Superintendent's Weekly Memo - March 24

March 24, 2023

A Google Docs version of this memo is available.

Dear Medford Public Schools Community:

Spring has officially arrived and what a welcome sight it is to see the longer days. Yesterday, was the first full day of Ramadan and we wish our Muslim families and friends in the community a successful and spiritually fruitful time of fasting.

The Medford Public Schools currently has three principal openings in the district. We will be conducting the principal searches and sharing the official timetable with the community in a separate communication next week. I would like to thank all members of the community that have expressed an interest in supporting our searches. Although we cannot select everyone to be part of the process, we look forward to creating opportunities for feedback and suggestions as we move forward in the process.

Today’s memo includes

• Upcoming District Review Parent/Caregiver Focus Group
• Medford/Malden Transition Fair
• Good News From Around the District
• Final Krystal Campbell Softball Tournament 10th Anniversary
• High School Senior Grant Opportunity
• Harlem Wizards PTO Fundraiser
• Hiring New Staff
• Upcoming Events

Upcoming District Review Parent/Caregiver Focus Group

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has contracted with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) to conduct a district review of Medford Public Schools. The purpose of the district review is to provide formative and actionable feedback on district practices, enabling district leaders to reflect on progress and strengthen staff and student performance. As part of this review, AIR will be conducting a virtual parent/guardian focus group on Tuesday, 4/4/2023 from 6:00-7:00 PM to gather perspectives on communication with families, opportunities for family involvement, and leadership, opportunities for students within the district, and more. If you are interested in joining, please register ahead of time HERE.  Each link is set for the language of the memo.

Medford/Malden Transition Fair

Due to the storm, the Medford/Malden Transition Fair was postponed.  Originally it was scheduled for March 15th, but it has been rescheduled for March 29th from 6-8 PM in the MHS Gym.

Good News From Around the District!

The McGlynn School Library was one of only twenty-five schools in the nation to receive the third annual Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Award.  The Mathical Book Prize is an annual award for fiction and nonfiction books that inspire children to see math in the world around them. The funding helps to expand the library’s collection of math-related fiction and nonfiction books.  With this grant, the library was able to purchase award-winning titles from the Mathical Book Prize list.  This award helps to encourage students to explore the joy of the power of mathematics in the world, through books spanning topics from magic, sports, art, music, poetry, biographies, adventure and picture books.  Congratulations to the McGlynn School!

The Roberts Elementary School’s Grade 5 Student Council made Shamrocks for their community project and delivered them to the Courtyard Nursing Care Center for display in the resident’s rooms.  It certainly brightened up the rooms and shared a little Luck of Irish with the residents!

CCSR 5th grade students, Nick Berryman and Rhodey Vining have organized a green and brown waste collection to create nutrient-rich soil for the Brooks campus.  By recycling cafeteria food waste, the school garden could soon be rich with “black gold” soil!  The new Brooks compost tumbler, purchased with some CCSR funds, will not only assist the garden, but also slow down waste at the Brooks Elementary School.  Congratulations to Nick and Rhodey on their important  Go Green project!

Last week at the Missituk, students in PreK-Grade 2 loved the performance of John McDonough and Virginia Ham of the Pumpernickel Puppets.  This entertaining show was made possible thanks to an Arts Alive Medford Grant.  The kids had a grand time!

Ms. Fee of the Fine Arts Department is reaching out to our students who are interested, to please sign up to work on the next session of the Mosaic Mural Project.  Please sign up here: Ms. Fee Mosaic Mural Project

Final Krystal Campbell Softball Tournament 10th Anniversary

Please support the Mustang Girls Softball Team, as they host the final Krystle Campbell Memorial Scholarship Softball Tournament, Saturday, April 15th, at 9:30 AM at Columbus Park.  This is the (10th) year that Arlington Catholic High School, Billerica High School, Swampscott High School and Medford have met in and competed in memory of fallen student and former softball player Krystle Campbell who was killed in the Boston Marathon Bombings.  The Softball Team is actively seeking sponsors as well as donations of raffle prizes for the tournament.  If anyone is interested in assisting, please email mhsvarsitysoftball22@gmail.com.  Special commemorative tee shirts are also being sold.  $20 for the tee shirt and $35 for a crew neck.  Grab yours now!

High School Senior Grant Opportunities

As graduation moves closer, I want to remind our seniors to apply for the many scholarships available through our Guidance Office.  The MHS Alumni Association, the Medford Kiwanis Club, Matthew “Swirls” Cirelli Memorial Scholarship, and the John & Thelma Connors Scholarship Program are just a few of so many available to our students.  A number of the scholarships have application deadlines by the end of March.  I urge our seniors to check out the scholarship lists as soon as possible.

Harlem Wizards PTO Fundraiser

Harlem Wizards PTO Fundraiser - Thursday, April 6, 2023, at 7 PM The Harlem Wizards return to Medford for a fundraiser for all of the elementary school PTOs, being held in the gym at Medford High School.  Our elementary teachers & staff will play in a basketball game against the Wizards.  There will be comedy, slam dunks, audience participation, giveaways, and more.  Additionally, the PTOs will be hosting a concession stand.  It is such a fun way to raise money!  Get your tickets now!  It was a sell-out in 2019!  For tickets, please go to  https://pretix.eu/harlemwizards.

Hiring Paraprofessionals, Substitutes, Cafeteria Staff, Before and After Care Staff, and Building Monitors

The Medford Public Schools has vacancies for a number of positions.  We are actively seeking candidates to apply for positions within our schools. We are also seeking additional building monitors.  Please click here for our current postings.

UPCOMING EVENTS!

Friday, March 24th - Sophomore Semi Formal - MHS:  6:30 PM

Friday, March 24th - PJ Story Time (for children ages 3-7 years old) at the Medford Public Library: 6:00-7:00 PM

Saturday, March 25th - Tufts University’s School of Dental Medicine Hosts Give Kids a Smile!  Free dental screenings, treatments & fillings, fluoride treatments, and giving everyone who attends toothbrushes, face painting, kid activities, toothpaste & floss - 9:00 AM - 3 :00 PM - Children Aged 0-13 years old - at 1 Kneeland Street, Boston - Register on the Tufts School of Dental Medicine website.

Saturday, March 25th - Medford Day at the Museum of Science!  Show your library card to the Medford Public Library staff and they will give you a free pass for the museum!

Sunday, March 26th - Medford Recreation Hosts, Paint the Ice” at LoConte Rink - 5:00 - 6:00 PM

Monday, March 27th - Tryouts for spring sports begin for the middle schools - Boys & Girls Outdoor Track and Boys & Girls Flag Football.

Monday, March 27th - Screenagers: The Next Chapter - McGlynn School:  6:15-7:30 PM.

Wednesday, March 29th - Medford/Malden Transition Fair - MHS Gym: 6:00-8:00 PM

Thursday, March 30th - Free Hockey Clinic with Mustang Hockey Players - for grades 6-8 - LoConte Rink: 3:00 PM

Thursday, March 30th - Parent Information Center is open until 6:30 PM for Kindergarten registration

Thursday, March 30th - Final Building Bridges to Kindergarten Presentation - MHS Library: 6:30 - 7:30 PM

Thursday, March 30th - McGlynn Elementary PTO hosts restaurant night fundraiser at Bertucci’s - 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Thursday, March 30th - Missituk Elementary PTO hosts Movie Night - 5:00 PM

Thursday, March 30th - Opening Night of Spotlight’s Beauty and the Beast - Caron Theater, 7:00 PM

Friday, March 31st - MHS hosts Celebrate Women’s Month -  Caron Theater - 1:15 PM

Friday, March 31st - Free Hockey Clinic with Mustang Hockey Players - for grades 6-8 - LoConte Rink - 3:00 PM

Friday, March 31st - Spotlight presents Beauty and the Beast - Caron Theater - 7:00 PM

Yours in Partnership for Children,

Dr. Marice Edouard-Vincent, Superintendent of Schools