Superintendent's Update

Dear Medway families, 

We hope that this finds you well and that the transition into the second half of the year has been smooth.  

As you may have seen, Governor Baker and Commissioner Riley announced that the mask mandate for all public schools in Massachusetts will end on Monday, February 28.  This is good news as it will allow our district to move forward with modifications to the mitigation practices that are in place as case counts continue to decline, and we can move closer to a “pre-pandemic normal.”  The press release of this announcement can be found here. 

We are sure that potential changes to mitigation strategies will come with mixed emotions.  As you know, throughout the pandemic we have relied on the guidance, advice, and requirements of state officials to inform our response to the impact of the pandemic.  In addition, we have continued to identify opportunities to enhance the supports within the school environment (e.g. early adoption of testing, individual HEPA filters in each room).  

Specifically, as indicated in the communication sent earlier today from Medway School Committee Chair, Susan Dietrich, the school committee will be meeting on Tuesday, February 15 at 7:15 p.m. to discuss this item.  At the meeting, I will share my recommendation with the school committee regarding masking in schools.  Given the changes to the mask mandate announced by the Department of Public Health and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, combined with significantly declining COVID-19 cases, a high community vaccination rate, and the continued availability for COVID-19 testing, I will be recommending that we align with the Updated Mask Guidance which includes a transition from “required masking” to “strongly recommended.”  This guidance reads, in part: “any individual who wishes to continue to mask, including those who face higher risk from COVID-19, should be supported in that choice. DESE and DPH strongly recommend unvaccinated individuals should continue to wear masks in school settings.”  If my recommendation is approved by the school committee, this change would be in place upon the return to school on Monday, February 28, 2022.  It is important to note that if this recommendation is adopted, masks will still be required on school buses and school-provided transportation as this continues to be required by federal order.  

Please find additional important district updates and informational items below, including important information related to our management of COVID-19 within our schools.

Be well,

  

Armand Pires, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Additional COVID-19 Updates

As we have communicated in the weekly COVID-19 Update, we are continuing to see reductions in weekly case counts.  As case counts continue to decline, we will begin to make adjustments to our management strategies related to COVID-19.  Please find a brief summary of these planned changes below. 

Contact Tracing: We will discontinue contact tracing effective Friday, February 11.

Test and Stay: We will be eliminating Test and Stay effective February 11.  

COVID-19 Communication: The last weekly COVID-19 Update  will be sent on Friday, February 11.  Real-time data will be available for viewing via our website - www.medwayschools.org - beginning Monday, February 14..

Continuation of weekly COVID-19 Pool Testing:  At this time, weekly pooled testing will continue to be an option for students and staff.  We will communicate our plan to end weekly pooled testing when that decision is made.  

At-home Rapid Antigen Tests: Families interested in signing up for this program must opt-in by completing the Opt-in Form.  The next test kit distribution will take place on Thursday, February 17. In order to receive a test kit in this distribution, families must opt in by Monday, February 14.  

No School:  Monday-Friday, February 21-25, 2022

There will be no school on Monday-Friday, February 21-25.  We hope that our families enjoy the week.

WEBINAR POSTPONED:  School Safety and Security Update

We are pleased to invite families to join us for a webinar focused on Safety and Security.  This event was originally scheduled for Tuesday, February 15, but will be postponed to a later date due a conflict with an upcoming school committee meeting.  Our apologies for the inconvenience.  We will share an updated date once it has been identified.  When conducted, this event will highlight the district’s efforts to date and also provide a look forward as we continue to engage in efforts to maintain the highest level of attention on these vital practices.  This informational event had previously been part of our regular communication plan and the COVID-19 pandemic impacted our information sharing.  

Revised Last Day of School, 2021-2022

Due to the snow day on Friday, January 7, 2022 and Friday, February 4, 2022, the last day of school for the 2021-2022 school year will now be Wednesday, June 22, 2022.  There is no school on Monday, June 20, 2022 in observance of Juneteenth.   Should we need to cancel school again this year, this date will move. 

Upcoming FY23 Budget Activities

Charting the Course - District Improvement Update and Budget Overview Presented to the School Committee

On Thursday, February 10, Dr. Pires and Ms. Abrams will present Charting the Course: District Improvement Plan Update and FY23 Budget Overview to the School Committee.  This presentation will highlight the priority areas to be addressed in the FY23 Recommended Superintendent’s Budget. The presentation will be shared with families following the presentation. 

FY23 Budget Presentation

On Thursday, March 3, at 6:00 p.m., Dr. Pires and Mr. Aicardi, Director of Finance and Operations, will present the FY23 Recommended Superintendent’s Budget to the Medway School Committee.

FY23 Public Forum on the FY23 Budget

On Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 6:00 p.m., the School Committee and Dr. Pires will host a webinar for interested community members regarding the FY23 budget.  This session is interactive and participant questions will be answered.  Participants can engage using the question feature on the webinar.  The webinar requires advance registration.  To register please click here. 

Public Hearing on FY23 Budget

On Thursday, March 17, at 5:30 p.m. in the Medway Middle School Presentation Room, community members are invited to share public comments regarding the proposed FY23 budget with the School Committee.  This is the final opportunity for community feedback prior to the School Committee vote on the FY23 budget planned as part of the regular School Committee meeting agenda later this evening.  Feedback shared at the hearing will be acknowledged and noted, but there will not be a dialogue during the Budget Hearing.

FY23 Budget Vote

On March 17, at 6:00 p.m., the School Committee will vote to forward the FY23 Medway Public Schools Budget to the Town of Medway, to be included as part of the FY23 Town of Medway budget.    

Town Meeting

Community members are encouraged to attend Medway’s Town Meeting on Monday, May 9, 2022, at 7:00 p.m., at Medway High School, 88 Summer Street, when residents will be asked to vote on the Town of Medway FY23 budget, which will be inclusive of the FY23 Medway Public School’s budget to be used for the 2022-2023 school year.

2022-2023 School Calendar

At the January 20, 2022, School Committee meeting, the committee approved the 2022-2023 School Year calendar.  The calendar can be found here

Fall 2019-Summer 2021 Medway Public Schools:  A Medway Mindset Annual Report 

When we first published the 2019-2024 Medway Public Schools:  A Medway Mindset Strategic Plan at the start of the 2018-2019 school year, our intention was to publish an Annual Report each year to provide our greater community with a comprehensive update on the status of the work within the district.  The 2018-2019 Annual Report is linked.

Due to the pandemic, we did not publish an annual report during the 2019-2020 school year but have been working hard to return to our practice.  We are pleased to share that families, faculty, staff, and businesses throughout Medway should have received the Fall 2019-Summer 2021 Annual Report in their mailboxes.  While not an exhaustive update on all of the district work, we believe that this document captures many of the incredible efforts over the last year with a continued focus on our mission, vision, and core values. 

Medway High School Program of Studies Proposals Presented 

At the School Committee meeting held on February 3, 2022, Medway High School Principal Dr. John Murray presented the proposed program of studies.  The committee will review the proposed program of studies and approve them at the next School Committee meeting on February 10, 2022.  The presentation can be found here

McGovern Elementary Science, Technology, and Engineering Program Highlighted

At the School Committee meeting held on February 3, 2022, McGovern Elementary School Science teacher Stephanie Fogaren presented the highlights of the Science, Technology and Engineering Program.  Ms. Fogaren gave an overview of student’s learning.  The presentation can be found here

Dr. John Murray, Medway High School Principal, Sinks the Shot and Featured on Channel 5 News

Congratulations to Medway High School Principal, Dr. John Murray, for being featured on Channel 5 News.  Dr. Murray was given the opportunity to appear on Channel 5 after he hit a half court basketball shot at the Medway High School Girls Varsity Basketball game on Tuesday, February 1, 2022.  His interview, including footage of the shot, can be found here

Online Absence Requests and COVID -19

We would like to inform families that you can now enter absence requests online within the Infinite Campus Parent Portal system. Simply log in, choose MORE from the left menu then Absence Requests to complete the online request form. We have added two new absence request reasons to simplify our processing during the current COVID-19 surge. Please indicate if your child will be absent for COVID-T (tested positive) or COVID-C (close contact) to help us better track absences.

Kindergarten Registration Begins!

Kindergarten registration will be starting soon for the 2022-2023 school year.  2022-2023 school year kindergarten students must be 5 years old by August 31, 2022.  Registration information will be available in the superintendent’s office, the McGovern School, and online.  You can find important information and events leading up to kindergarten in this document:  Road to Kindergarten. We will send more information out in the coming weeks, but wanted to share dates for planning purposes.  Finally, please mark your calendars for Kindergarten Camp which will take place from July 11-15, 2022. We will publish additional information as it becomes available.  We look forward to welcoming our Class of 2035 to the Medway Public Schools!

Medway High School Senior Internship in Education Program

We are excited to share that Medway High School has been accepted to participate in the High School Senior Internship in Education Program (HSSIEP) program.  In this program, seniors who are interested in the education field may be selected to participate in a paid internship program beginning this winter. The HSSIEP program is an initiative sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that provides seniors an experience in the field of education in hopes of encouraging future educators to enter the teaching profession.

Medway High School is partnering with schools across Medway including Medway Middle School, Burke-Memorial School, McGovern School, and Medway Daycare. Students will be individually assigned to a classroom during a time that best fits into their schedule. This could be during the school day if there is time available, after school, or during school breaks. Each intern will be assigned a supervising teacher. In addition to their supervising teacher, interns will receive training.

Medway T.H.R.I.V.E./Cultural Council: Family Event

Medway T.H.R.I.V.E. is happy to share that the Medway Cultural Council is sponsoring an upcoming family/student presentation titled Four Legs To Stand On. This free Zoom play addresses substance use prevention in a way that is accessible to adults and teenagers.  The play will take place at 7:00 PM on February 16 and will be immediately followed by a facilitated talkback.  For more information and to register please click here

Medway Community Education:  Summer Adventures Camp 

We are excited to share that camp registration opened on February 1.  The Summer Adventures Camp offers 7 weeks of social engagement and tons of fun for children entering Kindergarten through Grade 6 in September. Early drop off and late pick up options are available for families as well. For more information and to register, please click here

Massachusetts Music Educators Association All-State Festival

Congratulations to choir members Olivia Dwyer and Lucas Farlow on their acceptance into the annual Massachusetts Music Educators Association All-State Festival. These students will have the opportunity to participate in a live festival with other choir singers from the state at Boston’s Symphony Hall. 

Medway Foundation for Education Trivia Bee

The Medway Foundation for Education (MFE) is pleased to host the return of the annual MFE Trivia Bee.  This event is a time honored tradition that features a DJ emcee who uses music to provide clues for each question. The event will take place on Wednesday, March 2 in the Medway Middle School Cafeteria from 7:00-9:00 p.m.   The funding generated from participation in this event benefits MFE’s grant giving efforts for innovative ideas that come directly from our faculty and staff.  Please consider participating in this great event.  A registration form can be found here.

Medway Friends of the Performing Arts:  Music in Our Schools Month

For the second year, the Medway Friends of Performing Arts (MFPA) is excited to take part in the National Music In Our Schools Month this March.   Our theme is Music Connects Us.  Music has a way of connecting people and its importance has never been more prevalent than over the past two years.  To celebrate this, we will be showcasing all the wonderful work our teachers and students are doing in each of the Medway schools.  If there are students who are interested in submitting a short video sharing how music connects them or what music means to them, please email the MFPA for additional details at medwayfriendsofperformingarts@gmail.com. Stay tuned for the video release in March!

Follow the Medway Public Schools on Social Media

Medway Public Schools: Twitter: @MedwaySchools  Instagram: @Medwayschools  Facebook:  @medwayps 

Medway High School: Twitter: @MedwayHighInfo 

Medway Middle School: Twitter:  @MedwayMiddle 

Burke-Memorial Elementary School:  Twitter: @BurkeMemorial

McGovern Elementary School: Twitter @McGovernElem 

Medway Community Education: Twitter: @Medwayce Instagram: @Medwaycommunityed  Facebook:  @medwayce 

Upcoming Events

February 10, 2022

School Committee Meeting, Presentation Room, Medway Middle School, 6:00 p.m.

February 15, 2022

Special School Committee Meeting, Presentation Room, Medway Middle School, 7:15 p.m.

February 16, 2022

T.H.R.I.V.E/Cultural Council Event: Four Legs to Stand On, Virtual, 7:00 p.m. Click here to register.

February 21-25, 2022

No School: Winter Vacation

February 28, 2022

Medway High School Program of Studies Course Selection Process meeting, Virtual, Incoming 9th Graders: 6:00 p.m. Current Grades 9-11: 7:00 p.m.

March 2, 2022

MFE Trivia Bee, Cafeteria, Medway Middle School, 7:00 p.m.

March 3, 2022

School Committee Meeting, Presentation Room, Medway Middle School, 6:00 p.m.

March 8, 2022

Public Forum on FY23 Budget via Webinar 6:00 p.m. Click here to register.

MFPA Meeting, Virtual, 7:00 p.m.

March 9, 2022

Finance Committee Meeting on FY23 School Budget, Sanford Hall, 155 Village Street, 7:00 p.m.

March 11, 2022

Early Release: Grades K-12

March 12, 2022

MEPTO Shamrock Shuffle, Medway High School, 9:00 a.m.

March 17, 2022

Public Hearing on FY23 Budget, Presentation Room, Medway Middle School, 5:30 p.m.

School Committee Meeting, Presentation Room, Medway Middle School, 6:00 p.m.

March 18, 2022

Medway High School Spring Musical, Footloose, Auditorium, Medway High School, 7:30 p.m.

March 19, 2022

Medway High School Spring Musical, Footloose, Auditorium, Medway High School, 2:00 p.m.

Medway High School Spring Musical, Footloose, Auditorium, Medway High School, 7:30 p.m.

March 21, 2022

MICCA Festival Preview Concert, Auditorium, Medway High School, 7:00 p.m.

March 25, 2022

Medway High School Ring Dance, Cafeteria, Medway High School, 7:00 p.m.