November 21st E-blast

From: Mary C. Gormley
To: Parents/Guardians and Staff
Re: E-blast Update
Date: Monday, November 21, 2016

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

It will come as no surprise when I tell you what a wonderful and generous community in which we live. I am always struck by the kindness of our students and families, but during this time of year, it is on full display. Over the past few weeks, our elementary students and teachers have diligently been collecting food items for the Milton Food Pantry. Literally thousands of items were brought in from homes across Milton and placed in collection boxes in each classroom. High school students from the National Honor Society visited the pantry last week and not only delivered the food donations from Milton High, they also sorted and bagged donations, unloaded produce trucks and re-stocked the shelves.  Thanks to the hard work of our students and teachers, as well as the volunteers from the Milton Food Pantry, dozens of families will be provided with a holiday meal. Our Pierce families hold a food drive in February to help replenish the supplies after the holidays. And for all of this, I am very thankful. And while I’m at it, here are some other things for which I’m grateful

Students, Families, Parents/Guardians , Teachers and Administrators and Staff, School Committee , Community that supports public education , Community Schools , Milton Foundation for Education, PTOs, Site Councils, Diversity Committees , M-PACE, Citizens for Diverse Milton, Milton Boosters, FAME, FAVA, All of the committees of parents/guardians in each of our schools , the MHS Athletic Hall of Fame, Milton Woman’s Club, Town Hall, the MPD, especially our School Resource Officers, the Milton Public Library, our senior citizen volunteers, Milton Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, Curry College, Beth Israel-Deaconess- Milton, and all of our houses of worship.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE UPDATE

There has been one School Committee meetings since my last E-blast, held on November 16th. Below is a summary:

November 16th.  The meeting began with a presentation, as part of the Superintendent’s Report, by Tracy Grandeau, Director of Pupil Personnel.  She discussed the PCG report and outlined various findings from the report. A presentation on Web-Based Communication was given by Assistant Superintendent Janet Sheehan, who gave information about alternatives to Edline.  As part of the Chair’s Report, the committee voted to approve the School Committee Goals, and also approved the FY18 Contingent and Non Contingent Budget Categories and Priorities. The committee approved a vendor warrant before hearing a Transportation and Traffic Safety Subcommittee Report from Ms. Varela. The next meeting will be held December 7th 7 pm in the Milton TV Access studio, Room 245, Milton High School.

CURRICULUM NEWS

The following item was submitted by Dawn Sykes, Director of Fine Arts & Family/Consumer Studies:

This past weekend, more than 1,000 musicians passed through the halls of Milton High School to audition for the Eastern District Senior Festival.  As hosts, Milton High School students assisted judges to facilitate the audition process for selection to the festival’s Concert Band, Jazz Band, Mixed Chorus, and Orchestra.  In addition, the following students auditioned and were accepted to the festival: Ryan Au, Viola; Jada Farrar, Alto; Esme Link, French Horn; Lemuel Marc, Trumpet; Kaleigh Pentland, Soprano; Isaac Piliavin, Trumpet; Grace Varela, Alto; and Annie Wong, Soprano

The following students were accepted to the festival and earned qualifying scores to audition for the MA All State Festival in March: Julia Butler, Alto; Nick Daly, Snare Drum; Gray Davis, Bass; Jamie Eder, String Bass; Sawyer Flanagan, Snare Drum; Dominik Hyppolite, Bass; Nathania Marc, Violin; Benjamin Scott, Euphonium; Katherine Steele, Soprano; and Stephen Tan, Tenor

These are tremendous results!  Sponsored by the Massachusetts Music Educators Association, these festivals serve to extend school music programs by offering students additional opportunities to rehearse and perform challenging literature with guest conductors.  Congratulations to these outstanding musicians who qualify! Also, thank-you to the hard-working student volunteers who made the day run smoothly, to FAME who provided concession items and services.district2 district1

 

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The following item was submitted by Barbara Wright, Humanities Department Head:

The Difference between Advanced Placement Language and Advanced Placement Literature:   Each spring Milton High School sophomores and juniors enjoy building their next year’s course of study.  They will ask themselves (and their friends, family and teachers…) “Which English course is best for me next year?  Among their choices are the English Department’s Advanced Placement courses.  Rising juniors may select AP English Language and Composition and rising seniors may select AP Literature and Composition.  The two courses are very different, but the question is… what’s the difference?

Juniors can elect to take AP Language as their English requirement. Think of AP Language as a study of the art of persuasion.  In most high school English courses curriculum heavily relies on imaginative literature – novels, poetry, etc.  In AP Language Students read non-fiction speeches, essays, news articles and books to examine how an author builds his argument, which is called rhetorical analysis.  In addition to studying the history of American rhetoric, students also debate current events in an effort to build their own analytical skills.  As a result there is a strong “current events” component to the course.  Students write extensively in the course as they work to build their own ability to use rhetoric to formulate and defend an argument.

The senior AP Literature course, on the other hand, is a study of the Western tradition, from Ancient Greece through the 21st century   – novels, sonnets, poetry, short story, etc.  The College Board describes the course as a study of “literary elements such as a work’s structure, style and themes, as well as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism and tone.” Students who love to read and are intrigued by literature are ideal candidates for AP Literature, which is a course that requires significant reading.

An example of their differences might lie in the way the two different courses would analyze the same author. In AP Language students might look at a speech or interview made by Langston Hughes to determine subtexts, political undertones and the historical context.  They might analyze the diction employed by the speaker to achieve his purpose.  They might further be asked to write a “counterpoint” as an assignment.  In AP Literature the students might analyze the imagery of a Langston Hughes poem, and discuss use of symbolism and metaphor.  They might be asked to analyze the form and constructions employed by the poet, or find other works in literature that capture the same imagery that Hughes paints in his poem.

It’s important to understand that these two courses usually appeal to two very different students at Milton High, and there is no expectation that the courses are taken as a tandem offering. Both courses are demanding and ask students to read and write extensively, but the focus is quite different.  Often students will choose one AP and not enroll in the other because the focus and skills are so different.  Milton High offers AP Language during junior year and AP Literature senior year, and students should discuss their options with both their English teacher and Guidance Counselor.

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I would also like to recognize the following students, who recently contributed art work to help brighten up the Superintendent’s Conference Room at Milton High. The student’s artwork was framed and is now proudly displayed! Many thanks to: Yvon Dominique, Fabiola Goyau, Dillon Simmons, James Troiano, Kaoutar Bauhlal, Jack Schweitzer, Reade O’Hara, Brooke McHugh, Cari Gibbons, Camille Dunn, Daniel Bienick, Jaunique Coston and Philippe Bienick.

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The following item was sent to us by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education:

2016 School & District Report Cards Available for Distribution: Updated school and district report cards, including assessment data and other indicators, are now available on ESE’s School and District Profiles website. As a reminder, districts receiving Title I funds are required to distribute report cards annually to all parents or guardians of students enrolled in district schools. The Department asks that districts distribute report cards to families by the end of December. For more information, including details about electronic distribution, see our report cards website or contact ESE at esea@doe.mass.edu or (781) 338-3550.

UPCOMING MPS EVENTS

The following item was sent to us by Glover Elementary School Principal Karen McDavitt:

I just wanted to share with you some exciting news! I was contacted by an editor of Scholastic News who was interested in learning more about Glover’s Ducks! On Thursday of last week, Bernadette Butler, Mary O’Leary, Wendy Roth, and I were interviewed and our story was selected to be the feature article of the First Grade April Issue of Scholastic News nation-wide. All first grade classrooms across the country who subscribe will be reading about Glover’s Ducks in April! We sent along many pictures for them to use with the article.

The editor provided our first graders with a free year-long subscription to Scholastic News so that they can get used to the publication and excited about their upcoming issue. She was unbelievably excited about the magic of the story and enthused about sharing it with the country. I just thought you might want to know! Looking forward to seeing our ducks on the front page!

MFE NEWS

Teacher Grants are the cornerstone of the MFE’s work. Thanks to your generosity, we are able to fund innovative programs that fall outside of the school system’s budget. Programs inspired by those who know what the students need best, our incredible teachers.

On October 20th, members of the MFE Grants Committee and teacher readers from each of the district’s six schools came together to discuss the grant applications for the fall grant cycle. The committee recommended funding for 18 grant applications, totaling over $18,000 that will go toward enriching the educational opportunities of Milton students from pre-school through high school. Grants will fund curriculum innovation in a multitude of areas, ranging from early literacy initiatives to computer coding to biological science instrumentations—and everything in between! We can’t reveal this year’s grants yet, as letters will go out to teachers tomorrow. Last spring’s grants have already been implemented into all six schools including:

  • Great Scientist books for Pierce Middle School which representing a diverse population of scientists
  • Five ELMO visual presenters that will help Milton High language teachers bring their lessons to life
  • Global literature books for Glover
  • Let’s Get Moving tools to be used by occupational therapists across schools
  • STEAM activities for Cunningham Kindergarteners that let students design, problem solve, and create structure collaboratively
  • A hands-on New England Aquarium experience at Pierce Middle School that reinforced concepts taught in a 7th grade ecology unit
  • Finding Kind video assemblies for Pierce and Milton High to raise girl-to-girl bullying awareness
  • Short complex fiction libraries across all four elementary schools
  • Standing desks and stability balls that provide alternate seating options at Tucker
  • A moving cart of non-fiction leveled readers at Collicot
  • A Bose sound dock for the shared gymnasium at Collicot and Cunningham
  • Authentic “Big Books” literature for ELE classrooms at Tucker and Glover

…. And so much more

Our sincerest gratitude to our generous community for making this all possible. We look forward to sharing this fall’s grants soon!

NEWS AROUND TOWN

Please note, the Boy Scouts Wreath Sale will take place over Thanksgiving weekend on the front lawn of Glover Elementary School and in the Cunningham/Collicot driveway. The annual wreath sale is sponsored by Troop 3 Milton and will take place Friday to Sunday, 10AM to 4PM at Glover, Collicot and Blue Hills Gas Station.  www.troop3milton.com

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The following item was sent to us by the Attorney General’s Office:

BOSTON – Following reports of harassment and intimidation of racial, ethnic and religious minorities, women, LGBTQ individuals and immigrants since Election Day, Attorney General Maura Healey today announced that her office has established a new hotline for Massachusetts residents to report such incidents.

“In Massachusetts, we will protect people’s rights, fight discrimination and keep people safe,” said AG Healey. “There are reports from around the country following the election that people have been targeted and subjected to conduct that imperils safety and civil rights. Today, I am establishing a hotline for residents to report bias-motivated threats, harassment, and violence. Such conduct has no place in Massachusetts.”

The hotline will be managed by attorneys and staff in the AG’s Office. While not every incident will be appropriate for legal action, the AG’s Office will be tracking reports and appropriate matters may be referred to local law enforcement or the Attorney General’s Criminal Bureau.

Any Massachusetts resident who has witnessed or experienced bias-motivated threats, harassment or violence may call the Attorney General’s Hotline at 1-800-994-3228 or fill out a civil rights complaint form at this link. Residents may also contact the AG’s Office through its social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter.

Potential hate crimes – including bias-motivated assault, battery, and property damage – should also be reported to the local police in the first instance. Residents who fear for their immediate safety should call 911.

Most hate crimes are prosecuted by the local District Attorney’s Office. However, in some cases, the offender may also be prosecuted civilly, either in addition to criminal charges or instead of criminal charges, by the AG’s Office under the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act (MCRA).

The MCRA protects the rights of all residents and visitors to Massachusetts to be free from bias-motivated threats, intimidation, and coercion. The MCRA protects the right to use public parks and transportation, walk on public streets, attend school, live peacefully, and enjoy other basic rights. Under the MCRA, the Attorney General may bring legal action against a perpetrator who threatens, intimidates, or coerces another person on the basis of that person’s membership in a protected group (e.g., race, national origin, religion, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability) or protected activity (e.g., exercising the right to vote or the right to associate).

Whether it’s potential hate crimes, housing discrimination, or wage theft, the AG’s Office encourages immigrant communities to come forward with their concerns without fear of reprisal based on immigration status.

For more information, visit the Attorney General’s Office website.

MILTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

Fall wouldn’t be complete without fun family activities at the Milton Public Library! Books, programs, coloring, games, puppets and more are available every day for you to check out. In addition to our regular storytimes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, we have these exciting programs for the young people in your life happening during the week of November 27 – December 3:

Friday, December 2, 2016
Free Play Friday, Ages 0-5

Drop by and enjoy puzzles, games and activities in the Story Hour room. The room will be open for two hours in the morning for you to enjoy with your little ones (ages 0-5). In partnership with the Milton Early Childhood Alliance.

Saturday, December 3, 2016 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Life-Size Candyland, All Ages

Join us for a sweet adventure: families are invited to visit the Keys Room and play a life-size version of the classic board game Candyland! Kids, see if you can beat your parents to the Candy Castle to rescue King Kandy, while at the same time practicing counting and color recognition. For all ages; children must be accompanied by an adult in order to play. Registration is required so we know how many players we’ll have, but you can drop in anytime between 2-4pm (play should take approximately a half hour). Registration will open two weeks in advance of the program. Sponsored by the Friends of the Milton Public Library.

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. Also, like the Milton Public Library on Facebook and get updates right in your news feed! 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

First and foremost, congratulations to the Girls Cross Country Team on capturing their second straight D2 State Title yesterday, capping off an impressive undefeated season.  Bridget Mitchell was once again the star of the show – finishing first – while teammates Elise O’Leary (7th), Ella Affanato (9th), Colette O’Leary (19th), and Naomi Negassi (30th) demonstrated the ‘Cats incredible depth.  Congrats to all the girls and Coach Shaw on a fantastic season.  Also, thank you to all who made the trip out to Gardner to support them.

all-state-trophy

 

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The Wildcats Football team are on the road this year in their Annual Thanksgiving Day matchup with the Braintree Wamps.  Game starts at 10am (Thursday, 11/24) at Braintree High School.  Tickets will be $7 for students and $10 for adults. Good luck ‘Cats!

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The Milton High Cheer Team qualified for States, and competed in the MSSAA State Cheerleading Competition this past weekend. Congratulations to all the team and their coach for a very successful season.

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There are only a few hours left for Winter Registration.  Please remember to register on Family ID.  All those not registered on Family ID will not be issued a uniform until registration is complete.  For instructions please click here.  You must also fill out and turn in an Athletic Clearance Form, found here.  Please take a look at our new Athletic Website . We are slowly adding more information.  For any suggestions/comments, please email rmadden@miltonps.org.

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For sports schedules for all MHS teams, please click here: http://schedules.schedulestar.com/Milton-High-School-Milton-MA/season/08-28-2015/

ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

Last month, our Milton High School Athletic Hall of Fame held its induction ceremony. I would like to recognize this year’s inductees, as well as all of the hard-working volunteers who help to organize this amazing event.

2016 Inductees: James Blake (Student-Athlete, Class of 1949) Thomas Brennan (Coach-Teacher-Administrator) Ryan Ciampa (Student-Athlete, Class of 1999) Patrick Dunn (Student-Athlete, Class of 1996) Jack Griffin (Student-Athlete, Class of 1979) William Maheras (Student-Athlete, Class of 2002) the 1986 Field Hockey Team and Derrick Snowden (Chairman’s Award Winner, Class of 1989)

The 2016 Athletic Hall of Fame Board of Directors: Dyanne Crowley, Billy Donovan, Sean LoPresti, Sean McDonagh, Ben Midura and Mark Sullivan.

2016 Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee: Brian Borde, Billy Donovan, Tom Herget, Sean LoPresti, Deirdre Enos Lovett, Sean McDonagh, Karen Duggan McLaughlin, Richard Ryan and Tracy Bubas Turgeon

The Athletic Hall of Fame is a volunteer organization made up of Milton High School staff members, coaches, and alumni who aim to honor the achievements and contributions of Student-Athletes, Coaches, and Contributors to Milton High School Athletics. In addition to our bi-annual induction ceremonies, the Hall of Fame also awards two scholarships to graduating Milton High School seniors and contributes to Milton High School’s Athletics Program.

Donations are welcome to help us continue to honor Milton High School’s best while also providing for the future of Milton High School Athletics. Contact bdonovan@miltonps.org for more info.

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:

Students: Congratulations to the following 12 students who have been selected for the Cunningham Student Council: Colin Cretan, Fiona Zimon, Frank Hawker, Jasmine Bethea , John Gillooly, Kyla Miller, Margaret Henry , Mary Maloney, NASA Boddie, Organ Pater, Rowan McCullough, Tucker Korean and Charlie Little. All students were selected by their peers after writing responses to two questions about being a leader. The council members have already met twice and are in the planning stages of writing the first edition of the student Newspaper and planning the school’s Anti-Bullying assembly.  Great job!

Staff:  I would like to recognize Collicot Grade 2 teacher Zeina Hamada, who wrote a grant to the MFE for the purchase of books for her classroom. The books are aligned with the Reader’s Workshop curriculum and can be used by all students in her classroom. Thanks to Ms. Hamada and to the MFE!

zeina-pic

Volunteers: I would like to thank and congratulate Peter Healy, the CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Milton for his time, energy and commitment to the Milton Public Schools over the past several years. Mr. Healy will be assuming a new role, as President of BIDMC in Boston effective January 1st, 2017. Mr. Healy has been a fantastic resource for our district and has met with our leadership team on a monthly basis since he was first appointed to Milton in 2013.  We wish him the best of luck in his new position.

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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