HPS Fall Newsletter
October 27, 2023
Superintendent's Corner
As I write this letter with this unseasonably warm weather, it is hard to believe how far we are into the school year already. Each day is so busy, and it hard to keep up with all of the amazing things our staff are doing each and every day with all of our students at Holliston Public Schools!
With tragic incidents happening throughout the world and nationally, as well as an uptick in incidents of hate speech and symbols occurring in and around our schools, I am ever mindful of the need to continue to increase our efforts to provide safe and supportive schools for our children to flourish in.
This year we have added a FOB System for staff to be able to access schools during school hours in an effort to ensure that doors remain locked and secured throughout the school day and that people in the building should be wearing identification at all times to note whether they are a staff member or visitor. Last year we added some interior cameras at HHS and RAMs (we have some exterior cameras at all buildings already) and we are purchasing additional interior cameras using grant funds to enhance safety at all four buildings as well. We have also increased our efforts to train all staff on safety drill practices and have added additional practice drills with students at all levels as well. We appreciate our collaboration with HPD and HFD who help us with these safety drills each year!
I also wish to thank all of the parents and staff members who volunteered to join the HPS Wellness Council this year. Unfortunately, I was unable to accept all volunteers, due to the volume, but I so appreciate the number of people who offered their service to HPS to help review policy and promote wellness efforts in the schools.
Recently, I have held Superintendent Roundtables at Placentino, Miller, and RAMS, and I will be meeting with HHS Students next week. Student voice and empowerment is so important for all ages. The students not only ground me in my work, they also help inform my decision-making in so many areas throughout the year.
Hearing and responding to educator and staff voice is also critical. I am grateful to have an opportunity to meet with some of our grade, team, and department leaders at all levels either 1:1 or in small groups or teams this fall, as we are better together and can learn from one another as we continue to improve and enhance our schools.
Recently we shared out the equity audit that was completed at our schools at a presentation at Holliston School Committee on October 17th, and we hope this will inform some of our work directly aligned with the HPS 2022-2027 Strategic Plan. The HHS is also undergoing New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Accreditation currently, and this will also help guide decision-making for grades 9-12.
I will end by sharing some of the work related to my personal growth that helps to ground me in my daily work as well. This summer I was voted in as Co-President of the Tri-County Superintendent's Roundtable with Newton Superintendent Anna Nolin. This is an opportunity for me to continue to develop my leadership capacity with my fellow superintendents. Recently, I invited MA Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler to attend our October meeting, and he spoke with us about the increase in balanced literacy initiatives (as referenced below) as well as the significant increase in migrant, homeless students entering schools in MA, something Holliston does not appear to be witnessing at this time. I also am the chair of the ACCEPT Collaborative Board and sit on the TEC Board where we are a member district and where our students can access educational opportunities.
Please continue below to read about many initiatives happening throughout Holliston Public Schools related to all areas of our strategic plan this year as we continue to grow as a school community!
Best regards,
Susan E. Kustka, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Strategic Plan Arch 1: Communication Practices
Digital Safety for Students (Strategic Initiative: Data Governance)
We are committed to keeping students safe online in school and at home. As part of this commitment, we have created a brief video highlighting some of the resources that Holliston Public Schools uses. In addition, we provide recommendations for additional tools that further protect students.
- Video Presentation (~15 minutes)
- Video Transcript
- Slide Presentation
As a follow up to this presentation, we hope to have a conversation with families in person regarding digital safety for students, or any other topic such as Seesaw (PK-2), Google Classroom, PowerSchool and other technology resources that interest you. We are hosting four additional follow-up sessions for families (schedule below). Feel free to come to any session if it is convenient for you. For example, if you have only high school students but the Placentino session works best, staff will be available to answer your high school-related questions. Please sign up in advance here so we can prepare for your questions.
Family Technology Support In Person Sessions
- Placentino Library: Thursday, Nov 2 (9:15 AM - 10:00 AM)
- Miller Innovation Lab: Friday, Nov. 3 (7:30 AM - 8:15 AM)
- Robert Adams Library: Monday, Nov. 6 (8:15 AM - 9:00 AM)
- Holliston High Library: Tues, Nov 7 (8:15 AM - 9:00 AM)
Thank you to our talented team who helped create the video and will be facilitating the in person follow up sessions!
- Winnie Carey - Placentino Elementary
- Allie Curley - Miller Elementary
- Tina Cortis - Robert Adams Middle
- Sarah Kuhne - Holliston High
All the best!
Dan MacLeod
Director of Technology & Digital Learning
AI Steering Committee Interest Form
We are forming a steering committee to help guide HPS in making policy recommendations and collaborating to determine best practices for the use of AI in PK-12+ education. Please complete this form if you are interested in serving on this committee or contributing in some other way.
Strategic Plan Arch 2: Social & Emotional Well-Being
From the Director of SEL & Equity and the Director of Student Services
A) From the Office of Student Services
We are excited to share the wonderful things we are doing from the Office of Student Services. This year we are putting forth tremendous effort into the following areas:
Student Literacy K-12+
Communication and Family Education regarding state of education
Launching Special Programs
District alignment with student experience, services, and engagement
In each quarterly newsletter we will aim to provide an update in each of these areas,and provide resources and links that we feel will be helpful to you. We look forward to the work ahead this year, and our work that aims to provide you and your child with the journey you deserve!
Roadmap of HPS Student Literacy Initiative
Here at HPS the Office of Student Services along with our administrators and staff are making it our mission to identify early literacy challenges, and provide responses and intervention to help ALL learners grow and thrive at their pace with their reading development.
Screening Tools & Assessments
This year we will be screening ALL students in grades K-3 with one of the DESE approved literacy screeners; DIBELS(Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Screeners). These nationally normed measures help teachers and schools determine how students perform on important reading skills necessary for successful beginning reading. These include phonemic awareness, letter knowledge, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. The specific subtests given are based on their current grade level and time of year. The DIBELS will be given at least three times per year, along with either the STAR or iReady. For those that are flagged “at risk” in the Fall screeners will receive a phone call from families, and information that provides next steps in more consistent screenings and interventions to assist in supporting your child.
While these screening tools do not diagnose dyslexia or other disabilities, it does help us understand which students may need additional support to be successful readers and mathematicians, and it will help our staff and families better understand where students are finding success and where they are indeed struggling.
Multisensory Approach to Literacy
Additionally, we are continuing to broaden our teacher trainings to support our ability to internally support our students with a multisensory approach for our most vulnerable learners. We are pleased to acknowledge and applaud our staff for putting in the time to complete the Orton Gillingham Training(over 30 hours to complete), and/or the Orton Gillingham Practicum (full year).
We are pleased to share that the majority of Placentino and Miller Special Education staff are trained in Ortron Gillingham, while RAMS & HHS are in the beginning stages of having their staff trainined in Orton Gillingham and Morphology. As we continue to examine the best practies and approaches in literacy, we will continue to utilize a “multi-sensory” approach that may include Orton Gillingham, Wilson, and Heggerty.
Below is a link for families to better understand the OG Approach.
Please stay tuned for information regarding an upcoming FamilyEd presentation to be held in December around Dyslexia and our approaches to best support students.
HPS FamilyEd Series…OUR Key to Communcation & Learning
We have started off this year launching our HPS FamilyEd Series, and have already held 3 evening events. This year we look to provide families with a variety of family education around topics that are pertinent to student supports from grades PreK-12+.
All presentations will be held virtually at 6:30pm in order to provide families more of an opportunity to attend and actively engage. While we recognize many of you would like to be present we also realize that lives are busy, and therefore we will record ALL presentations and post them to the HPS Student Service Webpage. Please see the link below that includes the schedule for the year, along with the recordings and slides for the first 3 presentations held thus far. If you have any topics that you feel would be beneficial and are not listed on this schedule, please reach out to Jess Beattie at beattiej@holliston.k12.ma.us
HPS FamilyEd Series Schedule & Resources
Special Programs Update
Our office has worked incredibly hard over this summer to launch Special Programs for the Fall 2023. While change can ALWAYS be challenging, we felt strongly that it was due time to transition to the Special Programs digital platform. Once it is in full capacity, we expect that it will be more efficient in meeting timelines, user-friendly, data driven, and provide easy-access to families. Most importantly Special Programs has proven already to increase the turn around in documents through the docusign feature, which allows a much more manageable and secure way to maintain confidential information for students who have; IE, 504, ELL documentation/plans.
Training is key to a successful implementation. With over 300 staff members across the district we have been able to provide both a broader overview for those administrators and general education staff to be able to understand the basic use and access of Special Programs, as well as in-depth training for all SSAs, Procedural Assistants, Special Educators, Specialists, and Counselors who will access Special Programs on a daily basis. With staffing such as them, we have been able to provide trainings in; professional development day, small group trainings in building, paper-based resources, and held well attended after school office hours.
Our final step will be introducing to all families with students who have IEPs, 504s, or EL documents to the Special Programs portal. This portal will be linked to your parent/guardian PowerSchool Logins. In opening this portal, families will not only have access to the Powerschool Information side (reports cards, attendance, discipline), but also for those with students on 504s, IEPS, or EL families you will be able to access through your child’s dashboard access to their plans, progress reports, and evaluations. We will plan to complete a slow roll out with this portal starting with HHS families in the upcoming weeks, and add RAMS, Miller and Placentino families soon thereafter. Our hope is to have all families who need access to Special Programs to have that by December, in time for progress reports.
Resources and Highlights
PTO Fundraiser: we have a very special student-designed logo in support of Holliston’s Neurodiversity. It was a really great collaboration with Mr. Lack and Mr. Shiff at HHS. SEPAC is truly appreciative of the enthusiasm and responsiveness these educators had towards this fundraiser! If you are interested in purchasing any spiritwear please use Spiritwear QR code linked below
Jess Beattie
Broadening our Communication
Finding Pleasure in Reading...RAMS Reading Cafe
Literacy Team Building
Continued Updates on Arch 2: Social Emotional Well-Being
B) From the Office of Social Emotional Learning & Equity
As we are officially in full swing into the 2023 -2024 school year, I wanted to share with you some of the work happening within Arch 2 focused on Social Emotional Wellbeing. Arch 2 requires systemic approaches to building systems for student support, aimed at student belonging, that is culturally responsive to our students needs, and that is always working to sustain social emotional wellbeing.
There is a lot of work happening across our HPS district through our local schools in support of Safe and Supportive schools. Recently I presented an update on the work happening within our Holliston public schools at a recent School Committee meeting. I encourage you to watch the presentation to get a clearer picture of the work.
Presentation from: 10-5-2023
I also suggest that you consider watching the most recent School Committee meeting on October 19th, as each of our local principals presented on their school plans for the year and specifically each had a slide focused on ARCH 2 - and each speak to the work that I described in my presentation.
Additionally, it was shared at the October 19th SC meeting that I have been asked to facilitate the Equity Audit steering committee. I will be sharing out the vision, next steps, and the process for the the steering committee as we move forward and utilize the Equity Audit to continue to drive positive change, towards ensuring that our students, staff, & families attend schools that feel Safe and Supportive and that live up to our mission as articulated in our strategic plan “To collaboratively create a safe, inclusive environment that empowers all learners, through innovative teaching and learning, to be lifelong, active, global citizens”.
Lastly, I am expecting to do update to my Safe and Supportive schools HPS site, and I hope you see it as a helpful resource, and it will provide updates to the Equity Steering committee process once we get going. I hope this webpage provides additional opportunities to share out highlights happening within our schools for the 23-24 school year.
Jariel Vergne
Director of Social Emotional Learning & Equity
Strategic Plan Arch 3: Teaching & Learning
Current Holliston Curriculum Reviews
Holliston teachers, curriculum leaders, and administrators are hard at work in multiple curriculum reviews. Curriculum reviews are one of the teaching and learning strategic initiatives in Holliston's strategic plan - vertical and state alignment. The outcome of these reviews will be the creation of clear, rigorous, and consistent academic expectations for student success that align to the Massachusetts State Frameworks. Once this work has been completed, outcomes will be shared with the community. Please read Holliston's curriculum review process document for more information.
Both a PreK-12 math and 6-12 ELA curriculum review began last year and are continuing this year. We are excited to have started our PreK-12 World Language curriculum review this fall.
Below are lists of curriculum review committee members. Many thanks to all for sharing their expertise and collaborating with the other members on this process!
Subject Area: World Language
Review Committee Members:
Dr. Joanne Menard - Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction
Dr. Ida Pappas - PreK - 12+ Unified Arts Curriculum Coordinator
Dylan Nauss - HS World Language Teacher
Karin Portocarrero-Heisler - HS World Language Teacher
Blanca Beltran - RAMS World Language Teacher
Sylvie Chammas - RAMS French Immersion Teacher
Emily Rousseau - RAMS Spanish Teacher
Michael Glenn - Miller World Language Teacher
Claire Picard - 3rd Grade French Immersion Teacher
Kharen Torres-Garcia - Miller Spanish Teacher
Subject Area: Mathematics
Review Committee Members:
Dr. Joanne Menard - Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction
James Levasseur - PreK - 12+ STEM Curriculum Coordinator
Ron Taylor - HS Assistant Principal
Bob Tivnan - HS Math Department Head
Anne Connoni - HS Math Teacher
Catherine Cooper - HS Math Teacher
Cassandra Kogut-Taylor - HS Math Teacher
Victoria Roy - HS Math Teacher
Kasey Conahan - 6-8 Curriculum & Instruction Specialist
Jesse Conant RAMS Interventionist
Jen Dayton - 6th Grade Mathematics Teacher
Deb Mailing - 6th Grade Mathematics Teacher
Chris Vanesian - 7th Grade Mathematics Teacher
David Keim - Miller Elementary School Principal
Ashley Bouchard - Elementary Math Specialist
Kerry Perpall - 5th Grade Math/Science Teacher
Christi Phipps - 3rd Grade Teacher
Adrienne Beaver - Pre Kindergarten Teacher
Nicole Lovell - Placentino Montessori Teacher
Kristin Marino - 2nd Grade Teacher
Meg Nolan - Kindergarten Teacher
Lindsey St-Aubin - 1st Grade French Immersion Teacher
Subject Area: Secondary ELA
Review Committee Members:
Dr. Joanne Menard - Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
Joseph Hicks - PreK-12+ Curriculum Coordinator for Humanities
Dr. David Jordan - RAMS Principal
Don Quindley - HHS ELA Department Head
Kasey Conahan - RAMS Curriculum Specialist
Kim Clifton - 6th Grade ELA Teacher
Jaime Murphy - High School ELA Teacher
Becky McLean - High School ELA Teacher
Placentino's Multilngual Family Night
On Wednesday, October 4th, Placentino welcomed multilingual families for an evening of food and activities. The turnout was wonderful. We thank all families that came and shared their favorite foods and their company.
We appreciate Pam Hrones and Sherline Foley, Placentino's English Learner teachers, for planning the evening. Please check out event pictures below.
Teaching & Learning Website
Check out the Teaching & Learning part of Holliston's webpage for many family resources:
Teaching & Learning Newsletters
The district curriculum team will once again be publishing Teaching & Learning newsletters this year to document a sampling of the amazing innovative teaching and learning that is happening in Holliston. Please be on the lookout later this fall for our first edition of the school year.
Dr. Joanne Menard
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction
HHS Student Develops Google Chrome App
We are very proud of one of our students, HHS Senior Samitha Thatavarthy, who has developed her own Google Chrome extension to enhance the online reading and note taking experience for students, staff and anyone who might want to benefit from the resource. She has launched this app at Holliston High and then plans to expand to other schools in Holliston. We fully expect that Samitha’s creation will eventually benefit many other school districts globally!
Strategic Plan Arch 4: Talent & Resources
MassCUE Technology Conference
Congratulations to seven of our talented staff who presented at this year’s premier MassCUE technology and learning conference held at Gillette Stadium! In addition, seventeen other educators attended to learn about innovative instructional practices and emerging technologies.
Chromebook Insurance
The deadline to purchase Chromebook insurance for students in grades 5-12 has been extended through Tuesday, Oct 31, 2023. Insurance covers accidents (broken screens, liquid spills) which are the most costly repairs.
Cost: $40 per student per school year
Payment may be made on the Town of Holliston website (Scroll down to School Payments, choose School Programs on the left menu, then Device Insurance) in the amount of $40 for a single device ($20 more if a second device is assigned to the same student).
All the best!
Dan MacLeod
Director of Technology & Digital Learning
Finance & Operations
Transportation
Thank you for your ongoing patience with our transportation challenges due to road construction, road maintenance and/or utility work. The streets that have some level of construction or closure this fall are Rockland, Oak, Winter, Central, Bullard, Granite and Woodland. The drivers have done yeoman's work on getting your children to school and we thank them daily for their efforts.
Here's hoping that we will soon have access to all thoroughfares in town (except Woodland, we know that's still going to take some time).
Facilities
We are in the final stages of the Placentino/Miller shingled roof section project. Weekend weather has proven to be quite a challenge. Currently, we are awaiting final installation of the drip edge at the end of the roof line and some final touches on the shingled area. The next phase will be the replacement of skylights. After 25 years, they do need to be replaced.
The High School auditorium wall had an engineering inspection completed this week. The project is being led by the Town's Facility Director, James Keast. We do have a few options on a solution and hope to award the bid for the project this fall. Stay tuned.
Central Office Contacts
- Superintendent- Dr. Susan Kustka
- Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction- Dr. Joanne Menard
- Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations - Keith Buday
- Director of Student Services - Jess Beattie
- Director of SEL & Equity - Jariel Vergne
- Director of Technology & Digital Learning - Dan MacLeod
- Director of Food Services- Lynne Koenig
- Nurse Leader - Brenda Barton
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370 Hollis Street
Holliston, MA 01746
(508) 429-0654