September 11th E-Blast

From: Mary C. Gormley
To: Parents/Guardians and Staff
Re: E-blast Update
Date: September 11th, 2015

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

We have had an exciting and eventful start to the school year. With new staff members, new students, new traffic patterns at Pierce and Glover, and the arrival of new marching band uniforms, we have certainly had plenty of adjustments to make and plenty of positive results. This has been one of the smoothest openings in recent years and for that, I am grateful to our staff, our students, parents/guardians, the Milton Police Department and everyone who contributed to keeping our Milton Public School students safe, organized and on time to school.

Speaking of firsts, tonight (Friday, September 11th) will be the 5th Annual Kick-Off Cookout for our Friday Night Under Lights football game of Milton High School vs. Needham High School. This event is organized by the Milton High School Boosters Club. (See the attached flyer for more information.)

Pre-game festivities will be held from 5-7pm, with face painting, spirit logos, cheerleading performances and a table where fans can make team banners. The cookout will begin at 5:30pm, with your choice of hot dog or burger, plus corn on the cob or chips and water. This outdoor barbeque will shut down prior to kickoff at 7pm, but the concession stand will remain open. At 6:50, fans can see the MHS Football Team Walk Line and the marching band will be proudly showing off their new uniforms. Kickoff is at 7pm. We hope to see not only our high school families at this game, but also families of elementary and middle school students, as well as any community member who would like to support the team. Go Wildcats!

SCHOOL COMMITTEE UPDATE

There has been one School Committee meeting since my last E-blast. This meeting is summarized below:

September 9th: This meeting began with a report from on Opening Day of school. The new traffic patterns at Pierce and Glover have been successful. Also, a contract has been signed with Public Consulting Group to conduct the Special Education Program Review. Ms. Padera gave an update on the new MPEG studio being completed at Milton High School. Members voted to approve the most recent vendor warrant and conducted first readings of five School Committee Policies. They also voted to approve a new Domestic Violence Leave Policy and approved the minutes of August 7th before adjourning to executive session.

The next meeting will be held September 30th at 7 pm in the Milton High School library.

CURRICULUM NEWS

Parents/Guardians who have a child in Grades 4 and above, please note that the Applied Lesson Program – Beginner Registration Night will be held on Tuesday, September 15, from 7:00-8:30 at Milton High School. See additional info below:

What’s Beginner Registration Night? You can register for beginner lessons with the ALP teacher and rent an instrument. Bring 2 checks—one for the ALP lesson teacher and one for the rental company. No lessons will be scheduled without payment.

Payment for SESSION I (15 lessons) must be made at registration night. Private lessons (1 student) are $382.50 and Semi-private lessons (2 students) are $255. Payment is made directly to the lesson teacher. Semi-private lessons are offered ONLY if there are two students who take the same instrument at the same time. It is easiest to schedule semi-private lessons if you pre-arrange the partners because you need to register together. No semi-private lessons will be scheduled if there is only one student registering.

Rental fees vary depending on the instrument and the payment plan you choose. You can buy/rent your instrument from any company you choose and you should go online to research prices. Johnson String (www.johnsonstring.com), Spencer Brook Strings (www.spencerbrookstrings.com) and Leonards Music (www.LeonardsMusic.com) will be present at the registration, but other companies may also come.

No rental fee: The Milton Music Department owns some instruments and these will be given out on a first come first served basis. Parents have to sign a yearly contract ensuring that they are financially responsible for repairs; there is no rental fee.

Availability: There are only a limited number of available slots for lessons, so it is very important to attend this registration night.   If you cannot attend, call Dr. Noreen Diamond Burdett at 617-696-4470 x5518 on Wednesday, September 16 to find out if there are any spots left.

Nota bene!

  • ALP does not offer lessons in recorder or piano.
  • Students must be in 4th grade or above to register.
  • No students in grades lower than 4th will be registered on September 15.
  • If there are available slots AFTER September 16, younger students can register.
  • This registration night is for BEGINNERS only.
  • Continuing students should contact their lesson teachers directly to register—they do NOT come to beginner registration night.

* * *

On Wednesday, September 16, the Joint Committee on Education is holding a Legislative Hearing related to bills on early education and care including An Act Ensuring High-Quality Pre-Kindergarten Education (H.462 / S.267). This bill builds upon the Commonwealth’s strong  policy  foundation  for  early  education and provides a targeted, phased-in plan for providing state funded pre-kindergarten to preschool aged children (2.9 – 5 years-old), through a mixed delivery system of public and private providers with prioritization based on school district accountability status and rates of third grade reading proficiency. Far too many children still don’t have access to high-quality early education. It’s time to level the playing field for children.  Please take a minute to send a message to your legislators asking them to support this important legislation.  There are many more ways to get involved and show support for the bill. Let us know if you are interested in:

Visit PreK4MA for more information including the latest news, Voices of Support, and bill fact sheet. Please contact Laura Healy if you have questions or need additional information.

Assistant Superintendents Dr. Glenn Pavlicek and Janet Sheehan, as well as Early Childhood Advocate Ada Rosmarin and myself will be attending this hearing to testify in support of legislation which provides funding for free preschool and full-day kindergarten programming.

UPCOMING MPS EVENTS

Ski Team Car Wash at the Cunningham School: The next Milton High School Boosters car wash will be held on Saturday, September 19th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Cunningham School. Stop by and get your vehicle cleaned by the ski team wildcats. All funds earned will support their program. Go Wildcats!

FAMILY LIAISON

The following item was submitted by Marti O’Keefe McKenna, MPS Family Outreach Liaison:

School is back in full swing! Hopefully by now you have gotten into a routine that works for your family’s multi-layered schedules.

According to an article from the Department of Education: “For children to be successful in school, parents and families need to be actively involved in their children’s learning. They need to become involved early and stay involved throughout the school year. In fact many studies show that what the family does is more important to a child’s school success than how much money the family makes or how much education the parents have.

By showing interest in their children’s education, parents and families can spark enthusiasm in them and lead them to a very important understanding – that learning can be enjoyable as well as rewarding and is well worth the effort required”

One way to get involved in your child’s Milton Public School educational experience is to attend an Open House offered by their school. Whether you have a child in preschool or high school this is a great opportunity to meet their teachers, both classroom and specialists, tour the building and experience a day in your child’s school year.

The following is a list of dates and times of upcoming MPS Open Houses.

Pierce Middle School – Thursday, September 17, 2015 beginning at 6:30pm
Collicot Elementary School – Thursday, October 1, 2015 from 6:30-8:00pm
Cunningham Elementary School – Wednesday, September 16, 2015 from 6:30-8:00pm
Glover Elementary School – Tuesday, September 29, 2015 from 6:30-8:00pm
Tucker Elementary School – Thursday, October 1, 2015 from 6:30-8:00pm

BE SURE TO MARK YOU CALENDARS! I look forward to meeting you there!

In addition, The US Department of Education recommends some basic steps you can take at home to help your child have a successful school year:

  • Encourage Your Child to Read
  • Talk with Your Child
  • Monitor Homework
  • Monitor TV Viewing, Video Game Playing
  • Encourage Your Child to Use the Library

ADULT ED NEWS

The following item was submitted by Adult Education Coordinator Stephanie Nephew:

I hope your children are off to a fantastic start to the school year! Although you should have received Milton Public Schools Adult Education Program Fall Course Brochure in the mail, I wanted to take an opportunity to share it again via email in hopes that you might take advantage of one of our courses this fall. We have a variety of topics and opportunities to offer. I have listed the course titles below and have included the link to the brochure with course and registration details. In addition to the courses described in our original mailing, we also have one additional course described below.

Link to the Brochure…

http://www.miltonps.org/documents/AdultEdFall2015Brochure081315.pdf

Courses Described in Brochure…

  • Anti-Aging Skin Care Techniques and Applying Makeup Beautifully
  • Boot Camp
  • How to Buy and Sell on EBay
  • How to Make Sense of the World
  • Introduction to Glass Fusing
  • Intro to Computers
  • Intro to French
  • Intro to Microsoft Word
  • Intro to Microsoft Excel
  • Jump Start Your Career Transition
  • Knitting
  • Mail Merge- How to Get the Word Out!
  • Microsoft Excel Part 2
  • Taking Better Pictures I
  • Taking Better Pictures II
  • Welcome to Open Studio
  • Zumba

One additional Course to Consider….

Your Retirement Your Future; It’s Never too Early or too Late to Start
Instructor: John Davis
Two Day Session- TU 10/20 and WED. 10/21 from 6:00-8:00PM
Cost: $40

NEWS AROUND TOWN

On Saturday, September 12th, the Milton Department of Public Works will hold a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Day for Milton residents. Collection hours are from 9 a.m. to noon. The collection takes place at the DPW Yard (629 Randolph Avenue), rain or shine. Materials should be left, where possible, in their original containers. Containers should be put in sturdy boxes and placed in the trunk of a vehicle so that contents will be easy to remove. Residents will remain in their vehicles during the entire collection process.

Car Batteries: Up to 3 for $3.00 Waste Oil, Antifreeze: Up to 3 gallons for $3.00 Propane Tanks: $3.00 each (both large and small tanks) Fire Extinguishers $3.00 each Tires: $3 each

Except for the items listed below, the collection is free for Milton residents:

These items will NOT be accepted:

Latex paint (Read label – If clean-up calls for soap and water, it is not hazardous and do not bring it to the event) (for information on how to dispose of latex paint, please call the DPW) Mercury-containing items and fluorescent bulbs , appliances, electronics, rechargeable batteries. (These items are accepted at the Recycling Center on the first Saturday of every month) Prescription medicine or syringes Commercial or industrial waste Asbestos Alkaline batteries such as AA, D, etc. (These can be placed in your trash)

The following items can be brought to the collection:

Adhesives and glues Aerosol cans Engine degreaser, brake and transmission fluid Hobby and art supplies Household cleaners and spot removers Non-alkaline batteries (these are found in camcorders, cordless power tools, cordless phones and laptop computers). Oil-based paints Photo chemicals and chemistry sets Poisons, insecticides, pesticides, and weed killers Solvents and varnishes Swimming pool chemicals Waste fuels (kerosene, gasoline) Wood preservatives and fiberglass residue

* * *

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton is presenting the 2nd Annual Dan Breen Memorial 5k Run/Walk on Saturday, September 12 at 10 am at Cunningham Elementary School in Milton.  The event is to commemorate Dan Breen, a staff member of the hospital’s Emergency Department who passed away in 2013.  The race begins at the school at 10am.  Registration begins in the school’s cafeteria at 9am.  Registration for the run/walk is just $35, with all proceeds going to support disaster preparedness and continuing professional education in the Emergency Department at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton.

* * *

The 2nd Annual Sunshine 5K is September 27th at 10am at Cunningham Hall.  Registration is on Racewire.com or at the hall starting at 9m.  Festivities for the whole family following the race.  All proceeds will go to benefit Sunshine School.

MILTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

The following item was submitted by MPL Children’s Librarian Sara Truog:

Fall is here – and so are fun things for kids to do at the Milton Public Library! 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 September 20 – 26:

Wednesday, September 23, 2015 from 2:30 – 4:30 pm
Family Movie, All Ages

There’s no school today for the Milton Public Schools… so come to the library and watch a movie in the Keys Room! We’ll be showing popular 2015 release Home, just out on DVD: “Oh, an alien on the run from his own people, lands on Earth and makes friends with the adventurous Tip, who is on a quest of her own..” Rated PG; runtime 94 minutes. Bring a sleeping bag or a pillow and get cozy! Popcorn will be served. No registration required.

Thursday, September 24, 2015 from 4:00 – 4:30 pm
Storytime @ the Farmers’ Market, All Ages

Come find us for storytime at the Milton Farmers’ Market! Miss Sara and Miss Elaine, Children’s Librarians will read stories, sing songs, and engage children at this, the first of three farmers’ market sessions this fall. Rain or shine! Parents/caregivers must remain with and look after their child – these are not drop-off events. No registration is required.

Friday, September 25, 2015 from 10:00 – 11:00 am
Signing with Maribeth, Ages 8-18 mos.

Learn how to communicate with your baby before he/she can speak!  Join Maribeth MacDonald, sign language interpreter, for an introductory course in baby sign language.  Infants from eight months of age can learn concepts such as “thirsty,” “milk,” “water,” “hungry,” “sleepy,” “pacifier,” “more,” and other basic signs; participants will learn how to use these signs, and more! For babies 8-18 mos, with parent.  Registration is required.

Saturday, September 26, 2015 from 10:00 – 10:30 am
Family Craft, Ages 0-5

Come to the Story Hour Room for a crafty good time! Each month the Children’s Room will provide instructions and materials for a preschool age-appropriate, seasonal craft. Drop in anytime during the hour and make something lovely to take home! No registration required.

* * *

Also, please note our new chess program: Afterschool Chess Club, with International Master David Vigorito to be held Mondays September 28-November 23 from 3:30-4:30pm

Open to students grades 1-6
Lessons and free play
Beginners welcome!
Tactics & strategy

International Master (IM) David Vigorito

  • highly experienced trainer of scholastic tournament players
  • has coached players of all levels up to and including Grandmasters
  • author of eight highly acclaimed chess books
  • 2007 Massachusetts Champion and 2009 and 2012 New England co-champion
  • former state champion of New Hampshire and Nevada
  • director of Milton’s ‘chess-a-palooza’ tournaments
  • $125 for eight classes.

Dates: September 28, October 5, 19 (Oct 12 is Columbus Day), 26, November 2, 9, 16, 23rd. Space is limited! Class size will be limited to ensure individual attention so please sign up early! Email dvigorito@msn.comwith questions

* * *

To see a complete listing of library events, please click here: http://www.eventkeeper.com/code/events.cfm?curOrg=MILTONPL

ATHLETICS

Ski Team Car Wash at the Cunningham School

The next Milton High School Boosters car wash will be held on Saturday, September 19 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Cunningham School. Stop by and get your vehicle cleaned by the ski team wildcats. All funds earned will support their program. Go Wildcats!

* * *

For sports schedules for all MHS teams, please click here:

http://schedules.schedulestar.com/Milton-High-School-Milton-MA/season/08-28-2015/

AMBASSADOR PAGE

Students: I would like to recognize Pierce Middle School Student sixth-grader Sean Filtzer, who has demonstrated both compassion and determination with his decision to shave his head. After witnessing his mother’s battle with breast cancer, he decided that growing out his hair and then shaving his head would be a good fundraiser to help raise money for cancer. Please watch the video link to see how Sean’s good deed with help support the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. If you would like to donate to Sean’s fundraiser, please go to the link provided:  https://www.crowdrise.com/seansheadshaveforcan/fundraiser/seanfiltzer

Staff:   We are very proud of one of our MPS teachers, Bill Baino, who has been recognized by The Friends of the Blue Hills as the recipient of the Community Partners Award. Mr. Baino is a part-time elementary school librarian and coach of the Future Problem Solvers (FPS) Club. He has worked with the Friends of the Blue in his capacity as FPS coach for a number of years on the problems related to ticks and Lyme disease.  Mr. Baino has significantly increased awareness of the importance of “healthy play” using the slogan “Go Out and Play- Check Everyday!”   The Friends of the Blue Hills event will be held on Thursday, October 8th from 7-9 p.m. at the Milton Hoosic Club, 193 Central Ave. For ticket information, click here: http://friendsofthebluehills.org/celebration2015/

Volunteers: I would like to welcome and thank each of our PTO presidents as we start a new school year. These are some of the hardest-working volunteers in the Milton Public Schools. I meet with the PTO presidents at least once a month and am always amazed at the amount of time and energy they dedicate to their schools. Please join me in thanking the following volunteers, as well as the outgoing PTO presidents.

Glover Elementary School: Nancy Kelly
Collicot Elementary School: Linda Stefanick and Alyson Zukowski
Cunningham Elementary School: Stephanie O’Keefe, Robyn Quinn and Laura Woodward
Tucker Elementary School: Kristen LaCasse and Michelle Schweitzer
Pierce Middle School: Karyn Vivieros and Trish Heelen
Milton High School: Tricia Sullivan

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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