February Vacation is FINALLY here! Next week will be quiet, so this week’s “What’s Happening” is going to include highlights from the week we return. All offices of the Somerville Public Schools will be CLOSED on Monday, February 20th, in observation of President’s Day!

Have a safe, happy and RELAXING break!

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“100 Best Communities” Celebration

Mark your calendars for a fantastic celebration!  For the fourth year, Somerville has been named one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People in the U.S., by the America’s Promise Alliance. Join us in celebrating the City of Somerville’s young people, and the promises our community makes to help them succeed.

Saturday, February 25th from 1:00pm-3:00pm at the Somerville High School Atrium & Gymnasium (81 Highland Ave.).

There will be entertainment, activities, raffles, and fun for the entire family!

SEE YOU THERE!

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Kennedy Pool American Red Cross Lifeguarding Course

February 21-24, 10:00 am-5:00 pm at the Kennedy Pool (5 Cherry Street)

Spend February vacation learning how to save lives with the Kennedy Pool’s Lifeguarding Course.

Certifications earned upon successful completion of the course are:

American Red Cross Lifeguarding Certification (valid for 3 years)

American Red Cross CPR & AD for Lifeguards (valid for 1 year)

American Red Cross First Aid (valid for 3 years)

Course cost is $300 and includes the Lifeguarding Book.

For more information, contact the Kennedy Pool at: 617-625-6600 x6676 or visit www.somerville.k12.ma.us/pool for details and e-mail!

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This Week in the Schools…

Visit your child’s school website, http://www.somerville.k12.ma.us/schools, and click on the “calendar of events” link at the top of the page for a complete list of all the activities happening at school this month.

Here are some highlights from across the District:

• Monday, February 20-Friday, February 24: February Vacation
• Wednesday, February 29th, from 1:00pm-2:30pm: ESCS Concert Assembly
• Thursday, March 1st, from 2:45pm – 5:00pm: Somerville High School Spring Sports Sign Ups, in the Somerville High School Atrium (81 Highland Ave)
• Thursday, March 1st: Dr. Seuss Day at the East Somerville Community School
• Friday, March 2nd, from 8:20am-9:20am: AFAS Morning PTA & Principal Round Table Discussion, at the Argenziano School (290 Washington Street)
• Friday. March 2nd, from 6:30pm -7:30pm: AFAS Evening  PTA & Principal Round Table Discussion, at the Argenziano School (290 Washington Street)
• Friday, March 2nd: ESCS Junior Achievement Day, at the Edgerly School (8 Bonair Street)
• Friday, March 2nd: ESCS Grade 2 Field Trip to the Maple Syrup Boil Down
• Saturday, March 3rd, from 12:00pm-4:00pm: Kennedy Pool’s Annual City Wide Swim Meet, at the Kennedy Pool (5 Cherry Street)

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Upcoming School Committee Meetings

You can find the complete School Committee schedule, agendas and meeting minutes (as approved) online at http://www.somerville.k12.ma.us/school_committee.

• Thursday, February 23rd, at 7:00pm: School Committee Meeting for Long Range Planning, at the Central Office Conference Room (42 Cross Street)
• Monday, February 27th, at 7:00pm: Regular School Committee Meeting, in the Aldermanic Chambers of Somerville City Hall (93 Highland Ave.)
• Tuesday, February 28th, at 6:00pm: Personnel Subcommittee, at the Central Office Conference Room (42 Cross Street)
• Tuesday, February 28th, at 6:30pm: Rules Management Subcommittee, at the Central Office Conference Room (42 Cross Street)
• Thursday, March 1st, at 7:00pm: School Committee Meeting for Long Range Planning, at the Central Office Conference Room (42 Cross Street)

Making a Difference: Upcoming School Improvement Council and PTA Meetings & Events

• Monday, February 27th, at 4:00pm: WHCS  School Council Meeting, at the Winter Hill Community School (115 Sycamore Street)
• Tuesday, February 28th, from 2:45pm-5:15pm: ESCS PTA Conferences @ Cummings, at East Somerville Community School @ Cummings (42 Prescott Street)
• Wednesday, February 29th, from 4:00pm-5:30pm: Healey School School Council, at the Healey School (5 Meacham Street)

Somerville Family Learning Collaborative Free Activities and Activities in the Community

The Winter 2012 Somerville Family Learning Collaborative Brochure is now on-line! Please visit: www.somerville.k12.ma.us/families to see & register for the great offerings for parents and families this winter!

Please note: “Preparing to Meet Your Child’s Teacher” (originally scheduled for Wednesday, February 29th) has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 25th.  Please look for details in our Spring SFLC brochure due out the 1st week in April.

• Monday, February 27th, from 6:30pm-8:30pm: Parent’s Basic Rights Workshop, at the Kennedy School (5 Cherry Street)
• Thursday, March 1st, from 6:30pm-8:00pm: Choosing an Early Education Program for Your Child, at the Argenziano School (290 Washington Street)
• Friday, March 2nd: Walk/Ride Day
• Saturday, March 3rd, from 10:00am-2:00pm: The Maple Syrup Boil Down, at The Growing Center (22 Vinal Ave)
• Saturday, March 3rd, at 1:00pm: Arabic Music of the Near East, at Tufts University—Granoff Music Center

Behind the Scenes: Innovation Schools

An announcement by Governor Deval Patrick earlier this week regarding Winter Hill Community School being among 29 schools from around the state to receive Innovation Schools Planning funds, is the latest step in the potential conversion of WHCS to an Innovation School.  Late last month, teachers at the Winter Hill overwhelmingly voted to move forward with submission of the Innovation Schools Planning Grant application to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  On February 15th, Governor Patrick announced the awarding of a $10,000 grant to the school, which will be used to help pay for staff time and consulting support to design an innovation plan for the school.  Innovation Schools are a component of “An Act Relative to the Achievement Gap”, signed by Governor Patrick in 2010.  This Act is designed to create “…in-district and charter-like schools that can implement creative and inventive strategies, increase student achievement, and reduce achievement gaps while keeping school funding within the districts.”

Increased autonomy and flexibility in a number of areas is the defining feature of Innovation Schools.  In accordance with state law, an Innovation Plan Committee for Winter Hill is currently being put together by the Innovation School applicant.  The Innovation Plan Committee will be tasked with designing an Innovation Plan to submit to school educators for approval.  A two-third majority vote of educators in the school is required for conversion to an Innovation School.  If approved, the anticipated conversion date is September 2012.  Other SPS schools who have expressed an interest exploring the Innovation Schools model include:  Next Wave/Full Circle, East Somerville Community School, the Brown School, and the Kennedy School.

Somerville High School is also in the midst of discussion about the incorporation of innovative practices.  The District recently partnered with the Virtual High School Global Consortium (FHS) and EdWorks in pursuing a “Next Generation Learning Challenges (NGLC) Wave IIIa Grant for Breakthrough School Models for College Readiness” in support of establishing a STEM Digital Career Academy (SDCA) at the high school.  This school-within-a-school model would blend Somerville High Schools’ substantial STEM education initiatives with an even stronger emphasis on STEM programs, drawing upon a world-class corridor of innovation partners to design and host a world-class academy.

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Looking Ahead

Take a peek at events and activities in the Somerville Public Schools and City of Somerville that are taking place in the coming weeks.

• Friday, March 9th: ESCS Math Pi Night
• Tuesday, March 13th: AFAS Math Night
• Thursday, March 15th: PTA Full Council Meeting
• Saturday, March 17th: Somerville Little League Try Outs & Registration
• Beginning March 20th: Financial Literacy Series

Have something to share with the community? Visit http://www.somerville.k12.ma.us/submit_event to share your event with the more than 5,000 people who get this mailing nearly every week!