February 2021 - Superintendents_update - mailman.dca2.superb.net

Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 22 Feb '21

22 Feb '21

Dear Needham Public Schools Families: I hope you and your families enjoyed a quiet and healthy February break! Allow me to share some quick updates as we being the week: *• Family Health Attestation *The district will soon rollout a required health attestation form for all families to complete for each student. Please read the following and important information: Family Health Attestation Process <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BUrjuNHXhShHX_9HMmZZO2iU-HA42yKWUvRX4iX…> . *• K-12 Family Open House * I will host an opportunity for families to check in, hear school updates, and ask questions at a K-12 Family Open House this Thursday evening, February 25th from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Please join me, but if you can't I'll record the meeting for you to watch later. Here is the link to the meeting: https://needham-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/89968266122?pwd=WHJWZHZNem9QYmxUMWM3MHF… *• Superintendent's Blog *My February post entitled: Reopening Our Schools: What Comes Next? <http://npssuperintendent.blogspot.com/> outlines some challenges, opportunities, and next steps for our schools. Here's to a great week for your families and our students! Respectfully, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools Needham Public Schools 1330 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492 781-455-0400 x11203 dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us 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. 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。 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. 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.

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 13 Feb '21

13 Feb '21

February 13, 2021 Dear Needham Public Schools Families: I hope that you and your children are looking forward to spending some quality time together during the February school break. Although your vacation plans are likely different this year due to strict travel restrictions <https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order> and health concerns, there is good reason to have hope for better days ahead as health and safety protocols provide our community with proven ways to manage the spread of the COVID-19 virus and the vaccines roll out in Massachusetts. I want to share two important updates: *• February Break Travel *In the event you travel outside the state this coming week, please make sure that you and your family follow the district's family health and travel protocols <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MFXsUD_RmnYKDw5icr_PGZKI91LnmgWzHPh__qs…> . *• Family Health Attestation *Allow me to update you on a new process through Ruvna <https://drive.google.com/file/d/11PMfpFw5nGuAWAIE2BVA4Avs5pZdG2K_/view> as another layer of health and safety the district will be providing in March. *The district is preparing to launch a COVID-19 symptom screening* that increases each family’s role in attesting to the fact that they have checked in with their child(ren) to see how they are feeling before sending them to school. The attestation is meant to acknowledge that all of us, staff and families, are invested in keeping our schools open for in-person learning. This is especially important as we move forward with the plan <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WoDExCUdnNXfxm_Xz2nQlX_4gTy9b6TZu6vNrpl…> to bring our students in K-2 back to school four days each week starting on March 8. - *The new attestation process uses text messaging to push out a web link each morning*, allowing families to quickly tap their way through health screening questions for the students in their household who will be attending in-person learning on that day. The screening is not needed for students in the Remote Learning Academy. - *Detailed information will be provided over the next few weeks* regarding steps for you to take to support this health screening process. In the meantime, a Q & A <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nDwKyBhLTQ1QbzvCSQHDPVXMB9zL03CIW7bFGxR…> is provided as an overview of the purpose and process for the Family Health Attestation. Wishing you an enjoyable vacation week and urging you to maintain your commitment to the protocols <http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/departments/superintendent_s_office/plans_for_…> that ensure a safe and healthy return to in-school learning after the school break. Respectfully, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools Needham Public Schools 1330 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492 781-455-0400 x11203 dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us 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. 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。 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. 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.

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 03 Feb '21

03 Feb '21

February 3, 2021 Dear Needham Public Schools Families: Last night, I presented a plan to the Needham School Committee for* enhancing health & safety and strengthening the elementary instructional model *for the Needham Public Schools. I am pleased to share highlights below and make the plan available for your review at this link: Enhancing Health & Safety and Strengthening the Elementary Instructional Model <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WoDExCUdnNXfxm_Xz2nQlX_4gTy9b6TZu6vNrpl…> The district applied lessons learned from the most recent research findings on health and safety and the hybrid learning model and assessed where we can affect change and where we cannot due to health considerations, space limitations, and cost. We identified strategic and focused improvements to meet the needs of our youngest and struggling learners while also supporting our creative and caring staff. These *improvements *are: 1. Offer COVID surveillance testing for all staff and implement a daily student Health Attestation form for all families. 2. Bring our K to 2 students back to school full-time (four days per week; on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) in class sections of no more than 17 that will allow for appropriate levels of physical distancing (3-6 feet); *starting March 8.* 3. Increase support for grades 3 to 5 students in the at-home cohort of the hybrid model with additional live interaction and instruction; *starting March 8.* I am hosting an Elementary Family Meeting for Students in the Hybrid Model <https://needham-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/81834858466?pwd=ejJ2cFdwaDdkZFZ3anM1ODB…> tomorrow, Thursday, February 4th at 6:30 p.m. to present more details about the K to 5 hybrid plan and to answer your questions. I will record the meeting and post on our website for those who are unable to attend. Another Family Open House for PreK to 12 families will be scheduled on February 25 at 6:30 p.m. (Zoom link to follow) where we will discuss the new Health Attestation form and update you on health and safety in our schools. As a district, we will continue to work through obstacles and challenges to address all students’ learning and social and emotional needs as they arise and fortify our health and safety measures in response to the pandemic. With appreciation for your patience and continued partnership, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools Needham Public Schools 1330 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492 781-455-0400 x11203 dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us 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. 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。 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. 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.

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