Colleagues,
I hope you each had a productive week. Special Town Meeting convened this week with construction funding for our two elementary school building projects, Hunnewell and Hardy, on the agenda for approval. I’m so pleased to report that the Hunnewell project passed with 90 percent of Town Meeting Members voting their support and the Hardy project passed with 95 percent of Town Meeting Members also voting in favor of that request. After working on the development of these projects for the past ten years with numerous committees and many difficult decisions along the way, these votes were both historic for the town and incredibly satisfying. Shout-out to the members of our staff who have supported these efforts, along with members of our School Committee, both past and present, whose leadership was essential in shepherding these school building projects to this point. The final step will be a Town-wide debt exclusion vote on December 7th to finalize these funds.
At the November 2nd School Committee meeting, we will be reviewing the District’s bullying policy and its implementation across the District. This is clearly an important and timely topic right now. It’s critical that we have a clear understanding of what behaviors constitute bullying and how these matters are addressed consistently and thoroughly by our staff. An important conversation that will flow from this is how matters of bullying or other school-related incidents should be considered in public messaging at the school and/or district level. As staff, we have important legal obligations to protect the privacy of students and their families, and we must consider a variety of factors when resolving any issues of student conflict. Additionally, as educators, we also have a responsibility to support a student’s ability to learn and recover as part of any process. Balancing these obligations with our community’s desire for transparency represents an important conversation that can hopefully bring greater clarity and assurance regarding our District practices.
Thank you for what you do to support all of our students each day and have a great weekend!
-David
Calendar
10/31/21 – Deadline for All Staff Mandatory Training
11/01/21 – Deadline to Submit Letters of Intent to Change Lanes for SY22-23
11/02/21 – SC Meeting – 6:30 pm
11/09/21 – SC Meeting – 6:30 pm
11/10/21 – Health Department Flu Clinic – Warren Building, 90 Washington St.
11/11/21 – Veterans’ Day – No School
11/16/21 – SC Meeting – 6:30 pm
Flu Clinic for WPS Staff
The Wellesley Health Department is offering a flu clinic for WPS staff on Wednesday, November 10th, from 2:30pm-4:30pm. No appointments needed, just bring your insurance card. They have the regular quadrivalent as well as the Senior High Dose.
METCO Directors’ Association Annual Educators Conference Friday, December 3, 2021 | 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Four Points Sheraton Norwood Hotel, 1125 Boston-Providence Turnpike, Norwood, MA 02062
Registration opens Friday, 10/29/21
For more information click on the following link: 36 Annual METCO Directors Conference.
Announcing 2021-2022 ACCEPT’s Educator Leadership Institute (ELI):
Part-Time Preparation for Administrative Leadership and Licensure Program for Educators (Pr/AP at one of two levels: Pre-K-8, 5-12).
Classes begin January 12, 2022 . Application deadline: December 15, 2021
Information Sessions held at ACCEPT headquarters, 4 Tech Circle, Natick, MA 01760 on Wednesday, October 13, Monday, November 8, and Wednesday, December 1, 5:00 – 6:30 pm. Sessions will provide sample classroom activities and an opportunity to discuss the program with current students, graduates and faculty. To register for an Information Session: eliadmin@accept.org
The 18-month part-time program includes:
·High engagement pedagogy with extensive fieldwork opportunities
·Firsthand involvement with practicing administrators
·Optional Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and Management (Financial Aid Available)
·Excellent placement record
·Strong peer and faculty Support Network
For more information, please go to: ELI Website or Click Professional Development tab at Accept.org.
Reminders Regarding Salary Lane Change Process:
New Reminder: For professional staff slated for a lane change this school year: All transcripts and other proof of completion must be submitted by November 1, 2021.
Letters of Intent to Change Lanes are due annually by November 1st for the following school year. The letter should include your present lane, intended lane and year in which you plan to make the change. Your letter of intent to change lanes in SY22-23 is due on November 1, 2021. Please note that your letter of intent does not carry over from year to year.
Also, effective November 1, 2020, a teacher must submit a Course Approval Form (CAF) if: 1) a course may lead to a lane change or 2) a course is paid by District funds. Forms should be submitted at least 30 days in advance of the expected start date of the course. Course approvals are active from the date of approval through June 30th of the following school year (e.g., approved 9/1/2021 for a course starting 10/1/2021 would be active through 6/30/2023). Approvals are based on the course title and course description and cannot be exchanged for another course without prior written approval of the Superintendent or designee. A teacher has until June 30th of the following school year from the course completion date to submit the transcripts (e.g., course ended 1/1/2022 transcript must be submitted by 6/30/2023).
Human Relations Services
The Human Relation Services (HRS) can help. Wellesley Public Schools has contracted with HRS to provide up to ten free counseling visits for you and/or your family members. This program is designed to help you deal with stresses of life and work –including personal and family issues, drug or alcohol problems, and job related tension. It offers prevention and intervention to reduce these stresses and improve coping skills.
HRS is located at 11 Chapel Place in Wellesley and can be reached at 781-235-4950. This is a confidential service. Wellesley Public Schools is not aware of the names of employees or their family members who utilize this service.
Do you have a question for the WPS Human Resources Department? Email AskHR@Wellesleyps.org. The Human Resources Department is happy to assist you.
WPS Internal Job Postings on District Website
For all Internal Job Postings, please go to “Internal Job Postings” under the Faculty tab of the District’s website.