door.

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.

Dr. Alex Hirsberg will be presenting to parents and caregivers on how to support student executive functioning on November 6 at 7:00 PM via Zoom. This information webinar will help parents and caregivers better understand how they can support their students to organize their mind and their backpacks in order to achieve academic success. For more information about the event and to register, please click here.

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:

• November 15
• December 6
• January 10
• January 24
• February 7
• March 7
• March 21
• April 4
• May 2
• May 23
• June 6

Fall Brochure

We are delighted to share our latest program offerings with the Medway community, as well as with our neighbors in nearby communities! It is time to celebrate autumn with friends and families - join a sports program or gather with friends for a fun night of crafts, wellness and laughs. Many new programs are offered, plus our popular all-time favorites!

The fall brochure may be viewed here with registration access to Arbiter using the following links - Youth & Teen Programs and Adult Programs. Registrants may use the UniPay link for program payment. Questions with registering? Please contact Community Education at communityed@medwayschools.org or call 508-533-3222 option 4.

After School Programs - W.I.N. Support & Enrichment

We look forward to sharing exciting plans with families for fall programming within our schools. Additional details to follow include Academic Support programs beginning the week of October 8; Enrichment programs beginning the week of October 21; Early Release Day programs on October 23, November 20 and December 11; 4th Grade Musical Instrument Lessons, start date to be determined.

MEPTO is our Medway Education Parent Teacher Organization. Please click on the link below for their newsletter.

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.

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

Sunday November 3rd: Daylight Savings, turn the clocks 1 hour back

Tuesday November 5th: Election Day (No School)

Monday November 11th: Veteran's Day (No School)

Thursday November 14th: Parent-Teacher Conference Night 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Friday November 15th: Arena Day (No Preschool)

Wednesday November 20th: Early Release

Preschool Dismissal at 11:05 am

Kindergarten & 1st Grade Dismissal at 12 pm

Wednesday November 27th: Early Release

Preschool Dismissal at 11:05 am

Kindergarten & 1st Grade Dismissal at 12 pm

Thursday November 28th & Friday November 29th: Thanksgiving Holiday (No School)