Memorial Update
April 6, 2026
Week in Pictures
Principal's Update
April 6, 2026
Good Morning Memorial Families,
I hope that everyone enjoyed the weekend. Happy Easter to those who celebrate. This week, I want to draw your attention to two important items.
1. 2025-2026 Caregiver Survey: Each year, the Memorial School Council seeks feedback from families regarding both you and your child's experience at school. We utilize this feedback to help us draft goals in our annual School Improvement Plan. Recent goals that have been developed after analyzing survey results were around more consistent, predictable, and coherent communication coming from our educators. This year we had all teachers send home newsletters at the start of the month, and we created a landing document for caregivers to reference previous newsletters, or newsletters from other grades and teachers. Please take some time over the next few weeks to provide us with feedback for this current school year. We appreciate it! Click here for the survey.
2. Class Placement Process for 2026-2027: We will begin the process of creating class lists for 2026-2027 in late April/early May for students entering grades 1, 2, 3 and 4. The Miscoe Hill Middle School administration arranges placement for students entering grade 5 after consultation with Memorial teachers and staff. All of the student placement decisions we make are based on several factors, including teacher input, the need for creating balanced classes with regard to number of students, students’ academic, social, and emotional needs, and any parent input as to specific significant issues that may affect their child.
Please be reminded that requests for specific teachers will not be accommodated due to the impossibility of satisfying everyone while creating balanced classes. It is our firm belief that each student will have his or her needs met regardless of the assigned teacher, and that all of our teachers are highly qualified professionals who will provide the opportunity for each student to succeed. In addition, although our teachers employ a range of styles, they teach under the same umbrella of core values, curriculum, and best instructional practices. We will utilize the wealth of information we already have to create balanced classes. It is not necessary, nor is it expected, that parents communicate regarding class placement. However, we welcome information that we may be unaware of. For example, we will separate students who have had ongoing, significant challenges with one another and/or students who get along so well they may serve as distractions to one another. If you have a specific concern about your child that you wish the school to be aware of with regard to class placement, please complete this form by Monday, April 27, 2026. A great deal of time is invested in class list development. Because of our timeline, information received after April 27th will be difficult to consider. Please also know that teachers will have access to the information you communicate with us.
As always, we appreciate your ongoing work and support to help your child have a successful and memorable experience at Memorial School.
Have a terrific week!
Warmly,
Wendy
Happening This Week at Memorial
Upcoming Events
Second Edition of the MES Press!
Mascot Update: Semi-Finalists
Thank you to everyone who submitted the over 200 suggestions for the new MURSD mascot. The mascot search committee (made up of representatives from the student, parent, community, alumni, administration, and middle school constituencies) reviewed all of the suggestions and narrowed it down to 8 semi finalists.
We are asking the community to choose their favorites among the 8. Here is a link to the semi finalists including some contextual information that will help you choose some of your favorites. Once you have read through the semi finalists, you can vote for your top three here. (Please only vote for a mascot one time). Voting will close on Wednesday April 8th.
Project 351 Clothing Drive
It’s spring! As you refresh your closets for the season, please consider setting aside gently used children’s clothing to donate.
Miscoe Hill's Project 351 Student Ambassadors are leading a Spring Service clothing drive to support Cradles to Crayons. They will be collecting new and gently used children’s clothing (sizes infant through adult medium) from April 1-8. They are also accepting new pajamas, underwear, and socks. Donation boxes will be available in the lobbies at Miscoe Hill, Memorial, and Clough. Thank you for supporting this meaningful effort and helping our students give back to the community. If you have any questions, please contact acorron@mursd.org.
Nipmuc Youth Football and Cheer
2026-2027 School Year Calendar
Literacy Corner
New this year! A monthly newsletter from our reading specialist, Mrs. Hagen, with tips and information for families about literacy development and strategies.
Click here to read, or find it in the School Newsletter document.
Parent Drop Off and Pick Up Information
Memorial School Newsletters
Lunch Menus
Memorial Student/Family Handbook
Before and After School Newsletter
PTO Corner
Memorial Elementary School
Upton, MA 01568
Email: wbell@mursd.org
Website: https://www.mursd.org/o/memorial-elementary
Phone: 508-529-1020
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MemorialUpton