Superintendent's Update January 9, 2015

Post date: Jan 9, 2015 9:27:14 PM

Students, faculty and staff returned from the break rested and ready for the final weeks of the second term which ends January 23. Winter is indeed upon us with cold temperatures and slick roads. I want to remind everyone to exercise extra caution when picking up and dropping off students. Each building has well defined procedures to keep everyone safe. Our school offices have received several phone calls from parents/guardians concerned that drop-off/pick-up procedures are not being followed and creating not only an inconvenience for others, but also hazardous situations. The building principals will reissue guidance on pick-up/drop-off procedures and we ask for your continued help and cooperation in keeping everyone safe.

The Middle/High School Building Project is moving along on schedule. Structural steel erection for building A (high school wing and media center) and the second floor decking, bolting and detailing for A building is close to complete. Building A will soon be wrapped and warmed. Structural steel erection is underway on building B (art classrooms, offices, and the auditorium). If you have not had the opportunity to view them already, I encourage you to check out the structural steel erection for building A at our website: https://sites.google.com/a/lunenburgschools.net/school-building-project/Construction

FY16 Calendar – Draft for Public Input (attached) & Policy Updates

The FY16 proposed calendar was developed with the goal of ending school as early as possible in June, 2016 in order to move into the new school and onto the second phase of the project. Phase 2 include roadway and parking lot development, the demolition of the old school and construction of the new athletic fields. For this reason please note that a shortened February Break is being recommended. The School Committee is seeking input on the calendar prior to adoption.

Also open for public comment and feedback are several policies including revisions to policies #5104 & 5409 Student Discipline; #3202 Tuition Fees; #3504 Emergency Drills; and new policies on Environmentally Sustainable Practices and the creation of a Diversity Advisory Committee. Policies under review can be found at http://www.lunenburgschools.net/school-committee-1/policy-under-review.

Parents/Guardians and the public are encouraged to review the attached calendar and the policies and provide public comment to the School Committee no later than January 30, 2015. Feedback can be mailed to the Superintendent’s Office, 1025 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, MA 01462 or sent via email to lpetersen@lunenburgonline.com.

Basic Rights Workshop

The Lunenburg PACSAL in conjunction with the Leominster Special Education Parent Advisory Council and Federation for Children with Special Needs will host a BASIC RIGHTS In Special Education Workshop for Parents and Professionals on January 13, 2015 from 7pm to 9pm at the Southeast Elementary School, Cafeteria, 95 Viscoloid Ave., Leominster, MA

The Basic Rights workshop provides families with an introduction to their rights and responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Massachusetts Special Education Law.

This workshop is designed to help parents learn to be effective partners with their child’s school to decide their child’s eligibility for special education, and to plan, make decisions and monitor their child’s progress in school.

For more information contact: Kelly Harvey 978-342-4472 or Kelly@harveyhouse.org

Membership Matters!

PTO is making a difference! If you schedule does not allow you to volunteer in the schools or attend meetings, there are many ways to be involved. This year the PTO established a membership goal of 300 family members. Please help them reach that goal. Join today at www.lunenburgpto.org A family membership is only $15 and online payments can be made through Pay Pal.

FY16 Pre-School Lottery Registration

Parents who wish to register their child for entrance into the Lunenburg Public Preschool lottery for the 2015-2016 school year should come to register for the lottery the week of February 9th thru February 13th, between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. To register for the pre-school lottery, your child must be 3 or 4 years old on or before August 31, 2015. This program is tuition based. The Lunenburg Primary School is located at 1401 Massachusetts Avenue, Lunenburg, MA 01462. The lottery drawing will be held on February 27th @ 1:30 pm at the Primary School. Parents are not required to be present at the drawing. All parents are notified of the outcome of the lottery within ten school days. Preschool Screening will be scheduled for March 27th. Please call 978-582-4122, ext. 3102 for further information.

FY16 Kindergarten Registration

Children who are five (5) years old by August 31, 2015 are eligible to attend Kindergarten in Lunenburg. The Kindergarten program is a full-day program (9:00 am to 3:20 pm) five days’ week. There is no tuition charge for full-day Kindergarten in Lunenburg. Kindergarten registration will be held the week of February 1 thru February 22. To register you must go to:

https://lunenburg.schoolofficepro.com/ParentPortal/Pages/login.aspx

After completing the online registration parents/guardians may come to the office the week of February 23-27 between the hours of 10:00 and 2:00 with a parent/guardian photo ID, the child’s birth certificate, legal custody form (if applicable), a copy of a recent physical & immunizations, three proofs of residency (check our website for acceptable proofs of residency), if applicable, a copy of the students IEP or 504 plan.

Kindergarten screenings will be held May 13, 14, and 15 by appointment only. This appointment will be scheduled once you have completed the online registration and bring in the required items listed above.

Please call 978-582-4122 ext. 3102 with questions.

After-School Music Lessons

The Lunenburg Public School District is offering a new 12 week session of after-school music lessons from February 2 through May 1, 2015. Registration materials are available in each school. The program provides instrumental lessons for young children and supports the band and chorus programs at the middle and high schools. The Lunenburg Music Aiders provide scholarships of up to $50.00 for eligible musicians. Scholarship information can be found at www.lunenburgmusic.org.

Department of Transitional Assistance Cultural Partnerships

In addition to the programs that DTA administers to help clients meet their most basic needs, the Department has partnerships with educational and cultural institutions across the Commonwealth that clients can take advantage of by showing their EBT card upon admission. For more information: http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dta/dta-partnerships-.html

Sincerely,

Superintendent Calmes

Lunenburg Public Schools

1025 Mass. Ave.

Lunenburg, MA 01462

978-582-4100 X 210 (Office Phone)

978-582-4103 (Fax)