Dear Colleagues,
I hope you each had a productive week. It was certainly a busy one! I want to start by thanking Assistant Superintendent Sandy Trach and our Teaching and Learning team for their work to facilitate our professional learning day on Monday. As I noted at our opening kickoff in August, we continue to believe that linking relationships and learning is an essential component of our work in schools. When we create classroom and school cultures in which students feel seen, heard, and a sense of belonging, they learn at high levels. I appreciated Brandon Fleming’s reinforcement of the notion that we must be attentive to both culture and pedagogy in our work.
I’m also excited about our ongoing work with the Center for Leadership and Educational Equity (CLEE) on relationship mapping. We know that when students have at least one strong connection with an adult in school, they are demonstrably more likely to feel a sense of belonging and to be successful. As noted on Monday, we will be following up on this introduction to CLEE across the district throughout the spring semester.
And finally, I want to thank our colleagues at each level who led learning sessions on Monday. I always feel like we are at our best when we come together as a community of practice to share strategies and problem-solve around challenges.
Next week will be equally busy. On Monday we will be providing staff with a preview of our FY2026 budget proposal. (This will take place at 3:15PM in the WMS auditorium.) On Tuesday night, we will formally present this to the School Committee at their meeting at 6:30pm. The School Committee is also slated to take action at this same meeting to approve next year’s academic calendar and an approach to incorporating religious/cultural holidays.
Have a great weekend everyone and thanks for all that you do to support our students each day.
Best, David
Calendar
December 9 – Budget Presentation to Staff
December 10 – School Committee Meeting
December 23 – December Break Starts (Schools Closed)
January 2 – School Reopens
January 7 – School Committee Meeting
Mark Your Calendar
The FY’26 Budget Presentation to Staff will take place on Monday, December 9, from 3:15-4:30 in the Middle School Auditorium.
Cell Phone Working Group – Survey Closes Dec. 10
Thank you to the approximately 200 teachers/staff members who have responded to our survey about the student use of smart technology in schools! Your responses will be extremely valuable to the Cell Phone Working Group. If you haven’t had a chance yet, please take a few minutes to participate. The surveys close at 5 p.m. on December 10.
无尽资源采集 Scholarship Foundation Needs You for the Boston Marathon!
We are looking for a WPS faculty or staff member to run the 2025 Boston Marathon on our behalf! We are hoping to find a runner that has a great connection with students and can help share the mission of the 无尽资源采集 Scholarship Foundation!
We have the number…we just need the runner to “pin” our support on race day!
WSF will help you with all the fundraising and we’ll be cheering you on every step of the way!
If you are interested in running the Boston Marathon for the 无尽资源采集 Scholarship Foundation please contact WSF Trustee (Outreach) – Jen Mock at jennifer.mock23@gmail.com.
Nominate A Staff Member for the Educator Leadership Institute Program
Please take 1 minute and click on to nominate a member of your staff for the .
We all want quality leadership in public education. We need your help identifying the next generation of educational leaders from your school. ELI candidates obtain DESE Administrative licensure while also earning a Master’s degree from Fitchburg State.
Our describes the program and info session dates at ACCEPT in Natick this fall.
Please take 1 minute and click on , and you will honor one of your educators with this leadership nomination. ELI will reach out to your candidate directly to invite them to the program.
Please submit your nomination now. You just might inspire the next great school leader!
COVID-19 Tests
Order your 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests by .
MAALANA Affinity Group
Sponsored by
(IDEAS) INITIATIVES for DEVELOPING EQUITY and ACHIEVEMENT for STUDENTS &(M.A.S.S.) MASSACHUSETTS ASSOCIATION of SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS
INVITATION TO IDEAS AFFINITY GROUP FOR EDUCATORS OF COLOR 2024-2025
(Updated 7/11/2024)
The IDEAS MAALANA affinity group provides a space for educators of color to network. The conversation is organic; there is typically no set agenda. Participants bring their willingness to engage, support, and brainstorm on school-related issues, process scholarly articles, and promote social justice. MAALANA also provides an opportunity to share each other’s company, and enjoy light refreshments when we meet in person. Meetings occur ten times over the school year. An email reminder is sent out each month to remind folks as to whether the meeting will be virtual on Zoom or in person, and a summary is sent after each meeting with links to articles on related topics. There is no commitment to attend all meetings. The meeting time is generally from 4:00 PM EST – 6:00 PM EST once a month, most often on the Second Friday. The physical location may change but it typically off 128/95 in the Waltham, MA area.
MAALANA is an affinity group designed to provide opportunities for educators of color from various communities in (or connected to) Massachusetts. We share school experiences regarding topics of race, culture, ethnicity, power/ privilege, culturally responsive teaching practices, and systemic social change to create educational equity. Strategies for addressing the academic achievement of children of color, preparing all students to successfully navigate a culturally diverse society, and collaboration techniques among colleagues are discussed.
MAALANA educators are Multiracial, Asian, Arab, African Descent, Latino/a, and/or Native American (Indigenous) educators, advisors, counselors, administrators, staff, consultants, tutors, and retired educators of color. We are people who are the only or one of few of their racial/ ethnic group in their building or school system. Claudia A. Fox Tree has facilitated the monthly meetings since the 2006-2007 school year. Please do not confuse us with MA-ALANA (with a hyphen), the Massachusetts Teachers’ Association (MTA) committee that formed in 2020.
Two (2) Contact hours will be awarded for attendance per meeting These may be combined with the IDEAS Book Group for a “bundle” of 10.
We typically meet on the lands of the Pawtucket, Agawam, Nipmuc, Massachusett, and Wampanoag.
<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
DATES: Please “pencil in” our 10 Dates for the 2024-2025 School Year Summer dates will be determined at the April meeting. Unless otherwise noted, we meet on Fridays (typically the second Friday of the month), usually in the Waltham Area from 4:00-6:00 pm EST. 2024-25 Dates are: Sept. 13, Oct. 11, Nov. 8, Dec. (skip), Jan. 10 (likely to be virtual), Feb. 13 Thursday due to Feb. break (likely to be virtual), March 14, April 11, May 9 (Bring Your Ally), July (TBD), and August (TBD). Summer dates will be determined at the April meeting.
There is no commitment to attend all meetings.
<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
Please email cfoxtree@gmail.com, to join the mailing list. You will receive reminders, announcements, and summaries, whether or not you attend.
<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>:<>
Opportunities from the Town of 无尽资源采集
Get your event featured!: The Town of 无尽资源采集 has a new Community Events Calendar on its . Schools or departments hosting events are welcome to submit an event for inclusion on the town-wide calendar. Send details .
Human Relation Services
The Human Relation Services (HRS) can help. 无尽资源采集 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 无尽资源采集 and can be reached at 781-235-4950. This is a confidential service. 无尽资源采集 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@无尽资源采集ps.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 “” under the Faculty tab of the District’s website.