Medfield

Medfield Public Schools Seeing Improved Mental Health Wellness with Use of INTERFACE Referral Services

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Medfield Public Schools
Jeffrey J. Marsden, Superintendent
459 Main St., Unit 3,
Medfield, MA 02052

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

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

Medfield Public Schools Seeing Improved Mental Health Wellness with Use of INTERFACE Referral Services

MEDFIELD — Superintendent Jeffrey Marsden is pleased to announce that the Medfield Public School’s use of the INTERFACE Referral Services program has continued to grow, while helping to improve the mental health and wellness of students throughout the district and beyond.

Since November 2017, over 110 Medfield students and residents have accessed the INTERFACE Referral Service Helpline. The service, provided by William James College in Newton, provides a referral helpline that parents and residents can call to assist them with navigating the mental health system by streamlining the process of finding mental health professionals in their area.

The helpline is available to all Medfield Public Schools students and residents of the town who are dealing with mental health issues.

“INTERFACE has helped ease the burden of families during what can be incredibly  stressful times,” said Medfield School Committee Chair Anna Mae O’Shea Brooke, who also serves on the Medfield Coalition for Suicide Prevention. “It can sometimes take countless phone calls and hours on hold trying to find the right therapist that is covered by your insurance and works within your schedule. INTERFACE helps immensely to ease those burdens and streamline the process. We are so very fortunate in Medfield to have this service available to those who need it.”

Sara Drumm, the parent representative for the Medfield Coalition for Suicide Prevention, believes that access to the referral helpline has helped introduce people to the wide variety of local resources that are available to people struggling with mental health issues.

“Since we have introduced this program in our town, we have worked to spread the word and let our community know that INTERFACE and other resources exist to support and promote mental health and wellness,” Drumm said. “Our discussions and updates have gone a long way towards reducing the stigma around this topic. What we have seen since this program has been available is that it is being heavily utilized by people of all ages, including our youth. I believe this is important to our school community as we know that many of our kids struggle to balance their many commitments during their school years and beyond, and this is understandably a difficult balance that can lead to anxiety and other health issues for many.”

Chelsea Goldstein-Walsh is the Interim Director of Medfield Youth Outreach and a member of the Medfield Coalition for Suicide Prevention. For her, the value of the program is immense when considering that it is open to every student and resident in Medfield who is seeking assistance with issues of mental health.

“The INTERFACE program reduces barriers to access for mental health treatment, which supports the overall mental health and emotional wellness of the entire Medfield community,” Goldstein-Walsh said.

To reach the helpline, call 1-888-244-6843, ext. 1, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“The INTERFACE program has made a great impact on the overall social-emotional wellness at our schools. One thing we’ve learned from the data we have received thus far, along with the people from INTERFACE telling us, is that Medfield has done a great job of spreading the word about this fantastic service and we hope that continues,” Superintendent Marsden said. “When asked where people who utilize the program heard about INTERFACE, the responses run the gamut from our schools to town employees to state organizations to local service providers and groups in town. It’s truly great to see that people are aware of this vital service and are using it to get the help they need for themselves and their loved ones.”

For those who would like to donate to the Medfield Coalition for Suicide Prevention, please visit www.medfieldfoundation.org/give.

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Senior Projects Highlight Creativity, Hard Work of Medfield High School Students

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Medfield Public Schools
Jeffrey J. Marsden, Superintendent
459 Main St., Unit 3,
Medfield, MA 02052

For Immediate Release

Monday, June 17, 2019

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

Senior Projects Highlight Creativity, Hard Work of Medfield High School Students

MEDFIELD – Superintendent Jeffrey Marsden is pleased to share that 53 students participated in Medfield High School’s Senior Project program this year.

This year’s program had 38 projects with 53 participating students. Students completed projects in interest areas such as art, video, podcasts, music and teaching. Many student projects also recapped internship experiences in various sectors and industries.

Seniors participating in the program were selected through a project application and an interview. Participants completed their project during fourth term in place of attending classes. As part of the program, students created and maintained a professional blog, made and presented a multimedia presentation, wrote a final paper and worked with mentors from the high school staff and community.

Some of the projects seniors worked on this year include:

“Senior Projects allow students to create their own individualized experience outside of the classroom,” Superintendent Marsden said. “Students pursue their interests while learning to face challenges, set their own goals and work independently.”

Senior Project co-advisers Ksenija Broks and Gwynne Sawtelle have worked to grow the program by engaging the junior class. Seniors present their experiences to junior students which has helped inspire those students to consider their interests and possible projects for their senior year.

“The projects provide a culminating experience for our high school seniors,” Broks said. “Students are able to explore a potential career, provide a service to the community, or research a personal interest, while also focusing on personal and professional growth.”

All of Medfield High School’s 2019 Senior Projects can be found on the program site.

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Medfield Coalition for Public Education Awards $131,000 in Grant Funds to Medfield Public Schools Initiatives

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Medfield Public Schools
Jeffrey J. Marsden, Superintendent
459 Main St., Unit 3,
Medfield, MA 02052

For Immediate Release

Friday, June 14, 2019

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

Medfield Coalition for Public Education Awards $131,000 in Grant Funds to Medfield Public Schools Initiatives

MEDFIELD – The Medfield Coalition for Public Education is pleased to share that it has awarded $131,000 in grant funds to Medfield Public Schools initiatives over the past year.

The coalition funded 34 grants across Medfield’s five schools. The grants span multiple areas of education including curriculum enhancements in science, art and reading, classroom enhancements and initiatives for students’ personal development. District-wide grants were also awarded, supporting conference travel and professional development programs for Medfield Public Schools staff. 

“We are extremely grateful for the coalition’s continued support of Medfield’s students and staff,” Medfield Superintendent Jeffrey Marsden said. “These grants recognize the dedication of our educators and allow them to pursue unique education opportunities to engage their students.”

The awarded grants were selected by the Medfield Coalition for Public Education’s team of 15 volunteers. Grant applicants attend a coalition meeting and give a presentation based on their submitted grant request. Grants are awarded to projects that meet student needs, increase motivation to learn and stimulate creativity in the classroom.

The funds granted to Medfield Public Schools this year were raised through multiple events and sponsorships. The coalition’s major fundraising efforts this year included a Fall Ball hosted at Gillette Stadium and a Treasured Experiences Auction, where teachers offered unique experiences for kids to bid on, such as a pizza party or ice cream social. Other fundraising efforts included a spelling bee competition, a community trivia night, corporate sponsorships and community donations.

The coalition’s successes over the past year were celebrated at its recent annual meeting on May 23. The event’s activities included recognizing corporate and community supporters, presenting awards to several Medfield staff members and electing new coalition members.

“Our annual meeting was a great way to celebrate all of the amazing work that the MCPE has done over the past year,” said Inger Kenworthy, Co-President of the Medfield Coalition for Public Education. “Being able to support the students, teachers and staff at the Medfield Public Schools is something we all take a tremendous amount of pride in and we are already looking forward to the next school year.”

About the Medfield Coalition for Public Education

The Medfield Coalition for Public Education is an independent, non-profit organization funded to provide district-wide support and academic enrichment for the Medfield Public Schools, with particular attention to academic needs that exceed the parameters of the school budget. The coalition strives to encourage and maintain academic excellence in the face of increasing financial constraints. The coalition awards grants to support the development of innovative programs, curriculum and enrichment.

More information about The Medfield Coalition for Public Education, the grants it has awarded and to donate visit www.medfieldcoalition.org.

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New Director of Student Services Mary Bruhl Making Strides in First Year at Medfield Public Schools

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Medfield Public Schools
Jeffrey J. Marsden, Superintendent
459 Main St., Unit 3,
Medfield, MA 02052

For Immediate Release

Thursday, May 16, 2019

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

New Director of Student Services Mary Bruhl Making Strides in First Year at Medfield Public Schools

MEDFIELD — Superintendent Jeffrey Marsden is pleased to share that Director of Student Services Mary Bruhl is thriving in her first year as the head of the district’s special education, school health services and guidance departments.

“We have been very impressed with Mary’s work so far and she has implemented and overseen a lot of fantastic improvements in the different departments she oversees throughout the school year,” Superintendent Marsden said. “Her position was held by a couple of interim directors over the past few years. So having someone who can come in and bring more stability and structure to the position, as Mary has, has been a benefit to all of our students and their families.”

One of Bruhl’s primary focuses this year has been improving on the overall communication of the departments she oversees and working to create uniform policies and protocols at each of the schools and district-wide.

“One of my primary tasks was looking at the departments as a whole and trying to see how we could streamline supports for students and ensure that the process was feeling collaborative to all, including staff and families,” Bruhl said. “We wanted to open the lanes of communication so that students are first and foremost and we are making sure that all students can be successful and thrive no matter their situation. On a broader scale, we also want students going from one school to another to have the same support throughout their time at Medfield Schools and we want to be consistent from building to building and ensure that our overall communication – with students, parents and staff – is consistent as well.”

Part of opening the lanes of communication with parents included adding important contact information for each of the schools on the district website’s Student Services page. Each school has its own downloadable PDF with email addresses and phone numbers of important administrators and staff including, guidance counselors, school psychologists, special education teachers and school nurses.

In addition, Bruhl also started a monthly blog where she provides updates about what is going on in the world of Student Services at Medfield Schools.

Several events have been held for parents throughout the school year to get them more involved in the process. Another one will be held on Tuesday, May 21, by the Medfield Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC).

The event will be about transition planning for students and getting them involved in their Individualized Educational Programs. Parents are invited to attend the meeting at Blake Middle School from 7-9 p.m. where discussions will be had about helping students to understand the supports they have at school and home. The talk will also include how parents and school staff members can help students be successful once they go on to college or the into workforce.

Another area of focus for Bruhl has been making sure that the district is in compliance with all state and federal mandates when it comes to special education, student civil rights and English Learner Education.

Last spring, the district underwent its Coordinated Program Review by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE). All school districts in the state must undergo this mandatory review every six years to ensure that they are in compliance with state education standards and requirements.

Beginning in September, after receiving DESE’s final program review report, the district was given one year to implement the recommendations and mandates made in the report.

Bruhl has worked with district administration, the school committee and other committees to address the changes that needed to be made found in the report throughout the school year. Thus far, the district has passed all of its progress reports to the state and has two more progress reports remaining.

“The best thing has been the level of support and commitment across the board, from students to families to staff, everyone wants what’s best for the students and everyone is willing to go the extra mile,” Bruhl said. “These mandates help us to look at each students’ access to programming, ability to access all aspects of the educational day and how we can provide equal access for all students.”

Bruhl, who was formerly a Special Education Team Leader at Dedham Middle School and Dedham High School, has enjoyed her time in Medfield thus far and said she has been impressed by the level of support she has received from administrators, staff, parents and community members.

“It’s been a really great year so far and there is still more work to do to make sure all of our students are successful,” Bruhl said.

 

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