May 9th E-Blast

From: Mary C. Gormley
To: Parents/Guardians and Staff
Re: E-blast Update
Date:  Tuesday, May 9th, 2017

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

The Milton Interfaith Clergy Association (MICA) has developed an initiative in collaboration with myself, Rabbi Benjamin of Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills and Dr. Karen Spaulding, Pierce Middle School Principal in response to the incidents in our community. Please read the letter below and view the links to access age-appropriate information regarding this valuable MICA initiative:

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“The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.” Edmund Burke

“Few are guilty, but all are responsible.”  Abraham Joshua Heschel

Dear Milton Community,

On behalf of MICA, the Milton Interfaith Clergy Association and in partnership with many Milton leaders and organizations, we present to you

“It’s Time to Talk About Hate”: A Family Centered Initiative, a community wide project that we believe will be a powerful and impactful response to the recent incidents of swastika graffiti found in our town.  But its success depends solely on you, the parents and guardians of our K-12 students.  Using the Conversation Resource Sheet (see links below) that is appropriate to your child, we need you to make the time to sit down with your child and engage him/her in a thoughtful conversation about hate, acceptance, diversity and civility.

For the past eight weeks, we have been working with representatives in our public schools and experts in the field to put together Conversation Resource Sheets that are deep, concise, clear, honest and easy to follow.  THE FIRST STEP IS FOR YOU TO CLICK THE APPROPRIATE AGE LEVEL LINK BELOW AND TAKE A LOOK.

Time to Talk Conversation Resource Sheet Preschool 2-5 Years: http://bit.ly/2poScZg

Time to Talk Conversation Resource Sheet Elementary/Preteen 6-12 Years: http://bit.ly/2qL01NL

Time to Talk Conversation Resource Sheet Teen 13-17 Years: http://bit.ly/2pZJ53q

We purposely kept each Resource Sheet to one page long (double sided) with these topic headings:

Recommendation for Getting Started

Voices from the Field

Conversation Starters/Activities

Tips for Parents

It is up to each one of us to make sure Milton is defined not by the few acts of swastika graffiti but rather our overwhelming response to it.  The goal of this initiative is both lofty and necessary:

To raise children who have integrated the values of respect, acceptance and civility into the core of their very being.

It’s an investment we are making in ourselves and in one another.

Sincerely,

Milton Interfaith Clergy Association, Rev. Hall Kirkham, Chair

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The Milton Public School system does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, gender identity, transgender status, gender transitioning, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, pregnancy/parenting status, marital status, sexual orientation, homelessness, or military status, in any of its programs, activities or operations. These include, but are not limited to, admissions, equal access to programs and activities, hiring and firing of staff, provision of and access to programs and services, as well as selection of volunteers, vendors and employers recruiting at the Milton Public Schools.  We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, students, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors.  The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Asst. Superintendent for Curriculum & Human Resources, 617-696-4812

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