Dear Needham Public Schools Families:

•  Inclement Weather  In the event of an inclement weather event that may require students to be sent home early from school, we will use the early release day schedule and cancel afternoon Kindergarten.  I am reluctant to send students home early from school and would only do so if, after consulting with Town and Public Safety officials, it is the safest and most prudent thing to do.  If I make a decision to send students home early, I will use this list serve to send an email, the School Messenger Emergency/Inclement Weather Notification System (email and phone call), and Twitter.  In addition, principals will send an email to parents/guardians.  If you need to update contact information, please do so now at this link: PowerSchool  Thanks for your patience and assistance.

•  School Committee Open House Saturday, March 10th  Please join members of the School Committee on Saturday morning, March 10th from 9:00 until 10:30 a.m. at the Needham Library.  This is an ideal opportunity for parents and members of the community to chat informally with your School Committee members and superintendent.   Before or after visiting with the School Committee you can view the amazing Art in Bloom exhibition being held at the same time at the library.  Art in Bloom is an amazing community/school collaboration between the Beth Shalom Garden Club and NHS students.  Please stop by and say hello!

•  Needham Unplugged  Once again this year the Needham schools will support and participate in Needham Youth Services program, Needham Unplugged during the month of March. On Thursday, March 15th I will ask teachers to observe "No Homework" night so students can enjoy the afternoon and evening with their families. 

•  Civic and Spelling Bees  We take our Bees seriously here in Needham!  Please consider signing up for or attending the upcoming Needham League of Women Voters Civics Bee scheduled for March 11th at Broadmeadow.  Also, the annual Needham Education Foundation Spelling Bee  is scheduled for March 18th at Needham High School.  These are two wonderful, fun, and educational opportunities for the entire community.

•  Needham Schools Spotlight  Please check out the latest Needham Schools Spotlight cable show featuring a discussion with several Pollard and NHS students, all of whom are new immigrants to this country.  These amazing students, who hail from Ukraine, Haiti, Iceland, Brazil, Syria, and China, are new to Needham and have amazing stories to share.  We are fortunate to have these young people learning and growing in our community.

Finally, congratulations to the cast and crew of the High Rock/Pollard Middle School production of Annie!  Sold out audiences enjoyed the musical and theatrical energy and abilities of our middle school students.  Thanks to the parent volunteers and school staff who made the production a reality.