A busy month at schools saw a little summer thrown into our fall season when some days hit temperatures of 80 degrees or more. However, fall has arrived, complete with leaves falling from the trees and a familiar nip in the air. Halloween is just around the corner--please and come celebrate early at the family-friendly Haunted House display and Masquerade Concert held at Belmont High School on October 26. See the details for this and other school events below.
The newsletter format has been reordered, with dates located mainly at the bottom for easier perusal. Have an enjoyable and safe Halloween.
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”
― Aristotle
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Increasing enrollment at the Belmont Public Schools (BPS) continues to be a challenge. This year, we increased our student population by a net 105 students. During the last five years the BPS has averaged 101 additional students to our district. The projections we have in hand from the Massachusetts Building Authority (MSBA) and our privately contracted demographic vendor suggest these numbers will continue to climb and not level off for several years. The high school building project will be a major component of the district's work as it relates to finding solutions to our high school class size and space issues as well as a potential solution to other grade level challenges. The Space Task Force group, made up of principals, teachers and School Committee representatives, will convene to discuss these issues and map out timelines and goals for the group. Please see my enrollment presentation to the School Committee at the October 11 meeting.
TEACHING AND LEARNING
Assistant Superintendent Janice Darias presented an update to the School Committee on the second year of implementation of the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) framework in the Belmont Public Schools. Please go here to see the full presentation given at the October 11 meeting.
At the end of last June, the middle and high school principals and ten teachers from the schools’ steering committees focused on classroom practices that support a positive classroom climate and develop students’ skills in the areas of communication, collaboration, self-management, and self-motivation. The members who attended then gave this information/feedback to educators in each of their schools. A team of 18 Belmont educators will be attending the METCO Directors' Annual Conference for Educators on December 2. The conference theme is "Preparing Students of Color to be Successful in a Global Society".
There are also a number of Professional Development SEL Workshops occurring during the current school year, led by SEL consultant Rachel Poliner. In accordance with the district Strategic Plan under Goal A of our Key Initiatives for 2016-2017, the SEL work this year is expanded to include the focus on reducing achievement gaps by addressing the climate in the schools and classrooms and creating supportive relationships with all students. Also new this year, the Leadership Council SEL Work Group will be developing an SEL web page for our district web site, and there will be presentations of the work being done in the schools to parents and guardians. We thank the Foundation for Belmont Education (FBE) for their generous support and funding of SEL.
OTHER DISTRICT NEWS
Minuteman Vote: A vote at Town Meeting on October 20 resulted in Belmont withdrawing from the Minuteman High school district. As you know, there have been many informational meetings and presentations regarding this issue leading up to the vote. Belmont residents will continue to access Minuteman as member students for the next three years, and after that can continue as a non-member per the state law. We are looking into alternatives to ensure that Belmont students have access to high quality vocational programs. Please see the Minuteman Withdrawal Strategic Plan Flow Chart presented at the October 11 School Committee meeting for more information on next steps.
GOOD NEWS
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Congratulations to Aiden Carey, Fiona Grant, Daniel Holt, Jeffrey Loh, Lennart Nielsen, Yinuo Shi, Aaron Yao-Smith and Karen Ying for qualifying at as semifinalist in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program. These high school seniors will move on in the competition for National Merit Scholarships that will be offered and announced in the spring. Please see the BHS website for more. In addition, 29 students were named Commended Students. Please see the BHS website for more information.
- Sixteen educators who achieved Professional Status were recognized before the School Committee meeting on October 11. Educators achieve this status after successfully completing three years of employment with Belmont Public Schools. A reception was held where colleagues and family could be part of this celebration. Also recognized was Donna Pini, Executive Secretary to the Director of Business, Finance and Administration, who is retiring at the end of this month after 27 years of service to Belmont Public Schools. For more about this event, please visit our website. Congratulations to all the educators on achieving this status, and to Ms.Pini on her retirement.
- On October 6 a voter registration drive was held at Belmont High school for students who turn 18 on or before November 8. The drive was held in conjunction with the town clerk’s office, and where BHS Community Service Coordinator Alice Melnikoff and Belmont Town Clerk Ellen Cushman made themselves available outside the cafeteria during lunch periods. Read more about it on our website. Thank you to Ms. Melnikoff and Ms. Cushman for organizing this drive.
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Belmont elementary school parents and students became “walking school buses” the morning of October 5. Walking Wednesdays, sponsored by the PTO/PTA, promotes walking or biking to school as a “social, healthy, and green form of transportation.” See the action on our website, and see the PTO/PTA websites for information and walking schedules.
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There was an ice cream celebration for the Butler staff during their staff meeting on October 19. As you know, the school was named a national Blue Ribbon School, and this was to recognize and thank the staff for all their hard work and dedication to the school and students. A great day for it, temperatures were in the 80's. Congratulations again to the Butler School.
- The BHS community service team is holding fundraisers all October, which is breast cancer awareness month, into November. The Making Strides for Breast Cancer Team has already raised more than $6,000, and still have plenty of events left for people to attend. Congratulations to the Team. Please see the BHS website for remaining events.
- "Connecting with Belmont", the 18th annual high school community service afternoon, was held on October 22 where approximately 85 BHS students came together to perform service at different sites. The students volunteered at the Belmont Library and Bristol Lodge, a soup kitchen in Waltham; made 240 sandwiches for shelters and the soup kitchen run by the Middlesex Human Service Agency in Waltham; and created cards for patients at Children's Hospital and for our troops. Local merchants partnered with the students, donating many items. A great day of service all around.
- Wellington Principal Amy Spangler tells us Wellington has been selected to host the first Scholastic Signature Book Fair in the greater Boston area. The Signature Book Fair will bring an expanded selection of carefully chosen books, additional customer service support, and new display cases that improve the shopping experience. The book fair is open to the Belmont community and will be held Nov 14 through Nov 16 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (until 6:00 p.m. on Nov 14). There you can enjoy crafts, baked goods, and, of course, buy books. This year's theme is "Pirates", and if more than 6,000 books are purchased, Principal “Captain” Amy Spangler will don her best pirate garb and sail the halls of Wellington in her very own “pirate ship.”
- The Boosters annual "B" Drive on October 23 was a great success, raising more than $26,000 for BHS athletics and related programs. Thank you to the Boosters.
VISUAL AND FINE ARTS
- Theater Director Ezra Flam has been selected for the University of Chicago's Outstanding Educator Award. Students nominate an educator who has "influenced, challenged, or helped them along the path toward intellectual growth". Congratulations to Mr. Flam for his hard work and dedication to the students of Belmont as their teacher, as a colleague, and as a representative of Belmont Public Schools.
- Broadway Night held on October 7 and 8 was a great night of singing and dancing, produced by Ezra Flam. An annual treat, we look forward to the next one.
ATHLETICS
- The BHS Golf team finished second in the MIAA Div 2 North Tournament yesterday at Far Corners Golf Club. The team has advanced to the MIAA Div 2 State Championship, held on Monday, October 31 at Black Swan Country Club. Well done!
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Congratulations to the Belmont Boosters Male and Female Athlete of the month for September: Carey Allard, BHS Girls Soccer, and Ben Jones, BHS Football. This is the first year the Boosters is sponsoring, in conjunction with the BHS Athletic Department, a girl and boy varsity athlete of the month, who are selected by an independent panel. Congratulations to these students.
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Belmont and five other Middlesex League high schools participated in Operation Hat Trick Middlesex League Initiative to raise money and awareness for veterans to support recovery programs in the Commonwealth. A week-long initiative with the kick-off on October 14, participating schools wore Operation Hat Trick hats with their school logo. Belmont kicked off the event by honoring members of the Local VFW during a ceremony before the game on October 14. The League raised $7,000 towards this goal. For more information go to Operation Hat Trick's website. Well done everyone.
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The CMS Cheetah teams had a great day at the Carlisle Middle School Invitational Cross-Country Meet on October 24, held in Carlisle, PA. This is the biggest meet of the year for the CMS Cross Country team. Runners from 16 local schools competed in the race this year. The boys varsity team finished fourth, and the girls varsity finished in second; boys JV in 7th, and girls JV in first. A great day for all the runners and CMS educators Coaches Peter Tausek, Melissa Glotzbecker, and Allie Ruane. Although only about a third of the team are brought, due to the size of the meet, Coach Tausek says there are about 120 students on the team who have been working very hard this year. Both the boys' and girls' teams have records of 7-1 with one race left in Concord on Thursday, October 27. Congratulations to all the runners.
- Middlesex League events & Competitions:
Sunday 10/30 Varsity Cheerleading @ Marlborough Cheer Invitational@ 3:30 PM at Marlborough High School
Monday 10/31 Girls & Boys Cross Country @ Middlesex League Championship meet @2:15 PM at Woburn Country Club
Wednesday 11/2 Varsity Cheerleading @ Middlesex League Competition @ 6:30 PM at Arlington High School
Wednesday 11/2 Varsity Girls Swim & Dive @ Middlesex League Meet ( 500 & Diving) @4 PM at Belmont High School
Thursday 11/3 Varsity Girls Swim & Dive @ Middlesex League Meet @2 PM at Bentley University
Thursday 11/10 JV Cheerleading @ Shepherd Hill Cheer Invitational @ 6:15 PM at Shepherd Hill HS
Here is the Sports Schedule All Events; 10/26/2016 to 10/30/2016
Belmont High School and Chenery Middle School
Wednesday, October 26
3:45 PM Boys Freshman Soccer Reading High School Home
3:45 PM Girls Freshman Soccer Reading High School Away
4:00 PM Girls Varsity Volleyball Reading High School Home
4:00 PM Girls Freshman Field Hockey Reading High School Away
4:15 PM Girls Junior Varsity Field Hockey Reading High School Home
5:30PM Girls Junior Varsity Volleyball Reading High School Home
5:30PM Girls Freshman Volleyball Reading High School Home
6:00 PM Girls Varsity Field Hockey Reading High School Home
Thursday, October 27
3:30 PM Boys Freshman Football Wilmington High School Home
3:30 PM Coed Chenery Middle Cross Country Concord MS Away
4:00 PM Boys Junior Varsity Soccer Reading High School Home
4:30 PM Girls Junior Varsity Soccer Reading High School Away
6:00 PM Boys Varsity Soccer Reading High School Home
6:00 PM Girls Varsity Soccer Reading High School Away
Friday, October 28
4:00 PM Girls Varsity Field Hockey Manchester Essex Regional Hs Away
4:00 PM Girls Junior Varsity Volleyball Wayland High School Home
4:00 PM Girls Freshman Volleyball Wayland High School Home
5:15 PM Girls Varsity Volleyball Wayland High School Home
7:00 PM Boys Varsity Football Dracut High School Away
7:00 PM Coed Varsity Cheerleading Dracut High School Away
Saturday, October 29
9:30 AM Boys Junior Varsity Football Wilmington High School Home
7:00 PM Girls Varsity Swimming Reading High School Away
Sunday, October 30
3:30 PM Coed Varsity Cheerleading Marlborough Cheer Invitational Away
SAVE THE DATE
- Haunted House and Masquerade Concert at Belmont High School on Wednesday, October 26. Family activities and Haunted House viewing begins at 5:00 p.m. with the BHS Bands and Orchestras concert following at 7:00 p.m. Wear your Halloween costume! This is a great opportunity for parents of new instrumentalists in Grades 3-5 to come and hear the BHS most advanced instrumentalists perform. The Haunted House is sponsored by the BHS Student Leadership Council. The event is free.
- The Belmont High School Performing Arts Company presents an updated take on Shakespeare's Hamlet, with performances on November 3rd, 4th and 5th at 7:00 p.m. in the BHS auditorium. Adults are $12 in advance, $15 at the door, students are $5 except on Thursday night which is free for BHS students. Please see the Performing Arts website for more information on how to get tickets.
- The annual Foundation for Belmont Education (FBE) Spelling Bee will be held on Saturday, November 5 at the Chenery Middle School beginning at 2:00 p.m. Spellers may participate in three or four person teams and are on stage in groups (or swarms as the BEE calls them) at assigned times. Word lists are posted on the FBE website. Kindergarten through fourth grade swarms are non-competitive; fifth and sixth grade swarms are competitive but team-based. Registration for the event has concluded. For more information, please go to the FBE website.
- The BHS Ski Team's annual ski and snowboard sale will be held on Saturday, November 5 at 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the BHS cafeteria. For more information, please go the ski team website.
- Belmont Schools Now, the monthly news program in partnership with Belmont Media Center, begins this year with an update on district news and a conversation with guest Jamie Shea, who is on the Belmont High School Building Committee (BHS-BC). The show can be seen on Channels 8 and 28 on Saturday, Tuesdays at 6:30p.m. and Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. and can be viewed at belmont.media.org.
CALENDAR
Below are some of the numerous events going on end of October into the beginning of November. Please check school websites and communications for more events and any additional information or changes in dates, times, and venues.
DATE/TIME - PLACE/EVENT
October 26 - Early Release Elementary and Middle Schools - Parent/Teacher Conferences
October 26 - 7:00 p.m. - BHS Library - BHS PTO Meeting
October 26 - 7:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. - Butler PTA Meeting
October 26 - 8:45 a.m. to 9:15 am. - Butler - Coffee with Principal Danielle Betancourt
October 26 - 5:00 p.m.- BHS Haunted House
October 26 - 7:00 p.m. - BHS Masquerade Concert
October 27 - 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. - CMS Community Room - Coffee with Principal Michael McAllister
November 2 - Early Release All Schools - Parent/Teacher Conferences
November 3, 4, 5 - 7:00 p.m. - BHS Auditorium - BHS Performing Arts Company present an updated version of Hamlet
November 5 - Chenery - FBE Spelling Bee
November 5 - 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. - BHS Cafeteria - BHS Ski Team Annual Ski and Snowboard Sale
November 5 - SAT (Not at BHS)
November 8 - Schools Closed - Election Day
November 9 - Early Release All Schools - Parent/Teacher Conferences
November 11 - Schools Closed - Veterans' Day