SWES Family Updates -12-15-24

We are looking forward to a fun week ahead, as we near the end of 2024!

We want to send a special thank you to our Student Council Members, who created the themes for our SWES Spirit Week this week, see below for reminders and details. We also want to shout out our PTC for supporting our faculty and providing a Holiday Appreciation Breakfast this week, as well as their community to support for the December Food Drive. Please see below additional details and ways you can support the food drive, as well.

Just a friendly reminder if you would like to donate to our SWES PTC, which supports our school community and student-centered events and programs please the QR code below.

Have a wonderful week!

Thank you,

Kiana Brunson

Principal

Needham Public School 2024-2025 Calendar

SWES PTC Event Calendar SY 24-25

12/18/24 - PreK-12 Early Release (Student dismissal at 12:15PM)

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

1/2/25 - Classes resume

1/8/25 - PreK-12 Early Release (Student dismissal at 12:15PM)

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

1/22/25 - PreK-8 Early Release (Student dismissal at 12:15PM)

The SWES PTC is proud to be a collection partner for the Needham Community Council. We are currently collecting the following high need items for the NCC:

• Coffee (any kind)

• K-Cups (any kind)

• Tea (individually wrapped or small boxes)

• Cereal

Items can be dropped off in the donation box located in the front lobby of SWES through December 20.

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

Are you interested in learning how we use the Illustrative Mathematics curriculum to teach major content throughout the grade levels? This year, I’m offering you the opportunity to learn and engage in the mathematics curriculum through a series of one-hour professional development sessions. The remaining planned schedule is as follows:

• 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

You are invited to attend one or all of the sessions. Families with children in grades K-5 are welcome to attend, as I will share insights to the progression throughout the grade levels.

If you were unable to attend the first session (Introduction to the IM Structure) on December 2nd, but would like to view the content that was shared, this is the slideshow that was presented.

For planning purposes, please complete THIS GOOGLE FORM if you’re interested in attending the next session on January 6th. Sign-up sheets for future sessions will be posted closer to the dates of those sessions.

Meetings will be held in Room 211. For those unable to attend, arrangements are being made to record the sessions to view at a later date.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

I look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Damien A. Hazel

SWES Mathematics Instructional Coach

damien_hazel@needham.k12.ma.us

(781) 455-0461 Ext. 53218

We invite your family to share your heritage and traditions with us! Participating families will prepare a poster and/or table display with fun facts about their chosen country (languages spoken, location, favorite foods, games, etc.). The evening will also include a Book Sale with titles reflecting the diversity of cultures and countries represented in our SWES community.

Click here for more details and to sign up to make a display! Contact event Co-Chairs Cheryl Caira (cherylformancaira@gmail.com) or Anna Danielyan (annamed85@gmail.com) with any questions.

SWES Cares Donation Drive to benefit the Food Pantry at the Needham Community Council

Now through Friday, December 20

The SWES Fund provides the financial foundation for the PTC to achieve our mission of enhancing the school experience for all of our students, teachers, and families. We rely on your generous support to be able to offer a full slate of annual events and programming that brings us together as a community and bolsters learning opportunities. This year's goal is to have at least 50% of SWES families participate in this fundraising campaign; a gift at any level can make a meaningful difference. Click here for more information on how to contribute online or by check today!

SWES PTC Event Calendar SY 24-25

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.

Join SPAN and connect with other parents in this 3-part series on "Conversations with Your Middle Schooler: Why You Shouldn't Wait to Talk About Substance Use". Ideal for parents and caregivers of 5th through 8th graders to prepare you for conversations with your child using skill-building techniques and tools. Build connections with your kids! Register here: bit.ly/40a0ae2

Needham Rotary needs a host family for its South Korean exchange student for December/January/February. Great opportunity to learn about another culture. Email NeedhamRotary@gmail.com to learn more.

Register to join events at needhamlibrary.org/events Registration begins 2 weeks before the event.

Events are subject to change. For more information, please e-mail the Children’s Librarian at neechild@minlib.net or call 781 455-7559 x204.

Lego Time: Thursdays from 3:30 pm to 5 pm. Drop-in, no registration required. Build creations with the Library's large Legos supply. Only ages 5 and up in the Storytime Room during Lego Club because of small pieces.
After School Craft: Wednesday, December 18, 3 pm to 4 pm. Drop-in holiday crafts. For ages 5 and up while supplies last.
Pint Size Yoga: Saturday, Dec 21, 10:30 am. Little ones will be guided in stretching and breathing through age appropriate poses along with dancing and games incorporating yoga in each activity. Yoga mat squares provided. Best for ages 4 to 6. Child-only participation encouraged. Registration Required.
Variety Act with Peter: Monday, December 30, 4 pm. Juggling, balancing feats, and jokes! Peter is a variety artist that specializes in juggling, magic, and physical comedy. Peter has toured with Big Apple Circus, Vegetable Circus and Clown Care LLC. His favorite tricks are balancing 12 boxes on his head, Spinning tops that have popcorn in them, and bringing popped balloon animals back to life! In the Community Room for ages 5 and up. No registration required.
The Library closes at noon on Tuesday, Dec 24; is closed all day on Wednesday, Dec 25; and at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, Dec 31.


For age 5 and under
Register to join events at needhamlibrary.org/events Registration begins 2 weeks before the event.
Events are subject to change. For more information, please e-mail the Children’s Librarian at neechild@minlib.net or call 781 455-7559 x204.

Preschool Palooza: An interactive themed storytime with picture books, music and movement. Children who are ready, may attend independently. Mondays, Dec 2, 9, 23, and 30 at 10 am. For ages 3 to 5. Drop-in.
Budding Bookworms: Infant Storytime with rhymes, stories, fingerplays, and bounces. Tuesdays Dec 3, 10, 17, and 31 at 10 am. For newborns to one year old. Space is limited, registration required.
Terrific Toddlers Storytime: for ages 2 to 3 with an adult caregiver. Stories with songs, rhymes, and movement. Wednesdays, Dec 4 and 18 at 10 am. Drop-in.
Monkey Mind Belly Breath Yoga Storytime: A yoga storytime with picture books, music, and movement. Monday, Dec 16, 10 am, for ages 3 to 5. Drop-in. https://monkeymindbellybreath.com/
Circle of Songs with Hugh Hanley: Thursday, Dec 19, 10 am, for ages 2 and up. Drop-in. https://hughhanley.com/
Music at the Blissful with Mr. Evan: Music classes specifically designed to help babies and toddlers work on their physical, social, and language development in a safe environment to learn and explore. Friday, Dec 20, 10 am, for ages 0 to 3. Drop-in. https://www.musicattheblissful.com/
The Library closes at noon on Tuesday, Dec 24; is closed all day on Wednesday, Dec 25; and at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, Dec 31.

Participate on our PTC and or join: 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.

SWES Faculty List - SY 24-25

School Handbook

Update Your Parent PowerSchool Account HERE