Dear Medway families,
We hope that the transition into the summer has been smooth. As we officially turn our calendars to July, this communication will be our final Community Update for several weeks. The month of July provides our leadership team and office staff with an opportunity to take much deserved vacation time and also time to reflect and reset for the 2021-2022 school year. Following the complexities of the 2020-2021 school year, this summer feels especially welcomed! It is our hope that our families and greater community can also take this time to reconnect with friends and loved ones and return to experiences enjoyed previously.
We have included some final updates, informational items, and requests for information from you in the update below. Thank you again for all of your support and partnership this year. 2021-2022 looks to be an incredibly exciting year of opportunity and growth for the Medway Public Schools!
Sincerely,
Armand Pires, Ph.D.
Superintendent
LAST CHANCE! Responses Requested: Federal Funding: Community Input
As we have shared in our updates and with the School Committee, school districts across the nation are benefiting from federal funding to support pandemic and school closure mitigation efforts. We were able to present some ideas for use of that funding to the School Committee at the meeting on June 10. Please find a copy of that presentation here.
As we continue planning for the best ways to expend this funding to meet the needs of our students, we will be seeking input from our community. The funding will be available to us for one time or short term costs through September, 2024. We are asking that you participate in our next ThoughtExchange which will focus on gathering feedback about how to use the funding received by the Medway Public Schools. You can access the ThoughtExchange by clicking here. The Exchange will be open through Wednesday, July 7.
Registration closes July 6 for Summer of Discovery!
This program will support a successful transition into the 2021-2022 school year. Our Summer of Discovery will run for eight days during the last two weeks of the summer break, Monday-Thursday, August 16-19 & August 23-26. Register now here.
8th Grade Civics Showcase
As you recall, this is the first year that our 8th grade History/SS curriculum included student participation in a civic engagement experience. As a culmination of this experience, we partnered with the Bellingham Public Schools and collaboratively developed an opportunity for students to present their work and learn from the efforts of others. You can view the projects from both schools at the following link: here.
2020 Permanent Art Gallery Installation
We are pleased to (finally) share the 2020 Permanent Art Collection Installations. Congratulations to our selected artists whose works will be prominently displayed in the Central Office hallways. You can view the new installations and learn about the works at this link: Permanent Art Gallery 2020
Summer 2021: Read!
We hope that all of our Medway students will take time this summer to get lost in a good book! Reading is not only a wonderful escape from our familiar, everyday lives, it’s also a wonderful way to support continued learning and growth. Through reading, we have the opportunity to “travel” to places we have never been, imagine worlds beyond our own, “meet” different characters, and learn about/take on varied and diverse perspectives.
We hope that families find these lists, produced by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, supportive of your child(ren)’s summer reading adventures!
- Birth - PK Summer Reading suggestions
- K-2 Summer Reading suggestions
- Grade 3-5 Summer Reading suggestions
- Grade 6-8 Summer Reading suggestions
The Medway Public Library has collated a summer reading program that can be accessed here: Medway Public Library Summer Reading Program
Additionally, Medway High School has published the following summer reading assignments for Grade 9-12 students.
Medway High School Summer Reading Assignments
Summer Food Program
Medway Schools will offer free meals to anyone under the age of 18 this summer. Those interested can pick up a week’s worth of breakfasts and lunches (14 meals) on Tuesday mornings between 7:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. at Medway Middle School, door 24 (enter from Kelley St.) To order, please complete the Summer Meal Order Form each Sunday at 5:00 p.m. If you have questions or need special accommodations (food delivery, allergies, etc.), please contact Shawn Fallon, Director of Food Services, at sfallon@medwayschools.org
Have An SEL Summer: Action for Healthy Kids
By registering for Action for Health Kid's Summer SEL Challenge, you'll receive four weekly emails starting July 5 with a list of engaging activities for kids to help foster key SEL skills and build healthy habits. Each week will also include a "pay it forward" activity to spread kindness and support throughout your community. The weekly themes include Celebrate the Senses, Connect with Others, and more.
Summer Family SEL Resource Guide
The end of the school year is met with a great deal of excitement as the start of summer vacation allows for some much-needed and well-deserved downtime for our students. Summer break is also a time when some students are without the benefit of the daily structures and supports that accompany the routine of school. In anticipation of summer vacation, we have compiled a guide that contains articles and resources that can help parents and guardians support the social, emotional, and physical well-being of their children this summer. Please find information and resources in the Medway SEL Family Resource Guide.
Student Handbooks For the 2021-2022 School Year
The parent-student handbook for the 2021-2022 school year was approved by the School Committee last week. The updated handbooks for each school can be found below.
2021-2022 District Improvement Plan
Each year, school districts across the Commonwealth examine progress that they have made with district improvement efforts and set goals and plans for the following school year. These annual plans are most often linked to longer, strategic plans.
Please find the District Improvement Plan for the 2021-2022 school year here as well as the slide presentation that summarizes the progress made here.
2021-2022 School Improvement Plans
During School Committee Meetings in early to late June, building principals presented their School Improvement Plans for the 2021-2022 school year. These plans were collaboratively developed with School Councils and faculty and staffs across the district. Principals included a summary of progress on their 2020-2021 School Improvement efforts and the metrics associated with this progress as part of their presentations. Overview slideshow presentations of each of the 2021-2022 School Improvement Plans can be found linked below.
The slideshow presentations are linked here:
The complete 2021-2022 School Improvement Plans are linked here:
Summer Activities to Keep Teens and Tweens Healthy and Engaged
After a year or more away from group gatherings, kids may need extra time this summer to work on social-emotional skills like communication, conflict resolution, empathy, and self-management. The summer is the perfect time to let kids practice these skills. These ten summer activities that will support the social and emotional growth of teens and tweens.
Guardian and Student Information Changes
MPS would like to advise guardians that the Infinite Campus Parent Portal system provides a mechanism to request changes of email and phone numbers. Simply select MORE > Family Information from the menu options, then Update on the individual you wish to update. Please note that address changes can not be made through this system, as they require proof of residency. Please forward any address changes to parent@medwayschools.org, including a copy for proof of residency.
2021-2022 School Calendar
The 2021-2022 School calendar was approved at the February 25 School Committee meeting and can be found here.
Medway Public Schools In the News
Medway Public Schools to Welcome Three New Assistant Principals
Medway High School Student Achievements on Display During Engineering Showcase
Upcoming Events
July 12-16, 2021 | Kindergarten Camp |
August 16-19, 2021 | Summer of Discovery: Week One |
August 23-26, 2021 | Summer of Discovery: Week Two |
September 1, 2021 | First Day of School: Grade 1-12 |
September 2, 2021 | First Day of School: Kindergarten |
September 3, 2021 | No School |
September 6, 2021 | No School: Labor Day |
September 7, 2021 | No School: Rosh Hashanah |