Merrymount Elementary School

January Events

• January 1-2 No School ~ New Year's Day & Winter Recess
• Wednesday, January 7 QPS School Committee 6:30PM
• Friday, January 9 Merrymount Pride Day ~ Wear your Merrymount Gear
• Monday, January 12 PTO Meeting 8:30-9:30AM in Gym
• Monday, January 12 Winter Extended Day Begins
• Friday, January 16 Merrymount Pride Day ~ Wear your Merrymount Gear
• Monday, January 19 No School ~ Martin Luther King Jr Birthday Observed
• Wednesday, January 21 QPS School Committee 6:30PM
• Friday, January 23 Merrymount Pride Day ~ Wear your Merrymount Gear
• Friday, January 30 Merrymount Pride Day ~ Wear your Merrymount Gear

January Days of Recognition

• Thursday, January 1 New Year's Day ~ No School
• Wednesday, January 1 Kwanzaa Ends
• Tuesday, January 6 Three Kings Day
• Monday, January 19 Martin Luther King Jr Birthday Observed ~ No School

QPS 25-26 Calendar www.quincypublicschools.com

April 9 - International Night

May 29th - Field Day

June 10th - Grade 3 Animal Fair

June 10th - Grade 5 Promotion

December PBIS recipients ~ Celebrating Gratitude!

Pre-Registration for Kindergarten for 2026-2027 is open on the QPS website. Please see the link below for more information.

QPS Benchmark Testing

Quincy Public Schools students will complete the following benchmark assessments during the indicated windows:

• mCLASS Amplify Literacy Screener: K-3 January 5-30
• MAP Growth Reading & Mathematics: Grades 2-5 January 5-30
• MAP Growth Science: Grades 4-5 January 5-30

This data is collected to monitor student growth throughout the school year. Please note, according to the Massachusetts Department of Education, if screenings determine that a student is significantly below relevant benchmarks for age-typical development in specific literacy skills, the school will inform the student's parent or guardian of the screening results and will determine which actions within the general education program will meet the student's needs. All winter benchmark assessments will be sent home to families once testing concludes to share student progress for Fall to Winter.

Test Information

• NWEA MAP Growth MAP Growth scores help teachers check student performance by measuring achievement and growth. Teachers use results to plan for data driven classroom instruction and set targeted goals for students. MAP Growth tests are unique and adapt to your child’s responses to measure your child’s knowledge. If your child answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If they answer incorrectly, the next one is easier. These results will provide a more complete picture of where your child is on their learning journey— regardless of whether they are on, above, or below their grade level. Since MAP Growth tests provide immediate and accurate information about your child’s learning, it’s easy for teachers to identify students with similar scores in similar skills and topics and then plan instruction accordingly.
• MAP Test Resources
• Student Experience Resources
  
  
• mClass Amplify DIBELS 8th Edition focuses on foundational reading skills and comprehension through short, one-minute measures. mCLASS’s dyslexia measures, used in conjunction with DIBELS 8th Edition, provide additional screening for dyslexia risk, as required by MA DESE. mCLASS drives research-based instruction for every student. mCLASS benchmark measures are consistent within a grade level to help monitor growth across benchmark testing periods. Each assessment is also offered as a progress monitoring assessment between benchmark periods and can be conducted as often as needed. Click here for student resources

ACCESS for ELLs

Federal and state laws require that English learner (EL) students be assessed annually to measure their proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking English, as well as the progress they are making in learning English. In fulfillment of these laws, EL students are required to participate in ACCESS for ELLs tests. ACCESS for ELLs tests are administered annually in January-February. Beechwood Knoll student testing schedule is as following:

• Demo and practice tests are scheduled during students normally scheduled EL classes on Monday, January 13
• Testing for Grades 1-5 will be scheduled from January 14-24
• One-on-one Kindergarten tests will begin at the conclusion of Grades 1-5 through February 14

For more information, visit https://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/access/default.html

Dear Quincy Public Schools Parents and Guardians,

Earlier this year, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) notified us that Quincy Public Schools has been selected for a district review. The goal of this review is to look closely at the systems, policies, and practices that drive our day-to-day work. At the end of the process, we will receive a written report that highlights our strengths, identifies areas for growth, and includes recommendations to help us improve and better support our teachers and students.

Under state law, DESE is required to review a small number of districts each year, and they select a variety of districts based on size, geographic location, setting, and student performance. The onsite portion of the review, as well as the final report, will be based on the District Standards and Indicators, which outline what effective school district systems should look like. We expect to gain valuable feedback on our practices, allowing us to reflect on our progress and enhance staff and student performance.

I believe our district is doing well, and I am excited to highlight the great work of our teachers, staff, and students. I also hope this process will identify areas where we can keep improving, helping us achieve the goals in our district’s improvement plan. This FAQ page answers questions you might have about the required review: https://www.doe.mass.edu/accountability/district-review/default.html.

As part of the review, the team will be holding focus groups, classroom visits, interviews, and reviewing key documents. We’d love for you, our parents and caregivers, to be part of the process by joining a family focus group. Your perspective matters and will help us paint a true picture of what’s working well and where we can grow.

The focus groups are approximately 60 minutes in length and will touch on a few key areas, including:

• How families receive information about academics and student well-being

• Ways families can be involved in school or district decisions

• Supports for students and families, both in and out of school

• Access to electives, extracurriculars, and advanced classes

• Services for Students with Disabilities, English Learners, and others needing extra support

We’re hoping to include voices from families across all of our schools. If you are interested in participating in a focus group, please follow this link: https://forms.gle/uasDSsyf6HT1bpJn9. If you need interpretation or translation services, you may indicate that on the Google form, and we’ll be happy to provide them.

The onsite portion of the review, including the scheduling of focus groups, will occur during the week of January 26, 2026. Until then, feel free to reach out to Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Erin Perkins, at erinperkins@quincypublicschools.com if you have any questions about this process.

Sincerely,

Kevin W. Mulvey, J.D.

Superintendent of Schools

At Merrymount, we are committed to helping students grow not only academically but also as respectful, responsible, and ready community members. As part of our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) initiatives, we emphasize clear expectations, consistent routines, and positive reinforcement to create a safe and supportive learning environment for all students. We will also highlight a Monthly Character Trait to help students build strong values and life skills. Each month, students will participate in discussions, activities, and celebrations that bring these important traits to life:

September: The 3 Rs – Respectful, Responsible, and Ready

October: Citizenship

November: Gratitude

December: Generosity

January: Fairness

February: Kindness

March: Perseverance

April: Honesty

May: Courage

June: Confidence

Together, PBIS and our character trait focus will help students learn how to make thoughtful choices, show empathy, and take pride in being members of the Merrymount community.

• Absences: If your student is going to be absent, please email your child's teacher and Ms. Scott at stacyscott@quincypublicschools.com or call the main office at 617-984-8762 before 9AM.
• Tardies: All students that arrive late to school must report to the main office to check in with a office staff member.
• Early Dismissals: Requests for early dismissal of students must be submitted in writing either through a note or an email. Please email your child's teacher and Ms. Scott at stacyscott@quincypublicschools.com. Students will only be released to a parent, guardian, or adult authorized on their contact card. If a new adult who is not listed on your contact card, will be picking up your child, we will need in writing, by note or email, the full name of the person picking up your child. When dismissing your child, that adult will be asked for photo identification. If you find it necessary to change your child's dismissal plans once the school day has already started or if an emergency situation arises, please call the school office directly as teachers don't always have the opportunity to check email once the school day has started.

• PTO Room Parent 2025-2026 LINK
• PTO Facebook Page: Merrymount School PTO
• PTO Email: merrymountpto@gmail.com
• School Council Email: merrymountschoolcouncil@gmail.com
  
• Citywide PTO link

2025-2026 PTO Meeting Dates

September 29

November 17

January 12

March 16

June 1

PTO Agenda and Minutes 2025-2026 LINK

Welcome to Quincy's Citywide PTO website!

We hope to be a resource for all families navigating the Quincy Public School System.

Merrymount as well as QPS school officials use the SchoolMessenger system to deliver a single, clear message to parents or guardians by telephone, cell phone, email, or text message in any combination. SchoolMessenger can also be used to notify you of a school closing due to inclement weather and to communicate daily information, such as sports schedules, newsletters, attendance notifications, and other announcements.

The system is set up to automatically pull your contact information from what we have in our Student Information System (Aspen) and carry it over into SchoolMessenger. Please contact your school building office to update your contact information or confirm you are receiving SchoolMessenger communications.

If you have not been receiving district text messages, you may opt-in by texting "Y" or "Yes" to our school's short code number: 67587. This is a FREE service and you may opt-out at any time by replying to one of our messages with "Stop."

Quincy Public Schools parents and guardians have access to the Aspen Family Portal. The Aspen Family Portal allows you to securely view all of your student’s Aspen accounts at the same time. As with the current ASPEN access, you will be able to via student attendance, schedules, assignments, interim reports, final term grades and much more. The Aspen Student Portal will continue to be utilized by students

There is a verification step to be completed that will ensure accurate contact information. To activate the Parent Verification Workflow, please follow the steps below:

1. Log into your child’s Aspen Student Portal

2. Click the “Parent Verification” link in the Announcement Banner

3. Choose “Student Contact”; Click OK; Click Next

4. Enter your primary Parent Email address

5. Review Current Information (shaded box)

6. Update Requested Changes (if applicable)

7. Click on Next; Click Finish

8. Repeat process for each child’s Aspen Student Portal Account (if applicable)
   
   

Once your Parent/Verification is reviewed and confirmed by Ms. Scott, you will receive information on how to access the Aspen Family Portal and step-by-step instructions to activate your account will be sent out via email.

If you have any questions, please contact the school’s main office at 617-984-8762.

Principal: Susan Shea Connor susansheaconnor@quincypublicschools.com
Assistant Principal: John Rogan johnrogan@quincypublicschools.com
Secretary: Stacy Scott stacyscott@quincypublicschools.com
Guidance Counselors: Mairead Bastian maireadbastian@quincypublicschools.com and Marissa McGue marissamcgue@quincypublicschools.com
Nurse: Mollie Ehrlich 617-984-8925 mollieehrlich@quincypublicschools.com

School Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - 7:45 AM - 2:00 PM

Wednesday - Early Release 7:45 AM - 11:25 AM

Address

4 Agawam Road

Quincy, MA 02169

Telephone: 617-984-8762

Fax: 617-984-8909

Website

https://merrymount.quincypublicschools.com/

Congratulations to Mrs. Wilder, one of our PE teachers, on the birth of her son, Jamie. Mrs. Minton is currently on parental leave and our media teacher, Ms. Mederios will be covering PE classes.