October 12, 2022
Dear Medway families,
We hope that this communication finds you well. As we approach the mid-point of October, we wanted to take a moment to recognize that October is National Principals Month. We would like to publicly thank and share our appreciation of our Medway Public Schools’ principals. Thanks to John Murray, Medway High School; Amanda Luizzi, Medway Middle School; John Kelley, Burke-Memorial Elementary School; and Amy McDonald, McGovern Elementary School for their commitment to the students of Medway and leadership within our schools.
Please find several updates and informational items below.
Be well,
Armand Pires, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
PLEASE JOIN US: Equity Assessment Community Forum and Action Planning
We are writing to invite you to join us in person for a School Committee sponsored Community Forum where Medway Public Schools central office leaders will share the results and next steps associated with the Equity Assessment process that we engaged in last Spring, 2022, in partnership with SchoolWorks. The Community Forum will take place on Thursday, October 13, at 6:00 p.m., in the Medway High School Auditorium.
In preparation for the Community Forum, we are sharing the MPS Equity Assessment Final Report so that you have the opportunity to review in advance of the forum.
Following the presentation, community members will have an opportunity to ask questions. Questions that we are not able to respond to during the event will be followed up on after the event. The Community Forum will be broadcast live for community members who are not able to join us in person and the recording and responses to questions will be shared with the whole community following the event on October 13.
PLEASE JOIN US: Community Forum: Columbus Day or Indigenous People Day Designation
The School Committee would like to invite interested community members to join a Public Forum to discuss future school calendars reflecting the observance of Columbus Day and/or Indigenous Peoples Day. Please join us on Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. in the Presentation Room at Medway Middle School. The School Committee will have the option to vote on this decision at the conclusion of the forum.
Action Items for All Families
Annual Information Update
Action Required: Complete Yearly Information Update
The Medway Public Schools are required to obtain the latest demographic and health information for our students. This information is always kept private and complies with all FERPA and HIPPA regulations.
All families must log in and complete the “Yearly Information Update” process by reviewing the current demographic/health information on file. If you need a Parent Portal account, please email parent@medwayschools.org, and we will be happy to forward an account activation code. The Parent Portal can be accessed by clicking here. Please log in and complete the review by clicking MORE > YEARLY INFORMATION UPDATE as soon as possible - the deadline has passed and we will be reaching out to families via other means.
Free and Reduced Lunch Application
Action Requested: Complete Free and Reduced Lunch Application
Children need healthy meals to learn. Medway Public Schools offers healthy meals every school day. During the 2022-2023 school year, all students will receive free breakfast and lunch at school. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has provided money to do this for one year through the State budget.
We do need your help to ensure that families and our district receive all the financial resources for which it qualifies. Please fill out and submit the application for free and reduced price school meals. When a family qualifies by completing this form it provides additional support both locally and through the state. In addition, financial support to the Medway Public Schools is impacted based on the number of students who qualify for free or reduced priced meals.
The information you provide is confidential. We follow strict federal rules to keep your information private.
Results of Fall 2021 MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey Presented to School Committee
At the School Committee meeting that took place on October 6, Dr. Ryan Sherman, Director of Wellness presented the results of the Fall 2021 MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey. This included an overview of the survey, goals for success, key findings, and discussion of the next steps. To view this presentation, please click here.
Tutoring Support for Grade 5-12 Students via Paper.co
As we have shared, all students, grades 5-12 now have access to online tutoring support through Paper.co.
Paper is a secure, online tutoring service that provides students with unlimited, 24/7 academic support. Whether they’re stuck on homework, studying for a test, or need someone to read and make suggestions to their essays, there will always be experts available online to assist students in over 200 subjects and more than 4 languages.
Paper tutors have been specially trained to conduct expert, academic support in a secure, chat-based platform. With a commitment to helping students learn, they’ll never give students answers, but rather interact with them in an encouraging tone to lead them forward.
Students are encouraged to use it as much as they need, whenever they need. Our teachers also have accounts and will be able to review all student activity to see what they’re working on and provide more targeted instruction as needed.
School leaders are in the process of rolling this resource out to teachers and students and will offer families a chance to understand the platform during school sponsored events.
At last week’s School Committee meeting, an update of implementation of this resources was shared presented and can be found here: Paper Implementation Update
Spring 2022 MCAS Results
We are in receipt of final Spring 2022 MCAS scores and the information for schools and districts across the Commonwealth has been publicly here. Families of students in grades 4-11 can expect to receive student reports in the mail before the end of the month.
T.H.R.I.V.E. Speaker Series
This school year, Medway T.H.R.I.V.E., a branch of the MPS Wellness Department that focuses on providing wellness-related parent enrichment experiences, is offering two opportunities for parents/guardians to learn how to promote student self-efficacy. Joani Geltman, MSW, author of A Survival Guide to Parenting Teens, will share best practices for growing students’ self-efficacy. She looks forward to connecting with parents of secondary students on October 12 and elementary parents on October 19. Full event details can be found here.
FY24 Technology Capital Plan Presented to School Committee
At the School Committee meeting that took place on October 6, Richard Boucher, Director of Information Technology shared the FY24 Technology Capital Plan. The presented plan can be found here.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
The Town of Medway has supported the formation of a committee that has planned an event in honor of Indigenous People. The Native American and Indigenous Peoples National Heritage Commemoration Day Steering Committee invites you to join them on Saturday, October 15 from 12:00-4:00 p.m. at Choate Park Pavilion for a family friendly event as we learn about Medway’s Native American History. For more information, click here!
Fall Vaccine Clinics
On November 3, there will be a COVID-19 Vaccine clinic for ages 6 months-11 years old AND a Flu Vaccine clinic for ages 3 and up. This clinic will be held at Burke-Memorial Elementary School. Click here for more information and registration!
Community Education
Be sure to ask your Burke-Memorial School and Middle School students about the engaging performance on Thursday, October 6 and Wednesday, October 12, respectively, by Teflon and his crew from YAK (Youth Acquiring Knowledge). Teflon and Tay provided an enthusiastic and engaging demonstration of break/street and hip hop dancing with great student participation. Both schools are offering this after school program this fall. Please visit our website for more information. Also, our Fall Brochure offers many wonderful programs for families or for an adult evening out!
Medway Turkey Trot
Join Medway Turkey Trot on Thursday, November 24 at 7:30 a.m. for this year's 5K Road Race at Medway High School! All proceeds from this race support the Medway High School Athletic Department purchases of uniforms and athletic equipment. Click here for additional information and registration!
School Van Drivers
The district is currently hiring two drivers for 7D vans. Pay is up to $25/hour and the position is benefits eligible. The position is for four hours per day, and summer work is available but not mandatory. Interested candidates can email transportation@medwayschools.org or call 508-321-4728.
Follow the Medway Public Schools on Social Media
Medway Public Schools: Twitter: @MedwaySchools Facebook: @medwayps Instagram: @Medwayschools
Medway High School: Twitter: @MedwayHighInfo Facebook: @medwayhighschool Instagram: @medwayhighschool
Medway Middle School: Twitter: @Medwaymiddle Facebook: @medwaymiddleschool Instagram: @medwaymiddle31
Burke-Memorial Elementary: Twitter: @BurkeMemorial Facebook: @burkememorial Instagram: @burkememorialelem
McGovern Elementary School: Twitter: @McGovernElem Facebook: @mcgovernelem Instagram: @mcgovernelem
Medway Community Education: Twitter: @medwayce Facebook: @medwayce Instagram: @medwaycommunityed
Upcoming Events:
| October 12, 2022 | T.H.R.I.V.E. Speaker Series, Joanie Geltman: Promoting Self-Efficacy, Secondary Student Focus, Auditorium, Medway High School, 7:00 p.m. |
| October 13, 2022 | School Committee Public Forum, Equity Assessment Results and Next Steps, Auditorium, Medway High School, 6:00 p.m. |
| October 14, 2022 | International Walk to School Day, McGovern Elementary, See attached for details! |
| October 18, 2022 | Parent Teacher Conferences, Medway High School, 6:00 p.m. |
| October 19, 2022 | T.H.R.I.V.E. Speaker Series, Joanie Geltman: Promoting Self-Efficacy, Elementary Student Focus, Cafeteria, Burke-Memorial Elementary, 6:30 p.m. |
| October 20, 2022 | Burke-Memorial Elementary Plaque Celebration, Burke-Memorial Elementary, 5:00 p.m. |
| School Committee Meeting, Presentation Room, Medway Middle School, 6:00 p.m. | |
| October 21, 2022 | Medway High School Tri M, Coffee House, Medway High School, 7:00 p.m. |
| October 27, 2022 | Medway Middle School presents James and the Giant Peach, Auditorium, Medway Middle School, 7:30 p.m. |
| October 28, 2022 | Medway Middle School presents James and the Giant Peach, Auditorium, Medway Middle School, 7:30 p.m. |
| November 2, 2022 | SEPAC Meeting, via ZOOM, 7:00 p.m. |
| November 3, 2022 | COVID-19 & Flu Vaccine Clinic, Cafeteria, Burke-Memorial Elementary, 3:30 p.m. |
| School Committee Public Forum on Columbus Day /Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Presentation Room, Medway Middle School, 6:00 p.m. | |
| November 5, 2022 | Medway High School Fall Play, The Canterbury Tales Or... Geoffrey Chaucer's Flying Circus, Medway High School Auditorium, 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. |
| November 8, 2022 | Elementary Early Release Day for Family Conferences: McGovern Elementary- 12:00 p.m., Burke-Memorial Elementary- 11:30 a.m. |
| Medway Friends of Performing Arts Meeting, Virtual, 7:00 p.m. | |
| November 9, 2022 | Teacher Conferences, McGovern Elementary, 5:30 p.m. |
| November 10, 2022 | Teacher Conferences, Burke-Memorial Elementary, 5:30 p.m. |
| November 11, 2022 | No School: Veterans Day |
| November 14, 2022 | Medway Fall Town Meeting |
| November 15, 2022 | Winter Meet the Coach Night, Auditorium, Medway High School, 6:00 p.m. |
| November 17, 2022 | Elementary Early Release Day for Family Conferences: McGovern Elementary- 12:00 p.m., Burke-Memorial Elementary- 11:30 a.m. |
| School Committee Meeting, Presentation Room, Medway Middle School, 6:00 p.m | |
| November 21, 2022 | National Honor Society Induction Ceremony, Auditorium, Medway High School, 6:30 p.m. |
| November 23, 2022 | Early Release Day: All Schools Medway Middle School- 11:02 a.m. Burke-Memorial Elementary- 11:30 a.m. Medway High School- 11:34 a.m. McGovern Elementary- 12:00 p.m. |
| November 24, 2022 | Medway Turkey Trot, Medway High School, 7:30 a.m. Click here for additional information and registration! |
| November 24-25, 2022 | No School: Thanksgiving Recess |
| November 30, 2022 | Family Conferences, Medway Middle School, 6:00 p.m. |