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

As discussed at a recent School Committee meeting, the Milton Public Schools has updated our school incident reporting forms so people can specify incidents on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion and more. The Pierce Middle School incident form can be found here. Each school has a form linked on the front of their school’s website and they are also linked on the front of the MPS website, the MPS Education Equity page, and the MPS Anti-Bullying page.

We expect to continue to experience a high volume of student and staff absences in the coming weeks. Students who are quarantining are reminded to check their teachers’ Google Classroom sites daily for assignments and activities that can be completed independently at home.

The Pierce Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee will hold its next meeting at 6:30 p.m. on January 20th. The meeting link can be found here. Any parent or guardian who is interested in joining the DEI committee can add their contact information to this form to receive notifications and meeting information.

Please take a moment to read through Superintendent Jette's information at the top of the blog (linked here) this week. It contains information about updated Covid protocols, vaccines in our community, positive case reporting, and more.

Covid Guidelines January 2022

• MPS Health Prescreening Checklist

• DESE/DPH Updated Isolation Guidelines updated 12/30/21: MPS will follow updated isolation protocols from DESE/DPH effective immediately. If a staff member or student has tested positive, the staff member or student may return to school on day 6 after 5 days of isolation if asymptomatic or symptoms are improving. The student will be required to wear a mask at ALL times and may be given lunch accommodations to ensure proper distancing when eating. Details can be found in section two here.

• DESE/DPH Quarantine Guidelines updated 12/30/21: Details can be found in section two here.

• Test and Stay: Sign up for Test and Stay at this link.

• Mask Mandate Extension: On January 10, DESE Commissioner Riley announced that he is extending the mask requirement in schools through Monday, February 28. The announcement is linked here.

• Updated Covid Positive and Close Contact Flowchart: DESE released updated flowcharts (linked here) on Wednesday, January 5.

• DESE FAQ: DESE released a new FAQ (linked here) on Thursday, January 6 that addresses updated protocols, affirms that people returning from quarantine and isolation can remove their masks to eat meals, and states that “fully vaccinated” in DESE guidance is still defined as two weeks following the completion of the Pfizer or Moderna series or two weeks following a single dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.

Several members of our community have reached out about being a substitute teacher during this school year. On call daily substitute teachers are needed for all levels and the rate is $90 per day. We welcome all qualified applicants and encourage you to apply at the “Apply for a Job at MPS” link found on the front of the MPS website. Substitute teachers must have experience and enjoy working with children, the minimum requirement is a Bachelor's degree for substitute teachers and an Associates degree for a substitute paraprofessional. Citizenship, residency or work VISA in the United States is required. If you have any questions about the requirements, and how they pertain to you, please email MPS Human Resources Specialist Laurie Dunn at ldunn@miltonps.org.

The Milton Community Food Pantry located in the Parkway Methodist Church, 158 Blue Hills Parkway, has published their hours of operation for the remainder of the 2021-2022 School Year. The pantry is open from 9:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. with pre-bagged food ready to go on the following dates: January 22, February 5, February 19, March 5, March 19, April 2, April 23, May 7, May 21, June 4, June 18.

The food pantry is currently not accepting food donations but monetary contributions can be made online at their website or mailed to Milton Community Food Pantry, 158 Blue Hills Parkway, Milton, MA 02186.

MPS knows that families may sometimes need resources for their children and family beyond the classroom. In addition to the Family Resource Newsletter please visit Milton Public School Resource Guide. If you need additional assistance please don’t hesitate to reach out to Marti O’Keefe McKenna, MPS Family Outreach Liaison at 617-980-7343 or by email at mmckenna@miltonps.org. All calls and emails are confidential.

• Join the MPL’s Winter Reading Challenge during the month of January! From January 1st to January 31st, Milton Public Library is participating in Beanstack’s Fifth Annual Winter Reading Challenge, sponsored by Lerner Publishing Group. “Read for a Better World” encourages readers of all ages to explore diversity, empathy, and action through literature. We challenge our patrons to read at least 10 books during the month and keep track of their reading on our Beanstack site. All ages are welcome to participate! Pre-register today at miltonlibrary.beanstack.org . Happy reading, Milton!
  

The Milton Public Schools has updated its school incident reporting forms so people can specify incidents on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion and more. The Pierce Middle School incident form can be found here.

Pierce's school day is 7:55 a.m.-2:26 p.m.

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

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

Ms. Kaitlin Gass, Assistant Principal, kgass@miltonps.org

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

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

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

Mrs. Myriam Francoeur, School Adjustment Counselor, mfrancoeur@miltonps.org

Mrs. Susan McCabe, Special Education Team Chair, smccabe@miltonps.org

Dr. Suzanne Shaw, Special Education Team Chair, sshaw@miltonps.org

Mrs. Barbara Perry, School Nurse, bperry@miltonps.org

Click here for the 2021-2022 district calendar.