October 2nd Eblast

 

From the Desk of the Superintendent:

What is assessment?

 Milton Public School teachers and staff assess our students every day.   Assessments are used for one critical purpose: to improve student learning outcomes.  Paul Bambrick-Satoyo, an expert in assessment and data, writes, “When a school makes student learning the ultimate test of teaching, teaching improves to produce better learning.”  Thus, assessments and data allow us to concretely focus our attention on improving teaching practice and should be used as a powerful tool to support student, school and district growth. 

 The results of formal and informal assessments can be used in several important ways:

  • Evaluate student understanding of material and content taught in the classroom 
  • Collect information about what students already know before a lesson is taught
  • Evaluate the degree to which curricular materials are effective
  • Determine professional development needs for administrators and teachers
  • Identify school and district strengths and areas for improvement

 Collecting data is never enough.  Once the assessments are administered educators need to make sense of the data that is generated, draw informed inferences from them, and determine action/next steps.   The authors of the text Datawise from the Harvard Graduate School of Education communicate four key principles that should guide the implementation of a district-wide assessment process:

 Assessment-rigorous assessments that provide timely and meaningful data

  • Analysis-routine examination of results of assessment to identify strengths and areas for improvement
  • Action-ensure that teachers are effectively teaching what students need most to learn
  • Culture-the environment that focuses on data-driven instruction

 In the spirit of this framework, MPS teachers and staff are working to develop common assessments at all grades and in all disciplines.   During this process, teacher-leaders from across the district meet with administrators to develop assessments.  These district-wide assessments are important because they ensure consistency from classroom to classroom and from school to school.       

 Common assessments are then administered at the end of units, semesters, terms, mid-year and at the end of the year.    For example, elementary teachers have created common assessments in math which are administered to all students in each grade level across town after every unit is taught. In addition, they have developed mid-year and final assessments to be given at the end of the school year.   An example at the high school level is that all of our math teachers have developed and administered common assessments in each of the math courses after each unit and at the mid-year mark as well as at the end of the school year.

 Our students have external assessments in the forms of MCAS, PSAT’s, SAT’s and Advanced Placement Examinations.    There has been much talk in the past week or so about MCAS scores.

Note that MCAS results are being mailed out tomorrow.  Parents/guardians of students who are currently in grades 4, 5 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11 can expect to receive their children’s MCAS scores in the mail this week.

 In other MCAS-related news, we recently learned that 70 members of the Class of 2013 have earned the John & Abigail Adams Scholarships, which entitles them to a tuition waiver at Massachusetts state colleges and universities. These scholarships are based on the results of students’ MCAS exams.

 I am always cautious, however, to overemphasize the importance of one set of assessment data. While we should be proud of our student’s achievements and accomplishments, there are many other tools we use to analyze our district’s progress. PSATs, SATs, Advanced Placement scores and other internal assessments are all valuable tools. Clearly, assessments play a role in the academic life of a student, but we are cognizant of the fact that there are many ways to assess student achievement.

 I encourage all parents/guardians to discuss their child’s Progress Report, November Report Card and MCAS scores with your child’s teacher and most importantly with your child. – Mary C. Gormley

 SCHOOL COMMITTEE UPDATE

            The most recent school committee meeting was held on September 19th. Below is a summary of that meeting:

As part of the Superintendent’s Report, Gerard Vitti came to speak on behalf of the Milton PAC, a parent advisory committee for parents and guardians of students with special needs. He informed the committee that the PAC is strongly in favor of a cap on the French Immersion program and in maintaining the co-taught program.

Next, Milton High School economics teacher Michael Goodless along with members of the Milton High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee spoke about the 2012 inductees. The Induction Ceremony will be held on Saturday, October 20th at 5:30pm in the Copeland Field House.  The ceremony is followed by a banquet at Lantana’s in Randolph.

Milton High School Principal James Jette spoke on behalf of the Milton High School Collaborative Time Subcommittee which also included Vice Principals Yolanda Beech and Michelle Kreuzer, teachers Dyanne Crowley, Tom Shaw, Cathy Queally and Vernon Nelson. This committee was formed to formulate a plan that would include collaborative time for teachers during the course of the school year. The recent NEASC report recommended that the amount of collaborative time for teachers be increased, and this committee was charged with finding ways to do so. Two proposals were shared with the option of late start days or early release days. The committee recommended the latter option showing that most staff and parents polled preferred the early release. By restructuring the Advisory Period for high school students and scheduling 5 early release days beginning in January, the committee found that 15 hours of collaborative time could be scheduled during this school year. School committee members voted to approve the proposal.

A list of capital improvement projects was submitted to the School Committee by Consolidated Facilities Manager Bill Ritchie. Among the proposals were the following: Replace the top layer of Brooks Field; repair the Brooks Field track; replace sections of the Tucker School roof; and install security cameras at the elementary schools.

As part of the Chairman’s Report, the Grade One Program Assignment was discussed. First, a report by World Language Director Dr. Martine Fisher was read which detailed how other districts with immersion programs handle enrollment. In all seven districts profiled by Dr. Fisher, capping was used as a mechanism to control program size. A timeline was also reviewed, with a consensus that the administration would present a detailed plan on a lottery and/or capping option at the October 3rd meeting and a final plan would be voted at either the mid-October or early November meeting.

Members also voted to accept a bid for replacing duct work at Milton High School. The committee voted to authorize Cooling & Heating Specialist of Newton to perform the work.

The next School Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 3rd at 7pm in the Milton High School library.

 CURRICULUM NEWS

            Please remember there will be no school for students on Friday, October 5th as it is a Professional Day for teachers.  Also, there is no school on the Columbus Day holiday, Monday, October 8th.

 

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For those of you who may have missed it in the local media, we have some fantastic news to share.

Earlier this month the 2012 MCAS Accountability Data was released to the public and the great news is that all SIX Milton Public Schools have received a designation of Level 1 by the state – the highest level attainable!

This places our district as a whole in the Level 1 category, making Milton among the top 25% of districts in the Commonwealth, including all public and charter school districts.

In addition, two of our elementary schools, the Collicot and Glover Elementary Schools were named as Commendation Schools by the DESE for high student growth.  Collicot was commended for High Progress and Narrowing Proficiency Gaps; while Glover was commended for High Progress.

Our teachers, staff and students work hard to excel on every assessment, including MCAS, Advanced Placement exams, SATs, PSATs, and all internal assessments and tests. This year’s Level 1 distinction demonstrates high academic standards and expectations for excellence that have been established in our school district.

Our teachers and support staff are gifted and dedicated educators. They constantly strive to excel at their instructional practices and enhance their knowledge. Our students are talented young people who work hard to excel in their academic studies as well as extra-curricular and athletic activities.

We have set a goal as a school district to excel in all areas. We recognize that there are areas of student achievement where we can improve and we are ever-vigilant to achieving this goal. Our mission is to create high standards of achievement while engaging each student in order to maximize their individual potential.

The Town of Milton should be proud of their public school system. Our schools’ administrators, teachers, staff, students, parents and guardians should all be proud of the fact that they are part of such a dynamic and motivated district. I am proud of each and every one of you.

A detailed presentation of the 2012 MCAS Accountability Data will be held at the October 3rd and October 17th meetings of the School Committee. Individual scores will be mailed to families on October 3rd.

A Level 1 designation is granted to a school that demonstrates high achievement makes strong progress or narrows the proficiency gap in both the aggregate and in the High Needs subgroup.  A district can only achieve a Level 1 status if all schools in the district are recognized as Level 1 schools by the DESE.

For more information on MCAS or to view school or district results, CLICK HERE

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 It is with great pleasure that we share the news on our district’s search for a new Elementary Reading, Language Arts, and Social Studies Coordinator.

We are excited to announce that the position (1.0 FTE) will be filled by two extraordinary educational professionals who bring much experience and talent with them to the Milton Public Schools.

Martha Winokur has previously worked as the Director of Elementary School Partnerships at the Teaching and Learning Alliance, Inc (formerly known as the Center for Applied Child Development at Tufts University) where she was also a Senior Project Manager.  Ms. Winokur is currently a Literacy Specialist in the Needham Public Schools and has also served as a Literacy Coach and Specialist in Westwood, Providence, and Boston.  Ms. Winokur received a Master of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Cambridge College and her Bachelors of Science degree in Elementary Education and Special Needs from Boston University.

Cynthia Smith has previously worked as a Program Director at the Teaching and Learning Alliance, Inc. (formerly known as the Center for Applied Child Development at Tufts University) where she was also a consultant.  Prior to that Ms. Smith was a consultant to the New York City Board of Education and Department of Youth Services and was an after school program Director in East Harlem, NY and a PreK-6 and 9th grade teacher in the New York City Public Schools.  Ms. Smith received her Masters of Arts degree in Art Therapy from New York University and her Bachelors of Arts degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education and Fine Arts from Queens College, CUNY.

 

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The following information was submitted by Barbara Wright, Humanities Department  Head at Milton High School.

 

Each year every freshman at Milton High School reads To Kill a Mockingbird, but they have never been able to share the story with so many of their fellow Milton residents as they will be able to this year.  As Milton participates in a school-wide read of Harper Lee’s novel, our students will be able to confidently join the discussion.

Milton High students hope to get involved in the town-wide read in a number of ways.  Many plan to attend the two different book discussions held at the library, and are looking forward to participating in a discussion beyond their own classroom.  Some students will also be volunteering at the Halloween fest at Cunningham Park and the reception at the First Parish Church in November.

In addition, members of the Milton High School Drama Club will be working directly with the Milton Players as they prepare for the Dramatic Read on Sunday, October 28th. Our Drama students will be practicing with the Milton Players throughout October to prepare for their performances.

Our own Barbara Wright, Milton High School’s Humanities Department Head, has been working with both Annie Davis and Franck Schroth from Friends of the Milton Public Library, and plans are in the works for students to perform a dramatic read and a reenactment of the courtroom scene at an upcoming event.

Usually, some of the high school students will read the novel later in the year, but we have reorganized our curriculum so that every student will read the book by November 15, which coincides with the culminating reception at the First Parish Church.

The lessons of the book are bountiful, but one that seems universal is the idea of perception vs. reality.  Mr. Nick Fitzgerald has taught To Kill a Mockingbird for a number of years, and enjoys seeing the reaction of students to some of the book’s messages.  He said the one theme that most students really understand is the idea that “what you perceive to be true is not always the case.”

Another English teacher, Mr. Joe O’Neill echoed Mr. Fitzgerald.  “Students understand that a quick judgment is not always an accurate one,” said Mr. O’Neill  These lessons are timeless, and whether it’s Maycomb County, Alabama in the 1930’s or Milton, Massachusetts in 2012, Harper Lee’s timeless novel To Kill a Mockingbird is a story with life lessons that go beyond the story Lee tells.

For more information on Milton Reads, please see the item below under “Library News.”

 

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Advanced Placement teachers from the High School have a professional development conference coming up on October 24th.

This workshop is being held at Stonehill College and is being planned in collaboration with Milton Educators Association President Margaret Gibbons and five Milton High teachers, Steve Collyer, Nick Fitzgerald, Tom Shaw, Kara Yifru and Jess Parsons. Eight other Milton Public School teachers will attend.  The event is based on a model of inter-district collaboration.  Advanced Placement teachers from Milton have teamed-up with teachers from Brockton, Holbrook, Pembroke, and Taunton to form a collaboration called MAAP, the Massachusetts Aspiration and Achievement Partnership.          This professional development conference is the first official MAAP event. The conference has the support of the superintendents from the five collaborating districts as well as the teacher association presidents from the five districts.  All involved hope that the event will set a precedent for teacher-led, inter-district collaboration in the future.

 

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A group of Milton High School seniors were recently notified that they have qualified for the John & Abigail Adams Scholarship. This scholarship provides a tuition waiver for up to eight semesters of undergraduate education at a Massachusetts state college or university.

Massachusetts public high school students become eligible for the scholarship when they score at the Advanced and Proficient levels on grade 10 MCAS tests in English and Mathematics. (A student must earn a score of Advanced on the ELA or Mathematics test and a score of Proficient or higher on the second test). In addition, students must have combined scores from the MCAS tests that place them in the top 25% of students in the graduating class in their district.

For more information about the John & Abigail Adams Scholarships, click here:

http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/adams.html

Congratulations to: Patrick Adley, Clayton Baker, Ryan Baker, Alexandra Barber, Saidhbhe Berry, Samantha Brennan, Ellen Chow, David Cleckley, Nicole Cremmen, Abigail Crum, Molly Dempsey, Theresa Doherty, Kara Donovan, Courtney Driscoll, Kayla Drummond, Bradley Dumais, Peter Eberhardt, Destiny Edouard, Molly Farmer, Christian Farrar, Aidan Flanagan, Andrew Flynn, Cara Genduso, Casey Glynn, Simone Greaves, Catherine Green, Abigail Greenwood, Caitlin Griffin, Robert Halloran, Ian Handy, Eileen Hiew, Cara Hogan, Miles Holland, Mitchell Johnson, Lilly Kasuba, Morgan Kelley, Brendan Kelly, Julia Keohane, Emily Lenane, Amanda Liberty, Megan MacIsaac, Daniel Madden, Deanna Maher, Caroline Maniscalco, Richard McGovern, Stefania Mijal, Patrick Miller, Dilanna Morrison, Christine Murphy, Hannah Musgrove, Michael Musto, Kimberly Ngai, Luke Nourie, Yaritzi Nunez, Sinead O’Connor, Madeleine O’Leary, Anika Obasiolu, Aria Perkins, Madison Perlick, Courtney Peterson, Nicole Peterson, Gregory Rodney, Alison Ryan, Nicholas Savage, Christine Sgroi, Isabelle Smith, Timothy Vhay, Stephanie Ward, Daniel White, Mona Yuan.

UPCOMING EVENTS

            Former Boston Celtic and local high school basketball star Chris Herren will provide two anti-substance abuse presentations to Milton High School students and members of the community on October 18th and 19th. The community presentation will take place at a town-meeting style event on Thursday, October 18th at 7 pm in the Charles C. Winchester Auditorium and the student presentation will take place Friday, October 19th at 9am in the Copeland Field House. The presentations will last approximately one hour and will include a Question and Answer session.

Herren, who played against Milton High School when he was a member of the Durfee High School Hilltoppers from Fall River, will detail his rise and fall as a basketball player and the struggles with substance abuse that derailed his career and nearly killed him. His story is well known and was recently the subject of the Emmy winning ESPN documentary, Unguarded.

Prior to that, Herren was the subject of two books, Fall River Dreams and Basketball Junkie, both written by Bill Reynolds, a renowned author and sportswriter for the Providence Journal Bulletin.  Herren addresses audiences all over the country and has spoken at West Point, The University of Florida, The University of Rhode Island, Northeastern University, Salve Regina, Curry College and over 30 public schools.

The student presentation is sponsored by the Milton Foundation for Education, The Milton High School Boosters, and the Milton Public Schools.

The town-meeting style presentation is being sponsored by The Milton Board of Health, the Youth Counselor Emeritus, and the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Further information regarding Chris Herren and his presentations can be found at his website, http://www.ahoopdream.com

 

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The following item was submitted by Michael Maholchic with the Milton Rotary Club:

 

If you are a high school student between the ages of 15 and 18 1/2, then you are eligible for Rotary Youth Exchange. Ideal candidates should also possess qualities — like flexibility and a willingness to try new things — that will enable them to become excellent cultural ambassadors. You do not have to be involved with Rotary in any way in order to apply, although children of Rotarians are more than welcome to participate.

Since 1927, students and host families all over the world have had their horizons broadened and their lives enriched by the generosity of Rotary’s Youth Exchange program. The program today involves more than 82 countries and over 8,000 students each year. Participating students in Rotary’s Short-Term Exchange Program live with a matched host family in their selected country from three to six weeks in the summer.  Rotary’s Long-Term Exchange program lasts ten months. The students live with two or three host families during that time and attend school.

The cost to the parents is approximately $400 plus airfare for the short term program, and about $2,000 plus airfare for the long term program.  Scholarships of up to $500 are available through the Eastern States Student Exchange for the long term program.

An information session will be held at Milton High School in October, exact date and time to be announced.

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The Fall brochure of Adult Education classes has gone out and we are very excited about this year’s courses. The brochure can be viewed at:

http://www.miltonps.org/documents/AdultEdBrochure-Fall2012.PDF

 

Classes have begun this week but there is still time to register.  If you are interested in a course please email adulted@miltonps.org.

 

 

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The Friends of Milton Crew are hosting an Oktoberfest celebration and you’re invited! The event will take place at the First Parish Church in Milton on Friday, October 12th at 7pm. There will be a silent auction, cash bar, and great food including Brat n Brew sliders with a veggie alternative, Cheddar Fondue, squash and apple bisque and more. An iPAD will be raffled off and that’s just the start! Silent auction items include but will not be limited to an overnight stay at the Boston Harbor Hotel, 4 tickets to a Beanpot game in February 2013, jewelry from a local designer, and handmade bag and t-shirt from Poepin Designs.

Tickets are $25. Please email miltoncrewoktoberfest@gmail.com or Terry Driscoll (terry@willsand.com) for event or raffle tickets and information. Or purchase one online at http://www.miltoncrew.org/

 

Also, the Friends of Milton Crew will be hosting the 2nd annual South Shore Invitational Novice Challenge on the Neponset River. This is a high school rowing competition among novice crews from around the area. Crews from last year will be returning: Hingham, Quincy, Thayer Academy and Milton High will compete along with others on Saturday, October 13th. 

The competition, which is restricted to novice rowers, will start at the point at Victory Park in Dorchester and end at the I-93 overpass, a distance of 2 miles. The boys’ race will begin at 10:00am and the girls will go off at 10:45am. The public is encouraged to come watch.  Pope John Paul II Park will offer excellent viewing.

MFE

The following item was submitted by Denise Queally of the Milton Foundation for Education.

 

This year MFE Trustees Denise Queally and Nora Vernazza are excited to organize the 14th Annual Monster Dash on Sunday, October 28th at Cunningham Park.          This year’s Monster Dash promises to be the most fun, yet!  The Toy Box in Hanover will be on hand to organize some “hands on” art and science projects; there will be rocket balloons launched all over the park; the kids will certainly be tuckered out after the “fun run” races with prizes awarded to all; and the DJ will keep the young and young at heart alike, dancing and playing all sorts of fun games and giving away prizes!

The Monster Dash is a heartfelt community event that brings kids of ALL ages together, from pre-school to high school students to adults, for a carefree day of fun at Cunningham Park.  It’s a day that’s really all about kids just being kids, and friends enjoying each other’s company. This wonderful event is organized by the Milton Foundation for Education (MFE), a non-profit group of parents and community members who volunteer to raise monies to fund innovative programs and opportunities that are beyond the reach of the school system’s budget.

All proceeds of the Monster Dash benefit the Sam Cichello Memorial Fund which was created in 1999 in memory of Sam Cichello, a Tucker Elementary School student. In tribute to Sam, the Monster Dash has raised approximately $130,000 over the past 13 years!

To honor Sam’s love of science, all proceeds of the Monster Dash-Sam’s Fund support science enrichment in the Milton public schools.  Some examples of past initiatives made possible through grants from Sam’s Fund include the following:

 

  • Experienced Naturalists from the Trailside Museum visit 3rd and 5th grade classes to demonstrate the rich ecosystem of the Blue Hills
  • Students in grades 3 and 5 participate in the Junior Naturalist Program at the Trailside Museum.
  • “Experiment Science Kits” were provided to all four Milton elementary schools
  • Museum of Science partnered with the school system on an “Engineering is Elementary” program to encourage students to experiment with simple engineering processes

 

Trophies and other prizes will be awarded to the race top finishers in various age groups as well as to those that sport the best costumes!  Registration open at 9:30am, the 5K begins at 11am, and exciting kids’ activities will take place throughout the morning.  To pre-register for the 5K, visit www.active.com.  To learn more about sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, please visit www.miltonfoundationforeducation.org or email denisequeally@comcast.net.   The Registration fee is only $20 by 10/22 and $25 on race day. The kids’ fun run registration is only $7/child with a $15/family maximum.

 

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Also, the MFE’s Annual Celebration for Education will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at the Boston Marriott, Quincy.  Mark your calendars and look for more information about this fun and exciting night to benefit the Milton Public Schools.  Please visit our website at www.miltonfoundationforeducation.org for more information about the Foundation and upcoming events.

LIBRARY NEWS & “MILTON READS”

            Milton writer Kathryn Burak will premiere her new novel for young adults, Emily’s Dress and Other Missing Things at the Milton Public Library on Tuesday, October 2nd from 6:30-8:30pm.

Emily’s Dress is a contemporary, realistic story about a girl who steals Emily Dickinson’s dress from the poet’s museum in Amherst and solves the mystery of her best friend’s disappearance. Kirkus Book Reviews recommends the debut novel to “lovers of literary fiction,’’ calling it “lyrical’’ and “intense,’’ and the independent booksellers association put it on its highly-selective New Voices list for 2012.

Besides marking the book’s release date, the library event will also raise funds to help the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst, Massachusetts restock the bookshelves in the Dickinson homestead. Dickinson family members were avid readers and amassed hundreds of volumes, but over the years the books were donated to universities, leaving the shelves bare.  Now, museum officials have put together a list of the family’s books and hope to garner donations to replenish the shelves.

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America’s most beloved book, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is the selection for Milton Reads! 2012, the town-wide read sponsored by the Milton Public Library.

Related activities continue through November 15th: film showings, talks, Halloween Fest on Saturday, October 27th and a community closing event at First Parish church. For younger children, you’ll find picture and chapter books in the Children’s Room related to the themes of family, civil rights, bullying, and understanding.  Remember, “You never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them.” Check it all out at miltonreads2012.wordpress.com.  Questions? miltonreads2012@gmail.com

 

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Monday, October 15th, 7-8 pm.Teen Read Week

 YA Author Panel

In celebration of Teen Read Week, the Teen Services department hosts a discussion panel featuring four YA authors: Gina Rosati (Auracle), Kathryn Burak (Emily’s Dress and Other Missing Things), Susan Carlton (Love & Haight), and A. C. Gaughen (Scarlet). The authors will discuss their books, their writing processes, and how they got published. They’ll also take audience questions. YA fans and aspiring authors of all ages are invited! Refreshements will be served. This program is sponosored by the Friends of the Milton Public Library.

Tuesday, October 16th, 6:30- 8pm

 Anime & Manga Club
Fans of anime and manga are invited to join us for the monthly meeting of the library’s teen Anime & Manga Club! Grades 6-12 only, please. Snacks will be served. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Milton Public Library.

 

Wednesday, October 24th,  3:30-5pm

 Slender Night
Get in the Halloween mood with Slender Night, a chance to play Slender: the Eight Pages on the big screen in the Keys Community Room. Teens and pre-teens (grades 6-12) can take turns playing this ultra-creepy game. Snacks will be provided; this program is sponsored by the Friends of the Milton Public Library.

Friday, October 26th,  3-5 pm

 After school movie

 

Teens and pre-teens (grades 6-12) are invited to kick-off the Halloween weekend with a scary movie. The choices are: The Addams Family, Cloverfield, The Haunting in Connecticut and When A Stranger Calls. Watch the trailers on our Facebook page, then vote for your pick here.  Join us at 3 p.m. on Oct. 26 for snacks and the winning movie! This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Milton Public Library.

 

NEWS AROUND TOWN

            The 2012 ¡CelebrateMilton! event is right around the corner. It will be held on Sunday, October 7th — rain or shine — from noon to 4pm. If the weather cooperates, it will be outdoors at Milton High School. If it rains, it will be indoors at the Collicot and Cunningham Elementary Schools.

¡CelebrateMilton! is a volunteer effort of Milton residents who actively encourage Milton’s diverse populations to appreciate and enjoy one another. They sponsor an annual event that has drawn thousands of residents since its beginning in 1994. The organization also recognizes outstanding residents with its Community Builder Awards, and supports community efforts with financial grants to organizations and individuals who bring our mission to life in the community.

 

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The Third Annual Milton Animal League Craft Fair will be held on Sunday, October 7th at Cunningham Hall on Edge Hill Road.

All proceeds from the craft fair and raffles will go directly to the Milton Animal League. For more information on the craft fair, please contact joyce@pleasingpillows-plus.com

 

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Artspace Milton wants your portraits for a public arts project: Milton Faces Forward.

Milton Faces Forward will be a slide show of townspeople by townspeople at the gazebo in front of Town Hall. Images of local residents will be projected on a screen.  The slide show will be displayed for two hours on three evenings in October — from 6:30 to 8:30pm on October 5th, 12th, and 26th. If you have portraits of family, neighbors, teams, organization – just so long as they are portraits – which collectively will put a face on our town.

Please send digital photos to artspace02186@gmail.com. The show will be a running slide show – images do not have to be in by October 5th – we will be adding the pictures as they come in.

 

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The Milton Library Foundation is hosting its 8th Annual Literary Gala on Thursday, October 18th at 6pm at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel in the Seaport District.

The evening will feature cocktails, a sit-down dinner, live auction and a conversation with guest authors Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy, Time Magazine editors and authors of The President’s Club: Inside the World’s Most Exclusive Fraternity.

For tickets or more information please contact Danielle Gollenberg at Liz Page Associates: 617-296-8806 or email dgollenberg@lizpageassociates.com

I would also like to thank Curry College President Kenneth K. Quigley, Jr., who has generously offered to donate 10 tickets to our Milton Public School teachers and administrators.

 

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The Milton Rotary Club members nominated and voted Mrs. Lynda Lee Sheridan as their most outstanding candidate in light of all the work she has done outside and inside our community — most recently as part of the Milton 350th Anniversary Committee. As many of you know, Mrs. Sheridan is the Vice Chairman of the Milton School Committee.  I would like to congratulate Lynda Lee Sheridan for all she does in her many roles in Milton.

MILTON’S 350TH ANNIVERSARY

            The year is winding down but three very special events are happening this month. The Milton Horse Show will be held Saturday October 6th. All the information for this free event can be found at http://www.milton350thanniversary.org/horseshow.html

On Sunday, October 7th, the 350th committee will host a booth at Celebrate Milton to be held at Milton High School from noon to 4. Stop by and purchase some memorabilia before it’s all gone.

Two weeks later, on Sunday, October 21st, we will host the Magical Milton Trolley Tour beginning at Cunningham Park. Narrated tours will take you around town leaving at 12pm and 2pm. Please check out the website for all the specifics. http://www.milton350thanniversary.org/Trolley_Tour.JPG

 

VISUAL ARTS

            FAVA Classes will be starting at both Cunningham/Collicot and Tucker schools this week, including Time to Paint, Paper Creations, Paint, Print, Build! & Abstract Art. To register, please visit this link:

http://www.miltonartcenter.org/

 

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Also, ArtSpace Milton will be starting after-school art classes the week of October 9th. Artspace Milton’s Fall offerings for Pre-K through Grade 5 include:

  • Hooray For Clay w/ Ms Clavette
  • Sketchbook with Paul Klee
  • A is for Autumn
  • A is for Art
  • Bande Dessinée —  create a comic book… in French!!

 

For more information and course descriptions, contact Artspace Milton at: artspace02186@gmail.com

ATHLETICS

            The Milton High School Athletic Hall of Fame has announced the list of 2012 Inductees. An unveiling ceremony will be held on Saturday, October 20th at the Copeland Field House at 5:30pm, followed by a dinner at Lantana in Randolph. Tickets are $60 and can be purchased by contacting Bill Donovan at bdonovan@miltonps.org Congratulations to the following inductees:

 

Kevin Blake — 1975 Student/Athlete football, hockey, indoor track, baseball

Tara Bligh — 2000 Student/Athlete field hockey, basketball, lacrosse

Jenna Bortolotti — 2007 Student/Athlete softball, soccer, gymnastics and dance team John “Jackie” Donahue Jr. — 1973 Student/Athlete football, track

Adam Donovan — 2007 Student/Athlete football, basketball

Dennis M. Duggan, Jr. — Friend/Contributor from 1980-2002

Daniel Egan — 1982 Student/Athlete soccer, ski team, track

Michael Ferris — 1999 Student/Athlete soccer, hockey, lacrosse

James M. Flaherty — 1955 Student/Athlete basketball

Jim Fredericksen — “Coach Fred” Coach football, basketball, indoor track, softball

Sean Goodwin — 1990 Student/Athlete soccer, hockey, outdoor track

Paul MacDonald — 1950 Student/Athlete football, hockey, baseball

Ellen McCarthy Needham — 1985 Student/Athlete volleyball, basketball, tennis

Alisha Moran — 2001 Student/Athlete soccer, basketball, outdoor track

Elimu Nelson — 1991 Student/Athlete soccer, basketball

Joe Sidoti — 1964 Student/Athlete football, wrestling, track

John Whelpley — 1950 Student/Athlete football, baseball, basketball

The 1955 Indoor Track Team

The 1957 Outdoor Track Team

The 1972 Indoor Track Team

The 1996 Women’s Cross Country Team

 

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The following update was provided by our Athletic Director, Steve Traister:

 

  • •The Football team has a record of 0-4 after a loss to Walpole Friday night.
  • • Both cross country teams are winless also so far this season.
  • •The golf team has a record of 2-6
  • •Boys’ soccer has a record of 2-6 but has already qualified for the MIAA Division 2 South Tourney.
  • •Field hockey has a record of 4-4-1 after a 1-0 victory over Ursuline on Friday.
  • •The girls’ soccer team also beat Norwood on Monday to improve 5-5 on the year.
  • •Volleyball improved their record to 4-5 after a win over Randolph Friday night. They recently qualified for the MIAA Division 2 Central tourney.

 

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            Please Save the Date for the annual Swing for Sports event. This golf and tennis tournament will be held on Tuesday, October 23rd and is a wonderful event and a major fundraiser for our student athletes.  This event is organized by the Milton High Boosters.

CLICK HERE for the flyer

 

AMBASSADOR PAGE

As part of our E-blast, we highlight students, teachers and members of the community whose hard work deserves recognition.  Please read about some of their outstanding accomplishments below:

 

Student:  We would like to recognize six members of our Milton High School Debate Team who competed at Yale University last month. Congratulations to Ailsa Jeffries (senior Captain), Cormac Conners (junior Captain), Chris Ricciuti (junior Captain), Jack Caljouw, Chris Dsida, Tess Deaibes, all of whom finished with the same record of 3-3 and are looking forward to their next national tournament in Manchester-Essex at the end of October.

 

Staff/Faculty: We are fortunate to have such a dedicated faculty in our schools. Five of our high school teachers have recently been hard at work helping to form a new, collaborative group made up of Advanced Placement teachers and Milton Educators Association President Margaret Gibbons.  Milton High School Advanced Placement teachers Nick Fitzgerald, Steve Collyer, Tom Shaw, Kara Yifru, and Jessica Parsons are founding members of MAAP, the Massachusetts Aspiration and Achievement Partnership. They will be working with other AP teachers from Brockton, Holbrook, Pembroke, and Taunton. We expect this group will set a precedent for teacher-led, inter-district collaboration in the future.

 

Volunteer: Each year, I like to take a moment to thank our PTO presidents, all of whom spend a great deal of time working on improving their schools. Please help me to recognize the following PTO Presidents: Collicot: Michelle & Abe Cardoza; Debra & Lloyd MacNeil; Maria & Chuck Karimbakas; Susan & Michael DiSandro and Lori Humphreys. Cunningham: Kerry McLaughlin, Robyn Quinn, Laura Woodward, Lorie & Douglas White. Glover: Laura Ceranoglu and Liddie Sutter. Tucker: Kristen Lacasse and Kerri Peloquin. Pierce: Lori Ferrante. Milton High: Charlotte Hopkins, Kathy Peltier and Dawn Hayes.

 

 

 

 

 

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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