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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 16 Oct '07

16 Oct '07

Dear Parents and Guardians: Allow me to share three updates about activities in the Needham Public Schools: Astronaut Suni Williams will be honored later this month in the schools and in the community as part of a welcome home celebration. Suni grew up in Needham, attended the Hillside Elementary and Newman Middle Schools before graduating from Needham High in 1983. She then attended the United States Naval Academy, and following graduation reported to Naval Aviation Training Command. Suni was assigned to Helicopter Combat Support and made overseas deployments in support of Desert Shield and Operation Provide Comfort. NASA selected Commander Williams for the Astronaut program in June 1998. The town's Suni Williams Celebration will begin at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, October 27th, with a short procession from the Fire/Police Station on Chestnut Street to Town Hall. Suni will then be congratulated and welcomed by local officials, visiting dignitaries, and most important, the citizens of Needham. The celebration will include performances by the Needham High School marching band, Pollard Middle School Treble Choir, and the Highland Glee Club singers. Refreshments will be served as Suni meets and greets with all who attend. Please plan on welcoming Suni home to Needham on Saturday, October 27th. This evening, the Needham School Committee will hear a presentation about the proposed Needham Public Schools Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals for the 2007-08 school year. As you may know, the school community has been working over the last year to discuss, shape, and articulate core values and goal statements that reflect our work with students. You may view the proposed mission, vision, values, and goals document at the NPS website: http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/pdf_downloads/Proposed_District_Goals.pdf There will be a Community Forum to present and discuss the proposed values and goals on Thursday evening, November 1st at 7:00 p.m. at Broadmeadow. Please join us to learn more about the goals and share your feedback and ideas. I will ask the School Committee to vote on the proposed values and goals at their November 6th meeting. If you wish to share a comment about the values or goals, please email the School Committee: schoolcommittee(a)needham.k12.ma.us You may also post a comment online: http://district.needham.k12.ma.us/ssc_school_com_comm.htm Your input is welcomed and encouraged! In addition, the School Committee will host an informal Open House at Needham High School at 9:00 until 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 3rd. The purpose of the Open House is for interested parents and community members to drop in and chat with School Committee members in an informal setting and share ideas and concerns. Students will also be available to provide brief tours of the new wing of the high school. Please join the School Committee for conversation and a cup of coffee. As always, please let me know if you have a question or comment. My phone number is 781.455.0400 x203 or you may email me at dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us As I begin my second year in the Needham Public Schools, please know that I continue to be incredibly impressed with our students and the support you provide them and their teachers each day. Sincerely, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 29 Aug '07

29 Aug '07

Dear Parents and Guardians: Welcome back to the 2007-08 school year! I hope and trust that you and your family enjoyed some time together this summer to rest and relax. As we prepare for the opening of school on Wednesday, September 5th, please allow me to share a few updates: The 2007 Needham Public Schools Performance Report has been mailed out and should be in your home within the next few days. 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. This year parents at all grade levels will be asked to correct and edit your child's student demographic and parent emergency contact information online. Parents will receive a user identification number to access our student information system, PowerSchool, to make appropriate changes with addresses, phone contacts, email, etc. Parents who have limited internet access will still be able to complete changes on a form and send into the school office. More information and directions will be sent home with students the first week of classes. At its August 21st meeting, the School Committee reviewed and commented on a draft statement reflecting the mission, vision, values, and goals of the Needham Public Schools. The draft statement is a result of the input of hundreds of teachers, parents, staff, and students who shared key ideas and concepts over the last several months as we worked to identify the core values of the Needham Public Schools. The School Committee reviewed four draft core value statements. The statements reflect what we most value 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. It is my expectation that these core values, once adopted by the School Committee, will become the foundation for all of our work and planning in the school system. The values must guide and direct us as we work with children and one another. Parents and members of the community are encouraged to provide feedback on the core values and participate in the upcoming discussions about school goals and objectives during the September and October School Committee meetings. For more information about the draft mission, vision, values, and goals please visit this link to the Needham Public Schools website: http://fcw4.needham.k12.ma.us/SC.Packets/SC%20packet%208-21-07.pdf?FCItemID… Many thanks to the Town Manager and the many town department staff who spent considerable time and effort preparing schools for our opening. The new parking lots at Mitchell and Newman look super; the buildings have been cleaned and scrubbed; the high school will open another new wing; and each classroom in Pollard is now equipped with additional technology, including projectors, to enhance teaching and learning. The cooperation among various town and school staff to ensure the schools are ready for students has been great and is much appreciated. We are looking forward to greeting your child and all the students next Wednesday, September 5th. 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 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 10 Jun '07

10 Jun '07

Dear Parents and Guardians: 330 members of the Needham High School Class of 2007 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, last Sunday during the traditional Class Day, over $180,000 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. It was a warm, touching, and spirited celebration for the finest young people around. Please check out Graduation photos and speeches at the Needham High School website: http://nhs.needham.k12.ma.us/graduation/graduation2007/graduation2007.html Faculty members, students, and parents have recently participated in an exercise designed to stimulate thinking around the district's values and vision. At several recent PTC meetings, for example, parents were asked to brainstorm key words and phrases that best describe what is most important in the Needham Public Schools experience. The District Leadership Team, comprised of principals, directors, and central office administrators, has reviewed the lists of hundreds of words and ideas and determined that the following key themes include: -academic excellence -reflective and compassionate learning -global citizenship -social and emotional competence -integrity -student-centered learning and growth -risk-taking -high expectations with high support -sense of community and service Over the next several weeks, I will work with the School Committee and staff to refine and focus these ideas so that we may determine which three or four core values are most meaningful and reflect our work in the Needham Public Schools. In the summer and the fall I will ask the principals to engage teachers and staff in the development of goal statements and objectives that reflect the core values. Ultimately, it will be the School Committee's responsibility to review and support these core values and the district goals. It is my expectation that the goals will guide the work of our schools and staff over the next year or two. I will certainly keep you posted as this important work evolves. (I had previously provided a link to the NPS website to learn more about the key issues facing the school system and this process: http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/pdf_downloads/EntryPlanUpdate.pdf ) 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. Thanks for your guidance and support as I lead the Needham Public Schools! As always, I welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions. Sincerely, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent dan_gutekanst(a)nnedham.k12.ma.us

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 06 May '07

06 May '07

Dear Parents and Guardians: A few updates for you and your family as we begin a new week: Recently the Needham Police Chief, Thomas Leary, and I signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining the working relationship between the school and police departments. The original MOU was signed several years ago by former police and school representatives. The new agreement is more focused and outlines general procedures for communication between the two departments with an emphasis on providing optimum student and school safety and security. The police chief and I believe it is prudent to have a clear understanding about school and police responsibilities in the event illegal or criminal behavior is ever a concern within our schools. The MOU is one of the many collaborative efforts undertaken by the police and school department this year and highlights our commitment to ensure safe, secure, and healthy school environments in the Needham Public Schools. The MOU can be found on the school departments website: [ http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/pdf_downloads/%20School-Police_MOU.pdf ]http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/pdf_downloads/%20School-Police_MOU.pdf Chief Leary and I will both participate in a parent forum entitled: Be a Parent, Not a Pal Tuesday evening, May 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the Needham High School library. This will be an opportunity for parents to hear from school, police, and legal representatives about underage drinking and parent responsibility, especially as we enter into the prom and graduation party season. There will be ample opportunity for parents to ask questions and make suggestions about how we can work together as a community to ensure our young people are safe and sober. We look forward to seeing you at this important forum. For more information about this program, contact the high schools Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator, Deb Engler at [ mailto:Deborah_engler@needham.k12.ma.us ]Deborah_engler(a)needham.k12.ma.us Needham High School is proud to recognize five extraordinary seniors who have been named National Merit Finalists as part of the National Merit Scholarship Program: Kim Baldouf, Hannah Freeman, Daniel Gu, Christina Kelly, and Jeff Wong. These students were chosen among 1.4 million original participants in the PSAT National Merit Scholars Qualifying Test. Our five students were chosen from a final round of 15,000 students who met additional academic qualifications. It is very unusual for a high school of our size to have so many students honored with this designation. Congratulations to these terrific young scholars from Needham High School! I was pleased to speak at last weeks National Honor Society Induction ceremony at Needham High School. Congratulations to the two dozen juniors who met the NHS standards for Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character and were inducted during the formal ceremony. These young people clearly represent the high academic standards of Needham High School and the schools commitment to the community and leadership. A few parents suggested I share my remarks, so I have included them below. As always, please contact me with questions, comments, or suggestions: [ mailto:dan_Gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us ]dan_Gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us Sincerely, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent National Honor Society Induction Ceremony Needham High School Daniel E. Gutekanst April 26, 2007 Good afternoon Mr. Richards, Faculty, Parents, Guests, NHS Members, and NHS Inductees. I am very pleased to be here and to celebrate your accomplishment! This is my first year as superintendent in Needham and I am thrilled to participate in a celebration of student excellence and achievement. I have had the privilege of seeing some of you in class, on the fields, at meetings, or even on the stage over the last several months, and I could not be prouder of who you are and what you represent to the community. This ceremony today is an honor for you personally, but I assure you that it is also meaningful to the high school and Needham communities. Of all the qualities required for admission into the Needham High School Chapter of the National Honor Societyscholarship, service, leadership, and characterI am going to suggest to our inductees that the most significant quality is character. Character. Why character, and, say, not scholarship? After all, this is the NHS and we are all about academics and scholarship. Well, I believe each of these attributes is critical to this prestigious organization and, of course, to your present and future success. But I believe character, your character, supports and nurtures scholarship, leadership, and service. I believe character is a prerequisite to lead and live a successful and fulfilling life. Without character, it is unlikely you will use your mind, heart, and hands to expand your knowledge, enrich your learning, or serve others in a meaningful way. Each of you has wonderfully rich personal giftsgood looks, intelligence, charm, athletic and musical prowess. You have thus far demonstrated an ability to hit the books, tutor a kid, or captain a team. And you have also demonstrated responsibility, diligence, and teamworkthose attributes, that character, are the stuff of your success. A high GPA, a big win on the field, or the number of community service hours racked up may get us through the door but by themselves they cannot be the goal. In fact, these achievements are meaningless if, in the end, we do not have the strength of character to do the right thing, the courageous thing, the just thing, when called upon. I know your teachers have challenged you in the classroom, and I know they have encouraged respect, fairplay, and honesty. In fact, I have come to learn in my short time here that the teachers and administrators seek to develop and strengthen your character. And they believe this is critical. It is. Haim Ginot, a Holocaust survivor, wrote a chilling letter to teachers after he survived the horrors of the Nazis. He wrote: Dear Teacher... I am a survivor of a concentration camp. My eyes saw what no man should witness. Gas chambers built by learned engineers. Children poisoned by educated physicians. Infants killed by trained nurses. Women and babies shot by high school and university graduates. So I am suspicious of education. My request is this: help your students become human. Your efforts must never produce learned monsters, skilled psychopaths, educated Eichmanns. He concludes: Reading, writing, and arithmetic are important only if they serve to make our children more humane. I would add that AP courses, varsity athletic letters, first violin in the orchestra... and even membership in the National Honor Society are only important if they serve to strengthen your understanding of yourself, of others, and provide you the tools you need to make this a better world. It is hard work, patience, tolerance, respect, honesty, caring, and for many of you your faithin short, it is your character that will enable your continued growth and success. When things get tough, and they inevitably will; when you are all alone, and you most certainly will be, it is your inner strength, your depth of character that will allow you to accept fear with courage, defeat with grace, and success with humility. Your character is what you will draw on to do the right thing. Congratulations for demonstrating a commitment to learning. You would not be here this afternoon if you were unable to prove your worthiness in the classroom and within the school community. But it is your humanity, your character, that will sustain you and will enrich a world that desperately needs your scholarship, service, and leadership. Thank you.

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 09 Apr '07

09 Apr '07

Dear Parents and Guardians: I hope those families celebrating Passover and Easter enjoyed peaceful holidays this past week. Please allow me to update you on a few items: When I arrived in Needham this past summer I presented the School Committee with my plan for getting to know both the Needham Public Schools and the Needham community. I promised them at the time a report about what I learn about the system and to share ideas about areas for growth and improvement. I shared my update to the School Committee at their last meeting and have subsequently posted this report on the Needham Public Schools website in the News section: http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/ I am hopeful parents and community members will access the report, review it, and share your ideas and comments with me. It is my expectation that the report will be a good first step toward identifying appropriate next steps and goals for the Needham Public Schools. I welcome your feedback. Please tune into the Needham Channel beginning April 12th for the newest broadcast of "Needham Schools Spotlight" and watch a program about student leadership and initiative within the Needham Public Schools. Nine terrific young people representing the elementary, middle, and high school levels joined me for a discussion about student leadership inside and outside the classroom and why it is so important. Please go to the Needham Channel's website for specific broadcast times and information: http://greisnet.com/tnc.nsf/Page%202!OpenPage Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 10th, is Election Day in Needham. Remember to vote! As always, contact me at dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us or 781.455.0400, extension 203 if you have a question or comment. Sincerely, Daniel Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 16 Mar '07

16 Mar '07

Dear Parents and Guardians: A few updates for you this Friday morning: I encourage parents and members of the community to become fully informed about the budget process and the two override questions the School Committee and Selectmen have voted to place on the April 10th ballot. For more information, please go the Needham Public Schools website: http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/ and click under News. Parents and community members are welcome to attend an Open House at the Emery Grover School Administration Building at 1330 Highland Avenue next Tuesday, March 20th from 9 to 10 a.m. Please join the school department's administrative team for a cup of coffee and informal conversation about our work in the Needham Public Schools. I continue to visit classrooms in the schools each week and am so impressed with what I see and learn. Yesterday, for example, I was in Seth Evans 5th grade classroom at Mitchell observing and participating as the students collected and analyzed data using mean, median, and mode. I observed Eva Liner's middle school students hard at work with their ancient Egypt study guides, preparing for an upcoming assessment. Her classroom was filled with examples of student projects and work highlighting their Egyptian unit. Yesterday I also attended the high school's assembly in the gym where all 1,400 students sat mesmerized by the story of one of the "Lost Boys" from the Sudan who shared his experiences about his personal struggles and that country's ongoing tragedy. I was so proud of our high school students who respectfully and quietly listened in a stuffy gymnasium, for over an hour, as they learned and asked questions about Darfur and what could be done to help. By the way, I was also impressed with all the Needham High students and fans who cheered on the girls' basketball team at the Garden this past week. An usher remarked to me that the Needham students were the best and most respectful kids he had seen there in a while. Congratulations to the Lady Rockets for a superb season! I am extremely pleased to work in a system that values hard work, respect, and enthusiasm for learning. Thanks to our teachers, staff, and principals for leading the way. As always, please contact me at dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us if you have a question, comment, or concern. Have a great weekend. Sincerely, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 09 Mar '07

09 Mar '07

Dear Parents and Guardians: This is a reminder that tomorrow, Saturday, March 10th the Needham School Committee will hold an informal Open House from 9 until 11:00 a.m. at the Historical Society, located on the Newman Elementary School's front lawn. Please stop by for a few minutes or longer in between Saturday morning chores or practice schedules to enjoy a cup of coffee, say hello, and chat informally with School Committee members about the Needham Public Schools. They look forward to seeing you! Sincerely, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent

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Superintendent's Update
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 26 Feb '07

26 Feb '07

Monday, February 26, 2007 Dear Parents and Guardians: I would like to remind parents and community members that there are two upcoming opportunities for you to interact with the School Committee: School Committee Meeting, Tuesday, February 27th, 7:00 p.m. at Broadmeadow This meeting is a public hearing on both the school operating budget for the next fiscal year (FY08) and the plan for renovating the High Rock School into a 6th grade center. A brief overview of the budget situation and the plan for renovating and expanding High Rock will be presented and then the community will be encouraged to make comments and offer suggestions to the School Committee. School Committee Open House, Saturday, March 10th, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., Historical Society (at Newman) This informal "open house" at the Historical Society is an opportunity to meet and chat with School Committee members and ask them questions about school related programs, issues, and ideas. Drop in between 9 and 11 to say hello. The School Committee welcomes the opportunity to hear from you and looks forward to your participation at one or both of these meetings. Sincerely, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools

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(no subject)
by Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update 13 Feb '07

13 Feb '07

Dear Parents and Guardians: The School Committee would like to provide improved opportunities for parents and members of the Needham community to communicate to them about school issues, concerns, and ideas. In addition to public comment prior to their scheduled meetings, the School Committee is adding email and on-line communication links. One way to contact all of the seven School Committee members with a question, concern, or comment is to email them at the following email address: schoolcommittee(a)needham.k12.ma.us The School Committee Chair, Marianne Cooley, will respond on behalf of the Committee to these inquiries and suggestions. The School Committee has also launched an online Discussion Board on the Needham Public Schools website: http://www.needham.k12.ma.us (Look under Community and then select Superintendent & School Committee). Parents, teachers, students, and other community members can post comments, suggestions, ideas, and perspectives on-line for anyone to read. The purpose of the Discussion Board is to generate a community conversation about issues facing the Needham Public Schools. To make a comment or to add a new thought about a comment that has been previously posted, send an email to this address: npsfeedback(a)googlegroups.com If you would just like to read what has been posted on the Discussion Board, go to this link: http://groups.google.com/group/npsfeedback On behalf of the School Committee, and because this is a public discussion board to which anyone can post, I will moderate the NPS Discussion Board to ensure that on-line postings contain appropriate content and language. Members of the School Committee will not respond individually to the postings unless they choose to do so by posting a comment. (Remember: If you wish to email members of the School Committee directly with a question that you do not want posted on-line, email them at schoolcommittee(a)needham.k12.ma.us as indicated above.) All questions, comments, and inquiries sent to the School Committee are considered public records. The next School Committee meeting on February 27th will include a Public Hearing on the High Rock School design and FY08 (2007-08) School Budget. All parents and community members are urged to attend and participate at the February 27th Public Hearing scheduled for 7:45 p.m. at the Broadmeadow School. Finally, your input and feedback is crucial to the success of our teachers and students! There are critical decisions, for example, the School Committee must make in the days and weeks ahead concerning the budget and what impact cuts to the budget will likely have in each Needham classroom for next year and beyond. The School Committee wants to hear from you. Parents and community members must learn about and contribute to this, and other, important discussions affecting the quality of education for each child in the Needham Public Schools. Please join the conversation. Let me also take this opportunity to congratulate the cast and crew of Needham High School's production of West Side Story (Wow!) and extend wishes for a restful and enjoyable February break for you and your families. As always, contact me at dan_gutekanst(a)needham.k12.ma.us or 781.455.0400, extension 203 if you have a question or comment. Sincerely, Daniel Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools

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[Superintendent's_update] Test
by Superintendent's Update 17 Jan '07

17 Jan '07

Test Mark Messias Administrative Technology Support Specialist Needham Public Schools 781-455-0400 x281

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