mcgovern elementary

Medway Public Schools Officially Welcomes Students to New Playgrounds at Burke-Memorial, McGovern Schools

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Medway Public Schools
Armand Pires, Superintendent
45 Holliston St.
Medway, MA 02053

 

For Immediate Release

Friday, Sept. 27, 2019

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Medway Public Schools Officially Welcomes Students to New Playgrounds at Burke-Memorial, McGovern Schools

MEDWAY — Superintendent Armand Pires is pleased to announce that students were officially welcomed to the new playgrounds at Burke-Memorial and McGovern elementary schools after ribbon cutting ceremonies on Tuesday, Sept. 17 and Thursday, Sept. 19, respectively.

Superintendent Armand Pires, Chair of the Medway School Committee Susan Dietrich and Chair of the Medway Board of Selectmen John Foresto spoke during the ceremonies. Parents and students were welcomed to each playground by Burke-Memorial Principal Amanda Luizzi and McGovern Principal Amy McDonald.

Principals Luizzi and McDonald, Dietrich and Superintendent Pires each thanked Medway residents for their support of the projects. The Medway Elementary Parent Teacher Organization (MEPTO), Medway Extended Day (MEDI), Medway’s facilities staff, Medway Department of Public Works, Board of Selectmen, Capital Improvement Committee, Community Preservation Committee and Town Manager Michael Boynton were each recognized for their work to plan for the projects and secure funding.

Andy Berger of M.E. O’Brien and Sons was recognized for his work in the planning and design of each project. The playgrounds were designed and built by the Medway-based outdoor equipment supplier over the summer.

Dietrich also discussed how an investment in playground equipment is beneficial for young students.

“On behalf of the school committee, I want to extend my thanks for the tremendous outpouring of support that has come from the community,” Dietrich said at McGovern’s ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday. “Everyone thought about putting the kids’ needs first and that’s a priority for the school committee as well. We believe, as a town and as a community, in whole-child wellness and how the interactions and imagination that take place during play contribute to wellness.”

Foresto spoke of the time and dedication that went into getting the funding for the playgrounds. Both playgrounds were paid for in part by generous donations from MEPTO and MEDI. The rest of the funds were approved at Town Meeting in May.

“This is a culmination of a few years of effort,” Foresto said Thursday. “Funding for things like this don’t happen easily. A lot of people put the funding together to make this happen. The town came together and the PTO came together. We don’t see people get together to fund something of this size, and it’s great to see it happen.”

Superintendent Pires also recognized the playground committee members including: School Committee members Jeff Segarra and Cindy Sullivan, Principals Luizzi and McDonald and Board of Selectmen member Glenn Trindade, who helped to identify what the playgrounds would eventually look like and how they would be funded. He also thanked parent members Tiffany Dunguay, Barbara Holmes, Nicole LaRochelle-Booth and Lisa Graceffa who represented Medway parents and the PTO.

“We are so excited to officially open the playground here at McGovern School and we’re thankful to the families who brought out all of our wonderful students to come and play here this afternoon,” Superintendent Pires said Thursday. “This will provide our McGovern Elementary School students, which number more than 350, with the opportunity every day to explore, imagine and play.”

Following each school’s ceremony, students and families tried out the new playgrounds.

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Medway Public Schools Receives $60,000 Grant for Security Upgrades at McGovern Elementary School

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Medway Public Schools
Armand Pires, Superintendent
45 Holliston St.
Medway, MA 02053

 

For Immediate Release

Monday, July 22, 2019

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Medway Public Schools Receives $60,000 Grant for Security Upgrades at McGovern Elementary School

MEDWAY — Superintendent Armand Pires is pleased to announce that Medway Public Schools was awarded a $60,000 Safer Schools and Communities Local Equipment and Technology Grant to make building security improvements at McGovern Elementary School.

Distributed by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Office of Grants and Research, Medway Public Schools was awarded the grant to fund upgrades to outdated door hardware.

The McGovern Elementary School was chosen to receive the grant funds as it is the building with the oldest door hardware in the district. The door knobs and hardware of all classroom doors will be replaced with levered handles that can be locked from the inside. This eliminates the need for teachers to step out into the hallway to lock their doors, needlessly putting themselves and their classrooms at risk during emergency situations.

Improving internal door security is one part of controlling access to school classrooms and facilities. Visitors must already enter through the main office at all schools in the district.

Work on the project will begin once the grant funds are disbursed, which is expected to be in September.

“This grant is part of our continued commitment to stay aware of and address any needed improvements to the infrastructure, technology and equipment that affects the security of our schools,” Superintendent Pires said. “It is always our goal for our buildings’ security measures to exceed expectations. The safety of our students and staff is of utmost importance.”

The Medway Police and Fire Departments assisted during the grant application process, helping to review protocols and best practices for safety and security at McGovern Elementary.

Superintendent Pires would like to thank Medway Town Administrator Michael Boynton, Medway Public Schools Finance and Operations Director Donald Aicardi and Facilities Director Jim Kane and Medway Police School Resource Officer Robert O’Neill for their assistance and support during the grant application process.

Schools that applied for a grant were required to have an existing Multi-Hazard School Emergency Threat Assessment and Response Plan developed in collaboration with their municipality.

Consideration was given to schools that demonstrated need and proposed cost-effective and meaningful proposals that establish a more safe and supportive school environment to reduce instances of violence.

About the Safer Schools and Communities Initiative

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Office of Grants and Research has made available $7.2 million for one-time grant funding for school districts and charter schools to use to enhance school security. The Local Equipment and Technology Grant is designed for schools to address critical infrastructure equipment and technology needs as it relates to school building security and the safety of students and staff.

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Medway Public Schools Invites Parents, Residents to Attend Series of Upcoming Arts and Music Festivals

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Medway Public Schools
Armand Pires, Superintendent
45 Holliston St.
Medway, MA 02053

 

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Medway Public Schools Invites Parents, Residents to Attend Series of Upcoming Arts and Music Festivals

MEDWAY –Superintendent Armand Pires is pleased to announce that Medway Public Schools has several arts and music festivals scheduled this May and June and is inviting all parents and residents to attend.

“These events are a perfect way for students to end the school year,” Superintendent Pires said. “Students have an opportunity to display their art, perform in front of friends and family, and showcase what they’ve learned both in class and in extracurricular activities. It’s a great celebration of student learning, talent and creativity.”

Upcoming events at Medway Public Schools include:

Pops Concert and Art Walk- Medway High School

On Wednesday, May 15, a Pops Concert and Art Walk will be held at Medway High School from 6-9 p.m. Starting at 6 p.m., student art will be displayed throughout the main lobby, and light refreshments will be available. Categories of artwork on display will include advanced fine art, foundation art, painting, drawing, ceramics, photography and graphic design.

A Pops Concert will begin at 7 p.m., which will include performances from the school’s Mixed Chorus, Treble Chorus and Concert Band.

McGovern Elementary School Art Show

On Tuesday, May 21, McGovern Elementary will hold an art show. Every student will have a piece of art they chose on display at the event. Parents, guardians and students will also be invited to take part in several activities, including spin art, taking a family photo at a teacher-run photo booth and mural painting. Students will also pick up their art portfolios during the art show, and parents and guardians will have the opportunity to write a letter to their student.

Student-made “Line monsters” will also be on display at the art show, showcasing “collage monsters” students created from lines, using paint, glue and scissors.

The art show will also serve as a school open house, and will include a scavenger hunt.

The art show will be open to preschool and kindergarten students and parents from 5:30-6:15 p.m., and from 6:30-7:15 p.m. for first grade students.

Chamber Concert and Honors Recital – Medway High School

On Wednesday, May 22, a Chambers Concert and Honors Recital will start at 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium. The concert will feature performances by the jazz band, flute ensemble and clarinet ensemble. Medway High School’s three a cappella groups, the Shirley Tempos, the Do Re Mi-gos and the Unaccompanied Minors will also perform.

Students in the Medway High Honors Music program will also perform solos and small group performances.

International Thespian Society Induction Ceremony and Performance- Medway High School

On Wednesday, May 28, an International Thespian Society Induction ceremony will be held in the Medway High School Auditorium at 6:00 p.m. A group of 23 students in grades 10-12 will be inducted into the school’s chapter of the society.

The International Thespian Society is an organization that recognizes and celebrates the achievements and dedication of high school students involved in all aspects of theater. All 23 students will also perform in a one-act play at the event.

Medway Middle School Band Concert

On Thursday, May 30, the Medway Middle School band concert will be held in the Medway High School auditorium. The grades five and six bands will perform from 6-7 p.m., and the grades seven and eight bands will perform between 7-8 p.m.

Arts Festival, Band and Chorus Concert – Burke-Memorial Elementary School

On Monday, June 3, an Arts Festival, Band and Chorus Concert will be held at Burke-Memorial Elementary School from 6-8 p.m.

Each student will have a piece of art displayed during the festival outside of his or her classroom. The art will reflect student’s individual voices and studies of basic art elements, such as color, line texture and shape.

The third and fourth grade chorus will also perform in the cafeteria at 6:30 p.m., and the fourth grade band will perform at 7:30 p.m.

Medway Middle School Spring Choral Concert

On Wednesday, June 5, Medway Middle School’s Spring Choral Concert will be held in the Medway High School auditorium. Students in chorus groups in grades five and six will perform from 6-7 p.m. and students in grades seven and eight will perform from 7-8 p.m.

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Medway’s McGovern Elementary Receives $5,000 Grant to Support New Science Curriculum 

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Medway Public Schools
Armand Pires, Superintendent
45 Holliston St.
Medway, MA 02053

 

For Immediate Release

Monday, March 11, 2019

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Medway’s McGovern Elementary Receives $5,000 Grant to Support New Science Curriculum 

MEDWAY — Superintendent Armand Pires is pleased to announce that McGovern Elementary School has been awarded a $5,000 grant to support a new science curriculum at the school.

McGovern Elementary is one of 58 Massachusetts schools that were awarded grants this winter by the Baker-Polito Administration to support science, engineering and biomedical science education through Project Lead the Way.

Project Lead the Way is a nonprofit that provides a variety of STEM related materials and curricula to schools looking to give students hands on, practical learning experiences in kindergarten through 12th grade.

The $5,000 grant will fund the purchase of Project Lead the Way kits for kindergarten and first grade science teachers who will use them in lessons starting in the fall. The school began piloting its first wave of new Project Lead the Way lessons with students last week, and the kits will allow the school to continue to expand its curriculum during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years.

The kits vary depending on the unit students are studying, but provide materials that allow students to use what they learn in class to search for solutions to a problem. For example, one kit includes small plastic trees, among other items, for students to set up for an exercise during a unit called “the changing Earth” where they will explore possible ways to stop erosion.

“This curriculum revolves around inquiry based science, and the students really have to be active participants in making connections, testing hypotheses and finding solutions,” said McGovern Elementary Principal Amy McDonald. “The students are very excited about the new curriculum. It’s allowing them to actually work with the ideas they’re learning about, and to apply them as they look for solutions to these hypothetical, but real life, problems.”

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