Dear Peirce Families,

As I finish this newsletter, my family is busily getting ready to venture to Symphony Hall for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. tribute performed by the Boston Children's Chorus. It's hard to believe, but my daughter has been a singer with this organization for the past eleven years.

As Matin Luther King, Jr. is honored today, I pause in gratitude for the dedication of Peirce teachers, who strive daily to uphold inclusive values in our school community and ensure that each child's identity is celebrated.

Sincerely,

Andrea Vargas

The district has made a decision to move the Portrait of a Graduate development process to later this spring.

However, we are excited to offer TWO options for the community to learn more about why we want to create a Portrait of a Graduate for our district. Come learn about how the world has changed and why our schools must change with it. You will also have the chance to provide input on what our Portrait will look like once the design team process starts.

Ultimately, the work you help with now will set the stage for developing a shared community vision in our Portrait of a Graduate. The session dates and locations are as follows:

• Wednesday, January 17th at 6:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m. at Newton North

• Thursday, January 18th at 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Newton South
  
  

Please consider attending one of the sessions! You can RSVP using this Google Form:

POG January Community Session RSVP

The sessions will explore the following questions:

• What are the hopes, dreams, and aspirations that our community has for our young people?

• What are the skills and mindsets that our children need for success in this rapidly changing and complex world?

• What are the implications for the design of the learning experiences—and equitable access to those experiences—we provide in our school systems?

Newton’s S.P.A.C.E. is a four-week summer enrichment program run by the Newton Public Schools from July 1st through July 25th. Students entering kindergarten through 9th grade in the Fall 2024 are eligible to attend. We offer two programs - an upper camp (entering grade 5-entering grade 9 in the Fall of 2024) and a lower camp (entering kindergarten-entering grade 4).

LOWER CAMP - Campers are assigned into age appropriate classes led by elementary school teachers, through project based learning, challenges and activities that focus on our camp theme. Each summer a new theme is chosen. Lower Camp has a co-taught model with two teachers and one counselor. Special attention is given to individual students by maintaining a low student to teacher ratio. Lower Campers will also attend various specials throughout the week led by certified staff. In past years, specials have included physical education, art, yoga, and science..

UPPER CAMP - Campers will create their own schedules by choosing from a vast amount of electives to design their own camp program. SPACE Upper Camp has over 50 electives for students to choose from including art studios, performing arts, athletics, STEM activities, and language arts.

Check out the S.P.A.C.E.website for more information or REGISTER NOW!

Meet author Kaija Langley at our program kickoff!

Our eight-week Family Conversations Program is designed for parents who want to start and strengthen conversations about race with their young children (ages 3-8). Join our Winter 2024 Cohort and be the first to receive our brand new book bundles, along with updated supplemental book lists!

Our program provides families with:

• A bundle of 6 books tailored to your children's ages

• 5 caregiver guides full of research, resources, and family activities to support and deepen family race conversations

• 4 curated book lists to support further exploration and conversation

• 2 in-person family events and 2 virtual caregiver workshops

• 2 virtual office hours

• Support from a network of current families and alumni to lean on and learn from

• Special events to facilitate community connection