November 9th E-blast

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

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
The Milton Public Schools commemorates Veterans Day in a multitude of ways. Many of our High School students participated in the #MyVeteran writing program promoted by our local Veterans Affairs office and MHS junior Grace Baker was chosen to share her essay profiling a Veteran at the Veterans Day Ceremony. The MHS Key Club collected candy to be sent to our troops overseas and Pierce 8th grade teacher Owen McElhinney engaged students in writing thank you notes to veterans at a local VA hospital. At The Tucker School, classes read the children’s book America’s White Table and participated in a tribute based on the book.  Glover School students raised their flag and staff with family in the military spoke with students while the entire school joined in song.  The Collicot School invited Veterans to be honored at an all school assembly and The Cunningham School held their 5th Annual Veterans Day Remembrance. Students and staff invited a Veteran or active Service Member to join them at school for a coffee social where they heard from student and Veteran speakers, attended the flag raising by a military Honor Guard, enjoyed students leading the school in patriotic songs and visited classrooms. I encourage you to attend the Town of Milton’s Veterans Day Ceremonies on Saturday, November 11th at 11 am at Town Hall.  In advance of Veterans Day on November 11th, please join me in thanking all of the Veterans and active duty Service Members in the Milton Public Schools community.  We are extremely grateful for their service.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE UPDATE
There has not been a School Committee meeting since my last E-blast. The next meeting will be held on Thursday November 9th at 7 pm in the Milton TV Access studio, Room 245, Milton High School.

HIGH SCHOOL HAPPENINGS
This term, twenty-three Spanish students in Señora González’s two AP classes, have been working on a special project linked to the Global Challenges theme.  This comprehensive unit trains and engages students to reflect on economical, environmental, social and contemporary philosophical issues. Students develop their understanding and critical thinking skills about current events and important concepts relating to demographic, immigration, work, social welfare, and globalization by reading, writing, and discussing – in Spanish – a wide range of contemporary articles, literary pieces, and multi-media resources. Our students have demonstrated an impressive array of creativity, higher order thinking, linguistic proficiency and genuine engagement during this project. By leading her advanced students in a series of meaningful interdisciplinary activities in authentic real-life settings, Ms. González is training them to develop an informed understanding of the challenges of our time and to think creatively about solutions for a better future. Continue reading…

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Congratulations to the cast and crew of Milton High School’s fall musical production, PIPPIN!  The show featured MHS Seniors James DiSandro as Pippin, Grace Varela as Leading Player, and over 50 students and musicians in the cast, crew and orchestral pit.  A tremendous thank you to Directors Kevin Black, Katherine Encarnacao, and Preston Pero, and the team of parents and guardians who made this production such a success!

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Join the Guidance Department for our annual College Information/Post Secondary Planning night on Wednesday, Dec 6th at 6pm at Milton High School. We will be discussing all of the topics that your child will need to know to survive and thrive during the college admissions process. Informational sessions will be held for Financial Aid, Standardized Testing, supporting your senior throughout the year, NCAA requirements, overview of the college process, and Naviance. This workshop is open to all parents/guardians and students in any grade.

MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS
Every month at Pierce Middle School, our teachers nominate students as Student of the Month. Students can be nominated for a variety of achievements: academic success, excellent effort, significant improvement in behavior or academics, outstanding citizenship and more. Just this week a staff member nominated a student for “Going above and beyond to make a new student in our class feel welcome, comfortable and included.” Students of the Month are announced during morning announcements, celebrated in the cafeteria, given a hand calligraphed certificate, published in the Milton Times and added to our Student of the Month picture wall. We love celebrating our students and the many ways they achieve at Pierce Middle School.

Last Friday the Pierce Student Council organized a March for Peace with a simple goal – to spread Peace in our community.  Pierce Principal Dr. Karen Spaulding had this to say: “As may be the case for some of you, I am often asked what I do for a living when meeting new people or mingling at a social event. The exchange typically goes something like this…They ask, “What do you do for work?” I reply, “Oh, I am a principal.” They continue, “How nice! What level? Elementary?” I reply, “Middle school!” They reply, sometimes while placing their hand gently on my shoulder, “Oh, I am so sorry.” Well, I wish those folks could have been with me on Friday at the First Annual Pierce Middle School March for Peace! It was absolutely my proudest moment as a principal! As we assembled on the back field and the numbers grew- more than 50, now over 100, getting closer to 200 attendees- I knew something special was happening. Students hoisted their signs calling for love and peace up in the air and made their way up the driveway, onto Clapp Street, down to Thacher, up to Canton Avenue, and onto the Gazebo at Town Hall. Along the way, neighbors waved to us from their porches. “What are you walking for?”, some asked. “Peace,” we replied. “Just peace?”, they questioned. “Yes, just peace,” we said proudly.” The Pierce school motto of “We are Pierce” was in full display on Friday.

INSIDE OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
During the Thanksgiving season, each of our Elementary Schools partners with The Milton Food Pantry to provide Thanksgiving meals for families in Milton who may need some assistance this holiday season. Students in each grade bring in a specific item to contribute to the complete meal  and volunteers and older students help to assemble the boxes for delivery to the Milton Food Pantry. The food pantry adds turkeys, fresh fruit and fresh pies – Dinner is served! With contributions from Collicot, Cunningham, Glover and Tucker, the Milton Public Schools is able to help provide over 125 holiday meals for Milton families.

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As part of the ongoing effort to connect each child and family with athletics and activities, the Tucker Basketball League has kicked off this fall! 4th and 5th grade students make up the four teams that play each other on Thursday nights at the Tucker School.  32 students gather for an hour of instruction, guidance and encouragement from family and friends.  Tucker parent Winston Daley takes the lead in this effort by offering his expertise in basketball and fosters a love of the sport. Acting as the game day official, Coach Daley’s enthusiasm and leadership has inspired an energy that lasts long after each game has ended. Tucker Basketball is also lucky to have Milton High School volunteers who assist in coaching the student teams. It is wonderful to see Tucker alumni serve as mentors to current students and help foster an understanding of the game. The Tucker Tigers will play their championship game on December 14th in the Tucker Gymnasium.

UPCOMING MPS EVENTS
Collicot’s One Book, One  School –  The Jennifer Kelly Project
Jennifer Kelly, a mother of past and present Collicot students Liam , Ava and Ronan, passed away unexpectedly in the summer of 2009. She was a huge presence in the Milton Public Schools Community, who gave endlessly to The Collicot School. Jenn was particularly passionate about the One Book, One School program. In this program, each family receives their own copy of the same book to read. The books chosen at Collicot celebrate diversity, embrace our differences and cultivate understanding, acceptance, and inclusion. The school community then comes together to participate in fun, shared events that celebrate our book’s theme. The year that Jenn passed, she tried to start this program at Collicot as part of a diversity committee initiative. Unfortunately, funding was not available at the time.

Due to overwhelming support from the school community, this project was launched in her memory.  Please join the Collicot Community as we raise funds for our 9th year of One Book, One School on Friday, November 17th, 7-11 pm Neighborhood Club in Quincy. Ticket sales close Friday 11/10.

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The  Annual Student Flu clinic for students  and parents is on Tuesday, November 14th  at Pierce Middle School from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Students must be accompanied by a parent/guardian as permission forms must be completed. There is no cost for this flu shot, but please bring your insurance card.

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On Thursday, November 16th at 7pm, Milton High School will present the Music Department’s first annual Cabaret.  Come out to MHS to support our students in this showcase of original student talent. Tickets are $5.00 and can be purchased at the door.

FUNDRAISING NEWS
Four more days to shop at the Fruit Center to benefit Milton Public Schools! Download your school’s voucher below.

Collicot     Cunningham      Glover     Tucker    Pierce Middle School      Milton High School

SEPAC/SPECIAL ED NEWS
The Milton SEPAC invites you to join them for an opportunity to meet fellow parents and area service providers on Tuesday, November 14th from 7:30-9  pm at Boston Sensory Solutions, 500 Granite Ave, Milton. Among those in attendance will be specialists in OT, speech, sensory integration, executive functioning, ADHD, ASD, nutrition, behavioral issues, and inclusive classes and activities. You will have the chance to mingle with parents and providers in a casual setting and get to know more about local resources. The event is only for adults and is open to the public.

TECHNOLOGY
Technology Tips for families sent in by AJ Melanson, Instructional Technology Director

Check out the new Milton Public Schools Facebook page 

Follow us on Twitter

Have you visited our new website?

FROM THE READERS
I wanted to share this generous thank you I recently received from those who organized Mike’s 5k to Crush Substance Abuse.

We wanted to thank you for the incredible support by the Milton Public Schools of the inaugural Mike’s 5k to Crush Substance Abuse held on October 21, 2017.  We especially thank Noel Vigue and Karen Cahill who did an excellent job collaborating with us to get so many Milton students involved.  We had approximately 36 student volunteers and many students ran and walked! In fact, we had over 625 registrants for the run. It would not have been a success without the support of people like Noel and Karen.  They were really a pleasure to work with and we look forward to working with your team again next year.  It meant alot to us to get young people involved given the prevalence of the opioid crisis in Massachusetts.   The Mike’s 5K Committee

MPS at Mike’s 5K to Crush Substance Abuse

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Sent in by a reader: Six Myths About Choosing a College Major- The New York Times

NEWS AROUND TOWN
The week of Thanksgiving, all trash collections will occur on Wednesday November 22nd, the day before the holiday. Please have all your barrels, bins and bags out at curbside by 7 am on Wednesday, 11/22.   

What’s happening at the library for teens?           What’s happening at the library for kids?

Join Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton on Tuesday,  November 14th at 7pm  for a free community education program developed specifically for young athletes and their parents-  “Concussions – What You Don’t Know Could Hurt You.”

The Best Buddies Milton 5k Gobbler run/walk will be held on Saturday, November 18th at Cunningham School. Prizes , food and a great new DJ will help commemorate the 10th annual anniversary for the event.  

Skip and Hop Playgroup Series 

ATHLETICS
Milton Public Schools has had a full and exciting week of sports! In case you missed it, you can find all the news and upcoming dates in Athletic Director Ryan Madden’s update, sent earlier today.

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: Please join me in congratulating Cunningham 5th graders Delia Higgins and James Goodman who were chosen to read their “Letter to a Veteran” essays at the Cunningham School’s Veteran’s Day Remembrance. Delia and James spoke from the heart and should be proud of what they wrote and shared with fellow students, staff and invited guests.

Staff: We are lucky at Milton Public Schools to have two full time Resource Officers. Officers Chris Potts and Maria Poles spend most school days building relationships with our Milton High and Pierce Middle School students, attend many school day and weekend events and support MPS in supporting the safety and security of our students and families. They can often be found cheering on our athletes, attending a play or greeting students at the beginning or end of a school day. We are fortunate to have two such caring Milton Police Department officers assigned to Milton Public Schools throughout the school year.

Volunteers:  I would like to recognize community member Janet Evans, who has been volunteering at Collicot every Wednesday. She is working with our kindergarten students to support literacy and can be seen reading and writing with small groups, playing letter and sound games and supporting the students at recess. Collicot Assistant Principal Amy Gale writes, “ She has been an amazing addition to our school community!”

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, marital status, sexual orientation, 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, employment, 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:  Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Human Resources, 617-696-4812.

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