The Common
Hello Nashoba Community,
On Sunday, June 7th, families and friends of our senior students will gather at the DCU Center in Worcester at 12:30 p.m. to honor and celebrate our soon-to-be Nashoba graduates. The time-honored tradition of high school graduation is an opportunity to demonstrate how proud we are of the students who have worked so hard to reach their goal. Our schools had a chance to honor them this week during the senior clap out events featured below.
Life is full of choices that bring opportunity, discovery, and wonderment. After graduation, our seniors will move on to their next endeavor and begin a new journey. It is our greatest hope that our school community has prepared them by giving them the tools they need to succeed in that next chapter and beyond.
Please join me in congratulating our seniors and welcoming them into the distinguished company of Nashoba Regional High School alumni.
Peace,
Kirk Downing (He/Him)
Superintendent
Delegation Tours Progress on the Nashoba Regional High School Building Project
This Monday, we were honored to host Senator John Cronin, Senator James Eldridge, and Karen Freker, District Director for Representative Kate Hogan, for a tour of the Nashoba Regional High School Building Project. During the tour, members of our delegation had the opportunity to visit classrooms and educational spaces that were thoughtfully designed to support student learning, collaboration, and success.
Even since our most recent tour with the NRHS Building Committee and School Committee, significant progress has been made. It was exciting to showcase the transformation taking place and share the vision for the future of Nashoba Regional High School. We are grateful to the members of the delegation for taking the time to visit and see the progress firsthand.
You can keep up with the progress on our NRHS Building Project website, which features images from throughout the project and drone footage of the build.
Innovation Pathways Celebrates First Capstone and Internship Cohort
This year marked an exciting milestone for the Innovation Pathways Program as the first cohort of students completed capstone and internship experiences. As the program's inaugural group, these students helped establish a foundation for future participants while gaining valuable real-world experience connected to their chosen pathways.
Students in both the Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing and Business and Finance pathways successfully completed internships and capstone projects that allowed them to apply classroom learning in real-world professional settings. Through partnerships with local businesses and organizations, students developed technical skills, strengthened their employability skills, and explored potential career interests.
The impact of the program extended beyond the students' individual experiences. Following the completion of their required hours, participating seniors shared their knowledge with juniors who are considering capstone and internship opportunities for their senior year.
During these presentations, students provided an honest look at the experience, discussing the time commitment involved, the employability skills they built, and the benefits and challenges they encountered along the way. These student-led conversations offered valuable insight for future participants.
Congratulations to Ryan Hodges, Anthony Giannetti, Dylan Devine, and Dmitriy Klochkov! Your hard work, dedication, and willingness to mentor future participants will have a lasting impact on the Nashoba Innovation Pathways program!
Nashoba Integrated Pre-Kindergarten Programs for 2026-2027 School Year
The 2026/2027 Pre-Kindergarten Lottery Application was available to families throughout January. At this time, all programs with the exception of Lancaster's Half-Day Afternoon class are full. If you are interested in being added to Nashoba's Pre-Kindergarten waitlist, or in the Half-Day Afternoon class available in Lancaster, please use the button below.
If you are opting to be added to the waitlist, you will be notified if the selected program becomes available.If you have questions, please contact the Student Services Office at 978-779-0539 3023.
NRHS Junior and Eagle Scout, Benjamin Shepard, Built and Donated Two Guitar Racks to LBMS Music Program
Early last school year, NRHS Junior and Eagle Scout, Benjamin Shepard, found himself looking for a community service project to complete. To find a project that was impactful to the community and fulfilling for himself, Ben started by writing a list about everything he cared about. The very first thing he wrote was music.
"From a young age, I have been deeply connected to and inspired by music,"
With music in mind, Ben landed on building guitar racks for the Luther Burbank Middle School Music Program, which he empashized had a profound impact on him, specifically devloping the knowledge and skills he still uses today as a member of the NRHS Band and Choir.
To get his project off the ground, Ben reached out to his former LBMS music teacher, Amy Belhumeur, who enthusiastically agreed.
With the help of his Eagle Scout Project Coach, Kris Cullen, Ben created the design for the rack with the goal of building something as high quality as possible. Following the design process, Ben opted to purchases a solid cherry wood, which he processed and assembled before delivering the guitar racks.
Music educator Amy Belhumeur was thrilled, “The guitar racks are impeccably engineered and stunning in craftsmanship and finishing. He thought of everything – leather surfaces to protect the guitars, the creation of not one but two racks for ease of movement around the classroom, and solid wood construction that will surely serve the students for many, many years.”
Principal, Sean O'Shea was also thankful of Ben's hard work, "When a former student chooses to give back to the school that helped shape them, it says everything about who they’ve become. Ben’s project is a perfect example, he didn’t just build two solid, beautiful guitar stands for our music program, he built something more lasting: a reminder that the connections we make here at LBMS do not end when students move on to the high school.”
The Extended Learning Program is Hiring!
Join the Extended Learning Team! Whether you're a high school student looking to build their resume, or an adult looking to share their interests and time with the students of our district, there's a place for you!
The program is looking for Extended Learning Aides, and has part time positions available in Bolton, Stow, and Lancaster. To learn more about the hours and to apply click here. If you have questions, please reach out to the Extended Learning Program Coordinator, Michael Ellam (mellam@nrsd.net).
This section will be regularly updated with upcoming meeting dates, links, and the recording of the latest School Committee meeting.
The next School Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10th, at 6:30pm, and will take place in-person in the Superintendent's Conference Room. You can learn more about the items being discussed on the School Committee Planning Calendar. To watch the meeting live, click here.
The most recent School Committee meeting took place on Wednesday, May 27th, 2026. A full video of the meeting is available here. The full May 27 meeting agenda and materials are available. Agenda items included:
- Executive Session
- Public Comments
- Consent Agenda (Vote): Draft Meeting Minutes May 13, 2026; Warrants for May 22, 2026; Appoint Treasurer for FY27; NRHS Student Handbook SY26-27; FY26 April Operating Budget Report; Policy Second Reading (POLICY ECAB – ACCESS TO BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS, POLICY JJE – STUDENT FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES, POLICY KI – VISITORS TO THE SCHOOLS, POLICY JKAA - PHYSICAL RESTRAINT AND SECLUSION OF STUDENTS, Removal of JKAA-R from Policy Manual)
- School Committee Chair Update
- Superintendent's Report: School Choice Update and Request for Vote to increase 9th grade seats; Use of Social Media Update; Assabet Valley Update #4 - FY27 Budget; Update of Food Services Contract; Assistant Principal Hiring Update (Center School); MASS and MASC position statements on DESE Graduation Requirements
- New Business: Educator Evaluation Presentation for approval; SEPAC Presentation; DEARJ Presentation; School Improvement Plan Wrap Up
- Unfinished Business: School committee Goal Reflection; Superintendent Summative Evaluation (Vote); School Choice Change (Vote)
- Subcommittee Report Outs
- Items for Next Agenda
Open for the 2025/2026 School Year!
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!
