Summary – October 15, 2008, No. 1

1.      There are twelve new members of the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School faculty this year.  They are: Mr. Jerry Gill, Bishop's University – B.A., Cambridge College – M. Ed.; Mr. Brendan Kent, Saint Anselm College – B.A.; Mrs. Barbara Lichtman, State University of New York – B.S., Simmons College – M.L.S.; Carla McCoy, Gettysburg College – B.A.; Mr. Steven Mirasolo, Keene State College – B.S., University of Massachusetts, Boston – M. Ed.; Mr. John Muldoon, Merrimack College – B.A., Salem State College – M. Ed.; Mrs. Angela Singer, Boston University – B.A., Boston College – M. Ed.; Ms. Jessica Stiss, Tufts University – B.A., Brandeis University – M. Ed.; Mr. Gerard Tannetta – University of Massachusetts, Lowell – B.A., University of Massachusetts, Boston – M. Ed.; Ms. Cheryl Trevisani – Boston College – B.A., Northeastern University – M.S., C.A.G.S.; Ms. Lisa Waldron, Charleston College – B.A., Boston University – M.Ed.; and Mr. Jacob Whitmore, University of Maine – B..A., Boston University – M. Ed.  Congratulations and a special welcome to our school family!

2.      There were three separate assemblies held on the first day of school, September 3, 2008, in the auditorium.  The National Anthem was sung at each assembly by Alyssa A., 7B.  Principal Brow greeted each class, explained the school's mission and vision, the quest for knowledge, skills, and the following five positive personal qualities: honesty, responsibility, self-management, sociability, and self-esteem. The first day of school was extremely exciting as 863 students began their middle school journey!

3.      All Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School students were issued usernames and passwords to "The Digital Classroom" on September 23, 2008.  The Follett management online product allows teachers to post course news and upload assignments, website links, resources, and documents to their students' class folders.  Students can download lessons and view their daily, weekly, and/or monthly planner for each of their courses.  Parents can track their child's assignments from any computer that has Internet access.  Parents, teachers and students can send online messages.  For more information, select "The Digital Classroom" at www.melroseschools.com/mms.

4.      The Massachusetts Department of Education Online Network for Education (MassONE) is one of the Commonwealth's set of web-based tools for communication, collaboration, and curriculum planning, which are designed to support PreK-12 teaching and learning.  On September 3, 2008, Principal Brow, Melrose District MassONE Administrator, issued to the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School faculty individual MassONE usernames and passwords.  Teachers will be able to use MassONE to exchange ideas with colleagues through the Discussion Forum.  They can also use the Virtual Hard Drive to store lesson plans and teaching resources so they can be accessed at home or use the Curriculum Tools to create standards-based lesson plans and activities to meet students' needs.  In the classroom, teachers and students can use MassONE to host an online discussion or debate using the Discussion Forums, create a quick survey or online quiz using Survey Tools, and store their projects on the Virtual Hard Drive so students can work on them at home.  For more information about MassONE visit http://massone.mass.edu.

5.      All Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School teachers and students received usernames and passwords for the online English, mathematics and science practice MCAS instruction programs found at: www.studyisland.com.  This initiative is part of the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School 2008-2009 MCAS Action Plan and School Performance Evaluation Instrument.

6.      Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School students participated in democracy by voting for Homeroom Representatives and Homeroom Alternates on October 1, 2008.  The following students were elected: Ryan S., 6A, Brian S., 6A, , Nina G., 6A, Duncan L., 6A, Victoria R., 6A, Kaleigh M., 6A, Kaitlyn C., 6A, Philip B., 6A, Charlene F., 6B, John K., 6B, Jenna L., 6B, Julia M., 6B, Amanda C., 6B, Robert C., 6B,  Melissa W., 6B, Amanda S., 6B, Casey T., 6C, Shae S., 6C, Hannah C., 6C, William R., 6C, Antonio P., 6C, Hannah J., 6C, Dexter F., 6C, Karrissa V., 7A, Alicia R., 7A, Matthew H., 7A, Stephanie J., 7A, Kristen M., 7A, Scott M., 7A, Jennifer C., 7A, Jason B., 7A, Michael R., 7B, Benjamin S., 7B, Natalie E., 7B, Jonathan H., 7B, Alexandria L., 7B, William M., 7B, Osasymwen A., 7B, Alyssa A., 7B, Liam T., 7C, Jessica R., 7C, Janelle D., 7C, Jack D., 7C, Marissa M., 7C, Douglas M., 7C, Tyler M., 7C, Charlotte H., 7C, Peter R., 8A, Robert U., 8A, Makenzie H., 8A, Amy H., 8A, Drew M., 8A, Lydia M., 8A, Richard B., 8A, Jacob C., 8A, Shawn S., 8B, Amanda R., 8B, Jamie F., 8B, Matthew F., 8B, Shane M., 8B, William K., 8B, Sydney D., 8B, Marlena D., 8B, Thomas S., 8C, Betty R., 8C, Grace C., 8C, Edmund B., 8C, Shannon L., 8C, Liam P., 8C, Sarah G., 8C, and Timothy H., 8C.  Congratulations!

7.      Ms. Ginia Pasciuto, Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School PTO Enrichment Committee, informed the faculty that several thousand dollars are available for Enrichment Programs during the 2008-2009 school year.  The Enrichment Committee is seeking help to identify projects, presentations, and/or materials that would enhance curriculum at our school.  For an application for PTO Enrichment funds, visit the main office or contact Ms. Pasciuto at 781-662-2335 or email vpasciuto@comcast.net.

8.      Principal Brow issued an individual Educator's Virtual Mentor (EVM) username and password to each Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School teacher on September 3, 2008.  This online resource offers articles and video clips of teachers using instructional strategies with students in real time.  Descriptions of each instructional strategy are also presented.  This website is a tremendous tool for teaching and learning.  For more information, visit: www.educatorsvirtualmentor.com.

9.      Principal Brow issued usernames and passwords to each Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School teacher on September 3, 2008, for their own individual websites.  Parents and students are encouraged to visit each teacher's website.  For more information, visit our middle school website at www.melroseschools.com/mms and then select "Faculty Courses and School-wide Homework Listings."

10.  Principal Brow issued usernames and passwords to each Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School teacher on September 3, 2008, for the school subscription to Discovery Education Streaming PLUS that allows access to over 8,500 full length videos.  For more information visit www.discoveryeducation.com/products/streaming.

11.  There following documents were issued at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School on September 3, 2008: Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School 2008-2009 Faculty Handbook, Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School 2008-2009 Instructional Support Team Manual, and Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School 2008-2009 Crisis Team Manual.  All students received copies of the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School 2008-2009 Student Agenda and Student Handbook on September 4, 2008.  For more information about these documents, contact the main office at 781-462-3100.

12.  The first practice of the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Math Team was held in Room C411 on October 1, 2007.  Mr. Nagar, MVMMS Math Team coach, announced that the Math Team will be competing in the Intermediate Math League of Eastern Massachusetts against the following middle school teams: Marblehead Middle School, Swampscott Middle School, Immaculate Conception School (Revere), Baldwin School (Cambridge), and St. Joseph School (Salem).  The first meet will be at Marblehead Middle School on October 23, 2008.  For more information about the competition visit www.imlem.org.  Good luck to the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Math Team!

13.  Plans for the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Drama Club are well underway.  The plays will be produced by Mr. Whitmore, Team 7C pre-algebra teacher, and directed by Mrs. McGrath, Team 6A English teacher.  Best wishes to the MVMMS Drama Club!

14.  There are currently several intramural activities and clubs at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School.  They are: Cross Country Team (Mrs. McLaughlin), Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; Intramural Tennis (Mrs. Dubiel), Tuesdays; Board Game Club (Mr. Crooks), Tuesdays; Free Rice and Chocolate Club (Mrs. Keefe), Tuesdays; Intramural Flag Football (Ms. Gaines), Wednesdays; Math Team (Mr. Najar), Thursdays; Intramural Basketball (Mr. Blaus and Mr. D'Antonio), Wednesdays and Thursdays; and the Library Club (Mrs. Arnold) Monday-Friday.  For more information, contact Mrs. Dubiel, Intramural Director, at 781-462-3106.

15.  A cohort of teachers is reading Saphier, J., Haley-Speca, M. & Gower, B. (2008). The Skillful Teacher: Building Your Teaching Skills. Carlisle: Research for Better Teaching.  The group of teachers is studying teacher beliefs and the eighteen parameters of teaching.  The second meeting of the Skillful Teacher Book Club X was held on October 6, 2006.  Principal Brow facilitated a discussion about the fifty-three categories of attention moves, and guest speakers Dr. Kepple, Mrs. Means and Ms. Beane discussed how they implemented the memory peg system in their classrooms.  The first meeting of the Skillful Teacher Book Club X was held on September 15, 2008.  Principal Brow facilitated a discussion about the eighteen parameters of skillful teaching and a memory strategy involving the peg system.  This year's book club consists of pre-K teachers, elementary school teachers, middle school teachers, high school teachers, and administrators.  The next meeting of the book club will be held on October 20, 2008, at 3:00 p.m. in the third floor Project Room at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School.  All teachers are welcome to attend.

16.  There are forty-six co-teaching and/or inclusion partnerships at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School this year.  Collaboration is defined as "mutual consent on the part of two professionals to work together for a shared problem and for joint development of an intervention."  In addition to having two sets of eyes in the classroom, these co-teaching and/or inclusion teams have ended the phenomenon of teacher isolation in the classroom.  All forty-six co-teaching and/or inclusion teams met and discussed eighteen topics presented by Principal Brow.

17.  The Melrose Alliance Against Violence (MAAV) is sponsoring the 13^th annual "Candlelight Vigil and Walk," on Sunday, October 19, 2008.  The participants will meet at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School and walk around Ell Pond.  The purpose of the walk is to unite Melrose as a non-violent community and to commemorate the lives lost to domestic violence in Massachusetts.  Groups of Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School students are scheduled to participate in the event.  A special thank you to MAAV!  For more information, call Mrs. Mooney at 781-662-2010 or visit www.maav.org.

18.  A list of the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School 2008-2009 "After School Teacher Help Days" is posted online at www.melroseschools.com/mms.

19.  The second Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School faculty meeting was held in the third floor project room on September 17, 2008.  The professional development session, facilitated by Mrs. Dubiel, included the annual training on physical restraints requirements for public education programs.  A Powerpoint presentation, a video, and a hands-on demonstration were used in the presentation.  Next, Principal Brow led a discussion about Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) and MCAS scores.  Later, a video filmed on campus, titled "Bullying: Exclusion and Girls" was presented.  This was followed by the presentation of the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School "Educator's Award (2007-2009)."  This award is presented monthly by the faculty to individuals for their dedication to the students at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School.  The seventh Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School "Educator's Award" (2007-2009)" was presented to Mr. Morgan Crooks, Team 7C world history teacher.  Past recipients of the "Educator's Award" include: Mr. Bert Whittier, Mrs. Kristen Bracey, Mr. Jerry Greer, Mrs. Jennifer Myette, Ms. Maureen Walsh, and Mrs. Wendy Warren.  The faculty meeting concluded after a discussion about teaching and learning, old business and new business.  The next faculty meeting is scheduled for October 15, 2008.

20.  The Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School "Campus Awards (2005-2007)" were presented by the faculty to individuals for their dedication to the students at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School while the school was located on three campuses during the construction of the new middle school.  Past recipients of the "Campus Awards" include: Mrs. Ahern, Mr. Clinard, Mrs. Sullivan, Mrs. Wolfman, Mr. Mateus, Mr. Aylward, Mrs. Orcutt, Mrs. Corbett, Mr. Allison, Mr. Whittier, Ms. Dwyer, Mrs. Mayo, Mrs. Naslas, Mrs. Arnold, Mr. McCarthy, Mrs. Dylengoski, Mr. Steven Hurley, M.P.D., Ms. Parker, Mrs. Dina Mancini, Ms. Leisk, Ms. Corkum, Ms. McCarthy, Mrs. Silvestri, Dr. Smith, Mr. Babigian, Mr. Stanton, Mr. Miner, Ms. Osgood, Ms. Prouty, Mrs. Baline, Mrs. Peterson, Mr. Dooner, Mr. Federico, Mr. Greer, Mrs. Dubiel, Mrs. Myette, Mr. D'Antonio, and  Mrs. Passarella Brandao.  Congratulations!

21.  The Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School "Apple Award (1999-2005)" was given by the faculty to individuals for their dedication to the students at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School.  Past recipients of the "Apple Award" include: Mr. Kenneth Mitchell, Mr. Robert Holden, Ms. Mamie Reardon, Mrs. Esther Sullivan, Ms. Kathryn Tuck, Ms. Joanne Leisk, Ms. Judy Grace, Mrs. Trudy Dooner, Mrs. Voula Connors, Mrs. Jayne Morgan, Mr. Marty Stanton, Ms. Sheila Striar, Mrs. Susan Wales, Mrs. Helen Overlan, Ms. Judy McCarthy, Dr. Susan Smith, Mrs. Elaine Mead, Mr. Ross Nelson, Mr. Gerry Greer, Mrs. Helen Fennell, Ms. Marianne Dwyer, Mr. Stephen Clinard, Mrs. Jane Martin, Mr. Doug Haller, Mrs. June Murphy, Mrs. Elena Orcutt, Mrs. Lisa Jendrysik, Mr. Thomas Pennell, Mr. James Dooner, Mr. Thomas Brow, Mrs. Laura Dubiel, Mrs. Deborah O'Connor, Mrs. Barbara Durney, R.N., Mrs. Lisa Dooley, Mr. Tim Hurley, Ms. Aimee McCarthy, Mrs. Gale Babin, Mrs. Eileene Stergiou, Mr. David Pignone, Mrs. Beverly Kirby, Mr. Thomas McCarthy, Mrs. Anne Ahern, Mrs. Marie Cahalane, Mrs. Cheryl Luongo, Mrs. Susan Cochran, Mr. John McLaughlin, Mr. Randy Barnes, Ms. Jessica Shute, Ms. Karen Parker, Mrs. Marian Knight, Mrs. Julia Anderson, Mrs. Linda Gould, Ms. Christina Fabiano, Mrs. Sarah Haney, Mr. Sean Miner, and Mrs. Mary Wolfman.  Congratulations to the recipients.  For more information about the "Apple Award," see Principal Brow.

22.  Each Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Team will have many opportunities during the 2008-2009 school year to win points toward the Sixth Grade Guidance Trophy, the Seventh Grade Vice Principal's Trophy, or the Eighth Grade Principal's Trophy.  This is an annual award that is presented to the winning team of each grade at the end of the school year.  Past recipients of the team competitions are as follows:  Sixth Grade Guidance Trophy – Team 6A (2008), Team 6A (2007), Team 6A (2006), Team 6B (2005), Team 6A (2004); the Seventh Grade Vice Principal's Trophy – Team 7A (2008), Team 7A (2007), Team 7A (2006), Team 7B (2005), Team 7A (2004); and the Eighth Grade Principal's Trophy – Team 8A (2008), Team 8B (2007), Team 8B (2006), Team 8A (2005), Team 8A (2004).  The next chance to amass points will be the magazine drive.  Each team will receive one point for each magazine order that is submitted.  Good luck to all the teams this year!

23.  The first edition of the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Knoll News is Good News was recently published and distributed.  This newsletter is presented by the PTO and is filled with important middle school information.  For more information, contact Mrs. Sorrentino at asorre5021@aol.com or Mrs. Gentile at gentile54@msn.com.  

24.  Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School students are invited to participate in the VFW Patriot's Pen youth essay contest.  This year's theme is "Why American Veterans Should Be Honored!"  The essay containing 300-400 typed words must be submitted to the main office by October 31, 2008.

25.  Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School students are invited to participate in the Massachusetts Letters About Literature Program.  Students are encouraged to write letters to authors whose work has made a significant difference in their lives.  The deadline to enter is December 13, 2008.  The awards will be presented at the Massachusetts State House in April 2009.  For more information visit www.massbook.org.

26.  The Boston Globe and University of Massachusetts - Boston are sponsoring "Media Matters Conference for Middle School Students and Teachers" on Friday, November 7, 2008 at the University of Massachusetts campus on Boston Harbor.  For more information visitwww.umb.edu/mediamatters.

27.  Office Depot is offering its "5% Back to School Program" to Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School.  Here is how it works.  When teachers, parents, students, and friends purchase items at Office Depot, please state the following Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School special ID Number: 70044541.  Our school will receive credits equal to five percent of purchases to use for FREE supplies.  For more information, call 1-887-567-5287.

28.  The Target store awarded Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School with a check of $135.79 in September 2008.  This payout is a direct result of the parents, teachers, and MVMMS supporters who participate in Target's Take Charge of Education Program, which has earned MVMMS $1,305.06 since 1997.  Sign up at Target to donate up to 1% of every purchase you make at the store.  For more information, visit www.Target.com/tcoe.

29.  Professional development is ongoing at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School.  Some of the professional development activities the faculty/staff participated in are as follows:  September 2008:  "Universal Health Care Precautions," faculty meeting, 9/02/08; "Skillful Teaching (Introduction)," 17 teachers, 9/15/08; "Mandated Physical Restraint Training and Analysis of Annual Yearly Progress (AYP)," faculty meeting, 9/17/08; "Digital Classroom Workshops, entire faculty, 9/23/08 and 9/24/08.  The Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School faculty is truly a community of learners!

30.  The first draft of the Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School 2008-2009 MCAS Action Plan and School Performance Evaluation Instrument has been written and disseminated.  The plan requires teachers to assign and assess essays using the MCAS Writing Scoring Guide Rubric.  Teachers are required to submit to the principal sample practice essays prior to the end of each quarter.  The MCAS (Grade 7) English Language Arts Composition Test will be administered on March 31, 2009.  The MCAS (Grades 6,7,8) English Language and Literature tests will be administered on March 30 – April 8, 2009.  All other MCAS content area tests (History and Social Sciences – Grade 6,7, 8; Mathematics - Grades 6, 7, 8; and Science and Technology/Engineering – Grade 8) will be administered on May 11 – 27, 2009.  Good luck on the MCAS tests!

31.  The following Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School students are representatives on the Melrose Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition: Zeke V., 8B and Sarah M., 8B.  The Coalition met on October 10, 2008.  The Coalition provides resources to schools in an effort to create a safe and healthy environment for learning.  Mrs. Kara Showers, Melrose Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator, announced that Melrose has received an additional $95,000 per year for the next three years from the SAMHSA Office of National Drug Control Policy.  Melrose was one of six Massachusetts communities to receive the federal grant.  Congratulations to Zeke and Sarah, and a special thank you for representing our school!

32.  The Fulcrum Institute of Leadership in Science Education at Tufts University is recruiting middle school teachers for a tuition-free series of three graduate school courses designed to build quality science teaching.  For more information, visit http://fulcrum.tufts.edu.

33.  Ms. Breitborde, Associate Dean of Education at Salem State College, is inviting middle school teachers to attend the Second Annual Best Practices in Education Conference on Saturday, November 15, 2008.  Participants will earn ten PDPs.  For more information, contact Ms. Breitborde at mbreitborde@salemstate.edu.

34.  The Bureau of Education and Research (BER) is presenting the following workshops: "Using Teaching for Proficiency through Reading and Story Telling (TPRS) in the Foreign Language Classroom," with Janice Kittok in Waltham on November, 3, 2008; "Writing about Mathematics," with Sue O'Connell in Woburn on November 21, 2008; "Strengthening Foreign Language Instruction," with Jan Herrera in Waltham on December 4, 2008.  For more information, call 1-800-735-3503 or visit www.ber.org.

35.  All Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School eighth grade students attended an informational assembly hosted by Ms. Waldron, eighth grade guidance counselor, and representatives from the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School on October 3, 2008.  For more information, call Ms. Waldron at 781-462-3104.

36.  The New England Association of Teachers of English is presenting the 107^th Annual Conference titled "Who is Responsible? Literacy Education for All," at the Radisson Hotel in Nashua, New Hampshire on October 24-25, 2008.  For more information, visit www.neate.org.

37.  The seventh grade ABC Projects for Italian and Spanish are now on display in the MVMMS Victoria McLaughlin Library.  Stop by and see these wonderful interdisciplinary projects.  Great job Ms. Rodas and Mrs. Passarella-Brandao!

38.  The Massachusetts Computer Using Educators' 2008 Conference will be held in Sturbridge on November 19-20, 2008.  For more information visit www.masscue.org.

39.  Mr. James DiSanto, Melrose High School science teacher and facilitator of the Melrose Energy Cost Avoidance Program (Energy CAP), reminded the middle school faculty and students, "If it can be off, turn it off!"  If you have any energy concerns, needs, or questions, call Mr. DiSanto at 978-578-5870 or email caymancrab@yahoo.com.  A special thank you for conserving energy!

40.  Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School student Isabelle B., 7C competed in the United States Figure Skating New England Championships on October 3, 2008.  Great job Isabelle!

41.  Mr. Jurgen Stark, a German musician, recently visited Mr. Miner's German classes at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School.  Playing his guitar, Mr. Stark taught German to middle school students using music and lyrics.  It was very interesting to hear the songs sung by a native German.  A special thank you to Mr. Stark and Mr. Miner!

42.  Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School student Casey O., 6A was recently featured in  Boston Children's Hospital magazine titled "Dream."  Congratulations Casey! 

43.  The Melrose Youth Ballet has announced its 2008 matinee school performance of "The Nutcracker" on Friday, December 19, 2008, at Melrose Memorial Hall.  The cast will include 130 dances from Melrose and twenty-three surrounding communities.  The student tickets are $7.00.  For more information, visit www.melroseyouthballet.org or call 781-665-4692.

44.  Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School was the grateful recipient of Adobe Premiere Pro editing software package, a value of $800, thanks to the Adobe Gifts in Kind Software Donation Program.  The software arrived on September 19, 2008, and will be used in the new MVMMS Broadcasting Studio.  For more information, visit www.adobeprograms.giftinkind.org.

45.  Staff Development Resources (SDR) is presenting workshops titled "Responses to Intervention: Stop Academic Failure Before it Starts," with Cara Shores in Dedham on November 12-13, 2008; "Autism and Asperger Syndrome," with Elisa Gagnon in Dedham on December 11, 2008; "Turn Your Students Into Real Readers," with Lucy Calkins in Providence, Rhode Island on December 5, 2008.  For more information visit www.SDResources.org.

46.  The Stoneham Theatre has announced its ninth season of student matinees that include: "How Many Miles to Basra?" November 6, 2008; "It's A Wonderful Life," December 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 2008; "A Year with A Frog and Toad," March 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, and 12, 2008; and "Picnic," April 9, 2008.  Student tickets are $12.00.  The Stoneham Theater Company will bring a small cast of talented teenage actors to MVMMS for an abbreviated production of a Shakespeare classic.  For more information call 781-279-7885, ext. 105.

47.  The 2008-2009 Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School Faculty/Staff Email Address List has been disseminated.  The email address is usually the first letter in the teacher's first name, followed by the entire last name, then @melrose.mec.edu.  For example, Mrs. Anne Ahern's email address is: aahern@melrose.mec.edu and Mrs. Mary Wolfman's email address is mwolfman@melrose.mec.edu.  The faculty email address list is posted on our school-wide site at: www.melroseschools.com/mms.

48.  Due to high home prices in Massachusetts, many teachers, police officers, fire fighters, nurses, and other dedicated public servants cannot afford to buy a home in the city or town where they work.  Since we all benefit from the labor of these hard-working professionals and because they directly affect the quality of life in our communities, MassHousing created the Municipal Mortgage Program.  This unique loan program is specifically designed to help our municipal employees (teachers) buy a home in the city or town where they work, with no down payment.  If you work at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School, you might want to check this out.  For more information, visit www.masshousing.com, then select "Municipal Mortgage Program."

49.  Please inform Principal Brow of team events, student accomplishments, meetings, activities, curriculum ideas, and other exciting things that are happening at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School.  Submit your ideas in writing for consideration.  The Summary is an effective way for us to communicate and share ideas. For daily information about the exciting things that are happening at Melrose Veterans Memorial Middle School, visit the principal's website at www.melroseschools.com/mms, then click "Principal's Website."
                                              Posted by Principal Brow - 10/15/08