December 21st E-blast

From: Mary C. Gormley
To: Parents/Guardians and Staff
Re: E-blast Update
Date:  Monday, December 21, 2015

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

With the holiday season upon us, I cannot help thinking that the greatest gift we could give our children is the gift of education. This is one present that will not break, will not become outdated, does not require batteries and will last a lifetime. Whether your child is in Pre-K or is graduating this May, our greatest gift to them will always be the solid foundation they get each and every day in our classrooms. Please enjoy the holiday season and I wish a healthy and happy new year to every one of our Milton Public School families.

Per the request of parents/guardians, please see the item below under “Curriculum” for further clarification on what state assessments our students have taken so far this year.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE UPDATE

There has been one School Committee meeting since my last E-blast, held on December 16th. That meeting is summarized below. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 6th at 7 pm in the Milton Access cable studio at Milton High School.

December 16th:

This meeting began with the introduction of the MHS Football Team, along with Athletic Director Alex Campea and Coach Steve Dembowski. The team was congratulated for their successful season and shared some memories of game highlights. Next, Collicot Principal Holly Concannon, along with her site council, presented the Collicot School Improvement Plan. School Committee members voted to withdraw from the CHARMS collaborative and use the South Shore Collaborative.  The committee also received a PARCC Results Update, an update on the formation of a long-range planning committee and voted to put out an RFP for a facilities management plan. As part of a finance subcommittee report, the committee voted on two FY17 budget figures and also voted to approve two vendor warrants before adjourning to executive session.

CURRICULUM NEWS

Reminder to Milton families

If your child was in grades 3-8 in school year 2014-15, these are the state test score reports you should have received via mail from the Milton Public Schools:

  • PARCC ELA – sent home as of 12/11/15
  • PARCC Math – sent home as of 12/11/15
  • Students in grades 5 and 8 last year should have already received their MCAS Science score report in October.

If your child was a high school student last year, these are test score reports you should have received in October:

  • Last year’s grade 9: MCAS Science score report
  • Last year’s grade 10: MCAS ELA and Math score reports

In addition, if your child was in grades 9 or 11 last year, you may also have received the reports below depending on your child’s enrollment in particular classes. Please note that high school PARCC tests were part of the state pilot and do not count toward any high school graduation requirements.

  • Last year’s grade 9: PARCC Integrated Math
  • Last year’s grade 11: PARCC ELA

* * *

The following elementary students received perfect stores on Continental Math League during the first meet in November. Congratulations!

Grade Four:

  • Collicot : Michael Sullivan, Christopher Cherry, Luke Naughton, Mason Pelligri, Daniel Steinberg, Van Tran
  • Cunningham: Samuel Boucher, Frank Hawker, Mary Maloney
  • Glover: Karim Camara, Kyle Denny, Alexander Files, William Hartford, David Mitchell, Casey Olsen, Camden Carr, Jack Nolan.
  • Tucker: Aidan Doherty, Samantha Chiu, Lucy Hollingsworth-Hays

Grade Five:

  • Collicot: Conor Mannion, Lane Carte, Kwon Lok Young, Grace Henry
  • Cunningham: Owen Rogers, Samuel Callahan, Maggie Mannion
  • Glover: Ardic Ceranoglu, Claire Graham
  • Tucker: Timothy Fay, Logan Do

* * *

The following item was turned in by Pierce and MHS teacher, Nancy Warn, who also serves at the Model UN coach:

Our Pierce Model UN team had a great experience at a recent conference. Pierce sent nine students to compete in the conference as members of the European Union, Organization of American States, organization of African States, and Organization of Asian Pacific States. Although Wyatt Troy is the only student recognized with an award, (outstanding delegation with his fellow delegates from Nigeria) all our students were impressive in their level of involvement. They gave thoughtful solutions to the crisis situations presented to them, worked well on their coalition building and had level-headed reactions to some pretty extreme twists presented to them, including solutions to problems facing outer space !

* * *

The following items were sent to us by Amy Tom, Science Department Head at Milton High School:

For Parents:

Engage in Math Parent Game Night Series: Educational Games for Kids

Dates: Vary by grade
Time: 4 – 5:30pm
Program Fee: $25 includes a game which parents can take home to play with their child

Have you ever thought family game time and math homework could actually be the same thing?  Join us for a night of playing and learning!  Please note, this is an event for the parents so no children under 12.  For additional information please visit: http://microsites.bridgew.edu/case/community

For Students: (Please feel free to share with parents)

The Center for the Advancement of STEM Education at Bridgewater State University is excited to offer the CASE Science Academy, a 4-day program for students in grades 6-8 during the February and April vacation weeks.

Winter Science Academy-Forensic Institute of Bridgewater

Dates: February 16 – 19, 2016 (Tuesday—Friday),
Times:  8:30am – 2:30pm
Location:  Dana Mohler-Faria Science and Mathematics Center, Bridgewater State University
Program Fee: $325.00, covers all course expenses for Winter Science Academy, including lab supplies and materials. The fee does not include lunch or transportation.  Students must bring their own lunches. For additional information please visit: http://microsites.bridgew.edu/case/prek-12-students

Spring Science Academy – Enduring Everest: Engineering Challenge

Date: Tuesday, April 19 – Friday, April 22, 2016
Time: 8:30 AM–2:30 PM daily
Location: Dana Mohler-Faria Science and Mathematics Center at Bridgewater State University
Program Fee: $325.00, covers all course expenses for Winter Science Academy, including lab supplies and materials. The fee does not include lunch or transportation.  Students must bring their own lunches

 For additional information please visit: http://microsites.bridgew.edu/case/prek-12-students

Math Kangaroo Olympiad

Date: March 11, 2016
Time: Varies depending on age group
Program Fee: $20, includes a toy, t-shirt and certificate of completion

The Mathematics Department and the Center for the Advancement of STEM Education (CASE) at Bridgewater State University are excited to announce our fourth year of hosting the International Math Kangaroo Olympiad, a low stress mathematics competition for students in grades 1-12. All students are welcome to compete. For additional information please visit: http://www.mathkangaroo.org/mk/registration.html

UPCOMING MPS EVENTS

It’s Kindergarten Pre-Registration Time! Please note, your child must be five years old on or before August 31, 2016. The following are three easy steps in the pre-registration & registration process for the 2016-2017 school year:

  • Go to the Milton Public School’s webpage (www.miltonps.org) and the link for Kindergarten registration will be on the main page.
  • Attend the Kindergarten Information Night. Thursday, January 21, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. in the Milton High School Charles C. Winchester Auditorium, 25 Gile Rd.
  • Registration will take place by appointment only on February 23rd, 24th & 25th.

Those who pre-register by January 15th will receive their registration appointment and packet at the Kindergarten Information Night.

* * *

Preschool Information and Pre-Registration Night. Mark your calendars and join us for Preschool Information Session on Thursday, January 14, 2016 at 6:30pm at Milton High School  in the Charles C. Winchester Auditorium, 25 Gile Road.  This is guaranteed to be an informative evening as preschool staff and administrators outline the various Milton Public Schools preschool programs and answer any questions families may have. Please note, your child must be three years old on or before August 31, 2016.

Please refer to the Preschool Overview document as well: www.miltonps.org/documents/Preschooloverview.pdf

FOOD SERVICE NEWS

The following item was submitted by Jackie Morgan, MPS Food Service Director:

Breakfast is available in each of the six Milton Schools. Studies show that students who eat breakfast do better in school, are less tardy, concentrate for longer periods of time and have less behavior problems. Breakfast is available 25 minutes before school day begins. There is never a need to sign up just come and show up.  The cost of breakfast is $1.25 per meal and can be deducted out of your child’s Nutrikids account.  The Middle and High School also have breakfast carts set up throughout the building to make breakfast more accessible.  The High School has a cart set up at the Field House door and students can select a fast grab-and-go breakfast, they can sit at our new Wildcat Café or join their friends in the cafeteria.  They use the same PIN that they use for lunch.  The Pierce Middle School has a breakfast cart set up on the seventh grade wing with a new breakfast café with high top tables and stools for students to gather before school begins.  They use the same PIN that they use for lunch.  Supervision is available at each school for breakfast. This year, the Milton School Food Service Program is piloting breakfast in the classroom with four of our homerooms.  Students are loving it!  Whether or not eating breakfast will slow your metabolism or stop a dieter from shedding extra pounds may always be up for debate. However, recent findings published in Nutrition Journal show that eating this morning meal can increase a brain chemical related to regulating food intake and cravings. Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia found that teens, in particular, who skipped breakfast, were more likely to gain weight throughout the day.

“Our research showed that people experience a dramatic decline in cravings for sweet foods when they eat breakfast,” said Heather Leidy, an assistant professor of nutrition and exercise physiology, in a news release. “However, breakfasts that are high in protein also reduced cravings for savory – or high-fat – foods. On the other hand, if breakfast is skipped, these cravings continue to rise throughout the day.”

When eating initiates the release of dopamine, which stimulates feelings of food reward, a reward response that’s important to eating better helps to properly regulate food intake, and was conducted on young women with an average age of 19.

“Dopamine levels are blunted in individuals who are overweight or obese, which means that it takes much more stimulation – or food – to elicit feelings of reward; we saw similar responses within breakfast-skippers,” Leidy said. “To counteract the tendencies to overeat and to prevent weight gain that occurs as a result of overeating, we tried to identify dietary behaviors that provide these feelings of reward while reducing cravings for high-fat foods. Eating breakfast, particularly a breakfast high in protein, seems to do that.”

“In the U.S., people are skipping breakfast more frequently, which is associated with food cravings, overeating and obesity,” Leidy concluded. “It used to be that nearly 100 percent of American adults, kids and teens were eating breakfast, but over the last 50 years, we have seen a decrease in eating frequency and an increase in obesity.”

FAMILY OUTREACH LIAISON NEWS

This article was submitted by Marti O’Keefe McKenna, MPS Family Outreach Liaison.

Fun and Free Things to Do with Kids in Boston: Vacation Week Programs

MUSEUMS

  • The ICA, BostonVacation week family activities – Examine the work of artist Amy Sillman and other artists currently on view in our galleries. Design a color experiment by creating a lively wearable work of art or a multi-colored zine with their own musings. 12/26-12/28
  • The MFA, BostonVacation week activities: Make artwork in the galleries inspired by the theme of celebration! You can also explore different areas of the collection with our Art Connections Cards, and check out a tote bag from the Sharf Visitor Center. 12/26-12/31
  • Boston Children’s Museum, BostonVacation week activities include viewing a special exhibit, a pop-up recycle shop. 12/26-12/31
  • USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown: Kids can take part in An Officer’s Life for Me: December School Vacation program. Learn the skills these men had to master at the USS Constitution Museum during December School Vacation Week. Sail a nautical mile in their shoes and write with a quill pen, keep a medical logbook, navigate with a homemade compass, and more. Through 12/31
  • The Discovery Museums, Acton: Vacation week activities include The Wishing Woods, in which children help create an indoor forest built upon wishes for the New Year. This space changes and evolves through the week as it is designed and built by staff and visitors (through 12/30).
  • EcoTarium, Worcester: A vacation week program has a wildlife mystery theme, during which kids use real scientific methods and clues. Drop in; 12/26-12/28
  • Higgins Armory, WorcesterVacation week fun offers kids the chance to see, live and in-person, the toys that knights played with and see a knight in full armor as he guards the Higgins Castle. Through 12/31

MOVIES

Regent Theatre, Arlington: For sing-along movie fun, visit the Regent Theatre in Arlington for an annual favorite, Sing-Along Sound of Music. The event begins with a live show in which the host leads the audience through a vocal warm-up, the fancy dress competition and awarding of prizes. (Costumes not required but highly recommended.) The host then demonstrates how to use the free goody bag throughout the film. Finally, the audience sits back to watch the original 1965 movie. Lyrics for all the songs on the screen, so you won’t miss a chance to sing your hearts out. (12/26-12/29)

SPECIAL EVENTS

  • Crabgrass Puppet Theater – Mr. Punch’s Christmas Carol – John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston Fri 12/27 FREE; reservations required
  • Beautifully crafted puppets tell the tale of the man who hated Christmas and put profits before people. Outrageous holiday hilarity with ghosts, giggles, geese and Tiny Tim too! Reservations required; call or register via the website. [Details]
  • Squirrel Stole My Underpants – Puppet Showplace Theatre, Brookline Thu 12/26-Sun 12/29 Tickets $15 each
  • Sylvie is sent to the backyard to hang up the laundry. The moment her back is turned, a mischievous squirrel steals her favorite piece of clothing and runs off. When Sylvie gives chase, an entire world emerges from her laundry basket, and curious characters show her the way through mysterious lands. Will our lonely heroine rescue her underpants and discover the magic within herself? Join puppeteer Bonnie Duncan to find out. [Details]
  • Disney on Ice: Passport to Adventure – Agganis Arena, Boston Through Dec 29 Tickets: $32-$102
  • Join Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Daisy on a journey to the magical worlds of Disney’s The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan and Lilo & Stitch. Before you go, be sure to check out Kristin’s review. [Details]
  • Jenny the Juggler – Barefoot Books, Concord Sat 12/28 Tickets $8
  • Jenny the Juggler brings her interactive juggling, magic, music, singing, and physical comedy show to the Barefoot Books Studio, including co-star Blueberry the Bunny! World-class face painting and balloon-animals, too! Advance ticket purchase recommended; drop-ins encouraged to call before coming. [Details]

 

  • Three days of vacation fun for families with children ages 4 and up during the December school vacation week. Cost: $7 and up. Please call to pre-register.
  • Survivor (12/27, 1pm-2:30pm): Through teamwork and problem solving explore the woodlands of the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary and imagine that we are explorers stranded in the wilderness. In order to survive, we will need to build shelters, collect firewood, and find food and a water source. Fee: $9/adults, $7/children (discount for Mass Audubon members).
  • Parent/Child Build a Bird Feeder (12/28, 1pm-2:30pm): Brighten up your yard this winter with a bird feeder handmade by you and your child. All materials and instruction provided; just bring a hammer. Afterwards, observe the sanctuary feeders to see what birds are coming to them. Fee: $20 per family ($18/Mass Audubon member families). The fee includes one kit; extra kits can be purchased for $12 each ( limited quantities – please inquire when you register.)
  • Predator Party (12/29, 1pm-2:30pm): Take a walk to look for fishers, river otters, foxes, hawks, and owls on the sanctuary. Tracks, chews, scat, pellets, and bones will show us where predators have partied. Fee: $9/adults, $7/children (discount for Mass Audubon members).
  • Vacation Week Flyby – Joppa Flats, Newburyport 12/30 & 12/31
  • The vacation program offers indoor and outdoor activities, with art activities, experiments, group games, and scheduled family presentations for everyone. Drop in for an hour or stay all day for a vacation activity that suits your family schedule. Cost: children $7; accompanying adults free. Registration not required.

* The information was adapted from the http://boston.mommypoppins.com/kids/fun-and-free-things-to-do-with-kids-in-boston-vacation-week-programs-new-years-eve-and-more-dec website .  For any additional info, please contact Marti O’Keefe McKenna: mmckenna@miltonps.org, telephone # 617 980 7343

MFE NEWS

What fits perfectly into every teacher’s stocking and classroom? This holiday season,we can’t help thinking of the gifts we are given all yar long, including our wonderful teaches and the role they play in our children’s lives. Here is a simple way to give back: the Red Apple Program. When you make a $25 donation, your child’s teacher receives a special Red Apple certificate and a sincere thank you for sharing the gift of learning. Your donation will directly support our Annual Appeal Fund, which provides grants that enale teachers to foster creative classroom atmospheres and capture the interest and imagination of their students. Send your teacher a Red Apple! Click here or mail your teacher’s name and school, together with your name and donation to MFE, PO Box 223, Milton, MA 02186.

NEWS AROUND TOWN

The following item was sent to us by Allan Bishop of the Milton DPW:

Holiday Solid Waste Collection Schedule: This year, the Christmas Day and New Year’s Day holidays both fall on a Friday. Since Milton does not have solid waste collections for that day, there will be NO DELAYS due to the holidays. Milton will have REGULAR solid waste collections for trash and recycling on Wednesday and Thursday 12/23 and 12/24; and 12/30 and 12/31.

The Recycling Center will be open on Saturday January 2nd from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. Our annual Christmas tree and wreath collections will occur on Wednesday or Thursday, January 13/14 2016, depending on which day is your regular collection day. For additional information regarding tree and wreath collections please visit the Milton DPW online.

Milton DPW Facebook page or Milton DPW Home Page. Please remember that if your trash/recycling has not been picked up, you will need to contact the Sunrise Scavenger Company at 617-361-8000 to report it.

ATHLETICS

The following item was sent to us by the Milton Boosters:

Girls Indoor Track Team will run a Can & Bottle Drive on January 2nd. Save your cans and bottles over the holidays, because the next MHS Boosters can & bottle drive is on Saturday, January 2nd.  The girls’ indoor track team will run the ‘Cans for Cats’ drive at Milton High School. Student athletes will be at the front entrance of Milton High School, 25 Gile Road, from 9:00 am to noontime to collect cans and bottles to redeem them for cash. Please stop by and support your Wildcats!

The following update was sent to us by Athletic Director Alex Campea:

BOYS HOCKEY

The Boys’ Hockey Team is off to a .500 start. We beat Norwood at the home opener, 4-1. Captain Elliott Chauvet scored twice, Assistant Captain Tommy Noonan and Jr. Kellen Hurley, each scored once. Jr. Bobby Lesenechal was stellar in goal. Unfortunately, Braintree defeated Milton in Game Two, 9-0.

GIRLS HOCKEY

Saturday game vs Norwood was a 5-3 win. Elena Kapolis had 3 Goals and 1 Assist to lead the scoring attack. Other goal scorers were Laura Hill and Julia Scannell. All four D played very well, with Meaghan McDougall, Kate Driscoll, Bella Calcagno and Bella Simeone stepping up, blocking shot and clearing the puck for our new Freshman Goalie Mary O’Connell. Mary got her first win of her career as the starting goalie. The game vs. Braintree was a little bit of a letdown after the big win Saturday. The team lost to Braintree 4-2. Goal scorers were Elena Kapolis and Katie Abbott. Once again, all four D played very well in front of Mary. So far I have been very impressed with the play of Freshman D Bella Calcagno and Sophomore D Bella Simeone who have stepped up to fill the void on D with Senior D Hannah O’Leary graduating and Senior Caroline Johnson out with a concussion.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Girls Basketball team looks to come back from a tough opening night loss to Braintree with a home game against Newton North on Friday, December 18 and a trip to Natick on Tuesday, December 22 before traveling to North Quincy for a non-league game on Tuesday, December 29.

BOYS BASKETBALL

The Milton Boys Basketball team currently are 0-2. The Wildcats lost to Norwood 67-53 and Braintree 69-47. Eddie Hassell ’18 led the wildcats in scoring vs Norwood with 10points and Jamaurie Coakley scored 15points vs Braintree. The Wildcats have three games before holiday break. Friday December 18th at Newton North, Tuesday December 22nd vs Natick, and Wednesday December 23rd at Randolph HS. Game times are 345pm, 500pm, and 630pm.

WRESTLING

The season began last Saturday at CM.  Milton lost to CM 45-27 and Sandwich 46-29 before taking down Chicopee 46-20.  Last night Milton had its home opener and didn’t disappoint the fans beating Norwood 45-21.  Milton is led by senior captains Dane Matejka 3-1 and Zack Fischer 4-0.  Milton has also had solid performance so far this year by sophomores Liam Kelly 4-0 and Miles Easterling 4-0.

SKI

Dry land training has been going as well as expected. Ted Kackley has been overseeing PE training every Tues & Thurs afternoon and the team has been training on the Blue Hills hiking trails. The team is looking forward to their 1st ski meet at Ski Ward on Jan. 7th. Think Snow!

BOYS TRACK

The Milton boys track team is off to a fast start, with wins over Walpole and Dedham. The team has been led by strong performances by the distance guys as well as the top sprinters in the league. The sprint relay team has the fastest time in the league and one of the top times in the state

GIRLS TRACK

The girls track team won their first meet of the season against Walpole by a score of 74-26. Of the 12 individual events on the roster, the girls won 11 of them. Alexis Daly won 4 events as a freshman in her first high school meet. Other individual first place finishers were Jessy Iwuala, Colette O’Leary, Alexis Belash, Elise O’Leary, Bridget Mitchell and Sophie Cousineau.

SWIM TEAM

The Swim Team did well and were very happy with the way they performed in their first-ever varsity competition vs. Malden High School. Our girls relay (Grace Curran, Maia Adley, Emma Heller & Emme Schewe) scored 3rd in the 200 Medley Relay, Grace Curran scored 3rd in the 200 IM, Emma Heller scored 3rd in the 50 Free and Grace Dwyer took 3rd in the 500 Free.  Maia Adley took 3rd for 100 Back and Emma Heller placed 3rd for the 100 Breast.  Please note that these places were against boys and girls in the same heat.

WINTER CHEER

Erica Dunton, has stepped down as the head coach of the varsity cheer team. We appreciate all her time and effort working with the team this past fall and wish her well as she continues her work within the Milton Public School District. We are happy to report that Renee Van Gestel will now serve as the varsity/junior varsity cheer coach for this winter season. We thank Ms. Van Gestel for her dedication to the Milton Cheer Team.

WINTER CONDITIONING – CREW

There will be no practice over the winter recess (24th December-3rd January). We will resume with the regular training on Monday, January 4th @ 3:30pm. Your coaches will let you know which practices to do on your own over the break. It is very important to stay in shape when we don’t practice at the High School. If you want to be a winner in the spring you have to put in a lot of hard work over the winter. Keep up the good work!

AMBASSADOR PAGE

Students: I would like to recognize the following Glover students, all of whom are members of the First Lego League team at Glover. These students work hard each week to design and code Lego “robots” to perform a variety of tasks. They also have to complete a research project and answer questions from the judges. The team recently competed at a Lego tournament in Revere. Hats off to: Michael Duffy, Charlotte Eversole, Mia Gilmore, Ayanna Gori, Craig Pentland, Omar Ramadan, Thomas Sullivan, Cole Sutter.

Staff:  Each year, the Milton Public Schools welcome back all our retirees to our Milton High School library to celebrate a holiday luncheon. This is a longstanding tradition here in the Milton Public Schools and is one of my favorite events of the year. Today’s luncheon was no exception and I would like to thank Laurie Dunn and Charlene Roche for organizing a lovely afternoon with the retirees; and Jackie Morgan for putting out such a wonderful array of foods for our guests. Many thanks also to our principals, administrators and staff members who took time out of their days to help serve and entertain our retired teachers. Thank you!

Volunteers: I would also like to recognize the two Glover volunteers who helped the First Lego League during the past few months. Please help me in thanking the phenomenal coaches Adrienne Sullivan and Terence Mulhall, who gave many hours to this program.

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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