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Dear Colleagues,
Now that we are experiencing a reprieve from snow flakes and we are finally gaining on snow removal from walkways and roofs, it is a good time to assess where we are and give some thought to end of year. At last count we have had four no school days, two delays and one early dismissal. As you well know, we allow for the chance of five no school days on the annual school calendar. Given we are at least two months shy of no snow weather days, we need to plan for the possibility we may exceed five no school days this year. The possible options are to shorten upcoming school vacations in February or April, hold school on Saturdays, or add to the end of the year. Since we started school early before Labor Day, I hope you will agree that the better, least disruptive, option is to add days to the end of the year. We will do this only if we go beyond the five no school days already allotted. I will be sending individual notices to our families and staff to alert everyone to plan for this possibility.
The other date I want to confirm for you is that even if we have to add days to the end of the school year, high school graduation day will be unaffected. It will stay June 3rd as already scheduled on the calendar.
Enjoy the sunshine.
Calendar Tuesday 02/15 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 #21
February 11, 2011
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A Note from the Health Department . . . . . . . Dear Wellesley Public Schools Faculty and Staff: As if we don’t have enough headaches with disruptions in our lives caused by snow and ice, it is now apparent that flu season has kicked into high gear. You may have heard that students at a college in Cape Cod have been diagnosed with the H1N1 flu virus. As is typical with seasonal flu, the number of cases has risen in recent weeks, and will continue to increase and peak in the weeks to come. The good news is that it’s not too late to get your flu vaccine, which offers the best protection against the flu viruses that are now circulating. This year’s seasonal flu vaccine protects you from three strains of flu virus, including H1N1. Flu vaccine is in abundant supply at the Wellesley Health Department, health care provider offices, and at pharmacies, and I strongly encourage everyone to now take the time to be vaccinated if you missed our clinics in the fall. There are also everyday preventive measures that you can take to keep yourself well, as outlined in the information included on the last pages of the bulletin. For further information or to make an appointment for a free flu shot, please call me at the Health Department at 781- 235-0135. Thank you, and take care. Mary Suresh, Director, Wellesley Health Department [email protected] 781-235-0135 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: [email protected]
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, [email protected]. You will be notified of the amount awarded to you by July 1, 2011.
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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
[email protected], include your child/ren’s name, birth date, and current grade level. Application Deadline: May 2, 2011
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 [email protected] with any questions.
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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. News from the Collaborative for Educational Services: Discussion and Information Session rescheduled (again) to Wednesday, March 2, 2011, from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. at the Cary Memorial Library (Learning Center), 1874 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington. MA.
COURSE AVAILABLE:
Understanding Basic Statistics (note time change for sessions)
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 – 4:30 pm Location: WHS Room 237 or 229 PDPs: 15 Inservice Credit(s): 1
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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.”
WINGS Summer Openings 2011 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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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 [email protected]
DO NOT USE Dr. Bravacos’ WPS email address to respond to this ad.
Coaching Positions
Spring Season 2011 Assistant Coach – Varsity Boys Outdoor Track Assistant Coach - Sailing Sub Varsity Coach – Boys Lacrosse Sub Varsity Coach – Girls Lacrosse Fall Season 2011 Head Coach – Varsity Boys Soccer Head Coach – Varsity Field Hockey Contact Athletic Director : [email protected]
POSITIONS AVAILABLE 2010‐2011 OPENINGS
Elementary Clerk/Lunch Monitor needed. Position includes morning and lunch time recesses, covering a lunch duty and doing some light office work such as copying and laminating. Interested parties should value the benefits of physical activity for young children; appreciate the importance of pro-social skill building through practical application of Open Circle strategies; and most of all, enjoy working with children. The hours are 9:30 am to 1:30 p.m., Monday; Tuesday; Thursday and Friday. Salary $10.95/hr. Please send cover letter, resume, and three letters of reference to Salvatore Petralia, Assistant Superintendent, Wellesley Public Schools, 40 Kingsbury Street, Wellesley, MA 02481 or e-mail [email protected]
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.
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 [email protected].
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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 [email protected]
Wellesley Public Schools Actively Seeks to Increase the Diversity of its Workforce
Everyday Preventive Actions That Can Help Fight Germs, Like Flu
CDC recommends a three-step approach to fighting the flu.
CDC recommends a three-step approach to fighting influenza (flu). The first and most important step is to get a flu vaccination each year. But if you get the flu, there are prescription antiviral drugs that can treat your illness. Early treatment is especially important for the elderly, the very young, people with certain chronic health conditions, and pregnant women. Finally, everyday preventive actions may slow the spread of germs that cause respiratory (nose, throat, and lungs) illnesses, like flu. This flyer contains information about everyday preventive actions.
How does the flu spread?
Flu viruses are thought to spread mainly from person to person through the coughing, sneezing, or talking of someone with the flu. Flu viruses also may spread when people touch something with flu virus on it and then touch their mouth, eyes, or nose. Many other viruses spread these ways too.
People infected with flu may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5-7 days after becoming sick. That means you may be able to spread the flu to someone else before you know you are sick as well as while you are sick. Young children, those who are severely ill, and those who have severely weakened immune systems may be able to infect others for longer than 5-7 days.
What are everyday preventive actions?
Everyday preventive actions are steps that people can take to help slow the spread of germs that cause respiratory illness, like flu. These include the following personal and community actions:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue ywhen you cough or sneeze. This will block the spread of droplets from your mouth or nose that could contain germs. Wash your hands often with soap and ywater. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. yGerms spread this way.Try to avoid close contact with sick people. yIf you or your child gets sick with a respiratory illness, like flu, limit contact with others as much as ypossible to help prevent spreading illness. Stay home (or keep your child home) for at least 24 hours after fever is gone except to seek medical care or for other necessities. Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.If an outbreak of flu or another illness occurs, follow public health advice. This may include information yabout how to increase distance between people and other measures.
CS211793-A 03/19/2010
Everyday preventive actions can help slow the spread of germs that can cause many different
illnesses and may offer some protection against the flu.
For more information, visit www.cdc.gov , or www.flu.gov, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO.
What additional steps can I take at work to help stop the spread of germs that can cause respiratory illness, like flu?
Find out about your employer’s plans if an outbreak of yflu or another illness occurs and whether flu vaccinations are offered on-site.Routinely clean frequently touched objects and surfaces, yincluding doorknobs, keyboards, and phones, to help remove germs.Make sure your workplace has an adequate supply of ytissues, soap, paper towels, alcohol-based hand rubs, and disposable wipes.Train others on how to do your job so they can cover yfor you in case you or a family member gets sick and you have to stay home.If you begin to feel sick while at work, go home as soon yas possible.
What additional preventive actions can I take to protect my child from germs that can cause respiratory illness, like flu?
Find out about plans your child’s school, child care yprogram, or college has if an outbreak of flu or another illness occurs and whether flu vaccinations are offered on-site.Make sure your child’s school, child care program, or ycollege routinely cleans frequently touched objects and surfaces, and that they have a good supply of tissues, soap, paper towels, alcohol-based hand rubs, and disposable wipes on-site.Ask how sick students and staff are separated from yothers and who will care for them until they can go home.
