All Medford Public Schools activities scheduled for Saturday, March 2, 2019 are cancelled due to the snow. This also includes LoConte Rink. The MHS pool will be closed and children’s swimming lessons will be made up on Saturday, March 9.

Please be advised that tomorrow, Monday, March 4, 2019, the Medford Public Schools will be closed.

“Due to the timing of the expected snow storm, with significant snow beginning between 10 and 11 PM and continuing overnight and into the early morning hours Monday, the ability to have both roads cleared and accessible, as well as, the school lots cleared and accessible will be difficult. In addition, it will be tough to have sidewalks and bus stops cleared in time for the start of school. Therefore, with safety being our top priority, it is my belief that our schools should be closed tomorrow,said Superintendent of Schools,” Dr. Marice Edouard-Vincent.

Please be reminded that when school is closed, all after school programming and activities are also canceled.

“Our goal is to reopen the schools on Tuesday, March 5, 2019, for a regularly scheduled day. Please plan to dress your children appropriately for the weather with a warm coat, hat, boots and gloves, as Tuesday is expected to be another cold day,” she said.

Please click here to view our school calendar.

Click on the link below to access the sign out for the first floor Computer Lab (131), Chromebook 1, 2 & 3 and also the Tablet Carts. The Chromebooks are located in the Library. Tablet Cart #1 is in room 221 and Tablet Cart #2 is in room 219.

Computer / Chromebook / Tablet Sign out

Annual Transition Fair March 20, 2019

***WHO***

The Medford Public Schools and Winchester Public Schools Offices of Special Education are holding their Annual Transition Fair designed for students 14 years of age and older with disabilities to help plan for life after high school.

Parents, guardians, and students are encouraged to attend this FREE event to learn about community-based services available for adults with disabilities, including, but not limited to, Autism, Developmental Disabilities, and Intellectual Disabilities. All are welcome to attend, including students from other districts.

***WHERE***

The Transition Fair is scheduled for Wednesday, March 20, 2019 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Bistro 489, the student-run restaurant at Medford High School/Medford Vocational Technical High School, 489 Winthrop Street (second floor, outside entrance also available near vocational school)

***WHAT***

Twenty-eight exhibitors will be attending, including the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, the Department of Developmental Services, Boston Center for Independent Living, Autism Housing Pathways, Communitas (formerly EMARC), Triangle, Inc., and many more. These exhibitors will include information regarding support for independent living skills, vocational training, adapted educational programs, recreational opportunities and supported housing.

For a complete list of vendors, please visit https://goo.gl/koouY5

FREE Informational Sessions are also included this year:

6:40-7:00 Attainable, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Savings Plan, a new way of saving for the current and long-term expenses of eligible individuals with disabilities. Mary Rubenis, MEFA

7:10 – 7:30 Pre-Employment Transition Services, Corey Grant, Associate Director of Workforce Development, Triangle Inc.

This informative fair is an important resource for young adults with disabilities and their families who will be leaving high school with different information available each year!

***QUESTIONS***

For any questions, please contact Dr. Jan Hollenbeck, Medford Public Schools Special Education Coordinator at jhollenbeck@medford.k12.ma.us.

The McGlynn Middle School Drama Club Presents “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” by Don Zolidis.

According to playscripts.com:
“The fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm are turned on their heads in this fast-paced, rollicking ride as two narrators and several actors attempt to combine all 209 stories ranging from classics like Snow White, Cinderella, and Hansel and Gretel to more bizarre, obscure stories like The Devil’s Grandmother and The Girl Without Hands. A wild, free-form comedy with lots of audience participation and madcap fun.”

The McGlynn Middle School’s Drama Club production of “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” will be held on Friday, March 15th and Saturday, March 16th, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Snacks, beverages, and souvenir merchandise will be available for purchase.

The Mustang Way is the “way” of the McGlynn Middle School.

What does the Mustang Way mean or look like? It is a philosophy where:

– We respect each other in all our interactions
– We respect our school building and property
– We demonstrate good citizenship
– We work hard to achieve our goals

One student is awarded the “Mustang Way” award each week at the school by Mr. Tucci on the McGlynn Morning News Show, which is broadcast throughout the school every morning. Student recipients are awarded a “Mustang Way” tee shirt and a luncheon sponsored by John Brewers Tavern. John Brewers owner, Bill Honeycutt, graciously has agreed to donate a meal to each of the student recipients to honor their accomplishments. The students all sit down with Principal Tucci for the monthly luncheon.

The Mustang Way of doing things means that we bring our best ACE (attitude, concentration and effort) to school everyday. We present our best attitude, concentrate on the tasks at hand, and walk through each and every door giving our best effort. Exhibit these traits and characteristics everyday in your life outside these school walls as well and you will reach your full potential in life.

Here are the stories of the last seven students who won the Mustang Way award:

Today’s Mustang Way award goes to 8th grader Khando Thoulutsang on side B. Khando has been observed doing the right thing even when other students might not be. She is kind, compassionate, and respectful to all members of the McGlynn community. Above all else, she is a hard worker with a strong work ethic and she does not waver nor make excuses; she exemplifies the Mustang Way consistently every single day. Great work, Khando. You are a great role model.

Today’s Mustang Way award goes to 6th grader Angie Dao. Angie is an excellent student, always giving her best, staying after school when she needs to, and putting all of her best effort into her projects. Angie is also very helpful to the peers in her class, always willing to help them during class if they don’t understand something and she knows she can help them. Angie is a wonderful student to be around and we are all so proud of her! What a great representation of the Mustang Way, Angie. Well done!

Today’s Mustang Way award goes to Noah Mihelis. Noah never seems to have a bad day. He can be seen smiling and is always invested in what he is doing. Noah is also flexible and open to working with anyone and making it work well! Noah always asks relevant questions and is open to constructive criticism. Recently Noah paused his own work to help another group troubleshoot a problem they were having. All of these reasons make Noah a perfect match for the Mustang Way. Keep up the great work Noah!

Today’s Mustang Way winner is 7th grader Darriel Mendoza. Darriel is a consummate gentleman and a conscientious student. He always treats his classmates and teachers with the utmost courtesy, respect, and kindness. His work is consistently thoughtful and well-done, yet he is never boastful. Darriel is always humble, eager to learn more, and willing to help others. Darriel perfectly exemplifies Mustang Way.

Today’s Mustang Way recipient is Sophia Hernandez Escorihuela in grade 7. She has been taking a proactive approach working with her EL peers in science class. She has taken a couple students under her wing and is very supportive of them in class and is often very patient. She is an incredible role model and exemplifies the Mustang Way on a regular basis. As a student, she is always going above and beyond what is asked of her, she always has incredible insight into different topics, and is an active participant in all subjects. Great work, Sophia!

Today’s Mustang Way winner goes to Steven Chaves. Since the first day of school in September, and every single day since, Steven has exemplified “bringing his ACE” to all that he does. Steven quietly tries his hardest in all of his classes. He is focused, engaged, and not afraid to ask for help when he needs it. Steven stands out to all of his teachers as student whose attitude, concentration, and effort are present in all of his subjects. Congratulations, Steven! You’ve earned it! Team 6B is very proud of you!

Today’s Mustang Way award goes to Marian Rigano in grade 6! One of Marian’s teachers wrote: She has an unyielding positive attitude, is always incredibly friendly and supportive to others (both teachers and students alike), and she is constantly looking for ways to help out or to make someone smile. Every morning, after she helps put chairs down in my room, she goes to other classrooms on the floor to help put their chairs down as well. Last week at the dance, as students were filing out, she asked if it would be okay to help clean up, and then she helped clear the room of trash. In her classes, she helps peers who are feeling stuck on their work, and she is always ready to help them clean their binder if needed. She is a genuine person with a kind heart, and I feel very lucky to have her as my student. Way to go Marian!

More information and registration: www.medfordrecreation.org

After school programs and activities for the March 12 Professional Development Day available

Starting Monday, March 11, Bus Route 13 will no longer pick up “West St. and Winthrop St.” and “Maple Ave and South St.” Those stops will be going onto Route 16 in the morning and Route 17 in the PM.

Also, the stop “Central and Spring St.” will pick up in the morning a little later due to the additional stops on Route 16.

This adjustment to the bus schedule was made due to overcrowding issues on the bus that developed. This change will soon be reflected on the posted bus schedule on the school’s website.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Medford Public Schools has partnered with DentaCare, a public health oral screening program, to offer free dental screening to all Medford students. With written parent consent, students will receive a free dental inspection, fluoride rinse and sealants by a licensed dental hygienist. Screenings are completed in a 10 minute visit during the school day and each student receives a new toothbrush, tooth paste and dental floss. If your child needs further dental care, the hygienist will refer you to a community dentist.

Your child is eligible to participate in the program even if he/she is examined regularly by a dentist. The hygienist is required to collect information about your dental insurance, however, your insurance will not be charged for the screening.

If your child does not have a dentist or dental insurance, the hygienist will offer guidance on how to apply for Mass Health and provide you with a list of local dentists who accept Mass Health.

Information packets and consent forms are being sent home within the next week. I ask that you return the consent form marked Yes if you are interested and No if you are not interested. Screening will be scheduled starting the end of March.

Best Regards,

Toni B. Wray, MS, RN, NCSN
Shalini Lahoty, Licensed Dental Hygienist

There will be NO SCHOOL for students on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 due to a Staff Professional Development Day.

Read more and view photos on our school blog!

How to Organize for Your IEP / 504

Wednesday, March 13, 2019
7-9 pm
Andrews Middle School

Professional Organizer Jameel Webb-Davis

Jameel Webb-Davis is a Professional Organizer with an emphasis on education and training. She frequently speaks to adults and teens about misconceptions regarding managing bills, money and information in today’s world.

As the parent of a child with special needs, she utilized her organizational skills and developed tools to help advocate for his education. Staying organized, providing and understanding the importance of data can be invaluable when working with School Districts to support your children’s needs.

Pizza and Refreshments Provided

Events topics subject to change – Please check online at https://www.facebook.com/SepacMedfordMa

Students were given the course selection forms this week and will be meeting with their guidance counselors in their Wellness classes in the next 2 weeks to go over their selections. In the meantime, students should take this form home to have discussions with their parents, and should also have conversations with their teachers on their course selections for next year. They will turn these forms into their guidance counselor when they meet. If parents and students have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to their counselor.

Important documents

• Program of studies book school year 2019-2020
• Course selection sheet for students entering grade 9
• Course selection sheet for students entering grades 10, 11, and 12

National Junior Honor Society Tutoring

This year at the McGlynn Middle School, members of our National Junior Honor Society will be available after school to help their peers excel.

Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday NJHS members will be in the library working with 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students until 3:00. These students have volunteered to be a part of this tutoring group and are excited to get started. Each of these students are prepared to help in any area of need on any given day, but Tuesdays will focus on providing math help and Wednesday will focus on providing help in the area of writing.

Please consider coming down to the library after school on one of these days to ask questions, study for a test, start an essay or get help with a math problem.

Please also note that the library is open for Study Hall during all lunch periods on Tuesday and Wednesday. Students will need to ask their teacher for a pass. They are welcome to come to the library to check out a book, do some quiet reading, work on your homework, and use the library resources for academic purposes.

Math Tutoring at Tufts

Are you looking for a math tutor? The Tufts Literacy Corps math tutors are bright, capable college students who love kids AND math, and are available to work with middle school students on the Tufts campus.

TLC tutoring is free of charge and the tutors are committed to working with your children from October through April.

For more information and a registration form, please go to the Tufts Literacy Corps website at: https://sites.tufts.edu/tuftsliteracycorps/ OR contact Dr. Cynthia Krug at Cynthia.Krug@tufts.edu.

We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

– The TLC Middle School Math Team

Take the reading challenge!

Read, have fun, win prizes.

Find out more information here.

To participate in the challenge, you need to read three books in each of these three categories:  

1) a book about a person who doesn’t look like you or live like you

2) a book about a topic which you don’t know much about

3) a book in a format or genre that you don’t usually read

• Examples of different formats: a graphic novel, a biography, a book written in verse, a collection of short stories, audiobook.
• Examples of different genres: mystery, historical fiction, realistic fiction, science fiction, suspense, sports fiction, fantasy.

For program information and requirements, please go to our school library’s Reading without Walls website:  https://sites.google.com/medford.k12.ma.us/mpsreadingwithoutwalls

Several of Mrs. Fee’s art students and art club members worked to design banners to be displayed to promote Mr. Tucci’s philosophy of bringing your “ACE” to school every day. Students worked to develop a common theme or element to carry throughout each banner. It was thrilling to see their designs enlarged and hanging in our halls every day! They make quite an impact!

Next up, the art club will design a large “Mustang Way” banner for the lobby!

The Middle School Crew Club will begin on April 1, 2019.

It will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 2:30-3:30 pm at Hormel Stadium in the boatyard. The cost per student is $50 for the spring season.

For more information please go to medfordrowing.wixsite.com/mhsrow.

A registration form is on the website. Forms and checks can be mailed to Friends of Medford Rowing, 35 Hillcroft Park, Medford, 02155.

Students are invited to skate at LoConte Rink on Wednesday, March 20th (half day) from 12-2 PM.

Admission is free and skate rentals are $5. Students are encouraged to bring their own skates if they own a pair.

Please be advised, there will be no late buses on this day. Students that attend are responsible for finding their own means of transportation home.

Pizza, drinks and snacks will be on sale at the rink for purchase.

For more information, please contact 6th grade Social Studies teacher, Mr. McGillicuddy at smcgillicuddy@medford.k12.ma.us

Come learn about the shifts in middle school mathematics education, the impact of mathematics curriculum on high school decisions, and the opportunities for middle and high school mathematics courses.

Location: Medford high school, 3rd floor – science lecture hall room B319

Date: Thursday, April 11th 2019 @ 6:30 PM

Who should attend: Parents of current 6th grade students