Note from the Principal
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our recent Curriculum Night! It was a wonderful opportunity to discuss your child's program of studies. You’ll find a link to a feedback form about the event in this newsletter. We would greatly appreciate your input to help us improve for next year.
We are pleased with how our students are adapting to the new school year, particularly with the “Off and Away” personal electronics procedures. We appreciate your support at home in reinforcing this expectation. As a reminder, please ensure your child has a lock for their locker and check in with them about its status to keep their belongings secure.
Each grade level is developing its own unique identity this year. Our 8th graders are off to a great start. Our teachers report that students are showing great leadership. Many of 7th graders have established a fun routine with daily kickball games at recess. Our 6th graders recently returned from Nature’s Classroom, and our chaperones reported they were fantastic! Meanwhile, our 5th graders are gaining confidence as they navigate the hallways and make it to their allied arts classes on time.
If you have questions about classroom routines or instructional practices, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher. Our guidance counselors are also available to help with any concerns regarding your child’s transition this year. As always, our administrative team is here to connect with you.
Thank you for your ongoing support!
Best regards,
Amanda Luizzi
Principal
Medway Middle School Curriculum Night Feedback
It was wonderful to see so many families at our recent Curriculum Night, evening. In an effort to improve our practice, we ask that families share feedback on their experience at Curriculum Night. Please take a moment to fill out this feedback form
Grade 6-8 Math Night for Caregivers - October 15th
On Tuesday, October 15th at 6:30pm, Math Consultant, Dr. Heidi Sabnani , will join Medway Middle School Curriculum Instructional Leader, Danielle McLaughlin, and Principal Amanda Luizzi for a Math Night dedicated to families of students in Grades 6-8. Join us in the MMS library to learn more about how our teachers are working to put our new math vision into action through the adoption of a new math resource and the use of new instructional practices. For planning purposes, we ask that families RSVP to this event here.
Morning Arrival
As a reminder, all students who are being dropped off at school should be dropped off in the drop off loop . Families should enter the parking lot near the gravel lot and follow the path around the building. The driveway in front of the school is closed and off limits to cars between 7:05 am and 7:45am as we have many buses and small vans who use the loop in front of the school during those hours. Additionally students may not be picked up or dropped off to school using the Kelley Street parking lot. We appreciate your anticipated cooperation with these arrival and dismissal routines.
Say Something Anonymous Reporting System
We are committed to creating and sustaining a comprehensive, coordinated effort to improve the overall safety and well-being of our students, educators, and administrators.
Doing this effectively requires a proactive approach with programs that equip students, parents, teachers, administrators, mental health, and local law enforcement to take meaningful action to protect our schools.
Our students are aware of the problems and struggles that their peers are facing on a day-to-day basis. We must empower them to know the signs of potential danger and give them the tools to help each other with the assistance of trained and caring adults. As you know, most conversations are taking place on social media; therefore, it is critical that we teach our students to look out for one another in text, video, and photos and act quickly to help a fellow student.
We are happy to announce the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System will return to Medway Middle School this school year. To train students, our grade seven and eight students will be viewing a Say Something training video during the first week of October. The video educates students on the prevalence of school shootings, the impact they can have by reporting concerns, and how to report a tip. Our grade five and six students will be trained using a video designed for students in grades 4-6 and contains developmentally appropriate language to help students understand the importance of reporting and how to report a tip. This training will also occur during the first week of October.
The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System trains youth and adults to recognize warning signs -- especially within social media -- of individuals who may be in crisis and to tell a trusted adult directly or via the anonymous reporting system.
Specifically, the Say Something program educates participants to:
Recognize the warning signs of someone who may be at risk of harming themselves or others.
Take every warning sign and threat seriously; act immediately to get help by talking to a trusted adult OR reporting it through the telephone hotline, mobile app, or website that is available 24/7/365
Sustain the curriculum and awareness via student clubs, in-school activities, call-to-action weeks, and ongoing training.
The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System program is provided at no cost by Sandy Hook Promise (SHP), a national nonprofit organization. More than 21 million people have participated in their research-based “Know the Signs” programs that include Say Something. They have a proven track record of working effectively with kids, parents, and teachers to improve school safety and strengthen an inclusive school culture. The program is age-appropriate and evidence-informed. To date, the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System and other SHP prevention programs have stopped multiple school shootings, suicides, and gun threats, as well as reducing other acts of violence and victimization like bullying/ cyberbullying and helping thwart cutting, drug use, and more.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Principal Luizzi or your child's grade-level Assistant Principal.
News from the Librarian - Young Adult Permission Form
Attention 5th and 6th grade families,
The book collection at the Medway Middle School library contains a wide range of titles to accommodate individual student needs. The middle school library collection includes books that are categorized as Young Adult (YA) novels. YA novels are generally intended for readers 12 years and older. The reading level, subject matter, and story lines of YA literature are typically consistent with the age and experience of the main character (students like to read about children older than them) and Young Adult literature spans the spectrum of fiction genres. YA stories that focus on the specific challenges of youth are sometimes referred to as coming-of-age novels. YA novels in our collection are marked with a red YA sticker on the spine. The Medway Public Library uses a similar sticker. Please consider having conversations about books with your child/ren.
As a parent, you have the right to decide which books are appropriate for your child. If you DO NOT WANT your child to check out YA books, please complete the YA Permission Form .This form, if you choose to submit, is due Friday, October 11, 2024.
If we do not receive a form from you, we will assume that you grant your child permission to borrow YA books.
These permission slips will be in effect for the 2024-2025 school year. If you would like to change your student’s permissions during the school year, please email Sean Sullivan at ssullivan@medwayschools.org@medwayschools.org.
Medway Middle School Clubs and Activities
Involvement in clubs and activities is an exciting element of being a Medway Middle School student. We have found that when students participate in school activities outside of the school day - sports, clubs, or other activities - their feelings of connection to the school increase.
Medway Middle School is proud to offer a diverse range of after-school clubs and activities for student participation. Please find a description of the Clubs and Activities for the 2024-2025 school year. Advisor names and contact information as well as details for meetings (times and days) are also included.
Late Bus
The Medway Middle School Late Bus picks students up from structured, school-sponsored after-school clubs, activities, and athletic programs. They are also available for students who have arranged to stay after school to work with a teacher. All students planning to ride the late bus must obtain a signed bus pass from their advisor.
The Late Bus is available to students on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons. Due to driver shortages, at this time, our Late Bus will be departing Medway Middle School between 3:45 and 4pm. At the conclusion of clubs and activities (3:10 pm) students will be supervised in the school library until the late buses arrive to campus.
Our bus drivers work hard to ensure that students are dropped off in a safe and secure location, however, the late bus stops are not the same as our traditional bus stops. Late bus routes will be sent home before the end of the week.
School Photos
On Wednesday, October 11th, Geskus Photography will join us for our School Photo Day. Families may pre- order photos on line at www.geskusprint.com. Medway Middle School's unique code is BW9DW7QC. Note that this code is for preorders only and will expire at midnight on Picture Day. Families may also order pictures using traditional paper order forms. Order forms will be sent home in backpacks the week of October 7th.
Grade 5 News
One of our school improvement goals for this year is to implement explicit instructional and support practices to help students improve their writing skills. To assist with this initiative, we have partnered with Providence College for the next two years. Providence College will provide professional development in collaboration with our literacy specialists to support our instructional approach. In the first year, the focus will be on grades 3-5, and next year, the focus will shift to grades K-2.
We have a research study as part of our partnership that focuses on developing students' writing skills using the self-regulated skill development (SRSD) method. This instructional framework has been in use for over thirty years and many schools are now adopting it as their primary approach to teaching writing. Throughout the school year, teachers will collect writing samples from students, who will also be asked to participate in surveys in the fall and spring. The information gathered will help us understand students' attitudes towards writing. In addition to writing samples and surveys, some classes will participate in classroom video observations, and we will also collect and securely store students' demographic information. The goal is to examine the impact of these practices on the development of students' writing skills.
Student names will not be collected, and instead, each student will be assigned a unique number. Student information will be solely used for the research study and not shared elsewhere. However, you have the option to exclude your student's data from the study if you wish. If you want to opt out, please fill out the form linked here. The data collected is crucial for the improvement of writing practices and the enhancement of our students' writing skills.
If you have any further questions about the collection of student data, please reach out directly to Ms. Rachael Barton, Curriculum Instructional Leader, who is responsible for managing the student data for this project. For additional information, please see the attached flyer below.
Tri County Regional Vocational Technical High School visits Medway Middle School
On Tuesday, October 15th, representatives from Tri County Regional Vocational Technical High School will visit Medway Middle School 8th graders. Faculty and student representative will meet with all students to provide them with an overview of Tri County's offerings. Medway High School will share similar information with our students later in the school year.
Handbooks, Policies, and Student Responsibilities
Included in the Yearly Information Update, families are required to acknowledge that they have read and understand our policies, procedures, and student responsibilities. For more information regarding this process and all of these documents, please visit our website here. Both parents and students must review these guidelines and understand the expectations.
MPS Community Book Read: The Anxious Generation
Medway Schools is inviting our parents/guardians to participate in a community book read of The Anxious Generation, a book that explains how a generational decrease in youth free play and an increase in mobile device use has sparked a child mental health crisis. It also offers parents/guardians practical strategies about how to flip the script to improve youth mental well-being. Thanks to the support of the Medway Foundation For Education, free books are being provided to community members. To request one or more books, please complete this form.
The book read will take place now until November 30 and will culminate with a panel discussion on December 4 at 6:30 PM at Medway Middle School that will feature Dr. Peter Gray, who is spotlighted in the book. To register for this event, please click here.
Friday Night Done Right
Looking for a night out with free childcare? We’re thrilled to invite your Middle schooler to attend Friday Night Done Right—a fun-filled youth drop-in program designed just for them! Offered monthly, the first drop in for this school year will be on September 27th from 6 - 8 PM in the Medway High School cafeteria. Your youth will have a blast enjoying our inflatable obstacle course, meeting a therapy dog, and participating in lawn games, arts & crafts, sports, and social time with their peers. And don’t worry—food will be provided!
As a drug prevention initiative, this program offers a FREE & SAFE environment where young minds can thrive while engaging in healthy, substance-free activities. The casual, drop-in setting is a perfect opportunity for your youth to build friendships, explore new hobbies, and run off some energy—all in a supervised setting!
To register, fill out this form: https://bit.ly/FridayNightDoneRightRegistration
URGENT! Required Annual Online Registration - Ensuring Up-to-Date Information for a Seamless School Year
Yearly Information Update
All families are required to complete an annual review of information on file, known as the Yearly Information Update, through the online Parent Portal module. Devices will not be released until this process is completed for students scheduled to receive new Chromebooks. Here’s how you can complete this process:
Log in to the Parent Portal starting July 15th.
Select "MORE" from the left menu options.
Click on "Registrations” then under the heading of “Existing” choose “Start” to the right of “2024-25 Student Registration" to begin the review.
For the best experience, we recommend using a computer with a full-screen browser, as smartphone users may find the process challenging.
Student Device Responsibility
During the 2023-24 school year, the technology department serviced a large number of devices. To keep devices in good working order, we want to remind students and parents of the following responsibilities:
Handle devices with care at all times. Keep devices protected when not in use.
Avoid eating or drinking near the devices.
Charge devices nightly to ensure they are ready for school use.
Malicious damage of any kind will not be tolerated.
Keys missing from keyboards.
Rubber bumpers pulled off devices.
Carving into the case, opening the device in any way, or damaging internal components is unacceptable.
During the school year, we request that families continually review the state of their student’s school-issued device to ensure it is in the best possible condition and not being vandalized. For more information on our expectations for the care and use of school-issued devices, please visit our informative website here.
Optional Device Insurance:
Damaged devices plagued the 2023-24 school year. To safeguard against the expense of accidental damage, we are offering optional insurance for student devices for $29 per year. This insurance covers repairs and replacements, providing peace of mind for families. We highly encourage families with students in grades 5 through 12 to take advantage of this offer to avoid the potentially high costs of device repair.
To access the Insurance Portal provided through Worth Ave Group, click here. Policies can be purchased for one to four-year increments starting at $29.
October
October 3 - School Closed - Rosh Hashanah
October 11- Picture Day
October 14- School Closed Indigenous Peoples' Day
October 15- 8th Grade Assembly featuring Tri County HS
October 15- School Council Meeting 2:45 pm
October 15- Grade 6-8 Math Night for Caregivers 6:30pm
October 23- Early Release Day - 11:02 Dismissal for Professional Development