News from Memorial
January 19, 2024
I hope this message finds you well as we step into the middle of January. As we approach the close of mid-year assessments on Monday, I want to express my gratitude for the hard work and dedication demonstrated by both our students and teachers. These assessments provide valuable insights, and from here, we will embark on a series of data meetings to analyze and utilize this information effectively.
In the spirit of collaboration and continuous improvement, these data meetings will serve as a platform to discuss strategies, celebrate achievements, and address any areas that may benefit from additional support. Your involvement and partnership in your child's education are invaluable, and we look forward to keeping you informed throughout this process.
Despite the unpredictable weather, it's heartening to witness the boundless energy and joy radiating from our students. The enthusiasm is contagious, and we appreciate the positive atmosphere that prevails even in frigid temps..
As we continue into the middle of the winter months, please remember to send in snow gear and warm clothes with your child. Our rule is if you are sent with a jacket then you wear it when its cold. This may help the morning battle for those who don't want to wear warm clothes. Ensuring their comfort and safety is our priority, and we will make every effort to get them outdoors on days that are safe for exploration and play.
I hope you stay warm this weekend, as we ride out this cold blast!
Warm regards,
John Kelley
Attendance
We will be sending a new round of attendance letters and working to support families who have barriers to consistent attendance. Any students with 5 or more absences will receive a letter from school. Please reach out to the main office if you are encountering problems with getting your child to school consistently and we'll follow up to try to support your efforts.
School Safety
This week District principals worked with professionals from ACT Safety to work on school safety. The group met with principals to discuss District and school specific safety procedures and practices. The feedback we got thus far was great and affirmed much of our day to day practices. We'll be working with this group to explore any areas of opportunity and continue to ensure a safe environment for our entire school community.
Grade 4 Physicals
Please see this note from our school nurse Cheryl Gay
Thank you!
Cheryl F. Gay, BSN, RN, NCSN
Memorial Elementary School
16 Cassidy Lane
Medway, MA 02053
PH: 508-533-3265 x5152
FX: 508-533-3274
Approved 2024-2025 School Calendar
At the January 18, School Committee meeting, the committee approved the DRAFT 2024-2025 school year calendar. The calendar can be found here. The School Committee previously reviewed the calendar in draft form at a December meeting
Reading at Home through Sora
SORA is an app that student have access to for digital books Thanks to the Massachusetts Library System, all students in the town of Medway have access to tens of thousands of children's eBooks, audiobooks, and from January digital Magazines! This is great news for all readers and some reluctant readers that could find a magazine of interest if books are a challenge. The most important action to support literacy is the practice of reading!
The popular magazines now available include:
Ranger Rick
Ranger Rick Dinosaurs
National Geographic Kids
National Geographic Little Kids
Sports Illustrated Kids
Highlights
Highlights High Five
Time for Kids
The Week Junior
Discover
How it Works
Bluey Magazine
Brainspace
Code Magazine
Eco Kids
Ancient History Magazine
And many more!
To discover and start browsing these digital magazines all you need to do is access Sora with this link, and sign in using your student's school email and Chromebook password.
Students have a loan limit of 5 books/audiobooks at a time but there is no limit to the number of magazines that can be checked out.
Please take advantage of these wonderful materials and have fun discovering something new this cold weekend.
If you have any questions please email Mr. Holt our Library Media Specialist : mholt@medwayschools.org If you have any email and password questions please email : parent@medwayschools.org
FY25 Budget Development Update, Timeline and Events
We would like to provide you with a comprehensive update on the factors influencing the FY25 budget development process.
The FY25 budget is currently under development and we must navigate through increased costs in essential services such as personnel, utilities, transportation, and cleaning. These challenges are exacerbated by the prevailing high inflationary climate. Additionally, the evolving and multifaceted needs of our student population further contribute to the complexity of our budgetary considerations.
Compounding this situation is the classification of Medway Public Schools as a "minimum aid district" by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This designation results in relatively modest annual increases in state funding (typically $30-$60 per student). Consequently, the majority of additional funding crucial for our district's operations comes from a Town of Medway appropriation. We value the strong partnership with the Town and acknowledge the shared budgetary pressures faced by both the school district and the larger community.
In our commitment to maintaining high-quality programming and services that cater to the diverse needs of our students, we have embarked on a thorough review of growing needs, potential reductions, and plausible revenue sources. This process requires careful consideration and intense deliberation.
To keep you informed and engaged in this important process, we are committed to sharing upcoming events and resources designed to foster a transparent and inclusive dialogue with our community. Below is a list of resources and events that will provide you with opportunities to remain connected and participate in the discussions surrounding our budget development:
December 19, 2023: The district held a webinar on the Fundamentals of School Finance. If you were unable to attend, the recording can be found here.
January 11, 2024 at 6:00 p.m., FY25 Proposed Transportation Program Webinar: The district will host a webinar on the proposed changes to the Transportation Program. You can use this link to register. A recording of the webinar will be available after the event.
February 1, 2024 at 6:00 p.m., Charting the Course - District Improvement Update and Budget Overview Presented to the School Committee: At the scheduled Medway School Committee meeting, Dr. Pires, Superintendent, and Ms. Abrams, Assistant Superintendent, will present Charting the Course: District Improvement Plan 2023-2024 Mid-year Update and FY25 Budget Overview to the School Committee. This presentation will highlight the priority areas to be addressed in the FY25 Recommended Superintendent’s Budget. The presentation will be shared with families following the presentation.
February 8, 2024 at 6:00 p.m., Superintendent’s Chat: This event will provide an opportunity for community members to ask questions and share ideas about the planning around the FY25 budget.
February 29, 2024 at 6:00 p.m., FY25 Superintendent’s Recommended Budget Presentation: At the scheduled Medway School Committee meeting, Dr. Pires and Ms. Leonhardt, Director of Finance and Operations, will present the FY25 Recommended Superintendent's Budget to the School Committee. This presentation will include specific information about possible additions and/or reductions.
March (date TBD): Public Forum on the FY25 Budget: The School Committee and Dr. Pires will host a public forum for the community to participate in an interactive session about the FY25 budget.
March 2024 (date TBD): Public Hearing on FY25 Budget: The formal hearing on the proposed FY25 budget will take place. This event provides an opportunity for community members to share public comments regarding the proposed FY25 budget with the School Committee. This is the final opportunity for community feedback prior to the School Committee vote on the FY25 budget. Feedback shared at the hearing will be acknowledged and noted, but there will not be a dialogue during the Budget Hearing.
March 21, 2024: School Committee to Vote on FY25 Budget: At the March 21 School Committee meeting, the committee will vote to approve and forward the FY25 Medway Public Schools Budget to the Town of Medway to be included as part of the FY25 Town of Medway budget.
May 13, 2024: Annual Town Meeting: Community members are encouraged to attend Medway’s Town Meeting on Monday, May 13, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., at Medway High School, 88 Summer Street, when residents will be asked to vote on the Town of Medway FY25 budget, which will be inclusive of the FY25 Medway Public School’s budget to be used for the 2024-2025 school year.
MEPTO Meeting Monday 1/22
MEPTO, the Medway Elementary PTO, is holding their January public meeting on Monday night at 6:30 PM at the McGovern Library. ALL ARE Welcome. MEPTO will be previewing there events for the rest of the school year and are always looking for members and volunteers.
Musical Bingo Presented by Medway Friends of the Performing Arts
Medway Friends of the Performing Arts is a Community Support group whose mission is to foster and promote excellence in performing arts programs in the Medway Public Schools K-12 music and theater programs. They have done this by raising funds to provide things like: Scholarships, financial aid, equipment, instruments, support for curriculum-based enrichment activities for the music program, and so much more!
Their upcoming Musical Bing Night is on Thursday February 8th from 6 to 8 PM in the Medway Middle School Cafeteria.
- Mr. Doug Herbst is our Musical Bingo DJ again this year! Bring your dancing shoes!
- Doors open at 5:30 pm and Bingo starts promptly at 6:00 pm
- Pre-registration is required
- Fee is $10/person or $50/family
This is an all ages, family-friendly event. Space is limited, so register early. The last day to register is February 5th, based on availability.
Payment can be made after registering in advance via Venmo or cash/check at the door.
There will be prizes, concessions for purchase, raffles, and lots of fun!
Upcoming Early Release Dates: 1/31 and 2/7
The Medway School District has upcoming early release days on Wednesday 1/31 and the following week Wednesday 2/7. Burke Memorial's dismissal time is at 11:30 AM.
District release times:
- Medway Middle School: 11:02 a.m.
- Burke-Memorial Elementary: 11:30 a.m.
- Medway High School: 11:34 a.m.
- McGovern Elementary: 12:00 p.m.
Yearbooks from MEPTO
MEPTO has officially opened their Yearbook orders through March 29th. Yearbooks are directly managed by the organization as part of their support efforts. Students typically get their yearbooks shortly before the school year ends. There are scholarship opportunities for any families who are unable to purchase yearbooks and they should contact John Kelley with any of those needs. All questions related to yearbook should go directly to MEPTO at medwaypto@gmail.com. Please see directions below to order
1. Go to www.coffeepond.com.
2. Click on the Order Yearbooks button.
3. Enter the password BMMYB2024 and select online order and continue.
4. Enter the child’s name & grade and the book quantity.
5. Enter your email under contact and select add to cart.
6. If you have another child to order for, please select order for another child. If not, you can finish
checking out.
Yearbooks will be on sale through March 29, 2024.
SAVE THE DATEs: MFE Trivia Bee and Dodgeball
The Medway Foundation for Education (MFE) is a non-profit organization charged with raising capital to fund innovative, educational projects throughout Medway’s public schools. Using the money generated from community events, contributions, and educational grants, MFE will allocate funds through a grant process to teacher-sponsored projects. Their partnership has resulted in close to $500,000 in support to Medway Public Schools since 2002. Please see the information below for volunteer opportunities in the Old News section:
MFE is excited to announce that they are holding both the Trivia Bee and the Dodgeball tournament this year.
Join us to have fun, compete and raise funds to help MFE support our schools!
The Trivia Bee will be held on Tuesday, February 27 at 7:00 p.m. at the Burke-Memorial School. New teams are always welcome and the MFE looks forward to welcoming back our tried and true past competitors! Minimum donation is $300 per table (6 players per table). Individuals and teams are invited to play AND we also are seeking sponsors for tables (to pay for teacher, student or other teams). To Register your team to compete in the MFE Trivia Bee OR to sponsor a table, please reach out to medwayfoundationforeducation@gmail.com.
DODGEBALL is back!! The tournament will be Saturday, March 23 at the Medway Middle School. More information will be shared soon. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, email MFEdodgeball@gmail.com. Team registration information will be out soon - check their Facebook, Instagram and website for updates.
Older News
Mid Year Assessments
Starting next week, students will begin to engage in their Mid Year assessments. These are done through iReady, Panorama, and DIBELS assessments. This information is critical to ensuring your students are receiving the instruction and extension opportunities they require. These assessments will be completed over multiple weeks so that students are not over assessed in a small period of time. We're looking forward to seeing how our students have grown and will provide an update to families on how to interpret results once they are completed.
ACCESS for English Language Learners
Federal and state laws require that English learner (EL) students be assessed annually to measure their proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking English, as well as the progress they are making in learning English. In fulfillment of these laws, EL students are required to participate in ACCESS for ELLs tests. ACCESS (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners) for ELLs tests are administered annually. At Burke Memorial, we will start these assessments next week.
Change in Music Teacher
Principal Coffee: Social Emotional Learning
On Thursday, January 25th, parents and guardians are welcome to attend a Principal's Coffee Hour, at either 10 AM or 4 PM, on Social Emotional Learning. This would be an excellent opportunity for families to understand social emotional learning practices at Burke Memorial and how we teach and support students. Additionally, there will be time for general school-related questions.
Dressing For The Weather
As the temperatures begin to drop and the weather gets colder, we just want to remind everyone to dress appropriately. Please send your student to school with jackets, hats, gloves and boots when necessary.
Planning for Inclement Weather
It is the goal of the district to hold school whenever possible. Parents and students should plan accordingly and leave plenty of time on winter mornings to arrive at school safely. Please know that the final decision about a child attending school during a weather event always rests with individual families. There may be occasions when deteriorating weather will mean that schools close due to unsafe conditions.
The superintendent will review anticipated road and sidewalk conditions, access to schools, projected weather forecasts, and consult with the police and public works departments in order to make a determination between approximately 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. if conditions will be safe for students to come to school.
The following plans will be in effect for inclement weather:
No School Announcement
If the superintendent has determined the conditions are unsafe, school will be canceled. The district will utilize the emergency notification system that will contact your home/cell phone and email using the information you have provided to your child’s school. The “no-school” announcement will also be shared on social media channels and carried on local television channels 4, 5, and 7.
All classes, school activities, before and after school programs, the Medway Extended Day program (MEDI), daycare program, adult education evening classes, and any school facilities use activities will be canceled. Transportation of students to out-of-district schools will also be canceled.
One or Two-Hour Delayed Opening Announcement
If the superintendent has been notified that the public works department needs additional time to plow or sand the streets to ensure safety, then a determination for a one or two-hour delay may be made. As with no-school announcements, the delayed opening announcement will be made using the emergency notification system to home/cell phone and email and carried on local television channels.
Please keep in mind:
Bus routes will begin by a one or two-hour delay, including all special education transportation for out-of-district schools.
Do not send your child to school earlier than the delayed opening, as the school grounds may not be plowed and there will be no staff available to supervise early arrivals.
PreK ½ day sessions will take place if a one hour delay is called, and will be canceled for a two hour delay.
School lunch will be served at its regularly scheduled time.
Schools will be dismissed at their regular times.
Emergency Early Release Announcement
If a severe weather condition or other emergency develops during the school day, the district may release students before the typical end of the school day. Parents will be notified by home/cell phone and email and the announcement will be carried on local television channels, and displayed on the district website. As appropriate, the district will work with public safety officials to shelter students in the district if unable to send home.
Inclement Weather Bus Stops for Walkers
We understand that inclement weather days can present challenges when it comes to getting your child to school safely. Snow clearing responsibilities for our town begin with the main roads, followed by sidewalks around our schools. We recognize that this can be especially concerning for families whose children typically walk to and from school.
In the event that sidewalks are not passable and you are unable to find an alternative means of transportation for your child(ren) on these days, we are here to help. To assist us in providing a solution that ensures your child's safe travel to school, please complete the brief form linked here.
By completing this form, you'll enable us to notify you of the designated bus stop location where your child(ren) can board or exit the bus on such occasions. We have introduced this service to support safe transportation to school during inclement weather, and we appreciate your proactive participation.
It is important to note that these specialized bus stops will only be available to families who have signed up in advance. We will communicate additional information once the inclement weather bus stops have been established.
Additional Reminders for Parents
Be sure your child’s school has your updated contact information.
Have a family emergency plan in place so your child knows what to do if sent home for any of the reasons noted above.
If your child is regularly driven to school and you or they feel it is unsafe to drive during the inclement weather, please determine an alternative means of transportation to school.
School Meals Remain Free for ALL & Free- Reduced Lunch Form Still Requested
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.
Families are still encouraged to submit an application for free and reduced price school meals. If your family qualifies, your student may be eligible for reduced fees such as athletics, field trips, AP testing, and Community Education programs, as well as reduced preschool tuition.
School Cafeteria Charges
Under the National School Lunch Program, the USDA and the State of Massachusetts reimburse the school district for the cost of the meals served. Students must take three of the components with at least one component being a fruit, in order for the meal to be reimbursable.
Any item separate from these three component meals, such as a single milk, must be paid for by the student. Students will be charged to their school accounts by using their personalized pin numbers. Please find a resource below for setting up your account if you have not already done so.
To create a MySchoolBucks account to conveniently and securely add money to your student’s meal account online or with the mobile app.
With MySchoolBucks you’ll be able to view cafeteria purchases, check your student’s balance, receive low balance alerts and pay for school milk or ala carte items.
from anywhere!
- Go to myschoolbucks.com or download the mobile app
- Create your free account and add your students using their school name / student ID
- Add funds using your credit / debit card or electronic check
Note: For each transaction, you will be charged a program fee of $2.75 if using a credit or debit card and $2.49 if paying by electronic check. - Set up automatic payments and never forget to send in lunch money again.
We appreciate you using this online option as a way to help reduce the amount of physical cash and check handling that would typically happen in the serving line.
If you need assistance with your account, or need help accessing your student's ID number, Please contact our Director of Dining Services, Shawn Fallon, at sfallon@medwayschools.org
MFE Seeks Volunteers
The Medway Foundation for Education has been providing grants to fund innovative programs, events and educational support to teachers and students in Medway since 2002!
Did you know the MFE played a part in the funding of the kiln that is used to make the ceramic tiles that students design, the beautiful new Me on the Map mural at Burke-Memorial and the amazing new performance piano at the high school? And that MFE also funded the Lost Boys of Sudan event, Remembering Auschwitz Virtual Tour, and the inaugural year of the Financial Literacy Fair and STEM Saturday for Girls. MFE is a quiet but powerful resource for our schools, students and teachers. BUT, MFE needs help.
Most of the Board members have been involved for many years and our kids have graduated or are in high school. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS to help us hold events (Dodgeball, Trivia Bee and more) and raise funds so that we can keep funding future grants. You can either join our Board (which meets quarterly to plan events and review and vote on grant proposals) or just help with fundraising and events. Are you a social media guru? We could use that assistance as well. Anyone in the community is welcome but we’re especially seeking input and assistance from parents of those in K-8. Feel free to reach out to anyone on the Board for more information! https://www.mfeducation.org/
President: Christine Miller, cmdmiller8@gmail.com
Treasurer: Maria Stotz, mnecco26@protonmail.com
Board Members:
Jonathan Minnaert, jminnaert@gmail.com
Kristin Connors, mjconnors_02053@yahoo.com
Leslie Diamandis, lez_bill@hotmail.com
Lisa Messina, lmessina@medwayschools.org
Nancy MacLeod, nancy.macleod21@gmail.com
Susan Alessandri, susan.alessandri@gmail.com
Susan O'Connor, susanokie@yahoo.com
Free English Classes for Adults
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.
Student and Family Mental Health Care Coordination
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:
- Call 888-515-0595: Their multilingual helpline is staffed 24/7/365.
- 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.
Reminder: ID required in Main Office
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.
School Calendar
ACTION REQUIRED: ANNUAL STUDENT INFORMATION UPDATE
In an effort to prioritize the safety and efficiency, we require all parents and students to complete a yearly review and sign off on the information, policies, and procedures.
To streamline this process and make it convenient for everyone, we have integrated this review into our user-friendly Parent Portal system, which we refer to as "Online Registration" or "The Yearly Information Update" in our communications.
It is important that all families complete by this review, update any information that may have changed since last year, and sign-off on required policies and procedures. Families with 5th and 9th grade students should know that this process must be completed before a school-issued chromebook will be deployed to their child.
For more information, please review the Technology Department communication and instructions here.
The Parent Portal can be accessed by clicking here. Please log in and complete the review by clicking MORE > New Student Reg & Update > 2023-24 New Student Registration and Annual Update.
MEDWAY APP!
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
- Burke-Memorial News from me, bi-weekly
- Teacher newsletters, bi-weekly
All community updates and Burke-Memorial News will be emailed but 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.
MEPTO
The Medway Elementary PTO (MEPTO) is a parent-driven volunteer organization that strives to provide resources and creative arts programs for all students and teachers from pre-K through 4th grade. They are important partners in the elementary school's growth and progress. Interested in learning more? Hit the button below.
Reminders
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
Twitter: @BurkeMemorial
Facebook: @BurkeMemorial
Instagram: @BurkeMemorialElem
ELEMENTARY HANDBOOKS
Please read the 2023-2024 Elementary School Handbook as it has important information for both McGovern and Memorial Schools.
IMPORTANT DATES
January 22nd: MEPTO Meeting 6:30 pm, McGovern Elementary School
January 25th: Principal Coffee Hour 10 AM or 4 PM
January 31st: Elementary Early Release Day, Dismissal 11:30 AM
February 7th: Elementary Early Release Day, Dismissal 11:30 AM
February 8th: MFPA Musical Bingo, 6-8 PM at Medway Middle School
February 19th-February23rd: February Vacation No school
February 26th: School Resumes