During half days, Medway middle schoolers went to a Shaw's and made merchandise forts

MEDWAY — A "growing number" of middle school students have been causing ruckus at the local Shaw's Supermarket on Main Street, and school officials are asking parents to speak with their children about curbing their behavior.

Shaw's officials reached out to Medway Middle School staff to say that approximately 100 middle school students, upon their release from half-day sessions at school, have been "building forts" out of paper towels, riding in carriages and electric carts, knocking over displays and even stealing merchandise, according to an email sent to parents from Medway Middle School Principal Amanda Luizzi.

The email states that the incidents have occurred on multiple occasions, but especially during the Jan. 31 early dismissal. Students were released early to accommodate a professional development day.

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"These actions pose a risk to the students involved and customers of Shaw’s," Luizzi wrote. "They also reflect poorly on our school community."

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The Daily News obtained a copy of Luizzi's email from the superintendent's office. In it, Luizzi asked parents to speak with their children about respectful behavior while in Shaw's, or any business, as well as in school.

"Shaw’s Market and other businesses in the Plaza are strong community partners to our schools," Luizzi wrote. "Ongoing student behavior such as the behavior outlined above has the potential to damage our relationship with these businesses and the local community."

She asked parents to speak to students about potential consequences should the disruptive behavior continue.

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Luizzi went on to say that the Medway Police Department has been informed of the incidents, and that they will be addressing the behavior at school.

"I understand that the majority of our students are well-behaved and respectful individuals, and I appreciate your support in reinforcing these values at home," she said. "It is only through a collective effort that we can address this situation."

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Luizzi declined a Daily News request for comment. Neither Superintendent of Schools Armand Pires nor the Medway Police Department returned requests for comment.

In a statement sent to the Daily News, Shaw's said the store director reached out to school to solve the problem:

"Shaw’s strives to provide all of our customers a safe and welcoming shopping experience," the statement reads. "Because of the close proximity of our Medway store to the local school, large groups of students have been visiting the store on half day Wednesdays. Unfortunately, a group of these students engaged in disruptive behaviors that negatively impacted other customers’ shopping experiences."

The statement said Shaw's has not banned young people from its stores and remains a "dedicated" community partner.

Medway Middle School, at 45 Holliston St., enrolls 665 students and is less than a mile from Shaw's, which anchors Medway Commons at 65 Main St. (Route 109).

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Medway Shaw's has students misbehaving there on half days of school