Superintendent Jette releases updates for week of August 26, 2021

This week’s highlights include MPS Back to School Updates, Welcome Back Events, New MPS Staff, Covid Vaccination Clinic and Testing Opportunity, Special Education Information, and more.

From the Desk of the Superintendent:

At Central Office and at each of our schools, we are busy preparing for next Wednesday, September 1, when our students in Grades 1-12 return to school. This week we welcomed our new MPS staff (you can read more about them below in the MPS Staff section) and on Monday, August 30, we will welcome all of our staff for Opening Day 2021. The excitement is building, as it does every year, and we are looking forward to a wonderful school year in the Milton Public Schools.

Yesterday I sent an update about the start of the school year with details about masks, testing, transportation, athletics, food service, visitors, and more. You can read that letter here. Last night at the Milton School Committee meeting, I presented our back to school plans to the community. That presentation is linked here and the School Committee meeting can be watched On Demand on Milton Access TV. The School Committee meeting includes Q & A and a full discussion about Covid 19 strategies, MPS enrollment, MPS transportation updates, and more. You can also read the letter I sent last week about the MPS mask policy here.

Yesterday was the final day of weekly food pick up at MHS. A huge thank you to Director of Food Services Jackie Morgan and her staff for their work to keep our families supplied with breakfasts, lunches, and produce all summer, and thank you to our Family Outreach Liaison Marti O’Keefe McKenna for supporting our families with delivery and coordination when needed. During the upcoming school year, ALL students are eligible for one free breakfast and one free lunch at school each day. There will also be a la carte items for sale at Pierce and MHS. Students can pay cash or have money on their MySchoolBucks account in order to purchase these additional items.

I know these are busy days for families but I ask you to take some time to read the weekly communication from your child’s Principal to stay abreast of what’s happening in your school community. I will also continue to send my weekly update blog post on Thursday afternoons this year. Along with the MPS website and your school website, these weekly communications will keep you informed throughout the year. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (and follow your school as well, links are below) as we celebrate our students, staff and community this year.

Please read on below for important upcoming dates, Covid vaccination and testing information, Special Education updates, new staff introductions, athletics details and more. You can also visit our Back to School page for links and information. Enjoy these last days of summer and we look forward to seeing you next week!

Important Upcoming Dates

• Aug 28 FREE – Walk In Vaccination Clinic at MHS
• Aug 29 Covid Testing at DPW
• Aug 30 Teachers Return
• Aug 30 MHS New Student Orientation
• Aug 31 Pierce Grade 6 Family Night & Open House
• Sept 1 1st Day of School Grades 1-12
• Sept 3 No School
• Sept 6 No School Labor Day
• Sept 7 1st Day of School Pre-K and K
• Sept 8 School Committee Meeting
• Sept 13 Applied Music Lesson Registration
• Sept 14 MHS Open House
• Sept 16 No School Yom Kippur
• Sept 20 Pierce Open House (note new date)
• Sept 22 School Committee Meeting
• Sept 23 Tucker Open House
• Sept 23 Collicot Open House
• Sept 30 Glover Open House
• Oct 5 Cunningham Open House
• Oct 6 School Committee Meeting

Please refer to the District-Wide Calendar of Events for times and details. The 21-22 School Year Calendar can be found here (Revised 2/24/21) Note: This calendar is intended as a guide ONLY. It may be necessary to change this schedule to better serve instructional purposes.

School Committee

The next regular School Committee meeting will be on September 8, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. All information about upcoming 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.

Health And Safety

Up to date Physical Exams are required for entrance to MPS at any grade level, as well as for currently enrolled rising Kindergarten, 4th grade, 7th grade and 11th grade students.  Up to date immunizations are required for entry to MPS and to participate in all after school activities. Please forward this to your student’s school nurse.  Details on immunization requirements for School Entry can be found here.

High School Happenings

The MPS Calculus Project held its 8th mathematics enrichment program this summer. The program was attended by over 70 MPS students from grades 8 through 12.  These summer enrichment courses are used by students to maintain their standing in honors level courses or to make the move to the honors or the advanced placement level.

This year was particularly exciting because we got to see all of our cohorts in person. In addition to previewing new mathematics curriculum, guest speakers from iRobot talked to students about how they use math in their work. Students also participated in DEILAB, a design, engineering, and innovation lab where students build and compete with robots. We are proud of the hard work that our students have put in this summer and look forward to seeing them continue to succeed in the future!

Thank you to Ms. Craven, Mrs. Guarino, Ms. Lavelle, Mrs. Raymond, and Ms. Ritten for working with our students this summer.

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Milton High School is ready to welcome our incoming freshman – the Class of 2025! Please join us on Monday, August 30 from 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. for orientation. MHS Student Leaders will be your hosts and will show you all that MHS has to offer. All new students (in any grade) are welcome to attend.

If you are a 10th-12th grade MHS student formerly in the full remote model, we would also love to see you on August 30. Our goal for you on this day is to show you around Milton High School and answer any questions you may have about Milton High School that will help you to feel comfortable returning to the building in a few weeks. We ask that you show up by 3:00 p.m. to Brooks Field for a quick welcome message and to be grouped with Student Leaders who will show you around.  If you are a formerly remote student who is coming, please complete this registration form. You will check in at Brooks Field but you will be having a tour by student leaders and may not need to be here for the entire orientation. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns prior to the orientation. The schedule for the day is as follows:

• 2:30 P.M.-3:00 P.M. – Registration (Brooks Field Entrance, if rain, Field House Entrance)
• 3:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.-Welcome by Mrs. Cahill, introduction of the Student Leaders and MHS staff, group activities, tours of Milton High School grounds
• 4:30 P.M. – Snacks in the Courtyard/Cafeteria, Activities Fair in Cafeteria
• 5:00 P.M. – Orientation concludes & Chromebook pickup in Main Foyer

We look forward to seeing you on the 30th at Milton High School!

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MHS Contacts: Principal Mrs. Karen Cahill and Assistant Principals Mr. Ben Kelly and Mr. Brian Mackinaw
Administrative Assistants Mr. Brad Spindle, Ms. Meghan Connors, and Ms. Sheila Rogers

More MHS information can be found on the following webpages: Milton High School Webpage; Milton High School Athletic Information; Milton High School Program of Studies; Milton High School Clubs and Activities; Milton High School Fine and Performing Arts

Pierce Pages

Pierce Principal Dr. Bill Fish shares the Pierce updates below. You can also read his most recent update here. 

Who’s Who at Pierce: Principal Dr. Bill Fish and Assistant Principals Ms. Janice Mazzola and Ms.Kaitlin Gass
Administrative Assistants Mrs. Sandy Wyse and Mrs. Susan Higgins
Pierce Webpage
Pierce PTO email contact
Pierce PTO Facebook page

School Supplies: This list is meant to provide families with some direction around purchasing school supplies. Students are not required to buy supplies, but we realize that it can be helpful for families to have some guidance and suggestions.

Chromebook Pick Up for Grade 6 Students: Sixth graders are invited to come to Pierce on Monday, August 30, to pick up their Chromebook. Many of our sixth grade teachers will help with distributing devices so that students will be able to meet some of our staff before the first day of school. In order to facilitate the pick up of devices, we will follow the schedule at right and in this link. Please note that team assignments will be shared with families by the end of this week.

Grade 6 Open House: All sixth grade families are invited to an open house at Pierce on August 31, 2021. At the open house, students and parents/guardians will meet their team teachers and participate in several small group activities facilitated by the sixth grade teachers. The event will be run as two sessions dividing students alphabetically by last name to make the groups smaller. Please note that the grade 6 open house will take the place of the open house that is typically held later in September and that the open house for grade 7 and grade 8 families will be held later in September. The schedule for the grade 6 open house can be found at right and in this link. 

IEP & 504 Information Session: Parents and guardians of students with IEP or 504 plans are invited to join Susan Maselli, MPS administrator for pupil personnel services, for an information session about special education and 504 support services at Pierce. This meeting will take place in the Pierce auditorium on August 31, 2021 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Inside Our Elementary Schools

Please see below for key contact information and important dates at each of our elementary schools.

Glover
Principal Mrs. Karen McDavitt and Assistant Principal Ms. Melissa Craven
Administrative Assistant Ms. Deb Woods
Glover Webpage ; Glover Twitter account; Glover PTO FB Page; Glover PTO email contact ; Glover School Supply List 

Glover events: Principal McDavitt and the Glover PTO will sponsor a welcome event for all new families on Thursday, August 26, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. and Friday, August 27, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Come and meet other families new to the Glover School. Incoming Kindergarten students are encouraged to wear their new bright yellow “I’m Going to Kindergarten” t-shirt.

Kindergarten students will have an orientation/screening event on September 1st or 2nd. Dates and times are included in your child’s classroom assignment letter.  The Glover Open House is on Thursday, September 30, 2021.

Collicot
Principal Mrs. Holly Concannon and Assistant Principal Ms. Ellen Lohan
Administrative Assistant Ms. Joanne Barker
Collicot Webpage; Collicot PTO email ; Collicot PTO Facebook page

Collicot Staff and Supplies: We all know that pictures can help us connect in a meaningful way. Please check out our “Meet the Staff” slideshow. We have a dedicated and talented staff and we are excited to start the year with you! Recommended supply lists are next to homeroom teacher’s names.

Collicot events: The Collicot PTO will be hosting welcome events for Kindergarten and new 1st-5th grade families on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Families will have a chance to meet school administration, have a tour of the school and an opportunity to ask questions of their tour guide. Principal Concannon will be sending out details in her next newsletter.

Kindergarten students will have an orientation/screening event on September 1st or 2nd. Dates and times are included in your child’s classroom assignment letter On August 31st the whole school is welcome to join the Collicot community and the Administration from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. in the rear playground. The Collicot Open House is on Thursday,  September 23, 2021.

Cunningham
Principal Dr. Jon Redden and Assistant Principal Mrs. Bernadette Butler 
Administrative Assistant Ms. Erica Cadigan 
Cunningham Webpage ; Cunningham PTO email; Facebook Page; Cunningham School Twitter 
Cunningham School Instagram;Cunningham School Supply List

Cunningham events: New families of students entering grades 1-5 are invited to meet school administrators, tour the school, and see their child’s classroom on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. Families should come to the main entrance. We look forward to officially welcoming you to the Cunningham School community.

Kindergarten students will have an orientation/screening event on September 1st or 2nd. Dates and times are included in your child’s classroom assignment letter.

All Cunningham School students and their families are welcome to attend the annual Welcome Back event held on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. Please join Principal Dr. Redden and other administrators on the rear playground of the school. Come see old friends and meet some new ones. The Cunningham Open House is on Tuesday, October 5, 2021.

Tucker
Principal  Dr. Elaine McNeil-Girmai and Assistant Principal Ms. Kristen Driscoll
Administrative Assistant Mrs. Eileen Keaney
Tucker School Supply lists; Tucker Webpage ; Tucker  PTO email contact; Tucker  PTO Facebook page; Tucker Elementary School Webpage

Tucker events: Families new to Tucker and those who were remote learners last year and/or didn’t have an opportunity to visit the school previously are invited to attend a welcome back event on Thursday, August 26, 2021 from 5:30 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. The meeting location for these events is the back playground. Families will have an opportunity to meet administrators and tour the building.

Kindergarten students will also have an orientation/screening event on September 1st or 2nd. Dates and times are included in your child’s classroom assignment letter. The Tucker Open House is on Thursday, September 23, 2021.

District Contact Information

Art And Music

Come Be a Part of the Milton Public Schools Instrumental Music Program!

• Applied Instrumental Lesson Registration for Beginners in Grades 4 and above
• Beginner Registration Night- Monday, Sep 13, 2021
• 7:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. at Milton High School

The Milton Public Schools Music Department offers instrumental lessons through the Applied Lesson Program (ALP). Students in grades 4 and above may take lessons on flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, french horn, trombone, baritone horn, tuba, percussion, violin, viola, cello, and bass. The 30 minute lessons are given once a week at Milton High School and are scheduled Monday-Thursday from 3:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Lessons are taught by professional musicians who are specialists on these instruments.

An overview of the program can be found here and all details can be found here. Please contact ALP program director Rebecca Damiani at [email protected] with any questions. Please note that Guitar pre-registration is currently full.

Have an instrument to donate? MPS would be very grateful! Please contact Rebecca Damiani at [email protected] to arrange the donation.

MPS Gives Back

Milton Community Schools

ASE and ESAP Updates: At this time, registration to start September 1 has closed for the before and after school programs. It will reopen the second week in September based on availability. You can sign up for the waitlist on Family ID: Waitlist after-school

MCS is hiring. Milton Community Schools is looking to hire energetic, motivated, creative, experienced, and multi-talented people with the ability to lead groups of 10-15 children from Kindergarten up to 5th grade in our before and after school elementary enrichment programs. Compensation starts at $16.33/hr.  If you are interested, please reach out to Martha Sandoval at [email protected]. The job description can be found at this link. Learn more about MCS at this link. 

Family Resources

The Office of the Family Outreach Liaison is here to support all MPS families.  Please reach out to Marti O’Keefe McKenna, Family Outreach Liaison, 617-980-7343 or [email protected] with any questions you might have about MPS programs, the upcoming school year or if you are in need of a resource. All calls and emails are confidential.  All updates on Family Resources – food, heating assistance, health insurance, financial assistance, contacts – can be found at this link.

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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: Asst. Superintendent for Curriculum & Human Resources, Dr. Karen Spaulding, (617) 696-5040 ext. 5582.