Superintendent Jette releases updates for week of September 17, 2021

This week’s highlights include Milton Glows Gold, Elementary Art and Music, Hispanic Heritage Mnth, Vaccine Clinics, Test and Stay Program, and more.

From the Desk of the Superintendent:

There was no school yesterday in observance of Yom Kippur. To all who observed the holiday, I hope you and your families had a meaningful fast. Next week will be the first full week of school in the Milton Public Schools and we are looking forward to the five day routine.

This month in the Milton Public Schools, we are supporting Milton Glows Gold to show support for families impacted by childhood cancer. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month, and together with the Michael C. McHugh Foundation, the Milton Police Department, the Milton Fire Department and many local sponsors, we are Glowing Gold at MPS. You can see some of the excitement in our schools in the video below!

There are many ways to participate in Milton Glows Gold! Read on below to find out how your family can be a part of this month long community event.

Sign up to Run/Walk/Ride: The GOAL: Together we will run, walk and ride 1 mile for each of the 15,690 kids diagnosed with cancer every year. 

• Run, walk or ride alone or with friends to raise awareness and funds to support families whose lives were permanently impacted by cancer. Mileage goals are based on totals for the month.Track September 30 through October 31, 2021 track on your own or through the Strava App.
• Join your school’s team when you register
• Set a fundraising goal and ask your friends and family for support
• Money should not be a barrier to participation  – please email [email protected] for a code to register for free if needed.
• HAVE FUN!

Please consider signing up for one of the scheduled blood drives either at Cunningham Hall (details here) on Thursday, September 30 or  at Pierce (details here)on Saturday, October 16. Appointments must be made due to Covid restrictions. Make an appointment at this link and please and use sponsor code: PIERCE or CUHALL depending on your preference.

Glow Gold at MHS Football this weekend! The MHS Football game will be GLOWING GOLD Saturday at 1pm at Brooks Field . Wear your gold (or yellow) for childhood cancer awareness. The players, band, and cheerleaders will be accessorized in gold so be sure to show them support. The Milton Glows Gold committee will be on site sharing information on the Walk/Run/Ride and collecting donations for the Michael C.McHugh Foundation.

Help spread the Milton Glows Gold message to friends and neighbors  by dropping off a Glow Bag. Glow Bags are like Halloween Boo Bags and all details are here.

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I would like to thank parents and guardians who attended our outside coffee on Wednesday of this week. We planned for 45 minutes but our rich and productive conversation lasted almost 90 minutes. I certainly left with a few takeaways, and several people who attended said it was informative and helpful. We will hold more of these gatherings, both  in person and virtual to accommodate as many families and schedules as possible.

Important Upcoming Dates

• Sept 18 Vaccine Clinic at MHS
• Sept 20 Pierce Open House
• 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 22, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. 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.

Health And Safety

As previously mentioned in our MPS Opening Guide 2021-2022, Milton Public Schools has signed up for the state-funded COVID-19 testing program. By offering testing, we expand the potential for students to remain in school even in some cases when they have been identified as a close contact. Superintendent Jette’s September 9, 2021 letter about the Test and Stay Program can be found here.  You must OPT IN to Test and Stay to participate.  The link to opt in can be found here. The letter is also posted on the MPS Health Services webpage. 

For the time period of Monday, September 13 – Wednesday, September 15 (a short 1st reporting period for DESE), MPS has had one positive student case, one positive staff case, and 10 close contacts. We have had 10 positive cases since September 1, 2021.

MPS and Manet Community Health Center are hosting a FREE Vaccination Clinic on Saturday, September 18 from 9 am until 12:00 p.m. The clinic will be held at Milton High School, 25 Gile Road in the Copeland Field House (back of the school).

This clinic is FREE and OPEN TO ALL. Pre-registration is not available; this is a walk-in registration clinic only and Manet will offer the Pfizer, Moderna and J&J vaccines. Please bring your ID and insurance card if possible (not required).  Whether or not you need your second shot or first shot, all are welcome!

Additionally, there will be a pop up vaccine clinic on Tuesday, September 21 from 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at Parkway UMC on Blue Hills Parkway. Details can be found here. Information can also be found in Haitain Creole and Spanish.

All health and safety information can be found on our Health Services website.

Educational Equity

Director of Educational Equity, Somaly Prak-Martins, shares  this week’s Behaving Equitably Newsletter below.

September 15 through October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month. Although I think the lives, diverse cultures, contributions, struggles, accomplishments, and extensive history should be celebrated and learned all year round, the nation has determined this is the time to purposefully and collectively learn more about the heritage of Hispanic, Hispanic Americans, Latino, Mexican, Mexican American and Latinx.  In this edition of Behaving Equitably, Senior Director Prak-Martins elevates the contribution and historical events of Hispanic Heritage from the lens of Equity.

Pierce Pages

Music classes are up and running in our elementary schools! At Collicot and Cunningham, music students in Mrs. Allegrezza’s classes are using this time at the beginning of the year to become reacquainted with each other through fun musical chants and movement. Students are also enjoying playing hand-held percussion instruments. They are reviewing/learning how to play their instruments appropriately and musically so that each instrument sounds its best. Music reading activities enable them to review previously learned concepts in rhythm and timbre. There is also an emphasis on discovering and reviewing the instruments of the orchestra. Everyone is very happy to be making music together again!

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Ms. Bernini shares that Collicot and Cunningham’s 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students are learning about Hispanic artists in the art room this month to honor and celebrate Hispanic Heritage month. 3rd grade students are learning about Contemporary Mexican artist, Lourdes Villagomez. They are inspired by her bright, lively artwork that focuses on traditions and culture and are creating symmetrical “mariposas” butterflies. Students folded their paper in half, drew half of their mariposas then refolded their paper to press down and created a mirror image making their mariposas symmetric. They are now adding neon colors and enjoying making art while glowing!

4th grade students are learning about Spanish artist Pablo Picasso and are using “El Coq” The Rooster, for their art inspiration by making surreal rooster renditions.  Students engaged in a guided drawing and mapped out a skeletool design which they are now coloring in with chalk pastels.

5th grade students are learning about Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Upon observing her work, Still Life with Parrot and Fruit, they began to recreate this piece as a relief sculpture. Students started by painting a 7×7 piece of cardboard and are now creating their fruits and parrot using model magic.

Food Service

During the 21-22 school year, ALL children will be eligible to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each day during the school year. 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.

If you think you qualify, it is important that families fill out the free/reduced lunch applications as this information may be helpful in getting additional benefits. The application can be found here.  Please  email Jackie Morgan with any questions.

Special Education

Administrator for Pupil Personnel Services, Sue Maselli shares her most recent newsletter at this link.  In this newsletter you can meet the new MHS Team Chair, learn about volunteer options and see recent communications from Russell Johnston, Senior Associate Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

MSAPC

MSAPC is recruiting for the youth coalition, Milton Youth Advocates for Change!  This is a community based, youth led – adult supported group for youth in 6^th – 12^th grade who live in Milton.  They meet once per week in the evening.  Their mission is “to help teens find their voices and celebrate diversity and differences in Milton.  We will make a more aware, accepting community and improve mental, emotional, social, and physical health by providing opportunities that promote thriving youth so they will be well equipped for future endeavors in life.” So far, they have worked on social and racial justice issues, raised awareness about mental health, hosted game nights for youth and more!  For more information or to join, email [email protected] or come to our open house on September 18, 4:00 p.m.  –  6:00 p.m. at the gazebo in front of Town Hall, 525 Canton Ave.

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.