After 24 hours of reading and one of the closest votes in Read-a-Thon history, the high school has its 2023 One School, One Story title: Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay.

Students, staff and families support this event by bringing snacks, baked treats and dinners along with reading and organizing activities for the entire 24 hours!

Here are some pictures from the night and a staff Tik Tok video. Congratulations to all the educators, staff and students who contributed countless hours to making this annual event a success.

Congratulations to the following Waltham High students who were recently recognized as 2023 NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC) award winners!

Aishwarya Ramesh (12): Affiliate Winner

Sarine Nigoghosian (10): Affiliate Honorable Mention

Hailey Brennan (11): Affiliate Honorable Mention

Kayleen Mukire (10): Affiliate Rising Star

Our students were selected from more than 3,300 applicants from all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. overseas military bases, and Canada. The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing (AiC) honors 9th-12th grade women, genderqueer, and non-binary students for their computing-related achievements and interests, and encourages them to pursue their passions. Award recipients are selected based on their aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing, as demonstrated by their computing experience, computing-related activities, leadership experience, tenacity in the face of barriers to access, and plans for post-secondary education.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) introduced updated Individual Educational Program (IEP) forms last week. Waltham was an Early Adopter district with teams from MacArthur, Northeast and Plympton participating at the building level and directly with DESE. See the WBUR story on this event from March 24th that featured Plympton Elementary School Evaluation Team Leader, Meredith Lee, who has been developing "strength mapping" posters with IEP Teams at Plympton. These maps give IEP Team members the opportunity to share positive characteristics of students highlighting the importance of focusing on student strengths during the special education evaluation and IEP development process. Our special education educators will be trained on the new IEP forms during the 2023 - 2024 school year with the plan of implementing the new forms in the fall of 2024. The Special Education Department will also provide information sessions for parents/guardians/family members next year.

Held at McDevitt Middle School, the first ever kindergarten resource fair hosted by the Waltham Family School was a great hit to welcome families and their soon to be kindergartners into our schools in the Fall. Representatives from local agencies and organizations such as Africano Waltham, WATCH CDC, Wayside Youth and others, along with all of our elementary schools were on site to meet and greet our youngest members of our WPS community and for activities and information.

Waltham Public Schools Parents braved the weather on March 4th to attend the 4th Annual Parenting Awareness Conference. Dr. Jennifer DelRay, Staff Psychologist of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Associate Director of The Resilience Project at Newton Wellesley Hospital kicked off the day with the keynote address that focused on developing and strengthening strategies to support children during difficult times.

Newton Wellesley Hospital, in collaboration with Waltham Public Schools, hosted a Community Health Fair on Sunday, March 26, 2023. Staff included: 6 NWH MD’s 4 NWH Medical Assistants and RN’s 2 NWH Registrars 3 NWH Patient Financial Counselors Extensive Interpreter services provided 6 Community Resources Agencies represented 4 WPS school nurses Because of this incredible teamwork, 38 students received new physical exams and necessary referrals. Connections were made to primary care providers for on-going care and 7 students were enrolled in MassHealth. School Nurses Sharon Duquette (Plympton), Tara Dygon (WHS), Ana D’Argence (Whittemore) and Patty McCaffrey (Nurse Leader) were there to assist. Special thanks to Newton Wellesley Hospital for helping to support the Waltham community in this way.

This brand-new Help Line is the Commonwealth’s “front door” for behavioral health needs. It connects callers to the full range of treatment services for mental health and addiction support through the Commonwealth. It can help in real time with immediate crisis intervention, urgent, and routine needs. The Help Line is available 24/7/365 in 200+ languages.

Please feel free to explore the website at www.masshelpline.com.

Call or Text 833-773-2445

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

7-8:00pm

Interested in learning ways to develop pre-literacy or early reading skills in children? Join us for a discussion of developing literacy, reading skills, and strengthening parent/caregiver-child attachment in young children. Practical tools and strategies will be provided with applications to home and school settings. Webinar for parents, caregivers, educators, and community members interested in supporting early childhood development. Featuring guest speaker Jodi Levin, Program Coordinator, FAMILY ACCESS Community Connections.

Free, Virtual Event

Hosted by the NWH Resilience Project’s Building Resilience Series

Click Here to Register

Virtual Monthly Meetings for this school year will be:

April 12, 2023

May 10, 2023

June 14, 2023

Meetings are from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. ZOOM LINK: https://walthamsepac.com/

The WSEPAC is a state mandated and supported advisory group comprised of parents, guardians, teachers and administrators working in partnership to promote an innovative environment where children with learning challenges have equal access to educational opportunities, while ensuring that our schools strive to improve educational outcomes for all children. Contact us at walthampac@gmail.com

For individuals and families of all ages

TOPICS: Eligibility, Transition, Self-Direction, Autism Supports, Deaf Services

WHEN: Wednesday, May 3rd 6:30 -8 pm

Registration link here:

http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07ejnda8cc82645209&llr=hjcuxexab&showPage=true

Questions? Contact Maria Stefano maria.stefano@mass.gov (781)314-7508

Please contact Maria by April 14, with accommodation requests

DDS Metro Region

Assistive Technology Fair

May 8, 2023

1-5pm

Click Here to Register for FREE

Location:

Boston Marriott Newton

2345 Commonwealth Ave.,

Newton, MA 02466

All are welcome!

Join us for an afternoon of visiting with Assistive

Technology vendors in the ballroom, participating

in demonstrations, attending presentations, and

learning about new technology to support independence.

Our goal is to provide resources, education, and technology

to community members, including individuals with disabilities,

family members, provider agency staff, state agency staff, and teachers.

This event is free to the public.

Please share this invitation

Questions?

Contact maria.stefano@mass.gov 781.314.7508

Are you a Registered Nurse, looking for a change? Why not give School Nursing a try? Come join a great team of professional nurses as we look to expand our Substitute Nursing pool. For more information, please contact: Patty McCaffrey, Director of Health Services at patriciamccaffrey@walthampublicschools.org

The City of Waltham is currently accepting applications for SCHOOL TRAFFIC SUPERVISORS. For more information visit the City of Waltham website or contact School Safety Officer Ann Frassica 781-314-3589 afrassica@police.waltham.ma.us