<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style=""><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:Cambria,serif;margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif;color:black;font-size:small">April 23, 2020</span><br></p>

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<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="color:black"><font face="georgia, serif">Dear Needham Public Schools Families:</font></span></p>

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<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="color:black"><font face="georgia, serif">On Tuesday Governor Baker extended the state-mandated closure of
schools through the end of the school year in response to the health crisis. This
news prompted additional questions and concerns from families, students, and
staff. Let me reassure you that the district’s dedicated teachers and
administrators remain committed to the development and care of all our students
and families. It is important for our families to know that under the capable
hands of Needham Public Schools educators, and with the support of loving
families and a caring community, our students are learning and growing every
day. </font></span></p>

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<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="color:black"><font face="georgia, serif">The pandemic has changed our lives and caused us to reinvent the
school experience. As I connect with the schools, I am inspired by the creative
lessons, pictures, and videos of our students and teachers participating in
remote learning. These artifacts are evidence of the implementation of the
district’s Remote Learning Plan with a focus on three key priorities: 1)
Maintain and nurture strong connections and relationships with students and
families; 2) Engage students directly in the curriculum in thoughtful and
measured ways so all students can learn and grow; and 3) Provide services and
supports to help meet the many needs of all students, particularly our most
vulnerable students. Thank you to parents
and family members who are balancing work demands, family
needs, and student learning in unanticipated ways.</font></span></p>

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<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="color:black"><font face="georgia, serif">Allow me to share three important updates:</font></span></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="georgia, serif"><span style="color:black">• As the Governor extended the school closure date, the
Commissioner of Education once again notified us about new remote learning and
curriculum guidance that will be issued, presumably by the end of this week or
early next week. </span><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">We will review this guidance and determine if any aspect of
our </span><a href="http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/cms/One.aspx?portalId=64513&pageId=32266432" target="_blank" style="color:blue"><span style="color:rgb(17,85,204);background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">NPS Remote Learning Plan</span></a><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"> will need to be adjusted or changed. </span><span style="color:black">Please stay
tuned for information on how our district will respond to these new state
guidelines.</span></font></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="georgia, serif">• After the Governor’s
announcement, teacher leaders and administrators met to discuss the first
couple of weeks of implementation of the district’s Remote Learning Plan and to
discuss what changes may be needed, especially now that we know we are going
beyond the May 4^th date.<span style="color:black"> Additionally, our principals and schools
are conducting surveys and/or holding virtual Open Houses with families to understand
what is working well and where there are areas needing our attention.  While the three priorities referenced above
will continue to guide our work, I believe we will need to consider how we can maximize
teacher and student interactions</span><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"> so that students remain engaged, connected,
and learning throughout the next several weeks and until the last day of school
on Friday, June 19^th.</span></font></p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><font face="georgia, serif"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">• </span>There
are some additional pressing issues that we have already begun to address. For
example, we are working on providing an alternative way of hosting
graduation and other traditional year-end activities that our students, particularly
our high school seniors, have anticipated for so long.  We are researching
how to provide additional support to students, potentially in
the summer and into the fall. We are also thinking about how to continue to nurture a
sense of community, caring, and wellbeing for all students, families, and staff.
Perhaps most critical, we need to prepare for the transition back to school
when our buildings reopen, including ways to accommodate social distancing if
still needed.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="color:black"><font face="georgia, serif"> </font></span></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="georgia, serif"><span style="color:black">One of the silver linings to the health emergency is that our
students and teachers are bravely learning about and </span>practicing the skills critical to our students’ futures, as
identified in the <a href="http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/UserFiles/Servers/Server_64429/File/District/PORTRAIT%20competencies.pdf" style="color:blue">Portrait of A Needham Graduate</a> and the district’s strategic plan. The Portrait competencies
are being tested in the real world as we prepare all Needham Public Schools
students to be creative thinkers and problem solvers, communicators and
collaborators, socially and culturally responsive contributors, responsible and
resilient individuals, and empowered learners. Despite the challenges, students and teachers will clearly learn, grow, and connect in ways that we do not even
see yet!</font></p>

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<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="georgia, serif"><span style="color:black">Thank you for your feedback and suggestions, your words of
encouragement to our teachers and principals, and your
understanding as we work together to support our amazing students. Should you have any questions, please
continue to reach out to me. My phone number is 781.455.0400, x11203
or </span><a href="mailto:dan_gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us" target="_blank" style="color:blue"><span style="color:rgb(17,85,204)">dan_gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us</span></a></font></p>

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<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="color:black"><font face="georgia, serif">Respectfully,</font></span></p>

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<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="color:black"><font face="georgia, serif">Dan Gutekanst</font></span></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="color:black"><font face="georgia, serif">Superintendent of Schools</font></span></p>

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