Message from Principal Costello
August 28, 2022
April 30, 2023
Good Afternoon Murphy Families,
I hope you are having a great weekend. It's hard to believe that Monday is May 1st! We are looking forward to a strong finish during the last 2 months of the school year!
5th Grade Move-Up Ceremony
Parent Council Info and Dates
On Wednesday, May 10, Parent Council will have it’s monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Murphy gym. We will be voting on next year’s officers and next year’s budget at this meeting so it’s a big one - join us.
Because of the support of this awesome community Parent Council is able to celebrate our teachers throughout teacher appreciation week - the week of May 8-12th. We hope to provide Murphy teachers and staff with treats throughout the week that show how much we appreciate them and all that they do for Murphy students every day.
Big announcement - SAVE THE DATE! At 8:30-8:50 on Friday, May 12, Murphy Parent Council will hold its annual muffin morning event called MUFFINS WITH MADEMOISELLES. We invite all Murphy students to bring a special grown up to Murphy before the start of school to enjoy a muffin, juice, and coffee with a special grown up in their lives. This is a quick event before drop off that allows Murphy kiddos to share a morning treat with someone that they love before Mother’s Day weekend.
MCAS Dates (Grades 3-5)
Our students in grades 3-5 will participate in MCAS this spring. We take many opportunities at school for students to understand the skills and mindsets that will prepare them for these assessments.
As always, we strive for great student attendance. During MCAS days, please try to avoid appointments that would impact student participation on our our scheduled days. Please see below our (planed) dates below:
ELA
Make-Up testing - April 25-26
Math
3rd Grade - May 10 and May 11
4th & 5th Grades - May 17 and May 18
Science
5th Grade - May 10 and May 11
Media Club
We look forward to starting our 3rd Session of the Murphy Media Club on Monday May 1 after school. There are still a few open spots. If your 3rd, 4th or 5th grader is interested, please email: patrick.costello@weymouthschools.org.
(If there are numerous new submissions, we will do a lottery to fill these spots)
Kindergarten Registration
We are excited about starting our Kindergarten registration process for SY 23-24. Please view information related to the process here.
Title 1 Newsletter - Reading Tips
You can find some great strategies for supporting our young readers in the April Building Readers Newsletter.
Art and STEAM Updates
Attendance - Every Minute Counts!
We worked throughout the month of December to increase awareness regarding student attendance. Recognition, incentives and accolades will appear throughout the month as we reinforce the fact that EVERY MINUTE COUNTS.
While being mindful of illness and necessary absences, please support our efforts by keeping students in school as much as possible. The educational foundation laid during these years is essential for building future successes. If your child has an appointment that necessitates a late arrival or early dismissal, please try to have them in school for the remainder of the day.
Why is this important? The Association of School Nurses defines chronic absenteeism as “missing 10% or more of the school days for any reason (excused or unexcused), detracts from learning and is a proven warning sign of academic risk and school dropout.” (Jacob and Lovett, 2017). (Year-to-date translation: If a student has 5 absences so far, that student is considered chronically absent.)
Please take a moment to read more about our attendance efforts.
Enrichment Clubs
This year, we have had the fortune of bringing back an enrichment club for our students (with 2 sessions of the Murphy Wildcat Media Club, so far). As we look to the future, it would be great to add a few more "clubs" or activities this spring and into next year.
If you would be interested in helping to facilitate an activity, please email Mr. Costello and / or our Parent Council and let us know. In the past we have had a variety of activities, including running club and dance. The potential topics are endless and could include: chess, yoga, newspaper etc.
Dismissal Traffic Reminder
Thank you to all of the families in our community who follow the established traffic procedures for our dismissal. We appreciate the cooperation as we work together to optimize safety for all!
A few reminders:
1) We have a one way traffic pattern. Please do not drive "out through the in door" as that compromises safety.
2) Please do not park in the staff parking along the front of the property. These spaces are intended for staff (including Champions program staff who arrive near the end of the school day).
3) Please pull all the way forward before getting out of your vehicle. When returning to your vehicle, please remain in place until the line is ready to move. (Inching forward, again, compromises the safety of pedestrians returning to vehicles.)
Playground / After Dismissal
A message from our Nurse
Please take a moment to read a message from our nurse.
Important Reminders - Transportation, Food Services, Technology
Transportation:
Information regarding bus transportation can be found on our district website transportation page.
Bus routes are subject to change as we continue to add new riders and stops accordingly. Please email transportation questions to Transportation@weymouthps.org.
Food Service:
WPS will be providing free meals to all students once again this school year. Families who would normally apply for the free/reduced lunch program should still apply here to remain eligible for other district benefits, such as free bus and reduced user fees.
Technology:
If you require assistance or support with a technical issue this school year, please submit a request through the following links:
Family Technical Support - use any valid email address.
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
Children may bring lunch or purchase lunch in our cafeteria. A child will never be left without lunch. If forgotten, we will provide lunch. Breakfast is available each morning from 8:50 - 9:05. For the 2022-2023 school year, breakfast and lunch will be free of charge.
Please note that even though meals will be free for all, it is very important for families to still complete the household Application for Free and Reduced Price Meals for the 2022-2023 school year.
We encourage you to complete the online application, or a paper application, on the food services webpage: https://www.weymouthschools.org/district/food-services/pages/free-and-reduced-application-and-information
We strongly encourage all families to submit this application as it allows us to establish eligibility for P-EBT benefits, other fees within the district, and serve families most effectively.
ATTENDANCE
A child's successful growth (academic and socially) is greatly enhanced by consistent attendance in school. We enjoy working with our students and families to form and sustain these healthy habits that will firmly plant our students on the road to success.
When a child is absent, please call the school by 9:15 am and provide a note upon return.
Massachusetts law requires compulsory attendance for all students. Chapter 76, section 1 of the Massachusetts General Laws requires all children between the ages of six and sixteen to attend school. The school must uphold state laws relative to student attendance. We strongly discourage family vacations or trips abroad when school is in session. In addition to violating the attendance law, family vacations or trips abroad interrupt the educational process of each course in ways that make-up work cannot reverse. As such, WPS works with our School Resource Officers and outside agencies when there is cause for concern with attendance.
Dismissal / End of Day Procedures
EARLY DISMISSALS
Please send in a note when dismissing your child. This helps to remind the office and the teacher of the dismissal time. Please do not dismiss your child early to avoid the traffic. This is extremely disruptive to the classroom when teachers are assigning homework, passing out notices, or completing other necessary tasks. When a child is dismissed by someone other than a parent/guardian, we require identification and a signature for release.
REGULAR DISMISSAL
Please send a note to the school if your child is changing their regular routine of dismissal. This includes walkers, after-school care and the bus. Please do not leave this responsibility to your child. If a note is not received, your child will follow their routine for the specific day of the week.
MEDICATION POLICY
The Weymouth Public Schools Health Services Department encourages that medication is administered before and after school, if possible.
When medication is needed during school hours, there must be a physician’s order and a parental permission form with the medication in the prescribed container, or it cannot be given.
Medication must be delivered to the school in a pharmacy or manufacturer labeled container by the parent, guardian, or responsible adult. (Medications are not accepted in such things as plastic bags.) Children are not permitted to bring medication to school.
Please contact Ms. Boland, our school nurse, for the proper forms, which must accompany all medications.
Important District Information:
- Tech Support for Families
- Champions Before and After School Care - 781-812-8735 or lolee@discoverchampions.com
- Blackboard Communications - Opt In and Opt Out Instructions
- SEPAC - Click here for meeting schedule
- Town Wide Parent Council - Meets the Second Tuesday of Each Month
COVID Resources
- DESE/DPH School Guidance
- Video: How to Administer an At-Home COVID Test
- Text Guide: How Do I Administer an At-Home COVID test?
- Weymouth Public Schools Transportation Webpage
Arrival and Dismissal Updates - Please share with anyone who picks up for your family.
Please view this document and accompanying diagrams for our traffic flow and arrival / dismissal procedures.
Please remember:
(1) Our traffic flow is ONE WAY (see diagram). Please do not go "out through the in door" as this creates a safety hazard for pedestrians and a traffic hazard for our regular traffic line.
(2) Please remember that parking spaces on the left hand side (along the tree line) are for school staff and Champions staff. Please do not park there.
(3) Out back, please remain stationary until it is time for everyone to leave. "Moving up" in the line and driving between the 2 lanes of cars creates a potentially dangerous situation.
In the afternoon, please pull forward as far as possible (rather than stopping near a specific door). It is essential that we get all cars in off the street and when bottlenecks form in the line, it quickly becomes. a problem.
Thank you, everyone, for doing your part to help us maintain safe and smooth dismissal procedures.
District Links:
Additional Resources:
- Champions Before & After School Care
- Aspen Family Portal
- Family Engagement Center (Registration)
- Backpack Program - Food assistance for students in need