Dear Needham Families: Allow me to share two updates: • NEF Symposium The Needham Education Foundation (NEF) is sponsoring a symposium entitled: Expanding the Dialog: What Do Kids Need to Succeed in the 21st Century? on Tuesday, October 11th at Olin College from 7:30 until 9:30 p.m. In partnership with the Harvard Graduate School of Education project, Pathways to Prosperity, the NEF will explore the following questions and more: Is a traditional, four-year college education always the best path for a student? As college drop out rates rise and the young adult unemployment reaches new levels, what are alternatives for young adults? The program is free but space limited. Please visit http://www.nefneedham.org/ for more information and to RSVP. •  School Committee Open House November 5th  The Needham School Committee will hold its fall Open House, this year on Saturday, November 5th in the Needham High School cafeteria during the annual [ http://www.clubrunner.ca/Portal/Home.aspx?cid=3694 ]Needham Rotary Club Pancake Scholarship Breakfast. The Open House will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. and provides an informal opportunity for the School Committee to hear from parents and community members.  Grab a stack of pancakes and stop by to say hello to your School Committee, ask a question, or make a suggestion.  They are eager to meet you! Sincerely, Daniel E. Gutekanst, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools 781.455.0400, x203 dan_gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us