Belmont Public Schools News

Update on Testing, Vaccines, and Return to In-Person Learning Working Group

As the year progresses, and in an effort to look forward, we are providing you an update today as it relates to testing and vaccinations. In addition, we are also providing you with update on the Return to In-Person Learning Working Group, which will provide community feedback and input on the challenges and opportunities that face all districts at this time. We understand our students need more direct instruction and in-person learning. We are optimistic that with health initiatives combined with this working group in place, we will be prepared for acting on any shifts in guidance and health metrics so we may look to enjoy more live instruction and/or in-person learning.

Town and School Budget Updates and Presentations

The budgeting process for the Town of Belmont has been underway for several months, including numerous public meetings of the School Committee, Select Board, and Financial Task Force II, as well as public forums sponsored by the Warrant Committee. I want to share with you an update on this process and invite you to participate in the continuing discussions.

Update on COVID Testing - School Opening 2020-2021

As you know, last Friday Governor Baker announced pool testing will be available for all schools and districts in the state by February. Director of BPS Nursing Beth Rumley and I attended the state-provided webinar today regarding this initiative.

Important Information on Procedures, Hybrid and Remote Learning, and Snow Days

Important Information on Procedures, Hybrid and Remote Learning, and Snow Days - Superintendent's Bulletin #21. Dear Families, I hope you and your family are well during this complicated time leading up to our winter recess. Now that all of our schools are open in their hybrid models we wanted to share with you some operational expectations. The goal of this communication is to clarify some of the questions that have been posed to the district over the past week or so.

Week of December 7 Important News - School Opening Fall 2020 Superintendent's Bulletin #20

Week of December 7 Important News - School Opening Fall 2020 Superintendent's Bulletin #19. Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff: This communication is to inform you we are returning to our hybrid in-person learning schedules for grades K-8 on Monday, December 7. In addition, we are happy to report BHS grades 9-12 will start in-person hybrid on Thursday, December 10. Each building principal will send out a communication today with more details. We appreciate the patience of our students, parents, faculty, and staff in pivoting to remote learning after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. We feel these proactive measures help keep the school community safe and gives us a chance to assess and “reset” the buildings for a healthy return to hybrid in-person learning.

Remote Learning for Grades PreK-8 Continue into Next Week

Superintendent's Bulletin #18 - School Opening Fall 2020. Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff, We are writing to inform you remote learning for grades PreK-8 will extend to Monday, October 26, and Tuesday, October 27. Our expectation at this time is for hybrid in-person learning to resume at the elementary level on Wednesday, October 28, and at the middle school level on Thursday, October 29. The October 20 email sent to families initially informed you of this delay. Your principals will communicate if there will be any impact to cohort schedules. The reason for these additional days is to ensure the accuracy of the data. This is a time consuming process, and we do not want to rush.

First Day of School Communication K-4 and SC Presentation

School Opening Fall 2020 - Superintendent's Bulletin #17 - First Day of School Communication K-4 and SC Presentation. School begins on Thursday, October 8, for hybrid-in person learning for grades K-4 beginning with Cohort A. The following communications will be sent by your schools.

Move to Hybrid for Grades K-4

School Opening Fall 2020 - Superintendent's Bulletin #16 - Move to Hybrid for Grades K-4. Per the School Committee request, and subsequent vote on September 22, we are moving to our hybrid in-person learning phase for grades K-4 the week of October 5. At this time we anticipate the first day of hybrid learning will be on Thursday, October 8. This start follows phase 2 of the Accelerated Phased Plan, as noted in the full Return to Learning Fall 2020 presentation submitted to the School Committee on September 22.

Accelerated Phased Plan

School Opening Fall 2020 - Superintendent's Bulletin #15 - Accelerated Phased Plan. On Tuesday, September 22, the School Committee accepted the updated accelerated Phased Plan for grades K-4 to return to hybrid in-person learning during the week of October 5. Please see the Return to Learning Fall 2020 presentation. You will receive further communication with more detail while we continue planning to achieve that accelerated start.

Remote and Hybrid Pros and Cons Presentation to the School Committee

School Opening Fall 2020 Superintendent's Bulletin #14 - Remote and Hybrid Pros and Cons Presentation to the School Committee. For those who missed last night’s School Committee meeting, please see the presentation given on Hybrid and Remote Pros and Cons.

Welcome Back and Note on Hybrid/Remote Responses

School Opening Fall 2020 Superintendent's Bulletin #13 - Welcome Back and Note on Hybrid/Remote Responses. We want to welcome you back to school year 2020-2021. As you know, school begins on September 16 with is a remote start to the school year with our Phased Plan approach toward our in-person hybrid model. Phase 1 children, those with high needs and complex students per DESE guidelines, will be the first to start in-person learning. 

Start of School Information and Updates, SC Meeting September 8, 2020

Superintendent's Bulletin #12 - Start of School Information and Updates, SC Meeting September 8, 2020. As we approach the opening of school on Wednesday, September 16, I want to take this moment to provide you with information and updates.

Hybrid Model and Revised Phased Presentations, Kindergarten Fee Announcement

Superintendent's Bulletin #11 - Hybrid Model and Revised Phased Presentations, Kindergarten Fee Announcement. Principals from the elementary, middle, and high school presented the hybrid learning plans and schedules at the September 2, 2020 School Committee meeting. This meeting can be viewed on Belmont Media Center’s website. The schedules show the priorities of families and the district; increased contact with teachers, remote days involving “pen and paper” learning as well as live with a teacher, and the hope to keep cohorts intact from the remote start to school to the hybrid transition.

School Committee Presentations on Remote Schedules and Revised Phased Plan

Superintendent's Bulletin #10 - School Committee Presentations on Remote Schedules and Revised Phased Plan. Dear Belmont Community, Please see the remote schedules presented at the August 25 School Committee meeting for elementary, middle, and high school students on the COVID-19 School Opening Fall 2020 page as well as the School Committee documents page. These remote models and schedules were presented by BHS Principal Isaac Taylor, Chenery Principal Karla Koza, and Butler Principal Danielle Betancourt for the elementary schools with principals in attendance at the meeting. These remote schedules give you an idea of an academic day for the student. We are fortunate to have been able to collaborate with our teachers regarding these schedules, and we thank all of our principals and educators for their planning and work throughout the summer. If you wish to view the August 25 meeting, please go to the Belmont Media website.

School Opening Fall 2020 - SC Meetings, Flu Shot and COVID Testing Mobile Units

School Opening Fall 2020 - Superintendent's Bulletin #9 - SC Meetings, Flu Shot and COVID Testing Mobile Units. Dear Belmont Community, We have School Committee meetings coming up that are of interest to our families. Please go to the Notices and Agenda section of the School Committee page on the BPS website the day before the meeting for access to the agenda.  To view the meetings live or On Demand later, please go to the Belmont Media Center page.

DESE and MIAA Guidance on Modified Sports

Superintendent's Bulletin #8 - DESE and MIAA Guidance on Modified Sports. We received joint sports guidance for the 2020-2021 school year from the Department of Secondary and Elementary Education (DESE), the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA). This guidance has identified some sports as safe to play and some sports as “practice only.”

Fall 2020 Return to Learning Plan 2.0

School Opening Fall 2020 Superintendent's Bulletin #8 - Fall 2020 Return to Learning Plan 2.0. In an effort to provide continuous updates we would like to share with you the Fall 2020 Return to Learning Plan 2.0 which includes several updates. The additions to the document include an updated community letter along with the newly voted  2020-2021 School Calendar/Professional Development Days section representing the Department of Elementary and Secondary of Education delayed start for students.

Vote on Return to Learning Plan

School Opening Fall 2020 Superintendent's Bulletin #7. Vote on Return to Learning Plan. Last night, August 12, the School Committee voted for a phased approach toward reopening our schools with full remote learning beginning Phase 1 when we return to learning in September. We have had tremendous feedback from the community through the survey submitted, numerous emails, and questions presented to the School Administration and the School Committee. The information from the survey is valuable to inform a hybrid model that incorporates families’ schedules of what works best (day/week/split day). Please see the Return to Learning presentation given to the School Committee on August 12.

Fall Re-Opening 2020 Survey Data

School Opening Fall 2020 Superintendent's Bulletin #6 - Fall Re-Opening 2020 Survey Data. Thank you for your participation and feedback during the School Committee meeting last Thursday and for your survey input over the weekend. We would like to share the survey data we collected so you may review in advance of the School Committee meeting tonight at 6:30 pm. 

Fall 2020 Return to Learning Plan 1.0 Document and Presentation to the School Committee

School Opening Fall 2020 Superintendent's Bulletin #5 - Fall 2020 Return to Learning Plan 1.0 Document and Presentation to the School Committee. Thank you for participation in the School Committee meetings this week. Hundreds of you attended both School Committee virtual meetings on August 4 and 6. More than 600 questions were submitted in the Google document in preparation for the community forum on August 6 in addition to many of you asking your questions during the meeting.