Superintendent Update

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Members of our School Communities,

As Teacher Appreciation Week approaches, it's an excellent opportunity to extend our gratitude to the dedicated educators who tirelessly support our students daily. From sparking curiosity to fostering growth, our teachers play an invaluable role in shaping the minds and hearts of our children. Let's take a moment to thank them for their unwavering commitment and dedication. Let's show our teachers how much they mean to us, whether it's a simple note of appreciation or a heartfelt gesture. Together, let's celebrate and honor their incredible contributions to our community.

Dear Teachers and School Staff of Norwood,

As we approach Teacher Appreciation Week, I express my deepest gratitude for your tireless dedication and unwavering commitment to our students. Your passion for teaching and relentless pursuit of excellence inspires us all. Your hard work and determination do not go unnoticed, and we are incredibly grateful for everything you do, day in and day out. Your impact reaches far beyond the classroom, shaping the future of our community one student at a time. Thank you for your resilience, your compassion, and your unwavering support. You truly make a difference, and we celebrate you this Teacher Appreciation Week and every week.

Go Mustangs!

Sincerely,

Dr. J.J. Muñoz

Acting Superintendent of Schools, Norwood Public Schools

We are excited to provide you with an update on the ongoing elementary building study within Norwood Public Schools. This study aims to optimize space, enhance instructional programming, and balance school-building capacities to better serve our students.

Here is the link to the presentation at School Committee on Wednesday, May 1st.

As part of this initiative, early next week, we will launch a dedicated page on the Norwood Public Schools website. This page will provide you with updated information and announcements regarding the study's progress, including potential changes, community engagement opportunities, and the timeline for the study. We encourage you to visit the page regularly for the latest updates.

In the coming weeks, you will have opportunities to engage with the School Committee as we explore various scenarios to optimize space at all elementary schools. These scenarios aim to enhance the student experience, potentially reduce transportation costs, and align programming with student needs.

It is important to note that any potential changes resulting from this study would not be implemented before the 2025-26 school year. These changes could include adjustments to school boundaries, grade configurations, and transportation routes. Furthermore, once the new Coakley Middle School building becomes a 5-8 model, it will alleviate overcrowding issues and provide an opportunity to enhance educational programming for fifth graders.

Our guiding pillars for this study are the result of careful planning and consideration. We are committed to optimizing physical space, enhancing instructional programming, balancing school capacities for future growth, attempting to make school demographics more balanced, and maintaining neighborhood schools as closely as possible.

We deeply appreciate your continued support and involvement as we work together, hand in hand, to ensure the best possible learning environment for all Norwood students. Your support is invaluable to us.

• May 9: Kindergarten Screenings NO School for current kindergarten students
• May 9: Parents Info/Orientation Night @CMS 6:00pm - 8:00pm For parents of incoming Grade 6/new students.
• May 10: Kindergarten Screenings NO School for current kindergarten students
• May 10: Pops Concert @ NHS 7:00pm -10:00pm
• May 16: Willett School Family Literacy Night 5:00pm - 7:00pm
• May 17: CMS Spring Musical 7:00pm @ NHS
• May 18: CMS Spring Musical 7:00pm @ NHS
• May 19: CMS Spring Musical 2:00pm @ NHS
• May 21: NHS Fine Arts Performance/Show Event 7:00pm-9:00pm
• May 22: Music Concert: Callahan, Oldham, Prescott @ NHS 7:00pm-9:00pm
• May 23: Music Concert: Cleveland, Balch @ CMS 7:00pm-9:00pm
• May 28: Nemmy Awards NPS Fine Arts Performance Event @ NHS 7:00am-9:00am
• May 28: CMS Grade 6 Music Concert @ CMS 7:00am-9:00pm
• May 29: NHS Dramatic Reading Original Plays @ NHS 5:00pm-7:00pm
• May 30: Balch Talent Show evening performance
• June 5: CMS Grade 7 & 8 Music Concert @CMS 7:00am-9:00pm
• June 6: NHS Spring Drama Performance 7:00pm
• June 7: NHS Spring Drama Performance 7:00pm

Important High School Information

Scholarships

The NHS PTO is pleased to offer two $500 scholarships to graduating seniors - one for a vocational path and one for a college path. Encourage your seniors to apply.
Deadline to submit is May 6, 2024. Good luck!

Here is the link: NHS PTO 2024 Scholarships.

Pre-Order Flowers & Teddy Bears for Graduating Seniors

Purchase now and flowers will be available for pick up on graduation day – and you won’t have to scramble on graduation day!

https://www.thecommencementgroup.com/norwoodhighschool/

Parking Spot Raffle – 2 Spots Available
Enter to win a free parking spot at NHS. Raffle is open to any student in grades 9-12 and will be awarded during your senior year with a valid driver’s license. Space must be redeemed by the winner and is non-transferable.

$15 per entry. Click here to enter.

Please note: Last day of school Friday, June 21, 2024

Early Release:

Willett School: 11:10

Elementary: 11:40

Coakley Middle: 12:30

High School: 12:00

During the meeting, the Committee addressed several agenda items, starting with the 2024-2025 School Choice Hearing. Following this, representatives from AppGeo presented the Elementary Study Report, engaging in a 45-minute discussion. Additionally, Dr. Fraczek and Alexandra Arone proposed an Out-of-State/Overnight Field Trip Request for a middle school trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, scheduled for April 19-25, 2025.

Acting Assistant Superintendent Mr. Wells reviewed the FY23 End-of-Year Report and presented the FY24 Workforce and CSHS Grant Amendments. Dr. Muñoz presented the Bridge 1-year Strategic Plan, and the Committee voted on appointing an Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations.

Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, May 15th, at 7:00 pm. For details and supporting materials, visit the School Committee page on Norwood Public School's website - Meeting Schedule & Supporting Documents. Your engagement is vital to our community's success, so please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

I am delighted to share the excitement of our recent Fine Arts Festival, which took place last Friday. It was a breathtaking display of our students' incredible talent and creativity, made possible by our dedicated educators' steadfast support and guidance.

The 25th Annual Fine Arts Festival showcased the remarkable masterpieces created by our students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Every aspect of the festival was a testament to our students and educators' hard work and dedication.

I extend our heartfelt congratulations to all involved for a job well done. Your passion for the arts, your commitment to excellence, and the unwavering support of our community have truly shone through, creating a memorable experience for all who attended.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of this event, and congratulations once again on a truly outstanding Fine Arts Festival.

I am thrilled to share the success of our recent Multilingual Family Fair, which brought together over 50 families from our diverse community. This event was a valuable opportunity for families to connect with various Norwood Community organizations and learn about resources available to support their children.

We were excited to see many of our dedicated ELL teachers in attendance. They engaged with students and their families to strengthen the bond between Norwood Public Schools and the community. Their presence enhanced the fair and fostered meaningful relationships that will benefit our multilingual learners.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our ELE Director, Lisa Bourgious, and the entire ELE teaching team for their hard work and dedication in organizing this event. Their commitment to our multilingual learners is truly commendable, and we are grateful for their efforts in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of the Multilingual Family Fair. We look forward to continuing to support and empower our diverse community together.

Norwood Public Schools Adopts the New CDC & MA Department of Public Health Guidelines for Respiratory Illnesses

1. When you have ANY respiratory virus (Flu, COVID, RSV) - stay home and away from others while you have respiratory

virus symptoms. These symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache, among others.
2. Return to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, BOTH are true:

Your symptoms are getting better overall, AND
You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication)
3. When you go back to your normal activities, take added precautions over the next 5 days, such as taking
additional steps for cleaner air, hygiene, masks, physical distancing, and/or testing when you will be
around other people indoors.

If you have questions or need COVID home test kits please reach out to your school nurse. For additional information

on these guideline changes follow this link