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SC Meeting: March 18, 2025

At the March 18 School Committee meeting there was a NHS Student Advisory to the School Committee Report, a presentation of the Portrait of a Needham Graduate: Bringing the Competencies to Life through Picture Books, and a School Wellness Advisory Committee Update.

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Public Comment

Community members spoke about a variety of topics including:

  •  importance of mental health and social emotional support for children in schools
  • creating innovative connections between Needham Public Library and the public schools
  • being intentionally inclusive of our LGBTQ+ kids and families.
  • The literacy curriculum and ongoing K-5 literacy pilot

Superintendent’s Updates

    • Successful Art in Bloom program at the Needham Public Library – partnership between Needham students and the Temple Beth Shalom garden club. 
    • Mamma Mia, the NHS student musical, was successful at the box office. 
    • Sunita Williams returned safely from Space.

    DISCUSSION ITEMS

    Needham High School Student Advisory to the School Committee Report: Max Scott, Chair and Student Representative to the School Committee (2025); Maeve Newman (2026); Jack Arvedon (2027); Arya Chavan ( 2027); and Sabrina Rauch (2028) gave updates on the student experience at NHS

    • 9th grade: The 9th graders have been fully embracing their new opportunities as members of the high school, from recently performing in the NHS Winter Musical to trying out for spring sports and getting involved in school clubs.
      • students have consulted teachers, guardians and school counselors to make the important decision of registering for next year’s courses. First-years are looking forward to exploring the advanced art classes, academic elective courses, and even the couple of APs that 10th grade has to offer.
      • the Class of 2028 has a bake sale this week and a Chipotle fundraiser later this month to raise necessary funds for class events and opportunities in the future.
      • trying to organize a Spring Festival event in April for kids to partake in fun springtime activities like scavenger hunts and craft stations, and is still working with the At-Large Student Council Cabinet to plan the upcoming underclassmen dance in May
    • 10th grade: With the end of term 3 approaching, the 10th grade class is fully representing the phrase “work hard, play hard” with so many new academic challenges as well as many fun events planned.
      • Starting off strong, we are planning a Class of 2027 car wash which should be a “win-win-lose”. A win for our 10th grade class, for your car, and of course a loss for that pesky bird poop right on your windshield.
      • Beginning in March, we have a “slam dunk” of an event planned right before the end of term 3 on March 19th. This “March Madness event” will feature teams of 3 playing half court basketball until one is crowned champion.
      • the course selection deadline was last Friday, the 14th, where students locked in their picks for classes for the upcoming school year. Classes ranging from CP to AP all offer their own unique opportunities
    • 11th grade: The 11th graders are embracing the momentum of the spring season, preparing for the critical months ahead with AP exams on the horizon. Juniors are tackling their most challenging coursework yet, staying focused as they push through rigorous classes and study for SATs and ACTs, all while going on college tours around the country as we start to consider the future.
      • busy planning exciting events for the warmer months. For instance, they are currently organizing lawn signs for seniors in partnership with the Touchdown Club, a meaningful way to celebrate the graduating class.
      • they are focused on keeping track of JHarb sales as the first deadline recently passed and the final one is quickly approaching.
    • 12th grade: The 12th graders are busy getting ready for the end of the year – with many events on the rise.
      • The “Flocking” event has just begun – with students nominating their friends to be “flocked” and the Class of 2025 dropping off plastic flamingos at houses across Needham. We are pleased to report the fundraiser has been going “swimmingly” and we are making good money to put into our class gift.
      • This past week, we put prom tickets up for sale – with a price discount for a little while.
      • The class overall is getting their regular decision acceptances and are beginning to see what the end of the year may look like with a little more than two months left in the year. The Class of 2025 is staying focused through the end, and are overjoyed to soak up the remainder of their time that they have together as a group.
    • At-large Updates:
      • The Student Council now has a booked meeting with Mr. Sicotte to discuss our suggestions for ways to build in more standardization of courses at the high school, happening in the coming months.
      • We have also been involved in the organization TeachersChoice, which provides monetary support for teachers in lower-income towns across the state. After a few weeks of research, we have narrowed it down to a few campaigns we are most interested in.
      • We plan to fundraise for TeachersChoice through a new fundraiser – Puppy Yoga! This event will be held for the whole town, where participants will get a chance to take a yoga class with a group of cute puppies and have a chance to play with the animals after the class. Stay tuned for more info – registration is limited.
      • As an update on the dance, we have continued to struggle to find a venue and have found an overall lack of support for the idea of a dance. We are sending out a survey to measure the merit of holding the dance in the end, and while we are hopeful that there will be support, we feel that the loss of money and a lackluster dance would be more damaging than helpful. We will be back with another update in the near future. 
    • Student Life
      • In March, students have mostly accepted the fact that most of their classes are now phone-free, and has become a less noticeable change as time has passed.
      • March is typically a particularly tough month for students academically which has made things more difficult. With increased workloads, upcoming deadlines and the overall pressure of finishing the school year strong, many students have expressed feeling more overwhelmed and exhausted, which in turn has impacted attendance greatly.

    Portrait of a Needham Graduate: Bringing Competencies to Life through Picture Books: Caren Firger provided an update on the initiative to use picture books to highlight the Portrait of a Needham Graduate competencies. She also brought many sample books for the School Committee to look at.

    Background Information:

    • In Spring of 2024, the School Committee approved the Needham Education Foundation (NEF)’s grant “Bringing the Portrait Competencies to Life: PONG Picture Books. The grant funded five picture books for each of the K-5 classrooms in the Needham Public Schools.
    • In a developmentally appropriate way, each book introduces and reinforces one of the Portrait of a Needham Graduate competencies (Creative Thinkers & Problem Solvers, Responsible & Resilient Individuals, Socially & Culturally Responsive Contributors, Communicators & Collaborators, and Empowered Learners.)
    • The books are read aloud in designated PONG weeks of the school year to highlight and focus on each of the competencies. The shared reading of each picture book provides an opportunity for teachers and students to identify the competencies, discuss them, and consider how they show the competency in their own lives. In addition to introducing the competencies to students, these books reinforce the competencies for teachers, strengthening their comfort and understanding of these goals at the elementary level.
    • Purpose: To introduce Portrait Competencies to K-5 students using picture books that exemplify each of the competencies
    • “I Can” statements were developed by a group of elementary teachers to use more student-friendly language. They have been used in elementary classrooms to explain what the competencies look like and sound like.
    • Grant in the amount of $14,097 generously funded by the NEF in April 2024.
    • K-5 teachers reviewed many new picture books and chose the 30 titles that would be used to teach the competencies.
    • Students have engaged in discussion and reflection and produced thoughtful work.
    • Opportunities for teacher feedback to refine the program
    • Lots of communication to parents and families about this project

    School Committee expressed their great appreciation for this grant and program and engaged in robust discussion.

    School Wellness Advisory Committee Update: Alison Coubrough-Argentieri (Acting Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services);  Dana Plunkett (Director of Counseling 7-12); Chris Gosselin (Director of Instructional Technology and Innovation, K-12) gave an update on the work of the School Wellness Advisory Committee (SWAC), a legally mandated committee, comprised of school administrators, students, parents and community members. The work of the Committee this year has focused on cell phones and the use of social media, and the impact it has had on students and our schools. The work remains ongoing, and a final written report will be provided to the School Committee at the end of the year. 

    • In accordance with School Committee’s School Wellness Policy ADF as well as state and federal regulations, the district’s School Wellness Advisory Committee (SWAC) recommends, reviews, and helps promote school district policies addressing issues that affect students’ physical, social, and emotional health and wellbeing.
    • SWAC has been meeting regularly throughout the 2024-2025 school year to examine the impact of cell phones and social media on student wellness. District leaders who serve on SWAC will provide the Committee with an update on progress to date as well as possible next steps.
    • Focus groups and student/staff surveys to gather information
    • In general, HR/Pollard students didn’t feel like they were missing out on having phones during the day as none of their peers had them
    • HR/Pollard Staff note there have been limited infractions of the cell phone policy
    • They have noted that students are skirting the restrictions by using apple watches or other devices.
    • Committee members visited FA Day Middle School in Newton to learn about their use of Yondr pouches to hold student devices during the school day
    • Significant staffing and admin logistics to implement this pouch use, but staff said that there were reduced classroom distractions. Students still found ways to skirt the restrictions (storing an old cell phone not the one they are using, etc)
    • In December they hosted an evening with Dr. Jill Walsh to talk about social media use
    • Dr. Mark Klein spoke with Gr 7-12 counselors to talk about social media and gaming addictions and how to support students who have strong addictions to their devices.
    • Key Takeaways from NHS Student Surveys (over 1000 responses):
      • Students primarily use phones to text family & friends during the school day
      • 60% said phones were not distracting
    • 82% said there was no difference in their ability to pay attention in class this year (when phones are required to be in phone holders in every classroom) vs last year (when teachers just told students to put their phones away).
    • Vast majority of students (79%) would prefer a more flexible phone policy where each teacher determines their classroom rules. Only 3% prefer the current phone holder policy.
    • On the other hand, NHS Staff felt that the new cell phone policy has significantly reduced student distraction, and most prefer this limited use policy.
    • Needham Parents & Guardians were generally very supportive of cell phone restrictions in school, but the amount of restriction desired varied between middle/high school.
    • Suggestions for a draft cell phone policy, which provides some clarification from current policies. Suggests including all personal electronic devices, not just phones
    • Continue to develop digital literacy and citizenship curriculum
    • Suggested list of community norms

    School Committee asked questions and engaged in discussion about the cell phone policy

    The next School Committee meeting will be April 1, 2025 at 6:30pm.