November 22, 2024
Volume 4, Issue 14
Cornelius ‘Neil’ Kelleher
January 11, 1960 — November 19, 2024
January 11, 1960 — November 19, 2024
The Everett Public Schools (EPS) extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Neil Kelleher, who passed away on November 19, 2024, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Mr. Kelleher was a veteran custodian in the EPS spanning across almost two decades, most recently at the Adams School.
Three New Additions to EPS
Please extend a warm welcome to three additions to the Everett Public Schools (EPS). Sharon Ellis is the new Assistant Director of Human Resources, Franci DaLuz is serving as the district’s Director of Digital Media and Community Engagement, and Danielle Durham is our new Manager of Extended Learning.
Ms. Ellis brings a wealth of experience to the EPS, having previously served in the human resources (HR) departments in the Wayland, Somerville, Weston, and Watertown school districts.
Ms. DaLuz joins the EPS from Salem State University, where she was the Associate Director of Admissions. A believer in the transformative power of education, she brings more than a decade of experience in supporting students and families.
Ms. Ellis brings a wealth of experience to the EPS, having previously served in the human resources (HR) departments in the Wayland, Somerville, Weston, and Watertown school districts.
Ms. DaLuz joins the EPS from Salem State University, where she was the Associate Director of Admissions. A believer in the transformative power of education, she brings more than a decade of experience in supporting students and families.
Ms. Durham holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from UMass Amherst with a minor in African American Studies and a master's in nonprofit management from Northeastern University. With a background as the Dean of Enrichment at a Boston charter school, Danielle specializes in guiding students to discover and pursue their passions through extracurricular activities.
“These are vital positions being filled by talented professionals,” said Superintendent Hart. “Franci is doing amazing work with our social media and outreach efforts, Sharon will be invaluable in providing the HR support our faculty and staff deserve, and Danielle will lead our efforts to bring quality before- and after-school opportunities to our students.”
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A BRYT Beginning at the Keverian
The Keverian School celebrated the graduation of its first student from the BRYT Program, which provides temporary clinical and academic support for students as they transition back to school after an absence due to medical treatment, mental health disruptions, or other personal situations.
The student, Jansiel Lara Brito, is pictured above with family and Keverian School staff. Jansiel’s mother, Aylin, applauded the program and its positive impact it had on her son, and for the effective strategies that were employed by clinician Stephanie Creamer and Keverian BRYT Coordinator Maureen Morelli.
BRYT stands for “bridge for resilient youth in transition,” and it has been implemented, through grant funding, at Everett High and the Keverian, Lafayette, and Whittier schools.
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The Daily News
The Lafayette School is working hard to ensure that students are in school every day, which is critical to ensuring that students make steady academic and social progress. As part of its efforts, the Lafayette has created this colorful, fall-themed board tracking perfect attendance across all grade levels.
The Lafayette School is working hard to ensure that students are in school every day, which is critical to ensuring that students make steady academic and social progress. As part of its efforts, the Lafayette has created this colorful, fall-themed board tracking perfect attendance across all grade levels.
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What is a Word Map?
A word map is a visual organizer that promotes vocabulary development. Most word map organizers engage students in developing a definition, synonyms, antonyms, and a picture for a given vocabulary word or concept.
Why is it Important?
Word Maps are a strategy students can use before and after reading to help them develop their vocabulary and learn new terms or concepts. Students apply several attributes, including examples and non-examples. Word Maps can help students build upon prior knowledge and visually represent new information.
How to use word maps?
Read to learn more about the strategy
Video: The strategy in action in PreK-1
Video: The strategy in action with non-fiction text
Video: A lesson using word maps
Templates
Word Map Template 1
Word Map Template 2
Word Map Template 3
Source
Reading Rockets
- Introduce the vocabulary word and the word map template to the students.
- Teach them how to use the map by putting the target word in the central box.
- Ask students to suggest words or phrases to put in the other boxes that answer the following questions: What is it? What is it like? What are some examples?
- Encourage students to use synonyms, antonyms, and a picture to help illustrate the new target word or concept.
- Model how to write a definition using the information on the word map.
Read to learn more about the strategy
Video: The strategy in action in PreK-1
Video: The strategy in action with non-fiction text
Video: A lesson using word maps
Templates
Word Map Template 1
Word Map Template 2
Word Map Template 3
Source
Reading Rockets
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SEL Skill of The Week: Self Advocacy
What is it?
Self-advocacy is the ability and practice of students understanding and effectively communicating their own needs, desires, and rights in the educational environment. It involves students taking an active role in their learning process by identifying their strengths and challenges, setting personal goals, and seeking resources or accommodations they need to succeed.
Why is it important?
Self-advocacy empowers students to speak up for themselves, ask questions, and make informed decisions about their education and personal growth. This skill is particularly crucial for students with disabilities, as it helps them to articulate the support they require to thrive academically and socially. Cultivating self-advocacy skills not only enhances students' confidence and autonomy but also prepares them for future challenges in higher education, the workplace, and beyond.
Resources
Poster: What is self advocacy?
Article on supporting self advocacy
Wayfinder Activities
Kindergarten through Grade 2
Grades 3-5
Grades 6-8
Grades 9-12
Self-advocacy is the ability and practice of students understanding and effectively communicating their own needs, desires, and rights in the educational environment. It involves students taking an active role in their learning process by identifying their strengths and challenges, setting personal goals, and seeking resources or accommodations they need to succeed.
Why is it important?
Self-advocacy empowers students to speak up for themselves, ask questions, and make informed decisions about their education and personal growth. This skill is particularly crucial for students with disabilities, as it helps them to articulate the support they require to thrive academically and socially. Cultivating self-advocacy skills not only enhances students' confidence and autonomy but also prepares them for future challenges in higher education, the workplace, and beyond.
Resources
Poster: What is self advocacy?
Article on supporting self advocacy
Wayfinder Activities
Kindergarten through Grade 2
Grades 3-5
Grades 6-8
Grades 9-12
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Contribute to the Staff Newsletter
Help us recognize outstanding faculty and staff members at Everett Public Schools by sharing highlights, successes, photos, milestones, and good news. Please use the form below so we can include them in the Staff Newsletter. Nominations are due by the last Tuesday of each month.
Click HERE to Make a Submission
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Permanent Solutions for Emergency or Temporary Licenses
If you have an expired Emergency or a Temporary Teaching license, Stonehill College offers a free menu of supports for Everett Public Schools employees. The supports include:
Click HERE for more information about Stonehill College’s Regional Center for Emergency License Support.
- Free One-on-one Zoom licensure coach appointments to help you know exactly what you need to do to advance to provisional licensure
- Free MTEL preparation courses
- Free MTEL vouchers
Click HERE for more information about Stonehill College’s Regional Center for Emergency License Support.
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November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month
Approximately 4 million youth and young adults are homeless nationwide, of which it is estimated 700,000 are unaccompanied minors. This crisis can significantly disrupt their education and well-being. During the 23-24 school year, Massachusetts reported 31,605 homeless students. Understanding the rights of students and their families is an important way we can support them. The McKinney Vento Act provides many of these protections.
The McKinney-Vento Act covers children and youth who don’t have a fixed, adequate, and regular nighttime residence, including those living:
- in a shelter;
- in a motel, hotel, or campground;
- in a car, bus, or train station, or some other inadequate accommodations; or
- with other people due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reasons (also known as doubled up).
- This includes migrant and unaccompanied youth living in any of the above situations.
An unaccompanied youth who is out of the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian and lacks fixed, regular, and adequate housing has all the rights of other homeless students.
All school-aged children in Massachusetts can attend public school for free. Students experiencing housing instability or homelessness can:
- Continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is their family’s preference and is feasible. At their family’s request, they can receive transportation for up to one hour to and from the school of origin.
- Or, enroll in the local school immediately and attend classes - even if the student lacks the typically required documents - while the school gathers needed documents. Transportation would be provided in the same manner as it is for other children in the district.
- Receive educational services according to your child's needs.
- Appeal district enrollment decisions.
- Access special education services if the student has a current Individualized Education Program (IEP).
- Participate in any school activity that is available to other students.
- Receive free school meals.
Services
Homeless students are to be provided services and education programs comparable to those received by other students and for which they meet eligibility criteria, such as:
- Title 1 services and programming;
- programs for students with disabilities;
- programs for students learning English;
- vocational or technical programs;
- gifted and talented programs, and school nutrition programs.
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From the Commonwealth
Power of Presence Templates
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education "Power of Presence" initiative is celebrating all the reasons people attend school! The Department invites everyone — students from pre-K to adult, families, school staff, and educators — to submit a creative piece such as artwork, music, photography, video, or writing. To make it easier to get the community involved, DESE created an optional template for elementary school students and a flyer for middle school, high school and adult learners. Interested individuals should complete the entry form (including the Media Agreement) and attach their creative piece to the form by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, December 20. One entry will be selected to be featured in a special commercial this spring!
Name a Snowplow
The state Department of Transportation (MassDOT) invites kindergarten through eighth grade classrooms to name a MassDOT snowplow in their school’s Highway District. Entries are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 6. Up to 12 snowplow names will be selected statewide, and each winning classroom will receive a $100 gift card for school supplies.
2025-2026 Massachusetts Aspiring Principal Fellowship
The 2025-2026 Massachusetts Aspiring Principal Fellowship is now open for applications! The Massachusetts Aspiring Principal Fellowship is a one-year program designed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to cultivate a robust and diverse pipeline of school leaders committed to fostering culturally and linguistically sustaining learning communities, equity-driven leadership, and anti-racist practices. This program provides aspiring principals with the tools, mentorship, and professional development needed to lead schools with vision and purpose.
Register HERE for an upcoming information session:
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education "Power of Presence" initiative is celebrating all the reasons people attend school! The Department invites everyone — students from pre-K to adult, families, school staff, and educators — to submit a creative piece such as artwork, music, photography, video, or writing. To make it easier to get the community involved, DESE created an optional template for elementary school students and a flyer for middle school, high school and adult learners. Interested individuals should complete the entry form (including the Media Agreement) and attach their creative piece to the form by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, December 20. One entry will be selected to be featured in a special commercial this spring!
Name a Snowplow
The state Department of Transportation (MassDOT) invites kindergarten through eighth grade classrooms to name a MassDOT snowplow in their school’s Highway District. Entries are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 6. Up to 12 snowplow names will be selected statewide, and each winning classroom will receive a $100 gift card for school supplies.
2025-2026 Massachusetts Aspiring Principal Fellowship
The 2025-2026 Massachusetts Aspiring Principal Fellowship is now open for applications! The Massachusetts Aspiring Principal Fellowship is a one-year program designed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to cultivate a robust and diverse pipeline of school leaders committed to fostering culturally and linguistically sustaining learning communities, equity-driven leadership, and anti-racist practices. This program provides aspiring principals with the tools, mentorship, and professional development needed to lead schools with vision and purpose.
Register HERE for an upcoming information session:
- Wednesday, December 18, 2024, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, January 14, 2025, from 9-10 a.m.
To learn more and apply, click HERE.
Nominations Open for Teacher of the Year
Do you know a great teacher? A teacher who...
Nominations Open for Teacher of the Year
Do you know a great teacher? A teacher who...
- Creates an affirming environment where students engage in deeper learning and are held to high expectations with targeted support?
- Builds strong relationships with students, families, and the larger school and district community?
- Has ideas about great teaching, feels strongly about what it looks like to provide high-quality instruction, and is eager to work with a diverse group of stakeholders to make our education system better?
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is seeking nominations for the next Massachusetts Teacher of the Year! Being the Massachusetts Teacher of the Year is a way for incredible teachers to be celebrated, share their voice and their learning journey, and broaden their impact.
Click HERE for more information.
Click HERE for more information.
CLIMATE
SURVEYS
SURVEYS
FREE
MTEL Vouchers
The Everett Public Schools (EPS) has free vouchers for staff members who are planning on taking an MTEL test in 2024-2025. To obtain one, simply email Michael Minucci with the name and cost of the MTEL you are scheduled to take.
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