From the Desk of the Superintendent

From: Mary C. Gormley
To: Students, Parents/Guardians and Staff
Re: E-blast Update
Date: Tuesday, December 23, 2013

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

I would like to wish each and every member of the Milton Public School Community a Happy and Healthy Holiday. Best wishes to all for a Happy New Year!

With the winter holiday upon us, I thought this would be a good time to remind parents and guardians that this is the perfect time to think about reading. Please read the article below, forwarded to our teachers by reading specialist Martha Winokour and written by Franki Sibberson. I especially liked the last line of this piece, which says, “Children need to have control of their reading lives and to think about who they are as readers, so make time for this kind of thinking. We talk about ourselves as readers, so vacation reading is a natural extension of those conversations.”

The Luxury of Extra Reading Time Over the Holidays – by Franki Sibberson

I love thinking ahead to holiday reading. The books seem to pile up all fall with hopes that over vacation, I’ll find long periods of time to read and to catch up a bit. Sometimes I find the time and other times we are busy with traveling and family. When readers have extra time coming up, it is natural for us to think ahead to what we might read.

I find myself grabbing celebrity gossip magazines on vacation — a fun kind of reading I allow myself when I have some extra free time. It is during vacation days that I often have time to read the newspaper or to discover new children’s literature blogs while browsing the Internet. This year, I am hoping to catch up on a few longer books that friends have recommended to me.

I will share these plans with my students, and then help them think about their own reading before they check out materials and leave for break. I will tell them that some years, I have had company and could only fit in magazine reading, but that I make it a habit to stay up later reading at night to get in at least one book I’ve been hoping to read. I’ll let them know how much I love to read the paper or magazines at the kitchen table on the days that my mornings aren’t rushed.

I have always used upcoming vacations as an opportunity to invite my students to think ahead in their reading. I ask my students informally what they might read over the holidays. I want to build this habit of looking forward to vacation reading in my students.

Helping Students Plan for Vacation Reading

When I was a librarian, I saw this time of year as an opportunity for all students to begin to think about vacation reading. People use the library to stock up on books before a long trip or when they’ll have a bit of extra time. I wanted my students to begin thinking ahead to how they might spend that time, and what types of books they might check out to meet their goals. I created this organizer to help students think through what their vacation plans look like, and where reading might fit into those plans. I wanted students to check out books and other reading materials for a variety of reasons. They might have extra time in the car or on a plane. They may have relaxing afternoons while parents are at work and the newness of the vacation is over. They may be visiting with younger relatives who they want to read to or cousins who they could read with. There are many possibilities, and I wanted students to begin to think about some of them this year. I also wanted to be sure to value the same variety in my students’ reading that I have in my vacation reading. I don’t want to limit their reading to books. Magazine reading, visiting Internet sites such as National Geographic for Kids, and other short texts are valued when we talk about our vacation plans.

I told them that I have more time to talk to my children about the books that they’ve been reading and to spend more time at bookstores and libraries, just browsing. I created a bulletin board outside of the library where other adults in the building shared their plans for holiday vacation reading, letting the students know how other readers think ahead to their vacation reading.

I wanted to honor all family traditions during the winter break — some will be celebrating holidays, some will be going on vacations, others will stay home with family being too far away. Framing it as extra time in the day was critical. How will you spend your days and how will reading fit in? Some kids may not be planning on fitting reading into their vacation days, but planting the possibilities and thinking about what extra time means for a reader may get them thinking differently in the future.

Children need to have control of their reading lives and to think about who they are as readers, so make time for this kind of thinking. We talk about ourselves as readers, so vacation reading is a natural extension of those conversations.

CURRICULUM NEWS

Every year, elementary students in grades 3, 4 and 5 in the Milton Public Schools participate in the Word Masters Challenge. Word Masters is a nationwide vocabulary based competition in which students sharpen their critical thinking skills through solving analogies. The first Word Masters Challenge Meet took place in early December at all four elementary schools. Please see listed below the highest scoring students in the district. These students all received 19 out of a possible 20 points on a very challenging test. Well done!

Grade 5
Jami Miliken- Cunningham
Caroline Humphrey- Collicot
Kate McDonald- Collicot
Laura Braithwaite- Glover
Olivia Murray- Glover
Kate Pulgini- Glover

 Grade 4
Anna Hamblet- Cunningham
Mary Mylod- Cunningham
Rachel Steinberg- Collicot
Gustave Green- Collicot
Izzy Doten-Collicot
Nate Labbe-Collicoy
Rohan Meier- Glover
Jake Lippert- Glover

* * *

Our Milton High School Debate Team is having a great season so far. Seniors Cormac Conners and Chris Dsida finished second in two debates in November, debating the benefits of the NSA domestic surveillance program. In early November, the pair placed second out of 53 teams at Dighton-Rehoboth High School. Later in the month, the team again placed second out of 54 teams at Lexington High. Senior Captain, Chris Ricciuti, also placed 7th out of 108 debaters, in the individual speaking competition. This was the second time in the last three years that a Milton team placed second at the Lexington tournament. The debate team will compete next at Newton-South High School on January 11, 2014.

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The Music Department also has some wonderful news. I’d like to offer congratulations to the Milton High School students who went through the audition process and were selected for the Eastern District festival and EXTRA special congrats to the students who not only were accepted to the festival but now have a recommendation to audition for Massachusetts All State.

The 20 students accepted to Eastern District were: Strings:  Camille Carpenter, Walker Stroud. Jazz:  Will Hess. Band:  Simon Eder, Kristen Ingraham, Tansy Maseey-Green, Matt Nolan, Maddie Scott, Chrissy Stafford. Chorus: Samantha Antoniewicz, Monika Cormack, Emily Dsida, Giuliana Giddings, Lismarie Gomez, Johance Liverpool, Kevin Medhizadeh, Joshueaa Ogbuike, Garrett Sager, Christian Urbina, Matt Wong.  And we’re offering extra special congrats to those 16 students recommended to “keep going” and to audition for Massachusetts All State: Strings: Walker Stroud. Jazz:  Will Hess. Band:  Simon Eder, Kristen Ingraham, Matt Nolan, Maddie Scott. Chorus: Samantha Antoniewicz, Monika Cormack, Emily Dsida, Giuliana Giddings, Lismarie Gomez, Johance Liverpool, Kevin Mehdizadeh, Garrett Sager, Cristian Urbina, Matthew Wong

 * * *

Karen Spaulding, the Principal of Pierce Middle School, was recently interviewed on WBUR on the topic of school safety in the light of the Sandy Hook anniversary. She was articulate and compassionate and represented the Milton Public Schools very well. Here is a link to the segment, which aired earlier this month. http://www.wbur.org/2013/12/13/mass-educators-security-newtown

* * *

Our Science Department has great news. Several Milton Public Schools educators will be sharing their knowledge and expertise at the National Science Teachers Association’s 2014 Boston National Conference on Science Education, to be held April 3 to 6, 2014 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. One session, called “Diving into the Science Practices with Oceans”, will be presented by Bernadette Moonan (MPS Elementary Science Coordinator), Mary Bodkin (Glover Grade 5 Teacher) and Marilyn Decker (former MPS Science Coordinator).   The Oceans Session will provide attendees with student work and videos to view and hands-on activities that sample some of the investigations Milton Public Schools students participate in through the Fifth Grade Oceans Unit taught. The other session, called “First Grade Robotics”, will be presented by Bernadette Moonan (MPS Elementary Science Coordinator) and one of our first or second grade teachers who currently teaches the Lego Wedo Robotics Program in their classes.  This session will highlight the engineering and programming work that first graders in the English Innovation Strand are participating in through the Lego Wedo Robotics program.

 * * *

Members of our faculty have been hard at work as part of the Bullying Prevention Advisory Committee (BPAC). This group was established in September of2009 and is comprised of teachers, counselors and administrators representing all schools in the district. The BPAC is responsible for monitoring and identifying patterns of behavior and areas of concern in all six of the Milton Public Schools, providing a communication link between the Superintendent, Building Principals, and Faculty and Staff, and informing decision-making for prevention strategies including adult supervision, professional development, age-appropriate curricula, and in-school support services. The BPAC continues to meet on a regular basis to develop and implement anti-bullying initiatives across the district.

 * * *

Past BPAC initiatives include bringing “Ryan’s Story” and “Rachel’s Challenge” presentations to Milton. The BPAC has established working relationships with Bentley College, Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center (MARC) and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office. Through these relationships, staff members, students and parents have been given the opportunity to participate in a variety of workshops and presentations.

* * *

For the second year in a row, 20 Pierce Middle School students and 20 Milton High School students along with staff from both schools attended the Stand Up to Bullying 2013 Conference in early December at the DCU Center in Worcester. Thousands of middle and high school students and their teachers from all across Massachusetts participated in this one-day program to take a stand against all forms of bullying. For more information please visit: www.StandUptoBullying.org. The BPAC was awarded a grant from the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office to cover the cost of transportation for this event. This year, all schools are implementing our new anti-bullying curriculum titled “Bully Proofing Your Schools”. For more information on this curriculum please visit: http://www.soprislearning.com/school-climate/bully-proofing-series. The primary focus includes:

* creating a pro-social school climate where all members of the community feel safe and secure
* teaching specific skills and strategies for students to avoid victimization and to help others
* teaching specific skills to the caring majority to give them the power and responsibility to help create a positive school environment

The BPAC’s website is currently being updated to include a timeline of the new curriculum as well as additional information that will give both students and parents support in learning what they can do to help stop bullying in our school communities.

UPCOMING MPS EVENTS

Calculus Project Information Sessions for Parents will be held at the MHS Library on Tuesday, January 21st at 7pm.

PAC/SPECIAL ED NEWS

The next Parent Speak topic, Extended Year Services, will be presented by the Milton PAC at the Pierce Middle School Library on Thursday, January 16th at 7pm.

MFE NEWS

Save the date. This year’s Celebration for Education will be held on Saturday, April 12th, 2014 at the Boston Marriott Quincy. The Jeep raffle is back. Only 500 tickets will be sold. Tickets are available at your school’s office, or email Patti Elliott at pattielliott72@gmail.com Interested in sponsoring the event or have an auction item to donate? Contact Courtney Affanato at caffanato@comcast.net

 NEWS AROUND TOWN

I would like to congratulate Michael Blanchard, our newly appointed Milton Assistant Town Administrator, on his new position. Mr. Blanchard formerly served the town as the Board of Health Director and we wish him all the best in his new role.

Also, I would like to welcome and congratulate Peter Healy, who was recently appointed President of Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton. With over twenty years of leadership experience both at community and teaching hospitals, Mr. Healy succeeds Joseph Morrissey, whose ten years as CEO ended in December 2012.  BID-Milton Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer Doris Sinkevich has served as Interim CEO during the executive search process. Mr. Healy earned a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration at Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, and completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Dayton, Dayton, OH.  An Ohio native, he currently resides with his family in Westwood, MA.

MILTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

One year comes to an end, and another begins – but the fun never stops in the Children’s Room at Milton Public Library! We have these exciting programs for the young people in your life happening during the week of December 29 – January 4:

Monday, December 30th from 2:15-4:15 pm — Afternoon at the Movies, All Ages

Come join us for a showing of The Secret World of Arrietty, the 2012 anime film based on Mary Norton’s 1953 novel The Borrowers.  All ages welcome; children under 8 must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver.

Saturday, January 4th from 10:00 – 10:30 am — Sensory Storytime, Ages 3-5

This storytime is created for children with Sensory Integration Issues, Autism Spectrum Disorders or other Developmental Delays ALONG WITH their typically developing peers and siblings.  Join us for fine/gross motor activities, songs and stories.  A predictable, visual schedule will guide our sessions.  We ask that an adult accompany each child to foster success for all participants.  This storytime is geared for children ages 3-5.  If other storytimes have not been the right fit for your child, this may be just what you were looking for. Space is limited. Registration is required.

Don’t forget to check the library web calendar for a listing of the many programs we offer year-round. Information about and registration for all of our programs can always be found on our online calendar at www.miltonlibrary.org, or by calling the Children’s Room at 617-898-4957 during business hours. Please contact the Children’s Room if you have questions about any of our programs or services.To see a complete listing of library events, please click here:

http://www.eventkeeper.com/code/events.cfm?curOrg=MILTONPL

ATHLETICS

For sports schedules for all MHS teams, please click here:

http://www.usatodayhss.com/school/milton-high-school-milton-ma/scores-and-schedule

 AMBASSADOR PAGE

Students: The Milton Public Schools recently held a Book Drive to collect books for families in need. This initiative was coordinated by our school librarians, Jennifer Troy, Jessica Royster, Sara Doherty and Lori Henry. We were all overwhelmed by the generosity of this community, but I was also overwhelmed by the hard work of the volunteers who came to Milton High School to unload, sort and transport all these donated books. Many thanks to: Camille Carpenter, Allegera DeNooyer, Sarah Monderer, Matt O’Sullivan, Olivia Jensen, Gillian Veneto, Katrina Ramkissoon, Jillian Eckard, Phoebe Torres, Sharon Lui and Phillipe Janvier. We couldn’t have done it without them.

Staff: I would like to thank Bernadette Moonan and Mary Bodkin, both of whom will be presenting at the National Science Teachers Association’s 2014 Boston National Conference on Science Education being held in April 2014. They were chosen from a very competitive field of science educators to be part of this national event and we are very proud of them.

Volunteers: Many Milton Public School parents and guardians help us out this time of year, but one parent in particular, Lee Statham, deserves special recognition. She was able to help us procure a group of tickets to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum to give out as gifts to our retired teachers at a recent holiday luncheon. Not only were our retired teachers very grateful for the chance to see the latest exhibits at the museum, but I was also very touched by this very generous donation. We are very grateful to Ms. Statham and to the JFK Library and Museum.

The Milton Public School system is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to the provision of quality educational programs for all students.  The Milton Public School system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, age or sexual orientation.

 

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