Superintendent's Bulletin 4-30-10

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Wellesley Public Schools40 Kingsbury StreetWellesley, Massachusetts 02481

Bella T. WongSuperintendent of Schools

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

Bulletin #30April 30, 2010

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.

C&I Proposals -- Deadline April 30Proposals for C&I projects are currently being accepted. There are two funding sources available, one that requires projects to be completed by June 30, 2010 and the other that will fund projects that take place beginning July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011. C&I compensation is granted for curriculum development projects or task force members to work on building based or system-wide initiatives. Priority will be given to proposals designed to meet system goals.

Request proposal form from [email protected]. Due Date: April 30

May 1 Deadlines: Job Share/Transfer Requests to Carol GregoryApply to attend WPS in 2010-11(Non-resident children of WTA)

May 1 - 21 Open Enrollment Period for Employee BenefitsSunday 05/02 Household Hazardous Products Day, Wellesley RDF Wednesday 05/05 Annual Health Fair, Town Hall, 1:00 - 4:00 pmThursday 05/06 Summer Professional Development Registration DeadlineTuesday 05/11 School Committee Meeting, Town Hall, 7:30 pm

Calendar

Dear Colleagues,

Many of you have written me following the Superintendent's Bulletin of April 9th in which I wrote about my family's experience with learning to ski and referenced Jacob's autism, I received many responses, and I'd like to share my reply to them with all of you. “As I watched Jacob and Logan ski down that icy slope, I was filled with a special mix of joy and relief. At the same time, although deeply personal, I knew it was a moment I specifically wanted to share with all of you. Whether you have known me or my family for only a short time or many years, I knew it was a story that you would find meaningful to the lives we lead and the work we share. Thank you for letting me know your thoughts and for sharing your comments with me.”

Welcome back from break!

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Professional Development

Summer 2010 Professional Development Our full catalog of Professional Development Courses offered during Summer 2010 is posted as a downloadable pdf from the Professional Development section of the Wellesley Public Schools website.

www.wellesley.k12.ma.usRegistration Deadline: May 6, 2010

The full catalog of 2010-2011 courses for fall, winter and spring will be posted separately before the end of this school year.

EDCO Collaborative SPRING 2010 Professional Development Programs

EDCO Collaborative invites you to participate in:

Making the Connection:English Language Learners and Subject Matter TextsCategory 4 of the Recommended Professional Development for Secondary Teachers of ELL students

May 10 and 19, 2010June 4, 2010

8:00 am - 1:30 pm

EDCO SEEFURTH CENTER, WALTHAMPresented By:

Trainers from MATSOLThis workshop is sponsored by the Departmentof Elementary

and Secondary EducationThis training was developed through a collaboration between the Massachusetts Department and Elementary Education and the New English Equity Assistance Center, part of the Education Alliance at Brown University. It is intended for secondary content teachers who have ELLs in their classrooms and must therefore shelter their instruction. This curriculum focuses on the challenge of making textbooks more accessible to ELLs, and using writing activities to promote content learning. This is a 15-hour training with an assignment in between each training day.

Presenters: Trainers from MATSOL Presenters are Category IV approved trainers by the Dept of Elementary and Secondary Education

Audience: Content teachers in grades 6 - 12 - Participants are encouraged to enroll of teams of 3 - 5 teachers.

Registration: Through the office of Curriculum and Instruction in your school districtLocation: EDCO Seefurth Education Center, WalthamFee: No cost to EDCO members / $20 for non-EDCO members - workshop is supported with funding

from the Department of Elementary and Secondary EducationRegister by: May 3, 2010. Priority seating will be given to those who register by the deadline. Registrations

received beyond the deadline will be accepted according to seat availability.

Questions? Please call the EDCO Seefurth Center at (781) 259-3445.www.edcollab.org

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The Education Cooperative (TEC) will soon be recruiting the third cohort for the Teaching American History program. This will be an exciting year focused on "The Story of American Freedom: Citizenship and the Changing Meaning of Democracy." Courses begin in fall 2010.

This grant funded professional development program includes:

• 3 Free graduate credits (3 additional credits available)• A $500 stipend• 135 PDPs

• Loads of resource materials, including free and forever access to WebLessons• Historians from Harvard University, MIT and Holy Cross College.

We encourage applications from TEC district teams of 2-5. Applications will be distributed after April vacation week.

Please take a look at the TEC TAH wiki: http://industrialrevolution09.pbworks.com/The slide show featured on the home page highlights some of the historical field experiences of last summer.

Michelle LeBlanc, TEC’s Teaching American History Project Director, would be delighted to come and talk in detail about this intensive program and to share the amazing wealth of resources created by participating teachers. Contact Michelle directly at 781-326-2473 x107

NEW Professional Development from TEC

Professional Development

Graduate Course Reimbursement Course reimbursement funding of $22,500 is available to distribute in FY11 among qualified teachers for graduate course work which is done as part of a master's degree program to fulfill that 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 reimbursement, please send--by June 1, 2010--the following to Valerie Spruill:•your name •evidence of your enrollment in an applicable master/doctoral degree program •name and description of the course •evidence of cost of the course •proof of payment (VISA/MC) •transcript. You will be notified of the amount awarded to you by July 1, 2010.

James Peebles Scholarship Sons and daughters of members of the WTA are eligible for financial assistance for their first year of college or specialized school. Applications are available from Jonathan Simon, WTA President. Application Deadline: May 21

Massachusetts Teachers Retirement SystemSpring Information Seminars

Saturday, May 8, 2010, 9:00 am - 5:00 pmAn all-day, comprehensive retirement planning program, The Next Chapter is designed for MTRS members who are planning to retire in the next 5 to 15 years, but is open to all interested members. Expert speakers will address retirement issues, including financial and estate planning, Social Security and Medicare, your MTRS benefits.

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Positions Available

Immediate Opening: Preschool Teaching AssistantFull -Time Teaching Assistant is needed to work in a NAEYC accredited integrated preschool, experience working with preschool aged children with special needs preferred, documentation of relevant early childhood college level course work. Please send cover letter, resume, college transcript, and three letters of reference to: [email protected] or mail to Personnel, Wellesley Public Schools, 40 Kingsbury Street, Wellesley, MA 02481

1.0 FTE Long-Term Substitute Math Teacher Beginning May 13 - mid-June to teach 8th grade Algebra I Honors level with the CMP curriculum and College Prep level with the Cognitive Tutor curriculum. Knowledge of one or both of these curricula would be beneficial. The Cognitive Tutor curriculum is 40% computer-based, so comfort and familiarity with Mac computers is important. Please send cover letter, resume, three letters of reference, licensure and transcripts to Personnel, Wellesley Public Schools, 40 Kingsbury Street, Wellesley, MA 02481

Elementary tutor needed for a second grade student. 15 hours per week. Must have knowledge of all curriculum content areas. Please send a cover letter, resume, three letters of reference, and licensure to [email protected] and/or mail to: Personnel, Wellesley Public Schools, 40 Kingsbury Street, Wellesley, MA 02481

CONGRATULATIONS to Katherine Feldman, Fiske Elementary Teacher, upon the birth of her son Ryan Feldman born on April 23, 2010

CONGRATULATIONS Brenda Hoye, Secretary, Schofield School, on the birth of her granddaugther Grace Kathleen Flaherty born on March 26, 2010

CONGRATUALTIONS Diane Warren, Elementary Assistant, Schofield on the birth of her grandson, Brett Sette Warren, born on April 26, 2010

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Long-Term Substitute Art Teacher Full-time, high school ceramics teacher for maternity leave from Late Aug to Mid Nov 2010. Duties included teaching ceramic courses; hand building; wheel throwing; and ceramics Intensive; as well as Introduction to Drawing & Painting, and Creative Journal. Must have experience teaching ceramics. Send cover letter, resume, college transcript, licensure and three letters of reference to: [email protected] or mail to Personnel, Wellesley Public Schools, 40 Kingsbury Street, Wellesley, MA 02481

Part-time (.5 FTE) Middle School technical support for teachers. Understanding of Mac computer operations and proficiency with basic software applications needed. Strong communication skills and ability to multi-task in a fast paced environment required. Please send cover letter, resume, three letters of reference to [email protected] or mail to Personnel, Wellesley Public Schools, 40 Kingsbury Street, Wellesley, MA 02481

Paraprofessional to support a third grade student with autism. Student receives support within a substantially separate classroom with opportunities for inclusion in general education classroom. Must have ABA experience. CPI training preferred. Start dates is negotiable. Send Cover letter, resume, three letters of reference, licensure and transcripts to [email protected] or mail to: Personnel, Wellesley Public Schools, 40 Kingsbury Street, Wellesley, MA 02481

Anticipated Openings 2010-11District• Special Educatiion Department Head for K-12 District-Wide Programs (Search Reopened)

High School• History Teacher (1.0FTE)

Pre-School• Special Educator/Pre-School Teacher (1.0 FTE) * certification for special education and regular education required

Middle School• Department Head for Special Education (Search Reopened)• Art Teacher (1.0FTE)

Elementary• Speech & Language Pathologist (1.0 FTE)• ELL Teacher (.6FTE)

Please send cover letter, resume three letters of reference, transcripts and licensure by May 12, 2010, to: Personnel, Wellesley Public Schools, 40 Kingsbury Street, Wellesley, MA 02481

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

Coaching PositionWinter Season 2010-11 Coach: High School Boys BasketballContact Athletic Director [email protected]

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SPECIAL OPEN ENROLLMENT - LIFE INSURANCE

GUARANTEED ISSUE (NO MEDICAL QUESTIONS)

Open enrollment for benefits runs from May 1- May 21, 2010. This year, employees have the opportunity to sign up for both basic and optional life insurance without evidence of insurability (medical questions). If you already have basic life, you can enroll in or increase your optional coverage through this special open enrollment.

Eligible employees will receive a personalized booklet that contains information about both life and long-term disability insurance from Sun Life Financial, the Town's current carrier. Disregard in the booklet the section on evidence of insurability-it does NOT apply to this open enrollment. Information sessions on these benefits will be offered with representatives from Sun Life Financial present to answer any questions. The dates and times of those sessions are below:

* Tuesday, May 4, 2010:2:45p.m. Middle School Faculty Dining Room

* Thursday, May 6, 2010:3:30 Sprague Library

* Tuesday, May 11, 2010:2:45p.m. Wellesley High School, Room 143

* Tuesday, May 11, 2010:4:00p.m. Selectmen's Meeting Room (Town Hall)

Contact the HR Department in Town Hall for the enrollment form for basic life insurance, which is not included in the Sun Life packet.

The deadline for enrollment/changes is May 21, 2010. All enrollment forms must be received by the HR Department in Town Hall by this date.