Dear Needham Public Schools Families: Allow me to share the following brief updates and information: *• Academic Accolades* Once again this year, Needham High School seniors have been notified by the College Board that they are being recognized for their performance on the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test: <https://www.nationalmerit.org/s/1758/interior.aspx?sid=1758&gid=2&pgid=405> *Semi Finalists:* Samuel Cooperman, Benjamin Fogler, Ryan McCarthy, Lilly, Meyi, Anaya Sharma, and Arlan Zbarsky. Also, kudos to Needham High School students who took part in this year's National History Day Competition <https://nhd.org/en/> in Washington DC in June. Dean Mostafa, Lincoln Maxwell and Jacob Heckman finished in the top ten projects nationally and won a Massachusetts Outstanding Entry Award for their website on the abolition of slavery in the British Empire. Additionally, Chloe Crable, Josephine Calzada and Emma Hua were interviewed by PBS NewsHour about their documentary <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6gMDB5b-3I> on the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment. *• 10 Minutes with...* One year after our first conversation, *Rabbi Jay Perlman* & *Dr. Huma Farid*, both members of the Needham Clergy Association, join me to discuss how we can continue to support our Muslim and Jewish students & families during a time of war and unrest in the Mideast. Watch the “10 Minutes with…” video here: https://tinyurl.com/sns7ec2h or access the Podcast here: https://tinyurl.com/568v5u5x *• Needham School Committee* I am often asked where one can learn more about the role and responsibilities of the School Committee. Please check out the district's website for information: Needham School Committee FAQ <https://www.needham.k12.ma.us/district_info/school_committee> Finally, to our students, families, and staff celebrating Rosh Hashanah, *Shana Tova! * Respectfully, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools Needham Public Schools 1330 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492 *He/His/Him* 781-455-0400 x11203 dan_gutekanst@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.