Wellesley Public Schools40 Kingsbury StreetWellesley, Massachusetts 02481

Bella T. WongSuperintendent of Schools

Superintendent’s Bulletinhttp://www.wellesley.mec.edu/district/bulletins.htm

Bulletin #1September 4, 2009

The Superintendent’s Bulletin is posted weekly on Fridays on our website. It provides timely, relevant information about meetings, professional development opportunities, curriculum and program development, grant awards, and school committee news. The bulletin is also the official vehicle for job postings. Please

read the bulletin regularly and use it to inform colleagues of meetings and other school news.

CalendarMonday 09/07 Labor Day -- No SchoolTuesday 09/15 School Committee Meeting, Town Hall, 7:30 pm

Instrument Registration Night, Middle SchoolWednesday 09/16 PTS Reception, Sprague School Atrium, 3:30 pm

Back to School at Fiske, Hunnewell, Schofield, SpragueThursday 09/17 Middle School Back to School Night

2009-10 Inservice Courses Our full catalog of Inservice Courses for Fall, Winter and Spring is posted as a downloadable pdf from the Professional Development section of the Wellesley Public Schools website.

http://www.wellesley.k12.ma.us/pages/prof_dev/pdfs/prof-dev.pdf

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome back, and congratulations to everyone for a smooth and enthusiastic opening at all our ten schools! Both Hardy and the High School opened with new traffic patterns in place. Thanks to good planning and a little help from the Police Department, those tricky openings were a resounding success. Thank you to our staff in our personnel, business, custodial, secretarial, and food service groups, who worked through the summer to close out the previous year and prepare to receive students in the coming year. Thank you to all our special ed and counseling staff who work with students through the summer, or welcome new families to our schools. A special acknowledgement to the support and expertise of the custodial and maintenance staff who worked so well, in and around our many capital projects during the summer, to prepare our school buildings. There were new roofs, new gutters, new boilers, asbestos abatement and new flooring, new ceilings, new lighting and new classrooms! Getting the work done was quite challenging. But now we have much brighter and safer schools in which to work. encourage all of us to remember that in these times of change, it is vital to keep our communication productive and open. The quality of every interaction among us contributes to the overall culture and climate in which we work. How often does a thoughtful gesture make our day, and an insensitive one have the opposite effect? We cannot control all the factors that stress our work environment, but we can work together to reinforce a supportive and cooperative culture. Great start everyone. Enjoy the Labor Day Weekend!

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Recognitions Faculty and staff attaining milestone years with the Wellesley Public Schools Paul Esposito, Latin Teacher (35 years) Penny Armstrong Middle School Secretary (35 years) Rick Balboni, Middle School Head Custodian (41 years) Gretchen Bravacos, Director of Preschool Services (41 years) Lynn Moore-Benson, Director of Technology (42 years) Karen Perry-Kaplan, Fitness and Health Teacher (42 years)

Faculty and Staff of the Preschool at Wellesley Schools, Gretchen Bravacos, Director, upon recently attaining accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children

Discussion/Action School Committee received update reports regarding summer work on the new high school project; capital projects undertaken during the summer at five elementary schools, the middle school and the high school; and impacts on the FY10 budget due to reduced circuit breaker funding. The Committee gave first reading to a revised draft policy regarding student residency and approved system goals for 2009-2010.

School Committee Report September 1, 2009

Complete School Committee Minutes are posted at http://www.wellesley.k12.ma.us/schoolcom/PAGES/minutes.htm

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Teachers as Scholars The online catalog of Teachers as Scholars offerings for 2009-10 is posted at http://www.teachersasscholars.org/. This year there will be no hard copy catalog distribution.

Registration is a three-step process.1. Obtain approval from your Department Head (because you will be missing school days).

2. Email Janice Gross (and copy your department head) three choices of seminars you would be interested in attending, including the name and the seminar number, no later than Wednesday, September 16.

3. If approved by Becky McFall, you will be notified that the next step in the process is to register online with TAS. Attempts to register before receiving this approval will be deleted.

Criteria for requesting approval to attend:• you are a teacher beginning, at a minimum, your second year in Wellesley (no first year teachers)• you have the approval of your department head• you have not attended Teachers as Scholars in the past three years (2009-08, 2008-07; 2007-06)

N.B. Preference may be given to teachers who have never participated in the TAS program.

Professional Development through TEC and through EDCOCatalogs of 2009 professional development opportunities through TEC have been delivered to each school. Information about the fall offerings is also posted at www.tec-coop.org

Professional Development opportunities through EDCO are posted on the Wellesley Public Schools websitehttp://www.wellesley.k12.ma.us/pages/prof_dev/EDCO/edco.html

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News and Information

Nancy Finn is our substitute coordinator.

The phone number for calling in your absences is: 781.446.6210, Ext. 4550Please remember:

1. Report ALL absences, even absences that do not require a substitute.2. Please utilize email to Nancy for your substitute requests whenever possible to cut down on the number

of calls to the sub line.3. If you find a substitute on your own, please notify Nancy by email (nefinn@msn.com) or on the sub line

so that the substitute can be paid.

Please call me if you have any questions or concerns.

Kathy RileyCentral Office (Centrex 6210, Ext. 4503)

Substitute Coordinator

High School Fitness Center

Beginning in the fall of 2009, the fee policy for use of the High School Fitness Center (HS FC) will change. There will be no charge to use the HS FC for WPS Faculty, Staff and Town of Wellesley employees. However, the procedure to register and train to use the Fitness Center has changed. These careful guidelines are in place to ensure safe and proper use of the equipment in the HS FC.

The certification process is as follows:

1. Registration form and doctor’s note – a current or updated doctor’s note stating that you are in proper physical condition to work out is a requirement. It must be signed by your physician. ALL users of the HS FC will be required to complete an updated HS FC registration sheet.

2. Training – You must attend an orientation and training session with a member of the Fitness and Health staff in order to learn how to use the equipment properly and safely. This will cover general training guidelines and HS FC rules. The training schedule will be determined throughout the school year. Please contact Stephanie Boggs to make your appointment beginning in the fall. Staff who have been trained previously do not need to attend again.

3. When steps 1 and 2 are completed, a current High School Fitness Center workout card will be provided and must be presented every time you use the HS FC.

FYI- Parking at the high school will be limited and located further from the building, so please plan accordingly.

If you did not receive your letter of assurance covering the 2009-2010 school year (letters were emailed to all faculty on Monday, 8/31, please contact Mary_Wolf@wellesley.k12.ma.us

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Are You Working Toward a Higher Salary Lane?All teachers who expect to receive a Master’s degree, M+30, or M+60/Doctorate during the 12 month period July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2009, must send formal notification of intent to change salary lanes to Mary Wolf c/o the Superintendent’s Office no later than November 1, 2009. This early notification deadline is required so that provisions for anticipated salary lane changes may be made within the new fiscal year budget. nb The list does not carry forward. Teachers must provide written notice each year until they have received their new degree.

plan accordingly.

Condolences To Margaret Lynch, High School Literacy Specialist, upon the death of her mother, Martha Buonanno, July 6. ... to Penny Armstrong, Secretary to the Middle School Principal, Lynn Hershelman, Technology, and Daryl Hedlund, Upham School Library Media Teaching Assistant, on the death of their mother/grandmother, Janet Doswell, July 19 ... to Adam Levin, Elementary Teacher at Hardy, upon the death of his father August 5 ... to Beth Murphy, Special Educator at Hunnewell, upon the death of her mother ... to Betsy Hindmarsh, Nurse at Fiske, upon the death of her mother ... to Joe Smus, Head Custodian at Upham, upon the death of his father ... to all her former colleagues in the Wellesley Public Schools and to her family, condolences upon the sudden passing of Cheryl Allison, who retired last June as a Kindergarten teacher at Fiske.

To Newlyweds Jessica (Crowley) Mead...Alissa (Cohen) Mandel...Robyn Holzman ... Sarah (Cleary) Razzaboni ...Katie (James) Vitas ... Kim (Prokop) Fleming ... Ashley (Tyler) Gardner ... Miranda (Miller) Miller-Wolfskill ... Ally (Misko) Hart... Marie (Foley) Cosgrove ... John Mulryan

Congratulations

To New Parents Caryn (Green) Berkowitz, Elementary Teacher at Hardy, on the birth of

Maxwell Abe, June 18 . . . Andy Crowe, Middle School English Teacher, on the birth of Moxie Mary .

. . Molly Jacobson, Middle School Social Studies Teacher, on the birth of Nora Eklund Grossman,

July 16 ... Eileen Hawkins, High School Spanish Teacher, on the birth of James Christopher Baley, August 15 ... and to proud grandmother Karen Perry-Kaplan, celebrating the birth of Perri Isabel Kaplan, August 30

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Positions Available

Coordinator and Assistant CoordinatorHigh School Enrichment and Recreation Program Coordinator and assistant coordinator are responsible for developing intramural teams that include as many high school students as possible, hiring coaches, and overseeing entire program. Hired (stipend paid) coaches run activities/classes/clubs/teams weekly. Some possible intramural activities include:

Yoga and Meditation Financial Planning Board Games Environmental Science Research Ultimate Frisbee Personal Media Computer Tech Training Homework at School Current Events Dance Class Creative Writing Workshop Film Discussion Video Gaming in Public Competitive sports for the uncommitted Cycling Outdoors club (Hikes, rock climbing, kayaking, and canoeing trips) Pick Up Basketball Fitness Retro Games (Dodgeball, 4 square, kickball) Cooking Class Walking Group

The stipend for a coordinator and assistant coordinator at the negotiated contract rate for Intramural Coordinators Please send a letter of interest by 9/14/09 to Andrew Keough if you would like to be considered for either of these positions.

Long Term-Substitutes ($166.76/day)Middle School ELL (.6FTE) long-term substitute to work with students in a pullout model and with students in their English and Social Studies classes from end of October, 2009 to end of January, 2010. ELL certification required.

Grade 4 Long-term substitute beginning mid October, 2009 until end of January, 2010.Please send cover letter, resume, three letters of reference, transcripts and licensure to Personnel, Wellesley Public Schools, 40 Kingsbury Street, Wellesley, MA 02481.

Wellesley Public Schools Actively Seeks to Increase the Diversity of its Workforce

Winter SeasonHigh School Varsity DanceTeam Coach

Please contact Athletic Director John_Brown@wellesley.k12.ma.us

Coaching Positions

Opportunities at the High School• WHS Bus Supervision - $1,069.00

• Supervisors of Detention1. Supervision of After School Detention -

$2,450 for 0.75 hours per day for 3 days per week of 36 weeks2. Saturday School Supervision

$1,400 for 2 hours a day for 2 Saturdays a month for the school year

For each listed opportunity, please send letter of interest to Andrew Keough by September 14.

SEPTEMBER 2 PreK-5 Planning & Prep FEBRUARY 3 K-12 Articulation as Needed9 PreK-5 Faculty M.S. Depts

16 PreK-5 Planning & Prep H.S. Depts23 PreK-5 Planning & Prep K-12 Depts30 PreK-5 Faculty 10 PreK-5 Faculty

17 February VacationOCTOBER 7 PreK-5 Grade Level/Prof Dev 24 PreK-5 Planning & Prep

M.S. DeptsH.S. Depts MARCH 3 PreK-5 Planning & PrepK-12 Depts M.S. DeptsPreK-12 Student Services H.S. Faculty*

14 PreK-5 Planning & Prep K-12 Depts21 PreK-5 Faculty PreK-12 Student Services28 PreK-5 Parent Confs 10 PreK-5 Grade Level/Prof Dev and Depts

17 PreK-5 FacultyNOVEMBER 3 PreK-5 Parent Confs (TUESDAY) 24 PreK-5 Parent Confs & Depts

4 PreK-5 Parent Confs & Depts 31 PreK-5 Parent Confs & DeptsM.S. DeptsH.S. Faculty* APRIL 6 PreK-5 Parent Confs (TUESDAY)K-12 Depts 7 PreK-5 Parent Confs & Depts

11 Veteran's Day - No School M.S. Depts18 PreK-5 Parent Confs & Depts H.S. Depts25 Early Release - Thanksgiving K-12 Depts30 Professional Day (MONDAY) 14 PreK-5 Faculty

21 April VacationDECEMBER 2 PreK-5 Planning & Prep 28 PreK-5 Planning & Prep

9 PreK-5 Grade Level/Prof Dev & DeptsM.S. Depts MAY 5 PreK-5 Grade Level/Prof. Dev. and Depts; H.S. Depts M.S. DeptsK-12 Depts H.S. DeptsPreK-12 Student Services K-12 Depts (Perf Arts Calendar Setting)

16 PreK-5 Faculty 12 Planning & Prep23 PreK-5 Planning & Prep 19 PreK-5 Faculty30 Year-end Vacation 26 PreK-5 Planning & Prep

JANUARY 6 PreK-5 Planning & Prep JUNE 2 Early Release - Elementary and Middle Only13 PreK-5 Faculty PreK-5 Faculty20 PreK-5 Planning & Prep M.S. Depts27 PreK-5 Planning & Prep 4 FRIDAY - Early Release for High School Only

M.S. Faculty H.S. DeptsH.S. Faculty 9 PreK-5 Faculty

16 PreK-5 Planning & Prep

*Art, Music, Library, and Fitness & Health teachers should meet with their K-12 department.

System-Wide Release

2 0 0 9 - 2 0 1 0 W e d n e s d a y C a l e n d a r Wellesley Public Schools