News from the Middle
Updates from Medway Middle School 9/4/2020
Announcements
News from the Nurse
The return to school guidelines from MA DESE released on June 25, 2020 address the importance of families mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in school communities by checking children daily for any symptoms of illness and keeping them home from school if they are sick or if they have had close contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19.(p 6-7)
Please review the following before sending your child to school. If you answer yes to any of these questions, please keep your child at home and contact the school nurse or school administrator for further direction. You can refer to the complete protocols for COVID scenarios at http://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/on-desktop/2020-0717protocols-document.docx
The single most important thing you can do if any of the following symptoms are present is to STAY HOME. Our collective health relies, in part, on individual attention and responsibility. Note that some symptoms of COVID-19 are the same as the flu or a bad cold; please do not assume it is another condition. When in doubt, stay home. Please assess your child every morning before school.
Click here to read the full update from the Middle School Nurse.
Grade 5 and New Student Orientation
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14th
Students in Grades 6-8 who are New to Medway
8:30-9:00 am - Cohorts A and B
Mrs. Arsenault and Ms. Lindsey
Cohort A - 8:30-9:00 am
Cohort B- 9:00-9:30 am
Mrs. Brewer and Mrs. Downing
Cohort A - 9:30-10 am
Cohort B- 10:30-11:00 am
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th
Mrs. Taccini & Mrs. Waugh
Cohort A - 8:30-9:00 am
Cohort B- 9:00-9:30 am
Mrs. Wenson & Mrs. Terry
Cohort A - 9:30-10 am
Cohort B- 10:30-11:00 am
Students in Cohort C may choose to attend either Cohort A or Cohort B orientation sessions for their classroom'.
Virtual School Orientation - We have a Virtual Orientation Session planned for you. Details will be shared with you via email soon!
Drop Off
Families should enter the gravel parking lot and follow signs for Orientation. Orientation leaders and Middle School Faculty and Staff will be available to greet students. Parents are asked to remain in cars. If you are walking to Orientation, please remember to practice social distancing guidelines.
Pick Up
Students should be picked up in the Kelly Street Parking lot. Parents should remain in their cars at dismissal. If you are walking to pick up your child, please remember to practice social distancing guidelines.
Office Hours
Supply Lists
- Wired Earbuds/Headphones
- pencils/pens
- Glue stick
- eraser
- pencil sharpener
- Pencil case
- colored pencils/markers
- highlighters
- loose leaf paper (wide rule)
- Ruler or Ruler/hole punch combination
- Grade 7 ONLY - 5 function calculator
- Grade 8 ONLY- Scientific calculator
Reminders
2020-2021 School Calendar
The School Committee approved the recommended, amended 2020-2021 School Calendar which can be found here. The calendar takes into account the additional 10 days of professional learning and planning days prior to the start of our student return which will be Wednesday, September 16. The two days at the end of the year are being held in abeyance in case we need them sometime during the year in support of a student learning model transition (i.e. move from hybrid to full remote, etc.)
Staggered Arrival
Bus Arrival 7:25-7:35 am
Car Drop off and Walkers- 7:40-7:50 am
This staggered arrival allows us to ensure that we are able to follow physical distance guidelines provided to us by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. More information about our arrival procedures will be shared once final bus routes are published.
Bus Routes
Bus lists based on the cohorting model and family survey information is available at.www.medwayschools.org. Final bus lists will be published on the site on September 14th
Free and Reduced School Meal Program
Every child needs a healthy, nutritious meal to learn. Medway Public Schools offers nutritious meals to children each school day, often at a free or reduced price for those who need it. Medway Public Schools participates in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program (NSLBP), a federally funded program that helps children receive free or reduced meals.
Click here for additional information and to find out if you qualify.
Health and Safety Updates:
The District is moving forward with the purchase of air purifiers with HEPA filters for each classroom, teaching space, and office. These devices have the ability to sanitize the air, depending on size, every 15 minutes. We are hopeful we will receive delivery prior to the students starting school.
While this exceeds the recommendations provided by DESE, we believe that this is an essential purchase for a few reasons:
It adds another layer of protection for students, faculty and staff
It allows us to more effectively operate our ventilation system, while complying with guidance, as the weather shifts
Face Covering Policy
At the August 20, 2020, School Committee meeting, the committee approved the following:.
In addition, feel free to review this social story with your child.
Technology
Due to the uncertainty of our current environment, the Medway Public Schools Technology Department is pushing towards a 1:1 chromebook environment for all students. Our 8th through 12th grade students have benefited from a 1:1 environment for the past several years and expanding this to all grades will ensure we are prepared for any educational scenario moving forward. Unfortunately, in-house supplies are limited and supply chains are strained due to high demand. Our deployment plans for all grades can be found below.
Deployment Priorities - We apologize that we will not be able to immediately accommodate devices for all students. We encourage families to utilize existing devices to help support all learners. Our deployment priorities will be as follows:
All 9th through 12th grade students will continue to utilize their existing devices, provided by MPS.
7th and 8th grade students will be required to return any loaned device and charger in exchange for new Acer Spin 311 R721T chromebooks. These devices will be utilized for the next three to five years for these grade levels.
3rd through 6th grade students who have not already received a device from MPS will have an existing device prepared for delivery. See delivery methods below.
PK through 2nd grade students will receive devices as soon as possible. Families of PK-2 students who do not have a device in their homes for student use should contact us, see deployment method information below, to request a device. Distribution of devices to all other PK-2 students will take place mid-late October.
Delivery Methods - In order to effectively manage deployment of devices to all students, we are implementing the following procedure.
ALL STUDENTS will need a device capable of connecting to video conferencing software (similar to the spring) on September 16, the first day of At Home Learning.
Any Student in need of a device for the first day of school, should complete the 20-21 Device Request Form. A device will be prepared for pickup as described below.
ALL STUDENTS AND FAMILIES are required to complete the MPS 1:1 Consent Form, detailing the expectations, care, use, and family responsibilities of the device.
Cohorts A, B, and C in Grades 3-7: Those students receiving two to four days of in school learning will receive devices on their first scheduled day of in-school learning, delivered to their homeroom.
Virtual School Student Learning Model: Those students participating in the Virtual School Student Learning Model, are required to complete the 20-21 Device Request Form. A device will be prepared for pickup as described below.
Device Insurance: All Families are encouraged to purchase insurance for the school owned device to cover any repair costs that may be incurred. Please note that accidental and malicious damage is covered under this policy. Lost or stolen devices are not covered. Care of the device is the responsibility of the family up to the full replacement value of $310.00. MPS has secured insurance through Worth Ave for $22 per year for all devices and offers multi year plans based on grade level. Please visit the payment portal for more information. Please note that anyone receiving free or reduced lunch will receive one year of insurance free with the device deployment.
Device Pickup: For families of students participating in the MPS Virtual School Student Learning Model and those in need of a device for the first day of school, September 16th, please complete the 20-21 Device Request Form and the MPS 1:1 Consent Form. A device will be prepared for your student(s) with a pickup window of September 14th and 15th, 8:30 to 4:30. The location will be Medway Middle School, Door 8, IT Office. Devices will be brought to your car based on the plate number. We encourage all families to purchase insurance for the school owned device to cover any repair costs that may be incurred. Please note that anyone receiving free or reduced lunch will receive one year of insurance free with the device deployment.
Repair Services and Supports:
Anyone in need of technical assistance or device repair is encouraged to visit our Technical Support site. Medway Technical Support can be reached via email at support@medwayschools.org or by phone at (508) 321-4799. Requests will be managed as quickly as possible.
IMPORTANT DATES
September 14th & 15- New Student Orientation - Details above
Sept 16: First day of school (Remote day for everyone, PK-1)
Sept 28: No School: Yom Kippur