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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 20 Mar '09

20 Mar '09

Dear Parents and Guardians, On behalf of the Needham Coalition for Suicide Prevention, I want to invite you to the "Community Gathering of Hope and Healing" to be held this Sunday, March 22. The losses that the Needham Schools and our community have suffered in the last five years have been difficult for many. We hope that this program will help us all take better care of ourselves and each other during these difficult times. Please join us for food, conversation, comfort and a brief program (4:30) this Sunday. Dan Gutekanst Superintendent [Image:31909_84843_0.png]

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 06 Mar '09

06 Mar '09

Friday, March 6, 2009 Dear Parents and Guardians: A few updates as we conclude the week: 2009-10 Calendar A reminder to families that we will be starting school next fall before Labor Day: Wednesday, September 2, 2009 is the first full day of classes. You can find the school calendar on the district's website: [ http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/calendars/documents/Pupil_Calendar_09-10.pdf ]2009-10 School Calendar As of today, the current school year will conclude on Tuesday, June 23rd (Newman will conclude on Friday, June 26th) if there are no additional snow days (Let's hope!). We will update this information on our website as appropriate. School Committee Open House The School Committee will hold its annual spring Open House in the Needham Library Community Room on Saturday, March 14, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. This is an informal opportunity for parents, community members, students, and staff to meet members of the School Committee and share ideas, concerns, and ask questions. You can visit for five minutes or for however long you would like. Please stop by and enjoy a cup of coffee and conversation with your School Committee! Newman Update Last week representatives from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), including Executive Director Katherine Craven, visited Newman to discuss the status of the town's request to the MSBA for funding to renovate the heating and ventilation (HVAC) system. Several town and school officials, including Representative Lida Harkins, presented an update and information to the MSBA about the various indoor air quality and HVAC problems at Newman. We were immensely pleased to learn that the MSBA expressed their willingness to enter into a fast-track design process to identify a project scope and cost. The School Committee, Permanent Public Building Committee (PPBC), Selectmen, Finance Committee, and town and school administrators will continue to work with the MSBA to identify costs and options for the likely relocation of students and staff during a renovation/construction project at Newman that could begin, at the earliest, in the summer of 2010. It is my expectation that we will work closely with the Newman community to discuss options and ideas as we move forward with planning. School Committee Chair Michael Greis and I will attend Newman's upcoming PTC meeting on March 31st to update parents about our progress. Ultimately, of course, Town Meeting and Needham's voters will need to approve funding for the renovation of the building. Parents are also welcome to attend upcoming PPBC meetings to learn about some of the construction options and ideas being discussed. Information about the PPBC and a schedule of meetings can be found on the town's website: [ http://ma-needham.civicplus.com/index.asp?NID=633 ]Permanent Public Building Committee Information School Space Needs Committee Next Wednesday evening, March 11th from 6:00 until 7:30 p.m. in the Needham High School Media Center the [ http://space.nehoiden.net/ ]School Space Needs Committee will share its preliminary findings and recommendations. The committee, comprised of representatives from various town boards, parents, school administrators, and community members, has been meeting since December to review school space issues and needs in the Needham Public Schools. The committee will share its work and ask for input from interested parents and community members prior to their formal presentation to the School Committee on March 17th. More information about the committee, including documents, school data, and enrollment trends, may be found on the link indicated above. Best wishes to our girls' basketball team and the boys' hockey team as they compete in post season play this weekend! As always, I can be reached at dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us or 781.455.0400, x203. Have a great weekend. Sincerely, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 18 Jan '09

18 Jan '09

Dear Parents and Guardians: On the eve of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday and an historic week in Washington, allow me to share two items with you: The School Committee will hold a public hearing on the [ http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/finance/budget.htm ]FY10 Budget on Tuesday evening, January 20th at Broadmeadow. The School Committee will hold its regular meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m. with the public hearing portion beginning at approximately 8:00 p.m. Parents and members of the community are invited to attend and share ideas and concerns about the budget plan prior the Committee's vote on January 27th. The meeting will begin with musical selections offered by the Fifth Grade Chorus. Please check out the newly refreshed [ http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/ ]Needham Public Schools website designed to provide you with easily accessible information and updates about the schools. We welcome your feedback as we work to improve our communication efforts and outreach. Enjoy the upcoming week! Sincerely, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 24 Dec '08

24 Dec '08

Wednesday, December 24, 2008 Dear Parents and Guardians: Let me take this opportunity to update you about a few items: Budget. During the month of January the School Committee will continue to review the preliminary 2009-10 [ http://fcw4.needham.k12.ma.us/SC.Packets/SC%20Packet%2012-2-08.pdf?FCItemID… ]FY10 Budget request. As I have indicated previously, our request, a 3.9% increase over the current year, is modest and requires us to reduce some staff positions and funds for supplies. The fiscal climate is a significant challenge, but we will work closely with the town to ensure we have the minimum resources we need to provide a high quality program for our students. I encourage parents to follow the budget discussions that will take place throughout January and into the winter months. Also this winter, we are collaborating with the town to conduct energy audits in our school buildings to see how we might conserve energy. Who knows? Perhaps there are some simple steps we can take within our schools and classrooms to reduce energy costs and our carbon footprint. School Space Committee. This week the School Space Committee met for the first time to discuss school space needs in the Needham Public Schools. The School Committee charged the Space Committee with the task of considering options to address short and long-term school space needs with special attention to enrollment trends, town-wide capital needs and priorities, and the planned Newman renovation. Membership on the School Space Committee includes: C. Brumbach (Dir. of Student Development, NPS), J. Cogswell (Community Rep.), M. Cooley (School Committee), D. Davison (Finance Dir., Town of Needham), K. Fitzpatrick (Town Manager), F. Fortin (Parent/Community Rep.), M. Greis (School Committee), A. Gulati (Finance Dir., NPS), D. Gutekanst (Superintendent), G. Kent (Permanent Public Building Committee), J. Lamenzo (Future School Needs Committee), M. McAneny (Newman Assistant Principal), L. Miller (Executive Sec., Finance Committee), M. Piltch (Parent/Community Rep.), P. Robey (Community Rep.), D. Matthews (Selectman), R. Zimbone (Finance Committee). The committee will meet throughout the winter and provide a report to the School Committee in March. The next meeting is scheduled for January 14, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. at the Emery Grover Building on Highland Ave. Community members are welcome to attend. I will also include updates of the committee's work in future emails and reports to the School Committee. PPBC. On a related note, the Permanent Public Building Committee (PPBC) continues to study options for renovating Newman's heating and ventilation system. The proposed renovation would likely involve the displacement of students and/or programs for a period of time, and both the PPBC and School Committee need to understand what options are safe, efficient, cost effective, and the least disruptive to our students. I will schedule a meeting with the Newman School community in January or February to discuss some of the ideas and update them about plans and options. New Years Needham. I encourage parents and students to enjoy New Year's Eve in Needham: Join the community for a celebration of art, music, dance and magic on December 31st from noon to 10:00 p.m. Check out the schedule of events at: http://needarts.org/ Scholarship, Citizenship, Community, Personal Growth. Yesterday morning at Hillside I spied the 4th grade chorus preparing for an upcoming concert, and it reminded me of the wonderful musical performances I have observed recently at Mitchell (David Neves conducting) and the high school (Jonathan VanderWoude conducting). Our students are led by exceptional teachers and principals throughout the district and supported by caring nurses, secretaries, aides, and custodians, all of whom live our core values each day. The outstanding music also reminded me about the importance of encouraging creativity, imagination, and innovation within our students even as we hold them to high expectations for their personal growth and learning. As I walk through Needham's classrooms I recognize we have opportunities to grow in this area, but we also have the skilled and talented professionals-and equally capable students-to accomplish this! It continues to be a real honor for me to work within the Needham Public Schools. Thank you for the opportunity. I hope you and your families and friends enjoy a peaceful holiday. Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas! As always, I can be reached at dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us or 781.455.0400, x203. Sincerely, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent 2008 Performance Report Factoid: According to the [ http://district.needham.k12.ma.us/reports/performance_report_2008.pdf ]2008 Performance Report Needham's teachers participated in 52 courses and workshops last year covering over 580 course hours. (page 10)

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 02 Nov '08

02 Nov '08

Sunday, November 2, 2008 Dear Parents and Guardians: Please allow me to share three brief updates as we begin a new week: Three Needham High School graduates were honored at last week's annual Distinguished Career Awards: Anne Collins (NHS Class of '79), most recently the Massachusetts Registrar of Motor Vehicles; Thomas Lambert ('73), former Needham police officer and current Chief of Police in Holliston; and Carol Hasenfus Stento ('77), championship NHS coach and mentor. Congratulations to our honorees who also spent the morning at NHS meeting with the entire junior class discussing their careers and accomplishments. This is a reminder that there will be no school for students on Tuesday, November 4th, Election Day. Teachers, however, will be engaged in a professional development program all day at the high school. The reason we chose Election Day as a professional development day for teachers and a no school day for students is because the principals have expressed serious concern for student safety during elections when students are in classes and schools are used as polling places. Strangers in the building, traffic congestion in and out of school venues, and hazardous parking lot scenes (compete with many cars inappropriately parked in tight spaces, bus traffic, and small children darting around) have been a concern. For those reasons, and when it is possible, we would prefer not to have school in session during a major election. Finally, my office has received several inquiries about the status of a possible Newman heating and ventilation construction project as it relates to the opening of High Rock as a 6th grade center next year. For the 2009-2010 school year, we anticipate that High Rock will be a 6th grade center and Newman will continue as an elementary school. The Permanent Public Building Committee (PPBC) has not yet received a final report from the architects and engineers studying the options for Newman. The report is due in mid November. However, the School Committee, the PPBC, and the Selectmen have determined that it is prudent to await the architect's recommendation for a project and then develop specific plans for design, construction, funding, and the full or partial relocation of students during a construction period. These groups plan to bring a specific proposal to the May 2009 Town Meeting for their support and funding for a project design. If Town Meeting approves a project, there will need to be a debt exclusion (override) to support such a renovation. The proposed timeline calls for construction to begin at Newman at the conclusion of the 2009-10 school year. Thus, the Newman school community would remain at Newman next year. There is no plan to relocate Newman students to High Rock or any other school next year. If the Newman School has an emergency requiring the student population to be relocated, we would, of course, consider all available options, including High Rock and the town's other schools and facilities, to temporarily place students. The school administration continues to develop contingency plans in the event any of our schools requires an emergency relocation at any time. We will share general information about those contingency plans at the November 18th School Committee meeting. I hope you and your family have a very good week! As always, I am happy to hear your questions, comments and concerns. Please contact my office at 781.455.0400, x 203 or [ mailto:dan_gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us ]dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us . Enjoy the week! incerely, Daniel Gutekanst, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 27 Oct '08

27 Oct '08

October 27, 2008 Dear Parents and Guardians: Two brief updates to begin the week: The Pollard Middle School Treble Choir will participate in the opening ceremony for the [ http://www.needhamma.gov/index.asp?NID=2030 ]The Wall That Heals, the Traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial that will be at Memorial Park October 30th through November 2nd. The opening ceremony will be held at 6:00 p.m. on October 30th, and all are invited to attend. Several folks have contacted my office inquiring about the upcoming High Rock Override ballot Question 4 scheduled for Election Day, November 4th. Information about the High Rock construction project and the override can be found on the Needham Public Schools website under [ http://district.needham.k12.ma.us/facilities_high_rock_update.htm ]High Rock Update. Specific information about the operational override can be found in the [ http://district.needham.k12.ma.us/facilities_high_rock_QA.htm ]Override Q and A link. As always, I am happy to hear your questions, comments and concerns. Please contact my office at 781.455.0400, x 203 or [ mailto:dan_gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us ]dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us . Enjoy the week! Sincerely, Daniel Gutekanst, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 13 Oct '08

13 Oct '08

October 13, 2008 Dear Parents and Guardians: Two brief updates to begin the week: Newman Update As you may know, the Permanent Public Building Committee (PPBC) has been working since last spring with the architectural firm of Drummey, Rosane, and Anderson (DRA) to recommend a permanent solution for Newman's outdated heating and ventilation systems. So far the architects have shared the following with the PPBC: - The building's structure, including walls and foundations, is sturdy and can continue to be used as a school for many, many years to come. As part of regular maintenance, the school's roof should be replaced. - There are at least two viable options for replacing the building's heating and ventilation system (and adding air conditioning). One option is to install rooftop HVAC units (estimated construction cost: $17 million); the other option is to build one main mechanical room (estimated construction cost: $20 million) that would support the building's HVAC needs. Both options would provide the school with a high quality, serviceable, and dependable HVAC system that meets current regulations and building codes and maintains healthy and safe indoor air quality and ventilation. - It is possible to locate some modular classrooms on campus, but away from construction areas, for use by students and staff while the school is renovated. Adding modular classrooms to the campus during construction will add additional costs to the project - conceivably up to 30 percent of the cost. Depending on whether or not the building is completely unoccupied or partially occupied for a renovation project will impact the length and duration of construction as well as costs. Given the complexities associated with such an important and ambitious project, the PPBC does not believe it is ready to recommend a specific project to the Special Town Meeting scheduled for October 27th. The School Committee also believes that more time is required to discuss the planning, phasing, and logistics associated with this project. The PPBC, with DRA, will hold a forum at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 15th at Broadmeadow to present the options under consideration. Parents and community members are encouraged to attend and ask questions and share ideas. School Committee Fall Open House The School Committee will also hold its annual Fall Open House at the high school cafeteria on Saturday, October 18th from 9 until 11:00 a.m. This will be an opportunity for parents and community members to meet the School Committee and interact in an informal setting over coffee, compliments of our friends at Starbuck's. The School Committee is interested in hearing your ideas, concerns, and suggestions. Please join us! As always, please contact me now and throughout the year with questions, comments, and suggestions. I can be reached at 781.455.0400, extension 203 or [ mailto:dan_gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us ]dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us Sincerely, Daniel E. Gutekanst, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools Did you know... The 2008 Needham Public Schools Performance Report (mailed home in August and online: http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/ ) indicates that Needham students continue to improve and perform exceptionally well on the SAT, MCAS, and Advanced Placement (AP) exams? For example, over 400 AP exams were administered last spring with a Needham High passing rate of 94%. And Needham continues to compare favorably with similar communities when considering the average single family tax bill: Needham ranks 14 out of 21 surrounding communities. I will share additional highlights of the Performance Report in future emails as a postscript.

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 01 Oct '08

01 Oct '08

October 1, 2008 Dear Parents and Guardians: A few updates from the Needham Schools: Needham Schools and students have long been the beneficiaries of talented, enthusiastic, and tireless (mostly parent) volunteers. The extraordinary efforts of our parent volunteers provide the time, capacity, and extra set of hands to ensure our students have a rewarding school experience. This year, in order to comply with Massachusetts law and School Committee policy, we will ask that all volunteers complete a Criminal Offenders Record Information (CORI) form before they begin their volunteering work in the schools and classrooms. Our district has a longstanding practice of conducting these background checks on every employee from substitute teachers, to bus drivers, to teachers and administrators. The law also requires that we ask volunteers to have the same background check in our on-going effort to keep students safe and comply with the law. Specifically, and in accordance with School Committee policy, adults who will have unsupervised, or potentially unsupervised, contact with students will be asked to submit to a CORI background check. This means, for example, that parents who regularly volunteer in the school or chaperone field trips will need to complete the background check. It is not the States, nor our, intention to require CORI background checks on every parent volunteer. Parents who come to school as occasional classroom volunteers or celebrity readers typically have teachers in the room with them. In these instances, the volunteers do not require a CORI check. The School Committee Policy is intended to preserve the very special relationship our schools have with parents and volunteers while re-assuring all parents that every reasonable measure is being taken to safeguard children. Principals will notify parents, in advance, if a type of volunteer activity falls under the CORI provision. In those cases, parents will be asked to fill out a brief consent form which is then processed confidentially through the school department's human resource director. The turnaround from the state is very prompt and the volunteer work will proceed on schedule. Parents who are currently volunteering can, of course, continue to do so while the CORI procedure is fully implemented. Contact your school principal if you have a specific question or concern. I appreciate the time you give to our schools and your willingness to assist us as we integrate this policy into our school routines. We have learned that some folks attempting to access PowerSchool using Internet Explorer are experiencing difficulty logging on. We are addressing that problem and should have it corrected within a few days. Please try again at the end of the week or, if possible, try accessing PowerSchool on a different web browser. The Permanent Public Building Committee (PPBC) has been hard at work managing three school construction projects: Needham High School, High Rock, and the Newman HVAC feasibility study. At the PPBC's meeting next Monday, October 6th at 7:30 p.m., all three projects will be discussed and the architect will review recommendations for Newman. I will send a separate Superintendent's Update within the next few days to share with parents some of the challenges facing the schools and community as we discuss these critical building and school needs over the next several weeks and months. The district's 2008 MCAS results are again a good news story for the schools and community, and we will share the results at next week's School Committee meeting. The district overall made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and Needham High School students continue to perform at outstanding levels, well above many of the communities to which we are often compared. At the same time, we have subgroups of students who did not do as well: Grades 3-5 special education students did not make AYP in English Language Arts, and grades 6-8 special education students did not make AYP in both English Language Arts and Math. Additionally, this was the second year for the grades 6-8 special education students to not make AYP, which therefore gives Pollard the NCLB Accountability Status of Improvement Year-1 for this sub group. The Pollard staff is studying these results and preparing a plan to address the needs of these students. We will continue to use the MCAS as one of many assessments--but not the only assessment--we use in our classrooms to understand student growth, learning, and achievement. We have enjoyed a terrific opening to the school year! I am very impressed with the high level of engagement, creativity, enthusiasm, and learning evident in the classrooms I have been visiting. I am excited for the year to unfold and want you to know how much I appreciate being your superintendent. As always, please contact me at 781.455.0400, x 203 or dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us if you have a comment, question, or concern. Thanks! Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 29 Aug '08

29 Aug '08

Friday, August 29, 2008 Dear Parents and Guardians: Welcome back to the 2008-09 school year! I hope and trust that you and your family enjoyed some time together this summer to rest and relax. Every school year seems to have its own set of transitions, full of hope, anticipation, and sometimes a little anxiety. My wife Karen and I sent two of our daughters off to college in Washington D.C. this past week, one to American University and the other to George Washington University. Like most parents, it is with a sense of pride and a bit of anxiety that we said goodbye to our daughters as they begin a new semester so far away from home. And next week our third daughter begins her high school career, missing her siblings, but at the same time enjoying the extra space and anytime access to the computer! During the last week I have been reminded of our common goals as parents and educators to prepare our students to be confident, independent, and resilient. As we prepare for the opening of school on Wednesday, September 3rd (for Newman students Monday, September 8th), please allow me to share a few updates: Performance Report The 2008 Needham Public Schools Performance Report will be mailed out and should be in your home within the next week. The report provides detailed information about Needham's schools, programs, and student achievement. We are very proud of the report and hope you find it valuable and useful. PowerSchool: This month we learned a high school student accessed the districts electronic student information data server, PowerSchool, using a teachers password that was obtained without the teachers knowledge. Once in the system, the student exported and shared data which contained high school student identification numbers, schedules, and high school teacher rosters. Students and parents who obtained this data on the online social networking site, Facebook, immediately notified us. We recognized this as an inappropriate and illegal activity and began an investigation involving the districts administrators and Needham Police. While the student investigation continues, the school staff is reviewing procedures to ensure passwords are secure and an incident like this is not repeated. We are concerned about this breach in our security and will address this episode aggressively to ensure that the integrity of PowerSchool is maintained. While we are updating these routines, PowerSchool will not be accessible to students and parents. Additional information, including instructions for parents to access PowerSchool securely to update student and contact information, will be mailed home within a few weeks. Newman Update As you know by now, the Newman School community will begin school three days later this year as a result of the construction and remediation efforts underway this past summer. Last winter the Newman school community faced a failing heating and ventilation system. The 48-year-old system, much of it built into the concrete slab of the building and inaccessible for repair, was blowing dust particles and debris through the library and adjacent areas requiring the relocation of some staff members who were developing allergic reactions and symptoms. Additional adverse student and staff reactions in other areas of the building led to the closing of three additional classrooms and the library. The concern about the quality of the school's inside air, in combination with the spring's pollen season, was problematic for the Newman community. Ongoing testing was conducted and a Massachusetts Department of Public Health report indicated that immediate efforts were required to ensure the building occupants' health and safety. Quick action in the spring by town officials resulted in a $650,000 appropriation by Town Meeting to fund short-term remediation efforts and a longer-term feasibility study. The study is being conducted by the Permanent Public Building Committee (PPBC) to determine options for a permanent solution. Several medical, environmental and occupational health specialists have been working closely with Principal Barbara Collins and members of the schools Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Team to assess our progress, monitor the ongoing work, and provide assurances that the building is safe and healthy for all students and staff. At this point Principal Collins and I are extremely pleased with the condition of the building and are both confident that Newmans students and staff will enjoy a productive and healthy school year. We will continue to collaborate with the town to address Newmans long-term needs, and our medical professionals will continue to work throughout the school year to monitor air quality issues there. More information about the ongoing work at Newman can be found on the districts website: [ http://newman.needham.k12.ma.us/updates/remediationnews.htm ]Newman School Remediation Updates Focus on Teacher Growth & Learning Throughout the summer school staff participated in a variety of professional development programs designed to enhance their knowledge and impact student learning. Almost 400 teachers and administrators participated in courses, workshops, curriculum improvement projects, or developed additional skills to ensure teacher collaboration through a [ http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/content/currclum/cu3lk22.htm ]Professional Learning Community model. Many talented people were involved in learning new ideas and preparing curriculum better aligned to standards and better directed for student learning and success. Core Values Last school year the School Committee adopted four core values that we believe provide the foundation for all our work in the Needham Public Schools: Scholarship Learning. Every student engaged in dynamic and challenging academic experiences that stimulate thinking, creativity, wellness and encourage inquiry and continued learning. Staff improving their practice in an environment that supports a high level of collaboration and learning focused on helping every student learn and achieve. Community Working together. A culture that embraces communication, understanding, and the promotion of human dignity as responsibilities all students and staff have toward one another, their schools, and a diverse local and global community. Citizenship Contributing. An environment that nurtures respect, integrity, compassion, and service and where all members of the school community participate fully. ~Working together, sharing ideas, and encouraging multiple perspectives ensures a vibrant and caring community. Personal Growth Acting courageously. All students developing skills and confidence through personalized educational experiences that build on student strengths and emphasize reflection, curiosity, resilience, and risk taking. Again this year we will strive to integrate these values into all of our work with Needhams students believing that there is no higher purpose for the community than to ensure our children have an exceptional educational experience that will empower them as learners and citizens. We are looking forward to greeting your child and all the students beginning next week. Let me take this opportunity to wish each young person a successful school year! As always, please contact me now and throughout the year with questions, comments, and suggestions. I can be reached at 781.455.0400, extension 203 or [ mailto:dan_gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us ]dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us Enjoy the Labor Day weekend! Sincerely, Daniel E. Gutekanst, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools

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

17 Jun '08

June 17, 2008 Dear Parents and Guardians: As the school year draws to a close, allow me to update you on a few items: Student Creativity Congratulations to all of our students who showcased their efforts in the schools' art shows and performed so well in various concerts and music performances over the last several weeks. It is clear that this community values creativity as evidenced by the skill and talent of our young people and the staff and parents who support them. Graduation 349 members of the Needham High School Class of 2008 received their diplomas at Babson College this past week during the Graduation Exercises attended by faculty, family, and friends. The graduates beamed throughout the ceremony as each one received his or her diploma from Principal Richards and members of the School Committee. In addition, during the traditional Class Day, over $184,000 in scholarships and honors were awarded to deserving NHS seniors. These scholarships represent the community's continued support and commitment to the young people of Needham High School. Newman Elementary School The town and school department continue to work closely to address the ongoing air quality concerns at Newman. This summer an enormous amount of work will be completed to ensure the building's heating and ventilation systems work properly and to provide a safe and healthy environment for all students and staff. At the same time the Permanent Public Building Committee (PPBC) is charged with the task of determining a permanent solution to heating and ventilation concerns in the building. I remain confident that the right resources are being applied and that we will all work together-Town Government, Schools, and the Needham community- to address and solve this problem. We will hold an additional evening parent meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, June 18th at 7:00 p.m. in the Newman auditorium to update parents about our progress and plans. The meeting will also be re-broadcast on cable for those unable to attend. Finally, as summer draws near and the school year concludes, please know that I continue to be so impressed with Needham's young people and the work they have accomplished. As I visit the schools and classrooms, I observe enthusiastic and confident students who are eager to share their knowledge and help one another. It is clear that they embody the district's values of Scholarship, Citizenship, Community, and Personal Growth inside and outside of the classroom. I am very proud to be the superintendent of schools in this community! Thanks for your guidance and support and enjoy the summer months with your family. Sincerely, Dan Gutekanst, Ed.D. Superintendent dan_gutekanst(a)nnedham.k12.ma.us

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