Wellesley Public Schools
Learning • Caring • Innovating
Superintendent’s Bulletin

 
November 13, 2015

Dear Colleagues,
Fall is certainly a busy time in Wellesley!  Special Town Meeting continues to meet as members consider the recommendations from the Town Government Study Committee.  Regardless of the outcome, this process showcases democracy in action, which is sometimes messy and relies on citizens to step forward and use their voice.At the same time, there have been a host of school activities underway.  Many thanks to the Wellesley Education Foundation for sponsoring its annual Spelling Bee last week, which raised money that is reinvested back into the Wellesley Public Schools, particularly through grants to our teachers.  A special shout-out to Drew Kelton, Marc Bender, Lynne Novogroski, Drew Bourn, Natasha Goddard, and Kari Sciera for participating on spelling teams with such great spirit!  This has also been a busy time for our athletic teams participating in fall tournaments and for our students participating in Grease and Decadent Broadway (be sure to check out both!).  So many great opportunities which remind me of how much our education efforts extend beyond the classroom.    Finally, if any of our staff members is interested in running the Boston Marathon next spring to raise money for the Friends of Wellesley METCO, please note the details later in this bulletin. Thanks to everyone for the important work you do for our students each day and enjoy the weekend.  Best regards,David​Calendar
11/17/15 – School Committee Meeting – 7 pm Town Hall (tentative)
11/18/15 – School Committee Working Meeting – 8:30 am WMS
11/25/15 – Early Dismissal – Thanksgiving Break
11/30/15 – Professional Development Day – No Classes​
12/1/15 – Deadline for All Staff Restraint and Conflict of Interest Training (see below)
12/1/15 – School Committee Meeting – 7 pm Town Hall
12/15/15 – School Committee Meeting – 7 pm Town Hall

  Mandatory TrainingPlease be aware that Massachusetts law requires all staff to complete mandatory restraint and conflict of interest training.  The mandatory training is now available online for all staff. To be in compliance, each employee must go through mandatory training this year.  Training must be completed by December 1st.

To do the mandatory training:1.    Go to www.wellesleyps.org2.    Click Faculty Menu -> Mandatory Training3.    Complete all 5 training modules:  Civil Rights/Teacher Responsibility, Medical Emergencies, Head Injury/Concussion, Restraint & Seclusion, and Conflict of Interest4.    Take the 2 associated assessments for Restraint & Seclusion and Conflict of Interest. a.    Your Restraint training assessment results will be emailed to you.b.    You will fill out and print the Conflict of Interest certification at the completion of the assessment.c.     Print each assessment/certification.5.    Fill in the Validation Form to record date of completion of each training module.6.    Send the printed assessments/certifications to your school/department office secretaryIf you have any questions, please contact Val Spruill at extension 5603 or spruillv@wellesleyps.org Friends of Wellesley METCO is Seeking Marathon RunnersFriends of Wellesley METCO (FWMI) is looking for people who might be interested in running the Boston Marathon in 2016 and raising funds for FWMI.  They would love to have runners from within the school system.  They don’t know exactly how many entries they will have this year, but if you have interest or know someone who does, feel free to contact FWMI board member Tim Raeke at 781-801-4345 or timraeke@gmail.com.  He can send you all the details of what it entails.  For more info on FWMI, here is a link: http://www.friendsofwellesleymetco.org/Friends_of_Wellesley_METCO/Welcome.htmlREADY FOR RETIREMENT SEMINARS
For members retiring in 2016The MTRS staff will be presenting their popular seminar, “Ready for Retirement,” across the Commonwealth in November and December. “Ready for Retirement” is a free, optional, two-hour program (4-6 p.m.) designed for members retiring in 2016. They’re reaching out to soon-to-be retirees before theretirement season starts so that when you begin the application process, you will know just what you need to do and when.Topics include:· the retirement application process and the benefit calculation formula,· timelines and service expectations,· first payment information,· health insurance, tax and working after retirement issues, and· cost-of-living adjustments after you retire.Please note: Personalized account information and pension estimates are not offered during these sessions.To attend, simply choose the date and location that is best for you, and then register online. We hope to see you soon!Program schedule:NORTHAMPTON, Tuesday, November 17; Northampton High School auditoriumSOUTH YARMOUTH, Thursday, November 19; Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School auditoriumHANOVER, Monday, November 23; Hanover High School auditoriumCAMBRIDGE, Thursday, December 3; MTRS Cambridge Office, Presentation Room PROGRAM FULLBEVERLY, Monday, December 7; Beverly High School auditorium
Professional Development OpportunitiesUpcoming Primary Source Webinars

Global Read Africa: Looking for Transwonderland: Travels in Nigeria
Dec. 2, 2015
4:00 – 5:15 p.m.
For K-12 teachers
Webinar – online

Join Primary Source and readers from around the U.S. for a live, online discussion with author Noo Saro-Wiwa and Nigeria scholar Darren Kew of UMass Boston.

Looking for Transwonderland takes us on an adventure-and irony-filled tour of modern Nigeria through the observant eyes of Noo Saro-Wiwa. Her journey is not only geographical and cultural, but also personal: it tracks her coming to terms, after 15 years, with the country that executed her father, activist Ken Saro-Wiwa. As Noo travels to different regions, she reflects with wit and feeling on subjects ranging from history to holidays, religion to roads, and the environment to ethnicity – all while sharing the perspectives of people she meets along the way. The book is appropriate for high-school students and anyone interested in life today in Africa’s most populous country.
To register:  https://www.primarysource.org/professional-development/courses/online-seminars

​​​​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.
 
Wellesley Public Schools • Wellesley, Massachusetts www.wellesley.k12.ma.us/district/superintendent David Lussier, Superintendent

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.

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Superintendent’s Bulletin 11/13/15