MALDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICT NEWSLETTER

Change in the Last Day of School – Snow Days and Special Election

Dear Malden Public Schools Community,

On Monday night, the Malden School Committee voted to close all PreK-8 schools on March 31 for the special election. This decision was made to ensure the safety of the schools as they are used for voting and need to be open to the general public on this day.

Malden High School will remain open March 31 as there are no polling places located at the high school.

We have also had four snow days across the district which have pushed out the last day of school at all of our buildings.

Updated Last Days of School:

—As of today, the last day of school for PreK-8 students will be Tuesday, June 23.* This will be an early dismissal day with students and staff being released at 11:00 a.m.

—As of today, the last day of school for Malden High will be Monday, June 22. This will be an early dismissal day with students and staff being released at 11:00 a.m.

—The last day of school for graduating seniors is still May 28. This is a full day of school.

*Please note: Salemwood School must also make up a day for the October 15, 2025, closure due to a power outage, pending a potential waiver from the state. Without a waiver, Salemwood’s last day of classes will be June 24.

We will provide a final confirmation on the last day of school for each school by April vacation.

We have also revised the school year report card schedule to account for the missed days. This can be found below.

Sincerely,

Timothy Sippel Ed.L.D.

Superintendent of Schools

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REMINDER: Black History Month Celebration Now March 10

The district’s Black History Month Celebration has been rescheduled to Tuesday, March 10 from 6-7:30 at the Ferryway School Gymnasium.

Please join us at the event for:

—Free food!

—Free books!

—Amazing student performances!

And don’t forget to pick up your free t-shirt if you previously registered before February 6.

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K-8 Winter Caregiver Conferences

Caregivers for Malden Public Schools students in Grades K-8 are invited to come to their child’s school on the dates and times below and speak with educators and administrators.

March 10: Ferryway School – 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

March 10: Salemwood School – 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

March 11: Forestdale School – 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

March 11: Linden School – 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

March 12: Beebe School – 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.

*The Caregiver Conference for Malden High School students was held in late February.

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MCAS Testing in March

MCAS testing starts this month! MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) is a set of statewide tests that is required by law for students in grades 3-8 and grade 10. MCAS is an extremely important measure of students’ achievement and their readiness for the future.

Testing dates can be viewed on our new MCAS webpage: maldenps.org/students-families/mcas-testing. Dates vary by grade level and school, so be sure to pay attention if you have students in multiple schools and/or grades. Students will take tests in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math in grades 3-8 and 10. Students in grades 5 & 8 take an additional Science, Technology, and Engineering (STE) exam. Students in 8th grade take the Civics exam as well. High School students also take the Biology exam.

Please help your student succeed on these assessments by making sure they get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive on time or early to school on the day of the test. Thank you in advance for encouraging and helping your students do their best on MCAS!

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Kindergarten Registration Now Open!

Kindergarten registration has begun! Any child living in Malden who will be 5 years old on or before August 31, 2026, should register as soon as possible. Following registration, school assignments will be available to incoming kindergarteners in the spring.

There will be Kindergarten registration events held in March at the Early Learning Center (ELC) for caregivers of current ELC students who are eligible for Kindergarten. Be on the lookout for more information from the district about these registration events.

To learn about the registration process and what documents you will need, please visit maldenps.org/registration.

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Community Updates

Prop 2½ Community Forums

The City of Malden is hosting a series of community forums for residents to learn about the Proposition 2½ override ballot initiative that voters will decide on March 31, 2026.

To learn more about the Proposition 2½ Override you can visit: https://www.cityofmalden.org

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Community Resource Spotlight: Malden Teen Enrichment Center

Each month we are highlighting a local Malden resource that can help students and families. This month we are spotlighting the Malden Teen Enrichment Center (MTEC).

The MTEC provides a “welcoming, structured, and safe environment for Malden teens to spend time with their friends, receive homework assistance, play games, take part in enriching activities, develop leadership skills, promote community service, and much more.”

The Center is located at 7 Washington St. in Malden and is open Monday through Friday, 2:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Learn more at cityofmalden.org/1059/Teen-Enrichment-Center.

You can find more local resources at cityofmalden.org.

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Upcoming Important Dates

• March: Kindergarten Registration for school year 2026-2027 open to all Malden residents.
• Tuesday, March 10: Ferryway School Caregiver/Educator Conferences from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 10: Salemwood School Caregiver/Educator Conferences from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 10: District-wide Black History Month Celebration, 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Ferryway School Gymnasium.
• Wednesday, March 11: Forestdale School Caregiver/Educator Conferences from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 11: Linden School Caregiver/Educator Conferences from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
• Thursday, March 12: Beebe School Caregiver/Educator Conferences from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
• Monday, March 16: Prop 2 1/2 Override Community Forum at 6:00 p.m., Ferryway School Auditorium.
• Thursday, March 19: English Curriculum Adoption for Grades 9 & 10 Family Session #2, 6:30 p.m., virtual; please register.
• Wednesday, March 25: Prop 2 1/2 Override Community Forum at 6:00 p.m., Linden School Auditorium.
• Tuesday, March 31: PreK-8 Schools Closed – Malden City Special Election; Malden High remains open.
• Friday, April 3: Early dismissal at 11:00 a.m. for all grades.
• April 20-24: No School- April Vacation.
• June 22: Last Day of School Grades 9-11.
• June 23: Last Day of School Grades PreK-8