Superintendent Gormley releases updates for the week of June 6, 2019

Updates include schools, health and wellness, news around town, and more

It was a beautiful day on Sunday, June 2nd as we graduated the Class of 2019! Our student speakers, class President Thanh Dieu Hoang Nguyen and Selected Speaker Karisa Rose Lasoff, impressed the crowd and all were moved by teacher Teacher Appreciation Award Winner Richard C. McCready. Principal James Jette and School Committee Chair Sheila Varela shared heartfelt speeches and the MHS musicians wowed the crowd. From the entering processional to the the final cap toss, it was a wonderful day. We wish these young people much success in their future plans and know they will continue to make the town of Milton proud.

MPS SUMMER

With just a few days left in the school year, I wanted to bring your attention to two summer learning opportunities available to our students. Summer vacation is a time to recharge, relax and enjoy family and friends and I’m sure many are looking forward to a break from the school routine. 9 weeks out of school is a lot of vacation time and with just a bit of effort on the part of families, students can return to school refreshed and ready to learn.

Milton Summer Enrichment is one way to keep students engaged in learning, while still allowing for plenty of family time. MSE starts on July 8th and runs for 4 weeks, 5 days per week from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Families can also choose to start at 9:00 a.m. or leave at 11:00 a.m. Students choose the classes that interest them, play to their strengths and challenge them – or just plain sound like fun! I encourage you to explore if this option for summer engagement is right for your family at the the MSE website. Any further questions can be directed to Cat DesRoche and Ellen Lohan.

3..2..1, BLAST OFF to “A Universe of Stories”, this year’s summer reading theme. All four MPS elementary schools are once again partnering with the Milton Public Library for an exciting summer reading challenge. K-5 library classes will be learning how they can have fun, become stronger readers, and beat the “summer slide” by soaring into reading during the summer months. Teachers will be sending home registration forms as a homework assignment on June 10th inviting families to create a summer reading account at this link. From June 17 – August 27, students can log their reading minutes along with any library events they attend, winning prizes along the way. We’re looking for 100% participation, so be on the lookout June 10th for the registration form and be sure to return the bottom section of the form to their classroom teacher. We hope to see many families at the Milton Public Library for the Summer Reading Blastoff Event on June 20th at 4:00 p.m., featuring Mike the Bubble Man. Let’s lift off into summer reading!

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

The next School Committee meeting is on June 12, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. at Milton High School. Information on previous meetings can be found here and all meetings can be watched live or on demand on Milton Access TV.

At 6:00 p.m. on June 12, the School Committee will say thank you to our volunteers at a reception in the MHS courtyard. We look forward to thanking our volunteers!

HIGH SCHOOL HAPPENINGS

Thank you to junior Halle Armstrong for sharing this information about the recent Computer Science Gala at MHS. On Monday, May 20th, students from Mrs. Jarboe’s AP Computer Science Principles class hosted their 3rd annual Gala! This gala was a chance for the students to display what they have been working on for the past few months in preparation for their AP exam which took place in early May.

Unlike many other AP classes, AP Computer Science Principles requires students to complete a part of their exam in class. Students spent over 20 hours completing both their Create and Explore Tasks. The Create Task (12 hours in class) involves making a program that utilizes algorithms and logical concepts, much like a professional coder would do. The Explore Task (8 hours in class) requires students to take a closer look at a piece of new technology to discuss the data and effects on society.

Students from all grades came up to the library to participate in the gala! They received ‘passports’ to keep track of which presentation they listened to in hopes to be rewarded once they reached 10. But the prize was just a bonus. Whether people were able to play a really cool game or learn about a whole new language, everyone was exposed to STEM.

Computer Science is a growing industry and is important in our society. The fact that our students can take a class and learn about it and also spread that knowledge to others is amazing! This year the majority of our seniors plan on pursuing computer science in college. We are excited to see what great things they do in the future.

Congratulations to MHS Best Buddies on a successful fundraising year!

Milton High Schools Best Buddies Chapter has been collecting bottles and cans around the high school throughout the school year. This has not only provided a vocational training experience for our students, but also helps to fundraise money for the Best Buddies Prom, field trips, and celebrations. We have also been able to purchase ribbons, socks, and tie-dye t-shirts for different events, such as Down Syndrome Awareness Day, Autism Awareness Day, and Spread the Word to End the Word Day. From our can drive and a variety of fundraisers, we have raised almost $200. Thanks for all of the support!

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11th and 12th grade students have been working on developing and practicing CPR/First-Aid skills in their Health classes. Students learn the content knowledge, observe the skills and then get to put what they’ve learned to practice, preparing them for potential emergency situations where they can offer assistance to those in need. Students practice infant, child and adult CPR, they practice using a training AED, they also use a trainer EpiPen, and they work on assisted carries. These are just some examples of the skills students learn during health classes at MHS. Thank you to Ms. Radley for sharing the student photos.

PIERCE UPDATES

Students in Mr. Romeo’s rocketry club put their engineering skills to the test this past week. Each of these 8 students, who designed uniquely different rockets, launched their projectiles from Kelly Field. In attendance were several classes from the Pierce Middle School who cheered on their classmates with excitement and anticipation. Much thanks and appreciation goes out to Ms. Katherine Touafek, director of the Schools to Careers Partnership, for funding this wonderful event.

INSIDE OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

This week all of Tucker School enjoyed a beautiful salad from our Grow Rack. A big thank you to Elementary Science Coordinator Ellen Lohan for her dedication to our rack and working with our amazing food service team. This Thursday we will be featuring Kale Crunchers and next week we will be dining on our fresh basil in the Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil salad.

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Cunningham kindergarten, 1st and 2nd graders had the opportunity to participate in an author visit from Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes, the authors of the book Rescue and Jessica this week. The book is about the partnership and friendship of Jessica and her service dog, Rescue. Jessica and Patrick became amputees following the 2013 Boston Marathon, and have toured the country doing author visits at elementary schools teaching students about inclusion, disabilities, and the power of perseverance. The visit consisted of a book reading, a service dog presentation, and a question and answer session. The students were incredibly engaged and respectful throughout the entire presentation.

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Tucker School students celebrated the end of the year with a fantastic Field Day this past week. Obstacle courses, kickball, soccer, parachute play and ultimate tag kept the kids moving both on-campus and at Kelly Field. The event was topped off with popsicles and lots of smiles all around! Many thanks to Coach Jones for leading the events and to all of the parents who volunteered!

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Glover Kindergarten classes traveled to Brookwood Farm this week. During their visit they went on a scavenger hunt for roots, leaves, stems, and flowers; completed an interactive activity to represent what a seed needs to grow; planted seeds, and got “dirty” while they investigated soil structure. This amazingly fun day connected directly with a FOSS unit of study from earlier in the year. This was an important link in helping to bring the science curriculum and content to life.

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Some of our Collicot and Cunningham students participated in the Buzz Off at Gillette stadium last Sunday. It was a fun and unforgettable event as people came together to shave their heads in honor of and in support of kids with cancer. Just like a walk or road race, participants raise money by asking family and friends to sponsor their participation.

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It’s time to Step Up to Pierce! For weeks 5th grade students from across the district have written letters back and forth getting to know each other and today they got to meet each other at Kelly Field. Students saw a dress rehearsal of the Pierce Players upcoming show Mary Poppins, Jr. and enjoyed an interactive presentation with Dr. Spaulding about the “must knows” for middle school. Thank you Pierce for supporting our students and making them feel comfortable as they get ready to Step Up to Pierce!

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Collicot 5th graders have started to Walk and Talk in the gym after morning arrival. Walk and Talk is an opportunity for students to go to the Gym and walk around with their friends while having a conversation and catching up. Students enter the building in the morning excited to meet with their friends before starting their day in the classroom.

PRESCHOOL

Tucker Preschool celebrates 1-4-3 Day! May 23rd is the 143rd day of the year, 143 has been know to be Mr. Rogers ideal weight and 1-4-3 was Mr. Rogers way of saying I Love You. One letter for I, 4 letters in Love and 3 letters in You. Mr. Rogers is alive in this preschool classroom. He is talked about, his songs are sung on a daily basis and his poetry always brings a feeling of peace and love to everyone in the room. At left, Jeremiah Ducoste proudly displays his 1-4-3 I LOVE YOU poster! Happy 1-4-3 Day!

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

On Tuesday night, several parents/guardians participated in the Life Skills Parent Program presented by Traci Wojciechowski from Caron Treatment Centers. Thanks to a generous grant from the Milton Junior Women’s Club, MPS was able to offer this award-winning workshop twice, once in May and again in June. The program offered tried and true collaborative skills and resources to help parents strengthen communication with their children and to prevent them from using drugs, alcohol or nicotine products.

If you were unable to attend and would like further information about the program, please contact Director of Health and Physical Education Noel Vigue via email or phone at 617-696-4470 x5547.

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Help your kids make choices that will support their well being. Participate in the SUPPER Project to learn how!

Are you a parent or guardian of a child in 5 – 7th grade?
Do you live with your child or are you in the same place as your child at least five days a week?
If YES, you may be able to participate in a research study
Families will be paid for their time
The purpose of this research study is to understand how to help young people make choices that will support their wellbeing.
If you are interested in participating but are not available until school is out in June, we will be working with families over summer vacation (for parents/guardians of those entering 5th grade through those who just completed 7th).

Please take a moment to read through the details found here and consider participating in the SUPPER Project. If you are interested, simply email the SUPPER Project team at with the subject line “Interested in the SUPPER Project” and in the body of the email include your name and the name of your child’s school. A member from the study team will reach out to you with next steps. You can also give them a call at 617-636–3587.

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING

The Milton Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, whose members include the Milton Public Schools, is conducting a Parent Survey. If you are a parent or guardian of a child in 6th through 12th grade, we urge you to participate. The information gathered is important for the ongoing work of the whole coalition to positively impact the health and wellness of Milton youth.

MILTON FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION

The future of Physical Education is here and students are loving it and so are their PE teachers! Students at Glover and Pierce have recently started working with heart rate monitors (HRMs) during physical education class. Students are learning how technology can help them set and reach health-related fitness goals; get instant, reliable and personalized feedback on effort and productivity; how their cardiorespiratory system functions during physical activity; and how brain function improves with aerobic exercise while in their target heart rate zone (THRZ). Thank you to Jackie Morgan for her support and to the MFE for partial funding of this powerful technology tool. Students have been so proud of their accomplishments.

Research continues to show that students who exercise for at least 20 minutes in their THRZ are healthier and do better academically compared to those that do not exercise.

BUS UPDATES

Registration to ride the bus for the 2019-2020 school year will close on June 14th. Every student who plans to ride the bus must register regardless of distance lived from your assigned school and no students will be rolled over for ridership from the current school year. You must register each student separately (but can pay for them together) and you will receive a confirmation email that registration has been received for each student. If you are planning for your child to ride the bus in the 2019-20 school year, we strongly encourage you to read through this transportation letter which details the process. Please refer any questions to Rachel Schewe, Transportation Director.

Bus registrations for students in grades 6 and 9 will not be complete unless residency is re-established during the re-establishment period in June. Please see below for re-establishment details. Students in grades 6 and 9 will maintain their place in the bus queue until June 14th at which time they will be moved to the bus wait list if residency has NOT been re-established.

RESIDENCY

A letter has been sent via US mail to all who must re-establish residency. You can reference that letter, which contains the details here. Beginning June 3rd Sarina Burke, MPS Residency Coordinator, has been in the Milton High School main lobby (25 Gile Road) with extended hours. The residency packet can be found here. Re-establishment takes place in the Milton High School Lobby during the schedule at right.

UPCOMING MPS DATES

June 11 Instrument Petting Zoo at MHS
June 12 Milton School Committee Meeting and Volunteer Reception
June 12 Grades 5-8 Athletics Information Night – MHS Auditorium
June 13 Grades 7 and 8 Spring Concert
June 17 Last Day of School – Half Day
June 22-23 Milton Music Festival and Fireworks

ART AND MUSIC

The Milton Music Department’s Instrumental Lesson Program will be holding an informational session and instrument petting zoo on Tuesday, June 11th at 6:00 p.m. in the Charles C Winchester Auditorium at Milton High School. This is open to interested students entering 4th and 5th grade and their parents/guardians. Parents will have the opportunity to learn about the program and pre-register their students for music lessons for the upcoming school year, while students will have a chance to try out instruments at our instrument petting zoo.Please contact program directors Rebecca Damiani and Gary Good with any questions.

ATHLETICS

Good news for our athletes! Baseball, Softball, Rugby, and Boys Tennis all made the MIAA Tournament.

Boys Tennis lost to Hanover on Tuesday Night.

Baseball travels to North Attleboro and Softball travel to Hopkinton. Both games are on Thursday at 4:00pm.

Rugby earned a bye in the first round and will play the winner of Hanover and Weymouth. They went undefeated (6-0 and won the Patriot League title) and look to defend their State Title.

All-Stars will soon be announced for Spring Sports!

Grades 5-8 Athletics Information Night is June 12th at 6:30 p.m. in the Milton High School Auditorium.

All game schedules can be found on our MHS Athletics website.

NEWS AROUND TOWN

The Milton Public Library has great programs for children all month long.

Hundreds of runners will be lining up on Edge Hill Road on June 11 for the 42nd annual Milton 5K & 10K Road Race hosted by the volunteer members of the Milton Junior Woman’s Club. The race kicks off at 6:30 p.m., rain or shine. Proceeds from this race are channeled right back into the Milton community in the form of scholarships for graduating high school students and community grants that support the Milton community. Online registration is available at www.miltonroadrace.racewire.com and you can learn more about the race and the generous sponsors through the Milton Road Race Facebook.

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Thank you to everyone who attended the Forbes House Museum’s Lincoln Day celebration on May 19. The Museum recently sent 40 letters written by visitors that afternoon to Troops, Veterans, New Recruits and First Responders through Operation Gratitude. What a great demonstration of support for these patriotic men and women!

The Milton Music Fest and Fireworks team are delighted to announce this year’s exciting program of FREE Festivities over the weekend of June 22-23rd at “The Trustees” Gov. Hutchinson Field on Adams Street in Milton across from the Forbes House Museum. Saturday’s festivities begin at 4:00 p.m. with lots of family friendly events , food, music, and fun including Volleyball, Cornhole, Gaga Pit, a Giant Inflatable Slide (“The Log Jammer” ) and Milton’s largest children’s sandbox and culminate at dark with the stunning fireworks. The fun continues on Sunday, June 23rd with Celtic Sunday starting at 1:00 p.m. including a full afternoon and evening of family fun and Irish music.

All weekend you can dance to live music and enjoy great food and beverages (beer and wine too!) that will be available for purchase from fabulous vendors. This year’s delicious food options include the Wahlburgers and Ahhh Roma Pizza food trucks!

If you would like to help support this great community event, please consider joining the Milton Music Fest and Fireworks signature sponsor, the Copeland Foundation, in support of this FREE wonderful event. To learn what “thank you opportunities” are available to donor friends, please email We Are Milton or call We Are Milton at 617-433-7273.

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The Milton Historical Society will be hosting three open houses during the summer months on June 9, July 14 and August 11 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Suffolk Resolves House, 1370 Canton Ave., Milton, MA. The event is free and open to the public.

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Fuller Village is pleased to re-introduce summer intensive swim lessons! Small group classes will be held Monday-Thursday, for 30 minutes each age group. All details can be found here.

AMBASSADORS

As part of our E-blast, we highlight students, teachers or members of the community whose hard work deserves recognition. Please read about some of their accomplishments below:

VOLUNTEER: Thank you to Eagle Scout candidate Will DiGiovanni who recently built some outdoor chess sets for students and families to use during their recess and outside of school. Playing chess has been an important part of Will’s life and he wanted to give others the same opportunity. Will believes chess is a game that teaches many useful life skills, such as problem solving, thinking ahead, and responding to change or difficult situations. For his Eagle Project, he made 4 wooden chess boards and installed them onto the picnic tables of Glover’s playground. To create the boards, Will and a group of volunteer Scouts etched the positional numbers, letters, and squares onto mahogany slabs using a hot tipped pen to char the wood, resulting in two different colored squares. They also laminated the basic instructions and pictures of each piece and put these in the removable drawers so that anyone who doesn’t know how to play can learn to play. After a non-toxic marine varnish was applied with multiple layers on all the exposed wood, they assembled the boards and drawers to the top of each picnic table. For each set, there is a set of chess and checker pieces because the boards are identical for the two games. Thank you to Will for this fun and educational addition to the Glover playground!

Will would like to thank everyone who has helped him through the progression of the project, including Ms. McDavitt, Ms. MacNeil, the Glover PTO, the Playground Committee, Mr. Ralph Gentile, Michael Haviland, the scouts of Troop 5 Milton, and all the teachers and students of Glover.

VOLUNTEER: Thank you to high school student Molly Theobald who has partnered with the students and staff of MPS on a variety of projects this year. Molly reached out to elementary Spanish teacher Cristina Jauregui and Collicot French teachers to initiate a holiday card drive for the children of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH, Spanish for “Our Little Brothers and Sisters”). NPH is currently raising more than 3,100 orphaned, abandoned, and disadvantaged boys and girls in their homes in Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru. Our students wrote hundreds of cards and Molly collected over 1000 cards written in Spanish and French that were sent to NPH homes all over Central and South America. She has also partnered with MHS students to raise money for Feed America and in January she reached out to the Milton and MPS community to collect gently used books for an elementary school in rural Maine that was working to start book bags for their students who don’t have access to book in their home. This spring, Molly also worked with a Girl Scout Troop comprised of students from all 4 MPS elementary schools to make blankets for Project Linus. Thank you to Molly for her work with the Milton Public Schools on behalf of those in need.

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