Superintendent Gormley releases updates for the week of April 6

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

A member of our Milton Public School community reached out to me with an issue of concern to her, her family and to all of us. She wrote that she knows that the Milton community would never let hate crimes against any group go unchecked. The article linked here heightened her concern. 

The Milton Public Schools has been an active member and supporter of Primary Source for over 30 years.  I reached out to Peter Gilmartin and Susan Zeiger from Primary Source for resources and suggestions for parents/guardians and educators to address “Coronavirus Bias and Racism.”  I am sure that you will join me in thanking and recognizing Primary Source’s program director Susan Zeiger for sharing the valuable suggestions and sites below:

Our local, national and global communities are facing a crisis like no other in our collective lifetimes.  Unfortunately, in moments of extreme social stress, human beings sometimes turn to scapegoating and stigma to deflect their own deepest fears.  “Coronavirus racism” is a new term that’s been added to our vocabulary this spring. In the US, it means acts of hate speech or physical harm against Asian/Pacific Americans, Asian immigrants and other immigrant communities falsely blamed for the pandemic.  

As we think about supporting the sense of safety and well-being for all our young people at home in the upcoming weeks, it falls on parents and teachers to address these forms of intolerance. Primary Source is an education non-profit that has worked in partnership with the Milton Public Schools for many years supporting your initiatives for global education and multicultural curriculum. Primary Source is pleased to share with your community these suggestions, and some readily available tools that might help you implement them—on top of everything else you are juggling! 

• Start with what young people are thinking and hearing about. We are all living online these days, and children could be aware of or exposed to hate speech and intolerance on social media and elsewhere. This helpful toolkit from the National Association of School Psychologists, Countering Coronavirus Stigma and Racism: Tips for Teachers and Other Educators, has research-based guidance for addressing stereotyping, bullying and coronavirus racism with children of all stages and ages.   And parents in particular will appreciate this three-minute animated video, How to Talk to Kids About Race from The Atlantic (part of their excellent video series on parenting issues)

• In virtual lessons, engage young people in a discussion of scapegoating.  Define it for them, and see if they can think of examples in books they have read, films they have watched or history they have studied when a group was blamed for a problem based on social prejudice and fear. Use this excellent briefing from the Anti-Defamation League, The Coronavirus Surfaces Fear, Stereotyping and Scapegoating  for background information, historical parallels from other disease epidemics, and strategies to address the current issue with students. Teach a lesson or make an assignment about the history of anti-Asian racism in our nation. Teachers, parents and students will all find relevant materials from this online Resource Guide for learning about Asians and Asian Americans in the U.S. created by Primary Source.

• At a family meal, have a related conversation about the ways that a crisis brings out people’s best impulses but also their worst. Share ideas about how misinformation, rumors and prejudice can spread.  Connect these to coronavirus racism and other malicious forms of misinformation. Think with your children about what we can all do to counteract them. Exploring these videos and lesson plans about “fake news” and misinformation from the PBS News Hour will give you some good ideas.
• While it is vital to address outbreaks of violence and intolerance in real time, we all know the fundamental work of social justice education is long-term, proactive and structural.  While young people are out of school this spring, make multi-cultural reading part of their learning plan. We need many stories from Asian/Pacific communities as “windows and mirrors” that validate diverse perspectives and disrupt stereotypes. Fortunately, these diverse and inspiring stories are being published in ever greater numbers.  

Check out the Asian/Pacific American Literature Award, given each year for best adult, young adult and children’s books that celebrate Asian Americans and their heritage. The Massachusetts public libraries have widely expanded their e-book offerings during the coronavirus epidemic where you’ll be able to access these titles.  Parents/guardians and children can read one or more of these book selections together; then invite friends to read alongside you. Host a virtual “book club” discussion about your favorite titles. 

Deep knowledge of others is our greatest weapon against fear and distrust.  

IMPORTANT MPS DATES

The MPS school calendar remains the same  as if school were in session, with No School/No Remote Learning on Good Friday (April 10th) and April vacation (April 20-24). In addition,  I contacted Rabbi Alfred Benjamin, and he confirmed that Passover Observance is from sundown April 8th – sundown on April 16th. In honor and recognition of the Biblical Festival of Passover, the Jewish holiday that commemorates freedom from slavery in Egypt, Milton Public Schools will consider it an excused absence for those who, in their observance of the holiday, do not log in to on-line classes on April 8, 15 and 16.

IMPORTANT MPS CONTACTS

• Mary Gormley, Superintendent of Schools,  [email protected]
• Glenn Pavlicek, Assistant Superintendent for Business Affairs, [email protected]
• Dr. Karen Spaulding, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Human Resources, [email protected]
• MHS Principal James Jette,  [email protected]
• PMS Principal Bill Fish,  [email protected]
• Glover Principal Karen McDavitt,  [email protected]
• Cunningham Principal Jon Redden,  [email protected]
• Tucker Principal Dr. Elaine McNeil-Girmai,  [email protected]
• Collicot Principal Holly Concannon,  [email protected]
• Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Special Education, Susan Maselli [email protected]
• Director of Food Service Jackie Morgan,  [email protected]
• Family Outreach Liaison Marti O’Keefe McKenna, [email protected]
• Milton Health Department Caroline Kinsella, [email protected]

MPS school Adjustment Counselors:  Jennie Beliveau, Mary Bianca Mattocks, Kenneth Adelmann (Milton High School); Myriam Francoeur, Kara Sheridan, Kelly Dearing (Pierce) Jaclyn Germano (Cunningham); Elizabeth Caruso (Collicot) ; Ramsay Cadet (Tucker) Brian Powers, Christine Howley (Glover)

Central Office is staffed every day (we are practicing safe social distancing) and you can reach the Superintendent’s office any time via phone at 617-686-4808 or via email.

We have compiled a comprehensive and ever changing list of Frequently Asked Questions linked here. It will be linked on the front of our website and shared in each blog post. Please refer back to it often.

FOOD SERVICE

The MPS Food Service effort continued this week with Wednesday pick up of weekly to-go bags of breakfasts and lunches for any Milton student. Weekly to-go bags with (now) 7 breakfasts and 7 lunches are available for pick up every Wednesday from 8-9am and 5-6pm at MHS and Tucker.

These FREE 7  day to-go bags contain low sugar cereal, shelf stable milk, sunbutter and jelly sandwiches, grilled cheese sandwiches, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, and snack bags. ANY Milton family is welcome to pick up a weekly to-go bag as the goal is to support any food insecure student.

The weather did not cooperate this Wednesday, so a huge thank you to MHS custodian Jason Scherer who secured two red tents at Home Depot to keep our staff and the to-go bags dry.  Another thank you to  Milton Fire Department Chief Jack Grant who gave us 24 face masks for the food service staff.

This past Wednesday, Jackie Morgan and our Food Service team gave out 211  weekly bags containing 14 meals each for a total of 2954 meals distributed to our students this week. This FREE service will be available throughout the school closure, including during school vacation week on Wednesday April 22nd.

If you would like to apply for Free and Reduced meals, for once school is back in session please see this link for the application and more information. These weekly to-go bags of breakfasts and lunches are available to ALL Milton students during the school closing.

If you have a hardship and are in need of more convenient hours for pick up, please contact Food Service Director Jackie Morgan via email at [email protected] or phone at 617-898-1051. MPS families in need of support during this time are also encouraged to email MPS Family Outreach Liaison Marti O’Keefe McKenna at [email protected] or by phone at 617-980-7343.

HIGH SCHOOL HAPPENINGS

When MHS Science Department Head Amy Tom shared information about the  2020 ASPIRE Program in the Polymer Science and Engineering Department at UMass Amherst with students, several of our MHS students jumped at the chance to participate.

ASPIRE (A Student-led Program In Research and Education) provides students with the opportunity to conduct hands-on laboratory experiments in synthesis, characterization, and engineering of polymers. In this free program, graduate students guide high school students through the experience of research in a science and engineering lab.

MHS student Aoife Ruth shares the following below about the program she attended in January and February. She attended along with MHS students  Ava Lynch, Evan Trafton, John McCambell and Arden Carvalho.

The program was a very fun opportunity and I was grateful to have a chance to participate. Unfortunately, I do not have any photos of the actual experiments as they encouraged us to keep phones away from the labs for cleanliness.

The program was completely run by second year graduate students. At the start we were assigned groups and kids fro. the same town tended to be split up so you got to know new people. The first week was dedicated to safety training. The following three rotated between multiple physics experiments, engineering experiments and chemistry experiments, all pertaining to polymer science. The last week we were able to use our new knowledge of the three areas to choose an area for a final experiment. We were privileged enough to use many of the school’s resources and see technology we wouldn’t see otherwise. For example, UMass Amherst allowed us to use their SEM, scanning electron microscope, and we were able to see details on the wing of a fly that cannot be seen with the human eye. In physics, we saw the programming aspect of science and using computers to generate how a hypothetical polymer would respond to various situations. Engineering allowed us to test the durability of the different polymers and we watched polymers rapidly crystalize thanks to temperature controls. The program itself was well organized and the grad students were all good teachers who worked in pairs. They had extensive knowledge and were never stumped by a question, and if they were, their partner was sure to know the answer. It was a far drive but I learned a lot and got a look at what it’s like to work in a lab.

I would recommend this program for anyone who wants a closer look at labs and science technology or has an interest in science beyond general education.

PIERCE PAGES 

The sixth grade science classes were given a choice board this week to select assignments for their remote learning. Options included designing a pet rock and completing pet registration forms using their knowledge of Earth History, including shape, color, texture, rock type, the story behind how their pet rock formed, and running an acid test to determine the environment the rock may have formed in; making Chalk Diagrams showing a major concept previously covered in class and Engineering Design Challenge Design to design an inside or outside obstacle course.

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Our 7th graders on Team Yosemite have been busy at home. You can check out their adventures here. 

INSIDE OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

All elementary district wide learning opportunities can be found on the Elementary At-Home Learning Opportunities website, which is linked on each school website as well as the MPS website.

Elementary students continue to stay busy with science at home! This week third graders looked at how temperature affects the rate of substances dissolving in water. Kindergarteners explored their senses and kept a nature journal. Students across all grade levels enjoyed participating in STEM challenges including cleaning pennies with vinegar and building structures with cardboard and tin foil! Many students also enjoyed tuning in for a live science show with classroom favorite “Mystery Doug.” If you missed it, here is a link to a recording of the entertaining educational program!

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This week in the remote learning art room students experimented with the art element texture. Texture refers to the way an object feels to the touch or looks as it may feel. For this week’s art challenge students went on a hunt in their house or yard for objects with texture to make a sculpture, drawing, collage, etc. To see more student work, visit our virtual art gallery here.

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Adjustment Counselor Ms. Germano and some Cunningham 4th graders enjoyed a costume party during their check in this week! Next week’s theme?  Favorite hat/sunglasses and a scavenger hunt!

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Tucker 4th grader Gaby Robinson took some time this week to share her experience and advice about about the school closure and the health crisis facing our world. You can read these wise words from this 4th grader here. 

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Cunningham students attended a live Q and A with Dr. Redden, Ms. Morton and Ms. Cadigan this week and answered popular questions like:

• Do you have a dog or cat?
• Would you want to be 6 inches taller or 6 inches shorter?
• Will we have our end of year activities?
• Will we have MCAS this year?

Join your Cunningham friends next Wednesday at 3pm for more Q and A with your principal. All details will be in Dr. Redden’s Sunday email to families.

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We know all of our students and staff are missing each other! The Glover staff put into words and video, just how much they miss their Glover Kids! You can see their beautiful tribute here.

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In addition to their schoolwork this week, Collicot students shared how they are staying active and healthy during the school closure.

CURRICULUM CHALLENGE

Brian Selig, MPS K-12 Math Director has a Math Challenge that is appropriate for students at all grade levels. Read on to find out how that is possible!

With the extension of the school closure period until May 4th, I wanted to start to use this space to provide Milton Public School families with a weekly opportunity to engage together in a math exploration activity involving patterns.
Mathematics is often characterized as the “study of patterns” and understanding patterns is critical in the development of algebraic thinking and the analysis functions. The Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework contains a list of eight standards of “mathematical practice” (SMPs) for all K-12 students to consistently engage in, including two that relate directly to pattern recognition:

• Looking for and making use of structure (SMP.7)
• Looking for and expressing regularity in repeated reasoning (SMP.8)

Each week, I will display the first three steps in a pattern and then pose questions related to that pattern that increase in difficulty. My hope is that all students regardless of grade level can find enjoyment and success in investigating these patterns even if they are unable to formally describe how the pattern grows over time. You can find the full challenge at this link. The answers will be posted here next Thursday. Good luck!

PHYSICAL EDUCATION 

Director, Health and Physical Education, Noel Vigue, shares the following.

During this difficult time of isolation and physical distancing, we are going to experience a roller coaster of emotions. It can feel like we are trapped in a bubble and everything can seem magnified.  Taking time to practice the skills to help manage emotions is essential for you and your children. Quite often, our decisions can be related to our emotions. The better we get at managing and recognizing our emotions, the better we will get at making healthier decisions.  The CDC’s recommendations have been at the forefront of the news as of late.  One of the important recommendations is being regularly physically active. Not only is this a wonderful healthy habit for our physical well being, but it helps with our mental and emotional health, too. When we exercise, we can boost our mood almost immediately and exercise helps us have more restful and restorative sleep. If we practice making physical activity a part of our daily routine, it will be easier to make this a habitual part of a healthy lifestyle.  Here are some suggestions:

• 25min Family Fitness Routine (PE – outdoor – ages 7+)
• Design an Obstacle Course (PE – indoor/outdoor – ages 5+)
• Wooden Spoon Relay (PE – outdoors – ages 9+)
• Toss 12 (PE – indoors/outdoors – ages 7+)

Figuring out why we do what we do is important so that we can create healthy habits. If we take moments to pause and reflect, we can figure out why we like something (or don’t), why we may have done something, ways to improve going forward, and sometimes it’s even a really good way to vent! It’s healthy to learn about ourselves and be able to do things that are meaningful to us and our families.  Get everyone in the family on board to take the time to keep a reflective journal and examine the choices you’ve made and emotions you’ve experienced each day.  Take 10 minutes to reflect. You may enjoy this Relaxing Meditation Music while you reflect.

TECHNOLOGY 

Google Classroom: Many teachers in the Milton Public Schools use Google Classroom to help manage their class.  This is not a requirement for teachers. It is a common misconception that family members can join a Google Classroom.  Only students and staff in the miltonps.org domain have the right to join a Google Classroom. Teachers can invite family members to receive summaries.  For more information on Guardian Summaries please click here.

Families have asked how to help their students turn in assignments on Google Classroom. Here are instructions on how a student can turn in an assignment on Google Classroom.

Elementary families who need support with their student’s Google username and password, please email your student’s teacher for this information.

You can find more resources about Plus Portals, Study Island and Chromebooks in this document. 

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