Superintendent’s Report to the School Committee, 4.10.19

Congratulations to Our National History Day State Winners

Congratulations to all of the 2019 Massachusetts State History Day winners! On Saturday April 6th, Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School and Miles River Middle School students competed against 52 other Massachusetts schools. Three of our Projects are advancing to the National History Day contest which will be held at the University of Maryland this June. This year’s theme is “Triumph and Tragedy” in History. A special thank you to all of the teachers who have worked closely with our students since September on their research projects: Kristen Borges, Vinnie Bucci, Brett Burnett, Johann Knets, and Tyler Walker.

High School Awards	Student Names	Title of Project
Individual Website
2nd Place – Advancing to National Competition	Nora Sullivan-Horner	“We Have Dared to be Free.” The Forgotten Haitian Revolution
Group Documentary
1st Place – Advancing to National Competition	Charlene Fibbe, Grant Landon, & Chloe Ting	Tearing Them Apart: The Tragic Conflict of Boston Busing
Group Exhibit
2nd Place – Advancing to National Competition	Addy Flanagan, Madeleine Rostad, Rosie Safford	The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
Group Performance
Honorable Mention Special Award: The USS Constitution Museum Best Project in Maritime History	Domenic Brown, Xander Favazza, Broderick Kelly, Connor Ryan, Christopher Tsouvalas	The Triumph and Tragedy of the Titanic

Middle School Awards

Individual Website

Special Award: Best Project in African American History

Olivia Soolman

Little Rock Nine: Triumph and Tragedy of Integration

Election Day in Hamilton and Wenham

Town Elections will be held on Thursday, April 11^th in both Hamilton and Wenham. Voting in Hamilton will take place at the Hamilton-Wenham Recreation Center, 16 Union St in Hamilton. Voting will be held in Wenham at Wenham Town Hall, 138 Main St, Wenham. Polls will be open from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM. Included on the ballot are candidates for three seats on the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School Committee, and, in Wenham, a Ballot Question on a Proposition 2 ½ Override to fund the FY20 HWRSD Operating Budget. Please remember to vote.

HWRSD FY20 Budget and Annual Report

Dear Friends,

The Hamilton-Wenham Regional School Committee’s Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) Budget and Annual Report is now available on the HWRSD’s website. This document represents a five-month long budget development process that will continue on Saturday, April 6^th, 2019 at Hamilton and Wenham Annual Town Meeting. I recommend you review this document to see how your tax dollars are used to educate your children. In addition to financial information, the document also contains a review of the activities of the schools and departments of the HWRSD over the past year.

For FY20 the School Committee has approved a General Operating Expense Budget (after Offsets) of $33,796,760, which is an increase of $1,902,703 or 5.97% over the current year. This Budget translates into a total assessment increase of $716,213 or 3.9% for the Town of Hamilton and $668,399, or 6.6% for the Town of Wenham.

The funding for the FY20 Operating Expense Budget (after Offsets) includes $1,652,703 to maintain “level services,” or the current level of staffing and programs that are offered in the current year. The major drivers of the cost increases to the “Level Services” budget include an increase of $554,591 (+2.7%) in salaries, $815,946 (+40.5%) for increased costs related to educating students in out of district placements, $198,159 (+7.6%) in increases to employee health insurance, and an additional $78,350 (+8.6%) in contributions to the Essex County Retirement Fund. In sum, these four drivers account for 99.6% of the $1,652,703 necessary to preserve level services for FY20.

The FY20 Operating Budget also includes $250,000 in funding to begin to address the District’s unfunded liability for the cost of retiree benefits. This liability is also known as Other Post-Employment Benefits, or OPEB. Recent changes to government entity accounting standards now require all state and local government bodies, including regional school districts, to report their liability for the cost of retiree benefits on their balance sheet. For the HWRSD, this unfunded liability currently stands at $35.4 million. This year, Asst. Superintendent Jeff Sands engaged the services of an OPEB investment advisor to develop a plan to fully fund the HWRSD’s OPEB liability in 30 years. The $250,000 included in the FY20 Budget will allow the District to implement this funding plan through the establishment of an OPEB Trust Fund. The consequence of not funding the HWRSD’s OPEB liability would be a diminished bond rating, which, in turn, would adversely impact the District’s ability to borrow money on favorable terms for future projects.

If you’ve been following the School Committee’s budget deliberations, you may have heard that funding to add a school resource officer was part of the FY20 Budget recommendation. I am happy to report that the Town of Hamilton has generously decided to assume the entire cost of the position. Because of this, on March 27^th the School Committee voted to reduce its approved budget by $73,000, which was the estimated cost to the District to support the school resource officer position for FY20. Thanks to the Town of Hamilton for agreeing to establish this important position.

The final step in the FY20 HWRSD budget process will be the votes to approve the Towns’ assessment contributions on Saturday, April 6 at Annual Town Meeting. Hamilton’s Town Meeting will take place at 9:00 at Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School. Wenham’s Town Meeting will begin at 1:00 PM at the Bessie Buker School. The HWRHS National Honor Society will again be providing childcare at the H-W Recreation Center so parents may attend their respective Town Meetings. Information regarding this service and signups are available here.

I ask that you attend your Annual Town Meeting and support the HWRSD Budget.

Sincerely,

Mike Harvey

Superintendent

Superintendents Report to the School Committee, 3.27.19

Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten Registration will be held at the HWRSD District Offices, 5 School St., Wenham on Monday April 1^st through Friday April 5^th from 9:00 AM to noon. Additionally, registrations will be taken from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Wednesday, April 6^th. Registration information and the required forms are available on the District Website. (www.hwschools.net)

League of Women Voters’ Candidates Night

The Hamilton-Wenham League of Women Voters will host its annual Candidates’ Night on Wednesday, April 3^rd at 7:00 PM in the Multipurpose Room at the Buker Elementary School. Come by a hear from the candidates who are up for election on April 11^th.

Program on Vaping at HWRHS

“The New Look of Nicotine Addiction: Vaping and e-cigarettes Discussion for Parents” will be presented on April 2, 2019 at the HWRHS Library at 7:00 PM. The program will feature “Hidden in Plain Sight” with the Hamilton Police Department. “Hidden in Plain” sight is a mock-up of a teenager’s bedroom for parents. Doors will open for the “Hidden in Plain Sight” program at 5:30. This program is for adults only.

Childcare for Annual Town Meeting

Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School’s Chapter of the National Honor Society will be offering childcare services during Annual Town Meeting on Saturday April 6^th. Childcare is offered for children in kindergarten through fifth grade and will take place in the H-W Recreation Center adjoining the Public Library. Hamilton’s Annual Town Meeting will begin at 9:00 AM in the Ferrini Auditorium at HWRHS. Wenham Town Meeting will begin at 1:00 in the Buker School Gymnasium. To sign up for childcare please go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a044ba9a72ba4fd0-april

Miles River Middle School Arts Night

The Fine and Performing Arts Department of Miles River Middle School invites the public to join them on Tuesday 4/9 from 6:30-8pm for our annual Arts Night. The evening’s program will begin at 6:30 PM and will feature performances from the school’s choral and instrumental groups, a school-wide art exhibition and an excerpt from a student-created one-act play.

Heney Wins Congressional Art Competition

Congratulations to HWRHS Senior Aiden Heney for winning this year’s Massachusetts 6th District Congressional Art Competition. The competition is sponsored by the Congressional Institute “to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the Nation and in each congressional district.” Winners are recognized in their home district and at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C..

Superintendent’s Report to the School Committee, March 13, 2019

North Shore National History Day Winners

From Social Studies Curriculum Leader Kristen Borges: Congratulations to the 2019 North Shore District History Day winners! On Sunday March 3rd, Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School students competed against six other Massachusetts high schools. This year’s theme is “Triumph and Tragedy in History.” All 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will represent Hamilton-Wenham at the Massachusetts History Day state competition on Saturday, April 6th at Winchester High School. A special thank you to the teachers who worked closely with our students since September on their research projects: Kristen Borges, Brett Burnett, Vinnie Bucci, and Johann Knets. In addition, a HUGE thank you to Anne Page and her AP US History class for volunteering their time to help make the day’s events go smoothly!

Category	Student Names	Title of Project
Individual Exhibit
3^rd place	Adelaine Gordon	The Shot Felt Round the World: Triumphant Achievements in Polio Vaccines Amidst Tragic Outbreaks and Scandals
Group Exhibit
2^nd place	Rosie Safford, Addy Flanagan, Madeleine Rostad	The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
Individual Website
1^st place	Nora Sullivan-Horner	“We have Dared to be Free”: The Forgotten Haitian Revolution
Honorable Mention	Megan Amero	The Berlin Wall: Tragically Divided
Group Website
3rd place	Ava Halstead, Lily Johnson, Sarah Traverse	The Triumph of Love: The Groundbreaking Case of Loving v. Virginia Group Performance

HWRHS DECA Team sends 17 to National Conference

DECA Advisor Laura Wheeler reports the Hamilton Wenham DECA Chapter returned home triumphant on Saturday, March 9, from the 60^th annual Massachusetts DECA State Career Development Conference (SCDC) at the Marriott Copley and Hynes Convention Center in Boston with 17 students qualifying for the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Orlando, FL.

Eighty-two Hamilton Wenham students joined over 3,000 students, advisors, and business professionals attending the conference where students compete in over 50 categories of marketing, hospitality, finance and entrepreneurship topics.

Hamilton Wenham took home plenty of hardware this year: 9 trophies for 1st–5th place (qualifying for ICDC), 7 top 10 plaques, and 6 medallions for 1st–3rd place in an event. Congratulations to all HWRHS DECA Members who participated in the State Conference.

ICDC Qualifiers

Student (grade)	Category	Award
Audrey Kiarsis (10)	Apparel & Accessories Marketing Series	2^nd Place Overall 3^rd Place Role Play 1 3^rd Place Role Play 2
Sophie Doane (11) & Jordan Story (11)	Finance Operations Research Project: Institution for Savings	2^nd Place Overall
Bryn Smith (12)	Restaurant & Food Service Management Series	3^rd Place Overall 1^st Place Comprehensive Exam
Ava Halstead (11), Klaudia Rushi (11) & Sarah Traverse (11)	Hospitality & Tourism Operations Research Project: Cafe Shishco	4^th Place Overall
Tom Kain (11)	Business Finance Services Series	5^th Place Overall
Tom Flynn (12) & Michael Rebello (12)	Sports & Entertainment Team Decision Making	5^th Place Overall
Lauren Verge (12) & Valerie Wise (12)	Travel & Tourism Team Decision Making	5^thPlace Overall 1^st Place Role Play 1
Emily Minster (12) & Julia Sauriol (12)	Business Services Operations Research Project: MOJO Coffee	5^th Place Overall
Charlie Clapp (10), Owen Leonard (10), & Jack Mulvihill (10)	Sports & Entertainment Marketing Operations Research Event: The Boston Red Sox	5^th Place Overall

For the full list of alternates, please see HWRWHS Principal Eric Tracy’s Blog.

League of Women Voters’ Annual Civics Bee

On March 14th, the Hamilton-Wenham League of Women Voters will present their 4^th Annual Civics Bee at Miles River Middle School at 7:00 PM. For more information and to sign up to participate, please go to www.tinyurl.com/civicsbee2019

Kindergarten Orientation and Registration

Kindergarten Information Night will be held on Monday, March 18^th at 6:30 PM in the Buker School Multi-Purpose Room. Registration will be held at the HWRSD District Offices, 5 School St., Wenham on Monday April 1^st through Friday April 5^th from 9:00 AM to noon. Additionally, registrations will be taken from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Wednesday, April 6^th. Registration information and the required forms are available on the District Website. (www.hwschools.net)

Program on Vaping at HWRHS

A huge weekend coming up for our Generals!

HWGenerals Principal's Weblog

We have a jam-packed weekend of student events and competitions.

Later today, wrestler Calvin Dalton will be competing in the New England Wrestling Tournament in Rhode Island.

On Saturday, our Thespians will be competing at North Reading High School at 3:00 PM in the annual One-Act Competition.

Boy’s Basketball (13-8) – The Generals will advance to the Quarter Final Round where they will face Shawsheen Tech on Saturday, March 2nd at 4:00 PM at Tewksbury High School, which is located at 320 Pleasant Street in Tewksbury, MA. Details re: Tickets posted later today.

Ice Hockey (9-7-5) – The Generals will advance to the Quarter Final Round where they will face Lowell on Saturday, March 2nd at 6:30 PM at Chelmsford Forum, which is located at 2 Brick Kiln Road in North Billerica, MA. Please plan to arrive early to the rink and ticket prices are $8 (Adults) and $6 (Students…

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Superintendent’s Report to the School Committee, 2/27/19

Kindergarten Registration Information

School Committee Candidates

Eight individuals have submitted their names to be candidates for the three open Hamilton-Wenham Regional School Committee seats. The individuals include Incumbents Michelle Bailey and David Polito, and potential new members Gary Cheeseman, Alexander Dale, Michelle Horgan, Valerie McCormack, Ryan Skerritt, and MaireLee Webster. Elections will be held in Hamilton and Wenham on Thursday April 11^th.

Guidance Events at HWRHS

Parents and students are invited to attend a free seminar on college admissions this Thursday, February 28, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. in the Music Room at HWRHS. This seminar is offered through MEFA, the Commonwealth’s authority on planning, saving, and paying for college. An experienced MEFA representative will provide an overview of college admissions, including building the college list, the college application process, and trends in college admissions. Before the seminar, be sure to visit MEFA’s website – mefa.org – to download a copy of the seminar presentation in English or Spanish and explore other tools and resources to assist you in the college planning process.

Additionally, the Guidance Department will host its popular and informative annual College Panel for juniors and interested sophomores and their families on Thursday, March 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the Miles River multi-purpose room. Representatives from several colleges and universities will address matters pertaining to the college search, application and admission processes.

HWRHS Athletics in Playoffs

Boys Ice Hockey has earned the #7 Seed in the Division III North Tournament and will face Latin Academy at Stoneham Arena on Thursday, 2/28 at 6:00 PM. Boys basketball won their opening round matchup against Triton and will next face Shawsheen Tech on Saturday, March 2^nd at 4:00 PM at Tewksbury HS. Good luck to our Generals!

Schools Closed for Students on Monday, March 11, 2019

As a reminder, there will be no school for students on Monday, March 11^th for Teacher’s Professional Development Day.

Superintendent’s Report to the School Committee, 2.13.19

Kindergarten Registration Information

Next fall the HWRSD will welcome the class of 2032 to kindergarten. The HWRSD’s annual Kindergarten Information Night will be held on Monday, March 18^th at 6:30 PM at the Buker Elementary School. Registration will be held at the HWRSD District Offices, 5 School St., Wenham on Monday April 1^st through Friday April 5^th from 9:00 AM to noon. Additionally, registrations will be taken from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Wednesday, April 6^th. Registration information and the required forms are available on the District Website. (www.hwschools.net)

Congratulations to Our Globe Scholastic Award Winners

The Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School Visual Arts and English Departments are proud to announce that our students have received two gold keys, six silver keys and eight honorable mentions in the 2019 Boston Globe Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Established in 1923, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards are the longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in the United States. Gold Key works will automatically advance to national judging and will be considered for national awards. Gold Key work is currently being reviewed at the national level in New York City by panels of creative professionals. National Medalists selected by these panelists will be announced on Wednesday, March 13, 2019. Gold Key award-winning work will be exhibited at the Massachusetts Scholastic Art and Writing Awards regional exhibition at Breed Memorial Hall, Tufts University, from March 16 through March 25.

Visual Arts: At Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School Violette Holbrook received a gold key. Aidan Heney, Makenzie Liphardt, and YueYan Zhang received silver keys. Miranda Boyd, Margaret Brown, Lily Cassidy, Annabel Howley and Olivia Malloy received honorable mentions. At Miles River Middle School Maya Beach received two honorable mentions.

FellasbytheBeach — *Fellas on the Beach*, Violette Holbrook, Gold Key

English: At Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School Nidihi Pillai received a gold key and an honorable mention. Megan Amero received a silver key and Nora Sullivan-Horner received two silver keys.

To see the student artwork please visit: hwfinearts.blogspot.com

HWRSD Winter Athletes in Action

Congratulations to Boy’s Basketball! The team qualified for their 13th straight post season this past weekend. The Boy’s Basketball team will play for at least a share of the CAL Baker Title on February 14th.

Congratulation to Calvin Dalton, an HW Student-Athlete who wrestles with Salem. Calvin won an individual Sectional Championship in the 113 pound weight class this past weekend.

School Committee Nomination Papers due February 25

Nomination papers for three open seats on the HW School Committee are available at the Superintendent’s Office, 5 School Street, Wenham. The papers must be returned with at least 40 registered voters’ signatures from the Towns of Hamilton and/or Wenham on or before 5:00 PM on Monday, February 25, 2019. Signatures will be verified from the voters’ list of the Towns of Hamilton & Wenham by Wednesday, February 27, 2019. The candidate must bring their nomination papers to their respective Town Clerk to be certified that they the candidate is a registered voter prior to gathering at least 40 registered voter signatures from either town. If you have any questions, please call Donna Bunk @ 978-626-0821.

Superintendent’s Report to the School Committee, 1/16/19

105 HWRHS Students Qualify for State DECA Conference

On Thursday, January 10, Hamilton Wenham DECA competed at the District 3 Career Development Conference held at Merrimack College in North Andover. Eleven schools and over 850 students participated in the business competition in over 50 categories of marketing, hospitality, finance and entrepreneurship.

Hamilton Wenham sent 176 DECA students and 105 qualified for the DECA State Career Development Conference to be held March 7-9 in Boston. At the awards ceremony, those who placed top 6 in their category were called to the stage to accept an award.

Here’s a breakdown of how the HW DECA Students fared:

	Awards	Students
1^stplace:	15	22
2^ndplace:	11	15
3^rdplace:	10	13
4^thplace:	13	17
5^thplace:	14	24
6th place:	12	14

Congratulations to all 176 HWRHS Students who participated and to DEAC Advisor Laura Wheeler. For the full list of winners, please go to https://hwgenerals.wordpress.com/

Miles River Middle School Musical: Peter Pan

Don’t miss this year’s musical production of Peter Pan. Over 75 MRMS students are involved in bringing you this fantastic production. Peter Pan will be at the Ferrini Dramatics Center at HWRHS for a limited run.

Thursday 1/17 – 7pm
Friday 1/18 – 7pm
Saturday 1/19 – 2pm

Tickets are $10 for students and $12 for adults and can be purchased in advance at HWFOTA.org or at the door.

Chinese Students Visit Miles River Middle School

Miles River Middle School is thrilled to be continuing our relationship with our sister school, the Shanghai Gaoqiao School. The Miles River will be hosting 18 middle school students from January 22nd to January 28th. This is the fourth year of our exchange with the Shanghai Gaoqiao School.

Nomination Papers for School Committee Election

Nomination papers are available for (3) open positions, for three-year terms as members of the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District Committee. Nomination papers are available at the Superintendent’s Office, 5 School Street, Wenham. The papers must be returned with at least 40 registered voters’ signatures from the Towns of Hamilton and/or Wenham on or before 5:00 PM on Monday, February 25, 2019. Signatures will be verified from the voters’ list of the Towns of Hamilton & Wenham by Wednesday, February 27, 2019.

If you have any questions, please call Donna Bunk @ 978-626-0821.

HR 271 Signed by Gov. Baker

On January 11, 2019 Gov. Baker signed into law HR 271, “An Act relative to regional schools.” This Act allows regional school districts to designate one member to sign payroll and accounts payable warrants. The designated member is required to report to the school committee on their actions relative to signing the Warrants at the next school committee meeting. This legislation will greatly streamline the process of approving and paying the district’s bills.

Thanks to Rep. Brad Hill and Sen. Bruce Tarr for their assistance in getting this legislation passed!

School Committee Public Hearing on FY20 Budget, January 16, 2019 at 6:30 PM

Dear Friends,

On Wednesday, January 16, 2018 the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School Committee will hold its first public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) District Budget at 6:30 PM in the Multipurpose Room at the Buker Elementary School. The Public Hearing is an opportunity for members of the public to comment and ask questions regarding the proposed FY20 HWRSD Budget.

The School Committee is currently considering the Superintendent’s Recommended Operating Budget, which provides for level services as compared to the current FY19 Operating Budget and includes increases for the addition of a School Resource Officer Position ($73,000) and funds to address unfunded future health insurance liabilities, or “Other Post-Employment Benefits” (OPEB) ($250,000). The FY20 Superintendent’s Recommended Operating Budget totals $33,869,760, which is an increase of $1,975,703, or 6.19% over the FY19 Operating Budget.

Since hearing the Superintendent’s Budget Proposal on December 19th, the School Committee has undertaken a review of the major drivers behind the increases to the Operating Budget. On January 2, the Committee heard presentations from Hamilton Police Chief Stevens and Wenham Police Chief Perkins on the duties of the School Resource Officer and from Director of Student Services Stacy Bucyk on the increases to the Special Education Budget. On January 16, the School Committee will review the salary changes to the budget and on January 30, the Committee will hear from Rockland Trust Financial Advisors regarding a plan to fully fund the District’s OPEB liability. After this review is complete, the School Committee will consider changes to the Superintendent’s Recommended Budget before voting to adopt a final budget on February 13. The School Committee’s Adopted FY20 Budget will then be presented for approval before the voters at Annual Town Meeting in Hamilton and Wenham on April 6.

If you would like to learn more about the FY20 HWRSD Budget Process, there are several ways you can keep informed. School Committee Meeting Agendas, Minutes and Handouts and Copies of FY20 Budget materials are available on the HWRSD Website. School Committee meetings are also available for viewing on the HWCAM Website under the “Edu. Access” tab.

Thanks for your continued support of the HWRSD.

Sincerely,

Mike Harvey

Superintendent

Nomination Papers Available for Candidates interested in Running for School Committee

The Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District is seeking candidates for election to membership on the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School Committee. In April of 2019, three seats of the Committee will be up for election. Each seat has a term of three years.

Nomination papers for prospective candidates will available beginning on January 11, 2019 at the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District Offices, 5 School Street, Wenham. The candidate must first bring the nomination papers to their respective Town Clerk to be certified that she or he is a registered voter before gathering the signatures of at least 40 registered voters from either the Towns of Hamilton and/or Wenham. The papers must be returned with at least 40 registered voters’ signatures from either the Towns of Hamilton and/or Wenham to the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District Offices on or before 5:00 PM on Monday, February 25, 2019.

If you have any questions, please contact Donna Bunk at d.bunk@hwschools.net or 978 626-0821.

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