The Common

Hello Nashoba Community,

Each year, educators across the Nashoba Regional School District come together for a full day of professional learning. Today, that shared time was focused on the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education.

The day began with a keynote from Dr. Tony Frontier, author of AI with Intention, who invited staff to consider how AI can support teaching and learning while continuing to center student thinking as the core of our work.

Throughout the morning, educators participated in self-selected sessions that prioritized a wide variety of AI applications, tools, and considerations. Our own educators and administrators played a huge role in this event, leading over 20 of the 30 sessions covering topics ranging from AI in leadership and ethics, to inclusion, student support, and practical classroom applications. In the afternoon, staff continued their work in different ways. Some remained at the high school for additional AI-focused sessions, while others returned to their schools to collaborate with colleagues and pursue other professional learning goals.

We would also like to highlight our student ambassadors and panelists, who generously donated their time to help the day run smoothly and to share their perspectives on AI, both in their own lives and in the classroom. Their voices provided an important student perspective that grounded the conversations in what really matters, supporting and growing student thinking.

Days like this are an important part of how we grow as a district, creating space to learn together, reflect on our practice, and consider how best to support our students. What we know is that while AI may support the critical thinking of our students and the important work of our educators at Nashoba Regional School District, it will never replace them.

Thank you,

The Teaching and Learning Team

Last winter, we conducted surveys with students in grades 3-8 to better understand their social-emotional needs and how connected they feel within our school communities. The results helped shape our school improvement goals in the months that followed.

This April, we'll be asking students in grades 3-8 to take part in the survey again. This annual survey gives us the chance to check in with our students and see how well the supports we put in place last year are working. The upcoming survey will also include a section on students’ Sense of Belonging, and we expect it will take about 10-15 minutes to complete. Just like last year, the survey is anonymous. A separate survey will be given to our 9-12 students later in the month, more information will be available shortly.

Our Spring Surveys will be given during the week of April 6th. After the surveys are completed, school principals will summarize the results and share them with the school community, along with the next steps.

We hope all of our students will participate, as every voice matters. While our goal is 100% participation, we understand that some parents or caregivers may choose for their children not to participate. The survey is completely voluntary, and students can skip any questions or choose not to participate at all.

If you would like to see the survey in advance, feel free to reach out to your child’s school principal. The survey for grades 3-8 will be available for preview starting Monday, March 30, 2026. If you prefer your child not to take part, please complete the Opt-Out Form by Friday, April 3, 2026.

This past Saturday, the Stow PTO hosted their Center School Arts Buffet. 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.

National Honor Society students Azul Roberts and Zoe Memont were key to the success of the event. They worked closely with the Stow PTO to help support planning and worked to recruit other students to volunteer. Their hands-on involvement in everything from setting up craft stations to making sure everything ran smoothly made a big difference in ensuring the day was a success.

Additionally, Center School teachers Beth Warner and Marcia Stevens as well as substitutes Cooper Rogers and Jake Agoglia, volunteered their time. From planning to cleanup, their support helped turn the event into a true community effort.

Community events like these give us the opportunity to see our Portrait of a Nashoba Graduate competencies in action. This is a great example of how our students are able to work together, show initiative, and support one another across different grade levels. It also highlights the importance of both creativity and communication, as older and younger students connected and learned from each other.

This event brought the entire Nashoba community together, with students from Pre-K through high school, Stow PTO members, and local community members all coming together to make it a success.

Stow PTO would like to extend a thank you to all of the volunteers! Azul Roberts, Zoe Memont, Nora Miller, Sadie Gorr, Abigail Hatch, Addie Bandini, Katherine Cahill, Sara Borenstein, Lucy Rein, Alisha Iyer, Aisha Iyer, Annabel Rivera, Shay Warner, Beatrice Marple, Ellis Grote ,Caroline Jaworowicz, Dominic Sacco, Isaiah Sacco, Maia Carter, Remy Brown, Christopher Frial, Gracie Neef, Valerie Mazzone, Aurora Imhausen, and Aida Grizzard.

The Nashoba Community Partnership for Children is now accepting registrations for FREE weekly playgroups for children ages 2–5 and their caregivers. Playgroups will be held in Bolton, Lancaster, and Stow from January to June 2026. For more information on the Playgroup times, dates, and locations as well as the registration, click here, or on the button below.

These playgroups are funded by the Department of Early Education and Care’s CFCE grant and are designed to support young families in our communities with fun, hands-on learning and social opportunities. Spaces are limited!

The NRSD Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is an all volunteer group with a mission to support students and their families by providing education and information on special education issues and services. Through their efforts, the organization aims to promote a better understanding of, respect for, and support of special education in the community. The Nashoba SEPAC works closely with the Nashoba Regional School District administration and School Committee to ensure that students' needs are being met in accordance with applicable laws.

Upcoming Meetings

Meetings will be held on the following dates: 2/25, 3/,18, 4/29, 5/20, and 6/17. SEPAC Officers meet at 7pm followed by a Listening Session at 7:30. Open to anyone who wishes to discuss special education matters. All meetings are virtual and links can be found here (passcode: NRSDSEPAC).

Join us for a practical session on helping your middle and high schoolers thrive at home by strenghtening their executive functioning skills. Executive functioning refers to the mental processes that support goal-directed behavior, including organization, planning, emotional regulation, and time management.

Many students in grades six through twelve struggle in these areas, which can affect life at school and at home. In this talk, Dr. Lauren Lukasik and Dr. laura Austin wille xplain what executive functioning is, outline the key skill areas, and describe how challenges often show up at home. They will also share evidence-informed ways to support routines, build organization habits, and encourage independence in daily life.

This session is designed for parents and caregivers seeking both understanding and practical tools.

Event Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026
Time: 6:30pm
Format: Virtual

Meeting ID: 880 2668 6357, Passcode: 706090

The colder months are still here and with them we are in the season of stomach viruses, colds, flu, and other respiratory illnesses. Here are the best ways for students and families to reduce their risk of contracting and spreading illnesses in school and within the community:

Key Points to Prevent Illness

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before eating.

• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.

• Avoid touching your face.

• Use hand sanitizer when soap and water aren't available.

• Stay home if you're sick.

• Get vaccinated against common viruses like influenza, Covid, pertussis, and RSV.

The district wants to reassure families that free breakfast and lunch will continue to be available to all students at every school, and these meals will not be affected by the shutdown.

In addition to school meals, families can access support through Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline, provided by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Hotline counselors are available in 180 languages to connect families with programs such as WIC and local food pantries.

The district’s Department of Health and Wellness has also compiled a list of local resources for families who need assistance or want to help others in the community. These resources include food assistance programs, holiday gift aid, general support services, and utilities help. The community has a strong network of partners dedicated to ensuring that no family goes without essential resources.

The Extended Learning Program had a successful February Vacation Camp. Thank you to everyone who joined in, it was great to see so many happy campers! We're excited to share that registration for our April Vacation Camp is now available!

Our April Vacation Camp will offer an array of enrichment experiences including: Buildwave, Play-Well TEKnologies, Art-Ventures, and Drama Out of the Box! Our vacation camp is packed with activities designed to keep kids engaged, active, and learning!

Camp will run Tuesday, April 21st, and Friday, April 24th, and will be held at The Center school in Stow. These camps will be open to any K-Grade 5 student in the district. To learn more about our April Vacation Camp offerings, and to enroll your student click here.

Sure, you think you've seen this type of murder mystery before. A cast of eccentric characters meet at a mansion, only to become suspects of a murder that a singular genius detective will eventually solve. But what happens when all the suspects are the detectives? Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew, Miss Marple, The Scooby Doo Gang, and Batman are just a few of the guests. Too Many Detectives at the Murder Mansion is a whodunnit that will leave you laughing and guessing right until the very end!

Shows will run in the Hale Middle School Auditorium on, Thursday, March 26th, at 7:00pm, Friday, March 27th, at 7:00pm, and Saturday March 28th, at 11:00am.

LBMS Drama is excited to present Disney's Alice in Wonderland Jr.! The show is based on the 1951 Disney film Alice in Wonderland and the Lewis Carroll novels: The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Tickets will be available at the door ($8 for seniors, $10 for students and adults).

Shows will run in the Mary Rowlandson Elementary School Auditorium on, Friday May 1st, at 6:30pm, and Sunday, May 3rd, at 2:00pm.

Celebrating everyday greatness! Is there a Nashoba teacher or staff member out there who you think deserves some special recognition? Send a Nashoba Notable Award their way! Fill out the form below and thank a Nashoba employee today!

Nashoba Notable Awards thank Nashoba employees for supporting students, families, and their school communities in all ways great and small.

Employees will receive a certificate that includes a brief explanation from the nominator of why they are Nashoba Notable. This form is open to everyone. Students, families, staff and community members can send a Nashoba Notable Award to any Nashoba employee. There is no limit to the number of Nashoba Notable Awards someone may receive. Thank a Nashoba employee today!

Hale Middle School Drama’s play, Too Many Detectives at the Murder Mansion, opened last night! Come see it tonight at 7pm and tomorrow at 11am.

MRE kindergarten students participated in a green-theme last week with a festive day at school!

Center Chorus students Emerson Brown-Rebuck, Ayana Goonewardene, and Emma Sadler were selected to perform in the All-State Treble Chorus this past weekend at the annual Massachusetts Music Educators Association conference in Worcester! They rehearsed for two days and gave a beautiful concert Saturday afternoon. We are SO PROUD of these fifth graders for being stellar musicians and excellent representatives of Center School and Nashoba!