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Westwood committee approves student trips, 2026–27 calendar and DESE middle‑school pathway policy
Summary
The committee unanimously approved four high‑school travel-based learning trips (including a national leadership conference and international service trips), adopted the 2026–27 calendar (keeping the post‑Thanksgiving professional development day) and waived the third reading to adopt the DESE middle‑school pathway exploration policy required by state regulations.
The Westwood School Committee on Dec. 10 approved multiple routine items: high‑school travel‑based learning trips, the 2026–27 school calendar and a DESE middle‑school pathway exploration policy.
Travel approvals: The committee approved four high‑school trips: Westwood High student‑council attendance at the National Student Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. (Feb. 27–Mar. 1, 2026; student‑funded), a service‑learning trip to Peru (Feb. 2027) for grades 10–12, a Japan trip (Apr. 2027) for grades 10–12, and a Galápagos trip during J‑term 2027 for grades 10–11. Administrators thanked teachers who lead the trips; all motions to approve the trips passed unanimously.
Calendar: The committee discussed whether to hold a professional development day on Election Day or the Monday after Thanksgiving. After informal feedback from families favoring the Monday after Thanksgiving, the committee voted to approve the 2026–27 calendar as drafted (status quo), with the Monday after Thanksgiving designated for professional development in non‑presidential years and Election Day reserved for 2028.
DESE policy adoption: The committee conducted the second reading of the DESE Middle School pathway exploration policy, noting some state uncertainty about how it will be codified in local policy manuals. To ensure compliance with new state regulations on vocational education access for middle graders, the committee waived the third reading and adopted the policy unanimously.
Procedural notes: The committee also approved the Nov. 20 meeting minutes during the same portion of the agenda. All votes recorded in this segment were unanimous.
