We can see the light at the end of the winter tunnel with Daylight Savings time beginning on March 13, followed by St. Patrick's Day and the first day of Spring on March 20. Schools also observed the 100 day mark reached on February 10. It is hard to believe there are less than 80 days left of school, with much teaching and learning and activities to pack into the rest of the year. Please take a look at the latest newsletter and calendar items below.
“Not all readers become leaders, but all leaders must be readers.”
― Harry S. Truman
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
- The School Committee listened to a presentation from, Arto Asadoorian, Director of Fine and Performing Arts, on the 2015/16 school year highlights from the department--of which there were many. Please look at the presentation on the BPS website for more information on all the great work done this year, and every year, by the faculty and students.
- Belmont is in the 270 day Eligibility Period for the preliminary steps required by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) for the high school building project. The Special Town Meeting on February 22, rescheduled from February 8 due to snow, voted favorably for the moderator to appoint a school building committee for the high school project. This is the first of many steps in the Eligibility Period phase the project is in at this time, and the district has already satisfied the first two criteria in the Eligibility Period.
- The Survey results regarding the 2016/17 School Calendar are in. They are being presented to the School Committee at the meeting on March 8. We would like to thank the Calendar Working Group of teachers and administrators who analyzed the data and guided this work.
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The School Department is appreciative and thankful to have benefited in FY16 (2015-2016 school year) from the increase in funding, as a result of the Proposition 2.5 Override passed by the Town of Belmont in April 2015. This needed increase in funding supported several lines in our budget including: Ten (10) FTE teaching positions, funds for Students Services, Out of District Tuition, and Special Education Transportation.This increase in funding for FY16 put the district in the position to fully realize budget lines that supported teaching and learning, including the purchases of text, materials and supplies that have been historically frozen and reduced mid-year. The pressure points of increasing enrollment and subsequent space challenges continue to be a high priority. In FY17 (2016-2017 school year) the district will implement Year Two of the Three-Year Fiscal Plan that will bring five (5) FTE’s to support the reduction of class size and enrollment concerns.
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Summer is in site, and families are planning camps and summer vacations. Please take into consideration that the last official day of school is determined by the School Committee in April/May, and will be posted on the BPS website when determined.
TEACHING AND LEARNING
- Kindergarten online registration is progressing well. Please see the BPS website Kindergarten Registration page to learn more about it or to register. A general information and orientation program for all parents of incoming kindergarten students is scheduled; each elementary school will host its own program at each school.
Butler - Tuesday, March 22 at 7:00 p.m.
Burbank - Thursday, March 24 at 6:00 p.m.
Wellington - Thursday, March 31 at 5:30 p.m.
Winn Brook - Thursday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m.
In order to qualify for admission to kindergarten, a child must be five years old on or before September 1, 2016. As always, proof of residency is required.
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As we did last year, we will be administering the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) for English Language Arts and Math to all students in grades 3-8. The testing window has been revised so it is one continuous time period, instead of two separate testing windows as it was last year. All PARCC assessments will be administered between April 25 and May 27. Principals will send information about specific schedules as we approach the testing window. The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) continues to be the state assessment for Science Technology/Engineering for students in grades 5, 8, and 9. MCAS is also the assessment for grade 10 students to demonstrate their knowledge and skillls in English Language Arts and Mathematics. The grade 10 ELA MCAS will be administered on March 22, 23, and 24; grade 10 math MCAS is on May 17 and 18; and grade 9 Science MCAS is on June 1 and 2. Beginning in spring of 2017, the new standardized test called “MCAS 2.0” will be administered, and it will be a hybrid of the MCAS and the PARCC test, as voted on by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. PARCC this spring is administered for districts that chose it, a little over half in Massachusetts, while other districts will continue with MCAS. The tests this spring are implemented with pen/pencil and paper, and we are told the new standardized test should be administered electronically by 2019. Belmont did well on spring 2015 PARCC test with 89 percent of students in grades 3-8 meeting or exceeding expectations on the ELA test, and 81 percent in math.
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BHS upperclassmen will take a new SAT beginning in March this year, redesigned by the College Board. Several changes include an optional essay and greater emphasis on critical thinking without penalization for incorrect answers to questions. There will also be more time to do the optional essay than has been in the past.
- Always a popular program, the Belmont Summer Enrichment Program is back for students entering grades 1-6. For more information on classes and registering, please go to the BPS website.
CHANGES FOR CHENERY
As you know, Kristen St. George, Principal of Chenery Middle School, announced she is leaving Chenery as Principal effective June 30. Ms. St. George has been a valued and dedicated employee of the Belmont Public Schools, and we are thankful for her service. We wish her well. We will be communicating the search process to the community later this week.
GOOD NEWS
- Tune in on April 2 at 6:00 p.m. on WGBH 2 to see if Belmont advances to the next round in the WGBH High School Quiz Show. Good luck to all the students.
- The BHS Science Team won second place in the West Suburban Science League. Lots of hard work went into this over a five-month period with five meets. Congratulations to the faculty and the students; Rahul Ramakrishnan, Lynnea Young, Kevin Zhang, Sam Sorenson, Eva Hill, and Anna Makar-Limanov.
- A unique art show was held on February 24 at the Chenery about the historic art heist at the Isabella Steward Gardner Museum. Called appropriately, The Heist, the art show had student tour guides leading groups through the show, teaching them about the artwork and the theft as they moved around the exhibits created and presented by Grade 8 art elective classes. The museum's Director of Security was there to answer questions--a great look at art and the theft in an interesting way.
- Belmont Public Schools reached 100 Days of School on February 10. Schools observed the day by connecting the milestone to mathematics. Winn Brook challenged each class to collect at least 100 food/toiletry items for a food drive for the Belmont Food Pantry, which resulted in thousands of items donated with PTA volunteers delivering to the Pantry. Other elementary schools report students bringing in 100 different items to count and other fun activities in the day.
- Butler and Burbank schools are taking part in an Elementary School Drive for the Belmont Food Pantry during the week of March 14 (Wellington did one in November and Winn Brook just completed one). These food drives not only benefit the Pantry, they also encourage students to take an active part in supporting and helping their community.
- Burbank and Wellington participated in a Jump Rope for Heart Event, and raised some money for the American Heart Association. Students rotated around different stations and participated in various heart-healthy jumping activities. The schools have raised thousands of dollars for this cause. Congratulations to all who participated.
- Wellington reports a very successful Multicultural Night held on February 26. Wellington parents and guardians volunteered to bring the architecture, landmarks and food of the world to life at Wellington. The Lil' Phunk Dance Troupe performed, and had everyone up on their feet.
- Tom Wahle of Techsploration came to Wellington on January 28 as part of a PTO-funded fourth grade enrichment presentation. The students made their own sound intstruments with simple objects like straws cups and eraser caps. The PTO/PTA organizations in all the schools fund enrichment activities and presentation in so many areas. We thank them for doing so.
- Five BHS students are selected as finalists in the National Merit Scholarship offered in 2016. Congratulations to Finalists Andrew Giorgio, Maggie Liu, Emma Pierce-Hoffman, Anya Zhang, and Kaiwen Zhang.
- The Belmont High School team participating in the American Cancer Society 2015 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer High School Challenge raised $15,890, and are ranked number two for their fundraising efforts of the more than 50 teams participating, according to BHS Community Service Coordinator Alice Meinikoff. See the BPS website for more.
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CMS Eighth Grade English conducted a Mock Trial, "Of Mice and Men", complete with students portraying a full courtroom of players. The project allows every student to contribute to the preparation presentation, deliberation, and the outcome of the trial. This year the classes incorporated podcasts and live tweeting, with the help of Belmont Media Center. Well done to the faculty, staff, and students for the tremendous effort given to this project. The trial will be available on the Belmont Media Center website and on the next Belmont Schools Now show. Read more about this endeavor on the BPS website.
SAVE THE DATE
- The Foundation for Belmont Education (FBE) Spring Fundraiser tickets are still available on a limited basis. The event is on Saturday, March 19 at the Belmont Hill School. Please visit fbe-belmont.org/springdinner for more information about purchasing event tickets. The online auction is March 14-27, to bid on items ranging from restaurant gift certificates to sporting events and more. See fbe-belmont.org/auction for more information.
- Outstanding Teacher of the Year nominations for the second annual award are due by March 25. Visit The Foundation for Belmont Education website fbe-belmont.org for more information on the opportunity to recognize six (one from each school) of Belmont's many exceptional teachers.
- Butler, Burbank and Wellington schools joined BHS in holding PJ days at their schools to raise money for Cradles to Crayons, sponsored by the BHS Belmontian Club. The Club has raised nearly $3,000 and received more than 100 pairs of pajamas. Not done yet, the Club is still holding fundraising events. Club members will dry cars from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, at the Belmont Car Wash, who will donate $1 per car and all of the tips to the cause.
- Belmont Schools Now was recently taped with BHS Principal Dan Richards as my guest. We talk about the high school building project and other news in the schools. The show airs on Comcast Channel 8 and Verizon Channel 28, on belmontmedia.org and on the BPS website. Please check your listings and the Belmont Media Center schedule for air dates and times. The following show, to air in mid-March, will feature BPS Assistant Superintendent, Janice Darias, who will talk about Social Emotional Learning implementation so far. There will be more information on the BPS website when the show airs.
CALENDAR
Below are some of the numerous events going on into mid-March. Please check school websites and communications for more events and any additional information or changes in dates, times and venues.
DATE/TIME - PLACE/EVENT
3/7 - 7:00 p.m. - BHS Chorus and Orchestra Concert
3/8 - 7:00 p.m. - CMS Large Community Room - School Committee Meeting
3/9 - Early Release Elementary Schools Only
3/9 - 6:30 p.m. - BHS Auditorium - College Admissions Testing:; A Road map for the SAT, ACT, and Other Tests, presented by Drew Heilpern, Director of Educational Partnerships at Summit Education Group; parents and guardians of sophomores and juniors are invited.
3/10 - 6:00 p.m. - Arlington Center for the Arts - CMS Art Show "Teen Identity"
3/10 - 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. - Chenery - Staff vs. Students Basketball Game
3/10 to 3/12 - MMEA All-State Festival in Boston - Students accepted into All-State ensembles will perform in the MMEA All-State Festival at the Seaport Hotel in Boston, culminating in a concert on Saturday afternoon at Symphony Hall.
3/13 - Daylight Savings Begins; time to turn the clocks forward
3/16 - 6:00 p.m. - BHS - Winter Athletic Awards Night
3/17 - 6:00 p.m. - Belmont Media Center - CMS Art Show
3/17 - 7:00 p.m. - CMS Auditorium - 7 and 8 Grade Band Concert
3/19 - 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. - BHS Fieldhouse - Wellington Carnival held at the high school.
3/21 - 7:00 p.m. - BHS Auditorium - BHS Solo and Ensemble Night