[Superintendent's Update] Superintendent's Update

[Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update]

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Two updates to begin the Holiday weekend:

• New Emergency Communication System  The school department has deployed
an emergency notification system that will allow us to phone and email
parents about school emergencies and weather-related school closures.
 Please make sure you have updated contact information in [
https://powerschool.needham.k12.ma.us/public/ ]Power School to ensure we
have the most updated information for your student and family.  Also, if
you have not already done so, please go ahead and join the [
http://www.needhamma.gov/index.aspx?nid=1249 ]Town of Needham Emergency
Notification System  if you wish to be contacted by the Fire or Police
Departments in the event of a Town-wide emergency.  It is my sincere wish,
of course, that during the coming winter season I will not need to call
you about a school delay or cancellation.  But we live in New England...

• Professional Status  Congratulations to those teachers who recently
received professional status in the Needham Public Schools after
completing three years of successful service, training, and induction:

Broadmeadow-  Melissa Camhi, Jess Cohen

Eliot-  Mary Adkins, Kim Hoffman, Johanna Leate

High Rock-  Jonathan Glover, Kelly Robinson, Dina Spiropoulos
	
NHS-  Andrew Ames, Chris Ashley, Lisa Austin, Gretchen Ayoub, Jacques
Bignet, Jane Chinnaswamy, Adam Cole, William Goldman, Jen Greenberg, Cathy
Heller, Michelle Kelly, Cara O'Connell, Dana Plunkett,  Leslie Portnoy

Hillside-  Elizabeth Hitron, Geoff Watts

Mitchell-  Lynn Gotwals, Michelle Sampson, Erin Santos, Maura Silverstein
Cromwell

Newman-  Katherine Antonellis, Dana Cantor, Jane Crowley, Elinor Gregory,
Heather Murphy, Katharine Schulein, Kim Winer

Pollard-  Alison Ashley, Casey Cohen, Jennifer Golenia, Kristen Gosselin,
Christina Malinn, Amy McKenna, Mark Nolan, Lois Scribner, Emily Webering,
Simon Berk, Jaclyn Daignealt,

Also, district administrators and teachers Kirsten Witt-McGhee (Special
education), Debbie Watters (Foreign Language), Mary Rizzuto (Science
Center), and Cathy Heller (Special Education) received professional
status.  At the ceremony honoring these professionals, each spoke with
enthusiasm about his/her students in the Needham Schools and the amount of
support they have received from colleagues and parents in the last few
years.  We are proud to have them join our ranks!

•  Happy Thanksgiving!  Let me take this opportunity to wish you and your
families a peaceful and restful Thanksgiving Holiday.  I am looking
forward to picking up two of my daughters at Logan later this evening and
driving them home so we can join their younger sister and wonderful mom
(and patient wife) for a peaceful holiday weekend.   Like you, I am very
thankful for my family!  I am also thankful to know and to work with a
talented staff, committed parents, a supportive community, and the
exceptional young people of Needham.

I am honored to be your superintendent, and I appreciate the opportunity
you have given me.

Go Rockets!  Beat Wellesley!

Dan Gutekanst

Superintendent of Needham Public Schools
781.455.0400 x203
dan_gutekanst at nnedham.k12.ma.us

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