5-Cents for a Spork? What?

No- we are not charging for utensils.

HOWEVER, I urge all parents to set up a food-service account. We are about to send out an email to parents regarding negative balances on student accounts. I am willing to bet that most parents are unaware that their child owes money.

I can relate (based on a real conversation):

Scene: Sunday evening. Father tries to settle into couch and watch a soothing episode of Breaking Bad. His son approaches.

Son: Dad, can I have some money to put into my lunch account.
Father (pausing the DVR): Okay, Here is a check for $50. That should tide you over for a while.
Son: Thanks, Dad!

One week Later
Scene: Sunday evening. Dad tries to settle into couch and watch a soothing episode of Breaking Bad. Son approaches.

Son: Hey Dad, I need more money for my lunch account.
Dad. (Pauses the DVR): What the heck are you talking about? I just gave you money.
Son (shrugging): I don't know, the lunch lady said I need to add money to my account.
Dad (moving to computer): Well, let's see what shows up on your account.
Son (looking nervous): Um, you can do it later, why don't you return to watching your show. It seems to relax you.
Dad: (looking at the computer screen): Here we go. What the heck? There is the deposit of $50, and you blew through it in a week. You owe $3.36!
Son: (slowly moving towards the door): That must be wrong...
Dad (pointing to the computer screen): Did you give them the check- it's right here. And then you spent over $10 on lunch every day What'd you buy?
Son: Two lunches.
Dad: Yeah, I see that...and what else?
Son (looking sheepish): And a drink.
Dad: At $2?! Wait- it says you bought two!
Son (turning red): Well Sara was thirsty...
Dad: Wait. What? Who's Sara?

So, as you can see, having a lunch account not only allows you opportunity to have a meaningful and (potentially) enlightening conversation with your child.

For more information, please go here.
http://www.chartwellsschooldining.com/mmps/content/prepaymentoptions.asp

1. Create a user profile by clicking Here
2. Add students to your household - you'll need the child's name and birth date and student ID (Note: student ID may be optional depending on the school).
3. Now you're ready to make payments! 

What if I forgot my Login ID or password?
On the right side of the login page, click on "Forgot Your ID or Password?". The system will ask for your login name or your email address. If a match is found, you must answer your security question correctly before you'll be prompted to enter a new password. If you can't remember your security answer you may alternatively choose the option to receive a password reset request by email.

How do I know my information is secure? Transaction information is encrypted and sent from your PC to the mySchoolBucks.com server via a secure gateway. Look for the "https" in the address field of your web browser window, and the closed lock in the bottom tray of the browser window.

How can I request notification via email when my child's balance is low? In the left navigation panel, click the 'Email Preferences' link, then check the box to request low balance notifications and fill in the amount. When your child's balance goes below that amount, an email message will be automatically sent to the email address in your user profile. 

Senior College & Career Exploration Day October16

On Wednesday, October 16, all Sophomore and Junior students will be taking the PSAT/NMSQT (formerly know as the Pre-SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test).

With half of the school participating in the 3-hour assessment, necessitating numerous teachers to help proctor, it provides an opportunity during the school day for seniors to visit colleges or explore careers.

If senior students plan on taking advantage of this opportunity, they must complete this form and return it to the guidance office by October 9.Visiting a college or business during the week gives a better sense of the culture of a school.

Seriously, I've gone on college tours on Saturday morning. You'd think they had no students at all. I suggest all senior students and their parents take advantage of this opportunity- call or schedule a tour at a local college for October 16th. Fill out the form. Turn it in by the 9th. Sound like a good idea? Please know we are not providing transportation. If senior students arrive at school on the 16th, they will attend classes if their teacher is not proctoring the PSAT. If their teacher is proctoring the PSAT, they will be placed in a study.

Grade 9 students will use the time working in groups with their guidance counselor. More details will be forthcoming.

Thank You for a Successful Back-To-School Night!

For the sake of transparency, I want to share the email I just sent to the High School staff:


Hi All,
I want to thank you for your enthusiasm, energy, and professionalism at tonight's event. Parents were effusive in their praise of your presentations to them. While there were many, many positive quotes, the best was "I wish I could go back to high school and take these cool classes!"

Amidst the tsunami of positive energy tonight, I recognize that a lot of us are still coming to grips with the loss of Devin. I know that the funeral will cause more emotions in both the students and us, but please realize how much I appreciate your strength and support on behalf of our kids. Tonight you were again able able to demonstrate to parents that their children are in good hands, something I well know, and am proud to help you share your commitment and professionalism with the community.

Thank you

Doug

Picture Retake Day October 21

Lifetouch Photography will be at Medway High School on Monday, October 21, 2013 for picture retake day. Forms are available in the Main Office for students who were absent on Picture Day.

For those who wish to have their picture retaken, please have your original picture package with you (once they are distributed). Please call the Main Office at 508-533-6643 x5101 or x5102 if you should have any questions.

Back-To-School Night Presentation

Here is the presentation from our Back-To-School Night on September 19, 2013

Funeral Attendance

The funeral arrangements for one of our students, Devin Ehrmanntraut can be found HERE.

If your child is planning on coming to school on Friday and leaving for the service, we ask that you follow this procedure to help us keep accurate attendance:

1. Please write a dismissal note indicating at what time and with whom your students will be dismissed on Friday.
2. Explicitly state how the student will depart Medway High School (i.e. "I consent to _____ leaving by him/herself with their friend, __________, or other parent, ________.")
3. Should your child return to school following the services, s/he is required to sign in to the office upon return to school. 
4. Once dismissed, we will presume the student is not returning to school, however, in keeping with our school policy, student-athletes must return by 12:35 pm in order to be eligible to participate after school on Friday.

If your child is not coming to school at all on Friday, please leave a message on the attendance line (508-533-3227 x5555) and send in a note on Monday so we can record the absence as explained.

Students attending the funeral should demonstrate their respect for the family by dressing appropriately.

Please join us in sharing our sincere condolences and prayers to the Ehrmanntraut family on their loss.

Communication

We have two methods of emailing students and parents. First is a service called Blackboard, which allows us to send email and call phones with messages. We control the contact list in Blackboard, and a recent upgrade has opened up a new set of abilities that we are just now beginning to explore (i.e. sending texts, calling multiple numbers). The second service is called Constant Contact. This is an opt-in email service, wherein anyone on the planet can add their email address to receive information from the school. You can add your email address to the Constant Contact list by clicking HERE.

Both of these services are helpful, but at this time of the year, as we begin the process of inputting the hundreds of email, phone and address changes parents submitted on the ubiquitous start-of-the-school-year forms, I am in a quandary as to which list to use. I don't want to add more email by using both, which is the easier option, but with only three secretaries for a building that contains over 1,000 people, it takes time to accurately update our listings in Blackboard. However, this is tempered by the need to keep parents, students, and the community informed of what is happening at MHS. This Blog is my main vehicle for communication, and with 36,000 views last year, it appears to be effective. As a parent of two high school students, however, I recognize the challenges of parents to add one more thing to do in order to know what is happening at school.

So, for the time being, I am going to email my blog link all y'all through Blackboard and Direct Connect. If you've changed email addresses (and there are a lot of you), please add your new address to our list by using the link, above.

Thank you.

Emergency Procedure Drills

High school students participated in the first fire drill of the school year this past week. The drills went well and we will continue to both practice and review our fire drill procedures with students during the course of the year.

Over the next few weeks, we will begin to discuss additional emergency procedures with our students. These will include our procedures for both evacuation and lock down drills. Our intention in sharing our procedures is not to increase anxiety about potential risk situations, but rather to reduce the worry that some students may experience. 

Later in the month, we will be conducting simple emergency response drills and we will keep parents informed. Please check my blog often for news.

Fundraising Support for MFE

    

 Please join us for

a wine tasting

event to benefit

Medway Foundation for Education!

Thursday, Oct 3 from 6-8 PM

Pour Richard’s Wine and Spirits

Home of ‘Never Drink Ordinary’

14 Grove Street, Franklin

Tickets are $10, with 100% of ticket sales going to MFE

Please contact Kristen at mjconnors_02053@yahoo.com for tickets

Pour Richard’s will also donate a portion of the evening’s sales.

MFE funds programs in and for the Medway schools which cannot be funded through ordinary budgetary means. MFE board members will be present at this event to talk about the organization’s philosophy and direction.

                                                           

                                               

                                                 

New District Media Policy

Many school events and student accomplishments are publicized through print and electronic media, including local newspapers, local cable television, and the district website. The School District Media Policy (School Committee Policy #88) was approved in 2013.  This policy provides an opportunity for any parent/guardian who does not wish his/her child’s image to be photographed, displayed electronically or in print to opt his/her child out by submitting a letter to the office of the building principal at the beginning of the school year.