Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to the 2011-2012 school year. While every new school year signals changes for students, this year there are some district changes that I would like to bring to your attention. It certainly is an understatement to talk about this significant change. However, for the first time in over fifty years this fall students in grade 9-12 students will enter a new high school and athletic complex. As the district's educational leader, I am proud that Hanover High School's educational design represents 21st century research about the way students learn best in preparing them for competing in a global world. With space that provides for collaboration, project-based teaching and learning, innovative classrooms that utilize a "fat L" design, "rooms within rooms," and teaching and learning space outside of traditional classrooms, the new Hanover High School, as it should be, is very different from its predecessor. If you missed a chance to tour the new high school last June during the "Blue and Gold, Never Grows Old" day, then make sure to attend the new high school dedication ceremony (1:00 PM-5:00 PM) on Sunday, September 18th.

Another change worth noting is at Cedar School where its roadway has been repaved and shortly a new sidewalk will be installed thanks to the Department of Public Works. The lunch program will also look different on a number of fronts. First, we welcome Lynn Petrowski, as the district's new Director of Food Services. Lynn will inject our food program with innovative and creative food choices for students that are inviting and appealing yet healthy and nutritious. Second, we will be introducing a new automated Point of Sale system (POS) beginning at the high school and gradually moving to the other schools throughout the district. This system has many features, but one of the immediate benefits for parents is that you will no longer need to have your son or daughter bring money to school for lunch. Instead, if you wish, you will be able to deposit money directly into your child's own lunch account. In addition, another feature of the program is that you will be able to view what your child purchased. While school lunch prices will be increased in September by twenty-five cents for students at all levels, Hanover lunch prices will still remain the lowest in the South Shore.

This year we will also welcome another upgrade in our bus transportation aimed at improving safety for students. In an effort to continue to proactively upgrade safety for all students who ride a bus, each bus will be equipped with a mobile digital video surveillance system. In addition, the new high school will have over fifty video surveillance cameras inside and outside the building which will be utilized to ensure student, staff, and community safety as well as enhanced building security. I would also like to take this opportunity to remind high school parents that as a result of significant cuts necessary in the FY12 budget, there will no longer be high school bus transportation this year. In light of this fact, parents of high school students will want to be especially aware of the student drop‐off routine for the new high school which Dr. Raab will communicate ahead of time.

In other news, we welcome the following new administrators to the district: Hugh Galligan, High School Assistant Principal; Jannell Pearson, Middle School Assistant Principal; and Emily Baird, Center and Sylvester Assistant Principal. In addition, we welcome Bob Murray, the school and town's Engineering Manager who will have an office in the new high school. As we move toward the July 1, 2012 consolidation of school and town maintenance of facilities, Bob will play a critical role in orchestrating the successful changeover.

For the third year in a row, the Hanover Public Schools' website was selected as the best school district website in the state. We continue to strive to provide relevant information about the district and our schools. I highly recommend that you familiarize yourself with our website's homepage, the district links, and, in particular, the individual school links as we continue to utilize these sites to communicate timely information on a variety of school and district topics. In addition, as the school year starts, I urge you to make sure that your emails and telephone numbers are accurate and/or up-to-date.

As superintendent of Hanover Public Schools, I remain committed to the two pillars of my educational beliefs… equity and excellence for all students. However, continuing to provide the financial resources that are essential to ensure equity and excellence is becoming more and more difficult with each budget year. I am fearful that unless the economic forecast changes significantly, Hanover Public Schools will be faced with deeper and more significant cuts in FY13 that will have a dramatic impact on classrooms, programs and services.

Finally, it is worth noting again that today's students enter the classroom with a very different set of needs. As digital natives, their education must provide them with 21st century learning experiences that are rigorous and relevant so as to prepare them to compete on the "global stage" in a world that is constantly changing and that will require them to be adaptable, flexible, innovative and creative. We will need to work together more than ever as partners to ensure that your children and our students receive the public education they deserve, but more importantly, that they need for their futures. While the fiscal future is still very uncertain, we must be willing to invest in our future citizens…the children. On behalf of Hanover Public Schools, the administrative team, professional staff and support staff, I welcome you to join us as partners in preparing your children for their future. If we can be of assistance to you throughout the year, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thank you!

Kristine E. Nash, Ed.D.