Message from Principal Costello
August 28, 2022
October 9, 2022
Good Afternoon Murphy Families,
I hope you are enjoying the 3 day weekend. We had a great start to October at school and we're looking forward to lots of exciting days during the rets of the month.
Fun Run Tuesday!!
Fun Run Spirit Days
We had lots of participation in during our Spirit Days last week. We will look to continue many of these days, including Wildcat Wednesdays, as we celebrate Weymouth and Murphy pride. More reminders will follow.
Picture Day at Murphy
Student Handbook Information
As part of our return to school procedures, parents and guardians received a digital copy of the school handbook and an acknowledgement form to be returned to school. If you have not already done so, please sign and return the acknowledgement page back to your child's teacher.
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.
Parent Council
THE FUN RUN IS THIS TUESDAY! Thank you for all of the fundraising you have done so far for this October 11th Event. Parent Council so appreciates it and funds raised will be used to benefit Murphy students, teachers, and the community. If you’d like to fundraise and haven’t signed your child up yet, please see here - you can fundraise through 10/18 even though the run is on Tuesday (either by visiting the link below or sending cash or checks to Murphy).
https://www.getmovinfundhub.com/register?school_uuid=5d5ab94031e95
Murphy’s school code is 5d5ab94031e95.
On the day of the run, parents are invited to come and view the activity from a distance. An area will be marked off for spectators.
Times for each grade are:
Fun Run Schedule
9:15-9:45 5th Grade and 1st Grade
10:00-10:30 4th Grade and K
10:45-11:15 3rd Grade and 2nd Grade
Please have your student come ready to run (in sneakers) and wear the colors for their class.
Class Colors
Kindergarten - Red
1st Grade - Blue
2nd Grade - Yellow
3rd Grade - Green
4th Grade - Orange
5th Grade - Purple
Trunk or Treat
Our Trunk or Treat is coming up on 10/22. If you’d like to decorate a car and hand out treats, or just donate treats to be distributed at the event, please sign up by visiting this link (all event details are included on that link, too).
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4CA9AF2BAAF49-murphy
Celtics Game
Murphy School Parent Council has obtained 75 tickets to the 11/27 6:00 p.m. Celtics game for $45 per ticket. If you’d like tickets, please email murphyschoolparentcouncil@gmail.com for details. The deadline to order is 10/26 so please contact us with requests ASAP.
This week’s Parent Council Meeting
This week’s parent council meeting on 10/12 is actually going to be VIRTUAL - we will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Google Meet to go over the Fun Run, talk about the Trunk or Treat, and more. Please email murphyschoolparentcouncil@gmail.com for the link. We will not be meeting at Murphy - only virtually - this month. Back to the normal in person meetings for November!
Bus Information
Our bus departure times times remained consistent last week. We will continue to use twitter to communicate departure times for one more week in the hope that the recent times will be maintained. If you don't have a twitter account, you can view this feed on our school website.
PBIS Weekly ROAR students
We are excited to continue our PBIS (positive behavior intervention and supports) program this year. As part of the program, we will continue our tradition of recognizing students from each room on a weekly basis for their demonstration of Respect, Owning actions, Achievement and Responsibility (ROAR).
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 Information:
- Tech Support for Families - Submit a ticket for support. Reminder* be sure to update your child’s Chrome OS on the weekends, often and early!
- WPS Opportunities Resources - Family and community resources
- Champions Before and After School Care - 781-812-8735 or lolee@discoverchampions.com
- Blackboard Communications - Opt In and Opt Out Instructions
- Town Wide Parent Council - Meets the Second Tuesday of Each Month
- Volunteer to Become a Parent/Guardian/Caregiver ELL Immigrant Liaison
District Links:
Additional Resources:
- Champions Before & After School Care
- Aspen Family Portal
- Family Engagement Center (Registration)
- Backpack Program - Food assistance for students in need