Acushnet Public Schools
You Matter! It's Not Acushnet Without You!
January 2, 2024
Message from the Superintendent
Celebrating FMS Student Artists!
I am thrilled to share some exciting news about the talented artists at our middle school! Five of our exceptional students from Ford Middle School -- Morgan Paiva (Grade 8), Grace Slivinski (Grade 7), Jessica Ladd (Grade 6), Mikayla Blakesley (Grade 8), and Aubrey Castelo (Grade 7) -- have had their artworks chosen to be featured in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's (DESE) Joy of Learning mural. This mural will be proudly displayed at DESE's new headquarters in Everett.
Out of approximately 200 submissions from over 35 districts throughout Massachusetts, the outstanding creativity and expression demonstrated by our students have truly set them apart. Each piece of artwork uniquely exemplifies the joy of learning in various ways.
Here's a glimpse into the remarkable achievements of our young artists:
- Morgan Paiva (Grade 8): Morgan's beautiful landscapes, featuring geographical locations such as Niagara Falls, showcase her artistic talent and appreciation for the natural world.
- Grace Slivinski (Grade 7): Grace's Griffin sculpture and superhero self-portrait not only demonstrate her artistic skills but also reflect her profound knowledge and love of mythology and storytelling.
- Jessica Ladd (Grade 6): Jessica's still-life scratch art beautifully depicts the art supplies she uses in class, showcasing her creativity and attention to detail.
- Mikayla Blakesley (Grade 8): Mikayla's illustration from the book, "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" reflects her passion for literature and her ability to bring stories to life through art.
- Aubrey Castelo (Grade 7): Aubrey's self-portrait as a Lego-style cheerleader is a wonderful representation of our Wildcat Pride, capturing the spirit and enthusiasm that make our school community special.
These students have not only showcased their individual talents but have also become ambassadors for our school, proudly representing Ford Middle School and the joy of learning that defines our educational community.
I also want to extend a special shoutout to our amazing art teacher, Ms. Kristine Daniels. Her guidance, support, and dedication have undoubtedly played a crucial role in nurturing the artistic talents of these students. Ms. Daniels, your commitment to fostering creativity and passion within our students is truly commendable.
Please take a moment to appreciate their incredible artwork below.
Congratulations to Morgan, Grace, Jessica, Mikayla, and Aubrey for their outstanding achievements!
We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments, and their contributions will be celebrated by all members of our school community.
Thank you for your continued support in fostering an environment where our students can thrive and flourish in both academics and the arts.
#WildcatPride #YouMatter #BetterTogether #TwoSchoolsONEDistrict
Warm regards,
Dr. Paula J. Bailey
Superintendent of Schools
Morgan Paiva
Morgan Paiva
Grace Slivinski
Grace Slivinski
Student Services
Hello families and Happy New Year!
Now that we are in the winter months and spending more time in larger groups through the holidays, I thought it would be a good time to share a reminder about COVID protocols.
If testing positive:
• The positive individual must isolate for at least 5 days. Day 0 is the date when symptoms started or the date of the positive test if no symptoms. Return to school will be on day 6.
• If the individual does not have symptoms or symptoms are resolving and they have been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours (Tylenol or ibuprofen), they may return to school on day 6 and must wear a high-quality mask through Day 10:
With any illness, students should be staying home if they have a fever, vomiting or extreme symptoms of any kind. Please reach out to your child's school nurse for any specific questions.
Be well!
Kim Bettencourt
Director of Student Services
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Wishing you a joyful new year!
Middle of Year Assessments
As we near the midpoint of the school year our educators will be administering middle of year assessments in ELA and math. Our district uses beginning, middle, and end of year assessments to monitor student academic progress and growth over the course of the academic year. This information allows educators to identify individual student needs and plan instruction accordingly. Data reports will be sent home with notification, most likely in early February.
Panorama Family-School Relationships Survey
Thank you to the 187 respondents who participated in the Panorama Family-School Relationships Survey! While there was high favorability on responses related to learning recovery and school safety, we do see family engagement as an area for growth. We appreciate the feedback and will continue to review our practices and make adjustments.
School Safety - Evacuation Drills
In the December newsletter, we shared information about ALICE and that our district will conduct regular drills and training which are essential to help everyone become more comfortable and confident in responding to emergency situations.
During the week of January 24th, we will run drills to familiarize students with the various evacuation routes from the cafeteria. These drills will not occur during breakfast or lunch and will be conducted in a controlled and safe manner. It will be made clear to students that these are drills (we will announce multiple times at the start of the drill, “This is a drill, this is a drill, this is a drill”).
Angela Ruggeri
Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Technology
Happy New Year, Acushnet Families!
We hope everyone had a fantastic winter break and happy new year!
Newsletter update
Our goal in the technology department is to provide a technology tip each month that hopefully helps you or someone you know stay safe and secure while online. Our main focus will be security, however, we will toss in some cleaning tips, best practices, and some fun tidbits as well. We hope you enjoy it.
Chromebook Checks
If you notice your child has a damaged or non working Chromebook. Please contact techassistance@acushnetschools.us and we will get back to you as soon as possible! Our goal is to have properly working devices, especially in the next few months as MCAS testing is just around the corner!
Technology Tip of the Month
NOTES ON CHARGING DEVICES
Here are the answers to a few common questions regarding battery life and charging:
Q: Can I leave my device (Chromebook, MacBook, iPad, Smartphone) on the charger overnight, or will it overcharge the battery?
A: Newer devices come with lithium-ion batteries and are safe to leave on the charger overnight. Many have built-in battery life management features to help you get the most out of your battery.
This will not overcharge the battery. Once the battery hits 100%, charging will stop. Leaving them plugged in overnight ensures you will have a full charge ready for the next day.
Q: Should I let my battery go to zero before recharging?
A: No. Fully discharging batteries can wear out a lithium-ion battery's lifespan faster. Be certain to charge the battery before it reaches zero. Most devices will warn you when they are getting low.
Q: Does my battery develop a "memory" for the amount of charge it can have?
A: No. Lithium-Ion batteries slowly decrease in capacity over their lifespan. The charge "memory" used to be a problem with nickel-cadmium batteries before lithium-ion batteries were fully implemented.
Q: Can devices overheat?
A: Rarely. Often they will get very warm. If they get exceedingly hot (too hot to hold), it is possible that a component is defective. You should remove it from charging and have it examined.
Q: Should I keep Low-Power Mode on all the time on my Apple device?
A: No. It does nothing to extend your battery lifespan and reduces the amount of background tasks being performed, likely decreasing productivity. However, it is a good, temporary way to minimize the power you use when your battery is low.
Following these guidelines helps us be a safer community and we are stronger together!
Acushnet Technology Department
Business Office
Business
As mentioned in previous newsletters, budget season is upon us and we are looking for your feedback!
We are asking for your input on the future of Acushnet Public Schools - this input will help inform the development of our budget for Fiscal Year 2025 (School Year '24 - '25) to improve the priority areas described in our 2021-2026 District Plan:
- Achieving Academic Excellence for All Students
- Creating Thriving Social and Emotional Learning Experiences (SEL) for All Students
- Strengthening Partnerships with Parents and the Larger Community
In the survey linked below, please share up to three (3) specific opportunities you would be interested in APS to focus on, as well as your suggested solutions.
Thank you in advance for your participation!
Facilities
As a friendly reminder, to ensure the continued safety of our staff and students, school grounds are not to be utilized by the public during school hours. This includes our fields, courts, playgrounds and track/walking path.
Use of Facilities
Are you or someone you know looking to use our facilities? If so, please utilize our Facilty/Rental Use website page for further information. We look forward to working with you!
School Nutrition
SBP & NSLP
At APS we participate in the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program.
These programs are federally assisted meal programs that are administered at the federal level by the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. For fact sheets on these programs please see below!
For more information regarding APS' specific School Nutrition Program such as our menus, pre-payment options, nutrition education and more, please visit our Acushnet Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services website.
MySchoolBucks
Curious as to what your children have been purchasing in our school cafeterias - visit MySchoolBucks! Under your student's name click "Meals" and then click "Purchase History". Here you will be able to see if your student purchased a meal, a hot or cold "grab and go", doubles, etc.
Transportation
SY2023-2024 Bus Routes
Questions on our current bus routes and stops? Please see below for our School Year 2023-2024 routes. In addition, if your student is registered for transportation and has been assigned a bus and a stop the information has been added to your student's Aspen profile!
- SY23-24 Acushnet Public Schools Routes & Stops - AES
- SY23-24 Acushnet Public Schools Routes & Stops - FMS
- SY23-24 Acushnet Public Schools Routes & Stops - High Schools
If it becomes necessary to permanently change a student's bus stop before the end of the year due to relocation, change in caregiving, or other family emergency, please email requests directly to bonniegrace@acushnetschools.us or patrickmcintyre@acushnetschools.us.
Thank you for your investment in our schools!
Happy New Year!
Patrick McIntyre
Business Manager
Dr. Paula J. Bailey, Superintendent of Schools
Email: paulabailey@acushnetschools.us
Website: https://www.acushnetschools.us/
Location: 708 Middle Road Suite 1, Acushnet, MA, USA
Phone: 508-998-0260
Twitter: @drpaulajbailey
Katherine Tsonis, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent and School Committee
Email: katherinetsonis@acushnetschools.us
Website: https://www.acushnetschools.us/
Location: 708 Middle Road Suite 1, Acushnet, MA, USA
Phone: 508-998-0260, option 5
Kim Bettencourt, Director of Student Services
Email: kimbettencourt@acushnetschools.us
Website: https://www.acushnetschools.us/
Location: 708 Middle Road, Acushnet, MA, USA
Phone: 508-998-0258
Patrick McIntyre, Business Manager
Email: patrickmcintyre@acushnetschools.us
Website: https://www.acushnetschools.us/
Location: 708 Middle Road, Acushnet, MA, USA
Phone: 508-998-0260
Patrick Mistler, Director of Technology
Email: patrickmistler@acushnetschools.us
Website: https://www.acushnetschools.us/
Location: 708 Middle Road, Acushnet, MA, USA
Phone: 508-998-0260
Angela Ruggeri, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Email: angelaruggeri@acushnetschools.us
Website: https://www.acushnetschools.us/
Location: 708 Middle Road, Acushnet, MA, USA
Phone: 508-998-0260