Dear Needham Families: Allow me to share a few updates as we conclude the Thanksgiving Holiday and begin a new week: • NEF Symposium I am encouraging Needham parents to attend a unique conversation and discussion to be held at Newman. This week the Needham Education Foundation (NEF) is sponsoring a symposium entitled: Flipped Classrooms and Broken Silos: Education Trends in Needham and Beyond on Wednesday evening, November 28 at 7:00 p.m. at Newman. Educators, business leaders, and students will participate in a discussion about 21st Century trends in education. Robert Martello (Olin College), Mark Somerville (Olin College), Kirby Salerno (Co-founder Classroom Window), Mark Chang (Director of Product edX), and Leah Alpert (NHS alum and MIT student) will all participate on a panel discussion followed by a dessert reception. The program will provide a great opportunity to learn more about and discuss some of the ideas, issues, and trends we see as important in Needham's classrooms. For more information and to register: http://www.nefneedham.org/ • District Goals The School Committee recently approved ambitious goals for the school year. You may download the goals statement by clicking on the appropriate link under the "News" section of the district's homepage: http://www.needham.k12.ma.us/ • A Conversation for Parents of Teens Needham Youth Services presents a discussion entitled: “What a parent needs to know about teen risk taking behaviors” and is scheduled for Tuesday, December 4th.  This program runs from 5:30 – 7:30 pm and a light dinner will be served. This interactive program is limited to nine (9) parents a night where participants hear/share stories and receive feedback in a comfortable and confidential setting. Registration information can be found online at [ http://www.needhamma.gov/youth/2012fallprograms ]www.needhamma.gov/youth/2012fallprograms (see page #5). Learn more about this program and other upcoming nights and topics at: www.needhamma.gov/youth/aconversation • Soccer and West Side Story Congratulations to the NHS boys' soccer team for winning the Division I State Championship at Worcester State University. Our young men won the game with great skill, athleticism, and sportsmanship, the very same qualities they exhibited all season. Kudos also to the NHS cast and crew of West Side Story which played to sold out houses last weekend and raised thousands of dollars for the It Gets Better Foundation, an organization devoted to supporting gay and lesbian youth. Have a great week at work and school! Sincerely, Dan Gutekanst Superintendent of Schools