Rumors of Wombats

In learning about math and English, I clearly remember frequent warnings to avoid using a 'double negative'. In math, the opposite of a positive number is negative, and the opposite of a negative number is positive. A double-negative number is positive. In English, a double negative is viewed, at best, as alliteration, as Pink Floyd did so eloquently in their album The Wall, where they repeatedly claim "We don't need no education." Yes they do, as a double negative is at worst, poor grammar.

On occasion, as a school administrator, I have heard rumors, and given the task of proving them to be false. For the sake of this posting, I am going to use wombats. Wombats are Australian short-legged, muscular, quadrupedal marsupials.

For the sake of this argument, let us assume someone came to me and exclaimed, "I believe that there are wombats in Medway High School!"

I would ask a series of clarifying questions, such as:

• Are you sure it was a wombat?
• Are you really sure it was a wombat?
• Do you know what a wombat looks like?
• Does the wombat have any distinguishing marks?"

 Wambats are dangerous- They are going to cute you to death!

At this point, I would have to decide the credibility of the claim.  Again, for the sake of this argument, I will take what they say at face-value, and reach the only reasonable conclusion: There may be a wombat in the building.

I could then spend the next 24 hours going through the building looking for the wombat. In lockers, backpacks,vehicles, bathrooms, locker rooms, classrooms. Not to mention under desks, behind bookshelves, in the ceiling tiles. They could be anywhere!

After an exhaustive search, I go back to the person who made the original claim. By this point they've posted, Tweeted, and sent texts to all of their friends, sharing what they saw. The rumor mill kicks in, and soon we have not one, but an entire wisdom of wombats (a group of wombats is called a wisdom- look it up).

I tell them that we were unable to find the wombat. They are adamant. It's there, and we obviously have not looked hard enough. We look again, revisiting all of the original sites (while short-legged, wombats are mobile!) and add to the list the interior of trash cans and surrounding campus (perhaps they are in league with the beavers that flood our woods). No luck. We ask other students- 'Have you seen any wombats?' They all state that they have not personally seen any, but everyone knows they are around. Thank you, rumor mill, I sigh.

Once again, back to the original reporter- no wombat. They are incredulous that we have not found them. They're everywhere, the person laments, having bought into the rumors.

I tell them that there is no way to prove that there is not a wombat in school. I could raze the school to the ground- disassemble the entire building brick-by-brick, but would still not be able to prove that there is not a wombat. It is easy to prove the opposite- I get a wombat (don't ask how), bring it into the building, and have definitively proven that there is one in school. I then take it out of the building, and that wombat is no longer in the building, but I cannot prove that there are no others. It is the logic equivalent of a double-negative in a sentence (the bane of all English teachers).

We cannot prove that there is not a wombat in the building.

Okay, if you've stuck with my post this far, here is my point: re-read my article and replace wombat with something, anything, else that does not belong in school: drugs, weapons, alcohol.

I cannot prove that there are no drugs in school When we hear a rumor, or get a tip from a parent, student or staff member, we always investigate it. These are our kids. School is our house. Drugs, alcohol, and weapons have no place in them, and I will do all that I can to keep our school, and everyone in it safe, but please don't contribute to the rumors. passing it along reinforces the perception that is, frequently, not true. In doing so, you are not contributing to the solution, but adding to the problem.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've heard that there is a gun-toting wombat somewhere in the building.

Please Help the MSPTO Help Us!

Dear Parents,

I just want to comment that the MSPTO is a wonderful organization that has done numerous things to support our students. Please attend a meeting or contact them to offer support, even if is is small. As you will read below, after years of supporting students, the PTO needs your help, and the only way they can get it is through you.

Dr. Dias

The Medway Secondary PTO Needs Your Help:

What we really want is YOU!

We hope to see you at our next PTO meeting at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 5th, in the High School Guidance Area.

The PTO relies on parent and guardian involvement, without which it would not exist. Our organization supports ALL students by sponsoring such enrichment events as:

o    Ski Club

o    Scholastic Awards

o    Guest Speakers

o    Senior Scholarships

o    Teacher Appreciation

o    School Beautification

Please join us to strategize on how we can keep these events available for our kids!

The PTO is a cheerleader and big spirit-raiser for the Middle and High Schools, and in return for our hard work, we receive the gratitude from seeing the kids getting additional support in what they need to go forth into this world.

We need you, as a parent and guardian of one of the 1.800 students in this schools, to look at giving a little of your time to help.

Some of the things you will learn/do at our meetings:

• Meet our principals/vice principals.
• Find out where the funds come from for Scholastic Awards, 8^th grade Reception and shirts, Guest Speakers at the Medway Middle School.
• Learn what is going on with Scholastic Awards, Senior Night Reception and Scholarships at the Medway High School.
• Meet our School Committee Liaison and find out what is happening at their meetings.
• Help coordinate the after school snack cart.
• Help fund and coordinate the teacher appreciation luncheon
• Get on the committee is for the senior scholarships and help choose the recipients.

The real issue at hand is that our school budget is constantly under pressure; parents are over-fundraised and as students grow, it becomes more challenging to remain actively engaged in groups like ours.

Believe us, we understand.  After years of volunteering at the elementary school and working eight or more hours each week, we are all tired, but…..for our children, we do it.

Parents know that their children get the best education, and we want to continue supporting additional programming, like those listed above, for years to come!

The PTO is struggling to come up with a feasible plan to continue providing the quality programming and scholarships that we have provided in the past.

The truth is…we are at a critical juncture this year and entering into the next school year and beyond. We need your help!

How do we compete with other programs requesting funds throughout the school year?

Our PTO currently consists of three dedicated board members and about 10 parents to support the 1,800 students in our middle and high schools by giving their time to help keep the PTO alive.

Some board members have been serving in one capacity or another for nearly 15+ years and will be leaving at the end of 2014.  Ask yourself this after reading all about us: What will next year and the years beyond look like without a PTO? Who will step up to take our place? Please join us on March 5th at 7:00 p.m. at the High School to help plan for the future!

A few parents cannot do it all, and the more we have, the easier and better it is for everyone; a quote from the Amish, “Many hands make light work.”   Please come and be among those many hands.

Posture Screenings for Grade 9

Medway Public Schools

Department of Nursing Services

Christine Babicz RN, MSN

Nurse Leader Medway Public Schools

School Nurse Medway High School

02/27/2014

Dear Parent/Guardian,

The physical education teachers and I will be conducting the Annual Postural Screening on the students in the 9^th grade over the next few months.

The purpose of this screen is for detection of early signs of spinal problems in children grades 5-9.  It is not a diagnostic service but a program to identify young people who should have further medical evaluation.

If your child has unusual findings, you will be notified and asked to take your child to his/her physician for evaluation.  The majority of students exhibit no findings.  If nothing unusual is found, you will not be notified. 

Female students are asked to bring a 2 piece bathing suit top, sports bra, or halter top, and shorts to school on the day of the screening.  This type of clothing permits more accurate observation of the back. 

As always, you have the option of “opting out” of the screening.  I will need all requests to have your child “opt out” of the postural screening by March 12, 2014. In addition, if I have a copy of your child’s physical exam with documentation that a screening was completed at your physician’s office from August 2013 to present date, your child will not be screened. 

If you have any questions, please contact me.  Thank you.

Sincerely,

Christine Babicz

88 Summer Street

Medway, MA 02053

508-533-6643x5108

508-533-3246 fax

cbabicz@medway.k12.ma.us

Grade 8 Student and Parent Orientation Follow-up

I'd like to thank the almost 300 middle school students and parents/guardians for joining us last night for our Orientation. The night was a great success, and I want to give a special thanks to the 2017 Class Officers and Student Government representatives how spoke about their experiences and gave tours throughout the night.

As promised, here are links to the presentations and handouts from the night:
Opening Slideshow
Agenda and contact information
Elective Course Offerings
Student Services Presentation
Humanities Presentation
STEM Presentation
Athletic Handout