Wellesley Public Schools40 Kingsbury StreetWellesley, Massachusetts 02481

Bella T. WongSuperintendent of Schools

Superintendent’s Bulletinhttp://www.wellesley.k12.ma.us/district/bulletins.htm

Bulletin #2September 11, 2009

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.

Tuesday 09/15 School Committee Meeting, Town Hall, 7:30 pmInstrument Registration Night, Middle School

Wednesday 09/16 PTS Reception, Sprague School Atrium, 3:30 pmTeachers as Scholars Intent to Register Deadline Back to School at Bates Fiske, Hunnewell, Schofield, and Sprague

Thursday 09/17 Middle School Back to School Night Monday 09/21 Kindergarten begins 2 stay daysWednesday 09/23 Back to School at HardyThursday 09/24 Back to School at Upham, 6:30 pmMonday 09/28 Yom Kippur -- No SchoolFriday 10/02 Night High School Football GameFriday 10/09 Deadline: Fall Grant Applications to WEF

Calendar

Professional DevelopmentWellesley Inservice Courses 2009-10

Our full catalog of Inservice Courses for Fall, Winter and Spring is posted as a downloadable pdf on the Wellesley Public Schools website.

www.wellesley.k12.ma.us

7:30 pm Personnel Announcements, Consent Agenda, Reports, Citizen Speak Action/Discussion Items: • FY09 Budget Report • FY11 Capital Budget Guidelines •FY11 Operating Budget Guidelines •Student Residency Policy •Transportation Update •Naming of 1938 Room, Wellesley High School •Citizen Speak

Complete School Committee Minutes are posted at www.wellesley.K12.ma.us/schoolcom/PAGES/MINUTES/2009-2010

School Committee AgendaSeptember 15, 2009

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Teachers as Scholars The online catalog of Teachers as Scholars offerings for 2009-10 is posted at teachersasscholars.org. This year there will be no hard copy catalog distribution. Registration is a three-step process.1. Obtain approval from your Department Head (because you will be missing school days).2. Email Janice Gross (and copy your department head) three choices of seminars you would be interested in attending, including the name and the seminar number, no later than Wednesday, September 16.3. If approved by Becky McFall, you will be notified that the next step in the process is to register online with TAS. Attempts to register before receiving this approval will be deleted.

Criteria for requesting approval to attend:• you are a teacher beginning, at a minimum, your second year in Wellesley (no first year teachers)• you have the approval of your department head• you have not attended Teachers as Scholars in the past three years (2009-08, 2008-07; 2007-06)

N.B. Preference may be given to teachers who have never participated in the TAS program.

Professional Development through TEC and through EDCOCatalogs of 2009 professional development opportunities through TEC have been delivered to each school. Information about the fall offerings is also posted at www.tec-coop.org

Professional Development opportunities through EDCO are posted on the Wellesley Public Schools website:

www.wellesley.k12.ma.us

Are You Working Toward a Higher Salary Lane?All teachers who expect to receive a Master’s degree, M+30, or M+60/Doctorate during the 12 month period July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2009, must send formal notification of intent to change salary lanes to Mary Wolf c/o the Superintendent’s Office no later than November 1, 2009. This early notification deadline is required so that provisions for anticipated salary lane changes may be made within the new fiscal year budget. nb The list does not carry forward. Teachers must provide written notice each year until they have received their new degree.

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News and Information

Nancy Finn is our substitute coordinator.

The phone number for calling in your absences is: 781.446.6210, Ext. 4550Please remember:

1. Report ALL absences, even absences that do not require a substitute.2. Please utilize email to Nancy for your substitute requests whenever possible to cut down on the number of calls to the sub line.3. If you find a substitute on your own, please notify Nancy by email (nefinn@msn.com) or on the sub line so that the substitute can be paid.

Please call me if you have any questions or concerns.

Kathy RileyCentral Office (Centrex 6210, Ext. 4503)

Substitute Coordinator

High School Fitness CenterBeginning in the fall of 2009, the fee policy for use of the High School Fitness Center (HS FC) will change. There will be no charge to use the HS FC for WPS Faculty, Staff and Town of Wellesley employees. However, the procedure to register and train to use the Fitness Center has changed. These careful guidelines are in place to ensure safe and proper use of the equipment in the HS FC.

The certification process is as follows:

1 Registration form and doctor’s note – a current or updated doctor’s note stating that you are in proper physical condition to work out is a requirement. It must be signed by your physician. ALL users of the HS FC will be required to complete an updated HS FC registration sheet.

2 Training – You must attend an orientation and training session with a member of the Fitness and Health staff in order to learn how to use the equipment properly and safely. This will cover general training guidelines and HS FC rules. The training schedule will be determined throughout the school year. Please contact Stephanie Boggs (Centrex 6210, Ext. 4694) to make your appointment beginning in the fall. Staff who have been trained previously do not need to attend again.

3 When steps 1 and 2 are completed, a current High School Fitness Center workout card will be provided and must be presented every time you use the HS FC.

FYI- Parking at the high school will be limited and located further from the building, so please plan accordingly.

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MAALANA - a Group forMultiracial, Asian American, African Descent/African American, Latino/a, and Native American educators.

2 P.D.P's will be awarded per attendance and will be distributed at our last session of the year.

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MAALANA, an affinity group for teachers of color, gathers monthly to create a space that is majority people of color to meet each other, network, get support, or just express our feelings in a relaxed atmosphere. It is an opportunity to share each other's company and enjoy light refreshments.

Many of us work in predominantly white school districts which have a small population of children of color, usually through the METCO program, but also due to resident population. This dynamic creates particular issues that some of us need to discuss as an affinity group. Often, we are the only staff member of our racial or ethnic group in the building or school system, feel that we are the only ones advocating for children of color, and experience the dominant, white majority as being unaware that racial/ethnic misunderstanding/conflict is occurring.

If you are feeling stressed, and believe this group may be able to support you, please consider attending one of our meetings, or suggesting a location/date that would work better for you. In the past we have also shared and discussed articles, books, and movies. We have announced conferences and workshops and talked about what we learned at these venues. And, we have brainstormed ways to confront difficult situations, both personally and professionally.

After each meeting, I summarize the conversation and include upcoming events or interesting articles/websites on the email. Confidentiality is maintained by participant names and school systems not being identified since we are typically sharing information and gathering support/advice on sensitive racial issues.

While we have met in various towns at several venues and on different days, our most regular gathering spot is The Atrium Lounge in the Doubletree Hotel which is located off Route 128 at the Winter Street exit just before the road loops around to Costco. The next meeting will be on Friday, Sept. 18 at 3:30 p.m at the Atrium in Waltham.

Claudia A. Fox Tree (Native American/Arawak)MAALANA CoordinatorPlease EMAIL me at cfoxtree@gmail.com to be added to the list and SUBSCRIBE to the Yahoo group, toohttp://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=42879/*http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MAALANA

You may also “pencil in” the following dates for the 2009-2010 school year: September 18 October 16 November 20 December 18 January 15 February 12 March 12 April 16 May 14 June TBD

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CondolencesTo Mara Hochberg, Elementary Teacher at Bates, on the recent death of her mother

Wellesley Education Foundation GrantsApplications for the first round of grant funding are due Friday, October 9. Use only application forms from the WEF website. Please send applications to Janice Gross in the Central Office. Applications received after the due date will be reviewed in February.

Up to 20% of the grant budget may be allocated to individual elementary school grants providing they have potential for replication.

Application instructions, criteria for funding, and some examples of well written grants are all posted on the WEF website, www.wellesleyeducationfoundation.org. Choose the Grants to Educators link. Be sure to include shipping and handling expenses in your cost analysis. Please check with Lynn Moore-Benson when ordering technology and science equipment, as she is aware of numerous vendors and options for the lowest cost equipment.

Questions about potential grant ideas or the application are welcome. Please send email or telephone the co-chairs, whose names appear on WEF’s website.

403B Enrollment Employees are eligible to participate in the Wellesley Public Schools voluntary 403b plan with Lincoln Financial Group. All employees are eligible to participate and the deadline to enroll for the 2009-10 school year is December 1, 2009. Enrollment meetings and opportunities for an individual consultation with a Lincoln Financial group advisor will be available at each school location during the months of September and October. Employees should see their school Principal if interested in signing up for an individual appointment with a financial consultant. The Fall 2009 schedule of meetings at each location is also posted below. Enrollment can be done online at https://myretirement.lfg.com or by contacting the 24 hour Lincoln Financial Group hot line 800-234-3500. Employees will need their pin number in order to enroll, which is mailed directly to employees' addresses from Lincoln Financial Group. Employees can contact Assistant Business Manager Liam Hurley (781-446-6210 ext. 4515) if they would like to request a hard copy of the enrollment kit.

See page 8 forSchedule of 403BInformation SessionsandIndividual AppointmentOpportunities

To Amy Jankins, Elementary Teacher at Fiske, on the birth of Lucas Clemens, August 6

Congratulations

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Positions Available

Long Term-Substitutes Teaching Positions ($166.76/day)• Middle School ELL (.6FTE) long-term substitute to work with students in a pullout model and with students in their English and Social Studies classes from end of October, 2009 to end of January, 2010. ELL certification required.

• Grade 4 Long-term substitute beginning mid October, 2009 until end of January, 2010.

• High School Mathematics (Anticipated Opening) Long-term substitute mathematics teacher needed starting the beginning of October 2009 to teach Discrete Mathematics, Analysis at the honors level, and BC Calculus. Applicants must have a math background. • High School Geometry Long-term substitute needed to teach Geometry at the honors and advanced college preparation levels and Analysis at the advanced college preparation level starting the end of December 2009.

Long Term-Substitute -- Teaching Assistant Position ($133.41/day)Teaching assistant position for a student in fifth grade. Need experience with children on the spectrum and inclusion practices.

Please send cover letter, resume, three letters of reference, transcripts and licensure to Personnel, Wellesley Public Schools, 40 Kingsbury Street, Wellesley, MA 02481.

Coordinator and Assistant CoordinatorHigh School Enrichment and Recreation Program Coordinator and assistant coordinator are responsible for developing intramural teams that include as many high school students as possible, hiring coaches, and overseeing entire program. Hired (stipend paid) coaches run activities/classes/clubs/teams weekly. Some possible intramural activities include:

Yoga and Meditation Financial Planning Board Games Environmental Science Research Ultimate Frisbee

Personal Media Computer Tech Training Homework at School Current Events Dance Class Creative Writing Workshop

Film Discussion Video Gaming in Public Competitive sports for the uncommitted Cycling

Outdoors club (Hikes, rock climbing, kayaking, and canoeing trips) Pick Up Basketball Fitness Retro Games (Dodgeball, 4 square, kickball)

Cooking Class Walking Group

The stipend for a coordinator and assistant coordinator at the negotiated contract rate for Intramural Coordinators Please send a letter of interest by 9/14/09 to Andrew Keough if you would like to be considered for either of these positions.

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

Opportunities at the High School• WHS Bus Supervision - $1,069.00

• Supervisors of Detention1. Supervision of After School Detention -

$2,450 for 0.75 hours per day for 3 days per week of 36 weeks2. Saturday School Supervision

$1,400 for 2 hours a day for 2 Saturdays a month for the school yearFor each listed opportunity, please send letter of interest to Andrew Keough by September 14.

Winter SeasonHigh School Varsity DanceTeam Coach

Please contact Athletic Director John_Brown@wellesley.k12.ma.us

Coaching Positions

Associate SupervisorsTo proctor PSATs and SATs for the 2009-2010 school year. This is a paid position. The dates are as follows: PSATsOctober 17, 2009

SATsNovember 7, 2009 May 1, 2010June 5, 2010

Associate Supervisors need to report to the test site at 7:45 a.m. A brief training for those who have never proctored the PSAT or SAT will be held at 7:30 a.m. on each test date. The length of the day will depend on the proctoring assignment. Opportunities to proctor students with special accommodations may be available as well (a longer day, but more pay!).

Please note: All tests will be administered at the Middle School this year so parking will not be an issue.

If you are interested in any or all of the dates, please contact Janet Yukna (x5139) or Barb Dutko (x5130) at the high school via email or phone. Please also indicate if you are interested in proctoring students with special accommodations.

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403B Enrollment Meeting ScheduleFall 2009

School Based Schedule -- Individual Meetings

Monday, September 147:30 AM -4:00 PMMiddle SchoolIndividual Appointments

Tuesday, September 22 Tuesday, September 227:30 AM - 11:00 AM 11:30 AM - 2:30 PMFiske School PreschoolIndividual Appointments Individual Appointments

Wednesday, September 231:00 PM - 4:00 PMHunnewell SchoolIndividual Appointments

Tuesday, September 29 Tuesday, September 297:30 AM - 12:00 PM 1:00 PM - 4:00 PMUpham School Hardy SchoolIndividual Appointments Individual Appointments

Tuesday, October 6 Tuesday, October 67:30 AM - 12:00 PM 12:15 PM - 1:00 pm andSprague School 3:05 PM - 5:30 PMIndividual Appointments Schofield School

Individual Appointments

Thursday, October 87:30 AM - 4:00 PMWellesley High SchoolIndividual Appointments

Tuesday, October 13 Tuesday, October 137:30 AM - 12:00 PM 1:00 PM - 5:30 PMBates School Middle SchoolIndividual Appointments (OPEN TO ALL WHO COULD NOT

ATTEND INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLAPPOINTMENTS)Individual Appointments

The above schedule is based on feedback provided by school principals. Every effort was made to accommodate each school's request and schedule. If needed, additional days for individual appointments may be scheduled in October. Sign-Up sheets will be made available at each school. The deadline to enroll during this school year is December 1, 2009. All staff members are eligible to participate and enroll in the 403b plan.