McGovern News

Dear McGovern Families,

September is drawing to an end. Well done on navigating the start to the new school year! Research shows that consistent school attendance supports children’s emotional regulation and long term academic success. Thank you for all you've done to set your little one up for success this month. Each day, our students are arriving on time, following classroom expectations, and building connections with their peers and teachers.

Beginning of year testing reports will be sent home soon. I want everyone to remember that these reports help us to know where instruction begins and that growth in early childhood is often rapid. Reach out to your child's teacher with questions about these reports and I'll talk about this more on Curriculum Night, which I hope you can make next Thursday October 1st!

Along with Curriculum Night, next week we have school picture day on Monday, September 28th. Class T-shirt ordering has opened for the 2026-2027 school year. Walk to School Day is planned for Thursday, October 8th. Please read all information and updates below.

Veterans Day: We are planning a school assembly on Tuesday November 10 from 2:20-2.50. The focus of this assembly will be learning more about how our school values show up in our community. I am looking for parents or family members who are veterans to participate in this with me. Please email me (sholt@medwayschools.org) if you are a veteran and would like to be involved.

On a personal note, I am running the Berlin Marathon this weekend which your child might tell you about. Every mile I run I take the strength of our community with me. While I am away, our excellent Elementary Assistant Principal, Mrs. Kendra Lueken will be in the front office. I have spent time preparing her for my absence and I'll be back early next week.

As we say each morning after our pledge of allegiance:

I can!

You can!

We all can!

In partnership,

Shelby Holt

Picture day is this coming Monday, September 28 for all students in preschool, kindergarten and 1st grade. We are excited to have photographer Tim Rice return this year to capture our students' 2026-2027 school pictures! Tim has worked with local schools and families, and brings a professional yet personal touch to every photo session.

Important details:

• See the photos before you buy!

• Families receive a link to view and purchase pictures two weeks after your child's picture day

• Scholarship opportunities are available for any family needing financial support, please reach out to Amanda Rice (amrice@medwayschools.org)

• Prints start at $22 and digital files are $40
• Order within two weeks and get a discount!

A picture retake is scheduled in the morning on Monday, November 2 for Time to retake any pictures, or in the event that a student is absent they will have the opportunity to take their school picture at that time.

You are cordially invited to our back-to-school Curriculum Night on Thursday, October 1 at the following times:

• Preschool and Kindergarten will take place from 5:30-6:30 PM
• 1st Grade will take place from 6:45-7:45 PM

Families will go to the cafeteria for the first 15 minutes for a principal presentation. Then, families will go to their child's homeroom. Teachers will go over the curriculum, share classroom and homework expectations. Families will be able to ask general questions. This is not an opportunity for families to ask individual questions about your child's progress. If you have an individual question, please personally reach out to the classroom teacher to set up a check in. We will also have parent teacher conferences beginning in November.

Finally, this is an adult only event where our goal is to share academic expectations for the school year. Mrs. Rice will be here to process CORI forms if you intend to volunteer this year, this is a great time to complete your CORI form. Stop by the front office with your license.

All McGovern students (Preschool through 1st grade) are welcome to celebrate "International Walk to School Day" on Thursday, October 8, 2026 (rain date is Friday, October 16, 2026). We have been participating in this event for over 10 years which was created in 1997 by SafeRoutes to School. The goal of the event is to help promote healthier habits, a cleaner environment, pedestrian safety, and a number of other community benefits such as less traffic and improved accessibility for all students. Please read below for grade-specific information on how the event will run.

Kindergarten & Grade 1:

Kindergarten and Grade 1 students can either be dropped off at Medway Parks and Recreation (123 Holliston Street) by their family or by their bus at 8:35 AM. Alongside many staff members and any family members that want to join, students will walk the half mile to school! To help ensure the students’ safety, Medway Police Department will be on hand to assist with crossing Holliston Street in two different places.

Preschool:

Preschool students and families, you will be participating in your own “Mini'' Walk to School Day! You or your child’s bus will drop them off at the top of the McGovern driveway and then the preschool students will walk to school as a class with their teachers. The Medway Police Department will also be posted at the McGovern crosswalk to ensure the safety of the preschool students being unloaded and walking down the driveway to the school.

Permission Required:

Please fill out this Google Permission Form for each McGovern student in your household by Thursday, October 1, 2026, even if you are choosing to not have your them participate in the walk. This way we will be able to keep track of all students.

We are excited to share that our "I Can McGovern" class T-shirts are available to order for students! Class t-shirts are $6.00, and this year we have the option for online payment for your child's t-shirt online, cash and checks are also accepted and can be turned into the main office. If you would like to order a class T-shirt for your child, please follow the two steps outlined below.

Both the order form and payment must be completed for your child’s order to be processed.

The deadline to order is Tuesday, October 6. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the main office.

Please use the link below to submit your child’s T-shirt size and information:

After completing the order form, please submit the payment of $6.00. The easiest way to pay is to follow the online payment link. Cash or checks made payable to "McGovern Student Activities" are also accepted forms of payment to be submitted to the main office.

As required by Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations, 105 CMR 200.000, school nurse Stacey Grimm and a second nurse will be conducting the following screenings:

• Grade Pre-K: vision screening, near and distance vision

• Grade K: hearing screening, near and distance vision screening, stereopsis

• Grade 1: hearing screening, near and distance vision screening, stereopsis, height and weight

These screenings will take place the week of November 2-6, 2026. Every effort will be made to protect student privacy during the screening process.

You do have the right to “opt out” of the screenings. Please notify Nurse Jessie in writing, (letter or email) by October 28th if you wish to opt your child out of a certain screening.

If you have any questions, please contact nurse Jessie Tower via phone 508-533-3243 ext. 5354 or email jetower@medwayschools.org

As the weather changes, cold and flu season starts. The single best way to prevent illness is proper hand hygiene!

• Wash Hand Often: Remind students to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating and after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing

• Cover Your Cough: Teach students to cough or sneeze into their elbow or a tissue instead of their hands.

• Get Rest: Growing bodies need 9-11 hours of sleep each night to maintain a strong immune system.

• All Things Yummy: Maintaining a balanced diet rich in seasonal fruits and vegetables supports student’s immune systems.

• Stay up-to-date with current vaccine recommendations and get the Flu vaccine before peak season.

I am pleased to be a part of your student’s healthcare team. My goal is to keep them healthy and safe while obtaining an excellent education here at McGovern. I appreciate everyone’s support as I am getting acclimated to this role. Know that your student’s health is in great hands.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out directly to:

Nurse Jessie Tower
jetower@medwayschools.org or (508) 533-3243 x5354.

Hi McGovern families!

I’m Mrs. Riley, your child’s art teacher at McGovern Elementary. I’m so excited to work with your children this year and share the creative experiences we’ll be having in the art room!

We’ll be using Artsonia to build digital portfolios of your child’s artwork. Artsonia will allow you to see what your child is creating and watch their artistic growth throughout the year.

Please look for an email from Artsonia with instructions for connecting to your child’s portfolio and reviewing the permission options. Artsonia is free for families to use.

Later this fall, I’ll also share information about Square 1 Art, a community art fundraiser.

If you need help connecting or have any questions, please let me know. I’m happy to help!

Creatively,

Mrs. Riley

As we plan ahead to Veteran's Day on Wednesday, November 11, we would like to create a meaningful display bulletin board for the month of November honoring the veterans in our greater McGovern community. We would love families with active service members or veterans to send in a photograph of their special veteran in uniform (with their kids if possible!). Our intention is that these photos will spark conversations that teach kids about these special members of our community.

Please submit a 4" x 6" photo by Wednesday, October 28, with your child's name and room number, as well as which branch their special veteran/active duty member served on the back of the photo so we can properly return them. Thank you to all in our community who have served!

Please remember that approximately twice a month there are no preschool classes as it is an Arena Day. This is when we complete assessments for students in an IEP evaluation cycle, hold IEP meetings, and/or conduct training. Arena days are always held on a Friday, and the upcoming arena days are:

• September 25
• October 9
• October 23
• November 13
• December 4
• December 18

• January 22

• February 5

• March 5

• March 19

• April 9

• April 30

• May 14

• June 4

This is a reminder that as of Tuesday, September 22nd, students will not be permitted to board the bus in the morning or afternoon without their pass.

• Bus passes have been distributed to students (with the exception of MEDI).

• Registrations that are unpaid or otherwise incomplete will not receive a bus pass. The transportation department will follow up with families on specific details.

• Bus passes must be attached to the outside of your student’s backpack.
  
  

In alignment with the implementation with the bus passes, the McGovern Transportation Form is now closed, which you filled out to share how you want your child getting to and from school for this year. Any changes to your child's dismissal for a one-time occurrence, please continue to complete the Dismissal Change Request Form.

For continued questions or concerns, please use our Transportation Request Google Form, otherwise, direct emails will not be responded to.

We thank you for your cooperation as we work to ensure safe and efficient transportation for all Medway students.

As you may recall, Medway Schools formed a School Start Time Committee last spring. This Committee, made up of teachers, family, and student representatives, is charged with making a recommendation to the School Committee on whether to maintain or alter school start times. To make an informed decision, the Committee is looking for family input and asks that you please review the research on school start times and complete this survey by October 9

due to a scheduling conflict, our first School Site Council meeting has been rescheduled to Monday, November 9, from 3:20–4:20 PM in the McGovern School Conference Room.

Thank you for your flexibility and understanding!

We have noticed that some student smartwatches are going off during the school day. As stated in the Elementary Handbook under Cell Phones and Electronic Devices, we discourage the practice of bringing cell phones to school at the elementary level. If families feel it is important for a child to bring a smart watch/electronic device to school, the device must be turned off and left in his or her backpack for the duration of the school day. The use of personal electronic devices (including smart watches) are not permitted at school or on the bus. The school is not responsible for damage to or loss of personal devices.

Thanks to the Massachusetts state legislature all Medway Public School students receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day this school year.

The USDA and Massachusetts DESE define a free breakfast or lunch as a "reimbursable meal". A reimbursable meal consists of 5 components:

• a meat or meat alternate
• a fruit
• a vegetable
• a whole grain
• a milk

A student must choose at least three components and one of the three chosen must be a fruit or vegetable in order for it to be considered as a reimbursable meal.

Our food services team must account for each individual student's meal so that the district will be reimbursed for the meals served. Each student is assigned a personal identification number(PIN) in accordance with the state requirement. These PINs remain with the student for their entire Medway Public School experience. We will be sending home today a PIN pad sheet with your child's name and PIN to practice at home.

Please use the PIN Pad attachment below as practice to help your student learn their PIN codes.

Registration is open! It is time to celebrate autumn with friends and family - join a sports or fitness program or an enjoyable night of crafts or wellness. Many new programs are offered, plus our popular all-time favorites! Click on the links below to begin the registration process. October 1st is the deadline to register.

Fall Brochure | Arbiter Youth/Teen | Arbiter Adult | UniPay

The Medway SEPAC is sponsoring a Sensory Friendly Hayride on Sunday, September 27, 2026 at 9am at Tangerini's Farm. Please click the flyer below to register and for more information about the event. Registration for the hayride must be completed by September 21st.

The Medway SEPAC started our annual Trunk-or-Treat with one important goal in mind: to create a fun, welcoming, and inclusive community event where all of our children can come together, see familiar Medway staff, connect with our town organizations and our sport school teams, and simply enjoy being together.

This year's Trunk-or-Treat will be held on Friday, October 16 at 4:30 PM at Medway High School. Please click the flyer below for more information about the event, as well as registration. Please register for this event by October 2.

Please complete a CORI/SORI Release Form and submit the completed form along with a copy of your drivers license to any of our school secretaries for completion. You can submit your completed CORI to the main office, or email a copy along with a picture of your license to Mrs. Rice at amrice@medwayschools.org.

Medway Public Schools Religious & Cultural Observances 2026-2027

English

To open the SMORE newsletter, click on the link above. Then, to translate the SMORE newsletter, click on the “Translate” button at the top of the page. Use the drop-down menu to select your language. The newsletter will then be translated.

Portuguese

Para abrir a newsletter SMORE, clique no link acima. Em seguida, para traduzir a newsletter SMORE, clique no botão “Traduzir” no topo da página. Use o menu suspenso para selecionar seu idioma. O boletim informativo será então traduzido.

Spanish

Para abrir el boletín SMORE, haga clic en el enlace de arriba. Luego, para traducir el boletín SMORE, haga clic en el botón "Traducir" en la parte superior de la página. Utilice el menú desplegable para seleccionar su idioma. Luego se traducirá el boletín.

Arabic

لفتح النشرة الإخبارية SMORE، انقر على الرابط أعلاه. وبعد ذلك، لترجمة نشرة SMORE الإخبارية، انقر فوق الزر "ترجمة" الموجود أعلى الصفحة. استخدم القائمة المنسدلة لاختيار لغتك. سيتم بعد ذلك ترجمة النشرة الإخبارية.

Haitian Creole

Pou ouvri bilten SMORE a, klike sou lyen anlè a. Lè sa a, pou tradui bilten SMORE a, klike sou bouton "Tradwi" ki anlè paj la. Sèvi ak meni ki dewoule a pou chwazi lang ou. Lè sa a, y ap tradui bilten an.

• Community Update from the Superintendent, monthly
• McGovern News from me, bi-weekly
• Teacher newsletters, bi-weekly

All community updates and the McGovern News will be emailed and can also be found on the district and school websites or through our Medway Public Schools app which can be accessed through the QR Code below. Teachers will email their newsletters directly to their class.

Friday, September 25: Arena Day (No Preschool)

Monday, September 28: School Picture Day

Thursday, October 1: Curriculum Night (Back-to-School Night)

5:30-6:30 pm for Kindergarten & Preschool

6:45-7:45 pm for Grade 1

Thursday, October 8: International Walk to School Day, 8:35 AM (rain date scheduled for Friday, October 16)

Friday, October 9: Arena Day (No Preschool)
Monday, October 12: Indigenous People's Day - No School

Wednesday, October 21: Early Release

11:05 am Preschool Dismissal

12 pm Kindergarten & 1st Grade Dismissal

Friday, October 23: Arena Day (No Preschool)

October 26-30: Fall Scholastic Book Fair, during Library block

Sunday, November 1: Daylight Savings, turn the clocks 1 hour back

Tuesday, November 10: School Site Council Meeting, 3:20-4:20 pm

Wednesday, November 11: Veteran's Day - No School

Thursday, November 12: School Picture Retake Day
Friday, November 13: Arena Day (No Preschool)

Tuesday, November 17: Parent/Teacher Conference Night, 5:30-7:30 pm
Wednesday, November 18: Early Release (Elementary Only)

11:05 am Preschool Dismissal

12 pm Kindergarten & 1st Grade Dismissal

Wednesday, November 25: Early Release

11:05 am Preschool Dismissal

12 pm Kindergarten & 1st Grade Dismissal

Thursday, November 26: Thanksgiving Day - No School
Friday, November 27: Native American Heritage Day - No School