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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 08 Feb '17

08 Feb '17

Dear Needham Families: Due to the inclement weather forecast, the Needham Public Schools will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, February 9th. Thank you, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools

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Buses will be late today
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 08 Feb '17

08 Feb '17

Dear Needham Families: Due to the weather conditions, buses will be very late this morning; please be patient and take your time getting to school. Thank you, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 24 Jan '17

24 Jan '17

Dear Needham Families: Allow me to share a few updates as we begin a new week of learning in the Needham Schools: *• Bus Updates on Twitter* There are times a bus or van can be delayed due to road conditions or a mechanical issue. Parents and students who wish to receive updates about school transportation can sign on to Twitter to receive timely, updated, and helpful alerts: https://twitter.com/NeedhamPSTrans Parents and students are also encouraged to follow me on Twitter to receive important school news and updates, including weather-related school cancellations: https://twitter.com/NPS_Supt Give it a try! *• Needham Unplugged* Again this year the Needham Public Schools will support the efforts of Needham Youth Services on Thursday, March 9th when we will observe Needham Unplugged <http://www.needhamma.gov/index.aspx?nid=113>, a community-wide event in which students, parents, teachers, and residents "unplug" from hectic lives for an evening free of meetings, community events, and homework. *• Superintendent's Blog * This month's post is co-authored by School Committee Chair Sue Neckes and me: Superintendent's Blog <http://npssuperintendent.blogspot.com/> We discuss a recent parent concern about the assignment and placement process for students. *• School Committee Technology & Learning Open House *The School Committee will host a spring Open House featuring technology learning, student demonstrations, and STEM related projects at the Needham High School Da Vinci Lab on Saturday, March 25th from 9 until 10:30 a.m. Please mark the date! *• Screenagers* The Needham Schools, Needham Youth Services, and Needham PTCs are excited to show the new documentary, Screenagers <http://www.screenagersmovie.com/> , at Newman on Wednesday, March 29th at 7:00 p.m. The documentary shares insights into how to understand and navigate the digital world in which our young people are immersed. A brief panel discussion will follow the showing. Ticket and registration information will be available soon. As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments: 781.455.0400, x203 or dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 02 Jan '17

02 Jan '17

January 2, 2017 Dear Needham Families: Happy New Year! I hope that Needham's families relaxed with some down time, reading, laughter, and meals enjoyed together over the holidays. My wife Karen and I were very pleased to have our three daughters home for Christmas, and we were sad to see them leave to return to DC, Baltimore, and Newark. It was just great to have them home! Allow me to share a few items as we begin the New Year: • *School Budget & Public Hearing* The School Committee is currently reviewing a proposed 5.57% increase in the budget for the 2017-18 school year (FY18). The budget plan maintains services in the schools and provides the resources required to address enrollment growth and special education needs. To view my presentation of the budget to the School Committee and learn more about the budget planning process: NPS FY18 Budget Documents <http://rwd1.needham.k12.ma.us/finance/Budget#Budget%20FY18> The School Committee encourages you to attend the upcoming *Budget Hearing* *scheduled at 7:00 p.m. for Tuesday, January 17th* at Broadmeadow to learn more about the plan and voice your ideas, questions, concerns, and comments. *• Martin Luther King Celebration *Once again this year the schools will partner with the Needham Diversity Committee, Needham Clergy Association, and Needham Human Rights Commission to celebrate the life and meaning of Dr. King. Please plan on joining us at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 16, 2016 at Needham High School for reflections, poetry, music, and more. *• Superintendent's Blog* My recent post addresses the FY18 Budget plan: Superintendent's Blog <http://npssuperintendent.blogspot.com/> As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments: 781.455.0400, x203 or dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us Best wishes for a healthy and happy 2017! Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 17 Nov '16

17 Nov '16

Dear Needham Families: Allow me to share the following updates and reminders: *• **5th Annual Needham Diversity Summit *In collaboration with the Needham Schools, Needham's 5th Annual Diversity Summit is scheduled for this Saturday, November 19th at Pollard from 8:30 a.m. - 3:00. The summit will bring together community leaders, friends, neighbors, and students for an event designed to explore, foster, strengthen, and celebrate Needham's diversity of socioeconomic status, race, sexual orientation, gender, religion, ethnic identity, age, immigration status, and ability. This annual event aims to create a network of people committed to creating an equitable and welcoming town, and to challenging its residents to think in new ways about our evolving community. For more information, including registration: Needham Diversity Initiative 5.0 <http://www.needhamdiversity.org/diversity-summit.html> *• New Elementary School! Full Day Kindergarten! *A huge thank you to the Needham Community for voting last week to support the design, development, and construction of a new elementary school on Central Avenue to replace Hillside. We are completely energized and excited by the opportunity the new school creates for the Hillside community in particular and all the schools within Needham because of the planned implementation of Full Day Kindergarten (FDK) when the new school opens. The School Committee recently decided to implement FDK in each elementary school in September of 2019. Please read more about the plan for FDK here: Full Day Kindergarten in Needham <http://rwd1.needham.k12.ma.us/superintendent/documents/FullDayKindergartenR…> *• Needham Education Foundation - Teacher Appreciation *Please consider contributing to the NEF by sending a *Teacher Appreciation Card*. In this way you will help the NEF provide funds for innovative school programing, and you will thank a teacher or staff member for his/her work with your child. More information here: NEF <http://www.nefneedham.org/> • * Twitter: Snow Day Updates * Setting up and managing a Twitter account is simple and will allow you a quick, easy, and fun way to stay connected to school news and events. *I tweet the first notification about weather-related school closings or delays on Twitter.* It's the quickest and simplest way to stay informed and updated about important school news. For more info: https://twitter.com/@NPS_Supt *• Student Achievements *Congratulations are in order for the two Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (MASS) Academic Excellence Award honorees, Michael Liu and Sarah Rosenberg, both NHS seniors. Michael and Sarah were honored at a recent School Committee meeting for their superb commitment to learning and academic excellence. They clearly represent our core values around Scholarship and Personal Growth! At the School Committee meeting both seniors expressed their deep appreciation for their parents' support and to all of the Needham teachers who have guided and assisted them over the years. Congratulations, Michael and Sarah! Kudos also to the Needham High Girls' Swim and Dive Team for being honored with the prestigious Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Sportsmanship Award presented to the team that exemplifies good spirit, fair play, maturity, discipline, and leadership. Whether in the pool, in the classroom, on the field, or on the stage, our students are talented, mature, hardworking, and poised. Needham families and the teachers and coaches who have guided them should rightly be proud! *• Happy Thanksgiving!* Finally, let me wish you and your families a peaceful and restful Thanksgiving holiday. We are fortunate to live, work, and learn in an amazing community like Needham that values children, and we are especially blessed to be citizens in a vibrant country that serves, however imperfectly, as a model of democracy, inclusion, and justice to the rest of a sometimes weary world. I know I am grateful to work with a talented staff, committed parents, and the exceptional young people of Needham - all of whom inspire civility, peace, and hope. *Happy Thanksgiving!* As always, you can be in touch with me via phone (781.455.0400, x203) or email: dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us Sincerely, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 25 Oct '16

25 Oct '16

Dear Needham Families: Allow me to share a few updates: *• New Hillside School Presentation *Please join the School Committee on Thursday, October 27th at 7:00 p.m. at the Center at the Heights (Senior Center) to hear a presentation about the planned new elementary school to replace Hillside. As you know, Needham voters will decide on November 8th whether or not to support the construction of a new school to replace Hillside. Please attend the meeting to learn about the project and ask the designers and school officials questions about the proposed new school. For more information: Hillside Elementary School Project <http://rwd1.needham.k12.ma.us/Hillside_and_Mitchell_Planning/> *• Congratulations Eliot and High Rock! *Both schools were named "Commendation Schools" by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as a result of high achievement on last spring's MCAS. Both schools were specifically commended for narrowing proficiency gaps among high needs students. What is especially noteworthy is that there were only 49 total schools in Massachusetts so recognized, and Eliot and High Rock were among them! And, by the way, kudos to the Hillside School for achieving Level One status as a result of the students' MCAS scores. *• Needham School Committee Meets in Boston November 1st *The next scheduled meeting of the Needham School Committee will be held at 6:30 p.m. next Tuesday, November 1st at the Jeremiah Burke High School <http://www.bostonpublicschools.org/school/burke-high-school> in Dorchester. This will be the second time the School Committee has held a public meeting in Boston, in part to engage parents of our Boston resident students who participate in the METCO Program. All are invited, and for those unable to attend, the meeting will be rebroadcast on The Needham Channel next week. As always, please let me know if you have any questions, concerns, or ideas. My email address is dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us and my phone is 781.455.0400, x203. Respectfully, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools

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Superintendent's Update: Town Water Emergency
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 28 Sep '16

28 Sep '16

Dear Needham Families: I am sending the following notice out to Needham families at the request of the Town Manager and Selectmen. Thank you, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools *EMERGENCY**WATER BAN* The Town has been notified by the MWRA that water service to Needham will be suspended in order to make repairs to a system leak. The Needham Board of Selectmen at the request of Town Officials has voted to approve an emergency ban on all outdoor water use. This order superseded the current one day per week mandatory outdoor water use restriction. The Board of Selectmen also requests your assistance by limiting ALL non-essential water use until further notice. *It is imperative that there be no outdoor watering and that all customers refrain from unnecessary water use. * We anticipate that the problem will be corrected within 48 hours. Questions should be directed to the Department of Public Works at (781) 455-7550 Press 0 UPDATES WILL BE POSTED AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE FROM THE MWRA

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 19 Sep '16

19 Sep '16

Monday, September 19, 2016 Dear Needham Families: As we head into our 4th week of school, allow me to share the following updates: *• Minuteman Vote Tuesday, September 20th *Needham residents will be able to vote from noon until 8:00 p.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, September 20, 2016 at the Center at the Heights (Senior Center) on the Minuteman Ballot Question <http://www.needhamma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/13916>. For more information about Minuteman High School and the proposed project: Minuteman Vote and School Construction Project Information <http://minuteman.org/Page/636> *• Hillside School Project: Next Steps! *Over the summer the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) authorized a new elementary school project to go forward on the Central Avenue site to replace the existing Hillside Elementary School. As a result of the MSBA's support, the Needham community will now vote on November 8, 2016 and decide whether or not to fund a new school designed to replace the aging and overcrowded existing Hillside facility. If the community supports this important project, a new school could open as early as 2019 or 2020. For detailed information about the project, please check out the district's website: Hillside Elementary School Project <http://rwd1.needham.k12.ma.us/Hillside_and_Mitchell_Planning/Hillside%20FAQs> *• Welcome School Resource Officers! * Your children may have noticed the presence of a new police officer on campus this year. We are very excited to welcome back to school this fall long-time School Resource Officer Vin Springer and his new partner, Ryan O'Leary. Both officers will be a regular presence in our schools and classrooms, and we welcome their partnership as we collaborate to make our schools safe. *• Superintendent's Blog* I try to update my blog monthly. My recent posting about our new School Resource Officers can be found here: http:// npssuperintendent.blogspot.com/ • * Stay in Touch with the Superintendent! *One way to stay in touch is to follow me on Twitter: *Give it a try!* The quickest way to get school closings or other important information is on Twitter. For school updates, weather-related school cancellations, reminders, and photos, go to: https://twitter.com/@NPS_Supt Also, you can be in touch with me via phone (781.455.0400, x203) or email: dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us I look forward to sharing with and hearing from you! *• Needham Students* Finally, as you probably know, this past week two Needham families have been impacted by the tragic and unexpected deaths of two young men, Harris Forbes and Eli Pilat. Harris Forbes lived in Needham and was a Needham Public Schools student who attended school in New Hampshire. According to his family and friends he "was a beautiful boy who, for much of his life, greeted the morning with a stretch and a smile. He lived his life in silent reverie, but brought joy to all who knew him." Eli Pilat, who died in a train accident over the weekend, was a ninth grader at Lincoln-Sudbury High School but attended Pollard in the 8th grade last year. His Lincoln-Sudbury principal said that while they were just getting to know Eli as a student, they were "beginning to appreciate his love of music and his self advocacy." There really aren't adequate words to express the loss of a child, and I won't try in this space. I am reminded, however, of a line from the 19th Century poet William Cullen Bryant who wrote: *And we wept that one so lovely should have a life so brief.* Please join me in offering our deepest sympathy and heartfelt prayers to the families of Harris and Eli. May both young men Rest in Peace. Respectfully, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 24 Aug '16

24 Aug '16

Dear Needham Families: As summer winds down and we prepare for the start of a new year, allow me to share two important updates: • My blog post for August outlining our preparations for the new school year can be found here: Superintendent's Blog <http://npssuperintendent.blogspot.com/> • The Town of Needham will celebrate Olympian Ally Raisman at a "Rally for Ally" on the Town Common on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Come and celebrate our Olympic Hero! Respectfully, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 13 Jun '16

13 Jun '16

Dear Needham Families: Allow me to share the following updates as we conclude another busy and successful school year: *• Water Quality Testing* Due to the increased media attention surrounding lead in drinking water, the Town of Needham recently tested all drinking fountains at our two oldest schools, Hillside and Mitchell. While there were no reported problems of lead at Mitchell, there were a couple of water fountains where the sample was slightly above the EPA's action level. Those water fountains were immediately taken out of service. Over the summer, the Town will test all drinking fountains in each school, including again at Mitchell and Hillside. The Town of Needham Director of Public Health, Tim McDonald, the Needham Schools Health Services Director, Elaine Tengalia, and the Superintendent of Schools, Dan Gutekanst will be available on Wednesday, June 15th at 5:00 p.m. in the Mitchell Elementary School, Room 1 to discuss the recent water testing results from Hillside and Mitchell. Please join us if you have any questions about the test results and the plans for testing water fountains in all of the District's schools. For complete information about the water testing, please refer to the District's website: Water Quality Testing Results <http://rwd1.needham.k12.ma.us/news/documents/Information%20about%20Water%20…> *• Congratulations, 2016 Retirees * At our recent Retirement Reception we honored several NPS staff retiring at year's end. Together they represent over 325 years of service to our students and the profession: *Gretchen Ayoub, Dotti Baker, Mardy Claus, Chris Faherty, Deb Gammerman, Sheila Hamwey, Lizette Hill, Lyn Robbins-Jekowsky, Joan Kirkman, Joan Krozy, Dianne List, Mora MacDonald, Rosanne McTernan, Chuck Mustone, Lynne Salzman, Mike Schwinden, Deborah Watters* We wish them well as they begin new adventures! *• New District Leaders *After extensive and comprehensive search processes involving interviews, reference checking, and site visits, we welcome several new district administrators who will join us in the fall: *Keith Ford*, currently a Dean of Students at Randolph High School has been appointed as a new NHS Assistant Principal; *Trelane Clark*, the Academy Leader at the Frederick Pilot Middle School in Dorchester, has been named Newman's Assistant Principal; *Barbara Singer*, currently a Natick School Nurse, has been appointed as the Director of School Health Services; *Elizabeth Welburn*, formerly of the Concord Public Schools, will assume the Middle School ELA Coordinator position; and *Elizabeth Zajac*, French Teacher and Teacher Leader at the O'Bryant School of Math & Science in Boston will become our new World Languages Director; *Shane Marchand* will become our new Transportation Director, replacing Sheila Hamwey who retires this year. We are excited to bring such talented folks to join us in the NPS; and Hillside teacher, *Jamie Singelais *will become our new English Language Learner (ELL) Coordinator. *• NEF Thank you Cards!* As the school year draws to a close, honor a special teacher, coach or staff person by making a donation in his or her name to the Needham Education Foundation (NEF). NEF Teacher Appreciation Cards make it simple to show your gratitude, while supporting innovation and excellence in Needham Public Schools. P urchase cards at Taylor’s Stationery or Volante Farms through June 24th. If you have questions, please contact Maureen Callahan at mcallahan(a)nefneedham.org. *• NHS Student Achievements *Recently, 140 NHS students were notified that they have been recognized for their world language proficiency in Spanish, Mandarin, Latin, and French. These students competed in national exams, resulting in the 140 awards, including 21 gold medals! At the National Speech and Debate Tournament in Sacramento, the eight NHS students participating cumulatively ranked in the top five out of 517 schools participating. Girls' Lacrosse and Varsity Baseball enjoyed incredible seasons, each finishing as a runner up in the state tournaments. This Wednesday, June 15th at 7:00 p.m. at Concord-Carlisle High School, the Boys' Volleyball Team will defend its Championship Title. *Please come and cheer the Rockets!* *• Student Leadership *Recently I had the good fortune to sit down with a few Pollard and NHS student leaders to talk about their roles and the meaning of leadership. For a sneak video preview of the conversation, please check out: Needham Schools Spotlight <http://www2.needham.k12.ma.us/nhs/TV-nps/15-16/StudentLeadership.htm> . The students are pretty amazing! Finally, let me take this opportunity to say thank you to our parents, staff, and all of our students for another successful year in the Needham Schools. Together we kept the focus on the important work: Providing an excellent education to the very best young people around. Thanks for your ongoing guidance, support, and generous spirit. It is an exceptional honor for me to serve as your superintendent. Enjoy the summer months with your family! Respectfully, Dan Gutekanst Superinetndent Needham Public Schools

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