For Immediate Release

Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Medway Public Schools Shares First Annual Report, Holds Superintendent Chat for Parents

MEDWAY — Superintendent Armand Pires and Assistant Superintendent Gabrielle Abrams are pleased to announce that Medway Public Schools has published its first district annual report.

The report outlines the progress made toward the goals of the 2019-2024 Excellence for All: A Medway Mindset Strategic Plan. The strategic plan was approved in the spring of 2019 and was mailed to all residences and businesses in Medway. The plan summarizes organizational goals and strategies and the focus of the district’s work through 2024.

On Dec. 9, 2019, the district hosted a Superintendent’s Chat to encourage parental engagement and feedback on the annual report and Fiscal Year 2021 budget process. Parents were able to participate in person at Medway Middle School or via Zoom video conferencing.

Parents were encouraged to share their thoughts on the budget process, including the areas where they felt additional attention could be paid or other ideas regarding the budget. Superintendent Pires and Asst. Superintendent Abrams also highlighted the Listening Tours that were conducted at each school to gain insight from faculty and staff regarding needs that could be addressed through the budget. These needs are being collated in preparation for sharing the 2020-2021 fiscal areas of focus with the school committee.

“The annual report was an exciting publication for us as it is the first time the district has developed such a tool to communicate our accomplishments and progress over the previous year,” Superintendent Pires said. “We were also happy to host the recent Superintendent’s Chat to engage the parents in our district and give them the opportunity to ask questions and share ideas about the report and our upcoming budget.”

The full annual report contains a letter from Medway School Committee Chair Susan Dietrich and Superintendent Pires which explains the report’s contents, highlights of the curriculum and instructional changes and the shift in assessment systems for public school students. The report also includes a reminder of the goals, core values and competencies the district has adopted as necessary for all graduates. Finally, the report highlights several accomplishments from the 2018-2019 school year in the areas of improved learning, social-emotional wellness, innovative teaching and leadership and positive learning culture.

Improved Learning

In the area of improved learning, the district adopted Infinite Campus as the new student management system, expanded the 1:1 Chromebook program for all students in grades eight through 12 and created an accelerated pathway for students in the middle school mathematics program.

Social-Emotional Wellness

The district funded a new playground at both McGovern and Burke-Memorial Elementary Schools, a new fitness center at the high school and a new blacktop recess area and basketball court at the middle school. In addition, 389 meals and 442 snacks were provided through the Burke-Memorial Weekend Backpack Program and 7,398 fruits or vegetables were served through the Harvest of the Month Program.

Innovative Teaching and Leadership 

To support initiatives in safety and security, building and ground enhancement, enrichment in the arts, humanities and STEM and social-emotional learning programs, the district secured over $200,000 in grants and donations.

Positive Learning Culture

To enhance positive learning culture, 31 staff members engaged in an Aspect of Identity and Unconscious Bias workshop. In the elementary schools, 69 faculty and staff trained in the Responsive Classroom philosophy which is an evidence-based approach to supporting the development of social-emotional skills through positive interactions between teachers and students throughout the school day.

Additional accomplishments can be found in the full 2018–2019 Medway Public Schools Annual Report.

The report displays indicators of student achievement in areas including curriculum, absenteeism, college and career readiness, school climate and social-emotional wellness. The report also shows measures of faculty and staff achievements in the areas of educator growth, professional feedback, a productive climate and professional collegiality.

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