Dear Colleagues,

This week the state released the 2017 MCAS results from the spring administration of the exams.  There was more attention than usual this year as this was the first administration of the next-generation MCAS exam.  (The previous version is now known as the “Legacy version.”)  With a more rigorous exam and a computer-based platform for some grades, it was anticipated that scores across the state would drop, which was confirmed upon receipt of our official results.  Not only was the test different, but the scaling and score reporting were also different.  The new scale is defined by “Exceeding Expectations, Meeting Expectations, Partially Meeting Expectations, and Not Meeting Expectations.”  With all of these changes, it is difficult to compare our year-over-year progress as we have done in the past, as the new and previous versions of the exam are not comparable.  In short, 2017 is a new baseline year.

With all of this as context, it will undoubtedly be more challenging to convey the meaning of these exams to students, parents, and our community.  We are fortunate that WPS has never been a district that has been hyper-focused on MCAS or any other individual assessment.  Regardless of the new or future versions of this test, we should always put these results in the proper context, which is that they do provide some useful longitudinal data for the District, particularly as we monitor gaps in achievement between student groups that can inform our equity agenda and actions.  At the same time, we will never measure our progress based on a single exam that does not assess many of the elements of our work that we value as much or more than what is assessed on MCAS.

Thanks to each of you for the important work you do each day to support our students and have a great weekend.

Best regards,

David Lussier

Calendar
10/24/17 – SC Meeting – 6:30 pm – Town Hall
10/30/17 – SC Meeting – 6:30 pm – Town Hall
11/10/17 – Veterans’ Day – No School
11/15/17 – SC Meeting – 4 pm – Town Hall
11/22/17 – Thanksgiving Break Begins – Early Release
​​​​​​​11/27/17 – Prof. Development Day – No School for Students
11/28/17 – SC Meeting – 6:30 pm – Town Hall

​​​​​​​

4th Annual Wellesley Community Diversity Summit
Saturday, October 21, 2017, from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm
World of Wellesley’s annual diversity summits provide an opportunity for community leaders, neighbors, educators, students, and parents to collectively learn, discuss, and celebrate diversity. This years’ summit will focus on the local, national and global impact of diversity issues.  Click here to register.

Questions?  Contact Michelle Chalmers, President, World of Wellesley, at 781-591-9435 or info@worldofwellesley.org.

Letters of Intent to Change Lanes for SY2018-19 Are Due by November 1st
All professional staff  who expect to receive a Master’s degree, M+30, or M+60/Doctorate at the beginning of the next school year 2018-19, must send formal notification of intent (email is fine) to change salary lanes to Addie Doherty dohertya@wellesleyps.org, no later than November 1, 2017.  The notification should include:  current lane, proposed lane, and the school year (2018-19) in which you hope to change lanes.  This early notification deadline is required so that provisions for anticipated salary lane changes can be included within the new fiscal year budget.  Please note: The list does not carry forward.  You must provide written notice each year until you have achieved the desired lane change.
​​​​​​​

WEF is now Accepting Grant Applications online at www.wellesleyeducationfoundation.org

Deadline for Applications is Friday, January 5, 2018

QUICK TIPS:

• See info on our website – Grants and Grants History menu tabs
• Apply:  GRANTS and LOGIN TO GRANT APPLICATIONS menu tabs
• Complete ALL required fields on your application
• Upload any additional info relevant to your grant request
• Provide the name and email of administrators required to sign off on your application – please check for correct emails
• REMEMBER TO CLICK SUBMIT to complete your application

Email questions   to: grants@wellesleyeducationfoundation.org

Note: Notifications of decisions will be sent in early April and All applicants awarded funding are to complete a WEFGrant Evaluation form.

​​​​​​​

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@wellesleyma.gov 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.