January 5, 2023

To: Parents/Guardians and Staff
From: Interim Superintendent Janet Sheehan
Re: Superintendent’s Weekly Update
Date: January 5, 2023

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

January is a busy month in the Milton Public Schools with Preschool and Kindergarten Information Nights, Speaker Katie Greer, the ongoing Superintendent Search, Music Festival Auditions, the Pierce Summer Program Info Night, the Pierce Players production of State Fair, a School Committee Public Forum and more. Please see below for information on all of these important upcoming events. 

Katie Greer returns to Milton: TONIGHT: January 5, at 6pm in the Pierce auditorium, Internet Safety Expert Katie Greer will be returning to Milton to speak to adults in our community about Keeping Students Safe in a Digital World. Earlier today, Katie met with our Pierce and MHS students during the school day. 

Katie knows it can be daunting being a parent in this digitally driven time and will update parents on the latest tech trends, safety issues, and tips on how to help our kids have a productive and healthy relationship with technology. This presentation is open to all Milton parents and guardians.

Superintendent Search Update: This week, each of the three finalists visited MPS, toured our schools, and met with staff, students, and community members. Yesterday, each candidate was publicly interviewed by the School Committee. The interviews were recorded and are posted on the Milton Access TV website  and can be found on the (open to all) MATV Facebook page. The interviews are also linked here: 

On Friday, January 6, the School Committee will meet in Open Session (link to Zoom, Passcode 168556) at 7:30am to deliberate and make a decision about who to select for our next Superintendent. 

All details (including links to view meetings live or on-demand) about the candidates and next steps in the search can be found here. 

MPS faculty/staff, parents/guardians, and community members may send their feedback/comments to the School Committee at schoolcommittee@miltonps.org.  As previously requested, please send your emails by 7 pm on January 5 to ensure the School Committee has time to read them. 

Preschool and Kindergarten Dates and Information

Pierce Players Presents State Fair: The Pierce Players will perform its production of State Fair for the Milton community on Thursday, January 19 and Friday, January 20 at 7pm and Saturday, January 21 at 2pm in the Pierce auditorium. The students in the cast and crew are doing a marvelous job with this show, and they are looking forward to a packed house! Tickets are on sale on Monday, January 9 at this link.

MPS NEED TO KNOW

IMPORTANT DATES

  • Jan 5 Katie Greer at Pierce 
  • Jan 6-7 Eastern Sr. District Festival
  • Jan 12 Pre-School Info Night 
  • Jan 12 Pierce Summer Program Night
  • Jan 16 No School – MLK Day
  • Jan 17 Late Start for Students/Morning PD for Teachers
  • Jan 18 School Committee Meeting
  • Jan 19, 20, 21 Pierce Players Presents State Fair
  • Jan 21 MMEA All-State Auditions
  • Jan 25 SEPAC Meeting 
  • Jan 25 School Committee Forum on Equity 
  • Jan 26 Kindergarten Information Night 

Pierce Summer Program Night: The Pierce PTO is hosting a Summer Program Night on Thursday, January 12 from 6-9 pm in the Pierce cafeteria. Local businesses will be in attendance to share information about everything from summer camps and memberships to lessons and internships for children of ALL ages. Representatives from Mel-O-Drama, The Weymouth Club, Boy Scouts, French Immersion Summer Program, Goldfish Swim School, Milton Art Center, R3Bilt Fitness, Muscle and Flow, Everwood Day Camp, and many more will be in attendance. Please email Pierce PTO parent Jackie Mullen at jacquelinegmullen@gmail.com with any questions. 

MILTON SEPAC

The Milton SEPAC shares the following updates. 

SEPAC sponsored Federation for Children with Special Needs workshops have been scheduled and are awaiting final confirmation – but pencil these in! These are excellent workshops – Eligibility on February 16 in the evening  and Understanding the 504: March 7 in the evening –  are free and offered virtually.

Did you know you have a SEPAC school rep who meets monthly with your school principal to discuss staffing, programming, and issues of inclusion? You can find your school rep and contact information here. 

We welcome you to join us at our next meeting (January 25, 2023, from 6:30-8:30, via Zoom)  to share your concerns, help advance SEPAC’s work in the District, or just listen as we continue to advocate on behalf of all special needs students and their families. Please email Jenny Sheehan at jennycsheehan@gmail.com or Jennie Mulqueen at jenniemulqueen@gmail.com with questions and to receive the link. Please also note that SEPAC meetings can be found on the district-wide calendar. You can also visit  the SEPAC website for updates, information, and links to resources.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

As we return to school to start the new year, please see the reminders linked here about good health practices. All MPS families should have received this email on Wednesday of this week. If you did not receive the email, please reach out to your school’s administrative assistant to confirm your contact information. 

ELEMENTARY DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP DAYS

In February, MPS will hold the fourth annual elementary school Digital Citizenship Days.   All elementary students will take part in several engaging digital citizenship lessons during these exciting days.  The lesson topics include digital footprints, internet privacy,  copyright, cyberbullying, and creating passwords.  The engaging lessons were developed by Common Sense Media, modified by MPS Elementary Instructional Technology Specialists Jen Van Hill and Sara Doherty, and are intended to help our students better understand how to interact with digital technology and their peers in a healthy, respectful way. Each lesson takes on real challenges and digital dilemmas that students face today, giving them the skills they need to succeed as learners, leaders, and citizens. 

The Digital Citizenship Day lessons will be facilitated by family volunteers, and we need family support!  Each elementary class will need at least one and, ideally, two volunteers.  Families will have the choice to facilitate the lessons in person or virtually

Please note on the sign up if you will facilitate virtually. All volunteers need to have a CORI completed within the last two years. If you already have a valid CORI on file at your child’s school you are all set. If not, please go to the main office of your child’s school, fill out a CORI form, and have a valid picture ID copied. This will need to be completed by Friday, January 27. Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring the safety of our students. 

The lessons are available to preview on this Elementary Digital Citizenship Google Site.  Thank you for volunteering for this important initiative. 

 

MPS GOOD TO KNOW 

 

THE MILTON COALITION

The Milton Coalition invites all to an important event on January 9 at 7pm at Milton Town Hall. Please join us for a discussion entitled “Marijuana, The Unbiased Truth for Families.”

Boston addiction psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Hill will speak to Milton about youth marijuana use. Millions are being spent promoting recreational marijuana; however, little is heard about the dangers today’s potent cannabis poses to children and teens. Parents, guardians, and youth will learn about the risks to young people, including accidental use by children, the link between mental health and cannabis use, the signs and modes of use, prevention, and the latest treatment options for a young person who may have trouble stopping their cannabis use. This program is appropriate for caregivers of youth of all ages, as well as tweens and teens. Sign up today for the limited in-person seating. Registration is also required to get the link for the live, virtual viewing. All details to register for either in-person or virtual attendance can be found here. 


988 Lifeline: 988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now known as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), and is now active across the United States.

When people call, text, or chat 988 (www.988lifeline.org to chat), they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary.

MILTON FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION

Please consider supporting the Milton Foundation for Education during their annual appeal. For more than 25 years, the MFE has donated over $4 million to our schools, students, and educators. These fundraising efforts have brought our community wireless access in all six schools, support for STEM programs, science programs, teacher grants, student scholarships, parent speaker series, Wildcat Wellness Center, greater exposure to the arts, COVID grants, makerspaces, and mental health resources.

Every dollar donated to the MFE helps spark innovation and energizes the learning experience for students and educators in Milton. For the love of education, our teachers, and students, please consider making a gift today at this link.

MPS NICE TO KNOW

MHS VISUAL LITERACY 

Just before break, our MHS Visual Literacy courses celebrated some of the excellent work from students, including appreciating students’ contributions to discussions and the best presentations, essays, and re-creation of the films we have studied in class. You can see some of the celebrated work here. Congratulations to our students on a robust semester of learning! 

MHS ATHLETICS 

Girls Hockey is on a tear to start the season! They are 6-1, with a comeback win over Norwood, goals from Molly Murphy and Kerry Balerna, and shutouts from Lila Chamoun. They travel to Needham on Saturday at 3pm for their next game.

Girls Basketball has also started the season well, with a 5-3 record, earning their first home win since 2019! There have been contributions from everyone. Captains Kate Karimbakas, Stephanie Needham and Grace Henry have led the way, but Ava Regan and Christina McA’Nulty have been crucial to their success.

The Track Team travels to the Reggie Lewis Center this afternoon to take on Framingham.

Mason Pellegri became the first ever Wildcat to reach the finals in the Lowell Wrestling Tournament over the break!  He lost a 6-4 decision to the defending New England Champion, finishing second.

Cans for Cats: The MHS Ski Team is hosting a can and bottle drive on Saturday, January 7, from 9 am to noon at Milton High School. 

COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS

Please use the links below or visit the MPS Community News & Events page for information on these terrific community events and opportunities! 

Milton Sports for All: If it’s getting cold outside, that means it’s time for BOWLING! Registration for Bowling for grades 4 through 8 is now open, and the session starts on January 12, 2023. Please see our website for more information or to register.

The Milton Early Childhood Alliance has released its Winter Newsletter, filled with loads of information for families with children birth to age 8. All details can be found here. 

Have you ever considered running for local elected office? Find out more at one of two community meetings at Cunningham Hall on January 10 and 24. All details on these non-partisan meetings can be found here. This is a great way to give back to your Milton community.

Milton Youth Lacrosse registration is open! All details at www.miltonlacrosse.org.

The Milton Public Library’s calendar of January programs for kids can be found here. To learn more and to register for programs for kids, teens, and adults, please visit the MPL website.

  • Attention young artists: the Milton Public Library is excited to present its very first Tiny Art Show! Children ages 6-12 can sign up to receive a kit on Thursday, January 12 that includes a miniature sized canvas, paint, and paintbrush, which will be used to create original artwork for our artist reception on Saturday, January 21. Learn more and register today here!
  • Join Leslie Doherty of Ways of Color to create a stained glass mosaic sun catcher on Saturday, January 14, at 2:30PM on Zoom! For ages 6-12, sign up today and pick up your materials kit at the Children’s Desk before the program.
  • Join Library Director Will Adamczyk on Wednesday, January 11 at 7pm for a discussion of former President of Ireland Mary Robinson’s book Climate Justice: Hope, Resilience and the Fight for a Sustainable Future. Registration is required at this link. 

Milton Academy is holding a 2023 summer camp open to students in rising grades 1-6. All details on the camp can be found here.

Milton Soccer: Registration closes soon for our spring 2023 soccer programs.  Please visit our Milton Soccer website  for all details on programs or to register (or use the direct registration link).  Please note that the grade 9-12 registration will open in March. The deadline to register is January 7th (on January 8th waitlist and late fees apply).

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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, 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 a 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 and Human Resources Dr. Garth McKinney, (617) 696- 4808/4809.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on January 5, 2023

December 22, 2022

To: Parents/Guardians and Staff
From: Interim Superintendent Janet Sheehan
Re: Superintendent’s Weekly Update
Date: December 22, 2022

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

The week before winter break is always a busy one in our schools, and the excitement about winter holidays and the upcoming break is palpable. As MHS Adjustment Counselor Jennie Beliveau wrote to staff, the holiday season can bring on varying emotions for our students as well as for each of us. For some, there are lots of joyful activities, togetherness, and heartfelt moments with family and friends. For others, though, the holidays can be a challenging time of stress and adversity. We know that everyone will experience the build up to winter break differently and that keeping to the routine of the school day is a benefit for all of our students. You’ll see below that this week was full of learning, as well as some fun holiday and winter activities. 

After a two year hiatus, we were so happy to welcome our MPS retirees back to Milton High School for a holiday luncheon this week. Thank you to MPS food service for a delicious meal, to the MHS Saxophone ensemble for providing lovely music, and to our administrators who welcomed our retirees. Most of all, thank you to our retirees who attended. It was wonderful to see so many of you!

Thank you to all who came to support the MHS Winter Cabaret this week. The night was full of entertaining, wonderful music from our hard working and talented student run ensembles. Performances included the MHS Christmas Carolers, Flute Choir, Pretty Sharp, Saxophone Quintet, Do-Re-Migoes, Brass Ensemble, Jazz Combos and R&B Ensemble as well as solos and duets. All of the acts are selected and rehearsed by students on their own time before and after school. Don’t miss the next MHS Cabaret which will be held on Tuesday, April 11th at 6:30 PM in the MHS Auditorium! You can view the entire  MHS Cabaret here.

Milton High School sends its winter holiday greetings, including clips from Music in the Morning at MHS in this video made by Mr. Lopresti and his students. You can see more Music in the Morning here! 

Thank you to our PTOs for the thoughtful holiday gifts, meals, and treats, this week and throughout the year. We appreciate the ongoing support of our MPS families! There was plenty of holiday and winter break cheer today as our school spirit teams organized “deck out days”, winter gear days, comfy days, and more. 

On behalf of the MPS community, I want to share my heartfelt gratitude to so many of you who generously shared your time and resources this holiday season. Our MPS holiday giving drive was an unquestionable success, and many families will enjoy a happier holiday this season thanks to your efforts.

Thank you to our elementary school PTO gift drive coordinators who did so much behind the scenes work; to The Toy Chest in Milton and The Toy Box in Hanover, owned by the Ritchie family of Milton, for their endless support; to Noreen Dolan of the Milton Residents Fund for her support of MPS families during the holidays and throughout the year; to My Brother’s Keeper who supports many of our families; to MPS Family Outreach Liaison Marti O’Keefe McKenna who oversees the MPS effort; and to MPS families, community groups and individuals who made generous donations to support our gift program. We are grateful for the generosity that has been shown to our students and their families this holiday season.

I wish you a restful winter break, and if your family is celebrating a winter holiday, I wish you a joyful time with family and friends. We look forward to being back together in our schools on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. 

MPS NEED TO KNOW

SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH UPDATE

Earlier today, the School Committee announced that they have identified three highly qualified finalists for the position of Superintendent of the Milton Public Schools. The finalists are:

  • Dr. Peter Cushing – Current Assistant Superintendent for Medford Public Schools
  • Dr. Peter Burrows – Current Superintendent for Addison Central School District in Middlebury, VT
  • Ms. Nan Murphy – Current Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning for Marblehead Public Schools

The first week of 2023 will be a busy week full of opportunities to meet and learn about the finalists. All details about the next steps in the search can be found here. 

IMPORTANT DATES

  • Dec 23 No School Winter Break Begins 
  • Jan 3 School Resumes 
  • Jan 3 Superintendent Finalists at MPS 
  • Jan 4 Superintendent Finalist Interviews
  • Jan 5 Katie Greer at Pierce 
  • Jan 12 Pre-School Info Night 

Inclement Weather: Last week, all MPS families and staff were sent an email outlining our procedures in case of a weather related two hour delay or full cancellation of school. Please take a moment to review the letter here. If you did not receive the email and need to update or confirm your current contact information, please contact your school’s administrative assistant via email. 

Katie Greer at MPS: On January 5, 2023, Internet Safety Expert Katie Greer will be returning to Milton to speak to all of our Pierce and MHS students during the school day. That evening she will speak to adults about Keeping Students Safe in a Digital World at 6pm in the Pierce auditorium.

Katie knows it can be daunting being a parent in this digitally driven time and will update parents on the latest tech trends, safety issues, and tips on how to help our kids have a productive and healthy relationship with technology. This presentation is open to all Milton parents and guardians.

Preschool and Kindergarten – Important Dates

  • Preschool Information Night – Thursday, Jan 12, 2023
  • Preschool Pre-registration – Thursday, Jan 12, 2023 – Thursday, Jan 26, 2023
  • Preschool Lottery, if necessary – Friday, Jan 27, 2023
  • Kindergarten Information Night – Thursday, Jan 26, 2023
  • Kindergarten Pre-registration Questionnaire Link – please complete prior to Jan 22, 2023

MILTON SEPAC

The Milton SEPAC shares the following updates. 

SEPAC recently elected its board for the 2022-2023 school year, and then got right back to work. In addition to our regular meetings with building principals, we put together a program on Alternative Paths as part of the District’s annual Post-Secondary Planning Night at the high school. We are also working with school liaisons to participate in kindergarten and first-grade information nights, and are planning additional programming on topics of interest to all families.

We welcome you to join us at our next meeting (January 25, 2023, from 6:30-8:30, via Zoom)  to share your concerns, help advance SEPAC’s work in the District, or just listen as we continue to advocate on behalf of all special needs students and their families. Please email Jenny Sheehan at jennycsheehan@gmail.com or Jennie Mulqueen at jenniemulqueen@gmail.com with questions and to receive the link. Please also note that all SEPAC meetings can be found on the District-wide calendar. You can also visit  the SEPAC website for updates, information, and links to resources.

Milton Sports for All:If it’s getting cold outside, that means it’s time for BOWLING! Registration for grades 4 through 8 is now open, and the session starts on January 12, 2023. Please see our website for more information or to register.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Happy Holidays from your school nurses!  We wish everyone a healthy, restful break.  Upon return to school, please remember these guidelines:

  • If your student is ill, keep them home until they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and are feeling well enough to get through the school day. If your student has an intestinal virus or has been vomiting, they should wait 24 hours from the last episode before returning to school.
  • Up to date COVID guidance and return to school guidelines can be found on the MPS website under Health Services.

We are still looking for substitute school nurses to assist in the health rooms and attend field trips and field days. Please contact MPS Director of Nursing, Kim Coughlin, for more information at kacoughlin@miltonps.org.

MPS GOOD TO KNOW 

MILTON FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION

Please consider supporting the Milton Foundation for Education this holiday season. For more than 25 years, the MFE has donated over $4 million to our schools, students, and educators. These fundraising efforts have brought our community wireless access in all six schools, support for STEM programs, science programs, teacher grants, student scholarships, parent speaker series, Wildcat Wellness Center, greater exposure to the arts, COVID grants, makerspaces, and mental health resources.

Every dollar donated to the MFE helps spark innovation and energizes the learning experience for students and educators in Milton. We now have even more opportunities to make a lasting impact. In this season of giving, for the love of education, our teachers and students, please consider making a gift today at this link.

 

THE MILTON COALITION

The Milton Coalition invites all to an important event on January 9th at 7pm at Milton Town Hall. Please join us for a discussion entitled “Marijuana, The Unbiased Truth for Families.”

Boston addiction psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Hill will speak to Milton about youth marijuana use. Millions are being spent promoting recreational marijuana; however, little is heard about the dangers today’s potent cannabis poses to children and teens. Parents, guardians, and youth will learn about the risks to young people including accidental use by children, the link between mental health and cannabis use, the signs and modes of use, prevention, and the latest treatment options for a young person who may have trouble stopping their cannabis use. This program is appropriate for caregivers of youth of all ages, as well as tweens and teens. Sign up today for the limited in-person seating. Registration is also required to get the link for the live, virtual viewing. All details to register for either in-person or virtual attendance can be found here. 

MPS SUBSTITUTE OPPORTUNITIES

Food Service: Are you looking for part time work that complements your child’s school day?  Earn $19.15 an hour for a Food Service substitute on call position! Call Natalia Perez at 617-898-1051 for details. 

Nursing: If you are interested in substitute school nursing at MPS, please email Kim Coughlin, Director of Nursing at kacoughlin@miltonps.org for details. The rate for substitute school nurses is $120 per day. 

Classroom: On call daily substitute teachers are needed for all schools and the rate for daily substitutes is $110 per day. This is a great way to work during your child’s school day, when it works for your schedule. Details and the application are at this link.

MPS NICE TO KNOW

PIERCE DEBATE TEAM

Last Saturday, the Pierce Debate Team participated in the December Lumos Invitational Debate Tournament. Students used the Public Forum Debate format to discuss the positive and negative consequences of the Space Force. The Pierce Debate team continues to grow with Tyler Bertrand, Aster Caldwell, Alicia Chan, Adam C., Lia Etheart, Natalie Gallagher, John Griffin, Jonathan Hsu, Teddy Hsu, Sara Khan, Ellis Lim, Ben Neugebauer, Kendra Oppong, Michaela Oppong, Sadie Schweitzer, Avery Squiciarino, Nate Stanesa, Thinh Tran, Alisa Villar, Emily Vogel, and Ace Wetzner-Crothers competing in this tournament.

Congratulations to John Griffin, Sara Khan, Avery Squiciarino, and Ace Wetzner-Crothers who received Speaker Awards for delivering speeches in a clear and eloquent manner. Congratulations also to Ellis Lim, who earned fifth place in the novice division of the tournament, and Adam Griffin won first place in the veteran division of the tournament, beating out nearly one hundred competitors from across the state. The Pierce Debate Team was thrilled to participate in our second tournament of the 2022-2023 school year. We look forward to competing again in February!

ELEMENTARY ART 

The Collicot and Cunningham art room has had a terrific fall. We are looking forward to making more incredible art in the new year!

3RD GRADE STEM 

Ms. Kachmer and Mrs. Mile’s Cunningham 3rd graders had a wonderful time designing and building sleds using their STEM skills. They were excited to welcome their families to school for the competition to see whose sled was the fastest.

2ND GRADE COMMUNITY HELPERS

Mrs. Walsh’s Cunningham 2nd graders are helping out in the community this holiday season.  Using the Reach For Reading Good Deeds Unit as inspiration, students have made baked goods for the Milton Fire Department, taken out recycling for a neighbor,  donated food to the food pantry, helped to clean and organize around the house, donated books, and much more. Students enjoy helping others this holiday season.

AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT 

Last week, ASE hosted successful family events at each school. At Tucker, students decorated and filled gift bags with treats and essentials to donate to deployed troops. Students and families played Bingo together during Glover ASE’s event, Cunningham ASE hosted a book exchange. Collicot ASE fifth graders wrote their own “Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?” questions and stumped their families at pick up.  In addition, the Ja Shin Do ASE Fall Optional Enrichment classes received medals from Ms. Camille McNamara. We are looking forward to a wonderful winter in ASE!

4th GRADE VIKINGS

Mme. Theobald’s Collicot 4th graders had a great morning becoming scalds and bards this week. Who are scalds and bards, you might ask? Poets and storytellers from the Viking age, who, without paper, relied on the oral tradition of storytelling for entertainment as well as for history. It was amazing to see our students tell stories (without paper, like the Vikings) of the adventures that their Viking boats encountered.

PIERCE SCIENCE

On Monday, 8th grade science students saw a presentation by Robin Bowman from the Harvard Personal Genetics Education Project (PgED). The presentation connected students’ learning in the genetics and evolution unit with their upcoming unit on weather and climate, specifically climate change. Students learned about scientists’ proposal to bring back the woolly mammoth from extinction as a means to help prevent the thawing of the permafrost in Siberia. This project would involve using CRISPR to edit the genome of the Asian Elephant, an endangered species, to inhabit the traits of woolly mammoths.

Students were challenged to think not just about the science, but also the societal ramifications of such an endeavor. At the end of the presentation, students engaged in a four corners activity that allowed them to take a stand either for or against different aspects of this process. Perspectives included whether it is acceptable to use an endangered species for such an experiment, whether they should be allowed to roam free in Siberia or kept within a specific area, and whether we have an obligation to do anything we can to stop the thawing of the permafrost.

5TH GRADE TOY FAIR 

The Collicot 5th Grade Toy Fair was a big success today! 5th graders spent time this week inventing toys and games and families and students came to visit during the Toy Fair. You’ll see some very clever new toys in the photos below. 

FIRST GRADE CONCERT

Mme. Brown’s Glover 1st graders invited families to a winter concert this week. Students performed three songs in French and recited a poem they created themselves by looking in their French dictionaries for words that rhyme with their first names. One song was particularly long and some of the lyrics of the other two were a little tricky, but students worked hard starting right after Thanksgiving break and gave an outstanding performance. The singing was followed by a craft (a paper star relating to our science unit about day/night, the solstice, and observation of the sky) that families did with their child as they socialized with other 1st grade families. 

TUCKER FRENCH

Mme Moukarzel’s Tucker 5th graders were so happy to showcase their French proficiency for their families, friends, and teachers this week. Students recited the French poem Chanson Pour Les Enfants L’hiver, written by Jacques Prévert. Privert was a famous 20th century author who wrote simple poetry using everyday language, making him very popular in the French school system. French children have to memorize poetry throughout their studies, particularly in elementary school to develop both their memory and their taste for French literature.

Mme. Sacuto’s 4th graders joined in and sang “Vent Frais, Vent du Matin,” followed by Mme. Vendette’s 3rd graders who presented a repeat-after-me song. To wrap up the afternoon, 5th graders sang “Vive le Vent,” the french version of Jingle Bells.

MHS ATHLETICS 

Just like that, Winter Sports are underway and off to a great start! 

  • Boys Hockey is 2-1, scoring 13 goals over their past two games. Owen McHugh led the way last night with a hat trick against Bridgewater Raynham.
  • Girls Hockey is 3-1 after their win over Norwood on Monday. Junior Goaltender Lile Chamoun has been unbelievable in net, only allowing 7 goals through 4 games. Molly Murphy has found herself in the goal column in 3/4 games, including the game winner against Norwood. Kerry Balerna also netted a hat trick against Natick in their first league win on Saturday!
  • The Wrestling Team had a good Tournament in Wayland, with some great performances, led by Mason Pellegri. Mason finished in 1st place at the 182 lb weight class! The Team then followed up with a win over Walpole last night, with first Varsity wins for Gabriel Veal and Valentino Kellici!
  • Girls Basketball began their season with a win over Dedham, with Captain Stephanie Needham dropping 17 points and Captain Kate Karimbakas with a double double (10 pts, 12 boards)!
  • Boys and Girls Track swept Braintree in their first meet of the season! Katie O’Toole, Gretel Schewe, Moses Mann, and AJ Cicerone all had Top 5 finishes. Many even qualified for States in their first meet!
  • Our Dance Team is gathering momentum as they work towards their first ever Varsity Competition in February!

You can read AD Madden’s full athletic recap with winter break schedules, athletic budget details and more here. 

COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS

Please use the links below or visit the MPS Community News & Events page for information on these terrific community events and opportunities! 

Milton Soccer: Registration is now open for our spring 2023 soccer programs.  Please visit our Milton Soccer website  for all details on programs or to register (or use the direct registration link).  Please note that the grade 9-12 registration will open in March. The deadline to register is January 7th (on January 8th waitlist and late fees apply).

The Milton Public Library’s calendar of December programs can be found here. Plan ahead and take a look at the January calendar here. 

  • Check out our brand new StoryWalk, Dear Yeti by James Kwan, on the Canton Ave. patios! Enjoy this outdoor activity at any time this winter with the whole family. 
  • Cozy up in the Story Hour Room for some family fun on Thursday, December 29 with Board Games & Hot Cocoa! This is an all-day drop-in program for ages 3+; no registration is required.

To learn more and to register for programs for kids, teens, and adults, please visit the MPL website.

 
Spots still available! The Milton Early Childhood Alliance is once again offering its free and very popular Toddler and Preschool Playgroup series live via Zoom.This program is for children ages 2.5 through 4 years old and their parent/guardian. Join us for stories, songs, and movement and art activities. At-home Learning Extension bags, filled will supplies needed for this series, will be provided. Registration is required and can be completed at this link.
 
 
BLOG SUBSCRIPTION: If you do not receive the Superintendent’s Weekly Update and would like to, please enter your email here to subscribe to this one weekly email.

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 a 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 and Human Resources Dr. Garth McKinney, (617) 696- 4808/4809.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on December 22, 2022

December 15, 2022

To: Parents/Guardians and Staff
From: Interim Superintendent Janet Sheehan
Re: Superintendent’s Weekly Update
Date: December 15, 2022

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

The dusting of snow this week is a good reminder that winter weather is on its way for the next few months. On Wednesday of this week, all MPS families and staff were sent an email outlining our procedures in case of a weather related two hour delay or full cancellation of school. Please take a moment to review the letter here. If you did not receive the email and need to update or confirm your current contact information, please contact your school’s administrative assistant via email. 

The overall safety of our MPS community is an ongoing priority and this week, the MPS Security Committee, composed of Principals, MPS Administrators, and Town of Milton, Milton Fire and Milton Police representatives, held a regularly scheduled meeting. This group meets bi-monthly (and more frequently if needed), to review safety procedures, discuss new concerns, plan for future safety drills and staff training, evaluate communication protocols and more. Thank you as always to the Milton Police and Fire Departments, our partners in keeping our school community safe.  

Finally, I hope all 8th grade families will join us TONIGHT, Thursday, December 15 at 6pm in the MHS Auditorium (25 Gile Rd) for an opportunity to learn about all that Milton High School has to offer your student. You’ll hear about course offerings, academic and extracurricular programs, athletics, and activities that prepare students for college and life beyond high school. Current 8th grade students, parents, and guardians are invited to this information session and a tour of Milton High School. We can’t wait to welcome these new Wildcats to Milton High School! 

Please read below for information about tonight’s December SEPAC meeting, the MHS Cabaret on December 20, MPS substitute opportunities, classroom highlights, Athletic news and more. 

MPS NEED TO KNOW

IMPORTANT DATES

  • Dec 15 SEPAC Meeting 
  • Dec 15 MHS 8th Grade Information Night 
  • Dec 20 MHS Cabaret 
  • Dec 21 School Committee Meeting 
  • Dec 23 No School Winter Break Begins 
  • Jan 3 School Resumes 
  • Jan 4 School Committee Meeting 
  • Jan 5 Katie Greer at Pierce 

MPS Calendars: 2022-23 One Page School Year Calendar and Link to MPS Monthly Calendar.

Preparing for Cabaret!

MHS Winter Cabaret: MHS Music students have been hard at work preparing acts for our annual Winter Cabaret! The Winter Cabaret is an evening of music which will feature a variety of student run ensembles, original works and solo acts. It will be held on Tuesday, December 20 at 6:30 pm in the MHS Auditorium. Donations will be accepted at the door to support our programs. We hope to see you at MHS for a wonderful night of music!

Katie Greer at MPS: On January 5, 2023, Internet Safety Expert Katie Greer will be returning to Milton to speak to all of our Pierce and MHS students during the school day. That evening she will speak to adults about Keeping Students Safe in a Digital World at 6pm in the Pierce auditorium.

Katie knows it can be daunting being a parent in this digitally driven time and will update parents on the latest tech trends, safety issues, and tips on how to help our kids have a productive and healthy relationship with technology. This presentation is open to all Milton parents and guardians.

Preschool and Kindergarten – Important Dates

  • Preschool Information Night – Thursday, Jan 12, 2023
  • Preschool Pre-registration – Thursday, Jan 12, 2023 – Thursday, Jan 26, 2023
  • Preschool Lottery, if necessary – Friday, Jan 27, 2023
  • Kindergarten Information Night – Thursday, Jan 26, 2023
  • Kindergarten Pre-registration Questionnaire Link – please complete prior to Jan 22, 2023

SCHOOL COMMITTEE 

The next regular School Committee meeting will be on December 21, 2022 at 7pm. At this meeting, the School Committee will share updates on the Superintendent Search. All information (including agendas and links to attend) about School Committee meetings can be found on the Town of Milton webpage. You can watch School Committee meetings live on Milton Access TV online, live on Milton Access cable channels (Comcast 22, RCN 15) or watch on-demand in the days following the meeting. 

MILTON SEPAC

Milton SEPAC shares the following information.

Do you know who your school rep is? Each month your Milton SEPAC school rep meets with your principal to discuss issues of staffing, programming, inclusion, and collaboration. Lately MPS has been experiencing a lot of staffing and programming developments that have an impact on our children’s educational experience. To find out more, come to our next SEPAC Board Meeting TONIGHT, Thursday, December 15, 6:30-8:30pm online at this link. Attend to find out what is happening in your building and how to connect with your school rep. 

FREE AT HOME COVID TESTS

MPS school nurses will distribute free COVID test kits next week to staff and students who are interested. If you are interested in free COVID tests, please see below for details.

  • Elementary: Test kits will be distributed to students in their classrooms. Please email your school nurse with your student’s name/teacher by Friday, December 16 to ensure that a test kit is sent home with your student.
  • Pierce and MHS: Test kits will be available in the main lobby during Advisory periods. An announcement will be made on Monday and Tuesday that interested students should come to the main lobby and pick up a test. Please speak with your student in advance and ask them to pick up a test if you’d like them to participate.

MPS GOOD TO KNOW 

MPS SUBSTITUTE OPPORTUNITIES

Food Service: Are you looking for part time work that compliments your child’s school day?  Earn $19.15 an hour for a Food Service substitute on call position! Call Natalia Perez at 617-898-1051 for details. 

Nursing: If you are interested in substitute school nursing at MPS, please email Kim Coughlin, Director of Nursing at kacoughlin@miltonps.org for details. The rate for substitute school nurses is $120 per day. 

Classroom: On call daily substitute teachers are needed for all schools and the rate for daily substitutes is $110 per day. This is a great way to work during your child’s school day, when it works for your schedule. Details and the application are at this link.

MILTON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS 

December Vacation Camp registration closes on Friday, December 16. All information on Vacation Camp can be found on the MCS website. Don’t miss out – join the fun with friends over break!

MPS NICE TO KNOW

MHS FIELD TRIP

Students in the MHS Achieve and Launch programs took a trip to the South Shore Plaza this week for some holiday shopping and lots of real world math practice. Students demonstrated skills they have been practicing in class including adding item costs, calculating sales tax, next dollar up, and finding exact change. Other real world skills included self-checkout, navigating the mall directory, and enjoying the food court. We are looking forward to more community outings this year.

MHS KEY CLUB

For the 5th consecutive year, members of the MHS Key Club coordinated holiday cards for deployed troops. Club members designed hand made cards and distributed them to MHS students to be personalized. MHS students wrote 200 cards filled with messages of appreciation and holiday wishes. This year, Ms. Crowley’s Pierce Seminar classes contributed an additional 70 cards as part of their unit on gratitude. All cards were mailed to service members deployed on a US Navy ship. We are grateful to our service members and their families and hope that these cards will help to lift the spirits of US Sailors who will be spending the winter holidays at sea.

PIERCE MODEL UN

Pierce students Sadie Cambria, Madyn Dwyer, Sara Khan, and Avery Squiciarino participated in the December Invitational Model UN Conference at Northeastern University this past Saturday. They debated on the topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with middle school students from twenty three organizations and discussed how AI can strengthen food security around the globe. Our Pierce students made connections with other students, engaged in debate on real world issues, and came up with some very creative solutions to the challenges of AI. Thank you to our students who represented MPS and Pierce well!

TUCKER FIRST GRADE SPANISH

Students in Señora Brown’s first grade Spanish classes have been learning colors and numbers, and recently put their knowledge to the test. They were challenged to create a “color by number” collaborative mural with the help of 4th and 5th grade student leaders in the English Innovation Pathway, who also take Spanish. Tucker student leaders showed responsibility, patience, and leadership and they helped first graders read and identify the colors and numbers. Our 1st graders were happy to have such helpful “big kid” visitors and worked really hard to accurately complete their own parts of the mural. Señora Brown looks forward to planning more leadership opportunities for older students in Spanish class in the future.

MHS SPANISH HUMAN RIGHTS TREE

The MHS Spanish VI class has been learning about human rights and how they are connected to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). After reading and discussing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, students created their own Human Rights Tree. They used leaves to share important human rights that people need to live in dignity and justice, and used roots for conditions students consider vital to make human rights flourish. Since the celebration of Human Rights is observed on December 10 (the day in 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) the class displayed their work for all to reflect on this day.

TRI-M SWAG

Tri-M, the music honor society, and FAME (Friends and Advocates of Music Education) have teamed up to put several student designed music symbols on a range of different items, from t-shirts and sweatshirts and coffee mugs. Check out the merchandise shop here and order gear for your favorite musician!

CALLING ALL MHS ALUMNI

Are you a Milton High School alum?  If so, we need your help!  In an effort to better prepare our students to be more college and career ready, please complete this short survey.  In addition, please forward the survey link to any MHS graduates who may not read the MPS Blog.  We would like to have feedback from as many alumni as possible.  Thank you for your time and help!

MHS ATHLETICS 

MHS Winter Sports are underway!

Girls Basketball got things started last week with a win over Dedham and then the Girls Hockey followed up with a win over Fontbonne/Boston Latin.

The Track and Field Teams travel to the Reggie Lewis Center tonight for their first meet.

Our new Dance Team is in full swing, with nearly 20 students participating this year. We are excited to see what they can do in their first season!

You can find updates on our Twitter @Milton_Wildcats_. Be on the lookout for our December Athletics Newsletter next week.

COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS

Please use the links below or visit the MPS Community News & Events page for information on these terrific community events and opportunities! 

Milton Chess Club will be at the Milton Public Library January 10 – March 21. International Master David Vigorito has been teaching chess to Milton students for over 12 years. The winter session starts on Tuesday, January 10 and there are two different levels with classes at 5:30 and 6:45. Details can be found here. Space is limited! Questions? Email dvigorito@msn.com.

Milton Soccer: Registration is now open for our spring 2023 soccer programs.  Please visit our Milton Soccer website  for all details on programs or to register (or use the direct registration link).  Please note that the grade 9-12 registration will open in March. The deadline to register is January 7th (on January 8th waitlist and late fees apply).

The Milton Public Library’s calendar of December programs can be found here. Visit the Milton Public Library in December for some terrific programs! To learn more and to register for programs for kids, teens, and adults, please visit the MPL website.

  • Who said snow was just for outside? Join Ms. Tory in the Story Hour Room anytime between 1-8PM on Thursday, December 22 for a sensory activity with Fake Snow! Create a variety of snowshapes with miscellaneous materials for some afternoon winter-fun.
  • Need help finding books to read over Winter Break? Try our BookMatch for Kids! This reader’s advisory service helps anyone in grades K-6 find their next favorite read. Fill out our form to tell us a little more about you, and we’ll email you a list of 8-10 books we think you’ll really like. Find the form here.
 
The Milton Early Childhood Alliance is once again offering its free and very popular Toddler and Preschool Playgroup series live via Zoom.This program is for children ages 2.5 through 4 years old and their parent/guardian. Join us for stories, songs, and movement and art activities. At-home Learning Extension bags, filled will supplies needed for this series, will be provided. Registration is required and can be completed at this link.
 
 
BLOG SUBSCRIPTION: If you do not receive the Superintendent’s Weekly Update and would like to, please enter your email here to subscribe to this one weekly email.

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 a 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 and Human Resources Dr. Garth McKinney, (617) 696- 4808/4809.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on December 15, 2022

December 8, 2022

To: Parents/Guardians and Staff
From: Interim Superintendent Janet Sheehan
Re: Superintendent’s Weekly Update
Date: December 8, 2022

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

While the weather has been mild for December, we are seeing a considerable increase in traditional winter illnesses across all of our schools. Kim Coughlin, Director of Nursing, shares these important reminders so we can work together to keep the MPS community healthy and safe.

  • If your student is ill, please keep them home until they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and are feeling well enough to get through the school day.  If your student has an intestinal virus or has been vomiting, they should wait 24 hours from the last episode before returning to school.
  • Please see this link for COVID-19 quarantine and isolation guidelines. The joint early childhood & K-12 guidance for students and staff can be found here. Please refer to the MPS Heath Services page for all updates
  • Please ensure that your student has tissues in their backpack every day and remind them of the importance of proper hand washing to decrease the spread of germs. 
  • Everyone 6 months and older is eligible to get a Flu vaccine each year and is now eligible for the COVID vaccine. Everyone 5 years and older is eligible for the COVID vaccine and booster.
  • Your student should have a healthy breakfast each morning and come to school with a water bottle every day. Breakfast is available in every building prior to the start of the school day. Adequate sleep is essential and The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  recommends that children aged 6 through 12 get 9–12 hours of sleep, and that teenagers aged 13 through 18 get 8–10 hours of sleep. Proper hydration, nutrition, and sleep are essential components of a healthy immune system and improve the body’s defense to illness. 

Thank you for working with us to keep our students and staff healthy this winter! 


Thank you to our MHS music students and staff, who put on a wonderful concert last night! Still to come are two Pierce concerts next week (December 13 and 14) and the MHS Cabaret on December 21.

Please read below for information about the DESE Safe Schools Session for elementary parents/guardians,  8th Grade Info Night at MHS, the December SEPAC meeting, classroom highlights, and more. 

MPS NEED TO KNOW

IMPORTANT DATES

  • Dec 13 Pierce 6th Grade Concert at MHS
  • Dec 13 DESE Safe Schools – Elementary 
  • Dec 14 Pierce 7th & 8th Grade Concert at MHS
  • Dec 15 SEPAC Meeting 
  • Dec 15 MHS 8th Grade Information Night 
  • Dec 20 MHS Cabaret 
  • Dec 21 School Committee Meeting 
  • Dec 23 No School Winter Break Begins 
  • Jan 3 School Resumes 

MPS Calendars: 2022-23 One Page School Year Calendar and Link to MPS Monthly Calendar. 

Preschool and Kindergarten – Important Dates 

  • Preschool Information Night – Thursday, January 12, 2023
  • Preschool Pre-registration – Thursday, January 12, 2023 – Thursday, January 26, 2023
  • Preschool Lottery, if necessary – Friday, January 27, 2023
  • Kindergarten Information Night – Thursday, January 26, 2023
  • Kindergarten Pre-registration Questionnaire Link – please complete prior to Jan 22, 2023

SCHOOL COMMITTEE 

The next regular School Committee meeting will be on December 21 , 2022 at 7pm. All information (including agendas and links to attend) about School Committee meetings can be found on the Town of Milton webpage. You can watch School Committee meetings live on Milton Access TV online, live on Milton Access cable channels (Comcast 22, RCN 15) or watch on-demand in the days following the meeting. 

DESE SAFE SCHOOLS – ELEMENTARY SESSION Screen Shot 2022-12-06 at 4.31.37 PM.png

Jeff Perrotti and Landon Callahan, from the DESE Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ+ Students in Massachusetts will facilitate an interactive session for parents and guardians on Tuesday, December 13, by introducing resources for addressing sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Participants will discuss best practices and strategies to support students and families. This session is virtual and will run from 6:30-8pm. Register here for the Zoom link to attend.

This event is sponsored in partnership between DESE, the MPS Department of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging and the Tucker, Collicot, Glover, and Cunningham Schools. Any questions regarding the DESE Safe Schools Session can be directed to deib@miltonps.org or 617-696-4478 x5246.

MHS INFORMATION NIGHT

Please join us on Thursday, December 15 at 6:30pm in the Milton High School Auditorium (25 Gile Rd) for an opportunity to learn about Milton High School course offerings, academic and extracurricular programs, athletics, and activities that prepare students for college and life beyond high school. Current 8th grade students, parents, and guardians are invited to attend this information session and tour of Milton High School.

MILTON SEPAC 

Milton SEPAC shares the following information.

Do you know who your school rep is? Each month your Milton SEPAC school rep meets with your principal to discuss issues of staffing, programming, inclusion, and collaboration. Lately MPS has been experiencing a lot of staffing and programming developments that have an impact on our children’s educational experience. To find out more, come to our next SEPAC Board Meeting on Thursday, December 15, 6:30-8:30pm online at this link. Attend to find out what is happening in your building and how to connect with your school rep. 

MPS GOOD TO KNOW 

FOOD SERVICE SUBSTITUTES 

Are you looking for part time work that compliments your child’s school day?  Earn $19.15 an hour for a Food Service substitute on call position! Call Natalia Perez at 617-898-1051 for details. 

MPS HOLIDAY GIVING DRIVE

Pierce Families Helping Families: Pierce is collecting gift cards to be distributed to families in need this holiday season. We recommend gift cards to Star Market, Shaws, Stop & Shop, Target, and Old Navy, but we will, of course, accept gift cards from all stores. If you are interested in supporting this effort, please bring your gift card donation to the main office at Pierce by December 16 and deposit it in the sealed box located in the front office.

MHS Teen Gift Card Drive: MHS School Counseling supports teens and families in need with gift cards during the holiday season. If you would like to anonymously support an MHS family or student, please consider dropping a $25 gift card from Target or Amazon to the MHS to the MHS front office by December 9. 

Thank you for helping us make the holiday season a little brighter for our neighbors!

If you are in need of assistance this holiday season (or at any time), please reach out to your building principal or Marti O’Keefe McKenna, MPS Family Outreach Liaison, at 617-980-7343 or by email at mmckenna@miltonps.org.  All calls and emails are confidential.

MPS NICE TO KNOW

BACK TO THE 80s WITH 4TH GRADE ARTISTS 

Collicot and Cunningham 4th graders are wrapping up a totally rad 80s boombox project. Students began by covering an 18×12 paper with fluorescent geometric shapes and 80s graphic designs. Students practiced their fractions (½, ¼, ⅙) and divided their paper into sections and filled each section with speakers, a cassette tape, a FM radio, buttons and dials. Students were able to use a wide variety of art making skills in this project including graphic design, printmaking, proportion and collaging. Rock on, 4th grade!

TRI-M SWAG

Congratulations to the winners of the logo contest for the Milton Music Department! Tri-M, the music honor society, ran this competition, which was open to all Milton High School students. First prize went to Ann Nguyen for her wildcat design; first-runner up is Alicia Wong for her treble clef; second runner-up is Priya Shaw with her musical pawprint. Tri-M and FAME (Friends and Advocates of Music Education) have teamed up to put these winning designs on a range of different items, from t-shirts and sweatshirts and coffee mugs. Check out the merchandise shop here and order gear for your favorite musician!

5TH GRADE SCIENCE 

Ms. Novak’s Tucker 5th graders have been practicing the skills of summarizing and writing informational text in science to describe the water cycle. You can see below that both their knowledge and writing are on point.

COLLICOT SERVICE PROJECT

As part of their Veterans Day lesson in service to others, Collicot students wrote messages of love, appreciation, and encouragement that will be mailed to active duty service members. Below you can see some of the homemade cards and handwritten messages that we hope will warm the hearts of 155 members of the military this Holiday Season. Thank you to Collicot students and teachers for undertaking this important project.

 

CALLING ALL MHS ALUMNI

Are you a Milton High School alum?  If so, we need your help!  In an effort to better prepare our students to be more college and career ready, please complete this short survey.  In addition, please forward the survey link to any MHS graduates who may not read the MPS Blog.  We would like to have feedback from as many alumni as possible.  Thank you for your time and help!

MHS GROW RACKS

We are excited to share that our  MHS students in the ACHIEVE program have again started tending to our Grow Racks for this year.  This fresh lettuce used in our Grab n’ Go salads and grown by our students is a win-win for our community!

SOPHIA’S SOCK DRIVE

Pierce 6th grader Sophia Cassini has been collecting for people experiencing homelessness for 8 years, since she was 4 years old! You can read about Sophia’s efforts and how you can support them here. 

MUSIC DEPARTMENT FUNDRAISER

Support the Milton Music Department by ordering from our online citrus fruit fundraiser anytime between now and December 11th. Gift boxes or crates of fresh fruit are guaranteed to ship directly to the recipient in time for Christmas. Visit this link to order through our website. The sale closes on December 11th, so don’t delay!

COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS

Please use the links below or visit the MPS Community News & Events page for information on these terrific community events and opportunities! 

Milton Chess Club will be at the Milton Public Library January 10 – March 21. International Master David Vigorito has been teaching chess to Milton students for over 12 years. The winter session starts on Tuesday, January 10 and there are two different levels with classes at 5:30 and 6:45. Details can be found here. Space is limited! Questions? Email dvigorito@msn.com.

The Milton Art Center is hosting their Annual Holiday Artisan Market featuring 20+ local artists and artisans on Saturday, December 10th from 10am-4pm. The MAC is located at 334 Edge Hill Road. There is plenty of parking in the back on Hollis Street. Stop by for some holiday cheer. There will be festive music, raffle prizes and lots of gift options.

Milton Soccer: Registration is now open for our spring 2023 soccer programs.  Please visit our Milton Soccer website  for all details on programs or to register (or use the direct registration link).  Please note that the grade 9-12 registration will open in March. The deadline to register is January 7th (on January 8th waitlist and late fees apply).

The Milton Public Library’s calendar of December programs can be found here. Visit the Milton Public Library in December for some terrific programs! To learn more and to register for programs for kids, teens, and adults, please visit the MPL website.

  • Comic and Graphic Novel fans! Take part in this month’s Graphic Novel Book Club for Grades 3-5 on Wednesday, December 14 at 4:30pm. This month we are reading: Real Friends by Shannon Hale. Pick up a reserved copy in the MPL Children’s Room. Register today!
  • We can’t believe the time has come, but Mrs. Reilly is retiring in the New Year! Mrs. Reilly has been a beloved member of the Children’s Department for over 26 years, so we want to make sure you all have the chance to say goodbye. Visit the Story Hour Room next Thursday, December 15 between 4-5PM to enjoy snacks and wish Mrs. Reilly a happy retirement!

Santa Claus is coming to the Eustis Estate! Visit the 1878 mansion house decorated for Christmas on Saturday, December 10 and take a photo with Santa from 10am- 1pm. All children must be accompanied by a ticketed adult. Children: $5; Member Adults: Free; Nonmember Adults: $20. Please call 617-994-6600 for more information. The Eustis Estate is located at 1424 Canton Avenue, Milton. 

The Milton Early Childhood Alliance is once again offering its free and very popular Toddler and Preschool Playgroup series live via Zoom.This program is for children ages 2.5 through 4 years old and their parent/guardian. Join us for stories, songs, and movement and art activities. At-home Learning Extension bags, filled will supplies needed for this series, will be provided. Registration is required and can be completed at this link.
 
On Saturday, December 11, from 8am-4 pm, Fontbonne welcomes five well-known children’s authors to Fontbonne as part of our Christmas at Fontbonne Book Fair. There will be author presentations and signings, craft activities, face painting, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, food tables and more. $10 per family pre-registration is required. All details are here. 
 
BLOG SUBSCRIPTION: If you do not receive the Superintendent’s Weekly Update and would like to, please enter your email here to subscribe to this one weekly email.

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 a 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 and Human Resources Dr. Garth McKinney, (617) 696- 4808/4809.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on December 8, 2022

December 1, 2022

To: Parents/Guardians and Staff
From: Interim Superintendent Janet Sheehan
Re: Superintendent’s Weekly Update
Date: December 1, 2022

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

Each week, one or two items usually present themselves as good items to start this blog post – an important meeting, a big accomplishment, or something to celebrate. While items like Kindergarten and Preschool Information dates, MHS Info Nights, a thank you to community partner Steel and Rye, and a call to action for our Holiday Giving Drive are all very worthy of your attention and could easily lead my weekly email to you, this week, all of that information can be found in the sections below. 

Because this week, we are overwhelmed with the accomplishments of our students, specifically our MHS students! National Honor Society Inductees? Check! Athletic accomplishments? Check! Talented musicians? Check! An all-school pep rally that had it all – dancing MHS staff, feats of strength, the marching band, high-flying cheerleaders? Check, check and check! 

On Monday, November 21, eight members of the senior class were recognized for their achievements and inducted into the National Honor Society. Congratulations to Kate Cooper, Ben Catudal, Sarah McGillivray, Patrick Murphy, Samantha Pincus, Kate Schewe, Matthew Stockbridge, and Brady Vrettas! The National Honor Society (NHS) is the nation’s premier organization established to recognize outstanding high school students. More than just an honor roll, NHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in areas of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Additionally, NHS officers Lucy Liberidis, Kiera Glazer, Olivia Disandro, Jayme Lo, and Molly Shea were formally inducted into their leadership roles for the 2022-2023 school year. Congratulations to all students who were a part of the ceremony. We look forward to seeing all you accomplish this year!

We know many of you are excited about the Milton Wildcats Division 3 Superbowl Game at Gillette Stadium on Saturday at 5:30pm. Tickets are available at this link, and information on a parent organized, before game, gathering for fans can be found here. Milton Access TV has been interviewing our student athletes and you can watch those videos here. Can’t make the game? Comcast channel 814 will have all of the Saturday games on live all day/ night, with the Milton game at 5:30pm.  There was plenty of post season success for many of our teams including the Boys and Girls Cross Country Teams making it to their division championships! AD Ryan Madden shares a full fall wrap up here.  Roll ‘Cats!  Thanks to MHS’s Sean Lopresti for this video featuring our Senior Wildcats! 

Front L-R: Claudia O’Neill, Lucy Hays, Carle Bleau, Lily Lane, Back L-R- Julien Roberson, Atticus D’Alessandro, Owen Creamer, Tim Fay Missing: Isabelle Feloney, Angel Leggett

Bravo to MHS student musicians Carle Bleau, Owen Creamer, Atticus D’Alessandro, Tim Fay, Isabelle Feloney, Lily Lane, Angel Leggett, Claudia O’Neill and Julien Roberson, who have been accepted to the MMEA Eastern District Senior Festival! In addition to their acceptance to the festival, four students  – Atticus D’Alessandro, Tim Fay, Lucy Hays, and Claudia O’Neill – have been recommended to audition for the MMEA All State Festival in January!

The MPS Music Department hosted over 900 students for the MMEA Eastern District Senior Auditions at MHS on Saturday, November 19. This is no small undertaking and we owe a big thank you to MMEA, FAME, our wonderful student volunteers, and the MPS Music Department, especially organizers Rebecca Damiani, Julia Hanna and Colleen Martin. 

Finally, at a pep rally just before Thanksgiving break, all of MHS celebrated a successful fall, a fun spirit week, the Thanksgiving football game and the upcoming Superbowl. Want to take a peek at their fun? Check out the Spirit Week video (with some football highlights!) in the video below. Thank you to our student leaders and MHS administration for planning such a fun week for our MHS community!

Please read below for information about tonight’s Post Secondary Planning night at MHS, 8th Grade Information Night at MHS, the MPS Holiday Giving Drive, important kindergarten and preschool dates, classroom highlights, and more. 

MPS NEED TO KNOW

IMPORTANT DATES

  • Dec 1 Post Secondary Planning Night
  • Dec 5, 6, 8 Milton Town Meeting 
  • Dec 7 School Committee Meeting 
  • Dec 7 MHS 9-12th Winter Concert
  • Dec 8 Early Release K-12, P/T Conferences Grades K-5
  • Dec 13 Pierce 6th Grade Concert at MHS
  • Dec 14 Pierce 7th & 8th Grade Concert at MHS
  • Dec 15 SEPAC Meeting 
  • Dec 15 MHS 8th Grade Information Night 
  • Dec 20 MHS Cabaret 
  • Dec 21 School Committee Meeting 
  • Dec 23 No School Winter Break Begins 
  • Jan 3 School Resumes 

MPS Calendars: 2022-23 One Page School Year Calendar and Link to MPS Monthly Calendar. 

SCHOOL COMMITTEE 

The next regular School Committee meeting will be on December 7 , 2022 at 7pm. All information (including agendas and links to attend) about School Committee meetings can be found on the Town of Milton webpage. You can watch School Committee meetings live on Milton Access TV online, live on Milton Access cable channels (Comcast 22, RCN 15) or watch on-demand in the days following the meeting.

POST SECONDARY PLANNING NIGHT

TONIGHT:Please join the MHS School Counseling Department for their annual Post Secondary Planning Night on Thursday, December 1, from 6:15-8:30 pm. Families will have the opportunity to attend the information sessions that most interest them. Sessions include How to Pay for College, Alternative Paths, Training in the Military, Start Planning for your Child’s Future, Trade Talk, Admissions Advisory: Private Colleges and Public Universities and College Testing: ACT vs SAT. The evening is targeted to parents and guardians of students in Grades 8-11, but all are welcome to attend. We hope you will join us for this valuable evening as you begin to think about your child’s post secondary plans. 

MHS INFORMATION NIGHT

Please join us on Thursday, December 15 at 6:30pm in the Milton High School Auditorium (25 Gile Rd) for an opportunity to learn about Milton High School course offerings, academic and extracurricular programs, athletics, and activities that prepare students for college and life beyond high school. Current 8th grade students, parents, and guardians are invited to attend this information session and tour of Milton High School.

KINDERGARTEN 2023-24

We are excited to begin welcoming the class of 2036 to the Milton Public Schools!  Parents and guardians are invited to join MPS administrators and staff for Kindergarten Information Night on Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 6:30pm. Come learn about the Kindergarten curriculum, Health Services, Transportation, Milton Community Schools before and after school programs, school assignments, and the online registration process.  Specific details about the evening’s format will be announced closer to the event.

Children must be 5 years of age on or before August 31, 2023 in order to enroll in Kindergarten for the 2023-2024 school year. MPS invites all families with age eligible children to complete this Kindergarten Pre-registration Questionnaire. If you have any questions or need additional information please contact Marti O’Keefe McKenna, MPS Family Outreach at mmckenna@miltonps.org or 617-980-7343. 

PRESCHOOL 2023-24

MPS has a variety of preschool programs for our youngest learners, and we are excited to share details about them at our upcoming Preschool Information Night. Please see below for upcoming preschool dates. 

  • Preschool Information Night – Thursday, January 12, 2023
  • Preschool Pre-registration – Thursday, January 12, 2023 – Thursday, January 26, 2023
  • Preschool Lottery, if necessary – Friday, January 27, 2023

MPS GOOD TO KNOW 

MPS HOLIDAY GIVING DRIVE

The Milton Public Schools is partnering with My Brother’s Keeper, the Milton Residents Fund, and the MPS School Counseling department to ensure all Milton families in need have a wonderful holiday season. There are three ways for MPS families to help support these efforts, and families at any grade level are invited to participate in any of the drives. 

Elementary Toy Drive: The Holiday Toy Drive organized by our elementary PTOs will run from December 5-8 in our elementary schools. We need donations of all types of items, and popular gifts include Legos, LOL Surprise dolls, dolls representing a diverse array of skin tones, cultures, and ethnicities, superhero action figures, arts and craft kits, science/STEM kits, board games, video games, books, a football or basketball, outdoor active toys, or anything representing Boston sports teams.  We cannot accept food or violent games. $25 Target Gift Cards are always needed as well.

We are once again partnering with two local toy shops and encourage you to check out their great toy selections while supporting the toy drive: The Toy Chest in East Milton or The Toy Box in Hanover (owned by a Milton family). Bring your new, unwrapped item(s) to a collection box in the lobby of the elementary schools between December 5-8. 

Pierce Families Helping Families: Each year, our school counselors identify Pierce families in need and collect gift cards to be distributed to them for the holidays. This program, Families Helping Families, provides an opportunity for your family to bring a little bit of holiday spirit to family at Pierce Middle School in the most anonymous and quiet way. If you are interested in supporting this effort, please bring your gift card donation to the main office at Pierce by December 16 and deposit it in the sealed box located in the front office. We recommend gift cards to Star Market, Shaws, Stop & Shop, Target, and Old Navy, but we will, of course, accept gift cards from all stores. 

MHS Teen Gift Card Drive: MHS School Counseling supports teens and families in need with gift cards during the holiday season. If you would like to anonymously support an MHS family or student, please consider dropping a $25 gift card from Target or Amazon to the MHS to the MHS front office by December 9. 

Our School Counselors and Family Outreach Liaison Marti O’Keefe McKenna work with the Milton Residents Fund and My Brothers Keeper to ensure MPS families are supported throughout the holiday season.  Thank you for helping us make the holiday season a little brighter for our neighbors!

__________

If you are in need of assistance this holiday season (or at any time), please reach out to your building principal or Marti O’Keefe McKenna, MPS Family Outreach Liaison, at 617-980-7343 or by email at mmckenna@miltonps.org.  All calls and emails are confidential.

DECEMBER VACATION CAMP 

The December Vacation Camp flyer can be found here.  Registration on Family ID is open. All information can be found on the MCS website.

KATIE GREER AT MPS

On September 29th, Katie Greer came to Milton and spoke to all 3rd-5th grade students on digital citizenship.  That evening, Katie delivered a powerful parent/guardian session titled, Keeping Students Safe in a Digital World.  On January 5th, Katie will be returning to Milton to speak to all of our secondary students.  That evening she will deliver another parent/guardian session at 6pm in the Pierce auditorium.  Please complete the short survey linked here to help us determine the topic for Katie’s evening session on January 5th, 2023.

MPS NICE TO KNOW

THE CALCULUS PROJECT

Each term, The Calculus Project will award two TCP students per grade Calculus Project Term awards. These students were chosen because of their growth and hard work in math class and the Tutoring Center. Congratulations to 9th graders Natan Fanon, Ryan Denny, 10th graders Alex Alexis, Gisele Dimanche, 11th graders Alessandra Lyons, Kai Quinones, and 12th graders Amira Wallace and Tale Odion-Ukpebor! Please read about our Term 1 award winners here.

In more The Calculus Project news, TCP seniors attended a tour of Boston University this week. While on the tour the students got a first hand look at the college lifestyle as well as navigating the city. They learned about the many majors BU offers as well as financial aid, dormitory living, and dining options. Students enjoyed asking the BU student tour guide questions about college life and what they should expect in the future. After the tour several students reported they are interested in applying to BU and enjoyed the experience overall. TCP is interested in touring more colleges in the future. 

COLLICOT 2ND GRADE PRESENTATIONS 

Ms. Ostrowski’s Collicot 2nd graders recently wrapped up a Reach for Reading unit about animal adaptations and features for survival. The culmination of the unit was a research project on an animal of their choice. Students created Google Slides from the information the learned and then presented to an audience of classmates and parents. We are so proud of their hard work!

CUNNINGHAM 5TH GRADE BAKERS

Mrs. Chen and Ms. McDonough’s Cunningham 5th graders contributed to their family’s Thanksgiving tables with loaves of homemade bread! Students had fun making their doughy loaves and went home with a ready to bake bread dough loaf.  You can see the bakers in action here.

PROJECT 351

The Commonwealth’s Project 351 celebrates the ethic of service, youth leadership, and the unifying and uplifting power of community. Pierce 8th grade student Adam C. has been selected as Milton’s Project 351 ambassador. Through his yearlong ambassador journey, Adam will represent Milton in a variety of leadership roles and community service projects. Congratulations, Adam!!

SOPHIAS SOCK DRIVE

Pierce 6th grader Sophia Cassini has been collecting for people experiencing homelessness for 8 years, since she was 4 years old! You can read about Sophia’s efforts and how you can support them here. Donations are welcome at Pierce Middle School, 178 Lyman Rd and 3 Phyllis Lane  until December 16.  

 

MUSIC DEPARTMENT FUNDRAISER

Looking for an easy and healthy holiday gift idea? Support the Milton Music Department by ordering from our online citrus fruit fundraiser anytime between now and December 11th! Gift boxes or crates of fresh fruit are guaranteed to ship directly to the recipient in time for Christmas. Whether you’re shopping for yourself, your family, colleagues, neighbors, or friends, these delicious gift boxes are sure to be a hit. Use the QR code below or visit this link to order through our website. The sale closes on December 11th, so don’t delay!

 

ATHLETICS

The MHS Boosters share the updates below.

COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS

Please use the links below or visit the MPS Community News & Events page for information on these terrific community events and opportunities! 

The Milton Coalition shares the following events.

  • December 8, 6:30pm join us for a reception at the Wozit Gallery in the Milton Public Library for “Voices: Two Exhibits that Raise the Voices of Milton Residents”.
  • Kevin P. Hill, M.D., M.H.S., is an addiction psychiatrist, Director of the Division of Addiction Psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He will be joining us for a community discussion about marijuana on January 9, at 7pm. There will be limited free tickets available for the in-person presentation, as well as virtual access. Details to follow closer to the event. 
  • Youth Mental Health First Aid training is back on February 10. Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents ages 12-18. Mental health training is valuable for teachers and school staff, coaches, camp counselors, youth group leaders, parents, and other adults who work with youth. Training is free and at Laboure College, right here in Milton, will be hosting this daytime training. Details and registration coming soon.

Milton Soccer: Registration is now open for our spring 2023 soccer programs.  Please visit our Milton Soccer website  for all details on programs or to register (or use the direct registration link).  Please note that the grade 9-12 registration will open in March. The deadline to register is January 7th (on January 8th waitlist and late fees apply).

The Milton Public Library’s calendar of December programs can be found here. Visit the Milton Public Library to kick off the start of December with some winter festivities:

  • Saturday, December 3 from 10 am – 4pm. Join us for a sweet adventure at Life-Size Candyland! Kids, see if you can beat your parents to the Candy Castle to rescue King Kandy, while at the same time practicing counting and color recognition. Sign up for a timeslot today!
  • Thursday, December 8 at 2:30pm.  Get ready to sing and dance with Elsa and Anna at our Frozen Sing-Along movie showing! No registration required.

To learn more and to register for programs for kids, teens, and adults,please visit the MPL website.

On Saturday, December 11, from 8am-4 pm, Fontbonne welcomes five well-known children’s authors to Fontbonne as part of our Christmas at Fontbonne Book Fair. There will be author presentations and signings, craft activities, face painting, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, food tables and more. $10 per family pre-registration is required. All details are here. 

Milton resident Pauline Wells, will perform in “Home For Christmas” on Saturday, December 3 at 7:30 at the Norwood Theater. The 2022 production of Home for Christmas will once again feature a superb lineup of guest artists, dancers and musicians. This concert benefits “Cops for Kids with Cancer” and all details can be found here. 

SUPERINTENDENT SHOUTOUT

We owe a big shout out to Dan Kerrigan, his team at Steel and Rye, and all the members of the community who made a donation to make the Thanksgiving dinner program possible. Through the team’s rigorous work and the community’s generosity twenty-six MPS families received a complete Thanksgiving dinner, including turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and gravy topped off with a pumpkin pie to complete the feast. We are extremely grateful for the thoughtfulness and dedication of the Steel and Rye community of employees and friends at Thanksgiving and throughout the year.

A special thank you to our MPS delivery teams – Jackie and Caroline Morgan, Marti O’Keefe McKenna and Stephanie O’Keefe. On Thanksgiving morning, their cars were overflowing with dinners, and each was delivered safely to its recipient. A sincere thank you to all who made this effort possible!

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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, 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 a 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 and Human Resources Dr. Garth McKinney, (617) 696- 4808/4809.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on December 1, 2022

November 17, 2022

To: Parents/Guardians and Staff
From: Interim Superintendent Janet Sheehan
Re: Superintendent’s Weekly Update
Date: November 17, 2022

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

We are a few days removed from the final performance of Beauty and the Beast at Milton High School and the energy is just now leaving the building! I attended with my granddaughter and we were both mesmerized – the show was outstanding, and the cast truly wowed the sold out audiences with amazing songs, dramatic scenes, big dance numbers and wonderful comic moments. Behind every successful show is a hardworking technical crew and each performance of Beauty and the Beast was solely run by MHS students. They were the stage managers, sound and light operators, and backstage crew that worked so hard to keep the show running smoothly. We are proud of our students who made this show come to life, and also give a big thank you to the adult directors and musical directors, the many parent volunteers from the Backstage Boosters and MHS administrators who made this show possible. You can see the full list of cast and crew members here. Next up for MHS Theatre? Mama Mia coming in spring 2023!

MHS Chorus, Marching Band, and Color Guard students were proud to perform as part of the Milton Veteran’s Day Ceremony on Friday, November 11th. After marching from MHS to Town Hall, the Chorus opened the program with the Star Spangled Banner and “Lift Every Voice and Sing” before hearing thoughtful and touching speeches from several veterans and community members. Later in the program, Chorus and Marching Band students performed the Armed Forces Medley together, followed by adorable renditions of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag” by Tucker students. The Marching Band closed out the program with “God Bless America”. 

Next week is Thanksgiving, and MPS is closed from November 23-25 for the holiday. I wish you and your family a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday. Please read below for information about the Superintendent search, an upcoming School Committee Forum on Safe and Supportive Schools, Post Secondary Planning night at MHS, 8th Grade Information Night at MHS, the MPS Holiday Giving Drive, Reading about Diversity in our elementary schools, and more. 

MPS NEED TO KNOW

IMPORTANT DATES

  • Nov 23-25 Thanksgiving Break 
  • Nov 30 School Committee Forum 
  • Dec 1 Post Secondary Planning Night
  • Dec 5, 6, 8 Milton Town Meeting 
  • Dec 7 School Committee Meeting 
  • Dec 8 Early Release K-12, P/T Conferences Grades K-5
  • Dec 13 Pierce 6th Grade Concert at MHS
  • Dec 14 Pierce 7th & 8th Grade Concert at MHS
  • Dec 15 SEPAC Meeting 
  • Dec 15 MHS 8th Grade Information Night 
  • Dec 20 MHS Cabaret 
  • Dec 21 School Committee Meeting 
  • Dec 23 No School Winter Break Begins 
  • Jan 3 School Resumes 

MPS Calendars: 2022-23 One Page School Year Calendar and Link to MPS Monthly Calendar.

SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH UPDATE

Thank you to all who attended the staff, student and community Superintendent Search Focus Groups this week. We invite all community members to share their input on the Superintendent search by completing the survey linked here, which will be open through Friday, November 18. 

Thank you to all who submitted interest in serving on the Screening Committee. There was substantial interest in serving which speaks well of the commitment of our community. The list of Screening Committee members can be found here. 

The Massachusetts Association of School Committees and Executive Director Glenn Koocher is assisting us with the search for the next Superintendent.  If you would like to contact Mr. Koocher directly, he can be reached at gkoocher@masc.org

For reference, the posting for the Superintendent position can be found here and the application can be accessed here. The deadline for applications is midnight on November 28th. 

SCHOOL COMMITTEE FORUM – SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOLS 

On Wednesday, November 30, from 7-8:30pm, the School Committee will host the second of four public forums for the Milton community. The forum will provide a 30 minute presentation on Safe and Supportive Schools, a pillar of the MPS Strategic Plan. Following the presentation by MPS faculty, community members will be invited to ask questions and share comments about Safe and Supportive Schools. MPS administrators, faculty, and School Committee members will respond to questions and comments and share their perspectives on the issues. 

Safe and Supportive Schools foster a safe, positive, healthy, and inclusive whole school learning environment. In the Milton Public Schools, we strive to support students holistically in key areas of development through the implementation of practices grounded in the prioritization of SEL competencies and trauma-informed instruction. In accordance with current research, MPS has prioritized fostering safe and supportive schools as a critical foundation for maximizing teaching and learning and academic excellence in safe, positive, healthy, and inclusive school learning environments.

The public forum will be held at the Council on Aging, at 10 Walnut St, just behind Town Hall. The meeting will be hybrid, with attendees able to participate in person and through Zoom at this link (Passcode: 168556). All links to attend are posted on the main page of the MPS website linked here.

POST SECONDARY PLANNING NIGHT

Please join the MHS School Counseling Department for their annual Post Secondary Planning Night on Thursday, December 1, from 6:15-8:30 pm. Over two hours, families will have the opportunity to attend the information sessions that most interest them. Sessions include How to Pay for College, Alternative Paths, Training in the Military, Start Planning for your Child’s Future, Trade Talk, Admissions Advisory: Private Colleges and Public Universities and College Testing: ACT vs SAT. The evening is targeted to parents and guardians of students in Grades 8-11 but all are welcome to attend. We hope you will join us for this valuable evening as you begin to think about your child’s post secondary plans. 

 

DECEMBER VACATION CAMP 

The December Vacation Camp flyer can be found here.  Registration on Family ID starts next Wednesday, November 16. All information can be found on the MCS website

MHS INFORMATION NIGHT 

Please join us on Thursday, December 15 at 6:30pm in the Milton High School Auditorium (25 Gile Rd) for an opportunity to learn about Milton High School course offerings, academic and extracurricular programs, athletics and activities that prepare students for college and life beyond high school. Current 8th grade students, parents and guardians are invited to attend this informational session and tour of Milton High School.

FREE AT HOME COVID TESTS

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) (in conjunction with Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Public Health) is providing at-home COVID-19 tests at no cost to public school districts. These tests are intended for use by students and staff to support the return to school process after Thanksgiving and Winter breaks. We recommend tests be used no sooner than 24 hours prior to returning to school after these holiday breaks.

MPS is happy to take part in this program, and school nurses will distribute these test kits next week to staff/ students who are interested. If you are interested in free COVID tests, please see below for details.

  • Elementary: Test kits will be distributed to students in their classrooms. Please email your school nurse with your student’s name/teacher by Sunday, November 20th to ensure that a test kit is sent home with your student.
  • Pierce and MHS: Test kits will be available in the main lobby during Advisory periods. An announcement will be made on Monday and Tuesday that interested students should come to the main lobby and pick up a test. Please speak with your student in advance and ask them to pick up a test if you’d like them to participate. 

MPS GOOD TO KNOW 

MPS HOLIDAY GIVING DRIVE

The Milton Public Schools is partnering with My Brother’s Keeper, the Milton Residents Fund, and the MPS School Counseling department to ensure all Milton families in need have a wonderful holiday season. There are three ways for MPS families to help support these efforts, and families at any grade level are invited to participate in any of the drives. 

Elementary Toy Drive: The Holiday Toy Drive organized by our elementary PTOs will run from December 5-8 in our elementary schools. We need donations of all types of items, and popular gifts include Legos, LOL Surprise dolls, dolls representing a diverse array of skin tones, cultures, and ethnicities, superhero action figures, arts and craft kits, science/STEM kits, board games, video games, books, a football or basketball, outdoor active toys, or anything representing Boston sports teams.  We cannot accept food or violent games. $25 Target Gift Cards are always needed as well.

We are once again partnering with two local toy shops and encourage you to check out their great toy selections while supporting the toy drive: The Toy Chest in East Milton or The Toy Box in Hanover (owned by a Milton family). Bring your new, unwrapped item(s) to a collection box in the lobby of the elementary schools between December 5-8. 

Pierce Families Helping Families: Each year, our school counselors identify Pierce families in need and collect gift cards to be distributed to them for the holidays. This program, Families Helping Families, provides an opportunity for your family to bring a little bit of holiday spirit to family at Pierce Middle School in the most anonymous and quiet way. If you are interested in supporting this effort, please bring your gift card donation to the main office at Pierce by December 16 and deposit it in the sealed box located in the front office. We recommend gift cards to Star Market, Shaws, Stop & Shop, Target, and Old Navy, but we will, of course, accept gift cards from all stores. 

MHS Teen Gift Card Drive: MHS School Counseling supports teens and families in need with gift cards during the holiday season. If you would like to anonymously support an MHS family or student, please consider dropping a $25 gift card from Target or Amazon to the MHS to the MHS front office by December 9. 

Our School Counselors and Family Outreach Liaison Marti O’Keefe McKenna work with the Milton Residents Fund and My Brothers Keeper to ensure MPS families are supported throughout the holiday season.  Thank you for helping us make the holiday season a little brighter for our neighbors!

__________

If you are in need of assistance this holiday season (or at any time), please reach out to your building principal or Marti O’Keefe McKenna, MPS Family Outreach Liaison, at 617-980-7343 or by email at mmckenna@miltonps.org.  All calls and emails are confidential.

MILTON SOCCER EQUIPMENT DRIVE

Milton Soccer Uniform Program: 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) to collection bins located in the lobbies of Collicot/Cunningham, Glover, Tucker and Pierce schools or to 34 Cliff Rd. Milton. Collection dates are November 14- 30. Any donations of CLEAN T-Shirts, shorts, socks, shin guards, cleats, and deflated balls and pumps will be gratefully accepted. Uniforms from other sports will also be accepted. For more information, call Madame Brown at 617-696-8125. This project is supported by the Milton Public Schools and Milton Soccer.

KATIE GREER AT MPS

On September 29th, Katie Greer came to Milton and spoke to all 3rd-5th grade students on digital citizenship.  That evening, Katie delivered a powerful parent/guardian session titled, Keeping Students Safe in a Digital World.  On January 5th, Katie will be returning to Milton to speak to all of our secondary students.  That evening she will deliver another parent/guardian session at 6pm in the Pierce auditorium.  Please complete the short survey linked here to help us determine the topic for Katie’s evening session on January 5th, 2023.

MPS NICE TO KNOW

READING ABOUT DIVERSITY 

Reading About Diversity (RAD) is a K-5th grade program run by parent volunteers in our elementary schools. The curriculum, designed by two educators with expertise in diversity and literacy, helps our students to better understand and celebrate our diverse world. At each grade level, five children’s books have been selected with related questions already prepared. Each book also includes writing and/or drawing extensions. Each lesson takes about forty-five minutes to an hour and takes place in your child’s classroom.

Mrs. McKay’s Cunningham 4th grade class kicked off RAD by reading Wings by Christopher Myers. During the class discussion, students talked about differences, acceptance, and bullying. Students talked about standing up for those who are bullied, being friends with kids who are being bullied and talked about our similarities as part of the human race. Students worked hard to write and draw about how to encourage others to accept differences and how to handle issues when others are being bullied. If you are interested in facilitating a RAD lesson, please reach out to your room parent or child’s teacher.

In addition, Cunningham students participated in a variety of anti bullying activities this week, including an excellent assembly earlier today by Vital Dance Crew, who use dance, music and testimonials to relay their message of respect, responsibility and setting goals.  You can see here how engaged students were throughout the presentation! Dr. Redden helped out by sharing how to be kind around school, you can watch his day at Cunningham here. 

TUCKER RAFFLE

The annual Tucker Raffle Calendar is back and contains 22 chances to win over $4,000 worth of prizes in December!  100% of the proceeds go to the Tucker PTO which provides additional funding for field trip buses, library support, artist in residence, music lesson scholarships, in-school experiences and so much more.  Tickets are $10 each and you can win more than once! The more you enter, the more chances to win! Click here to purchase tickets and support Tucker. 

MUSIC DEPARTMENT FUNDRAISER

Looking for an easy and healthy holiday gift idea? Support the Milton Music Department by ordering from our online citrus fruit fundraiser anytime between now and December 11th! Gift boxes or crates of fresh fruit are guaranteed to ship directly to the recipient in time for Christmas. Whether you’re shopping for yourself, your family, colleagues, neighbors, or friends, these delicious gift boxes are sure to be a hit. Use the QR code below or visit this link to order through our website. The sale closes on December 11th, so don’t delay!

 

ATHLETICS

Football is in the Division III State Semifinals tomorrow! The Wildcats finished the regular season 7-0 and then beat Minnechuag and Marblehead to advance to the Final Four. They face Hanover tomorrow, Friday at 7:00pm at Weymouth High School. Make sure to buy your tickets here! The winner advances to the Superbowl at Gillette Stadium!

The Girls Cross Country Team finished in 5th place at the Division IC Meet in Wrentham last Friday, which qualifies them to run in the Division 1 State Championships! The girls will race in the D1 State Championships on Saturday 11/19 at 1:00pm at Fort Devens- 65 Antietam St, Devens.

Good luck to both teams! Be on the lookout for our next Athletics Newsletter next week with Fall All-Stars, Tournament Successes and Winter Sports Registration and Tryout Information.

 

COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS

Please use the links below or visit the MPS Community News & Events page for information on these terrific community events and opportunities! 

The Run to Change Lives is on Saturday, November 19 and starts and ends at Cunningham School. Run, Walk or Roll in support of Cardinal Cushing Centers programs that help individuals with intellectual disabilities! Register online here. 

Holiday Market at the Eustis Estate, Saturday, November 19 10 am – 3pm, Eustis Estate, 1424 Canton Avenue, Milton, MA.  Join us for the 3rd Annual Eustis Estate Holiday Market. This open-air market features a variety of local craftspeople selling unique holiday gifts including jewelry, fiber art, and foodstuffs. Members: free; nonmembers: $5. Due to limited capacity, we recommend that you purchase your timed tickets in advance. Please call 617-994-5914 for more information. 

Milton Soccer: Registration is now open for our spring 2023 soccer programs.  Please visit our Milton Soccer website  for all details on programs or to register (or use the direct registration link).  Please note that the grade 9-12 registration will open in March. The deadline to register is January 7th (on January 8th waitlist and late fees apply).

The Milton Public Library’s calendar of November programs can be found here. Plan ahead and take a look at the December calendar here. To learn more and to register for programs for kids, teens, and adults, please visit the MPL website.

  • Need help finding books to read over the Thanksgiving holiday? Try our BookMatch for Kids! This reader’s advisory service helps anyone in grades K-6 find their next favorite read. Fill out our form to tell us a little more about you, and we’ll email you a list of 8-10 books we think you’ll really like. Find the form here.
  • Visit the Children’s Room anytime on Saturday, November 26 for a Thanksgiving themed Scavenger Hunt! Search and find all the hidden items in order to take home a prize. This activity is for all ages, and registration is not required – just ask the Librarian at the Children’s Desk for a Scavenger Hunt sheet to participate. 

MECA offers “I Can Do It!” Helping Your Child Feel the Power of Independence a virtual educational workshop, for families with children ages 2.5 to 4 years old. Thursday, December 1, at 7p.  Registration at this link is required to receive the Zoom link and passcode.

On Saturday, December 11, from 8am-4 pm, Fontbonne welcomes five well-known children’s authors to Fontbonne as part of our Christmas at Fontbonne Book Fair. There will be author presentations and signings, craft activities, face painting, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, food tables and more. $10 per family pre-registration is required. All details are here. 

Milton resident Pauline Wells, will perform in “Home For Christmas” on Saturday, December 3 at 7:30 at the Norwood Theater. The 2022 production of Home for Christmas will once again feature a superb lineup of guest artists, dancers and musicians. This concert benefits “Cops for Kids with Cancer” and all details can be found here. 

SUPERINTENDENT SHOUTOUT 

Thank you to the Milton Community Food Pantry for supporting food insecure Milton families, during the holidays and throughout the year. Our elementary schools are participating in the pantry’s Thanksgiving food drive with donations of items to make a traditional Thanksgiving meal. In addition to the Thanksgiving bags assembled at our schools, the pantry will provide families with fresh fruit and produce as well as gift cards to purchase a turkey and pies. Thanks to the many parents and guardians who coordinated the food drive and to all who donated.

BLOG SUBSCRIPTION: If you do not receive the Superintendent’s Weekly Update and would like to, please enter your email here to subscribe to this one weekly email.

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 a 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 and Human Resources Dr. Garth McKinney, (617) 696- 4808/4809.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on November 17, 2022

November 10, 2022

To: Parents/Guardians and Staff
From: Interim Superintendent Janet Sheehan
Re: Superintendent’s Weekly Update
Date: November 10, 2022

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

Tomorrow, Friday, November 11, there is no school in the Milton Public Schools in honor of Veterans Day, a nationally observed Federal holiday. This week, our schools recognized our Veterans, with in person events, letters, cards and videos and classroom lessons and presentations. Tomorrow, many of our MHS students will participate in the Town of Milton Veterans Day Ceremony at 11am at Milton Town Hall.

Milton’s Select Board and Milton Veterans Services, along with members of the American Legion Post 114, will conduct ceremonies to commemorate all our Veterans past and present. They will be joined by MHS Wildcat Marching Band and Chorus, our elected leaders, students and Milton Police & Fire Honor Guards. On behalf of the Milton Public Schools, I extend my sincere gratitude to all who have served our country.

 

TONIGHT: Opening night for Beauty and the Beast! This family friendly show is sure to be a crowd pleaser and is offered four times throughout the weekend – Nov 10 at 7pm, Nov 12 at 2 pm and 7 pm, and Nov 13 at 2pm. This is a fantastic opportunity to see a high quality local show with your family while supporting our talented MHS students.  Tickets are available at this link. Break a leg, MHS Theatre! 

Please read below for information about the Superintendent search and ways to participate, the SEPAC meeting on November 14, December Vacation Camp sign ups, Pierce Debate news, elementary art highlights, exciting Athletic news and more. 

MPS NEED TO KNOW

IMPORTANT DATES

  • Nov 10 Beauty and the Beast at MHS 
  • Nov 11 Veterans Day No School
  • Nov 12 Beauty and the Beast at MHS 
  • Nov 13 Beauty and the Beast at MHS 
  • Nov 14, 16 Superintendent Focus Groups for MPS Community
  • Nov 16 School Committee Meeting 
  • Nov 17 Early Release K-12,  P/T Conferences Grades 6-12
  • Nov 23-25 Thanksgiving Break 
  • Nov 30 School Committee Forum 
  • Dec 1 Post Secondary Planning Night

MPS Calendars: 2022-23 One Page School Year Calendar and Link to MPS Monthly Calendar.

SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH UPDATE

The Massachusetts Association of School Committees is assisting us with the search for the next Superintendent for the Milton Public Schools. The posting brochure can be found here and the application can be accessed here. The deadline for applications is midnight on November 28th. 

We hope you can attend one of our two Focus Groups for Milton Parents, Guardians, Caregivers, and Community Members: 

  • November 14, 6:30-8:00pm, in person, MHS Auditorium
  • November 16, 6:00-7:30pm, virtual on Zoom at this link(Meeting ID: 943 0779 7087) One tap mobile +16469313860,,94307797087# US; +19292056099,,94307797087# US (New York)

The School Committee is also offering an opportunity for high school students to voluntarily participate in an after school focus group to share their perspectives on the district’s leadership needs. Mrs. Cahill sent an email this week to all MHS parents, guardians and students with all details on the student focus group.

MPS staff also has the opportunity to participate in two focus groups, and that information was sent directly to staff MPS email.

We invite all community members to share their input on the Superintendent search by completing this survey, which will be open through Friday, November 18.

POST SECONDARY PLANNING NIGHT

Please join the MHS School Counseling Department for their annual Post Secondary Planning Night on Thursday, December 1, from 6:15-8:30 pm. Over two hours, families will have the opportunity to attend the information sessions that most interest them. Sessions include How to Pay for College, Alternative Paths, Training in the Military, Start Planning for your Child’s Future, Trade Talk, Admissions Advisory: Private Colleges and Public Universities and College Testing: ACT vs SAT. The evening is targeted to parents and guardians of students in Grades 8-11 but all are welcome to attend. We hope you will join us for this valuable evening as you begin to think about your child’s post secondary plans. 

SEPAC

Please see below from the SEPAC Board.

Participate, Advocate, Educate! Milton SEPAC will kick off our new season on Monday, November 14 ONLINE by voting in the ’22-’23 board. All are welcome to attend and vote. The SEPAC Board Nomination Form is here. After we install our new board, we will be finalizing our agenda for November ’22- November ’23.  The link to attend the Nov 14 6:30-8 pm SEPAC Zoom Meeting is here. 

MILTON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS 

The December Vacation Camp flyer can be found here.  Registration on Family ID starts next Wednesday, November 16. All information can be found on the MCS website

MHS INFORMATION NIGHT 

Please join us on Thursday, December 15 at 6:30pm in the Milton High School Auditorium (25 Gile Rd) for an opportunity to learn about Milton High School course offerings, academic and extracurricular programs, athletics and activities that prepare students for college and life beyond high school. Current 8th grade students, parents and guardians are invited to attend this informational session and tour of Milton High School.

MPS GOOD TO KNOW 

FRUIT CENTER SHOPPING WEEK

The Fruit Center Shopping week ends on Sunday November 13, and it’s easy to participate and raise funds for your child’s school. All details can be found here. 

Thank you to the Fruit Center for their generous support of our schools!

MPS SWAG 

On Saturday, many of our PTOs, school and community organizations gathered at Steel and Rye for the 2nd Annual Holiday Shop. Thank to you MPS parent Bill Resnick for organizing! If you missed out and are looking for MPS and Milton SWAG – hoodies, t-shirts, blankets, hats, travel cups, flags and much more – please see the following links. MHS Boosters, MHS FAME, Pierce PTO (email), Cunningham PTO, Glover PTO, Tucker PTO, Collicot PTO, and Milton Youth Football & Cheer. 

MPS SOCCER EQUIPMENT DRIVE

Milton Soccer Uniform Program: 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) to collection bins located in the lobbies of Collicot/Cunningham, Glover, Tucker and Pierce schools or to 34 Cliff Rd. Milton. Collection dates are November 14- 30. Any donations of CLEAN T-Shirts, shorts, socks, shin guards, cleats, and deflated balls and pumps will be gratefully accepted. Uniforms from other sports will also be accepted.

Thank you for your support! For more information, call Madame Brown at 617-696-8125
This project is supported by the Milton Public Schools and Milton Soccer.

MPS NICE TO KNOW

PIERCE SCHOOLS TO CAREERS

Mr. Romeo is working with Schools to Careers to offer opportunities for students to learn more about STEM careers in medicine. Last week, staff from South Shore Hospital came to talk with students about different therapy based jobs. Students had the opportunity to try to complete a task – decorating cookies –  with a physical impairment which helped our students better understand the challenges patients face and the importance of this work.

PIERCE DEBATE 

On November 5th, the Pierce Middle School Debate Team participated in the Lumos November Invitational Debate Tournament with students debating whether or not the United States should institute term limits for Supreme Court Justices.

Students used the Public Forum Debate format to discuss the positive and negative consequences of term limits. Students Danica Carino, Alicia Chan, Adam C., Alex DeGregorio, John Griffin, Jonathan Hsu, Teddy Hsu, Sara Khan, Ellis Lim, Lillie Mitchell, Ivy Muzquiz, Ben Neugebauer, Sadie Schweitzer, Avery Squiciarino, Nate Stanesa, Zara Tahir, Thinh Tran, Alisa Villar, and Ace Wetzner-Crothers competed in this tournament. Pierce students received some terrific recognition! 

  • Jonathan Hsu and Teddy Hsu received Speaker Awards for delivering speeches in a clear and eloquent manner.
  • Adam C. and Avery Squiciarino earned fifth place in this competitive tournament.
  • John Griffin and Ben Neugebauer won first place in this tournament, beating out dozens and dozens of competitors from across the state.

The Pierce Debate Team was thrilled to participate in our first tournament of the 2022-2023 school year. Congratulations to the team and we look forward to hearing about your next competition in December.

PIERCE ENGLISH

Ms. Power’s 8th grade IS English students are currently reading “Chasing Lincoln’s Killer” by James Swanson. Students acted as reporters and wrote “breaking news” articles on the shooting at Ford’s Theatre , using only the information known at the time of the shooting. Even though they knew the outcome of the shooting, they could not yet declare President Lincoln as dead as he died the morning after at 7:22AM. You’ll see below that students used their knowledge of the facts and writing skills to complete their articles.

6TH GRADE ART 

Mr. Mannings 6th grade art students have been learning about the haunting art of Tim Burton and his magical character designs. Students learned about unique character features and portraiture and used black and white charcoal and smudging tools to create these one of a kind selfies. We discussed how Burton exaggerates his facial features and how he uses unique shaped heads and crazy hairstyles. Artists had fun creating these haunting selfies inspired by the “Nightmare before Christmas”.

CUNNINGHAM WELCOMES WALSHVILLE

Walshville hit the map at Cunningham last week! Mrs. Walsh’s 2nd graders have been learning about communities in both reading and social studies this fall. To support their learning, each student constructed one piece of the community and together they assembled an entire town. Students wrote letters to community members who work in their building and invited them  visit the class and speak about their job in our community. So far the class has welcomed Dr. Redden, Mr. Patel from Pleasant Street Deli, Mr. Schramm from Milton Post Office and Milton Police Officer Maria Poles. They are looking forward to a visit from employees from BID- Milton and Lifetime Fitness.

ELEMENTARY ART 

Collicot and Cunningham 2n grade students completed their ceramic apples this week. Students learned how to create a pinch pot and then use the “scratch & attach” technique to add a stem, leaf and seeds to their sculpture. After the clay apples dried, they were fired in the kiln and turned into bisqueware. Students then added paint to their apples to make them totally irresistible!

TUCKER RAFFLE

The annual Tucker Raffle Calendar is back and contains 22 chances to win over $4,000 worth of prizes in December!  100% of the proceeds go to the Tucker PTO which provides additional funding for field trip buses, library support, artist in residence, music lesson scholarships, in-school experiences and so much more.  Tickets are $10 each and you can win more than once! The more you enter, the more chances to win! Click here to purchase tickets and support Tucker. 

ATHLETICS

Congratulations to Katie O’Toole for signing her Division I Letter of Intent to run Cross Country and Track and Field at the College of Charleston.

Katie  was a part of the relay team with Marilyn Roche, Mia Jilani and Gretel Schewe (and alternate Sarah Grace) at the New Balance Nationals in Philadelphia, finishing 7th. Katie , Christina Sullivan, Norah Affanato and Mia Jilani were the 5th fastest 4×800 relay in Massachusetts for Indoor Track. 

This past April, Katie won the Student-Athlete of the Month Award. She won the mile against Braintree and Walpole and then anchored the 4×800 meter to a victory at the Division III State Relay event at Oliver Ames. She also finished 2nd at the BSC Meet in May. Katie has earned All-Scholastics Honors 3 times (Patriot Ledger twice & Boston Herald). She was just named a Bay State Conference All-Star for this past Cross Country Season!

What a great week it has been for the Wildcats! You can read the Ryan Maddens full newsletter here. Thank you to MHS student Riley Donovan and Roy Chambers for our pictures this week. 

The Volleyball Team got things started with an epic 3-2 win over Burlington after trailing 9-2 in the final set. They lost to Westboro 3-0 on Tuesday night to end their season.

The Football Team finished the season undefeated (7-0), earning the #1 Seed in the MIAA Division 3 Tournament. They hosted the Minnechaug Falcons, cruising to a 46-21 win. Jack Finnegan was all over the place, catching TDs, scoring 10 points with his kicking, and also intercepting a pass in the second half. They host Marblehead on Friday, 11/11 at 6:00pm. Tickets are available at this link 

The Cross Country Team showed well at the Frank Mooney Invitational on Saturday, 11/5.

  • Freshman 3k – Lauren Cooper finished 8th
  • Sophomore 5k – Mia Jilani finished 6th, Julie Affanato finished 12th
  • Junior 5k – Alec Carew finished 3rd

Field Hockey won their first tournament game in 17 years in dramatic fashion, trailing 2-0 and trying the game with 46 seconds left. Lily Brockmyre scored both goals in regulation and Meghan Mylod scored the winner in OT to win 3-2! They lost 3-0 to Nashoba on Wednesday night, and will be looking to go even further next year.

Boys Soccer earned the #13 seed in the MIAA Division 2 Tournament. They beat East Longmeadow in OT 1-0! After rattling the woodwork in regulation, Christopher Rhoden scored just a minute into the overtime period to send the ‘Cats to the next round. They travel to Westboro tonight for a 6pm game.

The Swim and Dive Team did great at sectionals last weekend! Kaleigh Boynton finished 7th in the 100 breaststroke and dropped 2 seconds in the 200 Individual medley to finish 9th. Jackson Wagner won the 200 freestyle and the 100 butterfly, Malachi Buchanan won the 100 freestyle and placed second in the 50 freestyle, and Colby Moskos won the 200 Individual medley and placed second in the 100 breaststroke. Top three finishers in individual events were Ryan Kelly, Aidan Crummey, and Tucker Korman. The boys won all three relays and won the meet by over 100 points!

Winter Registration remains open and the user fee should be paid prior to the start of tryouts. Information can be found here.

COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS

Please use the links below or visit the MPS Community News & Events page for information on these terrific community events and opportunities! 

Mackie’s Barber Shop will hold the 6th Annual Veterans Day Cut-a-Thon on Saturday, November 12th from 8am to 1pm. All details can be found here. 

The Run to Change Lives is on Saturday, November 19 and starts and ends at Cunningham School. Run, Walk or Roll in support of Cardinal Cushing Centers programs that help individuals with intellectual disabilities! Register online here. 

The Milton Public Library’s calendar of November programs can be found here. To learn more and to register for programs for kids, teens, and adults, please visit the MPL website.

  • Teen volunteers needed! Earn community service hours and help our Children’s Department put on some exciting programs. New shifts are available each month, and shifts are filled first-replied, first-scheduled. Email our Teen Librarian, Tyler Vachon, at tvachon@ocln.org to get started. 
  • Calling all cooks in Grades 6-12! Join us on Thursday, November 17 at 3:30PM for a hands-on cooking class with local chef and cookbook author Didi Emmons. Learn how to make a cruelty- and animal-free Thanksgiving day dinner while absorbing basic cooking skills. Register here today.

The Forbes House Museum is offering two virtual events in November. On November 10, Professor Dane Morrison will speak about his book “Eastward of Good Hope: America in a Dangerous World.” Then on November 15, Geralyn Hughes will speak about the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture. For more information and to register for these Zoom events, visit our website  and click on “Events.”

Brookwood Community Farm continues the season through most of November with the farm stand open Tuesday & Thursdays 2 – 6:30 pm and Saturdays 9 – 1pm.  Our food distribution to food pantries,  shelters, fridges will continue through Thanksgiving including box donations planned for Dorchester ABCD.  Pre-purchase a box to be picked up at our End of Season Sale on Sunday November 20 from 11 – 2 or just come to shop for bulk produce and other items like honey and maple syrup. Please see our event details here.  If we have anything left to sell, we may open on Nov 22. Want to get more involved? Please see our Volunteer page.

MECA offers “I Can Do It!” Helping Your Child Feel the Power of Independence a virtual educational workshop, for families with children ages 2.5 to 4 years old. The transition back to “normal” routines after COVID has posed many challenges for children and adults alike. This workshop will discuss factors that contribute to children’s ability to cope with change and offer tips for supporting consistent routines and smooth transitions, including separation anxiety.Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 7:00 PM.  Registration at this link is required to receive the Zoom link and passcode.

BLOG SUBSCRIPTION: If you do not receive the Superintendent’s Weekly Update and would like to, please enter your email here to subscribe to this one weekly email.

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 a 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 and Human Resources Dr. Garth McKinney, (617) 696- 4808/4809.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on November 10, 2022

November 3, 2022

To: Parents/Guardians and Staff
From: Acting Superintendent Janet Sheehan
Re: Superintendent’s Weekly Update
Date: November 3, 2022

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

Over 90 costume fittings, a massive set almost ready for paint and almost 1,500 tickets sold. Have you purchased yours? Ticket link at left!

We are just one week away from the opening night of MHS Theatre’s production of Beauty and the Beast! This family friendly show is sure to be a crowd pleaser and is offered four times throughout the weekend – Nov 10 at 7pm, Nov 12 at 2 pm and 7 pm, and Nov 13 at 2pm. This is a fantastic opportunity to see a high quality local show with your family while supporting our talented MHS students. We have heard the music and seen the set design and costumes evolve over the many weeks of rehearsal at Milton High School – don’t miss out on this terrific show! Tickets are available at this link. Break a leg, MHS Theatre! 


On Tuesday of this week, MPS had the first full Professional Development day of the school year. We are so grateful to the Milton School Committee for making this day possible and to our MPS families who recognize the value of ongoing Professional Development. This day was designed to support key learning across the district.

Elementary staff engaged in Math and Social Studies PD, while Pierce and MHS staff spent time on DataWise and Universal Design for Learning. All staff then received PD on Calm Classroom and Trauma Sensitive Classrooms. We continuously ask for staff feedback on these PD sessions to assure we are delivering the most valuable PD sessions to MPS staff. 

Please read below for information about the School Committee Forum on Personalized Learning, Superintendent Search Updates, SEPAC updates, Post Secondary Planning Night on Dec 1, Fruit Center Shopping Week, Milton Holiday Shop, Athletic tournament info and more. 

MPS NEED TO KNOW

IMPORTANT DATES

  • Nov 5 Milton Holiday Shop 
  • Nov 9 School Committee Forum on Personalized Learning 
  • Nov 10 Beauty and the Beast at MHS 
  • Nov 11 Veterans Day No School
  • Nov 12 Beauty and the Beast at MHS 
  • Nov 13 Beauty and the Beast at MHS 
  • Nov 16 School Committee 
  • Nov 17 Early Release P/T Conferences Grades 6-12
  • Nov 23-25 Thanksgiving Break 

MPS Calendars: 2022-23 One Page School Year Calendar and Link to MPS Monthly Calendar.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE PUBLIC FORUM

On Wednesday, November 9, from 7-8:30pm, the School Committee will host the first of four public forums for the Milton community. The forum will provide a brief presentation on Personalized Learning,  a pillar of the MPS Strategic Plan. Personalized Learning is an educational approach that creates engaging learning experiences aligned with each student’s strengths, interests, and needs and ensures that students will experience a robust and academically rich school experience. 

Community members will be invited to ask questions and share comments about Personalized Learning. MPS Administration, School Committee members, and Personalized Learning authority Cyndy Taymore, who is providing the district with Professional Development, will respond to questions and comments and share their perspectives on the issues. 

The public forum will be held at the Council on Aging, at 10 Walnut St, just behind Town Hall. The meeting will be hybrid, with attendees able to participate in person and through this Zoom link (Passcode: 168556).

SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH UPDATE

As announced at the November 2 School Committee meeting (discussion starts at 1 hour twenty six minutes into the meeting), the School Committee is launching an expedited search process to identify the next Superintendent of Milton Public Schools. This process will include opportunities for stakeholders to share their input and priorities for the Screening Committee to consider as they review applications and interview candidates. One such opportunity is the chance to attend a focus group and make your voice heard. Please save the date for our two Focus Groups for Milton Parents, Guardians, Caregivers, and Community Members! 

We are working on setting up a separate focus group opportunity for MPS students, and there will be focus groups for MPS staff. In addition to focus groups, there will be a survey distributed to all community members as another way to share your thoughts with the Screening Committee.

In addition, a Superintendent Screening Committee is being formed to review and interview applicants and recommend 2-3 finalist candidates to the School Committee. The School Committee will then interview and appoint a new Superintendent. There are three seats available for parents/guardians to serve on the Screening Committee. All timeline details and the form to submit interest in participating on the Screening Committee can be found in the letter sent to all MPS parents and guardians earlier today and linked here . The deadline to submit interest is 5:00 pm on November 9th.  

POST SECONDARY PLANNING NIGHT

Please join the MHS School Counseling Department for their annual Post Secondary Planning Night on Thursday, December 1, from 6:15-8:30 pm. Over two hours, families will have the opportunity to attend the information sessions that most interest them. Sessions include How to Pay for College, Services for Students with Disabilities, Start Planning for your Child’s Future, Trade Talk, Admissions Advisory: Private Colleges and Public Universities and College Testing: ACT vs SAT. The evening is targeted to parents and guardians of students in Grades 8-11 but all are welcome to attend. We hope you will join us for this valuable evening as you begin to think about your child’s post secondary plans. 

HEALTH AND SAFETY 

The Commonwealth, the Northeast and much of the US are seeing increases in respiratory illness in infants and children. As we approach the winter months, please see the suggestions linked in the letter here for preventing respiratory illness, shared jointly by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

SEPAC

Please see below from the SEPAC Board.

Participate: Milton SEPAC will kick off our new season on Monday, November 14 by voting in the ’22-’23 board. All are welcome to attend this virtual meeting (link will be available next week). Please visit this Nominations Form and vote for the SPEPAC Board today! 

Educate & Advocate: Visit the Federation for Children with Special Needs calendar to see many free opportunities to educate and learn about advocacy. 

MPS GOOD TO KNOW 

FRUIT CENTER SHOPPING WEEK

Fruit Center Shopping week is November 7-11, and it’s easy to participate and raise funds for your child’s school. Thank you to the Fruit Center for their generous support of our schools!

  • Download a shopping voucher for your school here. Print as many as you’d like and share them with friends, family and neighbors. There are also social media promotional graphics and QR codes that you can use to promote this event to your school community.
  • Present your voucher when you make purchases at the Fruit Center Marketplace from Monday, November 7 through Sunday, November 13, 2022. Shop as often as you like and use your voucher for every shopping trip you make.
  • The Fruit Center will donate 20% of your total purchase back to your school.
  • All details can be found here. 

2ND ANNUAL MILTON HOLIDAY SHOP

On Saturday, November 5th from 12-3pm at Steel and Rye, join our school PTOs, MHS Boosters, MHS FAME and more for the 2nd Annual Holiday Shop. Shop all things Milton and MPS in one stop shopping!  

MPS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Open MPS positions are always posted on the employment page of our website.  We currently have openings for Daily Substitutes, ABA Instructional Assistants, an Early Literacy & Learning Coach and more.  Check out this link and see if there is a fit for you!

In addition, we are hiring food service substitutes. Food service substitutes earn $19.15 an hour and work part-time in a flexible schedule during the school day. Please call Natalia Perez at 617-898-1051 if interested. 

MPS NICE TO KNOW

MPS FRENCH IMMERSION VISIT

The MPS French Immersion team was recently invited to the “Maison de France” by the French Consul. The evening was in honor of French teachers and programs in New England. Many of our MPS French teachers attended the event, and the group met the new French Consul Mustafa Soykurt and his team from the French consulate and French Cultural Center. The French Consul is looking forward to visiting MPS and our French Immersion classrooms soon.

TECHNOLOGY COFFEE WRAP UP

Thank you to the families who were able to attend our Keeping Kids Safe in the Digital World Coffee last week. If you missed the coffee, you can view the recording at this link. More information on keeping our kids safe can always be found on the Family Tech Help Center website which offers a Guardian Monitoring Page and other helpful technology information

PIERCE PAGES

Students on the Phoenix team recently participated in a Constitutional Convention with students acting as a delegate from the Constitutional Convention. In this mock Constitutional Convention students conducted research and utilized their research and oratory skills as they debated the various topics discussed at the Constitutional Convention.

INSIDE OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS 

Madame Theobald’s Collicot 4th graders recently shared their written stories with their 2nd grade school mates in Mme Kramer and Mme Saidj’s classes. Their stories incorporated the many aspects of texts that they have studied so far this year including time and place, character descriptions and dialogue. The stories are about an encounter between a witch or wizard and another character that they create and students use writers’ techniques that they have been learning about so far this year and incorporate them into the story. We like to say “Said is dead” and have them use words like murmured, cried, shouted, whispered – of course, all in French!

4th graders used a digital story book platform to create their final products complete with voice and sound effects. It was fun for the older students to remember when they were in second grade and on the receiving end of these entertaining stories!

ATHLETICS

There is a lot happening in Athletics this week. Good luck to our teams in tournament play! 

Congratulations to the Boys Swim and Dive Team, who won the Bay State Conference meet last weekend by over 200 points! Andrew Scapicchio, Jackson Wagner, Ryan Kelly, Malachi Buchanan, and Colby Moskos won individual events, and overall the team won every event except for two. The girls team is a small but mighty group of 7, and they dropped 10 seconds in both relays to qualify for sectionals and states. Senior Liv DiSandro made her second state cut, and Kaleigh Boyton finished in the top 10 for the 200 individual medley. 

Our Cheer Team finished second in the Coed Division at the Bay State Conference Tournament last night and now await their chances at an outside bid for Regionals.

Girls Volleyball was excited to see Pierce teacher Mrs. Rhodes at their Senior Night! This class was the first volleyball team at Pierce and Mrs. Rhodes was their coach.  Pictured L-R Stephanie Needham, Grace Ryan, Caroline Heelen, Mrs. Rhodes, Coco Lee, Molly Shea, Riley Donovan and Bridget McCoy.

Volleyball (13-5) earned another berth into the Division 2 Tournament, just missing a home match. As the #17 seed, they will travel to Burlington High School for a 5:30pm match!

Our Football Team (7-0) finished as the #1 seed in the Division 3 Tournament. They will host Minnechaug Regional High School tomorrow, Friday 11/4 at 7:00pm on the turf field. Tickets can be purchased here.

The Cross Country Boys and Girls Teams will travel back to the Wrentham Development Center, this time for the Coaches Invitational. Their races start at 9:00am.

The Field Hockey Team (8-8-2) qualified for the Tournament for the second year in a row, finishing as the #15 seed in the Division 2 Tournament. They will host North Attleboro on Saturday, 11/5 at 6:00pm on the turf field ! Tickets can be purchased here.

The Swim and Dive Team will trek out to Worcester Polytechnic Institute for the MIAA Sectional Championships on Sunday, 11/6!

The Boys Soccer Team (4-6-7) finished as the #13 seed in the Division 2 Tournament. They will host East Longmeadow on Monday, 11/7 at 6:00pm on the turf! Tickets can be purchased here.

There will be a meeting for all Parents/Guardians of Winter Student-Athletes on Wednesday, November 9th at 6:00pm in the Copeland Field House. While not mandatory, we encourage all Parents/Guardians and Winter Student-Athletes to attend to learn more about High School Athletics and meet the Coaches.

Winter Registration remains open and the user fee should be paid prior to the start of tryouts. Information can be found here.

 

COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS

Please use the links below or visit the MPS Community News & Events page for information on these terrific community events and opportunities! 

Milton Parks and Rec has two great winter programs for kids!

  • Winter Youth Basketball for kids in Grades K-3 starts in December and registration opens TONIGHT, November 3 at 7 pm. All details are here and space is limited. 
  • Ski Program at Blue Hills  for ages 7-15 is five days of great fun and learning on the snow at the Blue Hills Ski Area. Ski begins in January and registration opens Tuesday, November 8 at 4:30pm. All details are here. 

Mackie’s Barber Shop will hold the 6th Annual Veterans Day Cut-a-Thon on Saturday, November 12th from 8am to 1pm. All details can be found here. 

The Run to Change Lives is on Saturday, November 19 and starts and ends at Cunningham School. Run, Walk or Roll in support of Cardinal Cushing Centers programs that help individuals with intellectual disabilities! Register online here. 

Milton Early Childhood Alliance: Meet and make new friends while learning how animals get ready for winter. There will also be stories, songs, and fun activities on November 5 at the Trailside Museum at this free event!

The Milton Public Library’s calendar of November programs can be found here. 

  • Saturday, November 12 at 11:00am – Kids in Grades 1-5 are invited to come meet and read to a lovable (and a very good listener) volunteer dog! Each child will have the opportunity to read to the dog in a private 10 minute session to practice their reading aloud skills. 
  • Thursday, November 17 at 3:30pm – Calling all cooks in Grades 6-12! Join us for a hands-on cooking class with local chef and cookbook author Didi Emmons. Learn how to make a cruelty- and animal-free Thanksgiving day dinner while absorbing basic cooking skills.

Sign up today for these programs here.  To learn more and to register for programs for kids, teens, and adults, please visit the MPL website.

The Forbes House Museum is offering two virtual events in November. On November 10, Professor Dane Morrison will speak about his book “Eastward of Good Hope: America in a Dangerous World.” Then on November 15, Geralyn Hughes will speak about the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture. For more information and to register for these Zoom events, visit our website  and click on “Events.”

Come visit the farm! The Brookwood Community Farm season will end within the month but we continue to harvest. The farm stand is open Tuesday & Thursday 2- 6:30 and Saturday 9 – 1 pm through November 19.  Our annual End of Season Sale is on Sunday, November 20, 11 am – 2 pm. In addition, pre-purchase a Family Box for $60 here to pick up at the End of Season Sale on Sunday, November 20.

The DCR site, Brookwood Farm, is our original site. It is open to the public to explore. Walk on the farm road and the paths in the rear. Park in the front lot and enjoy this part of the Blue Hills Reservation.

BLOG SUBSCRIPTION: If you do not receive the Superintendent’s Weekly Update and would like to, please enter your email here to subscribe to this one weekly email.

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 a 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 and Human Resources Dr. Garth McKinney, (617) 696- 4808/4809.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on November 3, 2022

October 27, 2022

To: Parents/Guardians and Staff
From: Acting Superintendent Janet Sheehan
Re: Superintendent’s Weekly Update
Date: October 27, 2022

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

At last night’s School Committee meeting, the committee voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Superintendent James Jette, effective November 4, 2022. A letter from the School Committee (linked here) was sent to all MPS staff, parents, and guardians on October 26.  I join the School Committee in thanking Mr. Jette for his 26 years of dedicated service to the Milton Public Schools and wish him the very best in the future. The School Committee has announced that they will begin immediately to design a search process to recruit and hire the next Superintendent. I appreciate the opportunity to continue as Acting Superintendent through January 2023.


The weather looks great for Sunday’s Monster Dash! Join the Milton Foundation for Education for the Kids Fun Run, Costume Contest, and 5K.

  • 8:30 – Sensory kids run – Registration opens & DJ starts
  • 9:00 Kids fun run
  • 9:30 Costume Contest
  • 10:00 – 5 K Race

Costumes are encouraged at this fantastic community event, held in loving memory of Tucker student Sam Chichello. The MFE created Sam’s Fund to raise money in support of science enrichment in all six of Milton’s public schools. All details and registration info can be found here.


Tomorrow, Friday, October 28 is a late start day in the Milton Public Schools. MPS teachers will engage in Professional Development during the morning. Your child’s school day will begin 2 hours later on these days, buses will run two hours later, Before School Programs will be open only for currently enrolled ESAP participants, and lunch and afterschool activities will continue as usual.

During the late start, elementary staff will focus on Data Analysis, Pierce staff PD will target Safe & Supportive Schools with a Calm Classroom e-learning course and MHS staff will engage in PD around Equity in Learning. 


MHS Theatre has a special treat for fans of Beauty and the Beast – Tea with Belle and Friends on November 12 from 11am-12pm. This is a special opportunity to enjoy “tea”, a story and a craft with Belle and her friends from the castle.  We’ll meet in Belle’s favorite place – the library at MHS. Tickets are not required for this event, but donations to support the MHS Theatre program are encouraged! Sign up for your spot for Tea at this link and don’t forget to get your Beauty and the Beast (Nov 10, 12, 13) tickets here. 

As a reminder, there is no school on Tuesday, November 1 for a teacher Professional Development day. Please read below for information about important upcoming MPS dates and events, information on the upcoming Intellispark screener for students, the School Committee Forum on Personalized Learning, SEPAC updates, highlights from STEM week and more. 

MPS NEED TO KNOW

IMPORTANT DATES

  • Oct 28 Late Start Day/Morning Teacher PD
  • Oct 30 MFE Monster Dash 
  • Nov 1 Teacher PD Day No School 
  • Nov 2 School Committee
  • Nov 5 Milton Holiday Shop 
  • Nov 9 School Committee Forum on Personalized Learning 
  • Nov 10 Beauty and the Beast at MHS 
  • Nov 11 Veterans Day No School
  • Nov 12 Beauty and the Beast at MHS 
  • Nov 13 Beauty and the Beast at MHS 

MPS Calendars: 2022-23 One Page School Year Calendar and Link to MPS Monthly Calendar.

Milton’s 2022 Town Wide Seasonal Flu Clinic is on Nov 1 and 2 (4-6:15 pm) at the Council on Aging. Register online for Nov 1 here and Nov 2 here. 

Parents and Guardians of students in Grades 8-11, please save the date for the MHS School Counseling Department’s annual Post Secondary Planning Night on Thursday, December 1st, from 6:15 – 8:30 pm. More details to come!

SEL SCREENER INFORMATION 

On Tuesday of this week, all MPS parents and guardians should have received an email (linked here) from Asst. Superintendent Dr. Garth McKinney, outlining details of the upcoming Intellispark screener. 

We aim to give these universal SEL screeners to students in K-12 this school year, once in the fall and another time in the spring. Beginning next week, students in Grades 6-12 (screener info linked here) will have the opportunity to complete these screeners. Students in Grades K-5 (screener info linked here) will take the screener with their homeroom teachers. 

We hope all students will participate in the universal SEL screener as part of the SEL curriculum in the district.  If any family feels their student would be better served without taking part in it, please contact your child’s principal with your child’s name, grade, and homeroom teacher to opt out. You can read Dr. McKinney’s full communication here. 

SCHOOL COMMITTEE PUBLIC FORUM

On Wednesday, November 9, from 7-8:30pm, the School Committee will host the first of four public forums for the Milton community. The forum will provide a brief presentation on Personalized Learning,  a pillar of the MPS Strategic Plan. Personalized Learning is an educational approach that creates engaging learning experiences aligned with each student’s strengths, interests, and needs and ensures that students will experience a robust and academically rich school experience. 

Community members will be invited to ask questions and share comments about Personalized Learning. MPS Administration, School Committee members, and Personalized Learning authority Cyndy Taymore, who is providing the district with Professional Development, will respond to questions and comments and share their perspectives on the issues. 

The public forum will be held at the Council on Aging, at 10 Walnut St, just behind Town Hall. The meeting will be hybrid, with attendees able to participate in person and through Zoom and Slido. All links to attend will be posted on the main page of the MPS website linked here

MPS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Open MPS positions are always posted on the employment page of our website.  We currently have openings for Daily Substitutes, ABA Instructional Assistants, a Long Term Sub Speech Language Pathologist, Long Term Sub BCBA and more.  Check out this link and see if there is a fit for you!

In addition, we are hiring food service substitutes. Food service substitutes earn $19.15 an hour and work part-time in a flexible schedule during the school day. Please call Natalia Perez at 617-898-1051 if interested. 

MPS GOOD TO KNOW 

SEPAC

Please see below from the SEPAC Board. 

Advocate: The Milton Special Education Parent Advisory Council (Milton SEPAC) is a parent-run, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information, support and advocacy to families with children with special needs and/or learning disabilities in the Milton Public Schools. Milton SEPAC represents families of approximately 800 Milton Public School students on IEPs and 504s. Meeting the needs of exceptional, neurodivergent children is a parenting journey that calls for unique community support and wisdom. No one should feel like they have to go it alone.

Educate: Before you go to your next IEP meeting, it’s more than worth it to register for a FREE Federation for Children with Special Needs workshop. They offer up to ten different workshops per year and many are online. Check out upcoming workshops in November.

Participate: At our first meeting on October 11 we had close to thirty parents in attendance. Many powerful stories and connections were shared. If you are still interested in joining our board and/or finding out how to become more involved, please reach out to your school rep. We are still in need of a secretary. An election form will be going out soon.

FRUIT CENTER SHOPPING WEEK

Fruit Center Shopping week is November 7-11 and it’s easy to participate and raise funds for your child’s school. Thank you to the Fruit Center for their generous support of our schools!

  • Download a shopping voucher for your school here. Print as many as you’d like and share them with friends, family and neighbors. There are also social media promotional graphics and QR codes that you can use to promote this event to your school community.
  • Present your voucher when you make purchases at the Fruit Center Marketplace from Monday, November 7 through Sunday, November 13, 2022. Shop as often as you like and use your voucher for every shopping trip you make.
  • The Fruit Center will donate 20% of your total purchase back to your school.
  • All details can be found here. 

2ND ANNUAL MILTON HOLIDAY SHOP

On Saturday, November 5th from 12-3pm at Steel and Rye, join our school PTOs, MHS Boosters, MHS FAME and more for the 2nd Annual Holiday Shop. Shop all things Milton and MPS in one stop shopping!  

MPS NICE TO KNOW

STEM WEEK 

October 17-21 was STEM Week across Massachusetts, and here in Milton many of our classrooms participated. K-2nd grade students participated in fall themed challenges while students in Grades 3-5 learned about a specific field of engineering and completed a design challenge related to that field. At Pierce Middle School, students in Ms. Magill’s STEM classes researched an animal and designed a zoo enclosure specific to their animal.

MILTON HIGH SCHOOL

Ms. Lee’s Advanced Art students personalized the spine and cover of their sketchbooks. Students thought about a concept or theme for the inspiration of their designs and used a variety of media. You can see a sample of the work below. To view more sketchbooks, please see this link.

PIERCE PAGES 

8th grade Aquarius and Orion science students used their knowledge of genetics and heredity to build and breed Crazy Creatures. They were able to identify genotypes and phenotypes of the creatures and then use Punnett Squares to predict the probability of genetic outcomes of two Crazy Creatures. You can see their fun and interesting creatures below.

ATHLETICS

We are excited to announce that we have hired MHS teacher Rick McCready as our new Unified Track and Field Head Coach for the Spring of 2023. McCready has coached with the Golf and Hockey Programs for the past several years, while also volunteering with the Unified Program last year. He looks forward to enhancing the experience of those students involved as well as engaging the community in what is a great program!

There will be a Winter Athletics Parent/Guardian Meeting on Wednesday, November 9th at 6:00pm in the Field House. All student-athletes and their parents/guardians should plan to attend this meeting. The Athletic Director will speak for a few minutes before breaking into program specific meetings. Athletics Registration is always open and you can find links and information on the Athletics website.

COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS

Please use the links below or visit the MPS Community News & Events page for information on these terrific community events and opportunities! 

Join the fun at the Milton Halloween Stroll on Saturday, October 29th, from 3-5pm at the  East Milton Square Deck. Costumes are encouraged but not required. Bouncy House, music & other fun activities. All ghosts and goblins are welcome! 

Mackie’s Barber Shop is pleased to announce the 6th Annual Veterans Day Cut-a-Thon on Saturday, November 12th from 8am to 1pm. All details can be found here. 

The Library is currently conducting a survey of the community to assess how to improve access and services within our town’s neighborhoods. Please access the survey here.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, Oct. 29th from 10am – 2pm at the Milton Police Station, 40 Highland St. 

As part of their community assessment, the Milton Coalition is asking parents/guardians of children in grades K-12 to complete this brief, anonymous survey about youth health and well-being. 

The Milton Public Library’s calendar of October programs for kids can be found here. The MPL website is linked here. Plan ahead and take a look at the November calendar here. 

Come on by to the Story Hour Room for a visit with local Children’s book author Carla Marrero on Saturday, November 5 at 2:30PM! Carla will be sharing her self-published picture book, The Magical Cat, and kids ages 4-12 will also get a chance to make crafts related to her story. Register here today!

 

SUPERINTENDENT SHOUTOUT

Thank you to all who attended the Milton Boosters “Swing Fore Sports” Golf Tournament this month. Organizers Debra MacNeil and Susan DiSandro want to take this opportunity to thank the many golfers who braved the less than ideal weather during the annual golf fundraiser at Granite Links.  

A special shout out to our very generous donors this year: American Provisions, Catering by Terrie, Costello Painting & Contracting Corp., East Milton Dental, Elliott Physical Therapy, Flagship Harbor Advisors, Granite Links Golf Course, Group 1 Automotive, Intersecting Knowledge, Jimmy Coyne Productions, Lenny & Michelle Wall, Midway Café, Rich Hynes- Milton Travel Basketball, Scott Farrell + Partners, Ted Kackley- TK Fitness, and Town Administrator Nicholas Milano. 

Thank you to all who donated, participated and contributed in any way. Our athletes appreciate the incredible support!

BLOG SUBSCRIPTION: If you do not receive the Superintendent’s Weekly Update and would like to, please enter your email here to subscribe to this one weekly email.

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 a 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 and Human Resources Dr. Garth McKinney, (617) 696- 4808/4809.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on October 27, 2022

October 20, 2022

To: Parents/Guardians and Staff
From: Acting Superintendent Janet Sheehan
Re: Superintendent’s Weekly Update
Date: October 20, 2022

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

Each October, National Principals Month recognizes the essential role that principals play in making a school great. Principals shape the culture of their schools, and it is their dedication, hard work, and vision that ensure the success of their students and staff. Principals are responsible for not only the academic achievement of students but also their social-emotional and physical health and safety. I am incredibly grateful to our six professional, caring, and accomplished Principals who so ably helm their individual schools. I hope you join me in recognizing their commitment to the Milton Public Schools and specifically to the students, staff, and families in their schools.

 


In MPS staff news, I want to share that Ms. Amy Dexter has resigned from her position as Assistant Superintendent for Business to begin a new career as the Director of Finance for the Town of Milton. Over the past two years, Ms. Dexter played an integral role in the district and was recognized by both school and town officials for her detailed and transparent work throughout the budgetary process. On behalf of the Milton Public Schools, I would like to thank Amy for her dedication and congratulate her on this new position.

At its most recent meeting, the Milton School Committee voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Glenn Pavlicek as the Interim Assistant Superintendent for Business. Dr. Pavlicek served as the Assistant Superintendent for Business for several years before retiring in December 2020. He is a respected member of the Milton community and is well known for his work on several town and school committees throughout his career. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Pavlicek back to the Milton Public Schools. We are grateful that he has agreed to return to this position.


Be sure to register for the Monster Dash to get your t-shirt with Asha’s winning design!

 

The Monster Dash is fast approaching and this week we want to give a big congratulations to Cunningham student Asha Hallowell whose winning design beat out hundreds of others to be featured the Monster Dash t-shirts this year! Join the fun (and get a t-shirt with Asha’s fabulous design on it!) at the Monster Dash on Sunday October 30th. The race starts at  Cunningham Hall, with a 5k and kid’s fun run, costumes, and fun for all. Register now for this fantastic family event.

Please read below for information about important upcoming MPS dates and events, the School Committee Forum on Personalized Learning, a reminder of COVID guidelines, food resources in our community, this weekends Kid’s Trail Run, classroom highlights and more. 

MPS NEED TO KNOW

IMPORTANT DATES

  • Oct 23 MHS XC Trail Run for Kids
  • Oct 26 Milton School Committee
  • Oct 27 Technology Coffee Hour
  • Oct 28 Late Start Day/Morning Teacher PD
  • Oct 30 MFE Monster Dash 
  • Nov 1 Teacher PD Day No School 
  • Nov 2 School Committee
  • Nov 5 Milton Holiday Shop 
  • Nov 9 School Committee Forum on Personalized Learning 
  • Nov 11 Veterans Day No School

MPS Calendars: 2022-23 One Page School Year Calendar and Link to MPS Monthly Calendar.

Late Start Day 10/28 late start .png: Friday, October 28 is a late start day in the Milton Public Schools. MPS teachers will engage in Professional Development during the morning. Your child’s school day will begin 2 hours later on these days, buses will run two hours later,Before School Programs will be open only for currently enrolled ESAP participants, and lunch and afterschool activities will continue as usual.

Milton’s 2022 Town Wide Seasonal Flu Clinic is on Nov 1 and 2 (4-6:15 pm) at the Council on Aging. Register online for Nov 1 here and Nov 2 here. 

Parents and Guardians of students in Grades 8-11, please save the date for the MHS School Counseling Department’s annual Post Secondary Planning Night on Thursday, December 1st, from 6:15 – 8:30 pm. More details to come!

HEALTH UPDATES 

Current CDC guidelines for COVID-positive individuals dictate a five-day isolation period. The day a person becomes symptomatic or tests positive is counted as day “zero.” One may come out of isolation on day six provided they have been fever-free for 24 hours without having taken any fever-reducing medication.

The nurses’ office does not require proof of a negative COVID test in order for a student to return to school. Mask use is suggested on days 6 through 10 unless they test negative for COVID on day 5 or later.

For individuals exposed to COVID, there are no restrictions regardless of vaccination status. If the exposed person wishes to test for COVID, they should wait 3-5 days after the exposure before testing (or sooner if they feel ill). Specific guidelines as they pertain to MPS families require notifying the nurses’ office of a COVID-positive individual. All COVID guidelines can be found on our Health Services page linked here.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE 

The next regular School Committee meeting will be on October 26, 2022 at 7pm. All information about attending School Committee meetings can be found on the Town of Milton webpage. You can watch School Committee meetings live on Milton Access TV online, live on Milton Access cable channels (Comcast 22, RCN 15) or watch on-demand in the days following the meeting.

On Wednesday, November 9, from 7-8:30pm, the School Committee will host the first of four public forums for the Milton community. The forum will provide a brief presentation on Personalized Learning,  a pillar of the MPS Strategic Plan. Personalized Learning is an educational approach that creates engaging learning experiences aligned with each student’s strengths, interests, and needs and ensures that students will experience a robust and academically rich school experience. 

Community members will be invited to ask questions and share comments about Personalized Learning. MPS Administration, School Committee members, and Personalized Learning authority Cyndy Taymore, who is providing the district with Professional Development, will respond to questions and comments and share their perspectives on the issues. 

The public forum will be held at the Council on Aging, at 10 Walnut St, just behind Town Hall. The meeting will be hybrid, with attendees able to participate in person and through Zoom and Slido. All links to attend will be posted on the main page of the MPS website linked here

MPS GOOD TO KNOW 

FAMILY RESOURCES 

There are some local food resources we want to share with you today. 

The next open dates for the Milton Community Food Pantry, located at the Parkway Methodist Church, 158 Blue Hills Parkway, are 10/22/22 and 11/5/22 from 9:15 – 11:15. Please bring proof of Milton residency if you haven’t been recently. The pantry provides monthly gift cards to Star Market for meat, eggs, and milk. For families who need assistance for Thanksgiving and December holiday dinners and have completed an application, the pantry will have grocery gift cards and extra food items. In addition, the pantry will be accepting applications for the Holiday gift program for Milton children on the above dates only.

QCAP (Quincy Community Action Program) offers a Community Food Center which is available to Milton residents. Families can call 617-471-0796 to complete an application and schedule an appointment to pick up food. Households typically receive one food order a month, or more often in times of extreme need or crisis. Food orders typically contain a balance of meat, produce, fruits and vegetables, and grains.

Please visit our Family Resource Newsletter or Milton Public School Resource Guide to find other valuable family support resources.  If you need additional assistance, please reach out to Marti O’Keefe McKenna, MPS Family Outreach Liaison at 617-980-7343 or mmckenna@miltonps.org. All calls and emails are confidential.

TECHNOLOGY COFFEE HOUR

It’s often overwhelming being a parent/guardian today in our technology-driven society. Keeping up with the latest trends and dangers can often seem like an impossible task. On Thursday, October 27th from 9-10 am in the Collicot/Cunningham cafeteria, all MPS families are welcome to join a discussion on how we can keep our students safe in the digital world. Areas of discussion will include managing devices at home, monitoring student devices, finding ways to put devices down, talking to students about privacy…and more! Come share ideas, ask questions, and build a support system to help keep our students safe in the ever changing digital world.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Tickets are on sale now at this link for Milton High School Theatre’s production of Beauty and the Beast. There are 4 shows to choose from on November 10, 12 and 13. You don’t want to miss this family friendly show and our uber talented high school theatre students! 

MHS XC KIDS TRAIL RUN

Come support the Milton High School Boys and Girls Cross Country Teams at our Kids Trail Run at Cunningham Park on Sunday, October 23. There are races for students in K-8th grades, and this is a great opportunity to experience cross country. Registration is $10/person and starts at 10am on race day. The MHS XC team hopes to see you there!

SEPAC

Advocate, Participate, and Educate is SEPAC’s mission, and meeting the needs of exceptional, neurodivergent children is a parenting journey that calls for unique community support and wisdom. We are off to a great start!

At our first meeting on October 11, we had close to thirty parents in attendance. Many powerful stories and connections were shared. If you are still interested in joining our board and/or finding out how to become more involved, please reach out to your school rep We are still in need of a secretary. An election form will be going out soon.  Our next meeting is Monday, November 14. The first item on the agenda will be electing and installing the new board. 

2ND ANNUAL MILTON HOLIDAY SHOP

On Saturday, November 5th from 12-3pm at Steel and Rye, join our school PTOs, MHS Boosters, MHS FAME and more for the 2nd Annual Holiday Shop. Shop all things Milton and MPS in one stop shopping!  

MPS NICE TO KNOW

MILTON HIGH SCHOOL

Congratulations to the Wildcat Marching Band, whose phenomenal performance of their show “The Sky’s the Limit” at the MICCA Northeast II Festival this month earned a three-star overall rating and the highest total scores in their division. The Wildcat Marching Band is led by Senior Drum Majors Claudia O’Neill, Sam McLaughlin, Sampreeti Fitton and Brynne Mershon, Senior Percussion Captain Bella Fiske and Senior Colorguard Captains Angel Leggett and Bowie Garvin. We are so proud of the hard work and dedication of every single member of the band!


The MHS American Experience classes recently traveled to the JFK library for a hometown debate simulation. Students met with other high school students across the state to discuss the issues of the upcoming Governor’s race between Democrat Maura Healy and Republican Geoff Diehl.

After breakfast all together, students were divided into small groups from all four schools. During group discussions, students became aware of how different their points of view could be, sometimes correlating to where they live and go to school. In addition to MHS, students from Somerset Berkley High School, Boston Community Leadership Academy, and Chelsea High School were in attendance. 

Students discussed affordable housing in Massachusetts, transportation issues with the MBTA, inequality for black and brown students in the state, flat tax vs millionaire tax, safety in our schools and the need for bipartisan compromise.

After the group work, the four schools joined together for a traditional hometown debate. The representatives of the two political parties were Secretary Mike Kennealy, Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development representing the Republican party and Dr. Yvonne Spicer Former Mayor of the City of Framingham, Professor at UMASS Boston representing the Democratic party.

For an hour, the students asked the delegates questions on the issues. Some quotes from 
Secretary Mike Kennealy included:We have just invested 140,000 into brownfields; We need a collaborative bipartisan legislation for climate change; We have shed the ‘taxachusetts’ label from MA due to republican governors. 

Quotes from Dr. Spicer included: Where is the money coming from for those new electric vehicles?; Millionaires tax, when we think about it we hope the money will be used for education and transportation in the state; 
It will not go to education if we do not raise it, will it?


Students left with greater knowledge of the issues facing Massachusetts, growing awareness that different issues can vary from town to town, and the difficulties getting people to agree on the issues.

PIERCE PAGES 

Got Milk? We hope Mr. Manning’s 6th graders do, so they can enjoy their new custom cereal creations! 6th grade artists were asked to create a custom cereal that combined two of their favorite cereals into one unique design. Some students chose cereals that had mascots, some chose sugary cereals, and some argued about what cereals were the best. 6th graders learned about marketing skills, color schemes, and character designs. Students also were asked to eat cereal for art homework so they could bring in empty cereal boxes – many obliged! Our students pushed their drawing skills to the max as you can see in the pictures below.


Pierce students recently experienced an all day geography & mapping field trip with Ms. Hartgering and Ms. Kinslow. At the Leventhal Map Center at Boston Public Library, they had the amazing opportunity to do a hands-on, in-depth study of ancient to recent world maps. Students studied the purpose of maps and the choices cartographers make while they looked for map clues and creatures! They then walked through an incredible 3 story stained glass globe, where the world surrounded them in the Mapparium. These experiences add depth and meaning as students continue their studies in geography and ancient civilizations.


Congratulations to Pierce technology teacher Deanna Magill who presented at this year’s Massachusetts Computer Using Educators (MassCUE) conference. MassCUE is the state’s leading organization for educators with a passion for technology in education. Ms. Magill’s presentation, Design for 3D Printing: How to Incorporate 3D Printing into Your Curriculum, was based on the amazing lessons she brings to our Pierce students all year!

INSIDE OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS 

Mrs. Novak’s Tucker 5th graders are teaching and learning about the science behind day and night. Students were tasked with investigating why and how it gets dark at night and light during the day and then demonstrated their understanding in a way that made sense to them. Students chose a variety of ways to show their learning; some made informative posters, one group made a clay model, another made a slide presentation, and two groups created skits to explain this phenomenon! Choosing how to “show what you know” is a foundational element of Personalized Learning, a pillar of the MPS Strategic Plan. Keep up the great work, Grade 5!


Collicot and Cunningham  4th grade artists have just wrapped up a charming cottage weaving project. Students created individual looms and learned how to thread a warp around the notches of their loom. The warp is the thread that is vertically strung and holds tension while weaving. Students learned the weaving pattern of “over and under” to create their house frame and then practiced dropping stitches in their warp to create a triangular shaped roof for the tops of their adorable cottages. Their completed cottages are a delightful addition to the art room.

ATHLETICS

There will be a Winter Athletics Parent/Guardian Meeting on Wednesday, November 9th at 6:00pm in the Field House. All student-athletes and their parents/guardians should plan to attend this meeting. The Athletic Director will speak for a few minutes before breaking into program specific meetings. Athletics Registration is always open. You can find the links and information on the website.

Thank you to all who attended the Milton Boosters “Swing Fore Sports” Golf Tournament this week. And a special thanks to organizers Debra MacNeil and Susan DiSandro! It was a fun and successful day for MHS athletes and their supporters! 

The Boys Soccer Team hosts Walpole for their Senior Night tonight at 7pm on Brooks Field. They lost 2-0 to #2 ranked Needham in a great game after going 3 weeks without a loss on their record.

The Swim Team beat Natick last Friday 99-82. They had no meets this week and will end their regular season at Braintree next Tuesday before going to Sectionals and States!

The Girls Soccer Team beat Fontbonne yesterday as the Ducks wore their pink uniforms in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Both teams also honored National Officials Appreciation Week by gifting both officials a goodie bag and taking a great picture!

The Volleyball Team will host Walpole in their “Volley for a Cure” Match at 5:30pm. The Girls have won 6 out of their last 8 matches.

Ben Catudal shot an 80 and Johnny Gillooly shot an 83 at the MIAA D2 North Sectional Golf Championships on Tuesday.

The Field Hockey Team lost 2-0 to Walpole last night but are slated to return to the MIAA Tournament. They have three games remaining before they enter postseason play.

The Cheer Team will compete in the Franklin High School Invitational on Saturday. 

Football will enjoy a much deserved bye week after starting the season 6-0. They will travel to Natick HS next Friday for the final regular season game before hosting the first round of the tournament on Friday, November 4th!

Boys and Girls Cross Country both beat Braintree for their Senior Meet! The Girls came in 1 thru 5 to win 15-47 and the Boys finished 23-33, rounding out their regular season with wins at Houghton’s Pond! Highlights of the meet include: 

  • In the girls JV race Garet Glenn, Lauren Cooper, Niamh Mannion, Jacque Timmins, Rebecca Domineau, and LC Caldwell swept 1st-6th places.
  • Lauren, Niamh, Rebecca, and LC all set personal records and Penelope Jain ran a personal best by a minute!
  • In the girls Varsity race Katie O’Toole, Mia Jilani, Zoe Panucci, Sarah Grace Chave, and Julie Affanato took 1st-5th places.
  • Katie, Mia, Zoe, Julie, Megan Carew, and Meghan Riordan all ran PRs!
  • Many of the girls’ times this season and in past seasons have put them on the list of Top 50 Milton Performers to race at Houghton’s Pond since 1996. Katie is 13th, Mia 27th, Sarah Grace 31st, Zoe 35th, Julie 38th, Megan C 41st, and Marilyn 43rd!

COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS 

Please use the links below or visit the MPS Community News & Events page for information on these terrific community events and opportunities! 

Join the fun at the Milton Halloween Stroll, Saturday, October 29th, 3-5pm East Milton Square Deck. Costumes are encouraged but not required. Bouncy House, music & other fun activities. All ghosts and goblins are welcome! 

The Library is currently conducting a survey of the community to assess how to improve access and services within our town’s neighborhoods. Please access the survey here.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, Oct. 29th from 10am – 2pm at the Milton Police Station, 40 Highland St. 

As part of their community assessment, the Milton Coalition is asking parents/guardians of children in grades K-12 to complete this brief, anonymous survey about youth health and well-being. 

The Milton Early Childhood Association’s Fall Newsletter is linked here and filled with free children’s programming, parent workshop, resources and information, farms to visit this fall, corn mazes, a fun fall activity to do at home, and some great fall book titles for your children! 

The Forbes House Museum has planned a Weekend BARN-anza on October 22 and 23!  We’ve planned a bonanza of barn-related events. Day 1 – Barn Tour and Lunch Program, 11am start. Day 2 – Halloween Barnfest, 5-8pm. All details are here

Brookwood Community Farm’s Annual End of Season Sale is November 20.  Please mark your calendar to stock up on produce and more for storage or maybe for any upcoming holiday feasts and gift giving.  

The Milton Public Library’s calendar of October programs for kids can be found here. The MPL website is linked here.

Visit the Milton Public Library for some drop-in (no registration required!) Halloween festivities:

  • Thursday, October 27 at 2:30PM – Grab your favorite Halloween treat and join us in the Keys Community Room to watch family-friendly movie shorts, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and Room on the Broom. Costumes are welcome!
  • Saturday, October 29 (all day) – Channel your inner Dr. Frankenstein and create your very own monster in the Story Hour Room with Ms. Tory! Using miscellaneous materials, craft your spookiest (or silliest!) monster friend to take home just in time for Halloween.

SUPERINTENDENT SHOUTOUT

Congratulations, Nile!

Congratulations to Pierce 6th grader Nile Hennick who has been selected to exhibit his work as a comics artist at the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo at Boston University on October 22nd and October 23rd. The event is open to the public. Event information can be found here.

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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, 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 a 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 and Human Resources Dr. Garth McKinney, (617) 696- 4808/4809.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on October 20, 2022