MHS Students Commended by College Board

MEDWAY HIGH SCHOOL RECOGNIZES COMMENDED STUDENTS IN THE 2013 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Dr. Douglas Dias, principal of Medway High School, announced today that senior students Anna Donovan, Emma Kaeli and Nicolce Kirby have been named as Commended Students in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program. A letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corportation (NMSC), which conducts the program, will be presented by Dr. Dias to these scholastically talented seniors at the October 18 School Committee Meeting.

Commended Students placed among the top five percent of the more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2013 competition by taking the 2011 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).  About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise.

“Recognizing academically talented students plays a fundamental role in the advancement of educational excellend within our nation,” commented an NMSC spokesperson. “The young people recognized as Commended Students represent some of the best and brightest minds in the country as demonstrated by their outstanding performance in our highly competitive program. We sincerely hope this recognition will provide them with additional educational outlets and motivate them in pursuit of academic achievement.”

Past recipients were presented with their Commendation Letters in the principal’s office, but Dr. Dias commented on the change in venue, stating “I decided to recognize these students before the Medway School Committee to remind us all that academic success shows in our students far more than numbers can convey. Having three MHS seniors as the top five percent of students in the U.S. participating in the PSAT is an achievement that should be openly celebrated.”

771 Appointments Scheduled

There are 771 appointments scheduled for Parent/Teacher Conference Night on October 23, 2012. If you want to meet with your child's teacher on that night, sign up quickly, as some teacher's are close to fully booked!

To set up an account, go here: http://medwayhs.schoolappointments.com/
and click on the Register tab.

Medway teacher, kids have mission to Costa Rica

Medway teacher, kids have mission to Costa Rica

Falmouth pair charged with hosting drinking party

Falmouth pair charged with hosting drinking party

Good. While a $9,000 fine and a permanent criminal record are relatively minor consequences, it sends an important message: Adults should never, ever, provide alcohol to anyone's children at their home. Nor should they condone it.

'Skip' Day

I have heard a rumor that there is a senior ‘skip’ day scheduled and I want to clarify any inaccuracies about how the school responds to such incidents using the lens of our community core value of Responsibility.

First, as principal, I have a responsibility to ensure that students are provided with an education, and as such, want to make explicitly clear that Medway High School neither sponsors or sanctions students skipping school. We want our students to be safe, and while some may not participate in dangerous behavior, too many decide it is okay to engage in risky behavior.

Students missing class creates a burden for teachers, who plan their lessons with the expectation that every student is present. Student absences result in missed learning, including tests and quizzes. Tests and quizzes missed due to unapproved absences result in a grade of zero, which can have a devastating effect on a term grade.

Parents, please allow your son or daughter to take responsibility for their actions. Do not call the school, claiming that they are sick or have a doctor’s appointment requiring them to miss all or part of the day when this is not true. You are their first, and greatest, teacher, and such actions can lead students to believe that it is okay to intentionally mislead. We are not questioning your moral authority to teach your children, but ask you to work with us in teaching students that decisions have consequences, and, as adults, we should allow them to take responsibility for their actions.

            I have met many students in my first month at MHS, and have been truly impressed with the maturity and responsibility each has demonstrated. I want to be explicitly clear to you, as you deserve nothing less, and share that your decision to skip school may result in loss of grades and extra-curricular privileges. Simply stated, we want you here! Seniors who decide to skip school today will not be allowed to participate in athletics or the senior boat cruise this weekend. Future skip days will result in other sanctions as well.

I always welcome suggestions on how to make our school a better place, and would like to give greater, more meaningful responsibility to students capable of such burden. Please let me know your thoughts.