Belmont Public Schools News

A Message from the Superintendent - DESE Initial Fall School Reopening Guidance

I write to you today with an update on the School Opening for fall 2020. As you may be aware, for the past several months the School Department has been working on options for opening school in September given the evolving  challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. This work has included meetings with our educators, Leadership Council, PTO Presidents, Belmont Health Department and other Town Leaders. In addition we have held two School Committee meetings dedicated to this subject.

Summer Reading Lists 2020

The Summer Reading Lists are a joint project of the Belmont Public Schools and the Belmont Public Library. They are designed to encourage students in Belmont to make reading a habit, raising both their interest in and level of reading. These books and works from authors are available to view in print and as e-books and e-audio books that can be borrowed free of charge from the Belmont Public Library’s collections in Libby and in Hoopla. The theme this year is Imagine Your Story!

Creating Change for Racial Justice - Discussion with Community Leaders

Creating Change for Racial Justice - Live Call-in Discussion with Belmont Community Leaders on Tuesday, June 23 at 7 PM. Belmont Against Racism and the Belmont Media Center are sponsoring a panel discussion. Two high school graduates are moderators.

FBE Thank You with STAR Awards

The FBE would like to send a heartfelt thank you to all the Belmont Public School teachers, staff, and administrators for an amazing year, and of course, a particularly incredible last three months! We wish you, and the Belmont community, a restful summer, and look forward to seeing everyone, hopefully in person, in September!

Feedback on Draft Plans for 2020-21 School Reopening

Dear Belmont Parents and Guardians, We presented initial draft plans for the “opening of school” for September 2020 to the School Committee on June 9th and now we would like your feedback on those plans.

FBE Announces Grant Awards Totaling $29,547

Congratulations! The Foundation for Belmont Education (FBE) is pleased to announce and summarize the awards that were recently approved for the 2019-2020 academic year. Attached is a summary of twelve Learning Excellence Grants, awarded to Belmont Public Schools on May 29, 2020, totaling $29,547.

Twenty Ninth Annual Staff Recognition Day

Staff Recognition Day was held on May 20 to celebrate 55 members of Belmont Public Schools for their years of service ranging from 10 to 35. Although the reception was a bit different this year, virtual instead of everyone gathering, the sentiment is the same in that we thank everyone for all of their years of service to Belmont Public Schools and the students of Belmont. A recording of the virtual event is available on YouTube.

Parenting in the Time of Coronavirus – Pre-Recorded Webinars

As part of a partnership with Belmont Public Schools, the McLean Hospital School Consultation team has recorded two webinars that focus on helping parents navigate challenging COVID-19 circumstances. One video is geared toward parents of elementary school-aged children and the other video is geared toward parents of middle and high school-aged teens. The videos have some overlapping content, although the examples provided are age-specific. Please see below for a more detailed description. Each video is followed by a pre-recorded Q and A that includes answers to the questions Belmont parents submitted. We hope that you find them helpful!

FBE Update & Thank You!

The FBE sends a hearty THANK YOU to each and every teacher, administrator, and school staff member for helping Belmont’s students during this unsettling time. We greatly appreciate the amount of planning, teaching, and communicating that is happening during Phase II of the District’s distance learning plan. The FBE would also like to send our very BEST WISHES to the BHS class of 2020.

Belmont Helps - Resources for Families

Helpful resources for Belmont families in one place created by the Belmont Helps group. Belmont Helps is an all volunteer grass roots effort formed to help connect neighbors during this difficult time. They accept all volunteers who can help run errands, deliver food and supplies for porch drop-off. If you need help, ask.

FBE Casino Royale Candy Giveaway!

Starting April 30th, the Foundation for Belmont Education will kick off a fun candy campaign via our FBE social media posts. Due to the canceled Casino Royale Annual Spring Fundraiser, we found ourselves left with large amounts of candy. Some of the candy was donated to the wonderful healthcare workers at Mt. Auburn Hospital, but we also have enough to share with our local community! Every Thursday, we will be post a jar of candy on Instagram and Facebook, and invite our followers to guess the numbers of pieces in the jar.

Notice to Parents Regarding School Committee Vote on Potential Fee Refunds during COVID-19

Dear Parents/Guardians, At its meeting on April 28, 2020, the Belmont School Committee voted to refund the portion of fees paid for certain programs corresponding to days when the school buildings were closed due to COVID-19.

A Message from the Superintendent Regarding Extension of School Building Closures

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff: This afternoon Governor Baker announced school buildings will be closed for the remainder of the school year in Massachusetts, and remote learning will continue for the remainder of the academic calendar.

A Message from the Superintendent

At their April 14 meeting, the Belmont School Committee voted unanimously to continue remote learning through the originally scheduled April break. Per state guidelines, the Belmont Public Schools will observe the Monday holiday on April 20, and school will continue to occur remotely Tuesday, April 21 through Friday, April 24.

Appropriate Technology Use During Virtual/Remote Learning Activities

Belmont Public Schools is dedicated to providing engaging and effective remote learning opportunities for our students.  As part of our remote learning opportunities, BPS is offering many learning activities, classroom presentations and student meetings via a virtual platform. Prior to engaging in these virtual learning activities, presentations and student meetings, the District seeks to clarify guidelines for appropriate technology use during virtual/remote learning activities.

Remote Learning Roadmap: Belmont Public Schools

As child advocates with expertise, we must be primarily focused on what is best for students in the coming months.  In response to the public conversation about what teaching and learning should look like during this time away from the classroom, it is the responsibility of professional educators to articulate this new reality.

Superintendent's Update: Monday, March 30, 2020

Dear Parents, Guardians, Students, and Staff – I write to communicate the next steps for the Belmont Public Schools “Phase 2” Remote Learning Plan. I understand that there is unrest toward the School Department’s response to the COVID-19 extended school closure.

Letter to Families from the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Dear Parents and Guardians: First and most importantly, I hope you and your family are healthy and safe. As the commissioner of K-12 public education in the state and a parent of two public school kids, I know that these are unprecedented times, and many of you are being asked to step into unfamiliar roles. I understand the extraordinary pressure you are facing as you balance caring for children, helping them learn, and, in many cases, continuing your own work. I want to assure you that we are working hard to provide your school leaders with the necessary guidance to support students and families during these difficult times. We are all in this together, working on behalf of our children.

Superintendent's Update Friday, March 27, 2020

As you know, we have now entered into the next phase of our school closure. Given Governor Baker’s new re-opening date of May 4, 2020, the Belmont Public Schools will be shifting the ways we support our students during this longer period of time. We have been working internally with our educators, the Belmont Educators Association, and externally with our neighboring school districts in an attempt to approach the new learning environment in which we find ourselves.  We will also take guidance from the most recent update from the Commissioner of Education that was released yesterday. 

Superintendent's Update Extension of School Closures: March 25, 2020

Dear Families and Staff: I hope this email finds you and your family in good health. This afternoon Governor Baker has extended the school closure until May 4. Please see that information here: Boston Globe: Coronavirus Latest Updates.