Dear SPS Families, Students, and Staff:

In this season of giving thanks, I want to share my deep appreciation and gratitude for the impacts each of you make in our district. Each day I am thankful to come to a job that is fulfilling, and where I am surrounded by wonderful community. So, thank you.

Much of this month's newsletter highlights different aspects of our curriculum and how students are applying concepts in their classrooms and their schools. What I hope you will take away from these highlights—and from each of our newsletters—is our focus on providing academic rigor across the board at every school, at every grade level, and in every program within our schools. For me, and for our SPS leaders, academic excellence is an equity issue; high expectations are not just for students already thought to be "high achieving." Every student should have a pathway to excellence, a pathway to college or to workforce development, and to sustainable finances for sustainable futures. That's why, guided by our new Strategic Plan that will be published next month, we have set clear and attainable goals around academic excellence, equity, wellness, and family engagement. By working together across these areas, we can ensure every student is empowered to thrive through tailored supports and equitable access to opportunity.

Our work is already underway, yet this doesn't mean it will be a "quick fix," particularly when looking at current data. Last month, DESE released test scores for annual MCAS assessments. While we did not see an increase in students meeting or exceeding expectations that we had hoped to see, we continue to see moderate growth across grade levels and subject areas in average student growth percentiles. We have made significant adjustments in many areas in just the last year that we fully expect will have positive, long-term impacts on student growth. This year, we are strengthening our core curriculum with new math and literacy programs, and investing in additional Social-Emotional curriculum and in Common Planning Time for educators and staff to share best practice and ensure data-driven collaboration in teaching and learning districtwide.

In short, we have made tremendous progress, and yet we have more to do. I invite you to take a look at some of the highlights below, including the updates in the "Academics" section that detail some curriculum work we're engaged in, and we look forward to continuing to engage with you around all of our work to come.

Sincerely,

Rubén

2nd Graders at the East Somerville Community School had a real treat in October. They listened to bilingual storytellers and community partners Karina Liendo and Esther Gomez, who narrated an Incan origin story in Spanish and English. Afterward, students participated in an art project and activity related to the story. Presenters made connections to literary elements in the second-grade curriculum, including setting, characters, and plot. First and third graders will also have a chance to enjoy stories of the Latin American Series.

6th graders in Ms. Jensen's class at ESCS also enjoyed a special literacy event. In October, they read the fiction novel The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 about a child's experience living in Michigan, then visiting Alabama and witnessing racial segregation in the 1960s. As part of their English Language Arts instruction, students went on a gallery walk of photos relating to the novel. Students answered questions about what they noticed and what resonated for them in the images.

The Argenziano afterschool program has some budding journalists in their third grade group. After encountering a bug during afterschool recess, some students decided to interview witnesses, look up different insects in library books, and write an article called “Wasp in Recess” for their own student-produced Afterschool Newspaper. Read the article to learn more (and please note that the insect species has not been officially identified).

English Department Head Meg Spinelli, SHS Librarian Kathleen Ross, and Library and Media Director Tania Connor hosted a Summer Reading Celebration for SHS students. 41 students participated in a summer reading challenge and got to celebrate their success in the library in October. They won prizes, ate cookies baked by Culinary Arts program students, and got to pick out free books. The overall winner, Eleanor W., read 33 books this summer earned herself a gift card to Porter Square Books.

The Healey School restarted their Friday Lunchtime Concerts in October with a performance from well-known musician Colescott Rubin. Mr. Rubin has performed with Patrice Rushen, Esperanza Spalding, Catherine Russell, John Legend and now at the Healey School! Since 2008, the Healey Lunchtime Concert Series supports students’ musical instruction and increases their exposure to new and exciting musical pathways. This program is supported in part by a grant from the Somerville Arts Council and organized by Healey School parents. The performers in this year’s concert series are curated by Berklee College of Music Associate Professor of Ensembles, David Cowan.

High school students in the Culinary Arts program prepared and served a delicious breakfast for Somerville Veterans last month as part of a free, monthly breakfast event hosted by the City of Somerville's Department of Veterans Services. Thank you to the Culinary Arts students and educators for the delicious treats, and thank you to our Veterans for your service!

Congratulations Veronica Ramos Rowlinson and Beatriz Thomas, who are highlighted in MassLive in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month! Both are Somerville High School teachers who were nominated by MassLive readers as people they consider to be Hispanic and Latino leaders in Massachusetts, working to make a difference across the state.

Read the article about English teacher Ms. Rowlinson: Veronica Ramos Rowlinson uses education to further representation

Read the article about Social Studies teacher Ms. Thomas: Beatriz Thomas teaches and Inspires students in Somerville

Educators attain Professional Teacher Status when they have served in the district for three consecutive years under the appropriate DESE license for their role and with the recommendation of their principal and the superintendent. This entitles them to certain measures of job security within the educator’s union contract. Congratulations to our 34 educators who have newly reached Professional Teaching Status!

The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools that have done outstanding work to welcome more students into AP courses and support them to college success. AP (Advanced Placement) exams are standardized exams designed to measure how well students master content or skills in specific courses. In some cases, exam results can be applied as college credits. Great job SHS educators, administrators, counselors, and students!

(7–0) The boys cross country team had yet another undefeated season, marking their fourth straight GBL championship. Their consistency has solidified them as a dominant force in the league. This incredible streak reflects the hard work of the athletes and coaches.

(6–1) The girls cross country team had a strong season, finishing with only one loss and earning the title of Greater Boston League champions. The team’s success sets the stage to continue to have a strong presence in the GBL.

(11–4–3) It was another incredible season for the girls soccer team, as they secured back-to-back Greater Boston League championships. Their consistent performance and dedication led them to qualify for the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) tournament for the third consecutive year, showcasing their dominance and growth as a program.

It’s been a fantastic second year for the Unified Basketball team, an undefeated 3–0 record so far. The Unified Basketball team is made up of a mix of athletes with and without disabilities, who train and compete together while representing the high school. The team allows students who might typically be excluded from participating in sports to enjoy competing on a team. Learn more about Unified Basketball at the organization website or watch a video about Unified Sports. The team has a home game on November 7th, and they will wrap up their season at a jamboree in Malden. Let’s pack the gym on November 7 and show our Highlanders some strong support as they continue their incredible season! The game will start between 4:00 and 4:30 p.m.

(7–6) The golf team had a great season, highlighted by six student-athletes, qualifying for the MIAA state tournament.

(13–7) It’s been an amazing season for the girls volleyball team, finishing with a stellar record. After coming close in previous seasons, the team finally earned a well-deserved spot in the MIAA state tournament. Their hard work, determination, and dedication paid off, making this year one to remember.

The cheer team has truly brought the energy this year! Their hard work and dedication have been evident in every performance. The team came in second at the Cheer Invitation at Austin Prep on November 3 and they’re excited to showcase their skills at the Greater Boston League competition on November 10th. Let’s cheer them on!

(3–5 but the regular season is not over) It has been an exciting year for the football team, who started strong with a 3–1 record in September. The team has shown tremendous growth throughout the season. The next game will be on Thursday, November 7 against Essex Tech and the season finishes with the annual Thanksgiving football game against Cambridge on Wednesday, November 27 at 6:00 p.m. at Dilboy Stadium.

Students in grades 6 to 12 who want to join a Winter Sports teams should visit the Athletics Department website to learn more and register.

All events below are free, unless otherwise indicated.

November 13 and 14. Families are invited to Prekindergarten and Kindergarten Enrollment Information Sessions. Learn about prekindergarten on November 13 at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom (online meeting). Learn about prekindergarten and kindergarten on November 13 at 5:30 p.m. at the East Somerville Community School library (in-person meeting). Learn about kindergarten on November 14 at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom (on-line meeting). Find more information about these events on the Learn About our Schools page.

December 6, January 9, and January 30. Everyone is invited to take a tour of one of our prekindergarten through grade 8 schools on three dates, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. during School Open Houses. Tours will last about an hour and start at 9, 10, 11 a.m. and noon. Community members are invited to drop in. Tours of Somerville High School are scheduled for February 12 and 13. Please visit the Learn About our Schools page for more details.

November 18, December 2, January 14. Our students and staff are implementing restorative practices in schools across the district to strengthen community and relationships. Now SPS parents and guardians are invited to join one of three sessions about restorative practices and how to use these strategies at home. Please register: tinyurl.com/RJ24-25.

November 7. The Multilingual Learner Parent Advisory Council (MLPAC) meets to share ideas on ways to improve your child’s learning experience. Open to all families in our schools. Dinner and childcare provided at meetings on November 7, 2024, February 27, 2025 and May 29, 2025 from 6:30–7:30 p.m. Email Gladys Valle for more information or visit the Multilingual Learner Education webpage for families.

Ongoing. If you or someone you know is dealing with food insecurity, please take a look at this folder. This online folder has fliers in multiple languages about free food resources for families.

November 9. Cost Associated. The Harvard Museum of Science & Culture runs a bilingual English / Spanish workshop series for teens. The next workshop is called "Animated Assyria." This workshop costs $10.00 but includes a free pass for a return visit to the museum. Learn more at their event page.

Each quarter, the Academics team shares an update with the School Committee. For Quarter 1, the update focuses on our SPS literacy curriculum. You can read the full memo on our Academics website, here. Highlights from the update include:

• Since the 2023–2024 school year, SPS has engaged in a curriculum review for grades PK–12.
• We developed a rollout plan for subject areas in grades PK–12.
• We implemented the iReady assessment for grades 3–8.
• We partnered with Hill for Literacy to complete a K–5 needs assessment.
• We are currently forming a Literacy Leadership Team. The team will select a curriculum for K–5. Current K–5 curriculum includes Fundations (K–2), Heggarty (K–2), and units developed in-district for reading and writing.
• We are implementing Fishtank ELA in grades 6–8 this year, and are beginning the study phase of the curriculum development cycle for grades 9–12.

High school student mentors are currently co-designing a curriculum with educators for the new middle grades Climate Change Clubs launching in January. Students in grades 6–8 will explore emerging challenges caused by climate change, then take a look at creative technology, science, and engineering solutions currently in development — many of these technologies are being developed right here in Somerville! The program begins in January, 2025 at all K–8 district schools.

For the last two years, middle grades students have been participating in a range of STEM-focused, free after-school clubs, including Girls Who Code, FIRST® LEGO® League, and an intramural robotics league. Current programs are run and supported by on-site educators, members of the SHS Robotics team, and the SPS curriculum administrators. Read more about STEM in SPS.

Learn about the Multilingual Learner Education Department and their work with students in their latest newsletter.

The Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experiences (SCALE) recently received hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant funding that will support workforce development and career training, adult English Language Learning and Adult Basic Education programs, and support for out of school youth ages 16–24. In addition to SCALE's core programs, grant funding will expand programs such as the Paraprofessional Educator Program, create new access for training and licensure in health careers and early education, and provide mentorship, internships, and financial literacy classes for students. To learn more about SCALE and access their programs, visit their website.

Congratulations to the Somerville Public Schools Early Education and Care Department, SPS Somerville Family Learning Collaborative, and the City of Somerville SomerPromise Department for writing a successful MA Dept. of Early Ed. and Care CPPI grant to collaborate on strengthening Somerville’s mixed delivery preschool system for 3 to 5-year-olds through the Somerville Partnership for Young Children (SPYC). The funds will go toward expanding access to high-quality inclusive preschool and child care for children in Somerville by providing translation services, family engagement, curriculum, professional development, coaching, and student intervention and special education services on-site at private and non-profit daycare centers in Somerville. The work expands capacity to support very young children with special needs, as well as improving kindergarten-readiness and, ultimately, translates into higher academic outcomes for all students.

Our district's 3–5 year Strategic Plan will be shared in early December! Here is a sneak peek at the graphic design, courtesy of local designer Colin Barr. We can't wait to share the full version! We created a new Vision and Mission for our district based on input from all SPS stakeholders. They are:

VISION: We envision a student-centered learning community where every student — honoring their unique strengths and background — is empowered to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally through tailored supports and equitable access to opportunity.

MISSION: To cultivate inspired learners who are equipped to make a positive impact on the world. We achieve this by fostering rigorous and joyful learning experiences where students, families, staff, and community partners collaborate with a shared commitment to academic excellence and well-being.

Pending final certification of our enrollment projections through the MSBA (currently in process), we have completed all of the requirements in Phase 1 of the MSBA building project. Once enrollment projections are certified this month, we anticipate that our project would be included in the MSBA Board's December meeting. At that meeting, the MSBA Board will vote on whether to invite SPS into the Feasibility Study phase of the project. Ongoing updates are available at www.somervillema.gov/msba.

Click the post below to watch last month's edition of Facebook Live. Dr. Carmona was joined by Nadia Kury, Manager of School-Based Social Workers, and Edson Soares da Rosa, SHS Community Engagement Specialist. Our next edition is scheduled for November 19th at 4 p.m.!