March 1, 2018

From: Mary C. Gormley
To: Parents/Guardians and Staff
Re: Weekly Update
Date: March 1, 2018

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

I’m happy to share this video of a wonderful ceremony I attended this week. 13 of our talented high school musicians were inducted into the Tri-M Honor Society and you’ll find these students recognized at the end of this week’s post. I am continually impressed by the student talent, across many disciplines, within the Milton Public Schools.

M-PACE

Below in my post you’ll see photos of our 6th graders engaged in a visit by Historia Antiqua, a traveling museum that visited Pierce this week. Cultural enrichment such as this is only possible with the support of Milton Partnership for Arts & Cultural Enrichment (M-PACE).  I encourage you to consider a donation to M-PACE when you pay your excise tax bill this month so our MPS students can continue to experience a rich variety of cultural events. Included in your excise tax bill is this letter from M-PACE, which explains in detail how your donation impacts our students. Just this month, in addition to History Antiqua, our MPS 8th and 11th graders recently attended a performance of Thurgood and our sophomores attended a performance of Macbeth (pictured above). The students of the Milton Public Schools appreciate your support.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE UPDATE

There was a  School Committee meeting on February 28th. The next meeting will be held on March 7th at 7 pm in the Milton TV Access studio, Room 245, Milton High School. Meetings can be viewed in their entirety on demand on Milton Access Television and meeting notes and agendas can be found on the MPS website.

There is an available School Committee seat on the Blue Hills Regional Vocational School Committee.  Responsibilities, requirements and duties are posted here.  If you  would like to fill this vacant seat , please send a letter of interest to Michael Dennehy, Town Administrator, Town of Milton, 525 Canton Avenue, Milton, MA  02186. Mr. Dennehy can be reached at 617-898-4800. Letters of interest are due by Wednesday, March 7th.

HIGH SCHOOL HAPPENINGS

What did you do over February break?  MHS freshmen Dominique Thomas, Claire Walko, Anna Fahy, Philip Phan and Jack Elliot participated in a STEM Pathways mini-Jamboree at Boston University. The STEM Pathways mini-Jamboree is an interactive day of learning to encourage accessibility to synthetic biology and iGEM to high school and undergrad students.  Our students were able to conduct hands-on activities as they relate to biology, and also meet with college students to learn how their work  has lead them to focus on the sciences in their college studies.  

***

We are pleased to present the 2018-2019 Milton High School Program of Studies.  Course selection for next year is an exciting time for students, parents and the MHS staff and we hope all involved engage in thoughtful conversations about different offerings, possible career paths and post-secondary plans.  It is a time for students to think about topics or areas that inspire them and spark a passion for learning.  Our goal is to develop life-long learners and fully prepare our students for the many opportunities that exist beyond Milton High School. Please read the full course selection communication here. 

Please join us on Thursday, March 15th at 6:30pm  in the MHS Auditorium for our Program of Studies/Advanced Placement Information Night. During this evening presentation we will review graduation requirements, course offerings and answer any questions you may have about our program of studies.   

***

Our spring SAT prep courses at MHS begin in March. Details can be found here.

MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS

This week Pierce hosted Mr. Doug Ryan and Historia Antiqua at school for three days. Mr. Ryan has an incredible collection of ancient artifacts known as Historia Antiqua,  a traveling museum that has been exciting Pierce 6th graders for the past few years.  The Historia Antiqua museum consists of reproductions and replicas of artifacts from ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome.  Museum items include full size replicas of armor and weapons, scale models of siege machines, reproductions of statuary, pottery, glassware, coins, representations of wall paintings and mosaics, funerary items, and other pieces. ​

The museum is an impressive vision and all who enter the library are wowed by the various exhibits.  Students engage in Mr. Ryan’s presentation, as well as the scavenger hunt that allows them to focus their exploration and are given an opportunity to try on traditional clothing and armor.  Mr. Ryan, in collaboration with our sixth grade social studies teachers Ms. Connell, Ms. Dann and Ms. Devin, assist students as they engage in the presentation, explore the museum, complete their scavenger hunts and go back in time.   

We are so grateful that we continue to be granted the opportunity to invite Mr. Ryan and Historia Antiqua to Pierce Middle School.  Thanks to M-PACE, we are able to allow students the opportunity to interact with a variety of artifacts that bring ancient civilizations to life.

INSIDE OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Mrs Zoll’s 3rd graders partnered this month with Mrs O’Leary’s 1st graders on a biography assignment to research prominent figures in black history.  Students followed a template – why is this person famous, what did I learn from this person, when were they born, etc – as the 3rd graders helped the younger students  understand what a biography report entails. Together, the pairs discussed what to write and with their new knowledge (and with Elementary Instructional Technology Specialist​ Mrs Doherty’s help) , each pair made a powerpoint presentation. ​Students presented to the large group of both classes (and some visitors!)  and the audience took notes of at least  one fact they learned from each presentation. Teacher collaboration, student mentoring and technology all played a vital role in this exciting Black History Month project at Cunningham. 

***

In honor of Black History Month, Tucker art teacher Jess Gillooly highlighted some important African American artists with her students this month, specifically the artists chosen to create Barack and Michelle Obama’s official presidential portraits that were recently unveiled to the public. Students in grades 3-5 looked at these two artists, Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, for inspiration for their self portraits to be made into a mural based on the book The Other Side. Students in grades K-2  looked at the famous quilts by African American women from Gee’s Bend, Alabama and they created black and white paintings and collages inspired by these quilts. This small community in South Alabama was once a cotton plantation and is almost completely surrounded by a bend in the Alabama River.  There was no school there until the 1940’s, and the people who live there are descendents from emancipated slaves, who continued farming the land and eventually purchased it from the government.  Quilting is a skill handed down from generation to generation and is still enjoyed in the community to this day.  The beauty of these quilts became known through photographs taken for a government study, and ever since, these quilts have adorned the walls of many museums around the world. 

***

Hard at work on Chapter 2!

 

The Annual BoomWriter Writing Bee kicked off this week with great success! There was a BUZZ in all classrooms as students in grades 4 and 5 busily began writing their own versions of the second chapter of Jeff Kinney’s, The New Kid. Students will vote on Friday, March 2nd for their favorite chapter 2 and the winning chapter will be announced on Monday, March 5th. We are so excited to see how the story turns out…stay tuned! 

 

***

Tucker hosted a very successful evening Activities Fair this week. Representatives from Milton Lacrosse, Wrestling, Soccer, Football, Cheer, Field Hockey, Hockey, Baseball, and Softball were all present in addition to Brookwood Farm, the Milton Arts Center, Musical Instrument Lessons, Jiu Jitsu, Dance and Theater Opportunities, the Girl Power Running Club, Kidz Cooking with Miss Debbie and Milton Summer Enrichment! This was an invaluable opportunity to have all of these amazing options in one place and was an ideal stop for those new to Milton, just beginning the process or just unsure of opportunities and registration requirements.  If you have questions about activities offered at the fair, please email Assistant Principal Cat DesRoche. Thank you to all who presented!  

ON THE MPS CALENDAR

Mar 1    Grade 5 Information Night 6:30 PM Pierce Auditorium
Mar 3    Minority Educators Job Fair  9:30am -12:30 pm MHS Field House
Mar 6    First Grade Information Night 6:30 pm at MHS
Mar 7    Early Release Day Gr. K-12/PD Day
Mar 7    Milton School Committee 7pm
Mar 8    After School/Evening P/T Conferences
Mar 12  STEM Information Night 6pm

UPCOMING MPS EVENTS

5th Grade Families – Pierce Middle School would like to invite you (students are welcome too!) to come to Pierce TONIGHT to learn all about the enriching learning opportunities your child will experience as a middle school student next year.  Please join us on Thursday, March 1st  at 6:30pm in the Pierce auditorium for 5th Grade Information Night so we can tell you all about it!  Please email Pierce Principal Dr. Karen  Spaulding  if you have any questions.

***

For the 2nd consecutive year, Milton Public Schools is coordinating and hosting a Minority Educator Recruitment Fair  at The Copeland Field House at MHS on Saturday, March 3, from 9:30am – 12:30pm. There is a shortage of African American, Hispanic and Latino, Native American, and Asian educators, and the Minority Educator Recruitment Fair  helps to encourage those individuals to pursue a career in education. Representatives from South Shore public school districts will meet with potential employees in an effort to find the most qualified minority teacher and administrator candidates. Resumes will be accepted at the event, applications will be distributed, and interviews will be held.

Important 1st Grade Information:
March 6th – First Grade Information Night 6:30pm, MHS Auditorium
Join Milton Public School administrators and staff to learn about Grade One Programs. Information will be presented regarding the English Innovation Pathway, the French Immersion program, common curriculum and assessments, assignment plans, time frames and lottery.
March 12th – STEM Info Night, 6-7 pm, Cunningham/Collicot Cafeteria
This event provides parents/guardians and their kindergarteners the opportunity to learn more about the STEM component to the English Innovative Pathway, which begins in Grade One. Participants will also have the chance to work together to solve a fun and interactive STEM problem!  Current kindergarteners and their parents/guardians from across the district are invited to attend.

SUMMER PROGRAMS

Milton Summer Enrichment  tentative dates to note:
April 3: “At a Glance” document is sent out for course planning purposes
April 13: MSE Brochure document is sent out
April 13-24: Pre-Registration – you will be able to enter student/family contact information, view courses offered but not register
April 24: 12pm Registration Opens
June 6th: 3-7 pm student schedule pick-up in MHS main lobby
June 11th: 5-7pm student schedule pick-up in MHS main lobby
June 16th: 9am-12pm student schedule pick-up in MHS main lobby
June 18th : medication drop off – MHS main lobby
June 25 – July 26: MSE 2018! 

***

Registration for Camp Cunningham is now open! Details and registration links can be found here. Don’t miss out on this great summer opportunity.

***

The very popular Camp Invention is returning to the Tucker School this summer! If you have any questions about Camp Invention, please email Camp Director Zeina Hamada.

***

Empow is holding two summer STEM camps at the Glover School. Tech & Design Camp (week of 8/13) and Minecraft Camp( week of 8/6) Learn more and register here!

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING

SEL Facilitator Laurie Stillman shares the following: In a February 2018 published study, it was found that youth who had “prosocial” friendships, or friends who tended to make good decisions and generally stay out of trouble, were significantly less likely to be caught driving under the influence. Conversely, youth who had “deviant” friendships, or hang out with kids who tend to take risks and make poor decisions that can get them into trouble, are much more likely to be involved in drunk driving.

Fifteen percent of Milton High Schoolers report that they were in a car with a driver under the influence in the past month.  As we all know, car crashes are one of the biggest causes of teen death and disability.

Another finding in this study was that parents who monitored their children’s friendships played a big role in preventing their children’s involvement in drunk driving.  Parents -don’t be afraid to help guide your children in who they choose as their friends, and who they hang out with after school hours.  Their lives may depend on it.

GRANT/FUNDRAISING NEWS

The MHS Key Club is collecting items for the Milton Animal Shelter between March 6th-12th. 

MHS student government is excited to be hosting the 3rd annual Putting for Patients event on Sunday, March 11th from 12-3pm. The event will take place in the field house at MHS where we will be transforming it into an 18 hole mini golf course. There will also be a long putt contest, raffle, face painting and caricaturist. It is a great event for all ages and we hope to have many families attend again this year. The cost is $10 per person with a max of $40 a family. If you are unable to attend but would like to make a donation directly to the Jimmy Fund in honor of this event, please visit our webpage.

SEPAC/SPECIAL ED NEWS

SEPAC has a number of events scheduled for the next few months.

High School Parent Speak, March 6, 6:30 – 8:30pm at the Milton Public Library. 

Understanding School Refusal in Children and Teens, March 29, 7- 9pm at the Milton Public Library. 

Dr. Anne Howard, A Conversation about Inclusion, May 31, 7- 9pm at Glover.

We also have Board Meetings scheduled from 7 -9pm in the library at Glover on March 20, April 24, and May 22. All are welcome to attend.

FOOD AND NUTRITION

To encourage more families to take advantage of the healthy choices available for school breakfast, we will celebrate National School Breakfast Week from March 5th-9th.

Studies show that students who eat school breakfast are more likely to reach higher levels of achievement in math; score higher on standardized tests; have better concentration, memory and alertness; have improved attendance, behavior, and academic performance; maintain a healthy weight. Breakfast is available at all 6 schools starting 60 minutes before the bell and costs $1.25. The March elementary menu looks delicious as does Pierce and MHS – please give school breakfast a try next week!

PARENT SPEAKER SERIES

Our next speaker will take place on Wednesday, March 28 in the MHS Auditorium at 6:30PM.  Please join us as Dr. Celine Coggins presents “What’s the Deal with Testing? Separating the Myths from What Matters”.

MFE NEWS

Save the Date for Celebration 2018! to benefit art in our schools. Celebration is April 28th at 6:30 pm at Granite Links. There will be food stations, auctions, raffles, MPS friends and FUN. Get ready to dance your ARTS out for our kids!

NEWS AROUND TOWN

Memorial Concert To Honor Herbert Voigt – Herbert Voigt was a well-known and beloved resident of Milton. For those of you who were fortunate enough to have known him, his sudden death on January 25th came as a total shock and a realization of what a huge loss his passing is to this community. To honor Mr. Voigt, the BB&B Society Orchestra will present a concert dedicated to Herb’s memory this Sunday, March 4th at 3:00pm. More details can be found here.

***

The deadline to apply for the Milton Elementary Musicians Festival is March 5th. This festival is open to any student in elementary school who is taking music lessons. The festival for older students will be held in May.

***

The annual Town Election will be held on Tuesday, April 24, 2018. To be placed on the ballot, Town Wide candidates must obtain a minimum of 50 legible signatures from registered voters. Town Meeting Member candidates must obtain a minimum of 10 legible signatures from the precinct in which they reside by March 6, 2018.   Find all the details here.

***

Keep Calm and Get Your Irish On, a St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser for the Milton Art Center being held Friday, March 16th, 7:30-10: 30 pm at the MAC at 334 Edge Hill Road.  $30 per person for Shepard’s pie, Irish Bread, refreshments, step dancers, silent auction. Get your tickets here.

***

The Milton Public Library has plenty happening for teens and kids in March.  

***

Girls K-5 – Grab your favorite (adult) dance partner and join the Girl Scouts for theirSweetheart Dance on Friday, March 9th.

***

Save the date for a fun night out in support of the Milton Public Library. A live Beatles Tribute Band, along with craft beer, wine, and cheese will accompany Rolling Stone columnist Rob Sheffield as he discusses his critically acclaimed book, “Dreaming The Beatles,” at Milton Academy’s Kellner Performing Arts Center on Thursday, March 15, from 7-9pm. Tickets are $50.00 and may be purchased online at the Milton Library Foundation’s website.

***

The Town of Milton, the Neponset River Watershed Association, Sustainable Milton, and local organizations are partnering to organize a town-wide cleanup on Saturday, April 28th, from 9am – 12pm. Please join us in celebrating Earth Day by helping clean up around town! Sign up for a neighborhood cleanup or a  Neponset River cleanup.

***

Comfort Zone Camp is a bereavement organization that provides free-of-charge therapeutic grief programs for youth and young adults, ages 5-25, who have experienced the death of a sibling, parent, or guardian. They are holding a volunteer training in Weymouth on Thursday March 8th.

ART AND MUSIC NEWS

Cunningham and Collicot 5th grade ACE students are printing up a bundle of inspiration! Students have designed collagraphs using a precept of their choice.  The finished prints have begun to fill the art room sending thoughtful messages to the students and staff. Come check out what’s going on in the elementary art classrooms by following us on Instagram @ Milton.elementary.art.  

                

***

In recognition of an exciting, month-long celebration of the arts in March, the Milton Music and Visual Art Departments will present a series of art shows and musical performances that highlight the accomplishments of young artists.  The month of March marks the beginning of Milton’s Elementary General Music Showcases, a series of grade-level performances highlighting the elementary general music program, and the elementary band and string ensembles. Also during the month, Milton’s band, chorus and string ensembles will be featured, each on a different night, in the Music in Our Schools Month Concerts held in the Charles C. Winchester Auditorium at Milton High School. As the month unfolds, families are also invited to Passport to the Arts, a week-long series of student art exhibits hosted by each Milton school. All are welcome to attend and learn about Milton’s visual arts programming, view student artwork, and participate in activities, raffles and drawings. We hope you will join us for these showcases of student achievements in the arts. Dates for each event can be found here

ATHLETICS

Sports schedules for all MHS teams

It was great season for sports here at MHS. All four team sports made the tournament!

Boys Basketball lost to Madison Park on Tuesday night.  Lead by senior Captain Eddie Hassell and under direction of first year boys head coach Billy Donovan they fought hard until the end.  They will be returning with 4 starters next year, and will look to make some noise.

Boys Hockey lost on Wednesday night to Needham High School.  They enjoyed a great season under first year coach Chris Watson.

Girls Basketball lost on Wednesday night to #1 seed Foxboro.  They will look to build on a strong end of the season next year under first year coach Roland Millien.

Girls Hockey play Saturday night against Algonquin at Ulin Rink at 5pm in the first round of the MIAA Tournament.

Cheer will compete in Regionals on Sunday at Whitman-Hanson.  

Girls Indoor Track won All-States, while Smith Charles won 2 events and placed 3rd in the high jump for the boys.  

We also hosted the wrestling tournament, where Liam Kelly and Xavier Fischer showed well.

Spring Athletics Registration opened today, Thursday, March 1st.  Tryouts are Monday, March 19th.   Please be on the lookout for registration hours posted on Twitter and the website.

***

The boys soccer team raised $650 last month!

The MHS boys tennis team will be hosting a CANS for CATS Fundraiser, Saturday 3/3 from 9am-12pm at the MHS wood shed/garage area. Let’s help them raise MORE than the boys soccer team! 

 

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 Samantha Baum, Lilja Cormack, Nicola Cross, Grace Dwyer, Abigail Fay, Veronica Harris, Amalia Halpin, Catherine Le, Giselle Neville, Isaac Piliavin, Hannah Scanlan, Benjamin Scott and Brendan Scott  who were inducted  this week into the Tri-M Honor Society.  Tri-M, or “Modern Music Masters” is a national honor society for student musicians that focuses on creating future leaders in music education and music advocacy. With the new inductees, membership at Milton High School has reached 40 students!  

Staff: Please join me in congratulating MHS Science teacher Paul Damiani who received notification that he was accepted into a summer workshop  focusing on gene editing and human flourishing at The Hastings Center in Bear Mountain, NY.  Applications were received from teachers across the country and Paul is one of only 20 applicants accepted to this competitive program.  We thank Paul for his dedication to our students and we are excited to see what the workshop has to offer and the new materials that can be brought to our biotechnology program. Thank you to the MHS administration and the MFE for their support of this program from its inception. Our biotechnology program distinguishes MHS from neighboring high schools, and the continued increased enrollment showcases how excited our students are to participate in our biotechnology classes.

Volunteers:  A very special thank you to the Matejka Family for their generous donation of a hand-crafted podium that our Wrestling Teams and our Track Teams will use for their events. It was on display at the Division II State Wrestling Tournament before the break. It is donations of time and talent such as this that enhance all aspects of the Milton Public Schools. 

Thank you to my blog contributors this week:  Laurel Bernini, Jess Gillooly, Ryan Madden, Star Baylon, Amy Zoll, Kerry O’Leary, Sara Doherty, Jackie Morgan, Jon Redden, Bernadette Moonan, Dawn Sykes, Cat DesRoche, Jennie Beliveau, Karen Cahill, James Jette, Barbara Wright, Nancy Warn,  Jen Grubler, Laurie Stillman, Sean Lopresti, Amy Gale, Sara Warner, Amy Tom and Jean Scarborough.

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.

This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.