Milton Public Schools
Frequently Asked Questions - Parents/Guardians Updated: April 21, 2020 | |
Due to the State wide school closure, The Milton Public Schools is currently closed through the academic school year. The information detailed in this document is intended to provide guidance for this period. It is important to note that this is a fluid situation and so this document will be regularly updated and modified and it is recommended that you revisit frequently for the latest updates and information. | |
Click on the link below for the questions specific to: Activities, Events, and Athletics |
Frequently Asked Questions | |
Q. | Are the days during the school closure counted as “school days?” |
A. | No. These days are not considered school days. |
Q. | |
A. | The MPS Remote Learning Plan, updated March 31,2020, can be found here. Please also see this letter to families from Jeffrey C. Riley Commissioner of Education. |
A. | Elementary: All students have access to the PreK-5 At-Home Learning Opportunities that is linked on each school’s website as well as shared in numerous communications from teachers and building principals. It is linked here for your convenience. All teachers, curriculum coordinators, and administrators have been adding to this calendar and each time you click the link, you will be receiving the most up-to-date learning opportunities for your child. There are so many resources out there for families but the calendar represents learning opportunities that have been vetted by coordinators and teachers and deemed to be appropriate and relevant for your child. Please remember that if you click a Google Doc embedded link, you should do the following:
If you have any questions regarding At-Home Learning Opportunities at the elementary level, don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher, Assistant Principal/Curriculum Coordinator, or Building Principal. If a student is having trouble logging into Clever or Google, please contact the following individuals: Clever login instructions (sign in with Google → contact the classroom teacher) Google Classroom/Drive - please email the student’s teacher for username and password PlusPortal (family members)- Jen Van Hill |
A. | Pierce: Students are expected to check their Gmail, PlusPortal page, and if applicable Google Classroom several times per day. Teachers will do their best to post meaningful learning opportunities for students by the start of school each day. The assignments teachers create could take more than one day to complete. If this is the case, teachers will not need to post additional material until the due date. Teachers will provide feedback and assess all assignments (completion, pass/fail, check, check plus…). Depending on the class, the assignments may vary in the amount, length and expectation. We ask for your patience and understanding as we continue to provide your students with learning opportunities with the goal of keeping them academically connected. All questions regarding learning opportunities should be directed to the classroom teacher. If a student needs to reset their PlusPortal or Google account password please contact Jess Royster, Pierce Librarian. |
A. | MHS: Students are expected to check their Gmail, PlusPortal page, and if applicable Google Classroom several times per day. Teachers will do their best to post meaningful learning opportunities for students every other day. The assignments teachers create could take more than one day to complete. If this is the case, teachers will not need to post additional material until the due date. Teachers will provide feedback and grade all assignments (pass/fail, check, check plus…). Depending on the class and class level, the assignments may vary in the amount, length and expectation. We ask for your patience and understanding as we continue to provide your students with learning opportunities with the goal of keeping them academically connected. All questions regarding learning opportunities should be directed to the classroom teacher. If a student needs to reset their PlusPortal or Google account password please contact JT, MHS Librarian. |
Q. | Given a school closure, what happens with the MCAS test for students? |
A. | At this time we will not be in school during the beginning of the previously scheduled MCAS window. We expect to hear more from DESE in the near future on this topic and we will keep you updated. |
Frequently Asked Questions | |
Q. | My child is on an IEP or 504 Plan, and I am concerned about the implications of the closure on my child’s educational progress. |
A. | Upon the conclusion of the closure, and the re-opening of the district, IEP teams will be available to convene to determine what type of impact, if any, the closure had on your child’s educational progress, and make individualized team based decisions as needed. Staff will work with families to collect information on skills, any areas of potential regression, and Teams will use information to determine action steps. |
Q. | My child is on an IEP and receives “services only” (i.e. speech/Language counseling etc.). Will my child receive these services during the closure? |
A. | Staff will provide at home learning opportunities activities and will be resources to families on how to determine what kind of activities to try at home. All special education staff, including related providers, will be generating meaningful activities that align with IEP areas of need for all students. |
Q | How are you supporting English Language Learners? |
A | English Language Learners who attend the Pierce Middle School and Milton High School will receive communications regarding home learning opportunities from their teachers. Elementary English Language Learners can access home learning opportunities via the K-5 At Home Learning website. There is an ELL tab as well as the general elementary learning calendar. |
Q | Will my child’s special education liaison, related service provider, and Director of Special Education be available if I have a question during this three week closure? |
A. | Yes, special education teachers, related services providers, and the Director of Special Education will be available to assist with specific questions as needed. You can expect a “check in” from your child’s liaison, in the form of a phone call or email during this time as well. You can reach the director at any time via email: smaselli@miltonps.org |
Q. | I have made a request for an Initial Evaluation on or after March 16th. What should I expect? |
A. | Any timelines associated with an initial evaluation request received on March 16th or during the school closure, will be processed under the federal regulation timelines. Testing can resume when school reopens. For further information please review Procedural Safeguards http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/prb/ |
Q. | I am looking for general tips on how to support my child during this closure. |
A. | Special Education staff district wide will be consistently available to support student engagement. Parents are encouraged to reach out to their child’s educational Liaison or team chairperson for any question or concern. Staff will be providing parents with activities and ideas throughout the school closure. |
Frequently Asked Questions Activities, Events, and Athletics | |
Q. | Are there any athletic, club, or activity events happening during this period of closure? |
A. | No. All school-related events are canceled during this period. |
Q. | Are Spring Sports delayed? |
A. | The MIAA Board of Directors decided to delay the start of the 2020 spring season to April 27, 2020. |
Frequently Asked Questions | |
Q. | Should everyone be practicing social distancing? |
A. | Yes. We implore you to take “Social Distancing” as seriously as the experts tell us we should. This school closure is not a vacation. It is an extreme measure to allow for social distancing so the virus is not spread. Not being exposed to the virus is the best way not to get sick. Families should be in their home or yard, with only the immediate family with whom they live. Take a walk, hike or bike ride – with your immediate family only – and stay more than 6 feet away from anyone you see. Per Governor Baker, people should take only necessary trips to stores and workplaces when needed. Your children, our students, should not be socializing with anyone outside of their immediate family during this school closure. Continue best hygiene practices throughout this time. These actions are our best chance to slow the spread of this virus and not further overwhelm the medical system. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education writes: During this period, it is critical that students and their families, as well as school staff, stay home as much as possible. If you leave your home, it is essential to strictly follow social distancing guidelines by avoiding crowds, canceling social gatherings, and maintaining a safe separation of at least 6 feet from others. Restricting access to school buildings will have little impact on public health if these best practices are not followed in good faith. |
Q. | Can you share some contacts I might need? |
A. | Mary Gormley, Superintendent of Schools, mgormley@miltonps.org MHS Principal James Jette jjette@miltonps.org PMS Principal Bill Fish wfish@miltonps.org Glover Principal Karen McDavitt kmcdavitt@miltonps.org Cunningham Principal Jon Redden jredden@miltonps.org Tucker Principal Elaine McNeil-Girmai emcneilgirmai@miltonps.org Collicot Principal Holly Concannon hconannon@miltonps.org Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Special Education smaselli@miltonps.org Director of Food Service Jackie Morgan jmorgan@miltonps.org Family Outreach Liaison Marti O’Keefe McKenna mmckenna@miltonps.org |
Q. | How will April Vacation and other “no school” days work? |
A. | The MPS school calendar remains the same as if school were in session, with No School/No Remote Learning on Good Friday (April 10th) and April vacation (April 20-24). In addition, we contacted Rabbi Alfred Benjamin and he confirmed that Passover Observance is from sundown April 8th – sundown on April 16th. In honor and recognition of the Biblical Festival of Passover, the Jewish holiday that commemorates freedom from slavery in Egypt, Milton Public Schools will consider it an excused absence for those who, in their observance of the holiday, do not log in to on-line classes on April 8, 15 and 16. |
Q. | What if I don’t have a device at home for my child to use during the closing? |
A. | If you do not have a device, please email your child’s principal. |
Q. | What if I don’t have internet service? |
Students who do not have access to the internet at home can access free wifi at the following public locations:
Also, as the country deals with the effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Comcast is taking immediate steps to help connect more low-income families to the Internet at home. Effective Monday, March 16, 2020, new Internet Essentials customers will receive two free months of Internet service. All details on Internet Essentials can be found here. | |
Q. | What if I am having issues with my school issued technology? |
A. | Please email helpdesk@miltonps.org about any issues you are having with your school issued technology. |
Q. | Can I reach the Adjustment Counselor at my child’s school? |
A. | The school adjustment counselors have created different ways to continue to support students through this difficult time. They are sharing resources on a regular basis with each school community and the counselors will be available for brief conference calls with students. If your student would like to set up an appointment, you can email their counselor and a meeting time will be scheduled. Please remember that we are here to support you, however, school adjustment counselors are a secondary support to what your child receives from their primary mental health provider. Please contact your outside provider or emergency services if your child is in crisis. Your MPS school Adjustment Counselors are here for you and your family. Jennie Beliveau, Mary Bianca Mattocks, Kenneth Adelmann (Milton High School); Myriam Francoeur, Kara Sheridan, Kelly Dearing (Pierce) Jaclyn Germano (Cunningham); Elizabeth Caruso (Collicot) ; Ramsay Cadet (Tucker) Brian Powers Christine Howley (Glover) |
Q. | What is the last day of school? |
A. | The last day of school for the Milton Public Schools will be June 23, 2020. |
Q. | Currently the schools are closed through May 4, 2020. Will this be extended? How will we be notified? |
A. | Milton Public Schools will continue to monitor this fluid situation and will make determinations in the best interest of the students and staff. Information will continue to be provided via the Superintendent’s blog, your principal, our website, through email, and on all major news outlets. |
Q. | Will there be public access to any school buildings during the school closure? |
A. | Our buildings are closed to the public. However, Central Office at MHS is open with limited and safe distance staffing to continue the business of running our schools. You can reach Central Office and Superintendent Mary Gormley at 617-696-4808. |
Q. | Are the buildings being deep cleaned? |
A. | Our custodians are working until each school has been deep cleaned. We currently have a district wide team, moving to each of the other schools to deep clean the buildings. |
Q. | Will food services be available for food insecure students? |
A. | Every Wednesday families can pick up 7 days of breakfasts and lunches at one time. Pick up times are 8-9am and 5-6pm at both the Tucker School (behind the school) and Milton High School (on the Canton Ave side of the building). These free 7 day to-go bags will contain low sugar cereal, shelf stable milk, sunbutter and jelly sandwiches, grilled cheese sandwiches, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, and snack bags. ANY Milton family is welcome to pick up a weekly to-go bag - every Wednesday - as the goal is to support any food insecure student. This service will be available throughout the school closure. If you have a hardship and are in need of more convenient hours for pick up, please contact Food Service Director Jackie Morgan via email at jmorgan@miltonps.org or phone at 617-898-1051 |
Q. | Can we use the MPS school playground structures during the school closure? |
A. | No. In keeping with the order from Milton Parks and Recreation, all Milton Public Schools playground structures are closed during the school closure. |