McGovern News

As we bid farewell to 2024, we are thrilled to share with you the highlights of a week brimming with celebrations and special events at our school. It truly was a remarkable week, marking an amazing conclusion to an incredible year.

From joyous festivities to meaningful gatherings, our school community came together to create lasting memories and strengthen the bonds that make our community so unique. As we reflect on the past week, we can't help but feel a sense of pride and gratitude for the vibrant spirit that defines our school. It was great to see so many families join these celebrations.

Wishing you a joyful holiday season and looking forward to the adventures that await us in the coming year! Enjoy the break and please remember that school will resume on Thursday, January 2nd! Happy Holidays!

Best,

Amy McDonald, Principal

What an amazing performance the students gave with this year's Winter Concert. They have worked so hard to prepare for this show, and what a delight it was to see each of them light up and shine at center stage as they sang and danced to some wonderful winter songs. It was a truly special way to share holiday wishes to each other and their teachers, and to share in the joy of the season before joining their families for the holiday break.

On Tuesday December 17th students from Medway High School's band and chorus visited to perform a few classic holiday songs so that our students could participate in an all-school sing-a-long. Our students were able to learn about musical skills such as tone and pitch, and were introduced to the several different instruments that the high schoolers played in harmony to the songs.

On December 17th, our three preschool classrooms invited all parents/guardians to come to their child's classroom to view their showcased artwork from project they have been working on this quarter. The teachers also prepared seasonal crafts for the students to work on with the families.

It is with heartfelt gratitude that we want to acknowledge one of our van drivers, Danny Darst, for taking the time to notice that our signature "McGovern" rock needed a little TLC and took it upon himself to power wash the stone. This sweet gesture gave our entry path the little spruce it needed for a more inviting feel. Thank you, Danny!

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.

McGovern School currently has a few openings for the following positions. We are looking to fill the Music Teacher vacancy, which is a 0.5 full-time position for Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. As well, we are looking to fill the Art Teacher vacancy, also a 0.5 position for Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. If interested, please reach out to the principal, Amy McDonald, at (508) 533-3243.

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 10
• 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, Dec. 23 - Tuesday, Dec. 31: Winter Vacation – No School

Wednesday, January 1: Winter Vacation (continued) – No School

Thursday, January 2: Return to School

Friday, January 10: Arena Day (No Preschool)

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

Friday, February 7: Arena Day (No Preschool)

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