January 13, 2023
Dear Medway families,
We hope this finds you well and that you and your families enjoyed a restful winter break. Students returned at the start of 2023, ready to learn and re-engage, and we were excited to welcome them back.
As we near the midpoint in the 2022-2023 school year, strategic work throughout the school district begins to pivot to more time planning for continuous improvement and efficiency-based efforts for the next school year, 2023-2024. This includes a look at our progress toward our goals, developing ideas and strategies for continued improvement, and examining the resources needed to support this work. The actions associated with this thinking and planning come in multiple forms, specifically, the development of the FY24 Budget and the development of the 2023-2024 district and school improvement plans.
In the coming weeks and concluding on March 16, when the School Committee will vote on the final FY24 Superintendent’s FY24 budget, we will be sharing important information with families, faculty and staff, the School Committee, and the greater community about the FY24 Budget Process. As indicated, we are confronted with fiscal challenges in FY24. We are working hard to ensure that student-facing experiences are not compromised as
part of our needed budget reductions. The complete FY24 Budget Schedule can be found below.
Please find several updates and informational items below.
Be well,
Armand Pires, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Reminder: No School: Monday, January 16, 2023
There will be no school Monday, January 16, 2023, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
DRAFT 2023-2024 School Calendar Under Review
At January 5, 2023, School Committee meeting, the committee reviewed the draft 2023-2024 School Year calendar.
The DRAFT calendar can be found here.
FY24 Budget Development and Approval Process
February 2, 2023: Superintendent’s Chat: FY24 Budget
Save the date! Our next Superintendent Chat will take place on Thursday, February 2, at 5:30 pm in the Presentation Room at Medway Middle School (Door #7).
We have previously shared that the FY24 budget will be complicated, and we are interested in hearing from our community about your priorities and questions. We will share an overview of how funding is provided to support schools as a helpful informational resource during the Chat.
February 9, 2023: Charting the Course - District Improvement Update and Budget Overview Presented to the School Committee
On Thursday, February 9, at 7:00 pm, Dr. Pires, Superintendent, and Ms. Abrams, Assistant Superintendent, will present Charting the Course: District Improvement Plan Mid-year Update and FY24 Budget Overview to the School Committee. This presentation will highlight the priority areas to be addressed in the FY24 Recommended Superintendent’s Budget. The presentation will be shared with families following the presentation.
March 2, 2023: FY24 Budget Presentation
On Thursday, March 2, at 7:00 pm, in the Medway Middle School Presentation Room, Dr. Pires and Ms. Leonhardt, Director of Finance and Operations, will present the FY24 Recommended Superintendent’s Budget to the Medway School Committee.
March 9, 2023: Public Forum on the FY24 Budget
On Thursday, March 9, at 7:00 pm, in the Medway Middle School Presentation Room, the School Committee and Dr. Pires will host a public forum for interested community members regarding the FY24 budget. This session is interactive, and participant questions will be answered.
March 16, 2023: Public Hearing on FY24 Budget and FY24 Budget Vote
On Thursday, March 16, at 6:00 pm in the Medway Middle School Presentation Room, community members are invited to share public comments regarding the proposed FY24 budget with the School Committee. This is the final opportunity for community feedback before the School Committee vote on the FY24 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.
At 7:00 pm this same evening, in the Medway Middle School Presentation Room, the School Committee
will vote to forward the FY24 Medway Public Schools Budget to the Town of Medway, to be included as
part of the FY24 Town of Medway budget.
May 8, 2023: Town Meeting
Community members are encouraged to attend Medway’s Town Meeting on Monday, May 8, 2023, at 7:00 pm, at Medway High School, 88 Summer Street, when residents will be asked to vote on the Town of Medway FY24 budget, which will be inclusive of the FY24 Medway Public School’s budget to be used for the 2023-2024 school year.
Educational Assemblies about Vaping
Later this month, ‘SUP Medway, MSPTO, and the Medway Public Schools are partnering to bring a speaker to the middle and high schools to educate 5th - 12th graders about the risks of vaping and how they are empowered to make healthy choices that support their goals.
T.H.R.I.V.E. Parent/Caretaker Webinar: Follow-Up
On Wednesday evening, Dr. Owens, Director for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Boston Children's Hospital and a Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, presented to Medway parents about the impact of student sleep on academics and athletics. A recording of the webinar can be found here.
Equity Steering Committee Progress Update
Our Equity Steering Committee reconvenes for its next planning session on Wednesday, January 18. This committee comprises educators, family members, and community members who are working to propose an action plan anchored in the three initial priorities from the Spring 2022 Equity Assessment. These areas include the following:
● Develop a professional climate where adult and student diversity and perspectives are valued.
● Support a student/learner climate where student diversity and perspectives are nurtured and valued.
● Establish standard instructional practices that improve equity and inclusion.
The Steering Committee will share an update on their progress with a Focus Group of volunteers on February 9, 2023.
Winter Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Update Presented to Medway School Committee
On January 5, the Winter 2023 Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Update was shared with the School Committee as a discussion item. To view the update, please click here.
Preschool Program Audit and Action Plan Presented to School Committee
On January 4, Dr. Place and Susan Frederick, Assistant Director of Student Services, presented the results of the preschool audit conducted in the summer of 2022 to the School Committee. After a discussion of the results, completed action steps and proposed changes to the preschool program for the 2023-2024 school year were presented and discussed. The presentation can be found here.
SEPAC Meeting
On January 4, SEPAC held its monthly meeting featuring a presentation on 504 plans by Dr. Place and David Elsner, 504 Coordinator for Medway Middle and High Schools. The meeting was very well attended. After the presentation, Dr. Place and Mr. Elsner answered questions from parents about 504 plan eligibility and the 504 plan development process. The presentation can be found here.
Life After MHS Student Presentations
We were pleased to have been part of the first annual “Life After MHS” student panels that were hosted during Flex Block at Medway High School on Wednesday. Over 40 students who have selected college as their post-secondary pathway met with small groups of Juniors and Seniors to offer words of encouragement, advice, and experience to the college process. We are thankful to the leadership team at Medway High School, the MSPTO for their sponsorship of the event, and our alum who joined us, and we look forward to seeing this opportunity expand in the future. Two Medway High School Seniors Recognized for Academic Growth and Student Leadership in Learning.
Superintendent Armand Pires and Principal John Murray are pleased to announce that two Medway High School students have been awarded The New England School Development Council (NESDEC) Award for Academic Growth and Student Leadership in Learning.
The award was given to seniors Meredith O'Mara and Luke Frauton in recognition of their academic achievements and accomplishments in their high school years. Both students met the award criteria of pursuing a high level of academic achievement, serving as a positive role model for the student body, and exemplifying admirable character and accomplishment. Find more information here.
Fuel Assistance Available
If you are a one-person household and earn less than $40,951 per year or a two-person household and earn less than $53,551 per year, you may qualify for home fuel assistance. A full eligibility and benefits chart can be found here. Medway Outreach Workers Marcia Lombardo and Kim Cookson are happy to help you apply for fuel assistance or answer
any questions. They can be reached at 508-533-3210 or mlombardo@townofmedway.org. Please note if adults in your household are not U.S. citizens, but a child in the home is a citizen, you can still apply for fuel assistance.
COVID-19 Vaccine and Flu Prevalence Update
Recently, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shared that the Centers for Disease Control has expanded the use of updated COVID-19 vaccines. They also shared that there have been much higher than usual rates of flu activity this year. To view their joint letter, please click here.
COVID-19 Reminders and Protocols
With the cold and flu season upon us and the continuing challenges posed by COVID-19, it is important that we all stay vigilant in protecting the health of our schools. At-home testing is encouraged when your child or a family member has symptoms. Free at-home tests are available with most health insurance through the CVS reimbursement program. If your child tests positive, please inform your child’s school nurse and follow COVID protocols around
isolation and mask-wearing. We encourage you to keep your child home when exhibiting COVID and influenza symptoms and recommend mask-wearing when sick. For tips on effective mask-wearing and mask options, please click here.
Technology Updates
Chromebook Repairs - We continue to see a higher volume of Chromebook repairs than we had anticipated. As we approach the late winter and spring sessions, we remind families that we will begin to assess our students through various online mechanisms, such as iReady and MCAS testing. The Technology Department would like to remind students to manage their devices and take the best possible care to help facilitate these testing windows without delays
of undue hardship. If a device is in need of repair in any way, please do not hesitate to drop it off at the front office for service.
Yearly Information Update - We continue encouraging our remaining families to complete the Yearly Information Update process through the Parent Portal system. Completing this process ensures our data is accurate and that school committee policies are reviewed and understood.
In August 2023, we will implement a new process to encourage families to complete this task before the school year begins. We intend to advise parents, through the student account, to complete the process by September 15th. If a student or family has not completed this process on time, the account, per school policy, will be restricted to the Google Workspace suite and possibly locked out completely. Please remember to complete the Yearly Information Update in the provided open enrollment window, August 15th through September 15th, 2023.
Community Education
Registration for Winter After School programs for students in kindergarten through grade 8 is ongoing. Classes will begin the week of January 23. View our WINTER 23 AfterSchool Flyer. To register, please visit our website and select your child's school.
Our Winter Brochure offers numerous programs and one-day trips for all ages. It is not too late to register for a one-night enrichment program or multiple-night fitness classes!
Upcoming Events
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