April 28, 2023
Dear Belmont Public School Families,
It has been a very busy few months. A LOT has been accomplished. I have included information below about our new middle school as well as the formation of the Chenery Upper Elementary School. We’ve had many questions over the last few months, all of which are reflected and answered on our website FAQ document found HERE. I encourage you to review this document as any question you may have might be found here. Of course, if you have additional questions or input, please do reach out to me. My contact information can be found HERE
Over the last several months, district administration has been to every school in the district to meet with faculty and families. These meetings have served to provide information as well as take input and questions. I am grateful for the many good questions and ideas that you have brought to us. So much of our work has been informed by you. Thank you. You can access the slides from those meetings on the lower right side of the website homepage HERE.
Live Virtual Parent Meetings in May
Please join Superintendent John Phelan and Director of District Reconfiguration Transition Karla Koza to connect and learn more about the reconfiguration. We are offering a morning and evening time to accommodate different family schedules. The same information will be shared at both meetings. We will cover updates on all aspects of the reconfiguration as well as answer any questions you may have.
Please mark you calendars for:
May 24 at 9:30am - Virtual Meeting for All BPS Families. Click THIS LINK to join us.
May 24 at 6:00pm - Virtual Meeting for All BPS Families. Click THIS LINK to join us.
Belmont Middle High School Updates
7-12 Schedule Information
We are excited to have a new schedule for our new Belmont Middle High School. The work to develop a schedule that speaks to our values and the distinctly different needs of high school and middle school students was a challenge. We are grateful to the educators, representing both middle and high school, who spent many hours together to produce this schedule. Please note that built into this process of arriving at a working schedule is a careful review of the pilot year and making tweaks for the following year where necessary. For detailed information about the schedule, please see the documents and links below.
BMHS 2023-2024 Schedule
Belmont High School Information
Belmont Middle School Information
Moving Process for Grades 7 & 8 Begins
Our educators who will be moving to the new Belmont High School have begun the purging, sorting, and packing process. Movers will come in July to take all resources used for grades 7 & 8 to their new landing spots in the beautiful new wing for the Belmont Middle High School. Room assignments are in place, phone numbers are being assigned, and the many details involved with technology, furniture and fixtures are coming to fruition.
Opportunities for Stakeholders to Tour the New Belmont Middle School
While the building is not open for occupancy, we want the first classes of Belmont Middle School to be able to see the space with their teachers. This will happen before the last day of this school year.
We will have opportunities for students to return with their families in late August as well as a chance for any interested Belmont resident to see the new building in mid-September. Stay tuned for details.
May 17: BMS Faculty & Staff
May 30: Rising Grade 7 Students With Their Teachers
June 1 & 2: Rising Grade 8 Students with Their Teachers
August TBD: Families and Student tours with Orientation
September 6th: First Day of School - Ribbon Cutting (Details Coming)
September TBD: All Belmont Residents Welcome for a Tour
Chenery Upper Elementary Updates
The process to create a new Chenery Upper Elementary School has begun! We have an educator team and a parent team running simultaneously. The educator team has professionals that represent a variety of disciplines across grades 4-6. The family team has representation that spans a variety of students including those from underrepresented groups, our Boston students, as well as those with Special Education plans, and/or English Language learners. These teams serve an advisory role and are not making final decisions. Those are left to building and district administration.
The charge and goals of these teams is to:
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Review and offer input on the learning model. This will include research of similar schools and best practices for social, emotional, and academic needs of children in grades 4-6.
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Offer input on a new CUE schedule which will aim to best meet the needs of upper elementary learners.
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Exchange ideas on new school culture, traditions and celebrations.
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Provide ideas on potential building and grounds adjustment to make the current Chenery school better reflect upper elementary learners.
Chenery Upper Elementary Parent Advisory Team Members & Resources
If you have questions or input you’d like to share with this team, please reach out to any member. Jenny Brown, Robin Amiri Busch, Sara Colleary, Iris Connealy-Seri, Melissa Nott Davis, Lindsay Prendergast Doherty, Cara Dwyer Johnson, Christine Liu, Tatev Martirosyan, Katy Neylon-Azad, Joslyn Tchaicha
CUE Family Advisory Team Agendas
Slides from Meeting #1
Slides from Meeting #2
What About Recess?
As you may know, for the 23-24 school year, Chenery will house grades 5 and 6. Starting in the Fall of 2024, Chenery will welcome grade 4 students, staff and families.
Thank you to those parents who have been interested in providing additional recess time to our upper elementary aged students. We couldn’t agree more! With the advent of a new school upon us, we are poised to make changes to the current Chenery schedule to better meet the needs of our grades 4-6 learners.
Principal Foundas has had several listening sessions throughout this school year and began piloting additional minutes for 5th grade this week after April vacation. We have seen some positive results including:
Changes Made
- We have increased our lunch/recess time by 10 minutes resulting in more time to eat and play
- We have instituted "Student Lunch Ambassadors" who deliver the brief daily announcements
- A newly established transition back into the building with the support of the classroom teachers and school leaders
Positive Outcomes
- More recess
- More time to eat
- Students are moving through the lunch lines quickly
- Students are enjoying the opportunity to take ownership and make the daily announcements
- The transition back into the building has been smooth and efficient
The opportunity to change the schedule to better meet the needs of younger learners, including additional recess time, is being reviewed through both the educator and parent teams. The new schedule for Chenery Upper Elementary will be implemented in the 2024-2025 school year.
Opportunities for Chenery Upper Elementary PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) - WE NEED YOU!
As we open the new Belmont Middle School, we are in need of forming new PTOs for the Middle School and Chenery Upper Elementary. If you are interested in serving either organization, you can fill out this form and/or contact chenerypto@gmail.com, Martha Loftus (mwmullane@gmail.com), Susan Burgess-Cox (susanburgessma@gmail.com), or Jessica Smith (jsmith@belmontschools.net).
Resources on the Reconfiguration
Reconfiguration Update - Slides from School Committee Meeting on February 14, 2023 (Click Slide Show)
Reconfiguration Website
Parent Frequently Asked Questions
23-24 School Year Calendar
Resources to Support Your Child in School Transitions
Transition Resources for Parents, Teachers, and Administrators
How to Prepare Your Child for a New School
10 Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in Middle School
With any change comes excitement, some nervousness, and anticipation. I appreciate the ongoing support of our educators and students as we make these changes together. Our family partnership is what will make these changes run more smoothly.
I hope you’ll join us at one of our parent update meetings on May 24th at 9:30am or 6:00pm - whichever works best for you.
Best Regards,
Karla B. Koza, Director of Reconfiguration Transition
Reconfiguration Website