DA Early Gives Funding to Murdock High School for Safe Celebration

WINCHENDON - Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. awarded Murdock High School with a grant to support fun and safe activities for students.

This year, Mr. Early's office awarded 16 different schools across Worcester County nearly $20,000 in grants to support programming that helps keep students from drinking and driving after celebratory events like prom and graduation.

"Students have been dealing with a lot in the last year with the Covid-19 pandemic causing them to miss out on time in school, playing sports and enjoying social activities with friends and family," Mr. Early said. "I am particularly proud this year to be able to help provide these kids with the fun celebrations they deserve to end the school year safely."

Mr. Early and his Community Outreach Team also offer presentations for teens to promote safety, including on the topics of the dangers of mixing drugs and alcohol, social host liability awareness for parents, and distracted driving.

"The hardest part of our job is talking to people in pain. Life can change in the blink of an eye. These programs that our community partners have created help to keep kids safe from unnecessary tragedies caused by combining these celebrations with drinking and driving," Mr. Early said.

The funding for these grants Mr. Early is providing to high schools across the county is made possible through the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance Drunk Driving Trust Fund, which is a state grant that provides support services and advocacy to victims, witnesses, and their family members of drunk and drugged driving crashes.

DESE Doing Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Winchendon Public Schools.

During the week of May 23, 2021, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Winchendon Public Schools. The Office of Public School Monitoring conducts a review in each district and charter school every three years to monitor compliance with federal and state special education and civil rights regulations. Areas of review related to special education include student assessments, determination of eligibility, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team process, and IEP development and implementation. Areas of review related to civil rights include bullying, student discipline, physical restraint, and equal access to school programs for all students.

In addition to the onsite visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The review chairperson from the Office of Public School Monitoring will send all parents of students with disabilities an online survey that focuses on key areas of their child's special education program. Survey results will contribute to the development of a report. During the onsite review, the Office of Public School Monitoring will interview the chairperson(s) of the district's Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Other onsite activities may include interviews of district staff and administrators, reviews of student records, and onsite observations.

Parents and other individuals may call Michael McDonald, Public School Monitoring Chairperson, at (781) 338-3746 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.

Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the district with a report with information about areas in which the district meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the district requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The public will be able to access the report at www.doe.mass.edu/psm/.

Winchendon Public Schools
Suzanne Michel, Director of Pupil Services

Preschool Screening in June

Winchendon Public Schools Preschool Screening will take place on June 9 & 10, 2021. Children must be age 3 or 4 by August 31, 2021 to be eligible. Screening looks at a child's development in the areas of language, fine and gross motor skills, cognition and social emotional skills.

If you have any concerns about your child, suspect your child may have a disability, or if you did not receive an information packet by mail please call the Winchendon Pre-K Program 978-297-3436 or email kbrooks@winchendonk12.org.