Caregiver Update

Dear Clough Families,

Thanks to a Whole Kids Garden grant the Clough school garden is getting a face lift this year. (Read more about the grant below.) With the funds from the grant, Koopman Lumber in Whitinsville, MA helped plan and order the materials for our raised beds. Cedar was purchased to prevent contamination of the soil and extend the longevity of the beds. Eight 6' X 3' beds were made over the weekend (by our very talented school nurse!) and are ready for the gardening enrichment group to prepare the soil and stabilize the legs into the grounds.

Jason Roberts with Spring Willow Farm on Blackstone St in Mendon will be delivering compost for use in the beds, and Mark with Monster Tree Service is donating wood chips so we can prepare solid paths in between the beds for students to walk on as well as to keep the weeds away. These community members read about the work we were doing and reached out to volunteer their services. We are grateful for the support of our community!

Clough also secured a grant from Kids gardening in conjunction with Hunter Industries. This grant is to help us with water irrigation. The grant consisted of funds to help build the irrigation system as well as supplies from Hunter Industries to start us off with a drip system. Thanks to one of our Clough parents, Steven Carlstrom, who donated a large water tank that will be used to collect rain water throughout the year that can also be used for watering. The Laucis family in Upton (a former Clough employee) donated some wood to elevate the water tank.

We have a gardening enrichment class, running right now, will have a group working on the garden during Inspired Learning Day in June, and we have various classes helping to support our garden. A huge thank you to Nurse Bellafontaine for all of the resources she has secured and all of the time she has put into helping our Clough garden grow!

Don't forget...Our 4th grade student council is busy planning our Memorial Day Assembly for Friday, May 22nd. We are sending out this survey to all Clough Staff and Families so that we can honor both those currently serving in active duty and any veterans of our Clough Community. Please make sure to complete the survey by Monday, May 18 so we can prepare for the assembly. Thank you to those families and staff who have already filled out the survey.

Sincerely,

Liz Garden

Principal

P.S. If you are looking for important upcoming dates, scroll to the bottom of this newsletter and you will find the Important Dates to Remember section.

🌱 Award-Winning School Garden at Henry P. Clough! 🌱

We’re excited to announce that Henry P. Clough Elementary School has been awarded TWO major garden grants, recognizing our commitment to hands-on learning, sustainability, and growing with kids!

2026 Waterwise Garden Grant Recipient
Hunter Industries and KidsGardening congratulate the grantees of the 2026 Waterwise Garden Grant!
Henry P. Clough is proud to be one of 25 elementary and middle schools nationwide selected to receive:

$1,000 in grant funding
An irrigation supply kit valued at $500

$3,500 Whole Kids Foundation Garden Grant Awarded
Congratulations to Henry P. Clough Elementary School! We are thrilled to share that our school was selected to receive a $3,500 Garden Grant from the Whole Kids Foundation, chosen from over 1,000 applications across the U.S. and Canada. This grant will support our ongoing efforts to garden with kids and expand meaningful outdoor learning experiences.

These grants will allow our school garden to:

Expand hands-on science and nutrition education
Support pollinators and sustainable gardening practices
Promote healthy eating and food security
Create a vibrant outdoor classroom for our students

Thank you to Hunter Industries, KidsGardening, and the Whole Kids Foundation for investing in our students, our school, and our growing garden community.

Free Dental Screenings with Colgate!

Dear Families,

We’re excited to share that Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures will be coming to Clough on Monday, June 8th!

This is a wonderful opportunity for students to get excited about taking care of their teeth and feeling more comfortable about going to the dentist. Through this engaging program, children will learn about healthy dental habits in a fun, age-appropriate way.

The whole school participated in a live Zoom meeting on 2/9/26, and students were highly engaged in the program and asked amazing questions. We’re excited to build on that experience with this upcoming visit.

As an added bonus, students will be bringing home new toothbrushes for the whole family, helping support healthy smiles at home too!

Please fill out the permission form coming home in backpacks this week, and send it to school as soon as possible so your child can participate.

We’re looking forward to hosting this great event and sharing it with our school community.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Warmly,
Tara Bellefontaine

Congrats to our 4th graders who presented at recent Science & ST Math Events!

Outdoor Start - New Website

As part of Governor Healey’s Inter-Agency Early Education and Child Care Task Force, the Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation (MOOR) and the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) are encouraging more families, children, and early education programs to spend increased time outdoors. This page shares resources for policymakers, families, and early education providers and educators about the benefits of nature for young children, and ways to access and engage with nature in positive, developmentally appropriate ways. Lots of great resources! And if you have a 4th grader, be sure and check out this link to learn about free national park passes.

Dodgeball Tournament Form

3rd Edition of the Clough Newspaper!

Click here for the latest edition of The Clough Newsbreaker!

Nipmuc Summer Sports Clinics!

Mendon-Upton families—get ready for an exciting summer of skill-building, teamwork, and fun with our 2026 Nipmuc Summer Clinics!

We’re thrilled to offer three fantastic opportunities for MURSD students in Grades 3–8 (in 2026-2027 school year) to learn from the best. Each clinic is led by our dedicated Nipmuc varsity coaching staff along with current varsity athletes—bringing energy, experience, and school pride to every session!

Clinic Schedule:

Girls Basketball: June 22–25 at Memorial School
Boys Basketball: June 29–July 2 at Memorial School
Girls Volleyball: June 29–July 2 at Blackstone Valley Tech (BVT)

Cost: $150 per clinic

Whether your child is just getting started or looking to sharpen their skills, these clinics are a great way to stay active, build confidence, and connect with the Nipmuc community.

Spots will fill quickly—don’t miss out on an unforgettable summer experience!

Registration is now open so don't delay!