Dear Families,

As we enter mid-October, I hope that you and your students have settled in to routines and that your back-to school experiences have been positive. It is amazing how much has been accomplished in just a month.

• 7 in-person curriculum nights
• School safety presentation by our SRO Wright and McCune. This was an excellent opportunity for parents/guardians to learn and to ask questions and make comments.
• Fire drills, lockdown drills, and bus evacuation drills completed at MHS, QMS, J/J, and Robinson
• First professional development 1/2 day with new release time including a lunch period
• MESA held their very successful, first-ever Fall Festival
• Kindergarten social for students and families
• MHS Unified Coed Basketball have hosted Milford and Franklin and will host Foxborough this afternoon.
  
• The Golf Team earned a share of the Hockomock Title
• MHS Opportunities Night for 8th-grade students and families (scheduled for 10/20)
• MHS Band performed at the BIG E and the MHS Marching Band and Color Guard earned a first place finish at their first NESBA competition.
• QMS announced that Disney's Newsies Jr. will be performed this March and MHS will perform Elf The Musical
• SEPAC started their year hosting a panel presentation with Dr. Lisa Cannon, MD, of Mansfield Pediatrics and MPS School Psychologists Melisa Foster and Craig Mugford to discuss student's emotional health. This was an excellent opportunity for parents to learn, ask questions, and make comments.
• MHS Hornets Football Team traveled to Philadelphia to play Haverford High School on October 7. This special trip included a stop in New York City to visit the 9/11 Museum and Memorial and a visit to the campus of Villanova University. The team also visited the historic sites in downtown Philadelphia including the Liberty Bell, Constitution Hall, Benjamin Franklin's birthplace, Betsy Ross' home and the Philadelphia Museum of Art to run up the steps to see the Rocky Statue. They returned from Philadelphia with a win!
  

We continue to monitor our COVID-related absences and adhere to the public health guidance to keep or students, faculty, and staff healthy and safe. While our dashboard is no longer updated, our COVID Website remains intact and contains valuable resources.

As a reminder, a family flu clinic is scheduled on October 19 and October 26. Please see the graphic below for more information.

Sincerely,

Teresa Murphy

Superintendent

On Monday, October 17, 2022, we will mail the MCAS Student Reports for the spring 2022 testing (grades 3 - 10). The report shows your child's scores as well as their achievement level. For each subject, the report also provides information that compares your child's performance to performance at the school and state levels as well as information about how your child performed in the major areas of the test and on individual test questions.

The Schools' data team and teachers are busy digging into the information that MCAS provides for each student. Areas of need will be addressed and support will be provided so that students continue to work towards meeting expectations. In the coming weeks, Assistant Superintendent Mike Connolly and his team will present a summary to the School Committee. A recording of the presentation will be made available to all families.

As stated in a press release issued by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on September 29, 2022, "Results on the spring 2022 MCAS tests were mixed, with math and science scores improving since 2021, and English language arts (ELA) scores declining. Overall results when compared to pre-pandemic levels show continued need for improvement."

In addition, it is helpful to remember the variations in how MCAS was administered over the last few years:

• 2019: Full tests in grades 3-8 and high school
• 2020: No MCAS tests administered
• 2021: Half tests in grades 3-8, full tests in high school
• 2022: Full test in grade 3-8 and high school

Our students, faculty and staff work hard to achieve at high levels. MCAS provides us a snapshot on how we are doing in meeting the expectations of the MA Curriculum Frameworks in three subjects. In Mansfield, we understand the importance of a state-wide common measure to gauge student achievement. But, we also believe it is critical to continue to use multiple measures to assess in all academic areas as well as in the performing and visual arts, and through students' physical, social, and civic development. We take great pride in our students and I, along with faculty and staff, will continue to strive for excellence so that we meet the high accountability expectations set for us by the MA Department of Education.

After reviewing your student's MCAS report, if you have questions about your child's performance, please feel free to call Mr. Booth at MHS, Mr. McGovern, at QMS and Mr. Nieratko at Jordan/Jackson.