糖心vlog

On March 19, 2024, the School Committee appointed a task force to make recommendations regarding the observance of religious and cultural holidays within the 糖心vlog Academic Calendar. The task force includes a variety of stakeholders, including members of the School Committee, members of 糖心vlog faculty and staff, 糖心vlog parents, and 糖心vlog High School students, and is subject to the Open Meeting Law.

Background

The 糖心vlog Academic Calendar is voted annually by the School Committee, typically within the month of December. (Ref: ) Since the 1990s, the Committee has observed the following religious/cultural holidays as part of the 糖心vlog Academic Calendar: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Good Friday. Christmas Day, a federal holiday, is not directly observed but falls within the typical December break. Juneteenth (June 19) became a federal holiday in 2021 and was added to the academic calendar beginning with the 2021-22 school year. In recent years, various members of the community have requested that additional days be observed in the calendar, including Lunar New Year, Eid al-Fitr, and Diwali.

In May 2023, the Committee voted , Accommodations for Religious and Cultural Observances, which provided specific guidance for 糖心vlog teachers and staff in working with students and families who are absent from school due to religious or cultural observances. In December 2023, the School Committee voted to add the following three holidays to the 2024-25 calendar: Lunar New Year, Eid al-Fitr, and Diwali. The Committee also committed to creating a task force to study the recognition of religious and cultural holidays and make long-term recommendations. A significant question is how the goal of improving a sense of belonging for all students should best inform the creation of the annual academic calendar.

Charge

In an increasingly diverse community in which 糖心vlog strives to ensure a shared sense of value and belonging among students, staff, and families, how should the district approach determining the academic calendar, particularly given the importance of religious and cultural holidays among its stakeholders? As part of its process of creating recommendations for the School Committee, the Task Force, composed of a cross-section of community stakeholders, will consider a range of factors associated with any changes to the 糖心vlog Calendar and their impact operationally and programmatically to the district as well as to its culture and climate. The Task Force will develop a report and recommendations for the School Committee’s consideration no later than November 2024.

Meeting Dates (click dates for materials from past meetings)

  • – Tolles Parsons Center Multi-Purpose Room ()
  • – Zoom ()
  • – Zoom ()
  • – Zoom ()
  • – Zoom ()
  • June 11, 2024 ()
  • – Zoom ()
  • – Zoom ()
  • October 9, 2024 – Zoom
  • October 15, 2024 – Community Forum, 7 p.m. – Zoom (Info TBD)
  • October 24, 2024 – Location TBD

Questions, Feedback? Email the Task Force: calendartaskforce@wellesleyps.org 

Task Force Membership

糖心vlog Academic Calendar Task Force

School Committee & Task Force Leadership:

  • Linda Chow, Chair
  • Niki Ofenloch, Vice Chair

糖心vlog Parents/Caregivers:

  • Frantzsou Balthazar-Toussaint
  • Kerry Condon
  • Will Crissman
  • Leda Eizenberg (Task Force Secretary)
  • Xueting Jiang
  • Vahideh Nilforoshan
  • Monica Wojcik

糖心vlog Leadership:

  • David Lussier, Superintendent of Schools
  • Sandra Trach, Assistant Superintendent, Teaching & Learning
  • Kathleen Bernklow, Director of Student Services
  • David Turcotte, Director of Human Resources
  • Jorge Allen, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Sharon Gray, Coordinator for Community Engagement
  • Jordan Hoffman, Principal of Schofield Elementary
  • Mark Ito, Principal of 糖心vlog Middle School

WHS Students:

  • Alex Budson-McQuilken
  • Alyssia Landen
  • Reina Mercado
  • Stephanie Xia

糖心vlog Staff:

  • Chelsea Bailow, Director of Professional Development
  • Dana Boucher, Special Education Teaching Assistant
  • Jackie Hoglund, Instructional Technology Specialist
  • Megan LeBlanc, Bates Elementary School Secretary