Milton Public Schools: December 2, 2021

Press release from the Milton Public Schools:

Superintendent Jette

December 2, 2021

To: Parents/Guardians and StaffFrom: James F. JetteRe: Superintendent’s Weekly UpdateDate: December 2, 2021

FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

As the calendar turns to December, the Pierce and MHS Music Departments are excited to present their first live in person performances in almost two years! Please join them in the MHS auditorium on Tuesday, December 7th (MHS performers) at 6:30 and Tuesday, December 14th(Pierce performers) at 6:30 pm for an evening of music by our school performing ensembles. Our students are excited to be back on stage and you don’t want to miss it!

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I hope you received my email on Monday, November 22, 2021, (with a follow up on November 30)  about quick check SEL screeners from Intellispark for students in K-12. You can read the full letter here and view the full Intellispark Student Voice Surveys  linked here (6-12), here (K-1) and here (2-5).  I encourage all parents and guardians to take a look at the screeners linked above. Compiling this information is imperative to help us develop effective interventions and supports for our students. Although we expect all students to participate in the universal SEL screener as part of the SEL curriculum in the district, if any family feels their student(s) would be better served without taking part in it, please contact your child’s principal with your child(ren)’s name, grade, and homeroom teacher if applicable to opt out by Monday, December 6th.

You can read the full letter here here (6-12), here (K-1) here (2-5). Monday, December 6th Monday, December 6th

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After two in person morning coffee hours this fall, I would like to invite all MPS parents and guardians to a virtual lunch hour with me on December 8 at noon. The link to attend via Google meet is here or join by phone at 1- 731-249-0134 (PIN: 635549509). Join me on your lunch hour, feel free to bring your lunch, as we meet informally on December 8. I look forward to seeing you then. 

The link to attend via Google meet is here SCHOOL COMMITTEE

The next regular Milton School Committee meeting is on December 15, 2021 at 7pm.  All information about attending School Committee meetings can be found on the Town of Milton webpage under School Committee. 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.

Town of Milton webpage under School Committee. Milton Access TV online on-demand HEALTH AND SAFETY

The Milton Health Department is hosting COVID-19 MODERNA Booster Clinics in the Town Hall basement on December 8, 9, 15, 16. Clinics are held from 1-4pm and you must register – no walk ins allowed.

You are eligible for a booster vaccine if you have completed your Pfizer or Moderna vaccination series and are 6 months from the last vaccine administration or are 2 months out from receiving the J&J vaccine. All information and links to register can be found on the Town of Milton website. 

All information and links to register can be found on the Town of Milton website. 

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The Town of Milton is hosting a free, drive-thru COVID testing day on Sunday, December 19 from 10am-3pm at the DPW yard at 629 Randolph Avenue.  All are welcome.

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Recently, the federal government gave Pfizer’s pediatric COVID 19 vaccine for ages 5-11 final approval and doses are now available in Massachusetts. The state will be updating the their website as new vaccination sites become available.  The Vaxfinder tool can be used along with links to retail pharmacies  CVS’s scheduling site or Walgreens’ scheduling site to schedule appointments. Manet Community Health Center  is also an option for pediatric patients. 

their website Vaxfinder tool CVS’s scheduling site Walgreens’ scheduling site Manet Community Health Center

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For the (two week) time period of Thursday, November 18 – Wednesday, December 1, MPS had 20 positive student cases, and 6 positive staff cases. Many of the resulting close contacts from these positives were able to remain in school without interruption due to the Test and Stay program. If you have not yet signed your child up, you can opt in at this link. Superintendent Jette’s September 9, 2021 letter about the Test and Stay Program can be found here.

(two week) you can opt in at this link. Test and Stay Program can be found here.

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

Health Services website IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES 

• Dec 7 MHS Winter Concert 
• Dec 9 MHS Post Secondary Planning Night 
• Dec 9 Early Release Date K-12 (PT Conf Gr K-5 only)
• Dec 14 Pierce Winter Concert
• Dec 16 MHS Information Night 
• Dec 21 MHS Cabaret 
• Dec 24 – Jan 2 Winter Break
• Jan 3 Classes Resume 

Please refer to the District-Wide Calendar of Events for times and details. The 21-22 School Year Calendar can be found here (Revised 10/27/21 to reflect updated last day of school)

Please refer to the District-Wide Calendar of Events for times and details. The 21-22 School Year Calendar can be found here 

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Please join the Milton High School Guidance Counselors for their annual Post Secondary Planning night, at Milton High on  Thursday, December 9 at 6:15 pm in the MHS Auditorium. The following topics will be presented in order to help you and your child successfully navigate their post secondary decisions:

• Financial Aid –  How to pay for College
• Standardized Testing –  Standardized Tests: The SAT vs The ACT
• College Admissions – An Insider View
• College Athletics – From Intramural to Division I Sports
• Overview of the College Application Process – Milton High Procedures
• Naviance 101

Representatives from Emmanuel College Admissions, Bridgewater State University, Summit Educational Group, “Strategies for College” and Milton High School staff will be running these 6 sessions. After a brief introduction in the auditorium, each session will run four times, in 25 minute intervals. Students & Parents/Guardians are invited to attend up to four sessions between 6:30 and 8:30 pm. This workshop is open to all parents/guardians & students in grades 8 through 12.  Masks are required in the building.   

While this night is geared towards students exploring college as a post MHS option, if your child is interested in learning a trade or interested in the military after graduation, I encourage you to have them connect with their guidance counselor for additional resources. 

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Milton High School Grade 8 Information Night: Please join us on Thursday, December 16 at 6:30pm in the Milton High School Auditorium (25 Gile Rd) for an opportunity to learn about Milton High School course offerings, academic and extracurricular programs, athletics and activities that prepare students for college and life beyond high school. Current 8th grade students, parents and guardians are invited to attend this informational session and tour of Milton High School. If unable to attend, the presentation and a virtual tour of the building will be provided.

Milton High School Grade 8 Information Night

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Please see below for important Preschool and Kindergarten dates. 

Please see below for important Preschool and Kindergarten dates.

• Preschool Information Night – Thursday, January 6, 2022
• Preschool Pre-registration – Thursday, January 6, 2021 – Thursday, January 27, 2022
• Preschool Lottery if necessary – Friday, January 28, 2022
• Kindergarten Information Night – Thursday, January 27, 2022
• Kindergarten Pre-registration – Begins Monday, December 13, 2021 

MPS GIVES BACK 

The MPS 2021 Holiday Giving Drive organized by our PTOs will run from December 6th-9th in our schools. For the holiday season, the Milton Public Schools has partnered with My Brother’s Keeper and the Milton Residents Fund to ensure all Milton families in need have a wonderful holiday season.

The MPS 2021 Holiday Giving Drive

Support and shop with a local business while supporting the toy drive! Shop in-person, online, or over the phone with The Toy Chest in East Milton Square or The Toy Box (owned by an MPS family) in Hanover. 

The Toy Chest The Toy Box

Bring your new, unwrapped item(s) to one of the collection boxes in the lobby of any of the elementary schools between Monday, December 6 – Thursday, December 9. Thank you for helping us make the Holiday Season a little bright for our neighbors!

Pierce Families Helping Families Holiday Program: Each year our guidance counselors identify Pierce families in need and collect gift cards to be distributed to them for the holidays. This program, Families Helping Families, provides an opportunity for your family to bring a little bit of holiday spirit to another family at Pierce Middle School in an anonymous and quiet way.

Pierce Families Helping Families Holiday Program

If you are interested in supporting this effort, please bring your gift card donation to the main office at Pierce Middle School by December 12th and deposit it in the sealed box. We recommend gift cards to Star Market, Shaws, Stop and Shop, Target and Old Navy but will, of course, accept and pass on gift cards from all stores. Our guidance staff will make sure that these gift cards find their way to Pierce families in need this holiday season.

HIGH SCHOOL HAPPENINGS

MHS Spirit week was a great success! Students (and staff!) enjoyed  theme days & class competition events culminating with a school wide Pep Rally on Brooks Field. 

You can see the fun of Pajama Day, Celebrity & Character Day, Crazy Hat & Hair Day, Anything but a Backpack Day,  Cowboys vs Aliens, Tie Dye Day, the Powder Puff football game, Class volleyball tournament and more in the pictures below. The National Honor Society Food Drive was a success as were the Penny Wars with all proceeds going to the Milton Food Bank. Thank you to our MHS student photographers for the pictures of Spirit Week. 

PIERCE PAGES 

Grade 7 FUSE students engineered pop-up books for STEM week in October. Students worked in small groups to write a story, design the movement, create the book, and record a video of them reading the story on Flipgrid.

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Congratulations to the 8 FUSE/Advanced FUSE students who submitted a design into the We Love Veterans Pin Design Challenge. Evan Abramovitz, Maya Sekhar, Madyn Dwyer, Elliot Reid, Charlotte Shue and Avery Squiciarino created their design using Tinkercad and wrote a description of what they designed. The finalists will be announced at the end of January and the winners will be announced at the beginning of February.

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Pierce’s Model United Nations club participated in the Middle School Model UN Conference this past Saturday. Delegates eloquently conducted diplomatic conversations addressing two main issues: protecting healthcare for indigenous peoples as well as forced displacement due to climate change. Harry Gimber, Michael Lydon, Evan Hadidi, Siabh Chaplin, Avery Squiciarino, Nate Turner, Dobie Illich, and James Malec participated in the conference and Avery Squiciarino won best position paper. Congrats to all of our delegates for a job well done!

INSIDE OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Madame Stallions’s 2nd graders demonstrate a folk dance to the song “Chimes of Dunkirk.” Jacob Carpenter, from Mrs.Good’s 5th Grade class, shares a melody he created during our instrument exploration unit here. Registration at this link SPECIAL EDUCATION Sue Maselli December newsletter at this link. Assistive Tech Resources for Students Assistive Technology website Sue Maselli Practice Reading Text to Speech. this link – add Google Read & Write to Chrome FOOD SERVICE The December Food Service update can be found at this link.  Menus are at this link. FAMILY RESOURCES  here here. Milton Public School Resource Guide Family Resource Newsletter mmckenna@miltonps.org SEPAC :  new board Advocate: Thursday, December 16, 6:30 -8:30 Zoom Link school reps Educate: Resources miltonsepac@gmail.com ART AND MUSIC this link ATHLETICS COMMUNITY NEWS The Milton Coalition shares the following information. December is Impaired Driving Prevention Month Please see this link www.milton-coalition.org The Milton Public Library’s  December calendar can be found here.  Sign up at this link today! please visit the MPL website. Chess with Mr. Vigorito is back in person All details and registration info can be found here.  Registration will be required to receive the Zoom link and passcode. Milton Soccer: Milton Soccer website use this link The deadline to register is January 7 Milton Youth Lacrosse Spring ’22 Travel Programs Register now at this link.  All details are at this link.  BLOG SUBSCRIPTION:  please enter your email here to subscribe

This press release was produced by the Milton Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.