Dear Needham Families: • School Security  Many thanks to parents who have adjusted to a new procedure in our elementary and middle schools where we now use a buzzer/video recognition system to admit visitors once the school day has begun.  So far the new system seems to work well and helps promote school and student safety. The sign in desk at the high school’s main entrance has also helped the staff there to manage and assist school visitors. In our continuing efforts to ensure our elementary schools are safe, beginning next Monday, May 13th we will implement a new protocol after 4:00 p.m. when the school offices close and most students have departed for the day. A few after school programs, including Needham Community Education (NCE) and the Needham Extended Day Program (NEDP), continue to operate in our schools, sometimes into the evening. After 4:00 p.m. the school doors will remain locked and visitors to the schools will only be admitted by the appropriate NCE or NEDP staff.  The goal is to ensure the schools are secured, allowing NCE and NEDP staff to concentrate on providing quality after school care for students rather than focusing their attention and efforts on building security.  Of course, locked doors may inconvenience some parents who wish to walk right into the building and to a classroom to escort their child to and from an after school program. The staff is aware of the new protocol and will communicate with parents about appropriate pick up and drop off procedures that balance parent access with student safety.  We will evaluate the new protocol at the conclusion of school in June to determine what adjustments may be necessary for next year.  I appreciate your patience, understanding, and support while we implement this new safety procedure in our elementary schools. • Needham Community Farm The NCF is a local non-profit organization that has partnered over the last few years with the Needham Schools to provide educational experiences for our students both at their site at Newman and at Nike (located off Pine Street). The NCF has many community and educational programs, and I encourage you to learn more about them by visiting their website: http://needhamfarm.org/ •  School Transportation  2013-14  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/  •  Superintendent's Blog  My recent post about my trip to the Daxing School District in Beijing can be found here: http://npssuperintendent.blogspot.com/ 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