McGovern News

Welcome to the 2026-27 school year, McGovern families!

I am thrilled to continue my career at the McGovern School as your Interim Principal! I have enjoyed my time as the Curriculum & Instruction Leader at McGovern School for the past five years, and after a brief journey to Burke Memorial as Assistant Principal earlier this summer, I am back at McGovern full time. What a joy! I am committed to partnering with our dedicated staff and amazing families to make this school year a wonderful experience for every child.

Central to everything we do are our I CAN school values: Inclusion, Cooperation, Achievement, and Nurture:

• Inclusion – We welcome and value every child and family.
• Cooperation – We learn together and practice teamwork.
• Achievement – We reach big milestones, like learning to read, and we grow every day.
• Nurture – We create a safe, caring environment where students feel supported.

A Little About Me

Over the past 17 years, my journey in education has included teaching second grade in NYC (shoutout to Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn!), teaching children ages 2–11 and serving as a school administrator in London, and teaching and leading Kindergarten teams in Boston Public Schools. Grounded in my degrees from Boston College and Harvard, my professional passion centers on early childhood learning and how young brains grow.

Outside of school, I cherish spending time with my family, enjoying the outdoors, and training for my next marathon! My daughter, Charlotte, is starting Kindergarten at McGovern, and my son, Theo, is starting third grade at Memorial. Mr. Holt, our K–4 librarian, is my husband. We love Medway!

Why Early Childhood Education Means So Much to Me

Early childhood is magical! Neuroscience shows that young brains form more than one million new neural connections every second, making early childhood a powerful period for learning and growth. There is truly no greater joy than watching our #MiniMustangs learn. I love seeing McGovern students build deep friendships, develop self-regulation, and unlock the magic of reading.

I am continually inspired by the vibrancy of our school—the range of languages communicated, the incredible abilities of our students, and the dedicated staff who connect each child to a love of learning. It is a privilege to guide your children through these foundational years, and I can't wait to see all they will accomplish!

Your family's unique strengths and background are essential to our school community. You are welcome here, and I look forward to getting to know you. Helen Keller famously shared, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” I am filled with hope and excitement for all that we will build, learn, and achieve together in the year ahead!

Please continue reading for important updates.

Warmly,

Shelby Holt

Interim Principal

Dear McGovern Families,

As you may know, at Town Meeting, a funding article was approved to renovate all restrooms at McGovern Elementary School. We are writing to share an update on this project as the start of the school year gets closer.

This significant project began shortly after the close of the school year with an expected completion date before the start of the school year. As the project has progressed, the construction team has encountered several field conditions that have required adjustments to the scope of work and the original schedule. The District and project team have continued to work through these issues and have taken every reasonable step within our control to keep the project moving.

We remain optimistic that the renovations will be completed for the first day of school with students (August 31 for grade 1, September 1 for PK and K). However, we want to ensure that any additional unexpected delays in completion do not impact the start of school for students.

As a result, the District has proactively arranged for temporary restroom facilities if this project is not completed by the expected date. If necessary, we will install a one 10-stall restroom trailer, along with a separate two-stall ADA-accessible restroom trailer. These facilities would provide appropriate restroom access for students and staff if they are needed while the permanent bathrooms are being completed.

We are working closely with Mrs. Holt, Interim Principal, to establish appropriate processes and procedures for students and staff use of the restroom trailers should that become necessary. This planning is intended to ensure that, if the contingency plan needs to be activated, our staff and students will have clear expectations and routines in place from the outset.

We will continue to monitor the project closely and provide additional updates as we approach the first day of school, particularly if there are any changes to the current anticipated completion date.

We appreciate the patience and understanding of our McGovern families surrounding this summer's project update. We know that renovations of this nature can create uncertainty, and we are committed to keeping families informed as we move toward the opening of school.

Mrs. Holt will ensure that all children will have prompt access to a bathroom every day at McGovern School. We will provide another update before 8/31.

Sincerely,

Shelby Holt

Interim Principal

Patrick McIntyre
Director of Finance and Operations
Medway Public Schools

Medway DPW has been working these past couple of weeks to repave the school's entire parking lot. We want to make you aware so you can plan playground visits accordingly, that there will be NO parking lot access Friday, August 21 through Sunday, August 23. This is due to top coat application and line painting.

The parking lot will open back up on Monday, August 24. Thank you DPW for their incredibly hard work on this project.

As a reminder to all families, when picking up your child, you will need to bring your license or identification with you to the main office. Not only is this for safety reasons, but we also have new staff in the front office. Please understand that you will be asked to retrieve your ID from your car if you forget to bring it in.

We also ask that while in the main office to please refrain from using your cell phone. We encourage you to end your personal call on your mobile device before entering the building. This is to preserve confidentiality of students and staff who visit the main office throughout the day.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Please be sure you send your child to school with a reusable water bottle (not a Poland Springs or other store brand disposable water bottle). If you need a reusable water bottle, please reach out to Amanda Rice or Marisa Colombo, our school secretaries.

Please click below to view the 2026-2027 Student Handbook. This contains important policies and information for all elementary students.

We will host an open house for students and their families on Tuesday, August 25 from 9:00-11:00 AM. This is an opportunity for families to take a self-guided tour of McGovern School before the year begins.

The first day of school for First Grade students is Monday, August 31, 2026 and it is a full school day. Kindergarten students and their parents are invited to an orientation on August 31st and the times can be found below:

9:15-9:45 AM: Liberto, Signore, DeCristoforo, and Loughlin

10:00-10:30 AM: Sarno, Biagetti, Whitfield, and Friel

Preschool students and their parents will have the opportunity to attend an orientation at McGovern School on Monday, August 31 in two different sessions.

Full day and AM Preschool students and their parents can visit from 9:30-10:00 AM
PM Preschool students and their parents can visit from 1:15-1:45 PM

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

Parents/guardians will go directly to your child's homeroom. Teachers will go over the curriculum and share classroom and homework expectations. You will be able to ask general questions. As a friendly reminder, this is not an opportunity for parents 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, 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. Please bring your license with you to the main office.

Picture Day for all McGovern students is scheduled for Monday, September 28 with Tim Rice Photography. A Picture Retake Day is scheduled for Thursday, November 12. In the upcoming weeks Tim Rice will share ordering information as we get closer to school picture day.

If you are the first parent in the drop-off line, please do not pull through the parking lot. Please stop just before the right turn into the staff parking lot. This will allow for most faculty and staff to enter the parking lot before school starts. At 8:30 am, you may pull through the loop and line up at the cones for drop off. Thank you so much for your cooperation

If you are picking up your child for parent pick-up please be sure you have a school-issued car placard. Please place the placard on the passenger side window for easy readability. If it is on the dash it is often harder to read and/or blocked by your registration sticker. Having a car placard allows staff to ensure we are putting the right student in the right car and also allows for efficient pick up.

A reminder that we use a rolling drop-off and pick-up line, please remain in line and do not pass other cars. For safety reasons, families should not park in the staff parking lot to walk over and pick up their child. If you need to park, please use the lower lot and walk up to the parent pick-up area, where you’ll check in with Mrs. Fogaren. We also ask that you do not block other cars in the lower lot. Thank you for helping us keep dismissal safe and smooth for everyone.

If you absolutely need to change your child’s typical dismissal, picking your child up early, dropping off late or transportation routine, please fill out the Dismissal Change Request Google Form. The form will be open from 7:00 am-2:30 PM. We receive multiple calls daily and to ensure we are putting students in the right dismissal location, families will need to complete the form. We will no longer accept phone calls or emails for changes of dismissal plans unless it is an emergency. Note that children are not permitted to ride home on another child’s bus for the purpose of play dates.

Please bookmark and save the dismissal form (attached below) to ensure easy access to it to make dismissal changes for your child throughout the school year.

Children need healthy meals to learn. Medway Public Schools offers healthy meals every school day. As you may know, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, through the recent passage of the state budget, will again allow local districts to provide breakfast and lunch for all students at no cost.

However, families who submit an application for free or reduced lunch which is approved based on income guidelines may qualify for discounts on specified school fees, including but not limited to athletic fees, transportation fees, and preschool tuition. A district cover letter, the application and instructions can be found here.

Medway Schools has partnered with Care Solace and Cartwheel to support the mental health of students and their families:

• Care Solace offers mental health care coordination services and can help connect you, your child, and extended family members with appropriate community-based mental health providers. Whether it's counseling, therapy, or other mental health services, Care Solace can assist you in finding the support your family may need. To access Care Solace's coordination services, simply reach out using the following options:

• Call 888-515-0595: Their multilingual helpline is staffed 24/7/365.

• Visit www.caresolace.com/medway: On their website, you can explore mental health providers independently or click "Book Appointment" for personalized assistance through video chat, email, or phone.

• Cartwheel is a teletherapy service that supports students in grades 3-12 and families in grades K-2. For more information about Cartwheel’s services, please click here. To complete a self-referral form, please visit this site.

The Medway Resource Hub, curated by Medway School’s Wraparound Team, provides direct links to community social, mental, and physical health supports for students and their families. If you have questions about specific resources, please reach out to your student’s school counselor.

For the last several years, Medway Schools have collaborated with the Massachusetts Partnership for Youth (MPY) to provide professional development for our staff. MPY now offers a library of 10-minute videos and handouts for parents. Over 24 offerings include tips for parents regarding school success, student mental health, and more. The library can be accessed for free by clicking here.

Medway Schools has partnered with Care Solace, which offers mental health care coordination services and can help connect you, your child, and extended family members with appropriate community-based providers. Whether it's counseling, therapy, or other mental health services, Care Solace can assist you in finding the support your family may need. To access Care Solace's coordination services, simply reach out using the following options:

1. Call 888-515-0595: Their multilingual helpline is staffed 24/7/365.
2. 2. Visit www.caresolace.com/medway: On their website, you can explore mental health providers independently or click "Book Appointment" for personalized assistance through video chat, email, or phone.

Medway partners with Cartwheel to provide mental health support to students and families. Our partnership includes access to free family webinars that feature pediatric mental health experts. Please find the 2025-2026 webinar series calendar here.

Last year, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced the launch of MassLinks, the first fully virtual educational option for Massachusetts adults statewide who are seeking their high school equivalency or English language instruction. MassLinks classes are free for all adults, and Mount Wachusett Community College, in partnership with DESE’s Office for Adult and Community Learning Services, will deliver the instruction.

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.

Tuesday, August 25: McGovern Open House, 9-11 am

Friday, August 28: No School
Monday, August 31: First Day of School for 1st Grade
Kindergarten Orientation, 9:30 - 10:30 am

Tuesday, September 1: First Day of School for Kindergarten & Preschool
Friday, September 4: No School
Monday, September 7: Labor Day - No School

Friday September 18: Arena Day (No Preschool)
Monday, September 21: Yom Kippur - No School

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

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

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