Dear Needham Public Schools Families: As we begin a holiday weekend, allow me to share several updates: *• Addressing Challenging Behavior *In recent conversations with school principals, Parks & Recreation staff, and the Needham Police, I have heard troubling reports of poor behavior around town, in parks, and on ballfields of several young Needham adolescents, typically in grades 7-9. Serious vandalism, trash piles, broken glass, and general misbehavior have been observed and reported. For example, on a recent evening after 9:00 p.m. over 50 young people were gathered on Memorial Park Field, several of them consuming alcohol. While the inappropriate actions of a few do not represent the behavior of all, this behavior is unacceptable and must be addressed. I will continue to work with School and Town staff and our School Resource Officers both to hold young people accountable and to help curb this behavior. I also encourage all parents to talk to your children about your expectations for their behavior when they are hanging out with or visiting friends in the community. *• School Committee Open House* The Needham School Committee will host an informal Open House for parents and community members on Saturday, October 16th from 9:00 until 10:30 a.m. at Needham High School (Webster St. entrance, under the tent). Please stop by to say hello, ask a question or share an idea. *• Health Attestation *Many thanks to our parents and students who continue to complete the daily health attestation procedure at a high rate; in the last several days the rate of completion has been about 94 to 96%. We appreciate your partnership as we continue to prioritize the health and safety of our students and staff. My most recent cable show, *Needham Schools Spotlight*, features a conversation about COVID protocols and health information with our school & public health partners: Health and Safety Remains the Priority in the NPS <http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/cms/One.aspx?portalId=64513&pageId=2445680> *• Ten Minutes with... *We have launched a new video program entitled, *"Ten Minutes with..."* featuring brief ten minute interviews with leaders and learners in the Needham Public Schools. The most recent video features two students, *Nick Tuchin* and *Fernanda Pinto Pro* who collaborated to advocate for the School Committee to rename the October holiday *Indigenous Peoples' Day*. Please check out Ten Minutes with Nick and Fernanda <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiTG2d5o5rY> when you get the chance. *• Needham's Parent University *Needham Community Education launched the NCE Parent University in October 2020 to foster a partnership between the Needham Public Schools and the District’s parents. Our NCE Parent University <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jtruf7PzM0e2cWk_G0auZmM4LofAdQDL/view?usp=sharing> workshops and seminars, taught by experts throughout the year, are designed to address various parenting challenges and concerns and provide invaluable information and skills. The programs are free but registration <https://nce.reg.eleyo.com/> is required. In addition, there is a new NCE Adult Fall Catalog <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EhoTm8ha_ZNVpSKea9ZoUY0L0RFbTaFbacedScO6MQg/edit?usp=sharing> featuring an array of virtual and in-person programs that provide joy, social engagement, and intellectual/creative stimulation. If you have questions about the NCE Adult Programs, please contact amy_goldman@needham.k12.ma.us or 781-455-0400 x11214. *• Congratulations! *Congratulations to these three Needham High School students for being named semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test <https://www.compassprep.com/national-merit-semifinalist-cutoffs/comment-page-33/> : *Samuel Billante, Benjamin Lee,* and *Drew Winkler*. We are proud of these and all of our students who each day demonstrate a commitment to scholarship and growth. Have a great holiday weekend! Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools Needham Public Schools 1330 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492 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.