Memorial Update

The shiny floors and empty hallways are ready to fill with the sights and sounds children!

Good morning, Memorial Families,

It has been a fabulous summer! Even with staff and students on break, our school and district have been busy undergoing several updates. Those of you who have visited campus recently may have noticed outdoor work ongoing on our curbs and windows. Inside, we are installing a new PA system and implementing additional safety and security enhancements. Teachers are also beginning to return to set up their classrooms, and the 2026–2027 school year is right around the corner!

Important Dates to Remember

• Saturday, August 29 at 10:00am: Kindergarten Playdate: Kindergarteners will have the chance to meet their classmates and teachers and see their new classrooms, ensuring they head into the year with confidence and excitement!

• Wednesday, September 2: First Day of School for all students.

PowerSchool Portal Opening Next Week

• Early next week, the PowerSchool Portal will open for families. You will be able to log in with your credentials to view your child’s classroom assignment for the upcoming school year.

Welcome to our New Staff

We’ve done a lot of hiring this summer (with just a few positions left to fill before day one!). Please join me in welcoming several new faces to our school community:

• Adriana Hill (Kindergarten Spanish Immersion): Adriana joins us from the Milford Public Schools dual-language program, where she served as a kindergarten paraprofessional. She is deeply passionate about bilingual education and early childhood learning, and we are thrilled to have her on board!

• Daniel Canas & Isabel Gomez (4th Grade Spanish Immersion): Joining us as visiting teachers from Spain, Daniel and Isabel bring a wealth of experience and a strong passion for teaching and learning. We are excited to welcome them to MURSD!

• Kelsey Babigian (Speech & Language Pathologist): Kelsey is a familiar face who completed a long-term sub position in our preschool in 2021. It’s wonderful to welcome her back—and perhaps have her reconnect with a few former students! (Note: We are in the process of finalizing our second SLP hire soon.)

• Full-Time School Psychologist: To support our growing district, we have added a full time school psychologist to Memorial. The psychologist will conduct psychological and academic evaluations for special education, as well as provide counseling and social skills support alongside our school counselor, Kathy Guertin. Look for a formal introduction in an upcoming newsletter once hiring is finalized.

• Please join us in celebrating two of our teachers who are welcoming new additions to their families! Brittany Bourassa (Grade 2) welcomed a baby boy in mid-June. Dawn Eby (Grade 3) is expecting her first baby in mid-September. Both teachers will be on parental leave through December. We have hired two fantastic long-term substitutes to step in: Faith Sheehan (Grade 2) and Amanda Pasquale (Grade 3). Faith and Amanda are already collaborating and planning with our team to ensure a seamless transition for our students.

Looking Ahead

For families new to Memorial, you can expect this weekly newsletter in your inbox every Monday once the school year begins. Below, you will find details on upcoming events, a link to all staff newsletters, and a link to our lunch menus.

If you ever have questions or need additional information, please don't hesitate to reach out to me at wbell@mursd.org.

Enjoy the final weeks of summer. I miss seeing your children every day and cannot wait to welcome them back very soon. Looking forward to the year ahead!

Warmly,

Wendy

We want to know more about your child! Take some time to share your child's gifts, talents, loves, and what makes them special. If you are a new kindergarten caregiver, or if you are a returning caregiver and you have not yet completed a Million Words or Less form for your child, we would LOVE to have you do so. Scan the QR code to begin.

Coming soon!

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.

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