Wednesday, September 1, 2010 Dear Parents and Guardians: Welcome to the 2010-11 school year! I hope your family enjoyed some time together this summer to rest and relax. We have had a wonderful opening to the new school year. Teachers were ready, buildings were clean, and your children arrived with eager smiles and plenty of energy for the year ahead. Please allow me to share a few updates as we begin a new school year together: • 2010 Performance Report  has been mailed out and should already be in your home. The report provides detailed information about Needham's schools, programs, and student achievement. We are very proud of the report and hope you find it valuable and useful. •  The Newman Elementary School Community welcomed a new principal, Jessica Peterson, who has been meeting with staff this summer and preparing for a new year. The Newman repair project started with prepatory work in the building and parking lot areas in anticipation of the entire renovation beginning next summer. • Bullying Prevention and Training was on the agenda in each school this week. Principals are working closely with all staff to share updates and information about bullying and cyber-bullying and the district's response to bullying behavior. Next week the School Committee will hear an update about the steps we are taking as a district to comply with the recent legislation around bullying, and they will also consider a new district policy designed to address bullying in the schools. Parents can expect additional information and updates as we work to ensure our schools remain safe, secure, healthy, and respectful learning environments for all children. • Calling all Engineers! This fall we would like to invite parents, Needham High graduates, neighbors, and other members of the Needham community who are engineers (electrical, computer, mechanical, etc.) or in related career fields to attend a breakfast and learn about some of the Science, Technology, Math, and Engineering initiatives we are pursuing in Needham's schools. If you or someone you know may be interested in receiving an invitation to the breakfast (date still to be determined), please send contact information to joyce_wiggin@needham.k12.ma.us • Adult Education programs have been mailed out. For more information, please check the district's website: http://rwd1.needham.k12.ma.us/community_education/Adult%20Education Again this year we will strive to integrate the core values of Scholarship, Personal Growth, Citizenship, and Community into all of our work with Needham’s students. We believe there is no higher purpose for the community than to ensure our children have an exceptional educational experience that will empower them as learners and citizens. Let me take this opportunity to wish each young person a successful school year! As always, please contact me now and throughout the year with questions, comments, and suggestions. I can be reached at 781.455.0400, extension 203 or [ mailto:dan_gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us ]dan_gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us Sincerely, Daniel E. Gutekanst, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools