Dear Colleagues, Well, this winter has just been a hum dinger! In my household we have been chipping at the ice on the roof to no real avail and mopping up the water that has been edging in through the windows. We are somewhat grimly bracing ourselves for when the thaw comes and what that will bring. This is reminiscent of my first winter as superintendent when there were seven possible weather events over a three-week period. I remember there were a lot of flooded basements (forget the snow blower, you should get your sump pump now!) and my sleep deprivation from waking early to check the morning precipitation and road conditions. From where I sit I see that everyone is working very, very hard doing the best they can to manage the complications the weather has wrought on our personal and professional lives. It has been hard, and I can also see that we are tired dealing with cranky people and maybe a tad bit cranky ourselves.

Well, here is some excellent news to share and celebrate… no less than three babies were born during Wednesday’s snow day, one each to Dara Gaul, Sprague School teacher, Jamie Chisum, High School Assistant Principal, and Lindsey Yamaguchi, High School Adjustment Counselor! How great is that?

Take care this weekend,

Calendar Tuesday 02/08 School Committee Meeting – 7:30 pm Town Hall Wednesday 02/16 Teachers for Safe Schools – 3:30 pm WMS Rm 245 February 21 – 25 February Vacation Week – no school Monday, 3/7 Spring Grant Applications Due to WEF

Wellesley Public Schools 40 Kingsbury Street Wellesley, Massachusetts 02481

Bella T. Wong Superintendent of Schools

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.

Superintendent’s Bulletin www.wellesley.k12.ma.us/district/bulletins.

Bulletin #20

February 4, 2011

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Are you interested in a job share? Would you like to be considered for a transfer? Teachers with professional teacher status who would like to request a job share position or a transfer in the 2011-2012 school year must notify Salvatore Petralia in writing by May 2, 2011. Requests should be sent to: Salvatore_Petralia@wellesley.k12.ma.us

Teachers for Safe Schools Teachers for Safe Schools will meet at the Middle School in Room 245, from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. on the following Wednesdays: February 16, March 16, April 27, and May 18, 2011. The mission of Teachers for Safe Schools is to consciously create, support and encourage a safe professional and emotional school climate that allows for staff of all sexual orientations to be acknowledged and respected. Graduate Course Reimbursement Course reimbursement funding of $22,500 is available to distribute in FY12 among qualified teachers for graduate course work which is done as part of a master’s degree program to fulfill a teacher’s obligations for the Massachusetts Educators Professional License and for course work required to achieve the next stage of licensure culminating in a professional license. To apply for this course reimbrusement, please send, by June 1, 2011, your name, evidence of your enrollment in an applicable master/doctoral degree program, name and description of the course, evidence of course cost, proof of payment, and transcript to Valerie Spruill, Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent, Valerie_Spruill@wellesley.k12.ma.us. You will be notified of the amount awarded to you by July 1, 2011.

Apply Now to Enroll Children of Non-Resident WTA Members in Wellesley Schools. Children of teachers or nurses residing outside 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 in the 2011-12 school year, please contact

Valerie_Spruill@wellesley.k12.ma.us, include your child/ren’s name, birth date, and current grade level. Application Deadline: May 2, 2011

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Wellesley Education Foundation (WEF) Grants

WEF Spring Grant Applications – Proposals due Monday, March 7, 2011. WEF is now accepting grant proposals from all Wellesley Public Schools teachers, administrators and specialists. For elementary school grants: up to 20% of the WEF grant budget may be allocated to individual elementary school grants providing they have potential for replication. Be sure to include shipping and handling expenses in your cost estimate. Note: All technology requests must be reviewed by Rob Ford, Director, Technology.

Ruth S. Walter Environmental Education Fund – Proposals due Monday, March 7, 2011. WEF makes additional funds available for projects related to science and the environment. Through the generosity of the family and friends of Ruth S. Walter, a fund for environmental education, was established to award grants to educators for innovative projects and teacher travel that focus on environmental education. Please apply using the general application form and see the WEF website for more details.

Please only use the application form from the WEF website, http://www.wellesleyeducationfoundation.org. (The WEF website can also be found on the Wellesley Public Schools website under District Information – Wellesley Education Foundation.) Application instructions, criteria for funding, and some examples of well written grants are also posted on the WEF website under "Grants to Educators."

Send applications to Janice Gross in the Central Office of the Superintendent by Monday, March 7, 2011.

Questions about potential grant ideas or the application are welcome. Feel free to email WEF Grant Chair, Beverly Donovan, at beverly99@comcast.net with any questions.

2010-2011 Professional Development Opportunities

Professional Development opportunities for 2010- 2011 are posted at http://wps-professionaldev.wikispaces.com. Course descriptions and registration instructions are included. This link can also be found on the

WPS website under 2010-2011 Professional Development Offerings.

COURSE AVAILABLE:

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Understanding Basic Statistics Intended Audience: Anyone interested in learning about statistics.

Pre-assessments for Participants: None Outcomes: After taking this course, participants will know: • the differences between mean, median and

mode and how those different measures of center can be used to distort conclusions;

• the different ways you can take a sample (random, convenience, voluntary response) or census and what conclusions, if any, can be drawn from these sampling techniques;

• the meanings of margin of error and confidence interval;

• how to read and interpret graphs; and • how to correctly use and interpret the language of statistics. Sessions: Mean/Median and Mode Scale, Source and Types of Graphs (Newspapers, Advertising) Survey Types and Sampling Techniques (TV,

Internet, Elections) Sources of Bias – Random Rectangle Activity Interpreting Survey Results (WHS and Chi Running) Meaning of Confidence Intervals (Flipping Tacks Activity) Meaning of Margin of Error (Polling Results) Experiments vs. Studies Good Statistics (Sports and Medicine) Needs of the Class (Manufacturing Quality Control Example) Requirements: • class participation; • completion of in-class and out-of-class worksheets and problems; and • completion of two assignments (finding graphs or surveys in the media and interpreting those findings) Instructors: Caroline Bell and Jill Lapato Dates: Mondays, February 28 – May 9, 2011; Time: 3:00 – 5:30 Location: WHS Room 237 or 229 PDPs: 15 Inservice Credit(s): 1

CPI Refresher Training Prerequisite: Full CPI Training during the 2009-2010 School Year. The cornerstone of CPI since 1980, this program is considered the worldwide standard for crisis prevention and intervention training. With a core philosophy of providing for the care, welfare, safety, and security of everyone involved in a crisis situation, the program’s proven strategies give human service providers and educators the skills to safely and effectively respond to anxious, hostile, or violent behavior while balancing the responsibilities of care. Spring Offering: March 15, 2011 Time: 3:00–6:00 pm Instructor: Adam Diliberto PDPs: 3 Information regarding location will be posted on Wiki.

To register, go to http://wps-professionaldev.wikispaces.com/ to the online registration form. This is listed as a new course under “School Safety.”

LOTS OF BABY NEWS !! . . . . . CONGRATULATIONS to Patty Bird and her husband Cameron on the birth of their son, Alexander, on

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January 25, 2011. . . . .Katie Bender and her husband Mike on the birth of their daughter, Brooke Elizabeth, on January 30, 2011 . . . . .Travis Taylor and his wife Vicky on the birth of their son, Patrick, on February 1, 2011 . . . .Jamie Chisum and his wife Kristen on the birth of their daughter, Hadley Nichole, on February 2, 2011 . . .Dara Gaul and her husband, Nathan, on the birth of their son, Asher Robert, on February 2, 2011 . . . . and Lindsey Yamaguchi and her husband Yuhgo on the birth of their daughter, Mia Jolie, on February 2, 2011.

WINGS Summer Openings 2011

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Registrar- March 1- July 5: Responsibilities include entering all registrations in the FileMaker Pro database, honoring parent requests while creating equitable classes, answering parent questions via the WINGS email address, creating class lists and the other documents necessary to begin Week 1 classes. $3500 stipend Data Manager 7/5/11-7/29/11: Maintain accurate registration information on a daily basis; create weekly class lists and daily student nametags. Must be present at WINGS from 8:15-9:00 each day with additional work and copying to be completed off site. $18/hr for 7 hrs. /wk Elementary Summer Lead Teacher Openings 7/5/11-7/29/11: The WINGS’11 Academic and Enrichment Summer Program is seeking Lead teachers ($39.49 hr based on ’10 rare) for both the morning (8:30-11:30) and afternoon (12:00-3:00) sessions. Academic courses are offered in the AM only and teachers must commit to all four weeks. Enrichment courses are offered in both the AM and PM and teachers must commit to at least two of the four weeks. Academic courses will include concentrated courses in reading (basic literacy for either grade 1 or grade 2; comprehension/fluency for grades 2/3 or grades 4/5) math

(skills/strategies for grades 1/2, 2/3 or 4/5), and written language (grades 3-5). Academic teachers will teach two sections a morning of the same grade level and content. Teaching experience and license required and familiarity with WPS learning goals is a plus. Applicants for positions within the academic strand must state their preferred grade level and whether they are interested in teaching literacy, math, or written language. Academic courses are not dependent on enrollment. Enrichment teachers will teach two sections a morning or an afternoon. You will define courses as the applicant so feel free to share your passions, special interests, and talents with students! Applicants must write an enticing description of their proposed course listing the grade levels (K-2, 3-5). The enrichment courses will not be run without sufficient enrollment so make your course description enticing. Enrichment teachers wishing to work a half-day must teach at least two different courses for the four- week period. Applicants wishing to work both the AM and the PM sessions must submit proposals for at least four different courses for the four-week period. Courses must be written to target students in grades K-2 or 3-5.

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2/4/11 is the deadline for Registrar, Data Manager and Lead Teacher applications. Preference will be given to returning WINGS staff, and to current WPS employees. Send you letter of interest explaining why your are qualified and your enrichment course descriptions to Dr. Gretchen Bravacos, WINGS Director, 63 Hastings St. Wellesley, MA 02481, or email wings@bach.wellesley.k12.ma.us

DO NOT USE Dr. Bravacos’ WPS email address to respond to this ad.

Coaching Positions

Spring Season 2011 Head Coach - Boys Outdoor Track Fall Season 2011 Head Coach – Varsity Boys Soccer Head Coach – Varsity Field Hockey Contact Athletic Director : John_Brown@wellesley.k12.ma.us

POSITIONS AVAILABLE 2010-2011 OPENINGS

LONG TERM SUBSTITUTES NEEDED:

Long-Term Substitute Grade 8 English Teacher needed starting March 28, 2011 until end of school

year.

Long-Term Substitute Grade 8 History Teacher needed starting March 4, 2011 until end of school year. Curriculum includes the Civil War and Reconstruction and experience with the “Facing History and Ourselves” curriculum is beneficial.

Long Term Substitute Preschool Special Educator needed to teach a substantially separate

preschool class beginning May 2, 2011 until the end of the school year and a six-week summer program, experience working with children with moderate to significant special needs using the principals of ABA required. Master’s degree and licenses in both early childhood and special education required. BCBA preferred. (Salary from May 2 to June 2011 $170.10/day). (Salary for the six-week summer program to be determined).

Long Term Substitute Preschool Special Educator needed mid-March to early June 2011 to teach

two integrated preschool classes and to function as a member of an assessment team. Must have experience assessing and teaching young children with special needs, Master’s degree and licenses in both early childhood and special education required.

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Salary for Long Term Substitute Teachers is $170.10/day. Send letter of interest, resume, college transcripts, copy of license, and three letters of reference to Salvatore Petralia, Assistant Superintendent, Wellesley Public Schools, 40 Kingsbury Street, Wellesley, MA 02481 or via email to Personnel@wellesley.k12.ma.us. TRANSPORTATION Van Driver needed (35-38 hr./week) full year, less hours in summer to transport special education students. The schedule is a split shift: am./mid./pm. 7D license preferred (not necessary; will train). $12.66 -$15.60 /hr. depending on experience. Benefits available (health, dental, disability, and retirement). Please send letter of interest to Salvatore Petralia, Assistant Superintendent, Wellesley Public Schools, 40 Kingsbury Street, Wellesley, MA 02481 or e-mail Personnel@wellesley.k12.ma.us

Wellesley Public Schools Actively Seeks to Increase the Diversity of its Workforce