Message from Principal Costello
August 28, 2022
November 27, 2022
Good Afternoon Murphy Families,
I hope your Thanksgiving holiday break was filled with relaxation and fun with family and friends. As always, the lengthy weekend is a great reflection point - we are thankful for the partnership and support of all in our community as we work to educate our students!
Turkey Trot - Thank you!
Dismissal Reminder
Please pull all the way forward at the end of the day without leaving gaps between cars. This is very important to ensure the safety of all pedestrians on schools grounds. Please share this message with any friends or family who pick up your student.
Also, it is important that all cars remain stationary until the line begins to move forward. Additionally, our "one way" formation and exit are imperative to optimize safety for all.
Thank you.
Math Newsletter
Our district math coaches created a "Math at Home" with many user-friendly resources for families. Please take a look.
Attendance Counts!
Why is this important? The Association of School Nurses defines chronic absenteeism as “missing 10% or more of the school days for any reason (excused or unexcused), detracts from learning and is a proven warning sign of academic risk and school dropout.” (Jacob and Lovett, 2017). (Year-to-date translation: If a student has 5 absences so far, that student is considered chronically absent.)
Please take a moment to read more about our attendance efforts.
Playground / After Dismissal
Parent Council
Holiday Stroll
Murphy School Parent Council’s second annual Holiday Stroll is coming up! Let’s kick off December together on 12/3 from 12-1 in the circle in front of Murphy. All Murphy families are welcome - please bring bags for your kids to collect Holiday treats! Please see the link for information - we’d love to have lots of festive trunks and as many Murphy families attend as possible. Thank you!https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4CA9AF2BAAF49-murphy8
Holiday Shopping
Murphy Students will have the opportunity to shop for holiday gifts for their loved ones at school on December 8th and 9th. We will need CORIed volunteers to help with that event at school during the school day. A sign up genius with additional information will be emailed in the coming weeks.
Changing Weather / Warm Clothes
While the fall has treated us to many high temperature days, please remember to send in coats for the chilly days ahead (as we will continue to go outside for recess).
A message from our Nurse
Please take a moment to read a message from our nurse.
Art Newsletter
Our amazing art teacher, Ms. Ratta, invites you to view her September Newsletter.
Important Reminders - Transportation, Food Services, Technology
Transportation:
Information regarding bus transportation can be found on our district website transportation page.
Bus routes are subject to change as we continue to add new riders and stops accordingly. Please email transportation questions to Transportation@weymouthps.org.
Food Service:
WPS will be providing free meals to all students once again this school year. Families who would normally apply for the free/reduced lunch program should still apply here to remain eligible for other district benefits, such as free bus and reduced user fees.
Technology:
If you require assistance or support with a technical issue this school year, please submit a request through the following links:
Family Technical Support - use any valid email address.
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
Children may bring lunch or purchase lunch in our cafeteria. A child will never be left without lunch. If forgotten, we will provide lunch. Breakfast is available each morning from 8:50 - 9:05. For the 2022-2023 school year, breakfast and lunch will be free of charge.
Please note that even though meals will be free for all, it is very important for families to still complete the household Application for Free and Reduced Price Meals for the 2022-2023 school year.
We encourage you to complete the online application, or a paper application, on the food services webpage: https://www.weymouthschools.org/district/food-services/pages/free-and-reduced-application-and-information
We strongly encourage all families to submit this application as it allows us to establish eligibility for P-EBT benefits, other fees within the district, and serve families most effectively.
ATTENDANCE
A child's successful growth (academic and socially) is greatly enhanced by consistent attendance in school. We enjoy working with our students and families to form and sustain these healthy habits that will firmly plant our students on the road to success.
When a child is absent, please call the school by 9:15 am and provide a note upon return.
Massachusetts law requires compulsory attendance for all students. Chapter 76, section 1 of the Massachusetts General Laws requires all children between the ages of six and sixteen to attend school. The school must uphold state laws relative to student attendance. We strongly discourage family vacations or trips abroad when school is in session. In addition to violating the attendance law, family vacations or trips abroad interrupt the educational process of each course in ways that make-up work cannot reverse. As such, WPS works with our School Resource Officers and outside agencies when there is cause for concern with attendance.
Dismissal / End of Day Procedures
EARLY DISMISSALS
Please send in a note when dismissing your child. This helps to remind the office and the teacher of the dismissal time. Please do not dismiss your child early to avoid the traffic. This is extremely disruptive to the classroom when teachers are assigning homework, passing out notices, or completing other necessary tasks. When a child is dismissed by someone other than a parent/guardian, we require identification and a signature for release.
REGULAR DISMISSAL
Please send a note to the school if your child is changing their regular routine of dismissal. This includes walkers, after-school care and the bus. Please do not leave this responsibility to your child. If a note is not received, your child will follow their routine for the specific day of the week.
MEDICATION POLICY
The Weymouth Public Schools Health Services Department encourages that medication is administered before and after school, if possible.
When medication is needed during school hours, there must be a physician’s order and a parental permission form with the medication in the prescribed container, or it cannot be given.
Medication must be delivered to the school in a pharmacy or manufacturer labeled container by the parent, guardian, or responsible adult. (Medications are not accepted in such things as plastic bags.) Children are not permitted to bring medication to school.
Please contact Ms. Boland, our school nurse, for the proper forms, which must accompany all medications.
Important District Information:
- Tech Support for Families
- Champions Before and After School Care - 781-812-8735 or lolee@discoverchampions.com
- Blackboard Communications - Opt In and Opt Out Instructions
- SEPAC - Click here for meeting schedule
- Town Wide Parent Council - Meets the Second Tuesday of Each Month
COVID Resources
- DESE/DPH School Guidance
- Video: How to Administer an At-Home COVID Test
- Text Guide: How Do I Administer an At-Home COVID test?
- Weymouth Public Schools Transportation Webpage
Arrival and Dismissal Updates - Please share with anyone who picks up for your family.
Please view this document and accompanying diagrams for our traffic flow and arrival / dismissal procedures.
Please remember:
(1) Our traffic flow is ONE WAY (see diagram). Please do not go "out through the in door" as this creates a safety hazard for pedestrians and a traffic hazard for our regular traffic line.
(2) Please remember that parking spaces on the left hand side (along the tree line) are for school staff and Champions staff. Please do not park there.
(3) Out back, please remain stationary until it is time for everyone to leave. "Moving up" in the line and driving between the 2 lanes of cars creates a potentially dangerous situation.
In the afternoon, please pull forward as far as possible (rather than stopping near a specific door). It is essential that we get all cars in off the street and when bottlenecks form in the line, it quickly becomes. a problem.
Thank you, everyone, for doing your part to help us maintain safe and smooth dismissal procedures.
District Links:
Additional Resources:
- Champions Before & After School Care
- Aspen Family Portal
- Family Engagement Center (Registration)
- Backpack Program - Food assistance for students in need