Share the Scene:

Superintendent Sheehan releases updates for week of September 22, 2022

This week’s highlights include MPS Late Start Day – 9/23, Milton Glows Gold Football Game – 9/23, Katie Greer – 9/28 at MHS, Art Room Highlights, MHS Homecoming Dance, MFE Monster Dash Art Contest, and more.

From The Desk Of The Superintendent

Milton Glows Gold is going strong in MPS! The October 7 blood drive spots filled in hours, many students and staff have pledged miles towards the total goal of 15, 590 miles (one for each child diagnosed with cancer each year), the coin buckets are filling and we are all looking forward to the GLOW Out Varsity Football game, Friday night at 7 pm at Brooks Field. Wear your gold to the game to show your support for families impacted by childhood cancer. All proceeds from Milton Glows Gold support families affected by childhood cancer.

We are pleased to welcome Internet Safety Expert Katie Greer back to MPS on Wednesday, September 28 at 6pm at Milton High School for Raising Digital Natives: What’s New? What’s Now? What’s Next? This presentation is open to all Milton parents and guardians.

Katie Greer will speak to our 3-5th graders across the district during the school day and will present to adults in the evening. 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. Come learn what’s new, what’s now, and what’s next when it comes to your kids and technology.

A reminder that this year’s calendar includes four late start days (9/23, 10/28, 1/17, 3/31). The first late start day is TOMORROW, Friday, September 23. These days are in addition to traditional Early Release days and will be used for Staff Professional Development, similar to Early Release days. Your child’s school day will begin 2 hours later on these days, busses 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.

The Tucker full-day preschool class celebrated International Peace Day on September 21st, 2022!We received an email recently from a concerned Milton neighbor about the trash left behind on MPS and town fields and properties. While the school and town staff do an incredible job maintaining our facilities and fields, they can’t do it alone. Please remember to always use trash barrels and if they are full or not available, please follow the “carry in, carry out” policy – take home whatever you bring with you. If everyone takes this small step, our community will be all the better for it!

Please read below for Health Screening information from the MPS Nursing Department, MHS Homecoming details, Pierce Comedy Night ticket info, the recent MPS communication test feedback, Art room news, Athletic highlights, MHS Booster “Swing for Sports” sign up, and more.

MPS Need To Know

Important Dates

Sept 22 Tucker Open House
Sept 22 Collicot Open House
Sept 23 Late Start for Students
Sept 28 Katie Greer Presentation
Sept 29 Glover Open House
Oct 1 MHS Homecoming Dance
Oct 2 Celebrate Milton
Oct 5 No School Yom Kippur
Oct 10 No School Indigenous Peoples Day
Oct 11 SEPAC Open House
Oct 12 Milton School Committee
Oct 13 Pierce Comedy Night
Oct 17 MHS Swing FORE Sports

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

Family Resources

If you have questions about MPS programs, how to connect with school staff, or need general information about community resources, please reach out to Marti O’Keefe McKenna, Family Outreach Liaison via telephone at 617-980-7343 or email at [email protected]. For information about ongoing community resources, please visit our Family Resource Newsletter.

SEPAC

SEPAC invites you to our Open House on Tuesday, October 11, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Pierce cafeteria. We welcome you to join us for refreshments and conversation, to meet SEPAC board members, and learn about our work in the district and goals for the coming year. Childcare will be provided.

Please visit our Milton SEPAC events page for all upcoming events.

School Committee

The next regular School Committee meeting will be on October 12, 2022 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.

The Milton School Committee will hold four public forums for the Milton community during the 2022-23 school year. These forums will provide brief presentations on each of the three pillars of the MPS Strategic Plan and a fourth on the school district budget proposal for FY24. Community members will be invited to ask questions and share comments about the stated topic. School Committee members will respond to questions and comments and share their perspectives on the issues.

The schedule and topics for the School Committee Public Forums are as follows: November 9, 2022 – Personalized Learning; November 30, 2022 – Safe and Supportive Schools; January 11, 2023 – Equity; February 8, 2023 – MPS FY24 Budget

Health And Safety

Massachusetts General Law, chapter 71, section 57 with related regulations 105 CMR 200.000 mandates that school nurses do periodic screenings of vision, hearing, growth (height and weight), and posture. Bill H.4056, section 97 requires schools to conduct annual verbal screenings (SBIRT) for substance use. Pursuant to these regulations, MPS nurses screen students according to the following schedule:

Vision: Grades PK-5, 7, and 10
Hearing: Grades K-5, 7, and 10
Growth (Height and Weight/BMI): Grades 1, 4, 7, and 10
Postural (Scoliosis): Grades 5-9
SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment, more information linked here): Grades 8 and 10

Parents/guardians will be notified if a vision, hearing, or postural screening requires further evaluation. Included in this notification will be a request for a report from your healthcare provider of their findings so that the nurses are aware of any problems which may interfere with learning and can accommodate any needs that are identified.

Parents may choose not to have their children participate in any or all screenings. Please notify your school nurse in writing by October 1, 2022 if you wish for your student to opt-out of a screening. This must be done annually.

If your student is receiving treatment for a vision, hearing, or postural concern, please provide your school nurse with current medical documentation of their condition. Nurse contact information can be found here: MHS: Shannon Aikey; Pierce: Barbara Perry; Collicot: Lindsay Peterson; Cunningham: Kiyana Spaulding; Glover: Maureen LeBlanc; Tucker: Kerri Joyce.

MPS Communication Test

This past Wednesday (9/21) at 4:00 p.m., we conducted a test of the MPS communication system. All parent/guardian and staff emails, cell phone numbers, and home numbers in our system should have received a test message from MPS at that time. If you did not receive the test message, it’s imperative that you inform us. Please let us know if you did NOT receive the message at this link.

MPS Good To Know

MPS Social Events

The Pierce PTO invites the entire community to a Comedy Night on Thursday, October 13 at 7:00 p.m.! Tickets are available here.

FORE! Register today for MHS Boosters annual “Swing Fore Sports” fundraiser on Monday, October 17 at Granite Links! Details can be found here.

Community Schools

At this time, spots in ASE/ESAP are opening for students in grades 1-5. Enrollment for Kindergarten has reached capacity. We are notifying families in grades 1-5 on the waitlist via email as spots become available for their child. When you receive an email, please respond as soon as possible to let us know your intentions.

Note to Kindergarten Families: If a kindergarten student withdraws, the next kindergarten family on the waitlist will be notified via email. Thank you for your continued support and understanding.

Community Schools

News From The Art Rooms

Cunningham and Collicot 3rd grade students are using the theme of community to create these gorgeous mixed media maps. Students learned about the difference between organic and geometric shapes by creating fluffy trees using paintbrushes and rectangular plots of land by dragging cardboard pieces and used oil pastels to create emphasis in their trees and lawns. The final step was adding details such as houses, cars, and other important qualities of a community by using collage techniques.

8th grade artists in Mr. Manning’s room recently learned about value squares and how it will help them create a 3D form on a flat piece of paper. Students created a set of 18 squares and each square is shaded just a bit darker than the previous. This sounds simple and may look easy but this is a skill artists need to learn to get the most out of a simple pencil.

Cunningham and Collicot 4th grade students made these awesome pop art style self-portraits with speech bubbles. Students started by reviewing lines: vertical, horizontal, diagonal, curved, and zig-zag to create these graffiti like backgrounds. Then, students added a profile picture so it looked like they were talking. Inside the speech bubble, students were encouraged to write a message about the art room that focused on a positive mantra, memory, or desire for the upcoming year.

Tucker Kindergarteners did an amazing job practicing cutting shapes to make these beautiful collages inspired by paintings of Venezuelan artist Mercedes Pardo!

6th grade artists are off to a great start with their cereal projects. Students have been discussing junk food cereals and how they are marketed to young children by using bright color schemes and cartoon characters such as Toucan Sam and Tony the Tiger. Artists were asked to combine two different types of cereal to create their very own custom cereal. Arguments abound about the best cereal and mascot, but we all agree the response to the results will be – They’re Grrrreat!

Milton High School

The MHS Homecoming Dance is just one week away! Tickets for the October 1 dance are on sale at all lunches for just $10. All MHS juniors and seniors are invited to attend. MHS teachers are chaperoning, we need MHS parents and guardians to help set up and donate items or funds. Please see the sign up here and help our junior and senior classes have a fantastic HOCO ’22!

On September 19, Colonel Mark Denton (MHS Class of ’92) , United States Army, visited Milton High School. Col. Denton attended MHS on the site of what is now Pierce and was captain of the basketball and football teams. When Col. Denton graduated, he did not plan on going to college, but he credits his high school Guidance Counselor with making him take the SAT. This allowed him to apply to college the year after he graduated and to attend Norwich University in Vermont. Col. Denton has served in the Army since his graduation from Norwich and his service has take his family of six all over the world. They currently reside in Vicenza, Italy. Colonel Denton spoke to a few students about his experience, toured the “new” Milton High School, and chatted with students and staff in the halls between classes. We are grateful to Colonel Denton for his service and hope that he will visit us again!

Inside Our Elementary Schools

Ms. McDermott’s Collicot 3rd graders recently made quilts to be donated to Horizons for Homeless Children. Their first unit in Reach for Reading is Happy to Help, and this was their idea to help the community. Getting these quilts made in the first ten days of school was an impressive feat!

Using the funds raised during last February’s hugely successful Read-A-Thon, the Glover PTO has been fulfilling the book wish lists of each teacher and staff member at Glover. While some teachers, like part of our fifth grade team pictured here, have pooled their resources to fund full-class sets of five favorite titles, others are adding new books and replacing well-worn favorites on their classroom shelves. All of these new books will be put to good use when the Read-A-Thon returns in February 2023. Thank you to all who supported the Glover Read-A-Thon and made these purchases possible.

Milton Foundation For Education

The MFE’s Monster Dash is on Sunday, October 30, at Cunningham Park! Register now and save the date for this fantastic family event. In the meantime, elementary artists are invited to submit their artwork for the Monster Dash t-shirt! All submissions are due by October 7, details and submission information can be found here. The winning student will be surprised at school!

Athletics

We are excited to be back hosting Football again this Friday, as the 2-0 Wildcats take on Holliston High School at 7:00 p.m.

Milton Glows Gold: The Milton community proudly supports Childhood Cancer Awareness month in September. The Football Game will be a “Glow Out” – wear your gold to show your support for Milton Glows Gold. Make a donation at the door, join the Run/Walk/Ride and get a shirt on site – all proceeds support families affected by childhood cancer.

Spectator Behavior: Please review our expectations of those who attend Football Games below:

No pets, bicycles, or bags are allowed inside the fence.
All spectators should engage in appropriate behavior during the Football Game.

Spectators, specifically young students, should NOT:

Play touch or tackle football in the end zones;
Engage in fighting or play-fighting;
Sit on or climb on fences or any surrounding equipment;
Go in the wooded areas around the concourse;
Misuse the bathroom and/or vandalize the bathroom facilities.

Any student who cannot meet these expectations will be removed from the game and not allowed to attend games for the rest of the season. We strongly encourage parents/guardians of middle school and elementary school students attending the game to accompany their children at the game. There is no admission charge this year!

Milton High School also takes the MIAA Sportsmanship Policy extremely seriously, especially taunting. Taunting includes any actions or comments by coaches, players, or spectators which are intended to bait, anger, embarrass, ridicule, or demean others (players, coaches or officials), whether or not the deeds or words are vulgar or racist. Included is conduct that berates, needles, intimidates, or threatens, based on race, gender identity, ethnic origin, or background, and conduct that attacks religious beliefs, size, economic status, speech, family, special needs, or personal characteristics.

Those who are found taunting players, coaches, or officials will be removed from the game and not allowed to attend games for the rest of the season.

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 Public Library’s calendar of September programs for kids can be found here. Join Ms. Sara every Monday night for Virtual Madness at the Milton Public Library! Enjoy quality children’s programming at home or on the go with these activities:

- 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Night Owls Storytime: For ages 3-8. Enjoy stories and laughs in your PJs via Zoom!
- 7:15 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. SPUB Club: For kids in Grades 2-6. At the Super-Popular, Unbelievable Book Club, Ms. Sara reads a chapter book aloud while kids listen and do a hands-on activity of their choice. To learn more and to register for these Zoom programs, as well as in-person programs for kids, teens, and adults, please visit the MPL website.
Meditation and Mindfulness Workshop, Saturday, September 24, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., outdoors at the Forbes House Museum, 215 Adams Street, Milton.
Celebrate Milton is recruiting elementary school parents/guardians to monitor the amusements at Celebrate Milton on Sunday, Oct 2, from noon-4pm at Pierce. If you can volunteer for even one hour, please email [email protected] or call 617-313-7164.
On Saturday, October 1, 2022, the Friends of the Milton Council on Aging (COA) are sponsoring a Fit for Life Walk to raise funds for the Milton Council on Aging. The COA provides much-needed social, outreach, and transportation services for adults age 60+ who reside in the town.
Milton Art Center: Art classes for creative kids starting the last week of September at the Milton Art Center, visit the website to sign up. Tickets are also available for comedian Paul D’Angelo, Friday, Oct. 7, at 8:00 p.m., with host Erin Lynch.

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.

The Milton Scene

Where Milton Neighbors Meet

Superintendent Sheehan releases updates for week of September 22, 2022

Superintendent Sheehan releases updates for week of September 22, 2022

This week’s highlights include MPS Late Start Day – 9/23, Milton Glows Gold Football Game – 9/23, Katie Greer – 9/28 at MHS, Art Room Highlights, MHS Homecoming Dance, MFE Monster Dash Art Contest, and more.

From The Desk Of The Superintendent