Sweet Treats for the MUrSD
While we have lots of festive activities mixed into our days this week, please keep in mind that this time of year can also be very difficult for some who have lost love ones or struggle with changes in schedules/routines, or are coping with additional stress that can come on this time of year. Thank you to those of you who have stepped forward to help out many of our families in need during this season.
This time of year can also bring a little bit of sweetness for some and for others it can spur on a season of giving and gratitude. As a thank you to all of you in the MURSD, please be on the look out for hot chocolate and treats in each of your buildings today! I'm hoping the sweet treats will keep you going to finish out the end of 2023. If I don't have an opportunity to see you in my travels to the buildings this week, please have a fantastic break! ~Maureen Things to look forward to in 2024 - The wizards!
Save the date of January 27th--the Harlem Wizards are coming to town and will be playing against the MURSD Dream Team. MUEF is looking for players from all of the schools to participate in this fundraiser, which brings funds directly back to all of you through classroom grants. Please sign up here. MUEF would like as many teachers/staff involved as possible.
Instructional Partners meet today
Our district's Instructional Partners will meet today in the CO Conference room from 3:45-5:00 today to share ideas and get ready for Learning Walks in 2024. This is an optional meeting, but we'll look forward to seeing those who can make it. Our next meeting is January 8th at the same time and we hope to have a full house to go over our plan for learning walks.
Mentors and New Educators together on Jan. 9th
Just a heads up to mentors and new educators that we will all be meeting after the new year, on January 9th. This meeting will be a joint meeting that we look forward to each year, as we so infrequently are able to bring everyone in our mentor/mentee community together. Let Andrea of Cheryl know if you have any questions.
Focus on Us - Relaxing with a Good Book
We have a tradition in my house that everyone gets a new book during the winter break. It has created some magical moments in our home where amidst the chaos that can come with the season our home becomes temporarily quiet as everyone finds their own favorite spot, and immerses themselves in a new story or message. Sometimes the hardest part is choosing one, though. This is why I keep a list at the ready that resides on my phone. At our March PD day last year, we asked all of you what books you loved and created a book board out of your suggestions. As a way of focusing on us, I'm re-sharing the staff-picks book list and inviting all of you to add any new titles you'd like to recommend to your friends and colleagues. Also, if you are interested in being a part of our 23-24 Book Study of Unlocking English Learner's Potential: Strategies for Making Content Accessible, please sign up here and reach out to Kim Lowther so she can get you the book before the break. Wishing you all a restful and read-ful winter break!!
District PD Committee meeting in January
The district PD Committee will be meeting right when we get back from break on January 3, 2024! We'll review feedback collected in December, and determine outcomes for our programming in 2024. Please connect with your PD Committee reps if you have ideas to share.
Looking for your ideas for January PD
We want to kick off 2024 in a way that will remind us to focus on ourselves so we can be our best for our students. Part of our PD will be a keynote by Carrie Stack, a former educator and licensed social worker who works with districts across the Commonwealth to inspire and remind educators that positivity starts with being good to ourselves. The other part of our PD January day will be a menu of workshops and activities that you can choose from to start the year right in the way you think best for you. If you have an idea about something valuable and interesting you'd like to share with your colleagues or you'd like to see offered to help us cultivate positivity, share your workshop/activity idea here. So far your ideas have been fabulous!! Journaling, nature walk, Keep them coming!
Want to learn CPR?
As part of our attention to wellness and school safety, we are looking to provide an opportunity for more of us to get CPR certified. We are offering each school an opportunity to enroll up to 5 educators in a CPR course for certification this year. Our current plan is to offer the course virtually and provide the assessment on January 12th, our next PD Day. Please use this form to express interest, and know that only 5 educators from each school will be able to participate in this first opportunity, but the interest form will help us plan additional courses in the future. The first 5 from each school will receive information about the course materials before the end of the week. Administrators, please be sure to sign up, as well. Reach out to Kim Lowther ([email protected]) with questions.
UTILIZING TRAUMA-INFORMED, PROACTIVE SENSORY REGULATION STRATEGIES IN THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT
Those interested in learning more about pro-active sensory regulation strategies are welcome to access Massachusetts Partnership for Youth (MPY), create a login using these instructions, and register for free. This 5-part webinar series will focus on the following topics and dates. Registration provides access to all of the webinars, will also provide a link to the recording of all of the webinars should you not be able to attend on the day/time:
Save the date--Inspired Learning Day February 6, 2024
We are excited to announce that the first MURSD Inspired Learning Day (ILD) of the year is on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 (with a snow date of Tuesday, February 13)! Schools are beginning the process for developing proposals and schedules to plan for the day. Stay tuned!
Laughter is the best medicineInspiration
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