Dear Ben Hem Community,

Our Bennett-Hemenway School Council has concluded its work for this school year. The Council met monthly to discuss many aspects of Ben Hem. Our focus was to review and update our Mission and Vision statements. We are happy to share that we have accomplished this work and look forward to using it to help shape our plans for next year and our focus on community engagement. For those of you who are unaware of what a school council is, it is defined as:

• A representative, a school-based committee composed of the principal, parents, teachers, community members and, at the secondary level, students, are required to be established by each school pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 71, Section 59C.

School Council responsibilities can include:

• Adopting educational goals for the school that are consistent with local educational policies and statewide student performance standards

• Identifying the educational needs of students attending the school

• Reviewing the annual school building budget

• Reviewing a school improvement plan

• In addition, the law states that "nothing contained in this section shall prevent the school committee from granting a school council additional authority in the area of educational policy; provided, however, that school council shall have no authority over matters which are subject to chapter one hundred and fifty E of the General Laws." (Question 34, below, addresses Chapter 150E.)

The Council is excited to share our revised Mission and Vision statements with the community. Please take a moment to read and understand these statements. Moving forward, we will look for ways to operationalize these tenants with our students, staff, and families.

Mission:

At Bennett Hemenway, we build positive relationships to learn, to take care of ourselves and others, and our community making the world a better place.

Vision:

• Cherish all children and support their development as caring citizens

• Develop a joy of learning and master foundational academic skills that provide opportunities for learners to follow their interests in the future.

• Create a welcoming community to:

• Support and care for all students through an inclusive spirit.

• Learn and be curious about others

• Seek perspectives that are different from our own

• Model and teach healthy relationship-building to support everyone's social-emotional success

We are excited to share this work with our community and partner to make it come to life for our students, staff, and families.

Best,

Bennett Hemenway School Council

Karen Ghilani, Principal

Ben Gatto, Assistant Principal

Nina LaPlante, 3rd Grade Teacher

Sarah Sullivan, Parent

Greg Kinchla, Parent

Tracy Paradise, Parent

Shelia Rogers, Community Member

Reminder that this will be an ALL BOOKS fair – No toys! Don’t want to send cash with your students for book fair shopping? You can set up an e-wallet that they can use to purchase books at the fair! Don’t forget that grandparents, relatives, and friends can also contribute to your student’s e-wallet! https://www.scholastic.com/bf/benhem. The book fair will be open to all families during Literacy Night on May 25, from 6:30-7:30 pm.

Natick Public Schools does not discriminate in employment nor its educational programs, services, and activities based on race, creed, color, age, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, physical and intellectual differences, immigration status, homeless status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Please be aware all electronic communication to and from Natick Public Schools is public record and subject to public disclosure per Massachusetts General Law Chapter 66, Section 10.

• Title I: Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990Title II
• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990Title VI
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964Title IX
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
• MGL, Ch.76, Section 5: Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 76, Section 5