We have reached the final week of the school year! We have reshared our final exam schedule below. Our schedule this week is for all half days. We hope that our students utilize the extra time to prepare for their exams and to finish the year strong. The information that we will learn from the finals will be helpful as we identify student strengths and their areas for growth next year.

We are also resharing our website that includes summer reading options and our Honors and AP assignments. The website also includes Math work for students moving up a level for next year. It’s important that students choose a summer reading book now because we are assigning educators to facilitate the book talks in the fall. We will assign a book to students who do not sign up and will notify via email.

Students will learn if they have been scheduled for an AP or H class with summer work by June 30.

Finally, we're sharing our College and Career Handbook organized by our School Counseling department. This has some great information and "to-do's" for each grade level as your prepping for next year and your post-secondary options.

We are working on finalizing student schedules for next year and will share out schedules for '23-'24 by mid-August. As is our practice, we will have an opportunity for families to review and request schedule adjustments if there are missing graduation requirements or missing courses connected to IEP needs. We build our schedule based on the requests and recommendations that were entered over the course of the spring. We will not be able to make changes to these requests for electives or levels, or honor requests for specific teachers. We'll send a mid-summer Mustang Minute to update you about the schedule release.

Thank you to all of our students for their efforts this year and to our families for your continued support. I hope you all enjoy the summer vacation! I look forward to our continued efforts to support student learning and well-being for the '23-'24 school year!

Best,

John J. Murray, Ed.D.

Principal

Medway High School

We are pleased to announce that we have appointed Mrs. Lori Stattenfield as our new Assistant Principal, effective mid-July.

Mrs. Stattenfield comes to us with an impressive background and a wealth of experience. For the past two years, she has served as the Assistant Principal at Tantasqua Regional High School in Sturbridge, MA. She has also had an impressive career spanning 25 years primarily as a Social Studies teacher, Department Head, before becoming AP.

Mrs. Stattenfield passion for education, dedication to student success, and her collaborative approach will undoubtedly contribute significantly to our school community. Her strong leadership skills and extensive experience will be valuable assets as we continue to strive for continuous improvement.

Welcome Mrs. Stattenfield!

Please check out our Summer Work website that includes information about Summer Reading, Honors and AP Summer Assignments, and work for students looking to move up a level in a Math course.

Medway High School is pleased to announce our 2023 summer reading program! This year's program will run differently than it has in the past: MHS teachers and staff have recommended titles and will be joining students for student-led discussions on the books. Students and families can find all the information they need at our new Summer Reading/AP&H Summer Work site.

Books are available for free at the Medway Public Library, through the MinuteMan Library Network, or through the free Libby reading app. Instructions for getting started with Libby are on the Summer Reading site. You will need a free public library card to read with Libby.

Students need to:

1. Read through the book descriptions on our Library of Choices page.
2. Choose a book and an alternate using our Choice Selection form.
3. Read through the appropriate Reading Response form before reading their book. Please note: there is a nonfiction and a fiction form. Please be sure to print and complete the correct one. Printed copies are available in the school office.
4. Read and enjoy your book, answering questions on the Reading Response form.
5. Bring your Reading Response form to school for the discussion - date to be announced in the fall. It will take place during a FLEX block during one of the first few cycles of the year.

Thank you for your support!

Please direct questions to Dr. Murray johnmurray@medwayschools.org.

As shared during the May 18 School Committee meeting, new for the 2023-24 school year, parents and guardians will need to register students who wish to be transported and who qualify for transportation per the district’s policy.

To qualify, students must live at or beyond the following home to school distances:

• Kindergarten - All students except those living in immediate proximity to McGovern School

• Grades 1 - 4 - Students who live more than 1 mile from their school

• Grades 5 - 12 - Students who live more than 1.5 miles from their school

The transportation registration form allows up to 5 students in a family to be registered with one entry. All questions can be submitted via this Google form.

Biology MCAS for 9th grade students is on Tuesday and Wednesday (June 6 and June 7). We’ll have testing locations hung up in the lobby for students.

After our senior week activities, we turn our attention to recognizing the achievements of students in grades 9-11. Our grade 9 and 10 awards will be on Tuesday, June 6th during Flex Block. These are not open to the public. Our Junior class awards and Book Awards will be on Wednesday, June 7th at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Junior students and families will receive email invitaitons for the event. This event is open to the public.

Final Exams will begin the week of June 12-15. It is the expectation that all students will participate in all of their assigned exams. Please see the link below for full for details.

Check out the Spring edition of the MHS Literary Magazine. The MHS Writing Club is a club dedicated to student creativity.

We welcome all art forms, including poems, short stories, essays, and non-literary works such as paintings, drawings, photos, short films, music, and games.

Writing Club aims to share students' creative endeavors in all mediums!

https://mhstest.my.canva.site/medway-high-school-writing-club

June 4 Class of 2023 Graduation, 10-11:30-Hanlon Field Rain date will be June 5 @ 6PM

June 6 MCAS Science Session 1-Grade 9

June 6 Athletic Advisory Meeting

June 6 Flex Block - Underclassmen Awards/H1 - Grade 10 H2 - Grade 9

June 7 MCAS Science Session 2-Grade 9

June 7 Junior Book Awards, 6:30 MHS Auditorium

June 9 Review Day

June 12-16 Finals

Senior Week 2023

We have finally made it to Senior Week! All activities are listed on our Senior Class Website. This will be updated frequently. Congrats to our Seniors!

If your child is on a 504 or IEP and receives accommodations at school, they may qualify for accommodations on standardized exams such as the PSAT, SAT, AP and the ACT. In order for your student to apply for accommodations on these exams, the request needs to be submitted directly to the College Board and ACT organizations for a decision to be made.

Please read the attached documents: Applying for Accommodations on Standardized Exams, which outlines the process in more detail and take note of the Deadline Calendar for SAT and ACT Accommodations Request. To submit a request, please sign the SAT Consent Form for Accommodations and return it to your child's school counselor. Please be aware of the deadlines to request accommodations per test date. Applying for accommodations is optional.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1y1Rvr-yQRgIWG_RY1MNgrrbSYz2AOquQo_9UE1R_YJI, https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ob194BJNbL6OyECdXH5pu1gaIY4aLvd9, https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Qet_vqIjazJ-BDafmYk7Ox1wB1JLxr5Lm0Xw-1f4f3Y

May is quite the busy month at MHS. We have lots of info to share with you below.

On Friday, our AP testing concluded.Thank you to all of our AP Proctors and to our School Counseling secretary Jill Rondeau for all of the help to make sure the testing went as smooth as possibel.

This week, MCAS testing resumes for our 10th graders in Math.

Our last full school for Seniors is Friday and our Prom is on Friday night.

Next week, we'll begin our interview process for a new Assistant Principal at Medway High School. We'll put a call out for two student representatives and I've asked the MSPTO for two parent reps as well. We're hopeful to have a finalist day on May 26 and a recommendation to the superintendent by May 30th. It won't be easy to fill Mr. List's colorful shoes, but I'm confident that there are excellent candidates in the pool. Congrats again to Mr. List.

As the weather gets nicer, we also see some attendance and behavioral challenges creep in. We have 5 weeks left of school and I'm hopeful that every effort can be made to maintain our focus and energy to finish the year strong. There is still important learning occurring daily and final exams ahead of us. Let's hang in there!

On Friday, we hosted our annual Inovation Showcase at MHS. This event is a tremendous opportunity for students in our Engineering and Healthcare classes to show off their capstone projects and make pitches to industry professionals. It's also an opportunity for students across the school to show off their projects to professionals, staff, and parents. Thanks to our students as well as Mr. Jasinski and Mrs. Hallett for organizing the event. We're so amazed by the work of our students!

A reminder that the MATH MCAS testing will take place on May 16th and 17th, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. As you know, this assessment is the state-mandated graduation requirement, it is imperative for students to be present for and on time on each of the testing days. If you are aware of a day that your child will not be present to take their MCAS please speak with Mr. List, if you have not done so already.

All MCAS tests will be computer-based. Please make sure your child brings their Chromebook fully charged. If your child does not use a school-issued Chromebook, one will be provided to them for testing. Students must use a school-issued device for the testing. On day 2 of testing, students are allowed to use a calculator. They may bring their own calculator or use the one that is provided on the testing site.

Students will report to school at the regularly scheduled time and proceed to their testing room. Student testing room assignments will be shared with students beginning tomorrow and posted in the main lobby. Please make sure that your child arrives at school with enough time to find their testing classroom in order to begin testing promptly at 8:04 am. We would like to remind you that good nutrition and plenty of sleep are important preparation for the MCAS.

Should you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Mr. List.

Please see the schedule below for the student schedule for the May 19th half day. The day includes a series of events for each grade including the Financial Literacy Fair. We will not be running classes on the half day and dismissal will be at 11:34.

LOCATION: Tiffany Ballroom at Four Points Sheraton Norwood

DATE & time : May 19, 2023 6:30-10:30

DIETARY RESTRICTIONS: Please complete the attached form if you have dietary restrictions.

TABLES: Each table will consist of 10 students. Students have the option of providing the class advisors, Mr. Perry & Mrs. Hallett, a list of the 10 students at one table. We recommend ONE person from the group submit the written list of students complete with full names correctly spelt.

TRANSPORTATION:

Students are to report to the high school no later than 5:00 to check in. Students will board the busses by tables. There is a possibility that a table may be split between two buses.

Coach buses Leave Medway at 5:30 return between 11:00 & 11:30

NOTE: Those of you wearing new shoes or uncomfortable shoes REMEMBER to bring another pair of shoes. BAREFEET are not permitted at the venue!

Thank you to the MSPTO for a wonderful Staff Appreciation Luncheon on Wednesday. We're fortunate to have such dedicated parents and families in our community.

Check out the link below to see pictures from Wednesday's Art Walk and Pops Concert. Thanks to our student performers as well as Mrs. Nelson and Ms. Webster for their great work! Photo credits to Jen Merrihew.

As you may know, Medway High School has been designated as an Innovation Pathways school by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in the areas of Healthcare and Human Services and Information Technology. Students at MHS have the opportunity to complete a series of courses in each of these areas followed by a capstone course of a 100-hour internship. Each Innovation Pathway is supported by grant funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

We are excited to introduce Alex Ferrro as the new Innovation Pathways Coordinator. taught middle school math in Dorchester before moving to Holliston High School in 2022. After spending most of this school year with Holliston High School, Alex is excited to come on board as the Innovation Pathways and Internship Coordinator at Medway High School. Currently, Alex is working on making sure that any and all students have an opportunity to benefit from the IP program or an internship in the coming school year. Over the next few weeks, Alex hopes to lay the foundation for the Innovation Pathways program at MHS by meeting with students about entering the pathway program, setting up rising seniors with internship opportunities, and connecting with our students. His office is located in 206-1 (inside the Science Department work room). Students are welcome to reach out if interested in internship opportunities. They will also see emails and Flex sessions to explore internship opportunities.

As we look forward to end of year celebrations and summer, the 'SUP Medway (substance use prevention) coalition wants to see you all thrive through this season and the next. For those attending prom, check out these Prom Tips from other high schoolers on Instagram or on Facebook.

The minimum age for substances like alcohol, nicotine, and marijuana is set to 21 years old for a reason! Drugs including alcohol and nicotine can have both immediate and long term impacts on the young brain that is still developing up until around 25 years old. You have the choice to protect your brain, memory, safety, and future by having fun without alcohol and other drugs. It is never okay to buy or supply alcohol and other age-restricted products for anyone under the age 21, in fact it is against the law. Lastly, if you see anyone experiencing unconsciousness, slow/irregular breathing, cold/bluish skin, or uncontrollable vomiting, get emergency help by calling 911 right away. Have fun & celebrate safely.

Medway Public Schools are dedicated to student health and well-being. The SBIRT program provides important services to students and families. In March 2016, Governor Baker enacted legislation related to substance use, treatment, education, and prevention which outlines the requirements for public schools in the Commonwealth to engage in verbal substance use screening education. Every year, Medway Public Schools uses an interview-based screening for students in grades 7 and 10 called SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment). More about the SBIRT program may be found here or by visiting our website.

Student screening sessions will be brief (approximately 2-3 minutes) and conducted confidentially in a private, one-on-one session the week of May 30th for 10th grade and the week of June 5th for 7th grade. More details are provided in SBIRT Letter to Families - 22-23. As with any school screening, you have the right to opt your child out of this screening (see links to opt-out forms in the SBIRT Letter to Families above).

Starting this week there will be decorated boxes in the lobby asking for donations for the General Hygiene Product Drive. This drive is to raise awareness for period poverty and the importance of donating essentials beyond food. We are asking for pads, tampons, hygiene shampoo, conditioner, body wash, brushes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, new or gently used bras, socks, toilet paper towels, diapers.

FYI- Math MCAS is coming up on May 16th and 17th for 10th grade students. The testing locations will be posted for students at the end of the week. Students are allowed to use a calculator for Session 2 on May 18. Students should plan to bring their own calculators as we have very few calculators to loan to students. Please see the list of acceptable calculators.

Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in the U.S. since 1949. This year, MHS joins the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. Together, we hope to fight stigma, provide support, offer resources and educate students about mental health. Please join us in the lobby on Thursday 5/11/23 as we highlight the importance of Mental Health Awareness & Treatment!

The School Counselors are in the process of meeting with all juniors for their Junior Appointment. As previously stated during Junior Seminar, the Student Data Portfolio and Parent/Guardian Brag Sheet located under Classwork in the School Counseling Class of 2024 Google classroom and the Activity Resume located in Naviance are due when students Junior Appointment is scheduled. Students should look for the email sent by Mrs. Rondeau with their Junior Appointment Date and time and be sure to have these documents complete for their appointment.

Latin I (Introduction to Latin)

Joyce Zheng Gold Summa Cum Laude

Claire Mullen Silver Maxima Cum Laude

Latin II (Beginning Latin)

Timothy Hurley Gold Summa Cum Laude

Willem Khoo Gold Summa Cum Laude

Jacob Suttill Magna Cum Laude

Arielle Keany Magna Cum Laude

Rosalie Benedetto Magna Cum Laude

Matthew Olynciw Cum Laude

Latin IV (Intermediate Latin Reading Comprehension)

Ella Barucci Cum Laude

The Medway IT Dept. would like to remind families with 8th and 12th-grade students that we intend to collect all Chromebook devices and chargers by the last day of school. This is per our replacement lifecycle of four years. In September, students entering 5th and 9th grade will receive new devices to support our digital curriculum and learning initiatives. We thank you for preparing to return the device within the last week of school. Stay tuned for the exact dates.

88 Keys for Kids and Annual Campaign for the Medway Friends of the Performing Arts (MFPA) Successfully Completed

Thanks to the many individual and family donors and the Medway Foundation for Education who contributed to the 88 Keys for Kids and MFPA Annual Campaign, we were able to nearly meet our funding goal of $20,000 for the purchase of a performance piano for Medway High School. Donations from our community totaled $8,080.95, MFE donated $5000, and the MFE match campaign in April provided an additional $5000. The total campaign raised $18,080.95!

This campaign, in addition to funding that will be voted on during the May 8 Town Meeting as part of the Select Board’s efforts to support this work, will enable the Medway Public School’s performing arts department to secure all current requests for their program (piano, risers, and choral shells). Please plan to show your support of this additional funding at the May 8 Town Meeting. Thank you again for your generosity!

We have been able to procure a small number of additional yearbooks. Prices start at $85. Sales will close by the end of the week or when inventory is sold out, whichever comes first. Please visit the Yearbook Website for more information: https://sites.google.com/medwayschools.org/mhsyearbook/ordering-a-yearbook

In 2020, Medway High School partnered with the JED Foundation, a nonprofit that focuses on emotional health and suicide prevention for teens and young adults. The school has developed resources and programming for student safety and well-being over the last three years, and as the grant ends and ongoing programming is planned, students will complete a survey on May 23rd during Flex block. Student feedback is important, and all students are encouraged to participate, though opt-out forms are available for those who choose not to. Contact Mr. David Elsner, Grade 5-12 School Counseling Coordinator, at delsner@medwayschools.org with any questions. Opt-out links for the survey are available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. JED Survey - Opt-out English: JED Survey - Opt-out - English Spanish: JED Survey - Opt-out - Espanol Portuguese: JED Survey - Opt-out - Portuguese

We are looking for student volunteers to walk AP Proctors to their classrooms the weeks of 5/1 - 5/5 and 5/8 - 5/12.

We need help every day at 7:30am and 11:30am.

We need 5 students on 5/2 and 5/9.

A google doc has been shared with the students.

If they did not receive the google doc and are interested in helping out, they can reach out to jrondeau@medwayschools.org.

Students taking AP exams the week of 5/1 - 5/5 should have received an email on Thursday morning including the following information about the Exam.

Name, Date, Time and Room Location

They also received the Important AP information listed below.

Another email will be sent out on 5/11 for students taking AP exams the week of 5/8 - 5/12.

Important AP Information

1. Please review the day(s) and time(s) of exams in the chart below.

2. Students must arrive 15 minutes early for their exam.

3. It has been a past practice that students can come in late or leave early on days of their exams. Students who want to take advantage of this must-have their PARENT/GUARDIAN fill out the google form located HERE

4. Families will need to coordinate transportation accordingly as the exam times run outside of our normal school hours. For your reference, students need to arrive at 7:45 am for an 8:00 am exam and arrive at 11:45 for a 12:00pm exam. Standard time exams are between 2-and 3.5 hours long (extended time exams will take even longer). HERE you can find details about specific exams. You can click on the specific exam, then click on “go to course”, and then click on “about the exam”.

5. HERE is a list of things students should and should NOT bring on exam day.

6. HERE is a list of exams that use calculators and what types of calculators are allowed

The MFPA is excited to partner with Medway High School for the premier of a new annual event - Swing & Sing. We hope you can join us for a night of jazz & cappella music on 5/3, 7:00 pm. in the MHS auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at the Door (Students $5.00/ Adults $8.00).

NOMINATIONS FOR MHS TEACHER OF THE YEAR

It is the responsibility of the senior class to nominate the candidates for teacher of the year. This can be any of the teachers from your past 4 years at Medway High School. Once nominations are received, the senior class officers and administration will review submissions and determine the MHS teacher of the year. Please click this link to make your nomination.

APPLY TO SPEAK AT CLASS DAY

Is there an important message you would like to share with your fellow seniors? Was there a transformative experience at Medway High School that you would like to highlight? Was there a club or activity that enhanced your high school experience? Do you want to share why the musical, play, jazz band, ensemble, sports team, or other after-school program was so important to your success at Medway High School?

Then, We invite you to share your interest in speaking at class day by filling out this form. Any member of the senior class can apply to speak. Applying does not guarantee the opportunity to speak as we have a limited amount of spots available.

SENIOR INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE SENIOR WEBSITE

Please take some time to click through the senior website to make sure you are up to date on important information regarding senior exams, senior week, and graduation. You can access the site using this link.

I hope all of our students and families had a wonderful April vacation! We're entering the home stretch of the school year. There are numerous events and activities that will be happening over the next 8 weeks.We'll use this space to ensure that folks have as much information as possible leading up to each event. This is also an important time for students to remain committed to their studies and positive school habits. We'll also have final exams this year which will be an important culminating exercise for students. Unlike midterms, there will be two final exams per day and cover material learned over the second half of the school year. Please know that our teachers, counselors, and administrators are here to support your child to successfully complete the school year. I'm looking forward to an exciting spring and strong finish to the school year!

On Wednesday, April 26th, students will take the last of three Panorama surveys given throughout the year. The questions are the same on these surveys and ask students their thoughts and feelings about a variety of social and emotional learning (SEL) topics. The survey results are used to plan SEL programming and student supports. All student voices are important and we are looking forward to continuing to learn from, and respond to, our students' feedback.

More information about Panorama surveys is available at Panorama Student Survey. A copy of the survey will be available in the High School front office for viewing between 8:30 am and 1:30 pm starting Monday April 10th. Students who opted out for the Panorama surveys earlier in the year will continue to be for this administration. If you would like to opt-out your student, please contact Dave Elsner, Grade 5-12 School Counseling Coordinator at delsner@medwayschools.org by Wednesday, April 26th using the subject "Panorama Opt-Out".

Due to the success of our Job Fair earlier this year, we are happy to be bringing it back to you again this week. Representatives from local businesses will be present in the main lobby during Flex block on Wednesday, April 26th to meet with students about employment opportunities. Students interested in participating will be called down to the Job Fair by floor during Flex block. All students will still sign up and report to a Flex block offering regardless of whether or not they choose to participate.

Important AP Information

1. Please review the day(s) and time(s) of exams in the chart below.

2. Students must arrive 15 minutes early for their exam.

3. It has been a past practice that students can come in late or leave early on days of their exams. Students who want to take advantage of this must-have their PARENT/GUARDIAN fill out the google form located HERE

4. Families will need to coordinate transportation accordingly as the exam times run outside of our normal school hours. For your reference, students need to arrive at 7:45 am for an 8:00 am exam and arrive at 11:45 for a 12:00pm exam. Standard time exams are between 2-and 3.5 hours long (extended time exams will take even longer). HERE you can find details about specific exams. You can click on the specific exam, then click on “go to course”, and then click on “about the exam”.

5. HERE is a list of things students should and should NOT bring on exam day.

6. HERE is a list of exams that use calculators and what types of calculators are allowed

*NEW information* Also, please know on the day of exams your child will need to sign off that they have received and agreed to the AP Exams Terms & Conditions which can be found HERE.

* Please have students double-check their days/times of exams. If students have any exams that may overlap due to scheduling and/or accommodations please have them contact Mrs. Rondeau directly at jrondeau@medwayschools.org. On days when students have 2 exams, they will be allowed time for a longer break to have lunch and reset.

Medway High School Students go on an Enlightening Field Trip

Water facilities show chemistry students real-life applications of their learning

MEDWAY, Mass. — Apr. 13, 2023 — During the week of April 10th, Medway High School juniors visited the Medway Wastewater Facility and the drinking water facility.

All Medway juniors take chemistry, in which they learn about drinking water through weekly milestones. These milestones are part of a newly adopted initiative at Medway High School known as project based learning (PBL). PBL allows students to learn through hands-on experiences, and often students will work on group projects instead of taking tests. In chemistry, PBL has consisted of understanding the importance of clean drinking water through the lens of the chemistry curriculum. Towards the end of this chemistry project, students analyzed the practices of Medway's water facilities. To assist with this learning, students went on a field trip where they could see firsthand what these facilities look like and what occurs at these places.

The field trip consisted of two locations, the first being the Medway Charles River Pollution Control Facility. Chief Operator Ms. Taglieri led students on a tour of the facility. Students were able to learn in depth about how wastewater is treated. Students followed the path of the water from its collection point to the place where it departs into the Charles River.

The next location that students visited was the DPW Drinking Water facility. Mr. Smith, the superintendent of water at the Department of Water Services (DPW), led students on a tour of the facility while discussing his responsibilities and the functions of the site. Students were able to observe SCADA, the computer system that ensures the quality of Medway's drinking water. He discussed the differences between tap water and bottled water—spoiler alert: they are essentially the same—and explained the treatment that Medway's water goes through to secure its safety for Medway's residents.

Overall, the field trip helped Medway chemistry students gain a deeper understanding of the processes that water goes through in order for it to be used safely by humans and other organisms. Students were able to take their knowledge of chemistry and see how it applies to real world applications.

Seniors May 1st is National Decision Day. The School Counselors would like to continue our annual celebration to recognize Seniors post-secondary plans. We encourage all students to wear a clothing item of the college/university they plan to attend and trade or company you will enter. Additionally, we will have a photo opportunity in the lobby and Seniors can fill out a pennant indicting their post-secondary plan. The School Counselors will be in the lobby before school and during first period on May 1st. We look forward to celebrating you!

The voting for the dedication of the 2023 MHS Yearbook closes at the end of school tomorrow, Monday, April 24th. All nominees must be submitted through this form.

YEARBOOK SALES END THIS MONTH All Students - Yearbooks are on sale until the end of April! Please visit the Walsworth website to order: https://yearbookforever.com/ . Yearbooks start at $85. For more information, check out the MHS Yearbook website: https://sites.google.com/medwayschools.org/mhsyearbook/ordering-a-yearbook

If you are interested in having a name stamp on your yearbook, your purchase must be submitted BEFORE 11:59 pm on Saturday, April 29th. The order guide can be found here.

Please visit the MHS Yearbook website or stop by 010-2 with any questions.

Monday 4/10/23- Thursday 4/13/23

In an effort to increase hope and positivity across our school community, we have a number of activities planned for the week before vacation.

Monday 4/10/23 - Happiness Quotes / Messages in front of school (in sidewalk chalk)
Music in the Lobby during Arrival (7:40 am- 8:04 am)
40% club members greeting students with hand stamps

Lunch Block fundraiser - club members & staff will be selling smiley face pins & allowing students to send positive messages to staff or peers.

Tuesday 4/11/23 - Lunch Block fundraiser - club members & staff will be selling smiley face pins & allowing students to send positive messages to staff or peers.

Wednesday 4/12/23 - Therapy Dogs in the lobby during AM arrival (7:30-8:04)

Lunch Block fundraiser - club members & staff will be selling smiley face pins & allowing students to send positive messages to staff or peers.

Thursday 4/13/23 - 40% club members / advisors will deliver notes & pins on Thursday & Friday during the school day

Throughout the week, members of the 40% club & PC's will be in the lobby to greet students :)
Be sure to stop by the lobby between 7:30 and 8:00 AM any day next week.. you'll be happy you did :)

​On April 14th, in honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day and in support of our instruction on genocide education, all juniors and those students enrolled in our Genocide and Persecution Studies courses will have an opportunity to take part in an in-school, virtual field trip in collaboration with the Center for Holocaust Education of the East Valley Jewish Cultural Council.

From 9-11 a.m., students will virtually engage with a live guide in Poland who will take them through an interactive tour of the Aushwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp in real-time. More about this experience can be found here. After a break for lunch, students will meet Bernard Offen who survived the Kraków Ghetto and several Nazi concentration camps including Aushwitz-Birkenau. He will be meeting us virtually from California and will spend an hour with students telling his story and answering their questions. You can find out more about his life story here.

We recognize that while this day will be emotionally engaging for our students, it may also be emotionally challenging. In-shool, our educators and support staff will be there to help students navigate the day’s events and we encourage you to continue these conversations with them at home. Here is an article from Psychology Today that you may find helpful in guiding a discussion with your student about their experience. If you have any concerns about your child’s participation please reach out to your child’s teacher.

We are enormously grateful for the generosity of the Medway Foundation for Education who funded this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our students in its entirety.

SENIOR FINAL EXAM INFORMATION

Senior exams will take place from May 22nd - May 25th.

Exam Week Schedule

May 22nd

A - 8:04 - 9:34

B - 10:04 - 11:34

May 23rd

C - 8:04 - 9:34

D - 10:04 - 11:34

May 24th

E - 8:04 - 9:34

F - 10:04 - 11:34

May 25th

G - 8:04 - 9:34

Makeup - 10:04 - 11:34

*If students are presenting or taking an assessment before exam week for their final exam grade they do not need to come in for finals

Exam Location

After April vacation Mr. List will send out a Google Form asking you how many students you expect to take your exam. Based on that information I will determine a testing location. We will also be sure to have a location for students who have a small group or separate setting accommodation.

Exam Drop-off Information

- Please bring the exams, at least 24 hours before the exam date, to David List's office.

- In David List's office, there is a bin with folders that are labeled for each period.

- Exams should be placed in the folder for the period corresponding to when your class runs during a normally scheduled day.

- Please label each exam with the student's name.

- If there are any test accommodations or special instructions please include those on a cover sheet for each student.

Senior Exam Exemption Rules

To be eligible for exemption, a senior must maintain:

• A grade of 87.0 or above for each of the first three quarters (year-long course) OR

• A grade of 87.0 or above for quarter 3 (semester based) AND

• A minimum fourth quarter average of 87.0 as well

All Students - Yearbooks are on sale until the end of April! Please visit the Walsworth website to order: https://yearbookforever.com/ . Yearbooks start at $85. For more information, check out the MHS Yearbook website: https://sites.google.com/medwayschools.org/mhsyearbook/ordering-a-yearbook Seniors - Nominees for the Yearbook Dedication are due by Monday, April 24th. Please submit your nominee using this form: https://forms.gle/BD8FaReGn2MBJ4U48 All questions can be directed to Ms. Merrihew (jmerrihew@medwayschools.org) or Walsworth Customer Care (yearbookforever.com/contact)

The MHS Concert Band, Treble Choir and Concert Choir all had fantastic performances at this past weekend's MICCA Concert and Choral Festival. Please enjoy some media from the event.

Concert Choir Performance Recording

Concert Choir Performance Pic

Treble Choir Performance Recording

Treble Choir Clinic Pic

Concert Band Performance Recording

Concert Band Clinic Pic

The School Counselors are meeting with all Sophomores on 4/5 and 4/11 for a College Admissions Workshop. During this workshop students will be reminded of graduation requirements, develop a better understanding of the college application and admissions process and learn the impact of grades earned in high school and time spent outside of school in the college admissions process.

Reminder that the School Counselors will be hosting Individual Junior Appointments beginning on Monday, April 10th. Juniors should check their email for their meeting date and time.

We were lucky to be able to take 18 students to the 1st Annual Metro South/West Trade and Construction Expo hosted by Mass Hire in Marlborough this past Thursday! Our students had the opportunity to meet with exhibitors and vendors from a wide array of trades such as electrical, plumbing, HVAC, carpentry, automotive, real estate, construction, EMT, etc. and many union reps. In addition to participating in hands-on and AI (Artificial Intelligence) activities, they learned about apprenticeship programs and lucrative career options, and networked to aid in their post-secondary planning. We look forward to continuing to offer our students these opportunities and to building relationships with local businesses. If you or your student has an interest in the trades, please reach out to their School Counselor for information!

On Wednesday, April 26th, students will take the last of three Panorama surveys given throughout the year. The questions are the same on these surveys and ask students their thoughts and feelings about a variety of social and emotional learning (SEL) topics. The survey results are used to plan SEL programming and student supports. All student voices are important and we are looking forward to continuing to learn from, and respond to, our students' feedback.

More information about Panorama surveys is available at Panorama Student Survey. A copy of the survey will be available in the High School front office for viewing between 8:30 am and 1:30 pm starting Monday April 10th. Students who opted out for the Panorama surveys earlier in the year will continue to be for this administration. If you would like to opt-out your student, please contact Dave Elsner, Grade 5-12 School Counseling Coordinator at delsner@medwayschools.org by Wednesday, April 26th using the subject "Panorama Opt-Out".

The Medway Police Department is seeking volunteers to assist with training on April 19, 2023 (week of school vacation). We will be doing a police response drill and need students to help as role players. Having volunteers greatly enhances our training and we appreciate the help from members of the community.

It will be approximately a four hour commitment beginning at 9am. If you are available and interested, please contact: pmclaughlin@medwaypolice.com

A few thoughts as we enter the final quarter of the school year.

• Another thank you to our Medway Police for their support during the "swatting" incident last week.
• A thank you to our students and staff for how they managed the situation.
• We continue to review our practices and make the necessary updates when these situations occur.
• Please see our anonymous reporting form below. See something say something.
• We've seen a rise in the use of ChatGPT among our students. Staff have access to several detection tools. We will be following our academic integrity policy as a means to discourage use of this tool. Students have access to Paper.co if they need feedback before submitting written assignments.
• We see more new student drivers in the spring. This new volume creates more traffic in the morning for drop off and some chaos in the parking lot at the end of school.
• We appreciate your patience as the spring is incredibly busy with events. Please stay tuned to this page for updates.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Junior Post-Secondary Night. We've shared a recording of the event for all and the link to the slides. Please reach out to your child's counselor with questions.

Junior-Parent Night

Passcode: 3#sa!8LD

The School Counseling Department hosted the annual College and Career Fair on Friday. This was a great opportunity for our students to increase their awareness of the variety of post-graduate options available to them, as well as for the representatives to better know our school and students. Often the college admissions counselors who attend are the ones who review our student’s applications.

We had a tremendous turnout with over 65 college reps and reps from our armed forces in attendance. Students were well prepared with question sheets to ask the reps. There was something for everyone who attended. A special thank you to our school counselors for organizing the event. A special thank you to Jill Rondeau, our counseling secretary and to our custodian, Patrick Cole, for his help setting up the event. Below are links to the info we shared with students and the list of colleges in attendance.

Preparing for College Fairs, 36 Questions to Ask a College, and a list of colleges in attendance.

Students, beginning in the spring of their Sophomore year, are encouraged to visit colleges and universities to explore avenues and areas of interest. In order for these absences to be excused, students must submit documentation by the college admissions office confirming the student’s participation. Please click this link to document your visit and excuse your absence.

Seniors are reminded of the upcoming due date for the senior scholarship program. All materials, unless otherwise indicated, have a deadline of April 13th at 3:00 pm. Please see Mr. Borden with any questions.

Our World Languages Department aims to help students become proficient in their language of study, following national standards. This year, students in grades 9-11 will take AAPPL (all languages) or ALIRA (Latin) proficiency assessments, which assess reading, writing, listening, and speaking in real-life situations. The feedback from these tests will support language acquisition and improve our program. The assessments will be given during language classes from April 3-14, 2023. Contact Dr. M with any questions.

Students at Medway High School will be taking AP Exams beginning on Monday, May 1st and concluding on Friday, May 12th.

We are in need of several people to help proctor these exams.

Please see attached information and let me know if you have any questions.

AP Proctor Availability

AP Proctor Information

Thank You!

Jill Rondeau

School Counseling Secretary

jrondeau@medwayschools.org

508-533-6643 Ext: 5018

508-533-3246/Fax Number

1st Place High School Biomedical Science Project- Medway High School-4 winners: Chandrika Rajkumar, Ellie McNeil, Kennedy Hamm, and Lauren LeClair have won 1st place in the MASS STEM Hub Industry Connect program for PBS this year! Connecting with industry professionals is a missing link to bringing learning alive to demonstrate how what is learned in the classroom is used to solve real world problems, additionally Mass STEM Hub provides skills-based internships. Each of these 4 winners will be offered a paid internship this spring/summer through the Work-Based Learning Alliance (WBLA)

Winning Submission Link: https://mshindustrychallenges.secure-platform.com/file/12232/eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJtZWRpYUlkIjoxMjIzMiwiYWxsb3dOb3RTaWduZWRVcmwiOiJ

THRIVE is a component of the Medway School’s Wellness Department that is committed to providing wellness-related parent/guardian enrichment opportunities. THRIVE is looking to better understand how parents/caregivers would like to consume enrichment opportunities and what topics they would like to learn more about next school year. Please share your thoughts by completing this two-three minute survey.

Students still have access to Paper.co. for homework help. Paper is a secure, online tutoring service that provides students with unlimited, 24/7 academic support. Whether they’re stuck on homework, studying for a test, or need someone to read and make suggestions to their essays, there will always be experts available online to assist students in over 200 subjects and more than 4 languages.

Learn more about this fantastic resource here!

MCAS season is upon us. As you know, this assessment is the state-mandated graduation requirement which is usually taken by students in grades 9 and 10. Please mark your calendars with the following dates as it is imperative for students to be present for each of the testing days. If you are aware of a date that your child will not be present to take their MCAS please speak with Mr. List as soon as possible.

MCAS 2023 Dates

English (ELA) - March 28 & 29 (Grade 10 Students)

Mathematics - May 16 & 17 (Grade 10 Students)

Introductory Biology - June 6 & 7 (Grade 9 Students)

All MCAS tests will be computer-based. Please make sure your child brings their Chromebook fully charged. If your child does not use a school-issued Chromebook, one will be provided to them for testing. If their Chromebook needs to be repaired please have them bring it to the IT department across from the cafeteria or the office as soon as possible. Students must use a school-issued device for the testing.

Students will report to school at the regularly scheduled time and proceed to their testing room. Student testing room assignments will be shared with students the week of testing and will also be posted in the lobby. Please make sure that your child arrives at school with enough time to find their testing classroom in order to begin testing promptly at 8:04 am. We would like to remind you that good nutrition and plenty of sleep are important preparation for the MCAS.

Should you have any questions please feel free to reach out.

Best,

David List

We are seeing an uptick in students being dismissed to complete their driver's ed hours. We ask that students schedule their hours outside of the school day as they are missing valuable class time. These are not excused absences.

MICCA- The Medway High School Concert Band and Choirs will participate in the MICCA Concert and Choral Festival this weekend. The Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) is dedicated to the study and performance of instrumental and choral music in the public schools of Massachusetts. At this particular festival, ensembles perform three pieces of repertoire for three adjudicators, who score the ensembles against a rubric of standards. After the performance, the ensemble receives a private clinic with one of those adjudicators and then is awarded a medal of participation, merit, bronze, silver or gold.

Band

Friday March 31st

Hopkinton HS

Performance @ 4PM

Chorus

Sunday, April 2nd

Westborough HS

Performance @ 2PM & 3PM

The following students were recently inducted to the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica/Spanish Honor Society. These students have shown and proven a deep interest in the Spanish language and culture by maintaining a 90 percent -weighted average in their study of this language. The Spanish Honor Society was founded by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese for the students of North American Secondary Schools; the Medway Chapter is currently advised by Dr. M.

President, Emma Reardon

Vice President, Palak Yadav Secretary, William George Treasurer, Sofia Mercier Historian, Nora Kempner

Timothy Stotz

Colin Roberts

Isamu Oldmixon

Julia Morcos

Isabelle Basso Christopher Tocci

Willem Dalton

Olivia Tocci

Samantha Fleming

Ella Vargas

Victoria Gonzalez

Jenna Westervelt

Annabelle Hazell

Junior-Family Post-Secondary Program-VIRTUAL Come learn about the overview of the college application process This will be held virtually on Thursday, March 30, 2023 from 6:30pm-7:30pm

Juniors and Sophomores, If you are interested in applying to become a Peer Counselor for the 2023-2024 school year, please attend an informational meeting on Tuesday, March 28th at 2:35pm in the Cafeteria. Peer Counselors serve as student ambassadors of MHS as well as mentors who provide support to incoming freshmen, transfer students and their peers. Peer Counselors also serve as role models within the school and district. The main objective of being a Peer Counselor is helping others. There is an immense time commitment involved in being a Peer Counselor and one must make sure that you have enough time to contribute to the program. Peer Counselors must be available in the summer and throughout the school year. Students who are planning to apply to be a Peer Counselor should join the Google classroom to review the application requirements. Class code: pdki6ro If you are unable to join the informational meeting on 3/28, attached is the Peer Counseling Program information sheet. Please review thoroughly before making the decision to apply.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=19SYuYst54Upl3WKA3PkaJwxH3BgY4Lsbybi4U0Bhj9c

The 'SUP Medway drug prevention coalition provided facts that will be shared in school announcements and the SADD club created and hung posters.

1. Teenage brains are undergoing significant changes in structure, which can make them more sensitive to the harmful effects of alcohol. Alcohol can damage areas of the brain associated with learning and memory, so one way to help with your grades is to avoid alcohol. (source)

2. Teens who start drinking alcohol before 15 years old are 6 and half times more likely to develop alcohol use disorder later in life than those who waited until 21. There is a minimum drinking age for a reason. (Source: SAMHSA, 2017 NSDUH)

3. Using nicotine, an addictive chemical in many vapes, can harm the parts of the young adult brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. Quitting vapes is possible and most successful with support. Free quit resource brochure available in main office, nurses office, and counseling center. (source)

4. Don't deplete your dopamine! Nicotine found in many vapes can surge the body with too much of the feel good chemical, which over time can change the structure of your brain by creating additional dopamine receptor sites. This puts a person at increased risk of addiction not just for nicotine but other drugs as well. (source)

Creating memories with friends only works if you actually remember them. Drinking alcohol can damage your brain’s memory functions, especially as your brain is still developing. Have fun without alcohol. (source)

This past Thursday, we held our first Challenge Day since 2020. The event was attended by 100 students and 20 staff members. Students were involved in a series of games, conversations, and experiences that built care and empathy for one another. Students left the day amazed by the experience and committed to use this experience to build stronger relationships with their friends, families, and the community.

Congrats to the cast and crew of the MHS Musical Peter Pan. The show was outstanding!

The School Counselors will be hosting a course selection presentation for all grades. Students will either be scheduled for H1 OR H2. Please check Infinite Campus to see when you are scheduled.

Juniors: March 1

Sophomores: March 6

Freshmen: March 9 and 14

Course Selections due on March 31st!

Students should be sure to bring any questions they have to these presentations. Additionally, if students would like an individual appointment with their school counselor regarding course selection, they may schedule an appointment from March 20th up until March 31st. Students should see Mrs. Rondeau to schedule this appointment.

Dear parents and sophomore students of Medway High School,

• Tickets for the Ring Dance will be going on sale starting Tuesday 3/7 in the lobby, before school.

• Tickets cost 20 dollars.

• Class dues will need to be paid in order to purchase a ticket.

• Class dues can be paid in the lobby where Ring Dance tickets are being sold.

Freshman

$30

Sophomore

$35

Junior

$40

Senior

$45

Any questions regarding financial aid please reach out to Dr. Ocasio-Varela.

Sincerely, the Class Officers of 2025

Spring 2023 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) Schedule

Students in grade 10 will be participating in the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) test in English/Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science/Technology/Engineering between March and May. These assessments, while representing only one measure of student learning, provide the district with valuable information about areas of success and where we can improve. Students are encouraged to be on time and in attendance on these days.

March 28, 2023

Medway High School

Grade 10

English Language Arts (Session 1)

March 29, 2023

Medway High School

Grade 10

English Language Arts (Session 2)

The Medway Mustangs had a great winter season.

Our Girls Basketball team remains in the tournament having won their first game in the tournament against N. Reading. Unfortunately, they came up short against #1 St. Mary’s in Lynn on Friday.

Boys Basketball entered the Division 3 tournament as the #26. They played hard, but lost 53-87 last Friday.

Our Girls Co-op Hockey Team, the #16 seed hosted their first ever home tournament game that unfortunately ended in a 2-1 loss in 2OT.

Our Boys and Girls Indoor Track Teams had a fantastic winter season. Many new school records were set and our athletes performed very well at the TVL Showcase Meet as well as the Division 5 State Meet. There were so many top performances, but the highlight was Jaina Campbell earning a spot in the MIAA Meet of Champions event for the high jump!

Our Gymnastics Co-op Team finished the regular season with a perfect 7-0 record and finished in fourth place at the Sectional Meet. They qualified for the State Championship Meet and did an outstanding job! Congratulations to the team and coaches!

Our Winter Cheer Team has done very well in their competition season. They came in 2nd pace at Regionals last Sunday, March 5 at Whitman-Hanson High School.

Our Boys and Girls Swim and Dive team members (via Holliston HS) had a great season. The boys team finished as TVL Co-Champions and many of our swimmers qualified for the divisional state tournament. In addition, Devin Bird, Jon Bird and Michael Webb all qualified for the All-State Championship.

Both the Coed Alpine Ski Team and the Boys Hockey Team have concluded their seasons. Both teams were very young this past season and look to rebuild next season.

The Junior/ Senior Prom is on Friday, May 19th at the Tiffany Ballroom at the Four Points Sheraton in Norwood. To attend prom all students and guests must have a ticket and be up to date on their class dues.

For juniors, dues must have been paid through junior year and for seniors, dues must be paid through senior year.

Freshman $30

Sophomore $35

Junior $40

Senior $45

If you are unsure please have your student contact a class advisor.

Tickets will go on sale Monday, March 20th, and be sold at an early bird price of $83.00 through Friday, March 24. tickets can be purchased with cash or a check made out to Medway High School. Beginning on Monday, March 27th, ticket prices will increase to $93.00.

All ticket purchases must take place BEFORE school and AFTER school in Mrs. Hallett’s room 214-1.

Medway High School requires that all students and guests take our bus to prom.

Prom Guests

If you plan to invite a guest to prom who does not attend Medway High School, they must be no older than 20 and they must also fill out a guest form that can be found here or picked up in the main office. The guest form must be completed and turned in prior to purchasing tickets.

If your student needs clothing for semi or formal dances, check out Jackie’s Boutique, located right inside of Milford High School!!! This program is available for any teen in need of a dress and accessories for semi and formal dances! These events can get very expensive and this program enables girls to have the dress, shoes, and accessories that they love. If interested, make an appointment, come on in and pick out your dream dress in our gorgeous boutique! https://www.milfordpublicschools.com/Page/6677

We just ask that you return the dress dry cleaned, or pay a $25 cleaning fee, so that another girl can enjoy wearing it.

This program is for any teen in need, you do not need to be a Milford resident to participate. Please reach out to make an appointment or for more information-sgray@milfordma.com.

Mass Hire is hosting an exciting opportunity for our students to learn more about the trade and construction industries. This is a time to start exploring post-secondary options and to learn more from professionals in the fields. This event will be on Tuesday, April 6th. More details will be provided but the event runs from 9 am - 1 pm; transportation and lunch will be included. Due to space being limited, priority will go to juniors and seniors. Please fill out this form if you are interested in attending.

Click on the event's website for more information! If you are interested in how different components come together to make a building work, a job in construction could be right for you. Carpenters, electricians, plumbers, pipefitters, and many more trades – construction has it all!

The deadline to submit this form is Wednesday, March 15th.

Course Selection Presentations The School Counselors will be hosting a course selection presentation for all grades. Students will either be scheduled for H1 OR H2. Please check Infinite Campus to see when you are scheduled.

Juniors: March 1

Sophomores: March 6

Freshmen: March 9 and 14

Students should be sure to bring any questions they have to these presentations. Additionally, if students would like an individual appointment with their school counselor regarding course selection, they may schedule an appointment from March 20th up until March 31st. Students should see Mrs. Rondeau to schedule this appointment.

In case you missed it, here is the recording of the Program of Studies webinar from this past Monday night. Students and families can find information about signing up for courses for next year at our Course Scheduling Site

The Medway Foundation for Education (MFE) is pleased to host the annual MFE Trivia Bee. This event is a time honored tradition where colleagues, teachers, students, and friends compete to reveal Medway’s top trivia team! The event will take place on Tuesday, March 7 in the Burke-Memorial Elementary School Cafeteria from 7:00-9:00 p.m. The funding generated from participation supports the MFE’s commitment to innovation and excellence in the Medway Public Schools. Please consider participating! A registration form can be found here.

Tickets are now on sale for Peter Pan! Purchase tickets for the following performances: 3/10 at 7:00 pm, 3/11 at 1:00 pm & 3/11 at 7:00 pm using this link: https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/medway-high-school-theatre-program/63e2b45cdf55380f2d88d8db/tickets

Have you ever considered becoming an electrician?! This presentation may be for you! Wayne J. Griffin Electric, located in Holliston, MA, has built its reputation as the leading source of electrical contracting services in New England and the Southeast. Griffin Electric is a contracting business for electricians, who offers construction and installation services on hospitals, hotels, industrial and high-tech buildings, offices, prisons, research laboratories, retirement communities, and schools. The company's service division provides small project management and facility maintenance, while its telecom division designs and installs fiber optics, fire alarm, and security systems, as well as systems that control energy use, from lighting to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.

Griffin Electric will be hosting a presentation at Medway High School on Monday, March 20th during H block. Please complete the form below if you would like to attend to learn more about the opportunities that Griffin Electric can provide!

March is a very busy month. Check out the list of events below:

March 7 MIAA Girls Basketball Sweet 16- Medway vs. N. Reading 6pm @Medway

March 7 MFE Trivia Bee

March 9 Challenge Day

March 10 Spring Musical 7PM Auditorium

March 11 Spring Musical 1PM & 7PM - Auditorium (2 shows)

March 17 Professional Development Day - No School

March 17 Sophomore Ring Dance, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., Cafeteria

March 21 National Spanish Honor Society Induction 3-6 MHS Auditorium

March 24 National Honor Society Coffee House, 6:30pm - 9pm Cafeteria

March 28 MCAS - ELA Session 1 Grade 10

March 29 MCAS ELA Session 2 Grade 10

March 30 Junior Parent Night Webinar, 6:30 - 7:30

March 31 MICCA Band Concert/Hopkinton High School, 4pm

March 31 Quarter 3 Ends and Grades Close

March 31 College Fair

March 31 Best Buddies Prom MMS 7-9PM

We are excited to share our Program of Studies and Course Scheduling process with students and families. Please see the website linked below for all information. There will also be a zoom info session for incoming grade 9 students and families and current 9-11 students and families on Monday, February 27th.

Check out our Welcome video below!

Challenge Day will return to Medway High School on Thursday, March 9th. Challenge Day is a full- day interactive event designed to build connection and empathy, fulfilling the vision that every child should be able to live in a world where he or she feels safe, loved and celebrated. The goal for the day is for students to feel more connected and accepted by their peers, feel stronger socially and emotionally, and develop communication and resiliency skills.

Students still have time to sign up using the link below. Later this week, Assistant Principals and Counselors will make the final decisions for this year's group and permission slips will be sent out. This is the first time we've been able to have Challenge Day since 2020. Check out some pictures from that event below.For more information about Challenge Day visit www.challengeday.org.

Mark your calendars for the upcoming Medway & Millis High School College & Career Fair on Friday, March 31st during flex block. This is a great opportunity to begin exploring your post-secondary options! Attached is a list of colleges and local companies that will be in attendance.

Please click the following links for directions on how to translate the newsletter.

Here is the link for the master directions in English.

Here is the link for Spanish.

Here is the link for French.

Here is the link for Russian.

Here is the link for Arabic

Haga clic en los siguientes enlaces para obtener instrucciones sobre cómo traducir el boletín.

Aquí está el enlace para español.

Here is the link for Spanish.

Veuillez cliquer sur les liens suivants pour savoir comment traduire le bulletin d'information.

Voici le lien pour le français.

Here is the link for French.

Пожалуйста, нажмите следующие ссылки для получения инструкций о том, как перевести информационный бюллетень.

Вот ссылка на русский.

Here is the link for Russian.

We are entering the last week before our February vacation. We are excited to host our annual STEM Fair at the end of the week. This is always a highlight of the school year for our students and a point of pride for our community.

We are in the midst of course level recommendations for next year. By the end of the week, teachers will have discussions with students about their level and enter their recommendations into Infinite Campus. At the end of this week, the Program of Studies will be published which includes elective options for next year. Upon our return from break, we'll host an info session for incoming 9th graders and current 9-11th grade students.

While we gear up for vacation, I want to encourage students to finish this week with strong. We have hit the first Infinite Campus grade check point for quarter 3. I anticipate that there will be assessments in multiple classes this week to further paint the picture of student progress this term. In past years, this has been the week that we've seen a dip in academic focus for students and some challenging behavior. Let's hang in there and work hard as we head into our break!

On Friday, February 17th, the WiSTEM club will be hosting STEM Day presentations at MHS during Flex block. We are excited to welcome professionals from a variety of STEM related fields to MHS to present information about their field and offer hands on opportunities. During this time, all students will have the opportunity to select two presentations to attend from a list of offerings. February 17th is a Day 6 and we will be following a modified schedule for the WiSTEM events.

The MFPA is hosting a Musical Bingo Night on February 16th at the Medway Middle School Cafeteria. This fun night is a family-friendly event that is open to all. Gather your friends and see how quickly you can identify great music. Doors open at 6:00 pm and music will start at 6:30 pm.

The fundraiser donation minimum is $5/person or $25/family. Registration is open until February 15th (or until spots run out).

We will accept cash, check or Venmo - MFPA Medway @Medwayfriendsofperformingarts

Venmo can be paid in advance upon confirmation of your registration.

All proceeds directly benefit the Medway Performing Arts Students!

Kindergarten registration is open for the 2023-2024 school year. In order to be eligible for kindergarten, students must be 5 years old by August 31, 2023. Registration information will be available online, in the superintendent’s office and the McGovern School, if needed. We have several events leading up to our first day of kindergarten including Summer Kindergarten Camp. You can find them here. We look forward to welcoming our Class of 2036 to the Medway Public Schools! In order to be eligible for the Preschool Lottery your child must be 3 years old by August 31, 2023. The preschool lottery packet that explains the process in detail can be found here. You can find a timeline of the Preschool Lottery/Registration Process here. You can enter your child in the preschool lottery by filling out this Google Form.

I hope you've had a nice, warm weekend! We're now halfway through the school year with midyear exams completed and Q2 grades posted on Infinite Campus. Our teachers have just spent some time during their PD on the half day analyzing midyear results, calibrating their grading practices, and making adjustments to their curriculum plans for the second half of the school year. Our goals this year have been to address student learning gaps, particularly in reading and writing, and address learning gaps for students with IEPs as well as our EL learners. During the second half of the year we will continue to address these areas and find ways to quantify our efforts through IXL results in grades 9 and 10 as well as the upcoming MCAS tests in Biology, ELA, and Math and final exams. We're proud of how our students have performed thus far and look forward to our continued efforts to prepare studentsfor college, career, and beyond.

This week we begin planning for next year's classes. Teachers will begin sharing their recommendations for level placement. On Thursday, I will present the Program of Studies to the school committee. After vacation, our Peer Counselors will meet with our 8th grade students to begin their transition to high school. We'll also have a Program of Studies Night for our current 9-11 grade students. Please stay tuned to the Mustang Minute for more information about course scheduling for next year. This is a very important process as our scheduling is depenedent on recommendations and the selections that students make over the next two months.

Thank you,

John Murray, Ed. D.

Principal

Every February, we honor and recognize the contributions Black Americans have made to our country in the areas of civil rights, politics, industry, science, arts and culture, and more. Educators and students across the school have designed a variety of ways to recognize and celebrate Black History Month. Here are a few highlights:

• The Social Studies department has created a Histogram bulletin board near the main office highlighting prominent African Americans and their contributions throughout our history.

• Each week, via our morning announcements, students will highlight some of the individuals featured on the bulletin board beginning with Ms. Justina L. Ford!

• Our school librarian, Mrs.Stoval, has created a book display in the library featuring prominent African Americans authors.

• Our Fine Arts Department has created a display of prominent African American artists in the Art wing.

As we progress through the remainder of the school year, we will continue to highlight National Heritage Months in an effort to celebrate diversity, inclusion, and belonging in our school community.

On Tuesday, students in grades 5-12 participated in a drug/vaping prevention presentation co-sponsored by ‘SUP Medway drug prevention coalition and MSPTO. Tomas Barraza from VIVE18 shared an uplifting message of “Be, Do, and Have” encouraged students to reach their full potential while also ensuring they understand the facts and risks of vaping. A message with resources was sent home to parents after the event. Including:

How to Talk to Youth about Vaping/E-cigs

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yGLNIiRQcFoq6jVXwP6q9czPXeuOr8yZ/view?usp=sharing

Helping Your Teen Quit Vaping

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14ZoZT517QxiLZD9J-50C1kXUgwa_Co3u/view?usp=sharing

A Parent's Role in Drug Prevention

https://drive.google.com/file/d/10dLA0xsTH0ssGtJlvrRDtcHnEd4j6VtV/view?usp=sharing

The School Counselors will host Junior Seminar Workshop #2 on Monday, February 6th during H1 and H2 and on Thursday, February 9th during H1 and H2. Topics will include review of admission types and deadlines, special programs (athletics, arts, etc.), college application requirements and letters of recommendation.

SOS: Signs of Suicide Prevention training will be presented to Juniors in their English class between

February 6th & February 10th, 2023. If you do not want your child to participate or if you have any questions, please contact Debra Dodge, School Adjustment Counselor at ddodge@medwayschools.org

*If we do not hear from you by February 3rd, 2023, we will assume your child is participating.

As part of the training, students will complete a brief depression screening tool. This training and questionnaire is meant to identify students who may be at risk for depression. It cannot diagnose depression.

Students will be informed that the questionnaire is confidential unless the student indicates they are experiencing significant symptoms of depression, is in danger of harming themselves or indicates suicide ideation. In this case, they will meet with an Adjustment Counselor and a Parent/Guardian will be contacted.

We encourage you to visit www.sossignsofsuicide.org/parent for information on the warning signs for youth suicide, resources, and a parent SOS video. The site also has a parent version of the questionnaire and tips on discussing the presentation with your child.

We conduct this screen with Freshmen and Juniors annually. Of course, if you have mental health concerns about a Sophmore or Senior, please reach out to your child's school counselor.

We are thrilled to announce the new app for Medway Public Schools. It's everything Medway Public Schools, in your pocket! Watch the video here.

Scan the QR code to download the app

Program of Studies Night “Virtual”

Incoming 9th Graders 6PM - 6:45PM

Current 9-11th Graders 7pm - 7:30PM

Sophomores! We are hosting a presentation during H block on February 9, 2023 with our Career Specialist from Mass Hire. The Career Specialist will share information about summer opportunities available for students. If you are interested in attending, please complete the form below. Please respond by: February 2, 2023

Presentation to Grades 5th - 12th co-sponsored by 'SUP Medway and MSPTO

On January 31st both middle and high schools will receive an educational presentation for drug prevention, particularly focused on vaping and its connection to mental health and brain development. The presenter from Vive18 emphasizes to them that they have power in their ability to make choices for themselves and captures youth attention with personal story sharing and an interactive, educational game. The presenter actually created a 1 minute promo video to get everyone pumped for the presentation (below):

We've modified the schedule for Tuesday so that we have enough time for the presentation. We will also have students take the second Panorama Survey. Please see the schedule below.

Two MHS choir members were selected to participate in the annual Massachusetts Music Educators Association All-State Chorus Festival!

Andrew Bennett

Joey Gangitano

These students prepared a difficult piece for a live audition and now have the opportunity to participate in a festival with a full day of rehearsal, culminating in a performance with some of the best HS choir singers from around the state at Boston's Symphony Hall. Congratulations!

Congratulations to Natalie Goodale (Silver Key) and Isabelle Basso (Honorable Mention) their artwork in the Scholastic Art Awards sponsored by the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University.

Chek out the great opportuniities available to rising high school juniors and seniors through the TEC Internship & Career Exploration Program.

We have two days remaining for our midyear exams and the second semester begins on Wednesday. We are gathering feedback from staff and students about midterms and will have a form to gather input from families as well next week. Report cards for Q2 will be posted on 2/1. For Semester 2, students will be able to see any changes in their schedule on the Infinite Campus app. Students should reach out to their counselors if they have any issues with the schedule.

We are also beginning our preparations for the '23-'24 school year. Over the next month, we will be sharing information with students and families about the course request process for next year. This week, we will hold an information session for students interested in taking an AP course next year. Over the coming weeks, our teachers will begin having conversations with students about their recommendation for level placement for next years offerings in Math, ELA, Science, and Social Studies. The Program of Studies will be available on February 10. After February break, there will be a formal presentation of course offerings to students and families. We look forward to working with your child to support their progression through this process.

There will be a meeting during Flex Block on January 26th for all students interested in taking an advanced placement course next year. This meeting will help students understand the course requirements and expectations when choosing to take an Advanced Placement course. Students in grades 9 and 10 will meet during the H1 and students in grade 11 will meet during H2.

On Monday, January 23rd during H1 block, the School Counselors will be meeting with all sophomores on how to review and interpret scores. Free PSAT/SAT prep. resources will be discussed. Additionally, the School Counselors have already provided SAT and ACT resources to juniors during the Junior Seminar presentation.

Students should have received an email from the College Board informing students that PSAT results have been released. In the email received, students should click on 'Get Your Scores Now'. Students will be prompted to sign-in to an existing College Board account or create a new one. If an email was not received, students should open a webpage and enter: Studentscores.collegeboard.org. Students can log-in to an existing account or create a new one. Once your account is created, select PSAT/NMSQT Scores. Students can review their overall score report, detailed score report, SAT score projection, college readiness benchmarks, ways to improve academic skills, what students can learn from their answers and AP Potential.

Medway High School seniors who are interested in the education field may participate in a paid internship program beginning this winter. The High School Senior Internship in Education Program (HSSIEP) is an initiative sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that provides seniors an experience in the field of education in hopes of encouraging future educators to enter the teaching profession.

Medway High School is partnering with schools across Medway including Medway Middle School, Burke-Memorial Elementary School, McGovern Elementary School, and Medway Daycare. Students will be individually assigned to a classroom during a time that best fits into their schedule. This could be during the school day if there is time available, after school, or during school breaks. Each intern will be assigned a supervising teacher. In addition to their supervising teacher, interns will receive training.

Seniors who are interested in participating should attend an information session on Thursday, January 26 during H1 in room 114-1. Please fill out the form using this link to participate in the meeting.

On Tuesday, January 31st, students will take the second of three Panorama surveys given throughout the year. The questions are the same on these surveys and ask students their thoughts and feelings about a variety of social and emotional learning (SEL) topics. The survey results are used to plan SEL programming and student supports. All student voices are important and we are looking forward to continuing to learn from, and respond to, our students' feedback.

More information about Panorama surveys is available at Panorama Student Survey. Students who would like to opt-opt out can complete the Panorama Survey - High School - Opt-Out by Friday 1/20/23. If you have questions about the survey, please contact Dave Elsner, Grade 5-12 School Counseling Coordinator at delsner@medwayschools.org

Massachusetts Student Government day returns in person for 2023. The goal of this event is to provide an immersive experience in the state legislative process by allowing students to engage with representatives and empowering them to voice their own informed views on current legislation. Students will assemble at the State House to replicate activities of the General Court (Massachusetts State Legislature) by debating and voting on legislation. The elected student from each school will be assigned a role as a senator, representative, or justice prior to the event. All students will hear from legislative leaders and have the opportunity to give testimony on two current bills before the General Court. Depending on their assigned role, students will then continue debating legislation or observe state government from the perspective of a Supreme Court justice. If you are interested, please email Mrs. Aldorisio (jaldorisio@medwayschools.org) in the main office. We will then conduct elections and announce a representative for MHS.

The next MSPTO meeting will be held virtually on Wednesday, January 25th at 7pm. To register for this event, click here.

We had a great start to our midterm exams on Friday. Students arrived on time, focused, and well prepared for their exams. We look forward to this week's exams (B, C, D, E). As a reminder, there will be one exam per day, no homework, and no additional tests given during the exam period. We continue to share updates and reminders with students about the schedule for the week and all of the expectations. Please remind students to review the MHS Exam website below. Grades will close on 1/24 and report cards will be published on 2/1. We wish all of our students well on their midterm exams.

Inspire. Lead. Transform.

Medway High School is reengaging its partnership with the Peer Leadership Program, sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League’s A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE® Institute. This is an opportunity for students in grades 9-11 to inspire others to challenge all forms of prejudice, including bullying and cyberbullying. This program will have an impact for all students to actively promote respect for cultural and other human differences and to build greater unity in our school community.

We are looking for 20-30 students (9-11th grades) who are willing to commit to this cause and become leaders in building unity in our community.

The Peer Training Program goals are to:

1. Explore the meaning of community and why it is essential for all to feel that they belong to the community.

2. Examine how some school community members could feel left out and identify ways to ally with those who feel left out.

3. Identify what members of the school community can do to actively promote a safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environment in which cultural, racial, and other social identities are respected and valued.

Responsibilities will include:

Peer Leaders will take a leading role in facilitating activities and conversations with their peers. The Peer Leaders will engage in a Peer Leader Training Program, which will occur during two school days. The training will focus on helping Peer Leaders develop their leadership potential and gain the skills to facilitate workshops for their peers. Peer Leaders will also attend meetings throughout the year. For more information, please reach out to Mrs. Drooker in Rm 008-1 and Mrs. Aldorisio in the Main Office. If you are interested, please .

Please click the link below and fill out the one question Google form if interested. Applications will close on 1/18.

World of Difference Interest Form

Yearbook Updates:

Yearbook sales are live! Visit yearbookforever.com to place your order. More information on how to purchase can be found on this page of the MHS Yearbook website.

Are you a parent of a senior or someone with a local business? Consider purchasing a Family or Business Ad in the yearbook! Purchase information is also available on the sale page of the Walsworth and MHS Yearbook sites. Purchases must be completed by January 20th.

SENIORS - All senior portraits and quotes must be uploaded by January 20th. All information can be found on the Senior Requirements tab of the website.

This week, we were thrilled to host over 40 alumni for our first Life after MHS event. All of our juniors and seniors had an opportunity to hear about college and post secondary opportunitities from former students who were in their seats not that long ago. It was great for our students to hear tips about self-advocacy, finding the right fit for themselves and trying different things. Most importantly, our alums said that Medway High School prepared them well for life after MHS. We're looking forward to gathering feedback about the event and making this a new tradition every January. Thanks to the MSPTO for helping to organize the event!

Our midyear exams begin this Friday, January 13th! Last week, we shared a website with students and families. On Friday, during our morning announcements, we shared an informational video created by our Peer Counselors to review the exam process and provide some tips to prepare. I am sharing the website and the video from the peer counselors here. It is very important that you and your student review this material ahead of the midyear exams. Students will see more from our Peer Counselors on Tuesday during Newswatch announcements which will include additional midterm tips from students and teachers!

Student sleep has been shown to impact academics and athletics significantly. Join Dr. Owens to see what you can do as a parent to help support student sleep habits and routines. Dr. Owens is the Director for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Boston Children's Hospital and a Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. This event will be held on GoToWebinar, at 7:00 PM. Please register HERE.

The MHS Health Department is reminding parents about the mandatory Meningitis vaccine requirement. If your child is Junior or a Senior, and if you have not already done so, please provide proof that your child has received the required Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY (formerly MCV4)). Students should have received their first dose of this vaccine around 12 years old, with the second dose > 8 weeks afterwards. But if they have not received a first dose, the student should get a dose on or after their 16th birthday.

Meningitis immunizations are also required for any students entering college.

Please call the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Immunization at 617-983-6800 or your child’s health care provider if you need additional information.

Medications

For those students that require medications, including Epipens, during school hours, please provide the medication orders, and action plans (specific to severe allergies or asthma). Please note, medication orders are needed every new school year.

I hope you all had a joyous and relaxing holiday season! We're looking forward to welcoming our students back to school on January 3rd. In January, we hit the midpoint of the school year with the end of quarter 2 and midyear exams upon us. It's important for us to assess our students level of proficiency compared to the standards for each course. The results of these tests will give us an opportunity to review our own practices and plan for the continued studet success over the second half of the school year. We have developed a schedule that mirrors our daily schedule of courses that gives extra time for the test period and a break after the tests. Our school counselors are planning a series of events throughout the testing period to suppor the mental health of our students as we know this can be a stressful time for students.

This week, we're also excited to welcome back a number of our alums to share their experiences with our current juniors and seniors during Flex block. We'll also have a forum at night on Wednesday. We hope this event becomes a new tradition in our school that will be so helpful for our students and families!

We're looking forward to a great start to 2023!

Best,

John J. Murray, Ed.D.

Principal

Medway High School

On Wednesday, January 4th, we are hosting our first Life after MHS event for Jrs. and Srs featuring MHS alums from the last 3 years. Students will be assigned to classrooms and meet with groups of 3-4 recent alums during Flex Block to hear about their experiences in college, workforce, and beyond. We think this is a great opportunity for our students to learn from their peers who have been through this process. Hopefully, this will be the start of a great new tradition.

With the cold and flu season upon us, and the continuing challenges posed by COVID-19, it is important that we all stay vigilant in protecting the health of our schools. At-home testing is encouraged when your child or a family member has symptoms. Free at-home tests are available with most health insurance through CVS. If your child tests positive, please inform your child’s school nurse and follow COVID protocols around isolation and mask-wearing. We encourage you to keep your child home when exhibiting COVID and influenza symptoms and recommend mask-wearing when sick. For tips on effective mask-wearing and mask options, please click here.

Students will take midyear exams beginning on January 13th and continuing through January 24th. There will be one test per day. During the midyear tests, there will be no homework or other tests for students so that they can prepare for each exam. Please see the website below for all of the details.

Seniors, As a reminder as we approach Winter Break, be sure to update your application status in Naviance once you have applied. To do so, follow these steps: 1. Log-in to Naviance and navigate to the 'College's I'm Applying To' List 2. Click the EDIT link to the right of the college you just applied it 3. Check the box that reads "I have submitted my application" 4. Scroll down and save/update 4. Application status will change from 'Unknown' to 'Submitted' These steps must be completed in order for your counselor to send your letters of recommendation, transcript, school profile and supporting Common App. documents

Sophomores: Below you will find information about a leadership opportunity called the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Program (HOBY). The leadership conference is June 9th -11th at Bentley University in Waltham, MA. Medway High School can send one sophomore. In order to be considered, interested students should type an essay of no more than 500 words. The essay prompt is: “Please describe the most rewarding and challenging aspect of being a leader in your school and community” Please return your essay to Mrs. McCormack in the School Counseling Office or by email at mmccormack@medwayschools.org no later than Tuesday Jan 3rd by 2:30pm. There will be a selection committee that makes the final decision. Attached below is an information sheet which explains what HOBY is in more detail, it also has a link to their website. Reach out to Mrs. McCormack if you have any questions.

PSAT Results Released Students should have received an email from the College Board informing students that PSAT results have been released. In the email received, students should click on 'Get Your Scores Now'. Students will be prompted to sign-in to an existing College Board account or create a new one. If an email was not received, students should open a webpage and enter: Studentscores.collegeboard.org. Students can log-in to an existing account or create a new one. Once your account is created, select PSAT/NMSQT Scores. Students can review their overall score report, detailed score report, SAT score projection, college readiness benchmarks, ways to improve academic skills, what students can learn from their answers and AP Potential. On Monday, January 23rd during H block, the School Counselors will be meeting with all sophomores on how to review and interpret scores. Free PSAT/SAT prep. resources will be discussed. Additionally, the School Counselors have already provided SAT and ACT resources to juniors during the Junior Seminar presentation.

Parents, the National Honor Society announces the establishment of a new, FREE, SAT/ACT tutoring program run by our experienced members to help our future school test-takers! Many of our tutors are qualified (with SAT scores above 1400) and would love to assist the students in boosting their standardized test scores to increase their qualifications to find their perfect school. Increasing test scores will help students looking for more merit-based scholarships.

Tutoring will be done in school during study halls and flex blocks. We are working on setting up a tutor session at the Medway Public Library on Saturday mornings. If interested, please sign-up on the following form, and feel free to reach out to me at zliu@student.medwayschools.org if you have any questions!

Zhiwen Liu, NHS President

SAT/ACT Tutoring Sign-Up Form

The American Heritage Museum in Hudson, MA has teamed up with the Normandy Academy, (from the WWII Museum in New Orleans, LA) to offer an 11-day all-expense paid trip to visit the WWII historical sites in the Normandy area of France. This is open to any junior grade high school student. The applicant must write a one-page letter explaining why they would like to go on this trip. Selected applicant must make a presentation about their trip here at the American Heritage Museum and to their peers at school. Deadline for essays is January 27, 2023. We will select the winning essay in the first week of February. Attached is more information.

Career exploration is an important part of all student's education. Our School Counseling Department is coordinating with local partners for various career related experiences. Salmon Health is offering a FREE Personal Care Assistant (PCA ) training class December 28-30 at their location in Westborough. This certification can be used to work in the Medway assisted living facility. Additional free training classes for PCA, as well as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), will be available periodically. Volunteer opportunities also exist. Students interested in the healthcare field are encouraged to contact the Salmon Health Program coordinator, Courtney Sibinich. See FREE PCA Training for more details.

Good evening! I hope everyone had a nice weekend.We're excited to kick off the winter athletic season this week. Next week our musical groups will perform and our art students will show off their art pieces from this semester. We are nearing the mid-point of quarter two and students and teachers are working hard to maximize learning over the last few weeks of the calendar year. As always please reach out with any questions or concerns. Have a great week!

Best,

Dr. Murray

Infinite Campus gradebooks are up to date and available for viewing. The gradebook will be updated at the end of the 3rd and 6th week of each quarter. Please note that large assignments such as essays, research papers, and projects take longer to grade with feedback. Please see the dates below for Q2 grading info/

Gradebook updates:

December 2nd and January 6

Midyear Exams- January 12- 23

Q2 grades close Januaty 24

All senior portraits and quotes must be submitted before January 20, 2023 to be included in the 2023 Yearbook. All yearbook information, including portraits, submissions, and ordering, can be found on the 2023 MHS Yearbook website. Please ensure your portrait meets all requirements before submitting. Any senior who is interested in a free photo session with Legacy Studios must fill out this form. Additional days will be scheduled soon. Portraits from this session are free to use for the yearbook. Photo packages are available for purchase. Please reach out to the Yearbook Advisor, Jen Merrihew (jmerrihew@medwayschools.org), with any questions.

Q1 Grades for Seniors: Transcripts with Q1 grades will be sent automatically to the colleges/universities you have applied to. If you have not yet scheduled your Senior Appointment, please reach out to Mrs. Rondeau to do so! jrondeau@medwayschools.org

Juniors: On December 8th and December 13th, all juniors will meet with their School Counselor for Junior Seminar # 1 to discuss the college exploration and application process. Students should check Responsive Scheduler to see which day they have been assigned.

Sophomores: On November 30th and December 5th during H block, all sophomores will meet with their School Counselor to take the Achieve Works Personality Assessment in Naviance. Students will be able to identify their personality type and strengths and connect these to careers of interests. This information will assist students with their academic and college/career planning. Please review Responsive Scheduler to see which date you are assigned to.

Freshmen: On December 16th and December 21st, all freshmen will meet with their School Counselor to register for Naviance. Naviance is a college and career web based tool that assists students with post-secondary planning. Students will utilize Naviance throughout high school. During this workshop, freshmen will also be taking the Achieve Works Learning and Productivity Assessment to determine the type of environment preferred when learning and studying and preferred methods when learning new material. This assessment will help students understand how they can be most productive and develop study practices that work best for their learning style. Students should review Responsive Scheduler to see which day they are assigned.

Congratulations to Medway's Science Olympiad Team for their competing in their first meet of the year. Congratulations to Katie Gage and Riley Ashok for winning a gold medal in Anatomy and Physiology, A gold was also won by Alex Montana and Ella Vargas competing in Green Generation. Silver medals were won by Christina Harrahy and Emma Reardon in the Write it do it event. Nora Sullivan and Palak Yadav also won silver in Green Generation. Great start to the year!

Superintendent Armand Pires and Principal John Murray are pleased to announce that Medway High School senior Destiny Ojukwu has been presented with the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (M.A.S.S.) Award of Academic Excellence.

Ojukwu was nominated by the faculty and staff at Medway High School and was presented with the award earlier this month. A news article can be found here.

Several students from MHS auditioned for the Massachusetts Music Educators Central District Senior District Festival (finally live and in person!) this past Saturday, and did a wonderful job preparing a solo piece of repertoire. The students listed below were accepted into the ensembles and will be rehearsing with the other schools’ accepted students under the direction of top-notch conductors, culminating in a performance at Mechanics Hall in Worcester on 1/14.

Chorus

Andrew Bennett

Olivia Dwyer

Joey Gangitano

Nora Keavany

Maeve McKean

Andy Morris

Caleb Perkins

Matt Shawlis

Band

Abigail Brown

Kathryn Gage

WIlliam George

Alexandra Montana

Timothy Reda

Orchestra

Ava Fahey

We are hosting a Life after MHS event featuring recent grads on Wednesday, January 4th. Our goal is to have groups of 3-4 recent alums go to classrooms during Flex Block to share their experiences with small group of students. To make this happen, we’re going to need 50-75 alums!!

If you have a recent MHS alum (past 3 years) please share this link with them if they are interested in being part of the event.

Here are the details:

10:00 : Meet in the Library (Orientation, Reconnect with friends, and light snacks)

10:30-11:30: Meet with students in classrooms

11:30-12:00: Debrief and Thank you

Please contact me via email johnmurray@medwayschools.org if you have any questions.

On Wednesday, December 7th at 6:00PM the Medway Secondary Parent Teacher Organization (MSPTO) is hosting their eighth annual holiday pop-up shop at the Medway High School The pop-up shop is in advance of the December monthly MSPTO meeting - all are welcome to stay for the meeting and win a gift from our retailers in a raffle.

We've made it to Thanksgiving week and are thankful for so much! We are thankful to be back to normal working with our students in our classrooms and to offer so many events for students and families. We're thankful for our dedicated teachers and staff who have worked so hard this year. We're also thankful for the continued support from our community. I hope that you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends!

Reports cards are now available on the Infinite Campus portal. Please log in to your account and click on the reports tab in the left-hand column. There will be a PDF with the report card for you to view. Please reach out to support@medwayschools.org if you have any questions about accessing your report card or your Infinite Campus account.

Quarter 1 grades provide just a snapshot of how your child is performing up to this point in the school year. This is a great time for students to reflect on what worked well or needs refinement as we move into the second quarter. Please make sure to reach out to your child's teachers, school counselor, or Assistant Principal if you have questions or if your child needs additional supports.

In recent years, substance use at school by students in Massachusetts has increased due to the widespread availability of devices that make it easy to conceal substances from peers, parents, and school staff. Medway Middle (students in Grades 6-8) and High School (Grade 9-12), alongside nearly 100 schools across Massachusetts have committed to launching an exciting new program called iDECIDE (Drug Education Curriculum: Intervention, Diversion, and Empowerment) that was developed in collaboration between Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Institute for Health and Recovery. iDECIDE aims to provide students experimenting with substances and/or who got caught using substances at school the knowledge, skills, and motivation necessary to make healthier decisions and involves a student survey as well as additional supports.

Students will be participating in the iDecide Survey during H1 on Tuesday, Nov 22nd. Information about the program and the survey , along with an opt-out option, is available at the links below.

iDECIDE (English) or iDECIDE (Espanol)

We will once again be offering a multitude of half-day workshops led by our wonderful Medway High School staff on the 1/2 day prior to Thanksgiving. The sessions will be followed by a pep rally focused on fun and games for all. On Monday, students will have the opportunity to sign up. We will also have a Pep Rally on Hanlon Field to take us into the holiday.

Also on the half day we will be wearing our class colors. They are as follows:

Senior: black

Junior: blue

Sophomore: white

Freshman: red

If you are a one-person household and make less than $40,951 per year or a two-person household and make less than $53,551 per year, you may qualify for home fuel assistance. A full eligibility and benefits chart can be found here. Medway Outreach Workers Marcia Lombardo and Kim Cookson are happy to help you apply for fuel assistance or answer any questions. They can be reached at 508 533 3210 or mlombardo@townofmedway.org. Please note if adults in your household are not U.S. citizens, but a child in the home is a citizen, you can still apply for fuel assistance.

Reports cards will be available on the Infinite Campus portal at the end of the school day on Thursday, November 17th. Students and families will recieve an email when grades are posted to log in to your account and click on the reports tab in the left-hand column. There will be a PDF with the report card for you to view. Please reach out to support@medwayschools.org if you have any questions about accessing your report card or your Infinite Campus account.

Quarter 1 grades provide just a snapshot of how your child is performing up to this point in the school year. This is a great time for students to reflect on what worked well or needs refinement as we move into the second quarter. Please make sure to reach out to your child's teachers, school counselor, or Assistant Principal if you have questions or if your child needs additional supports.

The Peer Counselings will be hosting an event for all freshmen during Flex block on Thursday, November 17th. Students can find the location for their meeting in Infinite Campus. The Peer Counselors are looking forward to reconnecting with their freshmen groups for check-in and fun activity!

On the day before Thanksgiving, we will bring back our 1/2 day workshops and the Pep Rally. The Student Council and our staff have been developing a series of fun and interesting workshops for students to participate in on the day before break. This is a great opportunity to build community among students and staff. Our Pep Rally will cap the event and will be held on Hanlon Field. Stay tuned for workshop info, sign-up info, and class colors for the Pep Rally.

Freshmen will receive the Signs of Suicide (SOS) Prevention Program during their Wellness class this week. In this evidenced-based program, students will review the symptoms of depression, risk factors, and warning signs for suicide and where students go to get help and will complete a screening.

Signs of Suicide Program and participation Information

Freshman and Sophomore parents: As required by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations, We will be conducting hearing, vision, height, and weight screenings for all 10th-grade students and postural screenings for all 9th-grade students during IPEC classes between 11/15- 11/18. Every effort will be made to protect student privacy. If your child does not meet the hearing and vision requirements, a letter suggesting further evaluation and follow-up with your provider will be sent home. The screening for scoliosis is mandated with the purpose of early detection of spinal problems. If your child has unusual findings, you will be notified. For 9th graders, leggings and sports bras are recommended for female students on the day of screening. This type of clothing permits more accurate observation of the back. As always, it is your right to “opt-out” of screenings by sending an email or letter asking to opt and providing a reason why to jdisalvio@medwayschools.org.

Ring information packets with individual finger sizers were distributed at the sophomore class meeting Tuesday, November 8th. Extra information packets are available in the Main Office and the Guidance Office. You can place your order in school on the above dates or online. All rings/jewelry will be delivered at the Sophomore Ring Dance in the Spring. Order your ring/jewelry by 11/27 and receive YOUR CHOICE of a FREE adidas Striker II Backpack, custom hoodie OR Cleer GOAL Wireless Earbuds- wireless charging case included! Not available with P-Rings. Three, four & six month Payment plans available. Visit www.jostens.com for more details. You can design & order your ring online @ www.jostens.com or print out your web quote and bring it to the order table at school.

Scholarship Applications are due by December 16, 2022. The scholarship exam will be given at high schools across Massachusetts between Monday, February 6, 2023 - Friday, February 10, 2023. Information regarding testing will be available at high school guidance counselors’ offices across the Commonwealth.

The attached flyer and link to the website will tell you more about the program including background information, link to the registration form, and a link to the study guide. https://aftmassachusetts.tiny.us/Scholarships2023

November 16 Sophomore Ring Night, 4:45 - 6:00 pm Library

November 17 School Council Meeting, 3 - 4 Library

November 17 Meet the Coach Night - winter sports, 6 pm auditorium

November 17 Report Cards posted on Infinite Campus

November 21 National Honor Society Induction 6:30 -8pm Auditorium

November 22 MHS Faculty Meeting 2:45pm

November 23 Half Day (Thanksgiving) Pep Rally (Responsive Schedule)

November 24-25 Thanksgiving Recess - No School

A few reminders about our Senior Halloween Event on Monday:

Costumes

• Costume may not be worn the whole day
• No face coverings
• No weapons or anything that may be mistaken for a weapon
• Must be school appropriate
  • No reference to racism/discrimination, drugs, violence, etc., If the costume is not school-appropriate the student will be asked to change

Schedule

We will begin the day with Flex Block and follow with periods E, F, C, and D. We will require all students to change out of costumes prior to returning to class 2nd period.

H Block (Senior Parade)

8:04-8:40 - Breakfast in the cafeteria for all seniors (any teacher/staff who does not have any students is welcome to attend) (Senior attendance will be taken)

8:50 - The seniors will parade throughout the school.

Parade Route:

Lower Level Wing 1

Main Level Wing 1 and 2

Upper Level Wing 1 and 2

Lower Level Wing 1 to Wing 3 to Gym

8:55 - Seniors will be in the gym for a class picture

We will require all students to change out of costumes prior to returning to class 2nd period. If a student attends class still in costume, they will be asked to go to the office.

We hope that students and staff will enjoy this experience.

Tomorrow during Flex, students will meet with their school counselors to check in on their transition to high school. The meetings are scheduled for either H1 or H2. Students will see their scheduled block in Infinite Campus. During this meeting and additional Freshmen check-ins, students will learn about the following. Please remember, Flex will be first block tomorrow!

Freshman Transition Goals

• Discuss the transition to high school

• GPA, transcript, course selection

• Introduce students to a four-year plan

• Introduce and identify freshman-year goals

• Get involved, get to know your teachers, and learn how to ask questions/ask for help

• Identify areas of extracurricular interest and be aware of leadership opportunities

• Provide advice & tips for managing high school

• Identify school counseling resources for students

• School Counselors, School Adjustment Counselors, Learning Lab, NHS tutors, after-school homework club

Congratulations to Medway's Science Olympiad Team for competing in their first meet of the year. Congratulations to Katie Gage and Riley Ashok for winning a gold medal in Anatomy and Physiology, A gold was also won by Alex Montana and Ella Vargas competing in Green Generation. Silver medals were won by Christina Harrahy and Emma Reardon in the Write it do it event. Nora Sullivan and Palak Yadav also won silver in Green Generation. Great start to the year!

Medway High School presents The Canterbury Tales. Performances will take place on November 5 at 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. in the Medway High School auditorium. Tickets are available for sale at the door.

If you haven't signed up for the MSPTO newsletter, please visit mspto.org, then the “contact us” link and sign up!

The MSPTO is offering discounted passes to Wachusett Mountain to ski on Friday afternoons while the middle school ski club is skiing. This pass will allow you to ski on the afternoons/evenings of January 6, 13, 20, 27 and February 3, 10. To buy a pass visit https://www.wachusett.com/schoolgroups and enter the code MWMS. You will need to have your own transportation to and from the mountain. Please reach out to Tina Ouellette with any questions (ouellette310@msn.com).

Along with the Turkey Trot 5K race on Thanksgiving Day, there is also a food drive leading up to the race to benefit the Medway food pantries. The Medway Girl Scout Troop is organizing the food drive this year. A donation box will be placed at MHS for the first 2 weeks in November to have members of the school community drop off non perishable food items

October 31 Senior Breakfast/Parade

November 5 Fall Play 2PM and 7PM (2 Shows) -Auditorium

November 8 Quarter 1 Ends and Grades Close

November 11 Veterans Day (Observed) No School

November 15 National Spanish Honor Society Induction, 3:30 Auditorium

November 15 Meet the Coach Night (winter sports) 6-7:30pm

November 16 Quarter 1 Grades Posted

November 16 Sophomore Ring Night, 4:45 - 6:00 pm Library

November 17 School Council Meeting, 3 - 4 Library

November 19 Sr. District Auditions 8:30AM - 3:30PM Milford HS

November 21 National Honor Society Induction 6:30 -8pm Auditorium

November 23 Half Day (Thanksgiving) Pep Rally (Responsive Schedule)

I hope you all had a nice weekend. Happy Diwali to all of our families who will celebrate the holiday this week.

This past week, we hosted our annual Parent-Teacher conferences. It was great to see so many families in our building this week. While this is the only scheduled time during the school year for parents to meet individually with their child's teachers, it's important to know that there are opportunities throughout the year for feedback about your child's progress in each of their classes. Infinite Campus and Google Classroom are great sources of information and are both updated regularly. You can also reach out to our teachers or school counselors via email when you have questions or concerns as well. We are happy to help.

AP courses provide great learning opportunities for various subjects as well as preparation for college academic expectations.

Registration and payment for exams happens early in the school year.

• The deadline to complete registration for the exam and submit fees is Friday, October 28th.

• To register, students MUST also “Join” their AP Class Section (different from Google Classroom) and select “YES” for taking the exam. Students received instructions and Join Codes from their classroom teachers. More information is at Joining Your AP Class.

More information is available at AP Exam Registration.

The fee is $97 for EACH AP exam. There is a $40 late fee per exam for payments after October 28th. There is also a $40 cancellation fee after Oct 28th, should you choose not to take an exam which has been ordered for you.

There are two options for payments:

1) Make checks payable to “Medway” and give them to Mrs. Rondeau, school counseling secretary. Use one check for all exams (1 exam $97, 2 exams $194, 3 exams $291, etc.). Students eligible for fee reductions should contact their school counselor. More information about eligibility for fee reductions is at Fee Reductions.

2) Pay via UNIpay by visiting https://unipaygold.unibank.com/default.aspx. *Remember it is $97 per exam.

All students taking an AP exam will prepare throughout the year. Teachers will be reviewing both test content and test strategy in class. Practice exam questions are available through the College Board at AP Exam Preparation.

AP exams will be given between May 1st and May 12th. The schedule is set by the College Board. The most up to date scheduling information is available at AP Test Dates. AP exams allow students to earn college credits (with a qualifying score). Students usually take an AP exam after completing an AP course; however, any student can take an AP exam. Additional information is at Taking AP Exams.

Students approved by the College Board for testing accommodations will receive them for AP exam(s). College Board requires a separate application which can take six to eight weeks for review and a decision. If you have an IEP or a 504 plan and have not received approval from the College Board for testing accommodations and you would like to submit an application, please notify Ms. Allison Jasmin, Services for Students with Disabilities Coordinator, at ajasmin@medwayschools.org

On October 31st, the senior class will be participating in their annual Halloween costume breakfast and parade. We are moving Flex block to the first block of the day for this event. Students in grades 9-11 will have regular Flex options available. The seniors will meet in the cafeteria at 8:15 for a special breakfast and will then parade through the school in their costumes. Mr. List will send info to students with costume guidelines. Underclass students will be able to line the hallways and cheer on the seniors.

The schedule for the day will be: HEFCD

We are excited to announce that we will once again be offering Learning Lab support. Our Learning Lab is staffed by a Paraprofessional, Mrs. Tracey Twamley. She will be available to check in with students about their assignments and help them plan for upcoming work. Students who need academic support will have the opportunity to connect with tutors online via paper.co or in person with a NHS Tutor, who also operate out of this space. Supports also include aiding communication with their teachers, but students/families should reach out to their teachers directly regarding assignments, due dates, and grading. Referrals are made by the School Counselors and teachers. Students who are referred must meet with their School Counselor to go over the Learning Lab expectations. An acknowledgement form will be sent home for the student and guardian to sign. This support may be available in place of a current study hall and/or flex block. To ensure the efficacy of the program, there is a roster cap, which may result in a waitlist.

Representatives from local businesses will be present in the main lobby during Flex block on Wednesday, October 26th to meet with students about employment opportunities. Participants include: D'Angelo Dunkin Donuts Medway Famous Pizza Medway Fire Department Medway Parks and Recreation Medway Police Department Medway Public Schools - Community Ed Medway Town Clerk's Office Papa Gino's R.P. Marzilli SALMON Health and Retirement Shaw's Supermarket Wayne J. Griffin Electric, Inc. Students interested in participating will be called down to the Job Fair by grade during Flex block. All students will still sign up and report to a Flex block offering regardless of whether or not they choose to participate.

In recent years, substance use at school by students in Massachusetts has increased due to the widespread availability of devices that make it easy to conceal substances from peers, parents, and school staff. Medway Middle (students in Grades 6-8) and High School (Grade 9-12), alongside nearly 100 schools across Massachusetts have committed to launching an exciting new program called iDECIDE (Drug Education Curriculum: Intervention, Diversion, and Empowerment) that was developed in collaboration between Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the Institute for Health and Recovery. iDECIDE aims to provide students experimenting with substances and/or who got caught using substances at school the knowledge, skills, and motivation necessary to make healthier decisions and involves a student survey as well as additional supports. More information describing the program, along with an opt-out option, is available at iDECIDE (English) or iDECIDE (Espanol).

Unfortunately the Peru trip during February vacation is not going to be able to run. However we WILL still have a trip. We will be going to Costa Rica instead! This trip will include service for the first few days and then end with some touring of the country. If you are interested there will be an informational meeting for students and parents in Ms. Cecchi's room 013-2 at 6pm Thursday Oct. 27. Please stop by Ms. Cecchi's room or email with any questions. Hope to see you there!

On Tuesday evening this week, we will host our parent-teacher conferences. While many of the appointments are now full, there is still time to sign up for any remaining slots. Please check this link to see what appointments are available.

Our conferences are only 5 minutes long so it’s important to come in with some questions in mind. Having recently had this experience for my own children, it was helpful to identify the most important things that I needed to know about my child’s progress going into the meeting. I wanted to know where my child’s strengths and areas for growth are? Are they struggling with the workload? What are some things that are coming up in this class that I should have on my radar (projects, tests, etc.)? Do you have any concerns about their social-emotional well-being? I also have two totally different learners in my house and I made sure to take a few moments to explain what type of learner my child is. I hope that some of these tips are helpful for you as you navigate your meetings Tuesday night.

Remember, there are multiple ways to keep up with your child’s progress. Parents have access to assignment info on infinite campus and google classroom. Parents are also always encouraged to reach out to teachers and school counselors if your child is struggling academically or has a social-emotional need. We are always here to support your child in any way that we can.

Best,

John