Happy New School Year!

It is that wonderful time of year as we welcome back students and staff to the 2017-2018 school year. With over 5,000 students and more than 900 employees, including 500 professional staff, Barnstable is the largest K-12 school system on Cape Cod.

This past July, the School Committee adopted the official Vision for the district:

The Barnstable Public Schools educates the whole child by creating a student centered school culture that addresses students' physical, social, emotional, and academic needs by creating a safe and healthy learning environment in which students are challenged, supported, and engaged.

With this new Vision, we will continue to implement MTSS throughout the district. This blueprint for a single integrated, tiered system of supports responsive to the academic and non-academic needs of all students will help us improve our practice and improve student achievement.

Over the past school year and into the summer, we are continuing to provide our students of all ages access to the latest technology.  We have purchased over 2000 Chromebooks, 230 iPads for BUES and redistributed iPads to elementary schools.  Also in grades K-7, we have added a green screen, 3D printer, iMovie, Book Creator, Robotic kits, Scratch software, Snap Circuits, BeeBot kits and Dash kits.  At the high school, we have partnered with Project Lead the Way for Pathway to Engineering.  This program investigates topics such as aerodynamics and astronautics, biological engineering and sustainability and digital electronics and circuit design.  In the Engineering Lab, students will be using the same industry-leading technology and software as the world’s top companies.

As we educate our students with the latest technology, we also need to keep our teachers and staff up to date on the most effective ways to educate our students.  This past spring, I requested additional Professional Development half days for our teachers and staff.  The School Committee heard from administrators, teachers and staff how valuable this time is in their professional growth and the education of our students and granted these additional half days.  The following dates will be Professional Development half days in the district:  September 13, November 29, January 10, February 14, March 14, April 11 and May 2.  There will be a full day of Professional Development on October 6 with no school for the students.   

It is an exciting time to be part of the Barnstable Public Schools.  The School Committee, administration, teachers and staff are all working hard to live the Vision of the district.  Let’s have a great year!

Meg