<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">Dear Needham Public Schools Families:<br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="georgia, serif"><br></font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">As we approach the first week of November a</span>llow me to share several<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"> updates:</span></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-weight:bold"><br></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><b>• Health & Safety  </b>There are a few important items families should be aware of:</span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></span></div><div style=""><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><font color="#0000ff">1.  </font><b style=""><font color="#0000ff">Health Attestation</font></b>  While we have a good response on the daily completion of the <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BUrjuNHXhShHX_9HMmZZO2iU-HA42yKWUvRX4iX81Vg/edit?usp=sharing" style="color:rgb(34,34,34)">health attestation process</a>, there remain families who do not complete the process without a reminder or who complete it without truly assessing their child's health status each morning before sending them to school.  Please remember to <i style="color:rgb(34,34,34)">first assess</i> your child's health and <i style="color:rgb(34,34,34)">then</i> <i style="color:rgb(34,34,34)">complete</i> the quick process on your phone or through email.</span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></span></div><div style=""><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><font color="#0000ff">2. </font><b style=""><font color="#0000ff">Masking</font>  </b></span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:georgia,serif"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">The <a href="https://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/on-desktop/2021-1026mask-requirement-extension.pdf">mask mandate has been</a></span><a href="https://www.doe.mass.edu/covid19/on-desktop/2021-1026mask-requirement-extension.pdf"> extended</a>  for students and staff from November 1st to January 15th.<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">  The Department of Elementary and Secondary (</span></span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:georgia,serif">DESE<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">)</span> is also offering an "off ramp" waiver to districts who can attest to at least having 80% of eligible students and staff vaccinated in order to make masks optional before January 15th.  </span><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:georgia,serif">The </span><a href="http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/departments/superintendent_s_office/plans_for_reopening_our_schools/health___safety/joint_health_and_safety_committee_updates" style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:georgia,serif">NPS Joint Committee on Health and Safety</a><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:georgia,serif"> will continue to review our local health metrics and vaccination rates to advise me about if and when it makes sense to be "mask optional" before January 15th<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"> for vaccinated individuals</span>.  For now, all students and staff are required to wear masks as outlined in our protocols.</span></div><div style=""><span style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:georgia,serif"><br></span></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font color="#0000ff" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-weight:bold">3. Vaccine Survey/Clinics  </font><font style="" color="#000000"><font face="georgia, serif">In partnership with </font><a href="https://pelmeds.com/" style="font-family:georgia,serif">PelMeds Community Pharmacy</a><font face="georgia, serif"> and the Town of Needham Department of Public Health and Human Services, the NPS is planning on hosting vaccine clinics on upcoming weekends in the school setting for students ages 5-11 as soon as the vaccines are approved.  </font></font><font face="georgia, serif">Please complete the following anonymous survey so we can best plan for and anticipate the community's need for vaccinations.  <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5MJKDB7" target="_blank" style="">https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5MJKDB7</a></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font face="georgia, serif" color="#0000ff"><b>4. Family Health and Safety Open House</b>  </font><font face="georgia, serif" color="#000000">I will host a <a href=" https://needham-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/82838165792?pwd=dklQaFB0UUhFY0NJUmNYOFlDeGJWQT09">Family Health and Safety Open House via Zoom on Tuesday, November 9th from 5:30 until 6:30</a> p.m.  Please join me and some of our public health partners to discuss COVID-19 updates and information.</font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><br></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">• </span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-weight:bold">Needham Diversity Summit  </span><b style="font-family:georgia,serif"> </b><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><b> </b>Needham's Tenth Annual Diversity Summit is scheduled for Sunday, November 14th at noon via Zoom. This year's theme is "Voices of Unity" and it is a wonderful event that brings together community leaders, friends, neighbors, and students to explore, strengthen, and celebrate Needham's diversity of socioeconomic status, race, sexual orientation, gender equity and expression, religion, ethnic identity, age, and ability.  For more information, including registration:  </span><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/needham-diversity-summit-100-voices-of-unity-tickets-187970604137" target="_blank" style="font-family:georgia,serif;font-weight:bold"><span class="gmail_default"></span>Needham Diversity Summit</a><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"> </span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><b style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></b></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">•<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"> </span></span><b style="font-family:georgia,serif">Congratulations, <span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">Needham High School </span>Students!  </b><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">Congratulations to Needham High School students who continue to grow, achieve, and excel in so many ways:</span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">- Kudos to seniors </span><b style="font-family:georgia,serif">L</b><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><b>indsay Hess</b> and <b>James Mahoney </b></span><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">for extraordinary academic accomplishments on the 2021 Advanced Placement exams.  Lindsay was one of 219 students <i>worldwide</i> to earn a perfect score for Drawing and James was one of 356 students <i>worldwide</i> who earned a perfect score in Computer Science!   I would also like to recognize their teachers Linda Burke, Shireen Yadollahpour, Kate Bergeron and Mark Dineen who engaged, encouraged, and challenged Lindsay and James in pursuit of excellence.</span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">- </span>Congratulations <span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"></span>to<span class="gmail_default"> </span>Needham High School students for being named semifinalists in the <a href="https://www.compassprep.com/national-merit-semifinalist-cutoffs/comment-page-33/" target="_blank">National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test</a>: <span class="gmail_default"><b>Vijay Fisch </b>and <b>Jeremy Gold</b></span>. <span class="gmail_default"> </span></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><b></b>- <b></b>Congrats, to<b> </b></span><b>Jack Carnahan</b></span><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">, </span><b style="font-family:georgia,serif">Brendan Mawhinney</b><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">, and </span><b style="font-family:georgia,serif">Boyoung Paik</b><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"> <span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">have been accepted</span> into the National Association Federation of Music Educators All National Music Conference, All National Mixed Choir<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">.</span></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">- Finally, a big shout out and c</span>ongratulations to the </span><b style="font-family:georgia,serif">Needham High School Speech and Debate <span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">T</span>eam</b><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"> which was awarded the 2020-2021 Leading Chapter Award by the National Speech and Debate Association, the highest recognition given by the Association. <span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">NHS Speech and Debate </span>is one of 108 <span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">school chapters </span>out of 3,000 schools to receive the award.  In addition, advisor </span><b style="font-family:georgia,serif">Paul Wexler </b><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">was granted membership in the 200 Club for outstanding commitment and achievement.</span></div></div></div></div><blockquote style="margin:0 0 0 40px;border:none;padding:0px"><div dir="ltr" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><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-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><br></p></div></div></blockquote><div><div dir="ltr" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif">We are proud of these and all of our students <span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">and the staff who support them</span>each day <span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">and </span>demonstrate a commitment to scholarship<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">, creativity</span> and growth.<span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">  Our students are successful at the high school level as a result of their personal commitment to learning, their parent and family's ongoing support, and the collective efforts of a talented Preschool through Grade 12 faculty and staff!</span></span><font face="georgia, serif"><br></font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></span></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">Enjoy the weekend and Happy Halloween!</span></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></span></span></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="georgia, serif">Dan Gutekanst</font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="georgia, serif">Superintendent of Schools</font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="georgia, serif">Needham Public Schools</font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="georgia, serif">1330 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492</font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="georgia, serif">781-455-0400 x11203</font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><font face="georgia, serif"><a href="mailto:dan_gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us" target="_blank">dan_gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us</a></font></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><br></div><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font size="1">ATTENTION: If you speak a language other than English, language assistance services are available to you free of charge. Contact your child’s school for assistance.</font></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font size="1">Chinese (Simplified): 请注意：如果您的母语不是英语，我们将免费提供您语言辅助服务。如需协助，请与您孩子 的学校联系。</font></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><font size="1">Spanish: ATENCION: Si usted habla un idioma que no sea el inglés, hay servicios de asistencia lingüística disponibles gratis. Contacte la escuela de su hijo para asistencia.</font></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="background-color:transparent;vertical-align:baseline"><font size="1">Russian: ВНИМАНИЕ: Если вы не говорите на английском языке, для вас доступны бесплатные языковые сервисы на вашем языке. Обратитесь за помощью в школу, в которой учится ваш ребенок.</font></span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div>