SWES Staff News -12-15-24

December 15, 2024

We are 5 school days away to our long awaited winter break... We can do it!

Below please review our weekly updates. Looking forward to a great week ahead!

Thank you,

Kiana Brunson

Principal

Important Dates & Upcoming Events

Needham Public School 2024-2025 Calendar

SWES Happenings Calendar - Please use to share community events

SWES Meeting & PD Calendar

Morning Announcements Schedule

12-16-24 - PTC Holiday Faculty Appreciation Breakfast - 7:45 AM

12-16-24 - Afternoon CPT - 3:05 - 4:05 PM

12-17-24 - Grade 5th SEL Mini- Assembly 11:30 -12:00

12-18-24 - District Based PD Early Release (Flipped Schedule) see email from directors for more details

12/23-1/1/25 - Schools closed for Winter Recess

1-2-25 - Classes resume

1-6-25 - Afternoon CPT - 3:05 - 4:05 PM

1-8-25 - District Based PD Early Release (Flipped Schedule)

1-20-25 - Schools closed - Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

1-22-25- Building Based PD - Early Release

1-27-25 - Afternoon CPT - 3:05 - 4:05 PM

SWES Spirit Week

Instructional Updates

CPT Updates

Week of Dec 16 - 20

K- Data review and team data conversations
Grade 1- Progress report planning
Grade 2- Literacy data review/conversations, next steps for small groups, progress report planning
Grade 3- BAS spreadsheets
Grade 5- BAS spreadsheets, assembly planning for Jan., progress report conversations, project planning

Week of January 2 - 3

K- 5

Report Card Grading Coherence K-5 - what standards qualify for 3s & 4s, make sure all teachers are providing the same expectations for grading
Connecting with literacy and math coaches for grading input around standards

Specialists Team- Hardeep and Margaret visit

All specialist should have their grades in by January 28th

Week of January 6 - 10

SST presentation during CPTs

BAS Assessments

All testing and spreadsheets (grades 1-5) should be completed by December 20th.

Formative Assessments Due: December 23rd

See Expectations & Details

For those one-year plans
Faculty members w/non-professional status

PONG Picture Books

We'll continue our PONG journey with a new competency each month:

November- Empowered Learning
December - Communicators and Collaborators
January- Socially & Culturally Responsive Contributors
February - Responsible & Resilient Individuals
March - Creative Thinkers & Problem Solvers

SWES Happenings!

Connecting the Classroom to Home

Unlock the Power of IM Math: Family Learning Series (Damien Facilitating)

CLICK HERE for more information - Please share with your families!

Date Time Topic

January 6th 3:00-4:00 Number Sense

February 3rd 3:00-4:00 Addition & Subtraction

March 3rd 3:00-4:00 Multiplication & Division

April 7th 3:00-4:00 Fractions

SWES PTC Literacy Presentation, Facilitated by Literacy Coaches

Last week Aly and Carol-Ann provided a great presentation to our PTC and participating families on our in school literacy instructional practice, and how families can support literacy at home. Please review and share with families.

Suni Williams Update

Q & A w/ Suni Videos

YouTube (NASA Video) https://youtu.be/9wyCgEbVDM0 and AVAIL https://images.nasa.gov/details-iss072m263391434_NASA_Astronaut_Suni_Williams_Answers_Needham,_Massachusetts_Student_Questions_241204

Also, students often ask how astronauts use the bathroom in space. Here’s an old video with Suni explaining and a newer version with Chris Cassidy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS8SU-XT1UM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VoeRAR0YgE

SWES Family Newsletter & Related Resources

See our latest Family Newsletter

Student Change of Dismissal Form

Community News

NEF Funds 5 Fall Grants — including 1 for Sunita Williams!

In its fall grant cycle, Needham Education Foundation (NEF) awarded 5 grants totaling $30,713 that will benefit students throughout the Needham Public Schools. The NEF grant that will directly impact students at Sunita Williams is:

What Is Normal Anyway?: A (Stigma-Obliterating) Disability Film Series
Four evenings of disability education will be funded to benefit the Needham community, with each evening including a documentary screening followed by a panel discussion taking the topics raised in the films and exploring how they affect or influence the experiences of youth in Needham, where over 1,000 students, or one in five, receive special education services in the schools.
–Awarded to Jenn Scheck-Kahn, Parent; Sasha Yampolsky, Parent; Meera Sunder, Parent; Andy Wizer, Community Member; and Diane Simmons, Director of Strategic Planning and Community Engagement

To learn more about all of the grant awards and how you can help the NEF support innovative and enriching programs in the Needham schools, please visit nefneedham.org.

Faculty Absence Requests Reminders

Please remember that in addition to letting your supervisor know about your absence, you also need to:

Create an absence on:SmartFind
Fill out Google form 24-25

Also please complete the following if applicable:

Sub Plans 24-25 (share your sub plans in this folder. Look for your Grade) IMPORTANT
How to upload Sub plans *NEW*
Sub plans Template *NEW* We encourage you to use it! MAKE YOUR OWN COPY

PTC Updates

SWES PTC Event Calendar SY 24-25

Stay Connected with the PTC! If you would like to join the PTC distribution list and receive the emails that go out to all SWES families about community-building special events, programs and school-wide initiatives, please click here to provide your contact information.