Dear Needham Families: I hope the Passover and Easter holidays and April break were peaceful and restful for your family. Allow me to share some important updates and information: • Thank You, Needham Community! Allow me to extend my sincere appreciation to parents and the community for voting to support an extended day beginning next year in the Needham Schools. An expression of thanks and information about the new schedule can be found on my April blog post: http://npssuperintendent.blogspot.com/ • iPads for High Rock The School Committee recently approved the launch of a new initiative designed to enhance teaching and learning at the secondary level, beginning at High Rock. In partnership with parents, beginning in September 2014, 6th grade students will bring iPads to school on a daily basis for use in the classroom and at home. Our goal in implementing the program is to strengthen student learning, increase student organization and confidence, and ensure that personalized learning experiences become routine–both for struggling students and students who require a more challenging curriculum. With this initiative, Needham will join several other communities, including Weston, Shrewsbury, Natick, Burlington, Wellesley, Millis, Hopkinton, and Bedford, all of whom are integrating the use of iPads or laptops into the educational program to engage students and improve the academic environment. In order for the program to be affordable, sustainable, and lasting over time, we need 85% of incoming 6th graders to bring their own iPad to school or to purchase/lease one from the district. (Families who otherwise can't afford an iPad may borrow one from the district.) Students will continue to use the iPad in the 7th and 8th grades. We are excited about this program and look forward to sharing our work and results with the community in the coming year. For more information about the program, click here: [ http://rwd1.needham.k12.ma.us/media_and_technology/iPad%20initiative ]iPads for High Rock: Enhanced Teaching and Personalized Learning • Congratulations to Staff! Needham High School teachers/coaches Cara O'Connell (Cross Country) and Drew Lawrence (Tennis) have been named 2014 Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) State Coach of the Year in their respective sport. Newman's Kerri Smith has been selected as the MA Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MAHPERD) 2014 Teacher of the Year! Clearly these teachers and their peers exemplify the district's core values and commitment to Needham's children, and we are proud of them! • School Transportation 2014-15 If your child requires bus transportation next school year, be sure to complete the application by May 15th to be guaranteed a seat on the bus and to avoid an increase in the bus fee. If you do not complete an application, your child may not have a seat on the bus next year! Please call the Transportation Department at 781-455-0400 x234 with your questions. Please also visit our web site to check your school and street for eligibility or to download an application: [ http://rwd1.needham.k12.ma.us/transportation/ ]http://rwd1.needham.k12.ma.us/transportation/ Finally, I had the pleasure of joining several Pollard teachers as one of the chaperones on the recent 8th grade field trip to Washington, DC. We had an outstanding experience visiting, among many different sites and venues, Smithsonian museums, the Capitol, U.S. Holocaust Museum, Mt. Vernon, and Arlington National Cemetery. All of the students were polite, enthusiastic, respectful, inquisitive, and flexible when we had to be. They were outstanding ambassadors for Needham and a real pleasure to be with for four days. What can I say? We simply have superb young people in the Needham Public Schools! Thanks for sharing them with us. As always, I can be contacted via email: [ mailto:dan_gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us ]dan_gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us or by phone 781.455.0400, x203. Have a great week! Sincerely, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools