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.
For more information about Minuteman High School and the proposed project: Minuteman Vote and School Construction Project Information

•  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

•  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@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