Friday News - December 13, 2019

Friday, December 13, 2019

Hillcrest Elementary School

Friday News

December 13, 2019

Dear Hillcrest Families,

Snow pants, and snow boots and mittens -- oh my!  Now that the winter weather is here to stay, we find ourselves focused on winter clothing -- hats, scarves, mittens, boots, snow pants, and jackets are in abundance!  We are so happy when students arrive at school prepared to play outdoors with all this essential gear. Getting out into the fresh air is a very important part of our school day.  We really need your assistance in keeping track of these winter weather items. Please be sure to label every item of clothing with your child’s last name.  In a school of 155 students, at least three-quarters of them have a pair of black snow pants! I am sure you can imagine the challenge of keeping track of those when they are not labeled with a student’s name.  In addition, please take some time at home to help your children to practice putting on and taking off these winter items. And, please help them to practice packing and unpacking their backpacks or tote bags with their winter gear.  Building these winter self-help skills will make getting ready for recess, getting settled after recess, and packing up at the end of the day much easier for everyone! And, it will lead to fewer items landing in our Lost & Found. Thank you.

As you already know, Superintendent Michael Sullivan is retiring at the end of this school year.  Attached to today’s newsletter is some important information from the GMRSD School Committee about community involvement in the search process for a new superintendent. 

A few important news items:

  • Superintendent Search Forum will be held on Tuesday, December 17th at 5:30 in the TFHS/FFMS cafeteria. See attachment for additional details. 

  • December All School Meeting is Friday, December 20th at 9:00. We will enjoy presentations from Ms. Sarah’s preschool class, Mrs. Lesenski’s kindergarten class and Ms. Smith’s first grade class. 

  • Friday, December 20th is the last day of school prior to Vacation Week. This will be a full day of school.  We will return to school on Thursday, January 2nd. 

  • Looking ahead to January -- We will hold our Hillcrest Family Math Night on Thursday, January 23rd from 5:30 - 6:30.  Please mark your calendars for this exciting event! 

Wishing you a wonderful weekend --

Sarah Burstein, Principal

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

December 12, 2019 

 

 

Dear GMRSD Community, 

 

The Gill-Montague Regional School Committee has begun the search process for selecting its next superintendent.  The committee has hired the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) to provide consultation services for the search process.   

As part of this process a representative from MASC, Tracy Novick, will host forums with those interested in providing their point of view as input to the process.  The forums will be held at the middle/high school cafeteria on Tuesday, December 17 at the following times: 

 

  1:30 pm – Meet with student representatives 

  3:30 pm – Meet with interested district faculty and staff 

  4:30 pm – Meet with district administrators 

  5:30 pm – Meet with parents and the public 

 

In addition, anyone who is interested is invited to respond to a brief written survey about the superintendent selection process.  The results of this survey are being independently received and tabulated by MASC on behalf of the School Committee. The survey may be found through the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GMRSD19 

 

Also, in the days ahead, the school committee will establish dates for a screening committee to review initial applications and recommend candidate finalists.  Once, the dates are established, we will publish these and invite people to serve on the screening committee. 

 

We encourage as many voices as possible to participate as we engage in this important process. 

 

Sincerely,  

The Gill-Montague Regional School Committee