PIERCE MIDDLE SCHOOL

Dear Pierce Families,

This week’s newsletter includes details about upcoming events in and around the school community. If you would like to view this newsletter in another language, you'll find the translate button at the top right corner of the document.

Please do not hesitate to be in touch with any questions.

Sincerely,

William Fish, Ed.D.

Principal

• March 4th – No School (Staff PD Day)
  
• March 5th – Diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging committee meeting (6:30 p.m., virtual)

• March 6th – Grade 5-12 Band Concert at MHS

• March 10th – Grade 6-12 Chorus Concert at MHS

• March 11th – Site council meeting (7:00 a.m., virtual)

• March 11th – Grade 7-12 Chorus Concert at MHS

• March 18th – Grade 5-12 Strings Concert at MHS

• March 20th – Parent/guardian-teacher conferences (2:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.)

• March 27th – Pierce PTO hypnotist event (7:00 p.m. – Pierce auditorium)

Pierce News

• MPS FY26 Budget Update
• Ramadan
• Women's History Month
• Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conferences
• Washington, D.C. Fundraising Appeal
• Chainsaws, Cheeseburgers and Rock n Roll!
  
• Spring MCAS Dates
  
• Pierce PTO Hypnotist Event
• Student Access to Additional Google Services
  
• Yearbook Sales
• Attendance Matters
  

District News and Events

• MFE Teacher of the Year - Nominations are Open!
  
• Family Movie Night
• Ramadan Food Drive
• Author Grace Lin Visits Milton March 6
• FAME Mattress Fundraiser
  
• Cartwheel Webinar - Motivating Kids to Do the “No Fun, Boring, and Tough” Stuff
  
• MPS Virtual Backpack

Forms and Contacts

• Student Absence Reporting Form
• Helpful Contacts
• Schedule and Calendar Links
• Important Links

Please see Dr. Burrow's most recent budget update (2/27/25) linked here.

The district has created a FY26 Budget page on the MPS website and has added all relevant budget documents. The FAQ on that page is linked here. If you think something is missing from the budget page, please let us know here. If you want to ask a question or share feedback, please do so here.

School Supplies: There have been several questions about school and district supplies due to the FY25 budget constraints. Historically, PTOs and room parents periodically suggest donating items teachers may need in classrooms, and they may continue to do that for items like shared classroom supplies, wipes, tissues, etc. While the district is currently in a purchase order freeze, we are actively reassessing district and school wide supply needs and reserves and at this time, we will manage major school wide supplies through the district budget.

Ramadan began on Friday evening. Ramadan is a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection for the Muslim community. During Ramadan, many observant Muslim people set aside time throughout the day for prayer and fast from sunrise to sunset.

Last week, students received an email letting them know that Pierce can accommodate any needs that students may have, including providing a silent place for reflection and prayer. Also, any student observing Ramadan who would prefer to not be in the cafeteria during lunch may go to the library.

March is Women’s History Month. Women’s History Month commemorates the achievements and contributions of women throughout U.S. history. In 1980, President Carter issued the first proclamation declaring March as Women’s History Month. Below are some links to resources for Women’s History Month.

• https://womenshistorymonth.gov/

• National Women’s History Museum

There will be a session of parent/guardian-teacher conferences on Thursday, March 20th, from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. With a very limited number of conference times available, we ask that only parents and guardians whose children are struggling with a class or classes request a conference. Links to sign up for conferences will be sent home early next week.

The 8th grade class trip to Washington, D.C. is back again! We have 300 students signed up to travel to DC with their classmates and Pierce staff. The cost of this trip is $1,399 per student, and we would like to give EVERY student the opportunity to go. We are in need of about $10,000 in scholarship funds and are coming to our community to ask for its support.

We are hoping you will consider making a donation to help fund a scholarship for students in need – and no amount is too small! Please click on THIS LINK to donate, or you can make a check out to the Pierce PTO and drop it off in the front office (please put "DC scholarship fund" on the check memo).

Please note that the Pierce PTO is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations are tax deductible. In many cases, donations are eligible for corporate matching.

Many thanks to the families who have already donated!

On Friday February 14th, Pierce Middle School was excited to have Dr. "The Machine" Jesse Green come and do grade level assemblies for all of our students titled 'Chainsaws, Cheeseburgers and Rock n Roll.' His inspiring story was entertaining, engaging and motivated our students to seek out their dreams. From the words of Green, "Opportunities are like cheeseburgers. Some are big, some are small, some are basic, and some have it all. Some even have bacon."

The spring MCAS dates are below:

• April 8 and 9 - ELA (day 1 and 2)

• May 15 and 16 - STE G8 (day 1 and 2)

• May 19 and 20 - Math (day 3 and 4)

• June 2 and 3 - Civics (day 5 and 6)

Back by popular demand!! Be amazed when you, your friends, and teachers/staff across the room become stars of the show, as Frank Santos Jr. makes them believe that they are singers, dancers and much, much more. This is a performance where the audience becomes the show. Get ready for a hilarious, energetic and unique show that you will never forget! Proceeds support the Pierce PTO! Get your tickets today before they sell out! Tickets can be purchased through this link.

Milton Public Schools (MPS) is committed to providing students with engaging and effective learning experiences that incorporate technology. To support this goal, we utilize various online tools, including Google Workspace for Education and a menu of Additional Google Services. These additional services, which include tools such as Google Earth, Google Maps, Google Arts & Culture, and YouTube, offer valuable learning opportunities.

Effective March 2025, students under 18 will require confirmed parental/guardian consent to access these Additional Google Services. These services are separate from the core Google Workspace for Education tools and are not covered by the existing data-sharing agreement between MPS and Google.

What are the Additional Google Services?

These services include:

• Applied Digital Skills

• CS First

• Google Earth

• Google Maps

• Google Arts & Culture

• Google Books

• Google Colab

• Google News

• Google Translate

• YouTube

Please note that not all services are used by every student. To determine which specific tools your student will be using, please contact their teacher(s). You will be notified of any additions to this list and provided with the opportunity to opt-in to any tools requiring parental/guardian permission.

Student Data Privacy

MPS has conducted a thorough review of all Additional Google Services, consistent with the evaluation applied to all products handling student information. The overarching Google Privacy Policy applies to all Additional Google Services. Individual Terms of Service for each service are available on the Additional Apps page.

For further information regarding Student Data Privacy in Milton Public Schools, please visit the Data Privacy page on the MPS website, and the Additional Google Services Google Site.. A list of applications for which MPS has executed Data Privacy Agreements is also available here.

Your Student's Choice

Your student’s use of these additional services is completely optional, and there are alternatives available. If you choose not to provide consent, your student will still have access to the same educational content. Teachers will use the following options with students who do not have permission to use the Additional Google Services:

• Option 1: Students can use teacher-provided alternative tools for the same learning activity.

• Option 2: Students can complete the learning activity using non-digital resources.

• Option 3: Students can complete the learning activity using a different, similar, online tool where parental/guardian consent is not required.

How to Provide Consent

Please review and sign the online release form if you would like your student to use Google’s Additional Services. This permission will expire at the end of the current school year and may be revoked at any time by contacting the school. To access the form please follow these instructions:

1. Navigate to the family portal

2. Click on Forms in the left menu

3. Click the General Forms tab

4. Under Online Release > click the Google Services link

Important Notes about Consent

By signing the release, you are:

• Authorizing your student to participate in and use Google's additional services.

• Authorizing Milton Public Schools to allow your student access to these services.

• Acknowledging that MPS does not own or control Google and that your student’s use of Google’s services shall be managed and controlled by Google in accordance with its privacy policy and terms of service.

• Releasing the Town of Milton, Milton School Committee, and/or Milton Public Schools from any and all liability related to your student's use of Google’s additional services.

Questions?

For questions regarding these digital resources, please contact AJ Melanson, MPS Director of Educational Technology.

The 2024-2025 Pierce Yearbook is now on sale. Yearbooks typically sell out, so be sure to reserve your copy now. Buy your Pierce Middle School yearbook here.

Each day that students are in school counts. While we understand that there are extenuating circumstances and illnesses that occasionally prevent children from attending school, it is extremely important that we build a partnership with our families that encourages regular and consistent school attendance. Please take a moment to review this important excerpt from the Student Handbook regarding student absences and excusals.

Please note: absences are excused only for the following reasons-

1. Illness or quarantine;

2. Bereavement or serious illness in family;

3. Weather so inclement as to endanger the health of the child; or

4. For observance of major religious holidays.

Absences for travel, sports commitments, and appointments that could otherwise be scheduled outside of the school day are not excused absences. The state tracks chronic absenteeism (missing 10% or more of the school year) and this year, families can expect to receive regular communication and requests for meetings with families if children demonstrate a pattern of absenteeism. We are here to partner with families in any way possible to ensure students regularly attend school.

Milton FAME (Friends and Advocates of Music Education) will hold its annual mattress fundraiser on March 15th at Milton High School from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Do you want to help your student succeed in life but struggle with working together on tasks and goals? Many educators and parents feel frustrated and thwarted in their efforts to teach responsibility, motivation and persistence to students, especially those with ADHD or learning differences.

• Tuesday, March 4th, 7-8pm ET
• Register here

Join Cartwheel and Dr. Sharon Saline for insight and tools on how to effectively motivate all kinds of students both at school and at home. Building upon a strength-based, collaborative approach, Dr. Saline will show you how to teach all-important executive functioning skills related to motivation and tools to increase buy-in and reduce conflict in home and at school.

This virtual event is part of Cartwheel's free webinar series for parents, caregivers, and school staff in our community. Please reach out to Jennie Beliveau, K-12 Director of Counseling and SEL, with any questions.

Families are asked to complete this form to communicate information about their student’s attendance. The form can be used to report student absences, tardies and dismissals.

Dr. William Fish, Principal, wfish@miltonps.org

Ms. Janice Mazzola, Assistant Principal, jmazzola@miltonps.org

Dr. Matthew Maré, Assistant Principal, mmare@miltonps.org

Mrs. Erica Benjamin, Grade 6 School Counselor, ebenjamin@miltonps.org

Mrs. Erin Jaquette, Grade 7 School Counselor, ejaquette@miltonps.org

Mrs. Lisa Veldran, Grade 8 School Counselor, lveldran@miltonps.org

Mrs. Lynne Henry, School Adjustment Counselor, lhenry@miltonps.org

Mrs. Kara Sheridan, School Adjustment Counselor, ksheridan@miltonps.org

Ms. Amanda Gray, Special Education Team Chair, agray@miltonps.org

Dr. Seth Harmon, Special Education Team Chair, sharmon@miltonps.org

Mrs. Brittany Williams, 504 Coordinator, bwilliams@miltonps.org

Mrs. Sandra Wyse, Administrative Assistant, swyse@miltonps.org

Mrs. Kristen Lesser, Administrative Assistant, klesser@miltonps.org

Click HERE to access the Pierce Daily Schedule.

Click HERE to access the Day 1-7 rotation for the year.

Click HERE to access the MPS 2024-2025 calendar.

School Hours: Pierce's school day is 7:57 a.m.-2:26 p.m.

Email: wfish@miltonps.org
Website: https://www.miltonps.org/pierce/
Location: 451 Central Avenue, Milton, MA, USA
Phone: (617)696-4568