Colleagues,
This week marked some important transitions on our School Committee. First and foremost, Wendy Paul concluded two terms—6 years—of providing extraordinary leadership to our community. During this time, Wendy was involved in a number of complex issues and, in particular, devoted countless hours to supporting many of our facilities project such the recent renovation work at Schofield and Fiske, along with our upcoming security project. Please join me in thanking Wendy for being such a tireless advocate for our schools.
As a result of the election this week, Matt Kelley will be returning for a second term on the School Committee. The fact that Matt was even seeking a second term speaks to his ongoing commitment to our schools despite the huge commitment of time and energy required of this position. Spend any time watching a School Committee meeting and you will appreciate Matt’s thoughtful approach to any analyzing problems. Matt may be best known for his work on the Hardy, Hunnewell, and Upham facilities issue, but he also provides an invaluable voice on the Committee for our commitment to students with disabilities.
And finally, we welcome new School Committee member, Melissa Martin. Melissa is a WPS parent who has also been a PTO leader at Sprague. Melissa also brings a global perspective to her new role having worked on world health issues such as AIDS prevention. Please join me in welcoming Melissa to the Wellesley School Committee.
Thank you for all that you do for our students each day and stay warm this weekend!
Best,
David
Calendar
03/10/17 – Deadline for WEF Spring Grant Applications
03/10/17 – WINGS Course Proposal Submissions Due (deadline extended)
03/14/17 – School Committee Meeting – 7 pm – Town Hall
03/27/17 – Annual Town Meeting Begins – 7 pm
03/30/17 – Conversation on Race – 7 pm WHS Library
Congratulations to Cathy Longley-Cook (WMS Gr 8 Science Teacher) on the birth of her daughter, Petra Jane, on March 9, 2017.
Condolences to Joia Kirby (Fiske Gr 5 Teacher) on the loss of her father, Robert Scully, on February 20, 2017.
Conversation on Race – Celebrating 50 Years of METCO – New Date!
We are very excited for the next event in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Wellesley METCO. This event hopes to provide an opportunity for Boston and Wellesley families to come together and engage in a conversation about race and celebrating 50 years of Wellesley METCO.
Please join us on March 30th (everyone welcome – students too!)
7pm – 9pm, Wellesley High School Library, 50 Rice Street, Wellesley
The event will open with a welcome from Kalise Wornum, METCO K-12 Director for Wellesley Public Schools and other members of the celebration committee, followed by a brief keynote from Rev. Dr. Pashington Obeng, Wellesley resident of 29 years, Associate Minister at Wellesley Hills Congregational Church and Professor of Africana Studies at Wellesley College. The evening will include table conversations facilitated by Wellesley Public School faculty, parents and community members.
Our hope is that by coming together and providing a space for dialogue and learning we will build stronger relationships and understanding.
Please help us spread the word about the event and encourage your friends and neighbors to attend.
Teach at P.A.W.S. this Summer!
We are looking for instructors to teach the summer preschool program at P.A.W.S. for preschoolers with and without identified special needs, ages 3-5. Staff can opt to teach for 2.5 hours a day or 4.5 hours a day, Monday-Thursday, July 5- August 8. Click here for additional information on schedule and salary.
Applications are due by April 7, 2017
WINGS 2017
Teach at WINGS this Summer!
We are looking for instructors to teach Academic and Enrichment courses for students in Kindergarten through Grade 5. Some course ideas from previous years include: woodworking, computers, sports, problem solving, creative writing. This year, classes will run for three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon and kids will not switch classes during the session. Click here for additional information on schedule and salary.
If you are interested in teaching a course at the 2017 WINGS summer program, please go to this link and complete the Course Proposal form. Once completed, the form can be emailed to Chad Norton at cnorton@wellesleyma.gov or dropped off at our office at 90 Washington Street, Wellesley. If you have any questions, please call Chad Norton, Assistant Director, Recreation Department, at 781‐235‐2370. The deadline for course proposal submissions has been extended to March 10, 2017.
Apply Now to Enroll Children of Non-Resident WTA Members in Wellesley Public Schools
Children of teachers or nurses residing outside of Wellesley shall be entitled to attend Wellesley Public Schools without charge for tuition on a space-available basis (Article 12, WTA Unit A Contract). If you are interested in this benefit for the 2017-18 school year, please click here to access the form. Once complete, please return the form, along with a letter of intent, to District Registrar Nancy Costigliola in Central Office or email it back to her at registrar@wellesleyps.org. The Application and Letter of Intent Deadline is May 1, 2017.
Graduate Course Reimbursement Guidelines/Deadline
Course reimbursement funding of $30,000 is available to distribute in FY18 among qualified teachers. This funding is for graduate course work done to obtain a master’s degree and/or a teacher’s professional license. Newly added benefits this year allow course reimbursement for specialists including physical therapists and occupational therapists to recertify their professional or allied health license. The Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning must verify in advance that there are no further in-district specialist courses available in order for the specialists to apply for course reimbursement. To apply for this course reimbursement, please send by no later June 1, 2017, your name, evidence of your enrollment in an applicable master/doctoral degree program, name and description of the course, evidence of course cost (a billing statement), proof of payment (i.e. credit card statement, canceled check or receipt of payment), and transcript to Valerie Spruill, Administrative Assistant to the Director of Human Resources, spruillv. You will be notified of the amount awarded to you some time prior to the first paycheck in September 2017. Please note: all information must be received by June 1, 2017 or you will be disqualified for reimbursement. All courses must have occurred in the summer of 2016, fall of 2016 and spring of 2017 and have been completed by June 1, 2017. Any courses taken prior to the summer of 2016 will not count for reimbursement.
Mount Holyoke Offering Master of Arts in Math and Teacher Leadership Scholarships
Mount Holyoke College is offering scholarships for teachers that enroll in its online/hybrid Master of Arts in Mathematics Teaching or Master of Arts in Teacher Leadership programs. There are scholarships (highly competitive) and grants available. Applications are reviewed monthly on a rolling basis until all scholarships have been given. The Master of Arts in Teacher Leadership (M.A.T.L.) degree offered by Mount Holyoke Programs in Teacher Leadership is a 32-credit program is designed for full-time teachers who want to enhance their leadership skills for current or future roles. Click here for additional information.
Attention Core Academic Teachers: Important Licensure Information
If you are a core academic teacher and you currently hold a preliminary license, you must take the RETELL course and obtain the SEI Teacher Endorsement in order to renew your license as an initial license. For RETELL purposes, a core academic teacher is an early childhood, elementary, special education, English, reading, mathematics, science, civics and government, economics, history or geography teacher. The requirement to take the RETELL course applies to teachers with preliminary licenses, regardless of whether or not they had an ELL student in their classroom.
If you are unsure about what type of license you are working under (preliminary, initial or professional), please go on your DESE ELAR account and check your license type. https://gateway.edu.state.ma.us/elar/common/EducatorWelcomePagePageControl.ser
RETELL Information
Working in collaboration with the Wellesley Teachers’ Association, tentative arrangements have been made to offer the RETELL course in-District during the Spring 2017 semester. Please watch for additional information in upcoming Superintendent’s Bulletins.
Insurance Benefits Information
Health and Dental Insurance Benefits information is handled by the Town Hall Benefits Office. Inquiries should be directed to Joanne Liburd at JLiburd or by calling 781-431-1019 extension 2244.
WPS Internal Job Postings on District Website
Please be aware that we added a new feature called “Internal Job Postings” under the Faculty tab of the District’s website. We will post all of our internal jobs under this website tab. Therefore, you will no longer see internal job postings in the bulletin. This new way of posting will allow us to post internal positions any day of the week.