11/16/2017 E-blast

From: Mary C. Gormley
To: Parents/Guardians and Staff
Re: E-blast Update
Date: November 16th, 2017

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
As we approach Thanksgiving week in the Milton Public Schools, I would like to take this opportunity to say how thankful I am for the staff, families and volunteers who comprise the Milton Public Schools.  A school district is only as strong as the people who work, learn and volunteer here every day and we are lucky in Milton to have a dynamic staff, engaged students and a generous school community.  I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving with loved ones.                     

SCHOOL COMMITTEE UPDATE
For the past 18 months, members of the Strategic Planning Advisory Committee (School Committee Members Ada Rosmarin, Dr. Kevin Donahue, Margaret Eberhardt, parents Steve Paxhia and Spencer Blaisdale and MPS administrators James Jette, Janet Sheehan, Glenn Pavlicek, A.J. Melanson, Dr. Karen Spaulding and Dr. Elaine McNeil-Girmai) have met regularly to create a strategic roadmap, process and a set of actionable strategic initiatives stated here: Technology;  Social Emotional Learning; Cultural Competence;  Curriculum and Instruction; Data Dashboard.

To further define their work, a new MPS Vision Statement was crafted and approved by the Milton School Committee on November 9th , 2017:

We, the Milton Public Schools, envision a district with excellent instruction in every classroom, where learning experiences are aligned with students’ individual strengths and needs, and where attention to academic and social emotional growth are balanced so that every child achieves at high levels and develops a strong sense of self.  We see a district of intellectual discourse and professional learning at all levels- students, faculty, and administration- in which there are structures and processes for continual reflection, innovation, and data driven decision-making.  We know that such a district is achievable if: we facilitate instruction that instills a passion for learning, curiosity, and critical thinking skills; we are committed to cultural competency; we foster a positive approach to the behavioral health of children; and we build strong partnerships with families and the community. 

As this important work continues, I invite you to read more about the Strategic Planning Committee.

The next School Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday,  December 6th at 7 pm in the Milton TV Access studio, Room 245, Milton High School.

HIGH SCHOOL HAPPENINGS
Over the past year, Milton High School Staff has worked tremendously hard to revamp its online presence. At the beginning of the 2017-18 school year, we began using the PlusPortal system for class webpages, online grading, and teacher, student and parent communication. On November 27, 2017, MHS will begin using PlusPortal accounts to provide students and families with live grades. Continue reading details about MHS Live Grades….

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As part of our Junior and Senior Health curriculum, our Health and Physical Education staff encourage students to reflect on a health topic of their choice, to research their topic and create a presentation for the in school Health Fair. On Tuesday, our students presented their findings to peers and staff on dozens of health issues – from distracted driving and lung cancer to depression, bone strength and anxiety.  

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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.

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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
As part of their US Government and Civics curriculum, our 8th graders will be visiting several historic sites in downtown Boston this week, as they learn about how Boston was one of the foundations of democracy in our country. Exploring these historic locations  offers hands on insights into the reasons why our government became what it is today.  They will end their day at the New England Aquarium to view an IMAX film, Galapagos: Nature’s Wonderland 3D , a film about adaptations on the island which correlates with the second unit of the 8th grade science curriculum on Genetics, Natural Selection, and Evolution.  

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Pierce Middle school is gathering for their Global Celebration on Thursday, November 16, at 6:30 pm.  There will be student performances and a performance by the Benkadi Drum and Dance group. All are welcome at this celebration of student talent!

INSIDE OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
As a part of November’s Family Literacy Month, Tucker celebrated its Fifth Annual Book Character Day on November 9th. Students were encouraged to dress as characters from a favorite book. During the school day students celebrated their love of literacy with Book Buddies from other grades as our older students were paired with younger grades in a Book Buddy reading exercise. Older students brought a book and shared favorite passages and pictures in a relaxed environment. Seeing the “big kids” enthusiastic about reading was impactful for our young students and our older students valued the opportunity to continue to be student leaders. Many of our classes plan to continue these partnerships as the school year progresses.  

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Are you looking for fun, interactive ways your elementary student can practice what they are learning at school from home?   Have your student login to their National Geographic REACH for Reading,  Study Island, or Everyday Math account (Collicot, Cunningham, Glover, or Tucker).  All three sites provide extra support for your student.  Students have been provided login cards for each site from their teacher with their username and passwords.

UPCOMING MPS EVENTS
Please note the short Thanksgiving week with Thanksgiving Recess 11/22-11/24

The next MPS K-12 Early Release Day is Thursday, December 7th (P/T conferences for grades K-5)

ART AND MUSIC NEWS
This week, 230 third grade students submitted artwork to the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s Poster Contest. This collaboration between art teachers, classroom teachers and Town Administrator Mr. Michael Dennehy endeavored to raise public awareness, promote the attributes of good local government, and encourage future leaders of Massachusetts to take an active interest in their community activities.  Local Government is Helpful, Local Government is Safe, and Local Government is Fun were among the themes that resonated with students.  Cash prizes will be awarded to the first ($250), second ($100), and third ($50) place winners.  Good luck to the Milton contest participants! 

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On Saturday, November 11th, the Wildcat Marching Band, Colorguard, and members of the Milton High School Chorus honored all veterans in musical performance during Milton’s 2017 Veterans Day Observance.  The program included a medley of Armed Forces songs, Amazing Grace, and a performance of The Star Spangled Banner during the raising of the flag.  You can check out their performance on the Milton FAME Facebook page.

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On Saturday, November 18th, over 1000 musicians will pass through the halls of Milton High School to audition for the Massachusetts Music Educators Association Eastern District Senior Festival.  Milton High student volunteers will work to assist judges and facilitate the audition process for selection to the festival’s Concert Band, Jazz Band, Mixed Chorus, and Orchestra.  Forty five Milton students will audition as well!  If you are interested in volunteering to help with this event, please contact Milton FAME at miltonfame@gmail.com.

GRANT/FUNDRAISING NEWS
Pass us your soccer uniforms…and we’ll pass them on to children all over the world! Drop off your used soccer uniforms and equipment in collection bins located in the lobbies of The Collicot, Cunningham, Glover, Tucker and Pierce Schools and at 34 Cliff Rd. Any donations of clean t-shirts, shorts, socks, shin guards, cleats, and deflated balls and pumps will be gratefully accepted. We will also happily accept uniforms from other sports. Please contact Madame Brown at 617-696-8125 with any questions.  

FROM THE READERS
I wanted to share a recent conversation Mr. Jette had with a Milton Public Schools parent. Mrs. Gail Linehan shared news of her two sons, James, MHS Class of 2013 and Joseph, MHS Class of 2016. James and Joseph are both serving in the military as Navy Corpsman and both are using the French they learned as part of the French Immersion program at MPS.  James was stationed in Naples, Italy in the emergency room and he was able to translate for a patient to ensure proper care.  Joseph was recently on a two week training in Camp Lejeune where he served as the translator for the French Legion during their combined training. We are always pleased to see our Milton Public School graduates using the many skills learned at MPS as they successfully embark upon their chosen careers.   

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Cunningham Assistant Principal Bernadette Butler shares  What our staff is reading this week. 

MFE NEWS
The Milton Foundation for Education is thrilled to announce that $21,000 was raised at this year’s Monster Dash to enrich and enhance science in all six Milton schools. 1500 Miltonians ran, walked, dance, sang, and had a fantastic time at the event held in loving memory of Sam Cichello. The MFE thanks each and every sponsor and participant for making a difference in the lives of all our children.

NEWS AROUND TOWN
The Milton Library Trustees are developing a strategic vision for the Kidder Building on Blue Hills Parkway. They will be hosting a public forum on November 27th at 6:30pm in Keyes room to share our process and gain input from the town residents. All are welcome.

What’s happening at the library for kids?

DPW Thanksgiving trash pickup schedule

Head down to Cunningham on Saturday, November 18th at 9 am for The Best Buddies Milton 5k Gobbler run/walk!  

Skip Hop and Co-Op Playgroup

Milton Art Center Holiday Artisan Fair  takes place on Saturday, December 9th from 10-4pm. We are featuring over 20 local artists including Pierce Middle School student Maggie Mannion who sews skirts and pillow cases. 

ATHLETICS
Ryan Madden’s Fall Sports Update

Sports schedules for all MHS teams 

Winter Registration is open for Winter Athletics 

THANKSGIVING DAY FOOTBALL GAME – Skip the line!
The Thanksgiving Day Football Game is in Milton this year.  We play Braintree High School at 10 am and it can be very crowded, especially at the ticket gate. In an effort to reduce the wait time for our home fans, we will be pre-selling tickets in both the Main Office and the Athletic Director’s office. Pre-sale tickets are $10 general admission.  It is first come first served, cash or check accepted. Pre-buying your tickets will save you from waiting in line.

BOOSTERS FUNDRAISERS
The Milton Boosters is partnering with Mackies’ Barber Shop in Milton to raise money for Milton High School Athletics.  From 12-3pm on Sunday, November 19th Mackies’ Barber Shop will be offering “buzz cuts” or “Mohawk” cuts for $15.  All proceeds will go to the Milton Boosters.  Thank you to the Boosters and Mackies’ Barber Shop for their help!

Did you know you can support MHS Athletics and get all your Milton gear through the Boosters? They have lots of great Milton apparel for the cold weather – pompom hats, sweatshirts, t shirts, fleece and flannel, in both adult and youth sizes. Email Pandresino@comcast.net or maggieoldfield@comcast.net to purchase items or stop by our indoor concessions stand after school everyday from 2:15-3:15. The Boosters will also be selling gear at the Thanksgiving football game, St Agatha Holiday Boutique on 12/1, Thayer Nursery Holiday Celebration on 12/3 , Girls and boys basketball home openers and at the MHS concert on 12/12.

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: I’m very happy to congratulate the MHS Students of the Quarter who were recognized this morning at Milton High School. In order to recognize students who are making a contribution to our community, each MHS department nominates two students who deserve commendation for the previous marking period. These students may have displayed academic excellence, shown marked improvement, may have done a significant project or may have shown outstanding effort.  Students of the Quarter receive a certificate and their pictures are posted  near the main office.  Because of these individuals, Milton High School continues to be an outstanding school. It is a pleasure to recognize these accomplished students.

Back L-R Sam LeLacheur, Lindsey Dunn, Matthew Dunn, Samantha Dely, Josh Wright, Bronwen Mandel, Franklin Ollivierre, Nicola Cross, Grace Baker, Gillian Handy, Jack Elliot, Zachary Bouadjemi
Front L-R Melvin Rosario-Fernandez, Halle-Marie Armstrong, Dilruba Manavoglu, Karine Correia, Ronald Tejeda, Katherine Possi, Garrett Allen, Richard Wheeler, Courtney Dunn, Katherine Morrissey

Staff: Please join me in thanking Mrs. Annie Dutton as she retires from the Milton Public Schools. Mrs. Dutton has spent most of her time at MPS as the administrative assistant at the Cunningham School and was likely was the first person who welcomed you into the building or the friendly voice you heard when calling. She has been a valuable member of the Cunningham community and she will be missed dearly. The Milton Public Schools thanks Mrs. Dutton for all of her years in the Milton Public Schools and especially for her work at Cunningham School. I wish her nothing but the best during her retirement.

Volunteers: A big thank you to our elementary parents who helped Elementary Science Coordinator Linda Stefanick inventory and re-stock our Science Materials Kits to take this burden off our teachers. The parent support in this effort is priceless and appreciated. In addition, our volunteers were excited to have the opportunity to see the hands on materials their children are using every day in science. There will be more opportunities to help with this ongoing project, please look for emails from your Principal and PTO. ​

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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