Wednesday's Words

After more than 20 years of dedicated service to Norfolk Public Schools, Dr. Tupper, our District Director of Student Services, has announced her retirement at the conclusion of this school year.

Dr. Tupper has been a cornerstone of our community. Throughout her tenure, she championed the development of robust in-district programs to meet the needs of our diverse student body. From navigating the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic to implementing the new IEP format and expanding our preschool services, her leadership has been defined by a deep commitment to student success. Her collaborative work with the Norfolk SEPAC and her focus on building genuine partnerships with families have left a lasting mark on our district. We will miss her passion and expertise dearly.

Join the Search Committee

We recognize that for many families, Dr. Tupper has been a steady advocate for many years. As we look toward the future, we are seeking two parent representatives to join the Search Committee for our next Director of Student Services. We are looking for voices that represent the breadth of our schools, programs and needs of our students.

Key Timeline & Details

The committee will play a vital role in reviewing applications and interviewing candidates to find a leader who shares our district's values.

As Norfolk Public Schools begins the search for our next Director of Student Services, we invite you to help shape the future of this role.

We are hosting a Parent Focus Group to gather your perspectives on the specific skills, qualities, and experiences that a successful candidate should possess. Your feedback, alongside input from staff and administrators, will be used to develop the formal "Candidate Profile" and inform our interview questions.

Join the Conversation

We hope you can join us to share your insights and ensure our Special Education and Student Service Department continues to thrive.

• When: Wednesday, February 25, 2026

• Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

• Where: Freeman-Kennedy School Library

Why Attend?
This is your opportunity to voice what matters most to your family and will help us identify a leader who will best serve our diverse student body.

Since returning from winter break, students in grades 3–6 have been participating in digital citizenship lessons led by our school librarian, Mrs. Johnston. These lessons incorporate materials from Common Sense Media’s brand-new Digital Literacy and Well-Being Curriculum, focusing on privacy, safety, healthy habits, and digital footprints.

The lessons have sparked incredible engagement across all grade levels. Students have been active participants—asking thoughtful questions and sharing observations about the challenges and opportunities of our ever-changing digital world.

While the curriculum covers a broad range of topics, Roblox has emerged as a major point of conversation. Many students have raised concerns regarding recent updates and privacy settings on the platform. To better support our students, our tech integration specialist and librarian partnered to look into Roblox further, finding that many of the concerns raised by students apply to various other apps and games they enjoy.

This dialogue is happening well beyond our school walls. Earlier this week, Good Morning America featured a segment specifically addressing these privacy concerns. The segment includes insights from Jill Murphy, Chief Content Officer for Common Sense Media, and provides an excellent overview for parents.

We encourage you to watch the segment and explore the resources below to help guide tech conversations at home:

• Watch: Link to NBC News - Roblox kidnapping case

• Explore: Connect Safely - A Parent’s Guide to Roblox

• Quick Reference: Roblox Safety Information for Families

Our goal is to ensure that the "digital literacy" learned in the classroom translates into safe, healthy habits at home. Thank you for partnering with us in this effort!

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Each year, Norfolk Public Schools publishes the Baseline and Benchmark Report-a comprehensive look at our district’s performance, growth, and fiscal health.

This report serves as our "annual physical," providing the School Committee and the community with the data necessary to evaluate our district’s performance and ensure we are meeting the needs of every student.

What’s Inside the Report?

The report aggregates data across several key performance indicators:

• Academic Excellence: Student achievement and growth data

• Student Wellbeing: Attendance data, discipline data, school culture/climate data

• District Environment: Demographic data, teacher qualifications, class size

• Fiscal Responsibility: Per-pupil spending

To ensure transparency and equity, data is analyzed for the student body as a whole and further broken down by subgroups. This allows us to identify and address achievement gaps, ensuring that our resources are reaching the students who need them most.

How We Measure Success

We don't look at our data in a vacuum. To understand our performance, we compare Norfolk against two distinct groups:

1. Peer Benchmarking: Nine districts identified by the Massachusetts Department of Education as "like communities" based on size, demographics, and financial structure.

2. Aspirational Benchmarking: At the request of the School Committee, we also include data from Concord and Southborough. These high-performing districts help us set ambitious goals for our future growth.

Access the Data

We invite you to review the full report and join us in monitoring our district's progress:

District Baseline & Benchmark Report

• Monday, February 16 - Friday, February 20 - NO SCHOOL - Mid Winter Break
• Wednesday, March 11 - EARLY RELEASE - PD Day
  
  

• 2025-2026 NPS School Calendar - UPDATED with new last day due to snow days
• 2026-2027 NPS School Calendar

Please click on Employment Opportunities to join our team!

CURRENT OPENINGS:

For more information contact Jill Rivolla, Human Resources @ jrivolla@norfolk.k12.ma.us

Look for our next issue coming March 18th!

Norfolk Public Schools

Email: allardi@norfolk.k12.ma.us
Website: norfolk.k12.ma.us
Location: 70 Boardman Street, Norfolk, MA, USA
Phone: (508) 528-1225