Winchendon Weekly News school newsletter - Wednesday, April 5

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Murdock Sports Boosters Need You!

Anyone interested in participating in the Murdock Sports Booster Club is invited to attend a meeting in the Murdock cafeteria on Wednesday April 12, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. This meeting will determine whether or not we are able to keep the organization going. The Boosters do a lot for our athletes, and we are hoping to keep it going for the sake of the kids. Thank you for your support! At Murdock HS, 3 Memorial Dr., Winchendon.

WPS March Staff Spotlight

Public Higher Education Student Behavioral and Mental Health Grant Helps MWCC Promote Healthy Behaviors for Students

Gardner, MA - April 6, 2023 - Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) has received a Public Higher Education Student Behavioral and Mental Health Grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The goal of grant funds is to address the increased need for behavioral health services resulting from the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Throughout the past year, MWCC has been able to expand its mental health support and counseling services through Christie Campus Health, providing each student with free counseling services, as well as prescriber services from a nurse practitioner. Access to these services on campus has helped to reduce waiting time for students who are seeking mental health services. Funds are also being used for the train-the-trainer framework in suicide prevention for two students, who will then be able to train their peers. Faculty members will receive behavioral and threat assessment training.

In support of the development of healthy behaviors around nutrition and physical fitness, the grant enables MWCC to offer benefits including healthy food choice discount cards when students choose healthy meals at the campus café and semester passes for students to use at Mount Fitness. In addition to the fitness passes, seven stationary bikes will be placed in various areas on campus to promote movement.

The College has also developed Wellness Wednesdays to encourage self-care, including Reiki and chair massage on campus, and a meditation and wellness room with yoga supplies, lounge chairs, light screens, and adult coloring books.

On April 26, MWCC will host Kevin Hines, a national suicide prevention speaker, and later in the year, Wes Woodson, a mental health speaker, on campus to address students, faculty, staff, and community members. Hines personal story includes his own suicide attempt in 2000 by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. After his remarkable survival, he has dedicated his life to sharing his story and teaching people the importance of wellness. This speaking event will be held April 26 from 1:00 to 3:30 pm at the Gardner Campus in the South Café. The public are welcome to attend.

If you would like to learn more about the mental health services being offered on campus, please visit bewellthemount.com or call 833-434-1217 for more information.

Healey-Driscoll Administration Invests More Than $570K in School Safety

Grants Awarded to 14 School Districts for Threat Assessment and Intervention Efforts

BOSTON - The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced the award of more than $570,000 to 14 Massachusetts school districts to bolster school safety and enhance violence prevention efforts. The federal funding supports the development and operation of school threat assessments and crisis intervention teams.

The Student, Teachers and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Grant Program is funded through the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance. The grant is managed and administered in Massachusetts by the Office of Grants and Research (OGR), a state agency that is part of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. Every agency that applied for a grant received funding. In total, $570,465 in grant funds were awarded to school districts, charter schools and educational collaboratives.

"Massachusetts remains deeply committed to working with our partners across state and local agencies to ensure our schools offer a safe and healthy learning environment for our children and educators. These grants will provide the resources that school officials need to enhance safety and mitigate potential threats," said Governor Maura Healey.

"These grants underscore our dedication to providing students with a safe setting to learn and grow that is free from fear and anxiety. The STOP School Violence grants help school officials to develop a violence prevention program designed to detect vulnerabilities and act before a tragedy occurs," said Lt. Governor Kimberley Driscoll.

Grant recipients will use their awards to conduct threat assessments and deploy crisis intervention teams. Both tactics within their larger safety strategy will strive to identify threats before they materialize, which may include threats from individuals with mental health issues, and to train students, school personnel, and local first responders to become partners in preventing school violence.

"Preventative security measures, including risk prediction and intervention strategies, are fundamental to keeping schools safe and protecting students and educators from harm. The STOP School Violence Grant Program is part of the Commonwealth's comprehensive approach to school safety that allows our youth to thrive while providing our Massachusetts families with peace of mind," said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Terrence Reidy.

"We're best able to ensure safe schools through partnerships between schools, first responders, and other stakeholders. I'm proud of my team for their work helping create and strengthen these vital partnerships. These grants are just one of the initiatives led by the Office of Grants and Research that support the safety of our youth and communities," said OGR Executive Director Kevin Stanton.

The following school districts received STOP School Violence grants:

Central Mass. Collaborative -- $24,985
CREST Collaborative -- $25,000
Gill Montague Regional School District--$19,980
Hampden Wilbraham Regional School District--$60,000
Haverhill Public Schools--$60,000
Hull Public Schools--$19,500
King Philip School District--$55,300
Montachusett Regional Technical High School--$34,200
Newburyport Public Schools--$26,500
Peabody Veterans Memorial High School--$60,000
Quabbin Regional School District--$60,000
Salem Academy Charter School--$25,000
Salem Public Schools--$40,000
Woburn Public Schools--$60,000

Open Kindergarten Registration Starting March 1

Dear Parents:

If you have a child that will be eligible for the 2023-2024 Kindergarten school year, you will need to fill out the registration forms that can be found on our website at www.winchendonk12.ore/o/mes. They are located under the Menu dropdown, Kindergarten Registration. You can download and fill in the forms. Hard copies are also available at Memorial School. Once completed, you will need to return them to Memorial School along with the items listed below. You can do this any number of ways:

1. Fax: 978-297-3944
2. Email: mmacewen@winchendonk12.org
3. Mail: Memorial School, 32 Elmwood Road, Winchendon, MA 01475
4. Drop off: In person between the hours of 10 AM - 2 PM

No child will be admitted to Kindergarten without having met the eligibility requirements listed below.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

1. If your child is five (5) years of age by August 31, 2018 (of the forthcoming year), he/she is eligible.
2. "BIRTH CERTIFICATE"- Original must be brought with you.
3. PROOF OF RESIDENCY- Current utility bill, or copy oflease.
4. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION INCLUDING VISION AND HEARING SCREENING BY YOUR PHYSICIAN MUST BE DATED AFTER AUGUST 31, 2022.
5. IMMUNIZATIONS - VERIFICATION WILL NEED TO BE PROVIDED BY THE END
OF AUGUST. This must include lead screen results. Click here to view and download a list of needed vaccinations.

Each child MUST have a physical examination completed by your physician. A signed printout from your child's doctor's office listing all the required information is also acceptable. Students cannot start school without a completed physical. We recommend calling your physician today to schedule an appointment as it sometimes takes several months to get one.

All completed immunization/examination forms need to be in the School Nurse's Office by Friday, August 25th before your child will be permitted to start school. These forms can be faxed by your doctor to the school at 978-297-3944.

Kindergarten Screening will be conducted, as required by State and Federal school laws. Screenings will be Wednesday, May 31; Thursday, June 1, and Friday, June 2. You will receive a letter with a sign up link for a screening appointment after you have registered.

We share the excitement of your child entering Kindergarten and look forward to both of you being a part of the Winchendon Public Schools. Please be aware that screenings will take place at Memorial School but your child will be attending Kindergarten at Toy Town School due to the school econfiguration. We are excited to have you be a part of the first year of our Pre-Kindergarten/Kindergarten building. Please feel free to call the school at (978) 297-1305, with any questions or concerns you may have.