BPS District Newsletter

Dear BPS Families,,

As we begin the process of creating our district’s new 5-year Strategic Plan, I found myself reflecting on the tremendous growth and strides we have made over the past few years as we have reimagined education at the Bourne Public Schools.

Through the work of our incredible educators and support personnel, BPS provides innovative educational programming and more opportunities for our students. However, we are never satisfied with where we stand and are always striving to improve the ways in which we educate and develop our students and the services and instruction we provide.

The new Strategic Plan will serve as the blueprint and foundation for our success over the next five years and from residents to alumni to parents and families, the Bourne community will play a vital role in its creation.

This plan will not be built by one person or group of people. It will be built by all of you who have a stake in our success. We are looking at a variety of ways in which to gather your input and feedback throughout this process, including surveys, focus groups, and a steering committee.

A Parent/Community Member Focus Group will be held Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 6:30 p.m. in the BHS Media Center and all are welcome to attend. A community survey will also be sent out in early October.

We want to hear about what you are proud of and where you think we need to be focusing our energies in the coming years.

Although many in our community are familiar with the great changes and innovations we have made recently, it is always a pleasure to discuss how great our schools are. Personally, I believe that the Bourne Public Schools is a hidden gem and one of Cape Cod’s best-kept secrets.

While there have been many positive changes throughout the district, the most dramatic changes can be seen at the high school with several DESE-recognized Innovation Pathways and multiple College and Career Pathways to graduation. Every student now takes Career Explorations, Financial Literacy, and First Aid classes, and a Senior Internship that prepares each to be successful upon graduation. We are also continuing to strengthen important partnerships with organizations like the Chamber of Commerce, Mass. Maritime, and local businesses.

We are proud to announce that Bourne is one of 15 school districts in the state selected to work in the prestigious MIT Media Lab, where teachers will be learning about the impact of Artificial Intelligence in education.

As we move forward, we will not lose sight of what makes BPS so special. We will always foster a welcoming and inclusive environment. We actively help students to feel safe in our schools and strive to engage students, families, and the community through our Building Bridges engagement initiative.

We have continued our outstanding performing and visual arts programs at all levels including our award-winning musicians and drama productions.

We have also carried on our strong traditions in athletics with multiple conference and state championships.

Students in grades K-12 have hands-on experiential learning in subjects like STEAM, library and computer science. And, we have a personalized approach to learning in our What I Need (WIN) groupings that meet every learner where they are and push them to become better.

As we forge new paths forward, I ask that you join us in celebrating the strides we have made and help us build a brighter future. Together we can continue to reimagine education at the Bourne Public Schools.

Sincerely,

Dr. Zhou

School Improvement Plans (SIPs) for the current school year were presented and approved for all four schools. These yearly plans outline how each school will continue to build community, provide equity and strive for excellence. Approved plans can be viewed at the following links:

Bournedale Elementary

Bourne Intermediate School

Bourne Middle School

Bourne High School

In addition to discussing the Summer Enrichment and Extended School Year via a slide show Update, there were extensive presentations about the opening of the 2024-2025 school year.

In other business, the School Committee proclaimed September 21 through September 29, 2024, as Blue Star Families Welcome Week to recognize new military families to our community. They also heard the proclamation from the Bourne Board of Select about Sucide Prevention Month and heard information about Bourne High school’s new Hope Squad chapter. Addison Dion was introduced as the Student Advisory representative to the School Committee and John Kelsh was recognized for his bravery.

Next School Committee Meeting is October 2, 2024

• Press Release: Bourne Public Schools Announces Ellen McLaughlin as New Bourne Elementary School Assistant Principal & Pre-K Coordinator

• Press Release: Bourne Public Schools Announces Stephanie Burns as New Elementary Special Education Coordinator

• Press Release: Bourne Public Schools Appoints Ellen Trott as New Assistant Principal of Bourne Intermediate School

• Informational Email: Benchmark Assessments 2024-2025

• Informational Email: Military Survey