Wellesley Public Schools
Learning • Caring • Innovating
Superintendent’s Bulletin
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Dear Colleagues,I hope you all found our professional development day on Monday valuable. The film, Most Likely to Succeed, which we viewed to start the day, raises a number of important questions facing public education today. What knowledge and skills do our students need to be successful in the future? How should schools be held accountable for results? How much do test preparation and the pressure of college admissions drive the design of our schools? Should we continue to be driven by 19th century assumptions of how schools should be organized? None of these questions are easily answered and yet they comprise an important dialogue that we should be having as a district, community, and nation. As we stand at this important inflection point in school reform, my hope is that our conversations can be more substantive and far ranging than simply which test is better, MCAS or PARCC? Watching the trajectory of Brian and Samantha at High Tech High, it was hard not to be impressed with both the degree to which these students were supported, but also the degree to which they were allowed to make authentic choices and, yes, even to fail. That type of innovative space for students should also exist for our educators and we have plenty of examples right here in WPS at every grade level where inspiring work is happening on daily basis! If you haven’t already, please take a moment and complete a brief survey about the film and share your feedback with us: http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07ebvbjzkxih6rpuda/start Of course, the film was only one portion of our PD day. For the remainder of the morning and afternoon, more than 130 educators had prepared 70+ sessions showcasing their practice around our district priorities of differentiation, social and emotional learning, and the 4C’s. It was truly a day of professional collaboration and inspiration! Thanks to everyone for your excellent work in support of our students and a have a great weekend. Best regards,David Calendar12/15/15 – School Committee Meeting – 7 pm Town Hall 12/24/15 – 1/1/16 – Winter Break – No School
Friends of Wellesley METCO is Seeking Marathon Runners
Friends 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 SEMINARSFor 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: BEVERLY, Monday, December 7; Beverly High School auditorium
Professional Development OpportunitiesWellesleyPDNew Course! – “Special Education for General Educators: A 5-Part Series”
- Instructors: Astrid Mazariegos and Kristen Stacy
- Participants: K-5 Educators
- Date/Times: 02/01/16, 02/22/16, 03/10/16, 03/24/16, 04/04/16, 3:15pm – 6:15pm
- Course Description: This course will provide an overview of special education law and the eligibility process. Participants will take a close look at the components of an IEP and the roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders.
This course fulfills the DESE requirement of at least 15 PDPs related to training in strategies for effective schooling for students with disabilities and instruction of students with diverse learning styles (effective July 1, 2016 for professional licensure renewal).
- To Register: Login to WellesleyPD and select “Offerings” from the menu on the left, then select “Special Education Courses” from the pull-down menu.
New Course! – “Teaching Second Languages to Students with Learning Disabilities”
- Instructor: Pedro Carrasquillo
- Participants: K-12 Educators, Special Educators
- Date/Times: 02/24/16, 03/02/16, 03/09/16, 03/16/16, 03/23/16, 03/30/16, 3:15pm – 5:45pm
- Course Description: Today’s foreign language classrooms are inclusive and diverse. Participants in this course will explore ways to teach a second language to students with learning disabilities. Participants will discuss ways to design and modify lesson plans, as well as use specific strategies that will enhance the participation and success of special education students.
This course fulfills the DESE requirement of at least 15 PDPs related to training in strategies for effective schooling for students with disabilities and instruction of students with diverse learning styles (effective July 1, 2016 for professional licensure renewal).
- To Register: Login to WellesleyPD and select “Offerings” from the menu on the left, then select “Special Education Courses” from the pull-down menu.
New Dates! – “Advanced iPad”
- Instructors: Rosey McQuillan and Ranjani Sriram
- Participants: PreK-12 Educators
- Date/Times: March 7, 2016 – April 11, 2016, Online Only
- To Register: Login to WellesleyPD and select “Offerings” from the menu on the left, then select “Technology Courses” from the pull-down menu.
New Dates! – “Introduction to the WIDA Standards and Differentiated Instruction for ELLs“
- Instructors: Jenn Hannon & Jenn Eramo
- Participants: K-12 Educators, Specialists, Special Educators
- Date/Times: 03/12/16, 8:30am – 3:30pm; 03/22/16 & 04/05/16, 3:30pm – 6:30pm
- To Register: Login to WellesleyPD and select “Offerings” from the menu on the left, then select “ELL Courses” from the pull-down menu.
Other OpportunitiesMTEL SEI/ESL WorkshopThere will be a MTEL SEI and ESL Exam Workshop at Bunker Hill Community College for anyone who plans to take the MTEL assessment as part of the requirements for certification. The workshop will provide an in-depth review of all the content and standards that are currently targeted on the current MTEL certification exam.
- When: Thursday, December 17, 2015, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Where: Bunker Hill Community College, Building E – Room 175, Charlestown, MA
- Cost: $100
- To Register: Contact Dr. Brent Daigle, drbrentdaigle@praxisreview.org
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. |
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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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