WELCOME TO McGOVERN!
Greetings from McGovern School. As we inch our way closer to the start of the 20-21 school year, it is abundantly clear that planning for the opening of this next school year is anything but typical. I am working closely with our building based Reopening Task Force to understand how the guidance provided to us by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will impact teaching and learning at McGovern. We have been busy considering the health and safety regulations as well as the logistics of the 3 plans (in person, hybrid and remote). We have staged classrooms and the cafeteria, discussed routines, traffic flow, physical distancing, and of course talked a great deal about personal protective equipment (PPE). We are also committed to creating an environment that will feel is comfortable for students, faculty and staff. This work is not easy and we will need your patience and feedback as we navigate this new experience. I am grateful that we were able to host kindergarten camp this week as this helped us put many of our ideas into action prior to the fall.
To open the lines of communication, I will be sharing weekly updates with the you in the form of this newsletter. In order to help structure the information, I’ll include new information at the top and keep other relevant information under heading such as Reminders, District Information, Resources and Important Dates so that you may review relevant information. My goal is to keep information at your fingertips.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions or concerns. I look forward to working with you and your children.
Best,
Amy McDonald, Principal
CAMP!
Please join me in thanking:
Kindergarten Camp Director: Ms. Mispilkin
K Teachers: Mrs. Biagetti, Ms. Caveny, Ms.O'Connell, Ms. Piette, and Ms. Whitfield
K Paraprofessionals: Mrs. Guiou and Mrs. Parrotta
Nurse: Ms. Bellantuoni
Screeners: Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. Leary, Mrs. Lomuscio, and Mrs. Ward
Thank you also to Mrs. Suttill, our secretary for coordinating many of the kindergarten camp details!
Many thanks to you, our families, who weathered the daily traffic challenges! Our DPW was working on a water main on Lovering Street, which created closed streets daily and the need to find a new route to McGovern!
We appreciate all of the kind verbal exchanges at pick up and drop off, the emails of gratitude we have received, and notes as well. Medway is truly an amazing community and if you are joining us for the first time, I am sure you already feel it!
Thank you again for letting us get to know your little ones this week. It has truly been our pleasure! Enjoy some photos below of our incoming kindergarten students!
Reopening Task Force
Thank You
Throughout the summer, our School Based Reopening Task Force has been meeting to develop plans for a full return to school, hybrid instruction and remote learning. This team has also been reviewing and interpreting guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and developing plans and structures for a safe return to our school based on those plans.
Below you will find the names of faculty and staff members from McGovern who have been part of this team. Their contributions have been invaluable and I have appreciated the level of professionalism and care they have brought to each conversation.
Marcie Biagetti, Jeff Grenon, Vicky Fanelli, Donna Kennelly, Penny McKay, Cindy O'Connell, Karen Mispilkin, Brad Shoenfelt, Caryn Sonnenstuhl, and Jennifer Suttill.
McGovern Webinar
On Tuesday, Mr. Kelley and I hosted a follow up session to review the plan we presented during the Fall 2020 FULL School Return Feasibility Update meeting last week. In addition, there was a live question and answer session.
The McGovern Office Hours Presentation can be found here.
In addition, if you would like to watch the webinar, you can view it by clicking on this link.
Principal's Office Hours
Here is the meeting information:
Meeting ID
Phone Numbers
(US)+1 347-201-7818
PIN: 177 440 841#
Communication
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Below you will find some links to resources from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. We are called upon to use these resources when developing plans for the District.
DESE Initial Fall Reopening Guidance
DESE Fall 2020 Special Education Guidance
DESE Fall 2020 School Reopening Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
DESE Protocols for Responding to COVID19 Scenarios
DESE Return-to-School Working Group webpage
DESE Fall Reopening Transportation Guidance
DESE Fall Reopening Facilities and Operations' Guidance
DESE: Guidance for Courses Requiring Additional Safety Considerations for Fall 2020
July 31: Preliminary Reopening Plan summary due to DESE
August 4: Principal Office Hours: 9:00 am
August 13: School Committee Vote on Final MPS School Return Plan
August 14:
Publication of Final MPS School Return Plan shared with community
Publication of Final MPS School Return Survey: Student Commitment (due 8/17)
August 17: Final MPS School Return Survey: Student Commitment Due
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