Dear Malden Public Schools Families and Caregivers,

Welcome to the 2021-22 school year!

We are thrilled to welcome back our students for full-time, in-person learning. As your new superintendent, I am eager to get to know all of you and your students.

The first day of school for grades PreK, 1-12 is Wednesday, September 1. Our kindergarten students will begin Wednesday, September 8. For further dates and information, please visit https://maldenps.org/calendar.

I want to thank our caregivers for taking our recent district survey. As you expressed to us through the survey and in other forums, some of you are understandably nervous about your students attending school. Please know that we are implementing all possible safety measures and following public health guidance to ensure the health and safety of all of our students and staff.

Through the survey, we also learned that more than 63% of our families were very or somewhat comfortable with returning to in-person learning. Cited as the most important factors were the district following public health guidance, the regular cleaning and sanitizing of spaces, universal mask usage, and sanitizing supplies being available. We have incorporated this feedback into our reopening plans.

Within our buildings, there will be a number of health and safety measures in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, including the Delta variant. These measures include:

• Upon approval from the School Committee, information about masking will be communicated to all staff and families.
• Per federal requirements, anyone riding a school bus or public transportation will need to wear a mask at all times.
• All students and staff will be asked to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19. If they are feeling sick, they should stay home from school. If they are experiencing symptoms of the virus, they should consult a healthcare professional and notify the school office.
• We will continue to stress the importance of proper handwashing. No-touch hand sanitizer units will be available throughout our buildings.
• Recent studies Malden Public Schools Indoor Air Quality Study and Recommendations and Malden Public Schools Indoor Air Quality Study and Recommendations – ELC & Beebe; indicate that air quality in all of our buildings exceeds the required standards.
• School nurses will be on-hand to assist students and families.
• Custodians will continue to thoroughly clean and disinfect all buildings after each school day.
• District administration meets weekly with Malden Board of Health Director Chris Webb to ensure we are taking the proper steps to keep our school community safe.
• We hired one (1) additional social worker per school to support students with mental, socio-emotional learning needs.
• We also hired 5 full-time bilingual Family Liaisons and 2 part-time family liaisons to support families, caregivers, and teachers.

In the coming weeks, we will announce more opportunities for eligible students and community members to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Increasing our local vaccination rates will help us reduce the spread of the virus and keep our schools open.

For the latest news and updates regarding our reopening plan and health and safety protocols, please visit https://maldenps.org/reopening/. You can also direct questions through email to mpsreopening2021@maldenps.org.

In other exciting news, a licensed state-of-the-art Student-Based Health Center (SBHC), the “Starr Center” at Malden High School will open this fall! Specifically, American Rescue Plan Act funding will be used to renovate and build out a space adjacent to the Nurse’s Office to accommodate exam rooms, consultation areas and offices that will comply with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health standards. The aim of the SBHC is to provide primary care and behavioral health care to students in an environment that is trusted and immediately accessible.

The center will be free of charge and serve as part of our high school’s health delivery system. Working with Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), the Starr Center will further enhance the existing school health program and work cooperatively within the school community to become an integral part of the setting. The health center will provide easy access to health care while also connecting families to other resources and services in the community.

Thank you for your support, understanding, and flexibility as we continue to navigate the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s school office.

I am inviting you to join me for a school opening day zoom meeting scheduled for Tuesday, August 24, 2021, at 6:00pm. Please check the website for access to the link.

I am looking forward to a great and amazing 2021-22 school year!

Sincerely,

Ligia Noriega-Murphy
Superintendent

Dear MPS Caregivers and Families,

First, I would like to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Ligia Noriega-Murphy, the new superintendent for the Malden Public Schools.

I know that many of you are eager to hear our plans for our before- and after-school programs for the 2021-22 school year. While we will be able to run our before-school program at full capacity, our after-school program may need to run at a lower capacity due to a shortage of available staff.

Since last spring, the Malden Out-of-School Time (MOST) Program team has been working hard to relaunch the before- and after-school programs at Beebe, Forestdale, Linden, and Salemwood. Like many industries affected by COVID-19, however, childcare providers and schools have been deeply impacted by program closures and staffing shortages. As a result, seats in the after-school program will be limited as we relaunch the program.

I know this news will be disappointing to many of our families. We are doing our very best to staff these programs. We aim to gradually increase enrollment in the after-school program during the school year as we hire and train more staff at each school.

I encourage everyone in our school district community to spread the word and assist us in recruiting staff. Please feel free to share this employment opportunity with others and via social media. Here is the link to the job description:
https://www.schoolspring.com/job.cfm?jid=3514754&.

Message for social media:
Malden Public Schools’ Out-of-School Time (MOST) Program is hiring for SY21-22! 7-8:15am and 2-6pm Mon-Fri, up to 19.5 hrs. Starting pay: $18.50 Asst. Teachers, $22.50 Before School and Afterschool Teachers, $28 Site Coordinators. For more info: mpsafterschool@maldenps.org

If you have questions about these programs or would like to check on your child’s registration status, please contact the MOST Program office at 781-870-7684 or mpsafterschool@maldenps.org.

Thank you for your support and understanding.

Sincerely,

Ligia Noriega-Murphy

Dear Malden Public Schools Community,

I hope that our students, families, staff, and community members are having a safe and enjoyable summer. I am writing to share some important updates from the Malden Public Schools regarding six hires we have made to fill key positions in our district.

Below you will find some more information about each of these six educational leaders:

Marie Lucey, Assistant Director of Human Resources
Marie will be entering her 23rd year with the Malden Public Schools. Marie began her career in the technology department for the Malden Public School District while also teaching computer night classes for adults at Malden High School. While in the technology department, Marie provided support and training for Malden Public Schools staff on how to use the newly implemented student information system.

In 2004, Marie became a part of the Superintendent’s Office as Confidential Executive Assistant for Human Resources. In this role, Marie has had the privilege of welcoming all new staff to the Malden Public Schools.  Marie is responsible for the Applicant Tracking System, onboarding of all new personnel, maintaining personnel files, staff databases, teaching certifications, coordinating the background check process, MPS transcripts, teacher salary reviews, staff attendance, DESE state reporting, and all HR functions.

Marie is looking forward to working closely with and supporting all staff and administration.

Tamara Lawrence, Early Childhood Administrator
Ms. Lawrence has served in education for the past 23 years, most recently as a special education program director at The English High School in Boston. Before that, she was an educational team facilitator/coordinator of special education and a teacher at the school. She was known for developing strong relationships with her school community, often arriving early and leaving late to make sure her students’ needs were met.

Ms. Lawrence also spent two years teaching math inclusion in Baltimore and four years as a paraprofessional at McKinley Vocational High School (now known as McKinley Preparatory High School) in Boston. She started her career as a teacher at Tuskegee Institute Middle School in Alabama.

Ms. Lawrence holds a master’s degree in special education from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree from Tuskegee University. We are truly excited to see the impact she will have on our Early Childhood programming here in Malden!

Jennifer McCabe, Director of English Language Learners & Title III Programs
With more than 20 years of experience in education, Ms. McCabe has focused her career on teaching, training, and coaching in the area of multilingual learners with disabilities. Here in MPS, she has served as an K-12 ESL instructional coach, EL director, special education teacher, and Sheltered English Immersion teacher.

Ms. McCabe holds a master’s degree in bilingual early childhood education, for students with and without disabilities, from Lesley University. She holds a certification for teaching WIDA English Language Development standards and provides consulting for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. She’s also the mother of three bicultural children.

This new role is a great fit for Ms. McCabe’s skills, talents, and passion. We are truly excited to move forward with her as our director of English language learners and Title III programs!

Emilys Peña, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assesment
Emilys Peña is originally from Puerto Rico. She moved to the United States at the age of seven. Ms. Peña is trilingual – tricultural. She is fluent in American Sign Language, English, and Spanish. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University with a dual concentration in elementary and Deaf education, and a Master’s degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education with a focus on language and literacy. She studied abroad in Argentina at the Universidad del Plata in Entre Ríos.

As an Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, she is committed to changing all forms of oppression including all the “isms” that isolate, disadvantage, and take away power from marginalized groups. As a district leader she will confront the unequal outcomes that result from culture-neutral policies that are not enough to level opportunities across racial, cultural, and linguistic groups.

Ms. Peña has worked for Boston Public Schools for 25 years and has K-12 experience working as a teacher, literacy specialist, director of instruction, assistant headmaster, district leader, and educational consultant. Her leadership experience spans over 15 years where she has shown her commitment to working with all children especially with marginalized populations—English Learners, special needs, alternative education, Deaf/Hard of Hearing and culturally and linguistically diverse students.

Laryssa Doherty, Assistant Superintendent of Diversity, Equity and Engagement
Ms. Doherty has been an educational leader focused on building collaborative, inclusive, and anti-racist school communities for over two decades. Her passion for public education is fueled by students and families, as well as the collective growth of schools striving to become high performing, welcoming, and culturally responsive organizations. She has served the students, families and educators predominantly in urban schools in New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts with the last 14 years in the Boston Public Schools. Her educational leadership has transformed school communities through strategic adult professional learning and growth, targeted student supports, and ensuring diverse perspectives in decision making. Ms. Doherty holds bachelors and masters degrees in education from Ithaca College, a masters degree in School Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and is a doctoral candidate in Education Leadership and Policy Studies at Boston University.

As you can see, we have five incredibly skilled and dedicated administrators joining MPS at this time.  Please join us in welcoming them to our school district community.

Sincerely,

Ligia Noriega-Murphy, Superintendent
Malden Public Schools

Malden Public Schools Families,

This is a reminder to families who received their first dosage of the Pfizer vaccine last month.  You need to click on the link below to schedule your time for your second vaccine. There are plenty of appointment times available.  This is only for people who will receive their second dose of the vaccine.

The team of vaccinators will come onsite to our schools to provide immunizations next week.  After registering, you will receive a link with a user name and password.  If you click on “my vaccine” in the email and log in, you will see a screen with all of the information that you input. Click “next” and then you should be able to print the consent form.

Please make sure to print and sign the consent form and have the student bring it to school on the day of the clinic.  Parent or Guardian signatures are required for any students under the age of 18.  All students will be vaccinated free of charge regardless of insurance coverage.  If insured, please enter insurance information in the online registration.  Once registered online, there is no need to bring an insurance card to the clinic.  If further assistance is needed with registration, please call 888-735-6337.  Thank you.