Dear Needham Public Schools Families: Allow me to share some brief updates: *• Student Accolades* Recently, students from the Middle and High School Performing Ensembles participated in the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) Festival with great success! GOLD Medals were awarded to the: NHS Chamber Orchestra, NHS Chorale, NHS Chorus, the Middle School Select Choir. SILVER Medals were awarded to the 8th Grade Band, MS Wind Ensemble, Town Orchestra, NHS Symphonic Band, NHS Concert Band, and NHS String Orchestra. Congratulations to our talented middle and high school students and the music teachers, K-12, who support and guide them! *• Bus Registration is Happening Now!* If you want your child(ren) to have a seat on the bus next year, you must register before May 19th. For more information: 2023-24 School Bus Registration <https://www.needham.k12.ma.us/departments/business__operations/transportation> *• "10 Minutes with..." *Please check out my latest ten minute video <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoDG8anaMG4> featuring NHS senior Jeniyah Joseph, one of the high school recipients of the Needham Exchange Club Youth of the Month Award. *• Superintendent's Blog: *My latest post highlights our efforts to keep our schools and students safe and secure: Focus on School Safety <http://npssuperintendent.blogspot.com/> *• Family/Parent Survey *Once again this year the district will seek input and feedback from parents and caregivers about your experience and the experience of your child(ren) in the Needham Public Schools. We use the survey results to guide our planning and programming, and we hope as many parents as possible can participate when I send the survey out after the upcoming April vacation. Please reference the 2022 survey report <https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1oNRcnLuY4hhBtpbFHgCLXp64cC5tZyTl/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=103927596265011240038&rtpof=true&sd=true> presented to the School Committee for additional context and information. *• Virtual Coffee with the Superintendent* On Monday, May 22nd at 7:00 p.m., I will host the next Virtual Coffee for families and parents. The link for the meeting is here: * Virtual Coffee with the Superintendent 05/22/23 at 7:00 p.m. <https://needham-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/86594471427?pwd=aTRuUXp6bmVnSkV6ckpQUzhONVR1Zz09> *I will share brief school updates and then provide time for open and direct conversation, comments, and questions from participants. The zoom meeting will last 45 minutes and will not be recordedI look forward to seeing you at this last meeting of the year. Finally, for those celebrating Passover and Easter, I wish you, your families, and friends a joyful and peaceful holiday. 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.