Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Dear Needham Families:
Allow me to share the following updates:
• Last Call: 2016 Parent Survey Over the past month, parents with students in grades 3 to 12 received an envelope from their principal that included a copy of the 2016 District Survey. Parent feedback is important to our future plans. If you have not completed the survey, I urge you to do so online no later than Monday, March 7th. We will aggregate the data, compare and contrast the responses, look at historical trends from survey data gathered since 2001, and then share the results with parents, staff, and community members.
Please use the appropriate ink below, choosing either the Elementary, Middle School or High School Parent Survey. If you have children in more than one school, simply complete the survey with your oldest child in mind.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NPS-ElementaryPARENTSURVEY2016
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NPS-MiddleSchoolPARENTSURVEY2016
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NPS-HighSchoolPARENTSURVEY2016
We’re hoping for 100% participation. Many thanks for your help!
• Civics Bee The Needham League of Women Voters (LWV) will sponsor the 3rd Annual Civics Bee at Broadmeadow next Sunday, March 6th at 2:00 p.m. Students, teachers, and community members are encouraged to participate or attend! For more information: http://www.lwv-needham.org/
• Olin College: Beyond Measure Screening Olin College invites Needham faculty and community members to attend a special screening and discussion of award-winnning director Vicki Abeles latest film, Beyond Measure on Thursday, March 10th at 6:30 at Olin College. The film describes schools around the country that are taking matters into their own hands and finding ways to innovate and put students at the center of the learning experience. The film was partially shot at Olin College, and features Olin’s collaboration with the University of Texas at El Paso. After the screening, there will be a panel discussion, moderated by Olin faculty member Zhenya Zastavker, and including former Bennington College President Elizabeth Coleman, director Vicki Abeles, Needham High teacher Hans Batra, and a student each from Needham High and Olin.
• Superintendent's Blog My latest post, entitled Most Likely to Succeed, shares information about another important learning event being sponsored by the NEF and each school's PTC on Thursday, March 24th beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Newman. Please check it out here: Superintendent's Blog
Finally, congratulations are in order for several successes students have experienced recently: Recently the Hillside Lego League Team was honored by the Needham Selectmen for their unique robotics and service learning trash recycling plan, and the NHS Robotics Team will compete at a national competition later this month in Philadelphia. . . 55 Boston Globe Scholastic Art Awards were received by middle and high school students, including 12 Gold Keys, an impressive accomplishment by any measure. . . The NHS Boys and Girls Winter Track teams each won the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Division 2 State Championship over the February vacation, and the Boys' Wrestling Team was honored with the prestigious MIAA Sportsmanship Award for their teamwork, great spirit, gamesmanship, and ability to act as mature and respectful role models and athletes. . . And best wishes to Pollard student Anthony Walsh who has qualified for the state Geography Bee to be held on April 1st!
These are just some of the successes our talented students have achieved with the support of superb teachers, staff, coaches, and parents. Congratulations!
Respectfully,
Dan Gutekanst
Superintendent of Schools