Dear Colleagues,
I hope everyone had a good week. Snow days are always challenging when we are so close to Spring!
The 50th Anniversary of Wellesley’s participation in METCO has given us a rich opportunity to examine our attitudes toward race and diversity, particularly through the eyes of our students.
On Wednesday, I attended the opening performance of Now in Color at Wellesley High School. This year’s winter play has additional significance as Steve Wrobleski and his students took on the challenge of creating an original work focused on our METCO program. A few things really stood out to me from the play.
First, it was difficult to listen to excerpts from letters written to the Wellesley School Committee from residents opposed to METCO fifty years ago. These letters reminded me not only about our imperfect past but also of the courage of other members of our community to move forward despite this feedback.
Second, the play ends with remarks that our students of color have heard here in WPS, not 50 years ago, but today. The totality of these micro-aggressions is profound and should give us all pause as we consider the climate of race and diversity that exists for our students. It was striking that these comments were read from sheets of paper that were later placed back in the pockets of our students of color. When discussing this with the audience at the conclusion of the play, the students noted that they did this as a reminder that inappropriate remarks made—even if unintentionally—don’t disappear. These micro-aggressions stay with our students of color, shaping their perceptions of their peers, our schools, and our community.
I am so proud of our students and staff for having the courage to hold up a mirror for our district and to start a critical conversation. If you haven’t seen Now in Color, I encourage you to do so and to reflect on what its messages mean for our practice in WPS.
Have a great weekend.
Best, David
Calendar
03/21/17 – Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair: The Big Disconnect – 7 pm – WHS Auditorium
03/21/17 – 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 Heather Heon (Sprague Math Coach) on the birth of her son, Wesley Maurice, on March 11, 2017; and to Alex Rogel (Hunnewell Special Educator) on the birth of his daughter, Emerson Jane, on March 15, 2017.
THE BIG DISCONNECT: Protecting Childhood & Family Relationships in the Digital Age Tuesday, March 21, 7:00pm in the WHS Auditorium Please join us for an engaging evening with Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair! Through presentation and skits, Dr. Steiner-Adair will help parents understand the ways in which technology and media are putting children at risk at each stage of development, from infancy through young adulthood, and challenging what it means to be a family. Drawing on real life stories from her clinical work with children and
Conversation on Race – Celebrating 50 Years of METCO – New Date: March 30, 2017 7-9 pm
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!) 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
2017 Summer Special Education Program
Elementary, Middle and High School Positions Available
We are looking for lead teachers, paraprofessionals, teaching assistants, and related service providers to teach WPS summer programs for Elementary School, Middle School and High School. Teaching experience and license within content, or related service area required. Familiarity with WPS learning goals preferred. Applicants for positions within academic strands must state their preferred grade level and content area. Times and days may vary based on programming. For information and an application for Elementary positions, please click here. For information and applications for the Middle and High School Positions, please click here.
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.
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.