McCarthy Memo
May 21, 2023
Need translation? | ¿Necesita traducción? | Precisa de tradução?
ENGLISH: Need translation? Just click "Translate" at the top of your screen!
ESPAÑOL: ¿Necesita traducción? Haga clic en "Translate" (traducir) en la parte superior de la pantalla.
PORTUGUÊS: Precisa de tradução? Clique em “Translate” (traduzir) no topo da tela!
In This Week's Issue:
- New Vice Principal
- Meerkat Challenge
- 5th Grade Parent Newsletter
- Family Conferences
- Musical instrument sign up
CELEBRATIONS/OBSERVATIONS
May celebrations and ObservationsDates to Remember!
Upcoming McCarthy Dates
McCarthy School Parent Teacher Organization
Welcome to the PTO
Volunteers Opportunities
Upcoming PTO events
How to get McCarthy Wear!!
PTO Contact Information
Other Important/Previously Shared Information
May Character Trait of the MonthBus Registration for Next Year "23-24 School Year"
School Hours/Absence and Dismissal Information
McCarthy School Staff
Please join us in welcoming Ms. Holt!
It is with great pleasure that I announce and welcome Ms. Julie Holt to the administrative team at McCarthy School as our new Vice Principal. Ms. Holt holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary and Special Education with minors in Liberal Arts and Math from Providence College and her Master’s Degree in Reading Education from Vanderbilt University. She recently graduated from the Massachusetts School Administration Association's Leadership Licensure Program and is currently studying for her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at Fitchburg State University.
Julie began her career in Iowa where she worked for ten years as both an inclusion special education teacher and as a third and fourth grade classroom teacher. She joined the Framingham Public Schools 8 years ago as a classroom teacher at the Stapleton Elementary School, and, most recently, as the instructional Math Coach at Harmony Grove Elementary. She has held several leadership positions while at FPS, including her role as the PBIS Coach at Stapleton, a member of the Reading and Social Studies Curriculum Committees, and as a presenter at the New England iReady Summit on the topic of building a data-based culture in schools.
I am delighted that Ms. Holt has chosen McCarthy School as the place she will call home as she begins her administrative career! Her transition from Harmony Grove to McCarthy will begin the week of May 29th. Opportunities for families to meet her will be shared once the transition plan is complete.
Cyndy
2nd Annual Meerkat Challenge takes place on FRIDAY!
With thanks to our PTO and Viking Sports, Our 2nd annual Ultimate Meerkat Challenge will take place this Friday, May 26th, during the school day, for ALL students. The Challenge has replaced our former "Field Day" and includes team building activities, an AMAZING obstacle course, and opportunities for students to work together as a team. The MEERKAT CHALLENGE takes place in the back of our school on the field, and families are welcome to come and watch! A schedule will be sent out via the remind app this week!
PLEASE REMEMBER: PHOTOGRAPHS OR VIDEOS can only be taken of YOUR CHILD.
Meerkat Challenge- a Fundraising Event, too!
The McCarthy School PTO sponsors our annual MEERKAT CHALLENGE, an event created to engage students in a fun, community based, activity focused event. In addition to this wonderful opportunity that this provides for our students, we are also using this event as a way to FUNDRAISE, as a PTO, to be able to provide MORE events for our students next year!
The PTO is asking that each family register their child(or children) on the website below, if you are able to participate! The website is an awesome web based fundraising system. Once registered, you can request pledges from your family and friends by sharing the link via text/email. Pledges can be made with a credit card online. Cash/Checks and Venmo will also be accepted- please contact Kelly Holland cotreasurer@mccarthypto.org to utilize that option.
This year, the monies raised at this event will help us to provide additional whole school creative arts programming, funding for field trips, teacher appreciation and more!
As part of the fundraising process, classroom based rewards will be offered throughout our fundraising time frame to help motivate our students and get them excited for the event! Mr LeRoy Watkins, the lead coach and owner of Viking Sports will be at some lunches this week to get students excited for the challenge, select class names, and learn about the activities that will take place at the event on Friday.
Every student will participate in the event AND receive a t-shirt on Friday!
HOW TO PARTICIPTE IN THE FUNDRAISING!!!
Using your computer's browser:
● Go to http://pledgestar.com/McCarthy
● Click “Not Registered For This Year’s Event”
● Enter your name and email address, then click “Submit”
● Follow the instructions on-screen to register Participant(s) and add family and friends
We appreciate all of your support and contributions to support our students!!
About Viking Sports........Specialists of FUN!
Viking Sports is one of Massachusetts’ largest sports recreation companies offering services for kids to adults throughout the state. We are a sports company who pride ourselves on being specialists of fun. Fun should be the main component of a sports community, and this community should be freely available to everyone. Being part of a positive, active, and friendly community such as Viking Sports offers benefits across all domains of functioning. Socially, children learn to interact with their peers and adult figures other than their parents/guardians. Emotionally, children learn how to deal with wins and losses and conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner. Physically, we allow your children to reach an ideal level of activity in a way that encourages them to learn how important it is to be healthy from an early age. In all of these ways, Viking Sports facilitates the successful progression of its participants of all ages in reaching lifelong developmental milestones. In the Viking Sports community, we want all children and parents to feel important. Our members are kept up to date through social media, email blasts, flyers, website updates, and activities at our Activity Center. What sets Viking Sports apart is our commitment to promoting an active, healthy lifestyle. Development is a lifelong process, so we have programs for adults as well as children. One of the main goals of Viking Sports is for our Specialists of Fun to reach members of the community from all walks of life. As an example, we provide private lessons and group lessons to children and adults with disabilities to provide them with opportunities they would not otherwise have. Additional services to our business model include private lessons and birthday parties with our coaches.
For 5th Grade Families
There are several 5th grade events taking place in the month of June. Please click on this special 5th grade newsletter to stay aware of all of the upcoming events and opportunities for our 5th graders. We will update on a regular basis!
Parent and Family Conferences end this week!
If you have not had a conference /meeting with your child's classroom teacher yet, please get in touch with them! These can take place here at McCarthy School, via Google Meet, or by phone. Please send an email or Remind message to your child's teacher OR call the main office to schedule this.
We are hoping to have all families participate in a conference/meeting with their child's teacher by the end of May.
Current 4th graders instument sign up
Want to play an instument in 5th grade?
Sign up online at your convenience anytime from May 3rd - June 20th. Questions? Email Diane Jasinski at dthomas@framingham.k12.ma.us
OR
Visit our website at https://www.framingham.k12.ma.us/Page/9161
Dates to Remember!
Upcoming McCarthy Dates
May
- May 23rd Sage iNight
- May 25th Early Release
- May 26th Meerkat Challenge
- May 29th No School
June
- June 2nd - Kindergarten Reading Celebration
- June 7th No Kindergarten
- June 19th No School
- June 22nd Last day of school HALF day
CELEBRATIONS/OBSERVATIONS
May
Asian American Heritage Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
Haitian Heritage Month
05/21: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue & Development
05/23: Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib
05/25-05/27: Shavuot
McCarthy School Parent Teacher Organization - our "PTO"
PTO Contact Information:
Want to stay updated on school events? If you are interested in joining our mailing list, please click here to be added.
As always, feel free to contact Jillian Karlson at president@mccarthypto.org
* Join us Thursday, May 25th for a free workout at Burn Bootcamp Framingham! Everyone is welcome, childcare provided. Mention you’re from McCarthy and $5 will be donated towards our Ultimate Meerkat Challenge!
* The Ultimate Meerkat Challenge is Friday, May 26th. Please fill out and return your pledge forms or create an account on pledge star! Help every student raise funds for community and school events, teachers and classrooms. EXCITING classroom prizes for students/classrooms that raise the most funds! If you plan to come and watch your child during their scheduled challenge time please be sure to fill out the google form prior to the event preventing delay checking in. All attending must fill out the google form. https://pledgestar.com/McCarthy
*Our first McCarthy SUMMER BASH is happening Saturday, June 3rd 3-7pm, Join us for an afternoon of fun! Featuring Framingham Fire ``touch a truck", Kona Ice, Ultimate Grill & Sabor Latina. Face painting & tattoos, a Magician, 50/50 raffle, Bounce house and so much more!
McCarthy Gear
Other important/Previously shared information
May Character Trait of the Month: Compassion
Transportation Registration For The 2023 - 2024 School Year
Transportation Registration is now available!
The online transportation request form for the 2023 - 2024 school year is available!
ALL families requesting transportation must complete the transportation request form in Aspen. If you do not need a bus, you do not need to complete the form in Aspen X2.
Please click below for illustrated instructions on how to complete your Transportation Request:
Framingham Public Schools Transportation Request Instructions
Escuelas Públicas de Framingham - Instrucciones para la solicitud de transporte
Como solicitar o transporte de ônibus para as Escolas Públicas de Framingham
- Families only need to complete the workflow form IF they want/need a bus for next year. Families who are not requesting a bus do not need to complete the form.
- The deadline for transportation registration will be June 12, 2023. (Transportation requests received after the June 12th deadline may not be processed until after the start of the school year.)
If you have a student entering 6th or 9th grade, be sure you sign up for transportation at your child's new school.
If you have any questions, please visit the Transportation Website at:
website: http://bit.ly/FPSTransportation
School Hours/Absence and Dismissal Information
- McCarthy school hours: 8:15 am -2:30 pm
- Breakfast/Doors open at 8:00am
- Main office phone (508) 626-9161
- To report a student's absence please call the main number, press 1 and leave a message with student's full name, homeroom and reason for absence.
- To make changes in dismissal please call the main office prior to 2pm if possible
Early Release Days
- Students are dismissed at 12:05pm.
- Lunch IS served.
- Early Release Thursdays: 5/25