We have enjoyed a superb school opening! I have had the honor of visiting dozens of classrooms in all of the schools and can share that students are already working hard to grow, learn, and achieve.

Today was our first early release professional development day for grades K-8, and teachers and staff were fully engaged in a variety of training and learning opportunities in the afternoon, including: Technology/iPad training, literacy and math assessment development, cultural proficiency, educator evaluation, and team building. It was a packed agenda for our teachers and principals. Please allow me to share the following updates:

- Annual Middle School Conference On Saturday November 22nd, the High Rock-Pollard PTC is hosting its annual half-day Middle School Parenting Conference with strategies for helping your adolescent make smart choices and develop healthy attitudes. Mark your calendar to attend The Glass IS Half Full: Positive Approaches to Your Middle School Parenting Challenges for practical tips from educators, community youth leaders and youth development experts on parenting approaches; helping teens avoid risky behaviors; using technology responsibly; talking about sexuality; and learning about your teen. Registration for the half-day conference at Pollard opens October 14. Check the PTC website for more information: http://www.highrockpollardptc.org/index.php?page=homepage

- Needham Talks An exciting free parent lecture series called Needham Talks will be open to all Needham Elementary School parents. The series is funded by a multi-school NEF grant entitled Fostering Resilience and Social-Emotional Wellness in Needham’s Elementary School-Age Children: SY2014-2015 Parent Lecture Series. All five elementary schools will be participating in this bi-monthly parent lecture series. The series will be advertised by the elementary schools through the bulletins and PTC emails. Registration information can be found here:

• 3rd Annual Needham Diversity Summit Needham's 3rd Annual Diversity Summit (NDS 3.0: Join the Conversation!) is scheduled for October 18th at Pollard from 9:00 a.m. - 2:30. The summit will bring together community leaders, friends, neighbors, and students for an event designed to explore, foster, strengthen, and celebrate Needham's diversity of socioeconomic status, race, sexual orientation, gender, religion, ethnic identity, age, immigration status, and ability. This annual occasion aims to create a network of people committed to creating an equitable and welcoming town, and to challenging its residents to think in new ways about our evolving community. The Needham Diversity Summit equips participants with the tools and confidence to actively and thoughtfully promote respect and understanding of others in our community by engaging with each other through open and candid conversation. For additional information and registration: Needham Diversity Summit

• Needham Schools Spotlight: 2014-15 School Committee Priorities Please check out the latest cable broadcast of Needham Schools Spotlight, a conversation with members of the School Committee about communication priorities and initiatives in the year ahead: Needham Schools Spotlight

• School Committee Open House October 25th The Needham School Committee will hold its fall Open House on Saturday, October 25th at Needham High School. The Open House will be held from 9:00 until 10:30 a.m. in the library and provides an informal opportunity for parents and members of the community to interact with the School Committee. The high school's Annual Craft Fair will take place on the same day in the gyms, so stop by the fair and then visit the School Committee for coffee and conversation. They are eager to meet you!

• Twitter: Give it a try! A parent commented to me recently that some folks are reluctant to have a Twitter account because it is one more thing to manage in an already busy and hectic day. I certainly understand. However, setting up and managing a Twitter account is simple and will allow you a quick, easy, and fun way to stay connected to school news and events. (I know it is easy because even I can do it!) Please follow me on Twitter for school updates, weather-related school cancellations, information, and photos: https://twitter.com/@NPS_Supt