Superintendent's Update dated June 8, 2022

Dear Medway families, 

 

As we approach the final countdown for the 2021-2022 school year, it has been wonderful to see so many families at our student celebrations and demonstrations of learning and growth.  We know that these events have been a long time coming and we see them as indicators of what’s to come.  Planning and improvement efforts across the district continue to be actively explored and the summer months will provide opportunities for these to continue for our hard working faculty and staff - while also providing time to reflect and recharge from another complex year.  Please know that our efforts to improve the student experience remain at the forefront of our mission and we are thankful for your continued support and partnership - always.

 

Please find several updates and informational items below.  We will share one final update prior to the end of the school year.

 

Be well,

  

Armand Pires, Ph.D.

Superintendent

 

Congratulations Class of 2022

Sunday’s Commencement Exercises for the graduating class of 2022 was a wonderful event characterized by beautiful weather, thoughtful words offered by and for the graduates, and just an overall air of celebration and success!  Congratulations to our students and their families and friends for reaching this exceptional milestone.

 

No School:  Monday, June 20, 2022

This is a reminder that there will be no school on Monday, June 20, in observance of Juneteenth.  

 

Last Day of School

Our last day of school for the 2021-2022 school year will be on June 22, 2022.  This is an early release day with dismissal times as follows:

Medway Middle School: 11:02 a.m.

Burke-Memorial: 11:30 a.m.

Medway High School: 11:34 a.m.

McGovern: 12:00 p.m. 

 

2022-2023 School Calendar

The approved calendar for the 2022-2023 school year can be found here.

 

Director of Student Services Search Update

Dr. Kathleen Bernklow, Director of Student Services, recently tendered her resignation and shared a communication with families.  “Kat” has supported students and program development and improvement within the Medway Schools for the last 11 years and we are incredibly grateful for her commitment and hard work.  We wish her continued success in her next professional opportunity.

 

We are in the process of identifying our next Director of Student Services.  We are working with NESDEC who is supporting our recruitment efforts.  We plan to conduct first round interviews on June 14-15, 2022, and then invite finalists to return to Medway on June 21.  If we are successful in our search, we hope to have this essential role filled by mid-late July.

 

Equity Assessment Update

Our partners from SchoolWorks will be in the district on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week to meet with Focus Groups as part of our Equity Assessment Process.  Over 65 family members indicated interest to participate in a Focus Group and we were able to accommodate all of these requests.  SchoolWorks will also be meeting with educators, support staff, and interested students (only those who signed up with family permission).  

 

All families are asked to complete the Equity Assessment Survey which can be accessed HERE.  The survey will remain open through Friday June 10 - thank you!   

 

We will have an opportunity to engage with SchoolWorks over the summer to unpack their initial findings, respond to clarifying questions, and begin developing a response and action plan to share with our greater community in the Fall.   

 

Burke-Memorial Arts Festival Congratulations

Congratulations to our visual and performing artists from the Burke-Memorial Elementary School for a wonderful night of the arts on Tuesday!

 

Medway Middle School:  School Improvement Plan Presented

At the June School Committee meeting, Amanda Luizzi, Principal, Medway Middle School presented the 2022-2023 Medway Middle School Improvement Plan. You can find a copy of the presentation here.

 

Information to Share with Families about the Formula Shortage:

The pandemic and other factors are continuing to impact the availability of supplies, including infant formula. The Department of Public Health’s Woman, Infant and Children (WIC) Program has updated their website with important information to help WIC participants obtain formula for their children. Additionally, the American Academy of Pediatrics offers tips for families and caregivers who are struggling to find baby formula during the shortage. Families should talk with their pediatrician about safe and appropriate feeding alternatives for their children. Schools and districts are asked to please share this information with their families.

 

COVID-19 Update

As we have seen in the news, there has been a state-wide increase in COVID-19 cases.  Medway, like other communities, has also seen an increase in COVID cases.  As we have shared with the community, data about the number of COVID-19 cases is available on our website.  The current recommendation from the CDC continues to  encourage individuals in Norfolk County to wear masks indoors due to high rates of infection. . 

 

Reporting Student Cases

To report a student COVID-19 case please reach out to your school nurse and email us at covid@medwayschools.org. To better understand your student’s return to school timeline and requirements after testing positive for COVID please click here

 

Student Testing Program

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) recently announced that it will end its COVID-19 testing program in June.  As of now, at-home and in-school testing will no longer be supported by DESE during the 2022/2023 school year. 

 

Technology Update

The Medway Technology Department would like to remind eighth grade students that we intend to collect the student devices [Chromebooks] beginning the week of June 13. Students are asked to please bring their device and charger into school that week for collection no later than Wednesday June 15. We will supply a new device to all 9th grade students in September.

 

Community Education

Registration for summer youth programs is now open.  Please visit FamilyID to register.

 

Registration information for the Summer of Discovery, 2022 program, scheduled for August 15-19, will be available to families soon.

 

‘SUP Medway Coalition Website

The ‘SUP Medway Coalition recently launched its website.  The goal of the site is to provide interested supporters with different ways to engage with the coalition.  The website can be found here

 

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

June 9, 2022

Medway High School Underclass Scholastic Awards Night, Auditorium, Medway High School, 6:00 p.m.

June 15, 2022

Medway Middle School 8th Grade Promotion, Medway Middle School, 6:30 p.m.

June 16, 2022

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

June 20, 2022

No School: Juneteenth

June 22, 2022

Last Day of School: Early Release: All Schools

Dismissal times as follows:

Medway Middle School: 11:02 a.m.

Burke-Memorial: 11:30 a.m.

Medway High School: 11:34 a.m.

McGovern: 12:00 p.m.

June 23, 2022

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