The Common
Hello Nashoba Community,
It’s hard to believe that this is the final issue of The Common for the 2025-2026 school year. This year has gone by quickly, and before it ends, I want to thank our educators, support staff, and administrators for the ways they have helped our students learn and grow this year. Every day each of you create opportunities for students to discover new interests, build confidence, and learn.
I also want to thank our families, caregivers, and community partners for the support, encouragement, and collaboration they have provided throughout this year. Nashoba is strengthened by the partnerships that exist between our schools and the communities we serve.
Finally, to our students, I continued to be amazed by your growth, accomplishments, and resilience throughout the year. Whether in the classroom, on stage, on the field, in service to others, or through the countless ways you challenge yourselves each day, you have given our community so much to celebrate. I hope that you are able to enjoy the summer, pursue your passions, try something new, and spend time with the people that bring you joy.
As you read through this final issue of The Common, you’ll find a collection of summer resources, along with highlights of many of the accomplishments, events, and impactful moments that shaped the 2025-2026 school year. While it would be impossible to capture every success and celebration across Nashoba’s schools, I hope that these snapshots provide a glimpse into the learning, growth, and community spirit that defines us.
Have a great summer!!
Peace,
Kirk Downing (He/Him)
Superintendent
Meals, Community Connections, Recreation, and More
As we head into the summer months, the district is sharing a collection of community resources to support families while school is not in session. These resources include access to free summer meals, local food assistance, recreational and enrichment programs, and support services available throughout the region. Families are encouraged to review the information below to learn more about available options and connect with programs that may be helpful over the summer.
Partnerships with families, organizations, and local leaders helped deepen learning and inspire student curiosity.
This year, we were lucky to welcome a large range of guests into our schools! One of the largest scale guest events across the school year was MRE’s Annual Community Reader Day. Each year, this event brings together retired teachers and principals, former students, community members, and district leaders to share their love of reading with MRE students.
In Mrs. Willard’s classroom, students were joined by Representative Meghan Kilcoyne, who read The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons. The nonfiction story introduces students to Edwin Binney, the inventor behind Crayola crayons. Students learned what made this invention so special, along with how crayons are made and discovered that more than 13 million crayons are produced each day at the Crayola factory in Pennsylvania. They also learned the origin of the name “Crayola”, which combines craie, the French word for chalk, and oleaginous, meaning oily.
After the story, Representative Kilcoyne answered questions from the class, sharing what her role as a state representative looks like and gave students a glimpse into her day-to-day work. (MRE’s Annual Community Reader Day Connects Students and Community; Representative Kilcoyne Visits!)
MRE also had the opportunity to welcome Whole Phonics Author, Jill Lauren. During the virtual visit, students were given time to ask questions about the writing and illustrating process. Lauren shared how an idea in her head turns into a book and explained the seven steps her illustrator follows to bring the students' much-loved character, Zac, to life. The most exciting part of the visit? Five students had the chance to read aloud books they had published themselves in class. Lauren offered kind and encouraging feedback, focusing on making the students feel like real authors. (Whole Phonics Author, Jill Lauren, Visits MRE; Students Share Samples of Their Own Writing!)
During their Digital Literacy and Computer Science class Center School students reinforced their learning on coding while hosting Marcony Almeida Barros, a Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Healey's office! Center School also invited Mrs. Backiel, a retired Center School teacher, back. Mrs. Backiel worked with a fifth grade classroom to talk about the importance of bees to the ecosystem and explain the process of collecting honey.
Luther Burbank and Florence Sawyer eighth grade students both hosted members of the judicial system as part of their civics unit. Judge Revelli, Officer Moran, and Officer Santiago provided FSS students with a window into their roles in the Massachusetts trial court system. Judge Bailey, along with a few of her colleagues visited LBMS to teach students more about what it means to be a judge, a court magistrate, a probation officer, and a court officer. (Judge Visits FSS to Talk with 8th Grade Civics Students)
Hale Middle School also welcome a large number of community members for their annual Career Fair. The event brought together parents, caregivers, and community members representing a wide variety of professions and industries to share their experiences with students in grades 6-8.
Students had the opportunity to select career tables that align with their interests and engage directly with local professionals to learn about educational paths, workplace responsibilities, required skills, and potential careers. These conversations helped students connect their interests to real-world careers while exposing them to professions they may not have previously considered.
Nashoba Regional Music Department hosted their 3rd annual Great Road Music Festival this year, and welcomed guest judges in from across the state. This year's festival showcased 12 ensembles from across the district with students in grades 5 through 12 performing, and saw over 130 parents/caregivers and community member attendees. The festival was adjudicated by Mr. Dan Lutz, Dr. Lindsay Pope, Mr. Dave Daquil, and Mr. James Verdone. (Great Road Musical Festival Hosts Successful Third Year; 10 Gold Medals Awarded)
NRHS welcomed in members of the community along with the Bolton Rotary Club during NRSD's annual Reality Fair, hosted each year by the NRHS Counseling Department. The event provides sophomores with an opportunity to connect career exploration to real-world financial decision-making as they begin thinking more intentionally about their futures.
As part of this year's Reality Fair, students worked with counselors to identify entry-level careers that aligned with their interests. At the fair, each student received a mock salary based on their selected profession and was challenged to manage a realistic monthly budget. They visited booths run by community memebrs that focused on topics like loans, housing, higher education and more! (NRHS Sophomores Balance Careers, Bills, Housing, and More at Annual NRHS Reality Fair)
Finally, we were excited to welcome Senator Cronin, Representative Kilcoyne, and Senator Kennedy to our schools, where they had the chance to tour the classrooms in the towns they represent. During their visits, we showcased how our PRISM I grant is supporting our early literacy work and making a tangible impact in our classrooms.
During their visits, they were able to see how our students are benefiting from high-quality, evidence-based instructional materials like Wilson Fundations and EL Education, which are central aspects of our literacy efforts.
Further, as one of only 15 PRISM I districts in Massachusetts, we have been able to invest in high-quality instructional materials grounded in the science of reading. These curricula are designed to build strong foundations in phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. This funding supports professional learning for our educators, ensuring our early literacy materials are implemented effectively, and expands our ability to to implement early literacy supports through targeted tutoring and intervention. (Senator Cronin, Senator Kennedy, and Representative Kilcoyne Visits MRE and FSS to See PRISM I Early Literacy in Action)
This type of community connection was clear as the Stow PTO hosted their Center School Arts Buffet earlier this year. With the help of community support, participation, and the volunteer efforts of our Hale Middle School and NRHS students, it was a huge success with Nashoba students from across the district gathering together!
Many of the high school volunteers were just returning from their SAT exams, but still dove right into helping younger students explore craft stations and express their creativity. The middle and high school students quickly stepped into mentor roles, guiding the younger kids through projects and celebrating their creations along the way. For many of the younger participants, having the chance to work alongside older students was the highlight of the day. (Hale Middle School and NRHS Students Showcase Portrait of Nashoba Graduate Competencies Volunteering at Stow PTO's Center School Arts Buffet)
NRHS Spanish III students also had the opportunity to spend time with senior members of the community who represented a variety of Spanish-speaking countries. What began as a field trip quickly became an unforgettable day filled with connection, laughter, cultural exchange, and heartfelt moments. From the moment students arrived, they were eager to talk, share stories, laugh together, and truly connect with the students. (Spanish III Students Volunteer & Connect With Community)
Luther Burbank's Wind Ensemble traveled to the Massachusetts State House on Beacon Hill. They were one of 10 groups selected from across the state to perform in the 2026 MMEA Hill Day, a day that combines musical performances with advocacy for the performing arts in our schools. Following the performance, the Wind Ensemble was able to meet and speak with Representative Meghan Kilcoyne, take a tour of the State House, including observation of an Informal House Session. (LBMS Wind Ensemble Performs at MMEA Hill Day at Massachusetts State House)
Students from the Transitions and High School PACE Programs attended a financial literacy course at Workers Credit Union in Lancaster. The monthly course covered practical topics ranging from banking basics to how to spot scams. Their class caught the attention of Boston 25, who stopped by to cover it as part of their 50 Years of Special Education feature! (Boston 25 Features NRSD Transitions and PACE Programs at Workers Credit Union)
This year also marked an exciting milestone for the Nashoba Innovation Pathways Program as its first cohort of students successfully completed capstone projects and internship experiences.
Students in both the Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing and Business and Finance pathways participated in internships and capstone experiences that allowed them to apply classroom learning in professional settings directly in our communities! Through partnerships with local businesses and organizations, students developed technical knowledge, strengthened employability skills, and gained valuable insight into potential career fields. (Innovation Pathways Celebrates First Capstone and Internship Cohort)
Slightly farther from home, both our fifth and eighth graders took extended field trips! Fifth grade students across the district prepared for and participated in their first extended overnight experience away from home at Nature’s Classroom!
Eighth grade students wrapped up their final year of middle school with their annual trips to Washington, D.C., where they had the opportunity to experience the nation’s capital firsthand, visit historic landmarks, and connect their social studies learning to real-world sites.
Even farther from home, a group of students also participated in the German Exchange program, which completed its 20th year with a visit to Weilheim, Germany. Fourteen Nashoba students, ranging from grades 10-12, participated in the two-week experience, attending a local high school and staying with host families. The German host families and students visited Nashoba in the fall, and were excited to welcome their American partners in return.
During the week, Nashoba students attended school alongside their hosts, shadowing them in classes and fully immersing themselves in German school and family life. On weekends and during school excursions, the group explored several cultural and historical sites, including Munich, Augsburg, Nymphenburg Palace, and the Munich Botanical Gardens. They also visited the Dachau Memorial Site, an important and reflective part of the experience. (NRHS German Exchange Program Celebrates 20th Year With 14 Students Traveling to Weilheim, Germany)
This spring, Nashoba Robotics Team 1768 achieved remarkable success on the world stage. After winning the New England Regional Competition, the team went on to compete at the FIRST Robotics Competition World Championship, where they ultimately ranked 25th in the world. Outside of their ranking, the team also earned the Autonomous Award, recognizing the robot’s autonomous, pre-programmed performance during competition.
Throughout the 2026 season, Nashoba Robotics earned four championship banners, winning the URI and WPI District Events, their field at the New England District Championship, and a win at the New England District Championship Finals. In addition, the team received the Quality Award at NEDCMP, the Innovation in Control Award at both the URI and WPI events, and the Excellence in Engineering Award at the Minuteman District Event. (Nashoba Robotics Finishes Season at FRC World Championship)
Competing against more than 26,000 students from across the United States and seven countries, our Nashoba DECA students delivered a truly historic performance. For the first time in Nashoba DECA's history, a team received 1st place and the title of International Champion! In total, Nashoba was represented by 22 outstanding student competitors, all of whom demonstrated professionalism, preparation, and pride in representing NRHS on an international stage. (Nashoba DECA Receives First Place at International Career Development Conference)
Our drama programs also put on a series of well-attended performances that showcased the hard work and talent of student actors and stage crews. Students dedicated significant time outside of the classroom to rehearsals, production work, and set preparation, resulting in performances that brought school and community members together.
Nashoba Drama students at the high school performed A Midsummer Night's Dream as their fall play, and presented Big Fish as the spring musical. FSS Drama students brought High School Musical Jr. to the stage, while LBMS Drama impressed audiences with their performances of Alice in Wonderland Jr., Hale Drama students presented The Wizard of Oz and Too Many Detectives at the Murder Mansion.
