February 4, 2010

TO: Parents and Guardians K-4 Students

FROM: Christine L. McGrath, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools

RE: Early Release Days

The Tewksbury School Committee at its meeting on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 voted to schedule three (3) early release days for purposes of professional development for our faculty.

These days are:

• Thursday, March 11, 2010
• Thursday, April 8, 2010
• Friday, May 14, 2010

We will follow an early release day schedule with lunch service at the K-4 schools.

We will offer an Extended Day Program at each of our elementary schools, the John F. Ryan, and the John W. Wynn Schools on these days. A notice regarding these programs will be sent out during the week of February 22, 2010. Those wishing to register in advance may contact the Office of Community Services at 978-640-7831.

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Working Toward the New Tewksbury Memorial High School
Tewksbury Memorial High School has been approved as a participant in the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) Model Schools Program. This program appreciably defrays the cost of new construction as the architectural design is modeled after an existing “model” school. Tewksbury has selected Hudson High School as its model. The Hudson facility is a three-pod two-story construction. The architectural plans were adapted to accommodate our site resulting in a two-pod three-story facility.

Members of the High School Building Committee have been working closely with the representatives of Heery International the Owner’s Project Manager and the representatives from the architectural firm of Symmes Maini & Mckee Associates. The Building Committee has convened meetings with the Conservation Commission, the Planning Board and the Green Committee. The Building Committee has established a web site to apprise residents of the progress of the project.

Members of the Building Committee have also attended Parent Advisory Committee Meetings to insure that parents and guardians are well informed about the status of the project. The architects are working on the final design for submission before the MSBA. We are scheduled to appear before MSBA at the January 27, 2010 Board Meeting for project approval. If the project is approved by MSBA then the Town will schedule a special Town Meeting and Special Election in February 2010.

We are very excited about the project and the prospect of a new High School for our community.