On Friday February 3rd, Patriots’ Day at the Andrews, 8th Grade Math Lab students made posters rating NFL teams from 1st to 9th based on data.  The Patriots have been the best team in the NFL from 1999 to 2011 based on number of wins per season.  The posters summarize nine teams’ data with box-and-whisker plots.  The winning poster was made by Kisha Marrero and Courtney Burpee.

Prefer a PDF? Please click here.

Prefer a PDF? Please click here.

Grade 3 MCAS Reading
March 26-27

Grade 5 MCAS Reading
March 22-23

Grade 4 MCAS Reading
March 26-27

Grade 3 MCAS Math
May 14-15

Grade 4 MCAS Math
May 10-11

Grade 5 MCAS Math
May 7-8

Grade 5 MCAS Science
May 16-18

The Medford Community Update will also replay on Channel 15 at the following times: 8am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm, 7pm, and 11pm daily.

On Friday, February 3 Mayor Michael McGlynn signed bond agreements for two important school projects.

The $3.3 million school technology bond was officially signed today. The plan includes new computers for teachers and students and a district-wide wireless network. The technology committee and school staff are currently working on securing vendors and making plans to have the new technology in place by the start of the next school year.

A bond agreement to create an artificial turf field at Hormel Stadium was also signed. Part of the $860,000 project will be funded by a $500,000 grant from the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs thanks to a program for improving open space and recreational facilities in the state. In addition to the new turf field there will be a new scoreboard and the track will be resurfaced.

Medford High School Pool

The Medford High School pool will be re-opened in the near future for our swim team, students, and the community. The Council approved a $2.5 million plan on January 31 that includes the expenditure of $450,000 from insurance money and a $1,925,000 loan order to fix the pool.

We have secured a $10,000 grant from the MA Clean Energy Center to explore the possibility of solar thermal energy at the high school, particularly in use with our new pool.

Mayor McGlynn signs the school technology bond. Pictured, from left: City Councilor Rick Caraviello, Mayor McGlynn, School Committee member Paulette Van der Kloot, School Committee member Robert E. Skerry, Jr., State Representative Paul Donato, School Superintendent Roy Belson, former School Committee member Sharon Guzik, and School Committee member Erin DiBenedetto.

Mayor McGlynn, surrounded by MHS students full of school pride, signs the bond for the Hormel Stadium project.

Click on the link below to view the ELA MCAS schedule for March and April

MCAS ELA Schedule 2012

“Congrats to every player in the program. Winning the GBL and qualifying for the state tourney are the first two goals we have in place for ourselves. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the way these kids conduct themselves every day. They genuinely care about each other and it is a pleasure to be around them. I am very happy for them!” Said Head Coach Steve DeBenedictis.

Both the offense and defense really came together to pull out a decisive win over Somerville. Coach DeBenedictis credited the defense for keeping up the pressure.

“We did a good job playing a smart, solid third period…I thought our Dmen had one of their better games this year. Charlie Chouinard has been very strong lately along with Brian Whooley. I thought Will Brennan made good solid decisions transitioning the puck, and Paul Zizzo had his best game of the year. Kevin Nazzaro also saw important minutes tonight and played well. Those guys get a lot of grief from me, so it was nice to be able to tell them how well they played,” said DeBenedictis.

The game was 2-1 at the end of the first period. Derek Mecrones, assisted by Zizzo and Brett Mecrones, scored an early goal on a breakaway. Jon Nazzaro (Tyler Zizzo, Brett Mecrones) made it 2-0 when Mecrones made a great cross-ice pass to send Nazzaro in alone, who finished with a nice shot short-side.

“Brett made a great play just before his line was coming off the ice. A lot of kids would have dumped the puck in, but he showed nice awareness seeing Jon wide and hit him in stride,” said Coach DeBenedictis.

Somerville managed to squeeze in its lone goal at the very end of the first period. When the Mustangs came into the second period they “did a nice job re-establishing themselves” after Somerville’s goal and didn’t let up. Tyler Zizzo (Brian Enos) made it 3-1 at 4:18 with a shot through a screen after Enos made a nice pass to free him up while DJ Galvin made it 4-1 at 6:33 from the slot after intercepting a pass.

“I was happy to see DJ make a strong play. He has so much talent and I’ve been on him pretty good lately, so it was nice to see him respond,” said DeBenedictis.

Nazzaro (Jake Porrazzo, Chouinard) completed the scoring on a power play goal at 13:05.

It was a “bit of a quiet night” in goal for Jimmy Cecchini, who “continues to be solid” while only allowing just over two goals per game, said Coach DeBenedictis.

Medford hosts Everett at 5PM on Saturday and is on the road against Arlington on Monday.

Congratulations to Medford High School senior basketball captain Tania Holmes for becoming just the sixth person in Mustang history to earn over 1,000 career points.

Holmes surpassed the 1,000 mark in her team’s 49-32 home victory over Georgetown on Wednesday night. Holmes, who had seventeen to go to reach the elite mark before the game, scored nineteen points in Medford’s win.

“She makes everyone around her better…Aside from being a great player, Tania is a super kid,” Athletic Director Bob Maloney told Boston.com.

The last Mustang basketball player to join the 1,000 point club was star player Andrew White in 2010. Holmes joins three other Lady Mustangs who reached the milestone: Kristin McCormick (1995), Alyssa Sluz (1993), and Denise Pachan (1994). Male player Jean Bain also made the career accomplishment in 1995 along with McCormick.

Prefer a PDF? Please click here.

Prefer a PDF? Please click here.

Nutrition Nuggets is a healthy eating and fitness newsletter for kids from our school nurses. Click on the links below for the latest news.

• Nutrition Nuggets March 2012
• Nutrition Nuggets February 2012
• Nutrition Nuggets January 2012
• Nutrition Nuggets December 2011

The students will rehearse and perform under a guest conductor at the Massachusetts Music Educators Association Festival Concert at Lowell High School on March 17.

Fewer than half of the nearly 1,000 students from the region who auditioned were accepted to participate in this prestigious event.

Prefer a PDF? Please click here.

Open 10:30AM – 1:00PM

Takeout available, please call before 10:30AM 781-391-1182

Fresh Salads

House salad $1.75
Large house salad $2.50
Caesar Salad $2.25
Large Caesar $3.25
(Bleu cheese, ranch, raspberry vinaigrette, thousand islands)
Grilled chicken add $1.50

Soup du Jour $1.50

Turkey rice soup with tomatoes

Entrées

Roberto’s Homemade Lasagna $5.50
Meat sauce and garlic bread

The Harvest Salad $5.00
Contains apples, walnuts, apricots, Craisins, feta cheese, and creamy Italian dressing

Dessert

Kugelhopf w/vanilla ice cream and fruit sauce

Beverages

Coffee, tea, milk $1.25

Medford Vocational High School
489 Winthrop Street
Medford, MA 02155
781-391-1182

The Board of Health advises that the consumption of raw or undercooked eggs or meats may be harmful

Senior forward Larry Keating led his team with sixteen points.

Congratulations to the boys and girls basketball teams for defeating Somerville.

Senior Tania Holmes led the Lady Mustangs with a whopping thirty points in their 58-42 victory. Holmes is just seventeen points shy of a career 1,000 points. The Lady Mustangs are home against Georgetown tonight (Wednesday night) at 7pm.

After Somerville racked up a double-digit lead early on the Mustang boys varsity basketball fought back to edge the Highlanders 55-53 Tuesday night.

Somerville led the Mustangs at the end of every quarter except for the final one. Medford was up 53-50 with just about a half minute to go in the game thanks to Jon Pires hitting two huge free throws. However, Somerville’s Kevin Silva hit a big three pointer to tie up the game. Sean Doncaster then took a shot with six seconds left on an isolation play. He missed it but junior center James Hawkins came up with a tip in at the buzzer to win it for Medford, said Coach Faradie.

Senior forward Larry Keating led his team with sixteen points while Doncaster added thirteen and Pires contributed nine. Anthony Tortora “gave big minutes off the bench” with seven points.

“Great win, we got key stops down the end. We were aggressive going to the basket and got to the free throw line,” said Head Coach Anthony Faradie.

Next up for the Mustangs is a trip to Everett on Tuesday. The team is home against Pope John on Friday, February 10.

The School Committee will meet as a Committee of the Whole to review Goals and Objectives for their two-year term.

As part of the festivities we are planning to offer both a bake sale table and a “cake walk!” Remember musical chairs from when you were a kid? It’s like that but the winner gets cake or other delectable baked good prizes!

We need volunteers to help us out by providing some delicious treats for our cake walk and bake sale. Do you make a mean apple pie? Does your pumpkin bread make grown men cry? Or can you add eggs and oil to a box of brownie mix? Then you are just the person we need! If you can provide a treat for our ice cream social please contact Friends Board member Amanda Dameron at amanda@amandadameron.com.

For more information please see www.medfordfamilies.org.

Trouble viewing the above flier? Download flier as PDF.

Domenic won an iPod Shuffle and Steve and Gaby won Bose Triport IE headphones.

Aeropostale Annual Teens for Jeans drive.

This drive asks students to donate old jeans to Aeropostale for distribution to homeless teens around the country.

The school that donates the most jeans will win $5,000 and a free pair of Aeropostale jeans for each student.

The deadline for donating jeans in February 12, and the winning school will be announce on February 16.

Dear Families and Friends of the Medford Family Network (MFN),

Here is your weekly list of events for the week beginning February 3. We still have openings for all of our Parent Education Workshops. Registration is required and limited child care is available. Please see the Parent Education programs below for more information!

If you have any other upcoming family events you would like us to consider that begin the week of Friday, February 10, please let us know by 5 o’clock on Wednesday, February 8. We are looking for events that are low cost or free, and local.

Sincerely,
Marie Cassidy
Family Support Coordinator

Valentine FUN’raiser!

Saturday, February 11, 2012
1:00 – 3:00 pm
McGlynn Middle School

Ice Cream Social Valentine FUN’raiser to support the Medford Family Network!
$5/person or $20/family
Get tickets at the door or online at www.medfordfamilies.org where you can also become a Friends of the MFN member.

* Ice cream, frozen custard and sorbet by Chilly Cow!
* Cookie decorating by Whole Foods Market!
* Coffee donated by Mystic Coffee Roasters!

Karen K & the Jitterbugs Performance!
Spotlight Productions – school-based dramatic program!
African Dance with Alice Heller!
Valentine Making and Face Painting!
Games and baked goods!

Drop-in Playtime Schedule at the Family Center

Parents, Caregivers, Guardians are welcome!

February 2012

Monday
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm (closed 2/21)
Tuesday
No Drop-ins (see below for 2/22)
Wednesday
9:00 am – 5:00 pm (2/1 only)
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm (see below for 2/23)
Thursday
9:00 am – 5:00 pm (2/2 only)
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm (see below for 2/24)
Friday
9:00 am – 5:00 pm (2/3 only)
11:30 am – 5:00 pm (see below for 2/25)

February Vacation

Monday, February 21
Closed
Tuesday, February 22
9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Wednesday, February 23
9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Thursday, February 24
9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Friday, February 25
9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Drop-in playtime at the Family Center is a wonderful opportunity to play and interact with your child. Come down and enjoy the company of other families with young children while playing in our large playroom. Books, puzzles, toys, blocks, and more await you and your child!

Every family is expected to clean up and put away what they used before they leave. Make it a game for the children. They love special jobs! You are welcome to take a book from the “Clean Up Kids” crate before you leave.

MFN Family Center, 489 Winthrop Street, Medford, MA 02155. Contact us at (781) 393-2106 with any questions!

Super Saturdays in January at the Medford Family Network

Play with a Purpose with Bernadette!
(for ages 3 to 6)
Facilitated by Bernadette Kennedy

5 Saturdays;
February 4, 18; March 3, 17, 31
9:30 – 11:30 am

Join Bernadette for a hands-on parent/child interactive Play and Learn playgroup that includes stories, fun, free play, circle time, music, gross motor play, and more! Each week, we will offer a new set of learning experiences and literacy-based activities for children who are able to be part of and interact with the group for at least 15 minutes during circle time. Sign up for as many Saturdays as you can attend.

Registration is required! Please call the Medford Family Network at (781) 393-2106 to register and for transportation options.

Parent Engagement Opportunities!

Looking for any easy way to volunteer?
Be a sweetheart and cook up a treat for our Cake Walk at the Valentine FUN’raiser on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Please call the Friends of the MFN’s President, Debbie Steiner-Hayes at (781) 395-8624 or via email at debbie@medfordfamilies.org

The Friends of the MFN are looking for a few good men and women to serve on the Board for 2012-13.
Do you love the Medford Family Network? Are you full of good ideas and enthusiasm? Do you have marketing, sales, accounting, writing, graphic arts, or administrative skills? Then, we want you! Don’t have those skills, but have the desire to give back and community spirit, then we absolutely want you, too!

MFN is looking for a few sweethearts to join us and visit our Legislators!
State House Advocacy Day for Early Education & Care and School-Age Programs on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at the Great Hall, State House, Boston. Please call the MFN at (781) 393-2106 for more information.

Want to get involved with the Medford Farmers’ Market?
We are actively searching for members to strengthen the 2012 market season. Some examples of the work we do includes working with partnerships and sponsors, fundraising, marketing, special events, coordinating performers, social media, coordinating volunteers, EBT transactions, educational programming, sustainability, coordinating with vendors, accounting, and community outreach. Please send letter of interest to medfordfarmersmarket@gmail.com

Upcoming Parenting Education Programs!

Registration Required! Limited Child Care Available!
Please Call (781) 393-2106 to register and for transportation options
All programs at the MFN Family Center

Turning Stress into Strength!
Facilitated by Judy Scribner-Moore
7 Wednesday’s:
February 1, 8, 15, 29; March 7, 14, 28
10:00 – 11:30 am
MFN Family Center

In this program, we will identify and discuss major stressors in our parenting lives. When we respond quickly and skillfully to stresses that arise in our busy, complicated lives, we diminish the negative effects of stress on mind, body and emotions. In this way, we model for our children resourcefulness, cooperation and resilience. Selected readings from parenting literature.

Registration is required! Limited child care available! Please call the Medford Family Network at (781) 393-2106 to register and for transportation options.

Parenting with Style
Facilitated by Debbie Weinstock-Savoy

5 Tuesday’s:
February 7, 14, 21, 28; March 6
12:30 – 2:00 pm
MFN Family Center

This program is a study of different qualities that make up an individual’s type and temperament, affording us a window into the triggers and motivators that make each of us “tick”. How do you view the world? Interpret information? Relate to others? Communication, parenting, giving and receiving love, self-esteem, the development of values, and how learning occurs are all shaped by these qualities. Learn about your “style”. Includes handouts created for this program.

Registration is required! Limited child care available! Please call the Medford Family Network at (781) 393-2106 to register and for transportation options.

How to Talk So Kids will Listen…and Listen so Kids will Talk
Facilitated by Valerie DeGeorge

5 Tuesday’s:
February 7, 14, 21, 28; March 6
7:00 – 8:30 pm
MFN Family Center

Principles and skills promoted in this workshop offer a consistent and positive approach for you to consider as you develop effective communication skills with your children. Our goal in this series is to explore and discuss ways that result in confident, cooperative, and responsible parent/child interactions.

Registration is required! Limited child care available! Please call the Medford Family Network at (781) 393-2106 to register and for transportation options.

Mad…Sad…Glad
Facilitated by Debbie Weinstock-Savoy

3 Wednesday’s:
February 29; March 7, 14
3:00 – 4:30 pm
MFN Family Center

Join us for a round table discussion focusing on children’s feelings and how they affect their behavior: anger, frustration, temper tantrums and meltdowns, confidence, sadness, fears, worries, and happiness.

Registration is required! Limited child care available! Please call the Medford Family Network at (781) 393-2106 to register and for transportation options.

STEP/Tween Program
Facilitated by Howard Wolfe, LMFT

7 Wednesday’s:
February 29; March 7, 14, 21, 28; April 4, 11
7:00 – 8:30 pm
MFN Family Center

Parenting middle school-aged youth is one of the most challenging tasks today. Join this series of discussions about healthy adolescent development and building resistance to harmful activities. We will focus on understanding yourself and your tween, communicating respect and encouragement, promoting social and emotional well-being, changing your response to your tween, encouraging cooperation, solving problems, using consequences to build responsibility and deciding what to do. Ideally, participants will need to attend all sessions.

Registration is required! Limited child care available! Please call the Medford Family Network at (781) 393-2106 to register and for transportation options.

Family Support Programs

Help Me Grow Program
Presented by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care

Do you have questions or concerns about how your child is developing? Do you wonder if there are ways you can help your child learn the best s/he can? The Medford Family Network offers FREE developmental screenings to children between 1 month and 5 years old. We will work with you to determine if your child is learning and gaining skills well; share ideas to help you be your child’s first teacher; and connect you with programs and resources if your child needs extra help. Call today (781) 393-2106!

Attention:

Seeking “Parent Cafe” Attendees!

MFN is seeking between 25 and 30 parents to attend this conversation to help us answer questions that focus on co-parenting. Our goal is to develop resources and/or programs that address the needs that result from this Cafe with a focus on co-parenting and the father (and those in a fathering role). For more information and to register, please call the MFN at (781) 393-2106 or via email at mcassidy@medford.k12.ma.us.

Dinner and child care included!

Community Resources

McGlynn Preschool Opening
Mon/Tue/Thr/Fri, 8:30 am – 2:30 pm (Wed, 8:30 am – 1:30 pm)
McGlynn Elementary School
Medford, MA
For more information, call Shelley Gross (781) 393-2211

FREE Public Skating (FREE)
LoConte Rink ($5.00 skate rental)
97 Locust Street
Medford, MA
www.medfordpublicschools.org

Kids Night! All Ages! (Kids Activities are FREE)
Every Tuesday in Medford (5 pm to 8 pm; January 10 to May 8 )
Kelly’s Roast Beef
Medford, MA
www.kellysroastbeef.com

Karen K & the Jitterbugs Concert (FREE)
Saturday, February 4 (4:00 pm to 5:00 pm)
Chenery Middle School
Belmont, MA
www.jitterbugsnyc.com

Kids Hands-on Workshops for Ages 5 to 12! (FREE)
Saturday, February 4, 2012 (9:00 am to 12:00 pm)
The Home Depot
Everett, MA
www.homeimproverclub.com

Crafts for Kids! Ages 3 and Up (FREE)
Every Saturday (11 am to 3 pm)
Lakeshore Learning Center
Saugus, MA
www.lakeshorelearning.com

The Mustangs are on the road against Lynnfield (January 31) and Somerville (February 7). They close the season at home on February 9 against Acton-Boxborough at 5pm at LoConte Rink.

Team members include:

Josh Nelson, 10, Goalie
AJ Ansaldi, 10, Goalie
Sean Allen, 10 Forward
Zack Gendreau, 10, Forward
Justin McDonald, 9, Forward
Ross Watson, 10, Forward
Brendan Hussey, 9, Forward
Mike Baruffaldi, 9, Forward
Joe Vienneau, 9, Defense/ Forward
Michael Cecchini, 9, Defense
Andrew Modugno, 10, Forward/Defense
Nick Ulanday, 9, Forward
Aiden McGoff, 9, Forward
Matt MacDonald, 10, Forward
Cam Riley, 10, Defense
Ryan O’Keefe, 9, Defense
Paul Howard, 10, Forward
Brendan Lauretti, 11, Goalie
Kevin Nazzaro, 11, Defense
Tommy Calautii, 11, Defense
Andrew Cronin, 9, Forward
Connor Lonergan, 10, Goalie

Sophomore forward Zack Gendreau

Sophomore goalie Josh Nelson

Sophomore forward Paul Howard

Sophomore goalie AJ Ansaldi

Freshman forward Justin McDonald