Dear Colleagues:
I hope everyone had an enjoyable and restful April break. I especially want to thank the members of our staff who served as chaperones for field trips last week—and throughout the year! Our programs so often extend beyond the walls of our classrooms and schools because of their commitment. The result is that our students have access to incredible learning opportunities as they travel throughout our country and the world.
I’m also very pleased to announce that the Wellesley Education Foundation (WEF) this week announced that they will support our application for funding of a comprehensive assessment of race and diversity in WPS. This work, which will likely take place in the fall, will allow us to learn more about the culture of our district through the eyes of our students, staff, and parents, and provide us with a set of recommendations upon which we can base a multi-year action plan. Thank you to WEF for once again supporting a critical district activity.
Finally, you may know that Wednesday was Administrative Professional’s Day. I can’t say enough about our school secretaries and the important role they play in supporting the work of our district. If you haven’t thanked our incredible secretaries yet this week, please do because they are the backbone of our district.
Thank you to all of our staff for all that you do for our students each day and enjoy the weekend!
Best,
David
Calendar
05/01/17 – Deadline for non-resident WTA Member School Enrollment (see below)
05/04/17 – SC Meeting – 7 pm – Town Hall
05/05/17 – C & I Proposals Due
05/09/17 – SC Meeting – 7 pm – Town Hall
Congratulations to Kenn Craig (Sprague) and his family on the birth of thier son, Elliott Allen Craig, born on April 26th!
C&I Proposals Now Being Accepted for Summer 2017 and the 2017-2018 School Year
Regular Education
We are seeking C&I Projects whose focus is to develop or refine curricula and/or innovative teaching practices resulting in products that can be shared with colleagues. Priority will be given to proposals aligned with the Strategic Plan and the District Goals: Social and Emotional Learning, Tiered Systems of Support, Creative Schools and Cultural Competence.
For more information on the District Goals, please click here and/or review your school’s School Improvement Plan.
Special Education
We are seeking C&I Proposals whose focus is on specialized instructional inclusive practices, e.g., co-teaching models, and/or emotional/social/behavioral support systems.
To access a fillable C&I Proposal Form, please click C&I Proposal. Proposals can be initiated by administrators or by teacher groups who have worked with your department head. C&I Proposals are due no later than Friday, May 5, 2017.
- For Regular Education proposals, please submit to Gwen Cheek, Office of Teaching & Learning.
- For Special Education proposals, please submit to Lori Cimeno, Director of Student Services.
Approval notifications will be sent the week of May 22nd.
Calling All Red Apple Recipients!!!
The Wellesley Education Foundation is trying a new marketing approach for the Red Apple fundraising campaign this year. The new initiative is called #RedAppleSelfie
If you are a teacher who received a Red Apple magnet in prior years, please take a selfie with your magnet and send WEF one or two sentences on how it made you feel to receive the Red Apple. Please send the selfie and narrative to mariagchase by Sunday, April 30th, 2017.
The #RedAppleSelfies will be posted on social media and possibly in the Wellesley Townsman to help publicize WEF’s fundraising campaign. Thank you in advance for your help.
Wellesley Education Foundation
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.
WellesleyPD Summer 2017 Course Offerings
Summer courses through WellesleyPD are now open for registration!
To login to WellesleyPD:
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Username: lastnamefirstinitial
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The default password is wellesleypd; you may click “Forgot Your Password?” for reset information to be sent to your WPS email address
If you encounter difficulty logging in, please contact Chelsea Bailow, PD Coordinator.
Registration for courses closes 2 weeks prior to the date of the first scheduled session of the course. Early registration is encouraged, as class size for each course is limited and a minimum number of participants is required in order for a course to run.
If the minimum number of participants is not reached 2 weeks prior to the date of the first scheduled session of the course, the course will be cancelled. Participants will be notified of course cancellations at least 10 days prior to the date of the first scheduled session of the course.
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.
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.
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.