December 22nd, 2016

Good Afternoon Parents and Guardians:

I hope everyone has a great Holiday Season. The best to all of you in 2017. Please remember school will resume for students on Tuesday, January 10th. Have a safe, enjoyable two weeks off!

Our teachers will be entering grades over winter break. Final grades for report cards are due by 3:00 pm on Monday, January 9th. During this time our parent portal access to student grades will be closed. Access to final grades for parents will be available on Tuesday, January 10th. Thanks for your patience as our teachers work on their grading!

Please see the following information from the office of the Superintendent regarding PLC’s and an idea for next year.

Improving PLCs:  an emerging idea

Other high performing schools locally and across the nation know what we in Littleton Public Schools have known for a decade: Professional Learning Communities increase student academic growth and achievement.

Engaging in Professional Learning Communities helps us keep our promise to students to prepare them for meaningful post secondary opportunities upon high school graduation. Our community has high expectations for its schools. Professional Learning Communities are the mechanism through which we will continue to meet these expectations.

In order to provide our teachers with the tools, skills, and information they need to meet the needs of ALL students, teachers need more time to collaborate with one another in Professional Learning Communities.  An emerging idea is to provide more frequent and consistent time throughout the school year for PLCs.  

Please visit the Littleton Public Schools website www.littletonpublicschools.net/district/improving-plcs-emerging-idea to learn more.  The website will be updated frequently, so please check back for additional details. We invite you to attend a parent meeting in January or February to hear LPS Superintendent Brian Ewert share important information about the district’s vision for improving student learning through Professional Learning Communities.  He will share emerging ideas of how to adjust instructional time to provide more opportunities for professional collaboration, and he would like to hear your thoughts. Parents and community members are welcome to attend the meetings at ANY school.  A complete list is available through the link above.

Happy New Year!

James O’Tremba

Principal, Newton Middle School