[Superintendent's Update] Superintendent's Update

[Needham Public Schools Superintendent's Update]

March 10, 2023

Dear Needham Public Schools Families:

Allow me to share the following updates:

*• Virtual Coffee with the Superintendent*  On Monday, March 20th at 7:00
p.m., I  will host the next Virtual Coffee for families and parents.  The
link for the meeting is here: * Virtual Coffee with the Superintendent
03/20/23 at 7:00 p.m.
<https://needham-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/87610745789?pwd=TEFuNTIybXNzbkNFdnNYWHlOYnh5dz09>
*I will share brief school updates and then provide time for open and
direct conversation, comments, and questions from participants.  The zoom
meeting will last 45 minutes and will not be recorded; additional and
planned dates include April 10 and May 22.  I look forward to seeing you!

*• Superintendent's Blog*  My most recent post, The More Things Change..
<http://npssuperintendent.blogspot.com/>. is available now.

*• 10 Minutes With... *The latest ten minute spotlight video features a
conversation with our School Resource Officers, Joe Brienze, Nicole
McMahan, and Rocket (!) is available here:  10 Minutes With...
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v08Ii5gHwQs>

*• Staff Accolades  *It's an honor to recognize the following staff
members who have achieved personal and professional goals and/or have been
supporting our schools and students in a variety of amazing ways:

Needham High School music teacher *Spencer Parrish* led the high school
jazz band to a Gold Medal performance at the Massachusetts Jazz Educators
Association competition....Sunita Williams Elementary School 4th grade
teacher *George Goneconto* recently brought his entire class to a School
Committee meeting to share how they are incorporating the Portrait of a
Needham Graduate competencies into creative work around environmental
sustainability. . . High school teachers *Hans Batra* and *Dan Smalley *led
dozens of robotics students and three teams to the FIRST Tech Challenge
Championship at Andover High School last weekend. . . NHS social studies
teacher *Cathy Dowd* presented with the Needham League of Women Voters
(LWV) at this past week's Massachusetts Civics Learning Week symposium
about the high school's Civics Showcase partnership with the LWV.

Congrats also to three of our faculty members who have recently been named
Doctors of Education:  *Erica Spiegel* (Chicago School of Professional
Psychology) from Sunita Williams, *Tamatha Bibbo *(Boston College) from
Pollard, and *Jessica Downey* (Boston University) from High Rock.  Kudos to
them for completing an incredible learning journey and modeling for all
students what it means to be a lifelong learner.

Finally, this weekend check out Art in Bloom
<https://needhamartinbloom.com/> at the Needham Library and observe some
beautiful pieces curated by NHS teacher *Maria Sartori* and her colleagues,
and don't forget about Beauty and the Beast
<https://www.needham.k12.ma.us/departments/curriculum_and_academics/fine___performing_arts/nhs_musical>
premiering
at Newman thanks to the creative forces of *Kristen Mazzochi*, *Jonathan
Vanderwoude*, and a host of others!

Have a great weekend, and thank you for sharing your amazing children with
us!

Dan Gutekanst
Superintendent of Schools
Needham Public Schools
1330 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492
*He/His/Him*
781-455-0400 x11203
dan_gutekanst at 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.
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