The Common

Dear Nashoba Community,

Each year, the School Committee must hold a public hearing on school choice to decide whether it will be available for the following school year. Failure to do so results in school choice being automatically open. For those unfamiliar, School Choice is a Massachusetts General Law that permits students from outside of our towns to enroll in our schools. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has posted,

The inter-district school choice program under G.L. c. 76, § 12B, allows families to enroll their children in schools in communities other than the city or town in which they reside. Tuition is paid by the sending district to the receiving district. Districts may elect not to enroll school choice students if no space is available.

On April 9, 2025 I will give a presentation on my recommendation for school choice seats. In recent years we have adopted a conservative approach that welcomes people outside of our towns to enroll in the school system in grades where we would not incur additional costs. This approach has enabled us to augment our budget with school choice tuition without adding additional staff.

On April 30, 2025 the School Committee will convene for a School Choice Public Hearing as required. After the public hearing they will vote on the Superintendent’s recommendation. Once the vote is taken we will announce to the community the seats, if any, that are available to attend the Nashoba Regional School District.

Peace,

Kirk Downing (He/Him)
Superintendent

The Nashoba Regional School District is currently in Phase 2 of its curriculum review process for mathematics in grades 6-8. Key progress to date includes:

• Committee Formation: A Curriculum Review Committee has been established and has been meeting regularly.

• Instructional Vision: The committee has finalized NRSD’s Instructional Vision for Mathematics 6-8, building upon the existing Instructional Vision for Math K-5.

• Partnership with TNTP: Through the FY25 High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) Professional Development and Purchase Opportunity (PDPO) program through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, NRSD has continued its partnership with TNTP. TNTP representatives have conducted two site visits at our three middle schools, collaborating with teachers, coaches, administrators, and the Director of Math and Science to support the field testing of two curricula.

• PDPO Funding: The district has been allocated $28,506 through the PDPO program for the purchase of new curricular materials.

• Field Testing:

• Seven math teachers have completed field testing Imagine IM, and feedback has been collected from both educators and students.

• Our math educators are now field testing Carnegie Learning.

• Site Visits: Site visits to neighboring schools who have implemented IM and Carnegie, respectively, have been scheduled. A representative team of district math educators will visit these schools to see the curriculum in action and speak with educators, students, and administrators about their experience.

Important next steps for phase 2 include, completing field testing of Carnegie Learning, gathering comprehensive feedback from educators and students, and analyzing and comparing the collected data against the district's instructional vision and priorities. The process will conclude with a finalized recommendation during a consensus meeting in April. For more information on the review cycle, click here.

In the latest episode of The Great Road, host Jed Stefanowicz sits down with NRHS School Committee student representatives Ava and Ryan for a discussion about their roles. The episode also features insights from Leah Vivirito, the Chair of the Nashoba Regional School Committee, and Superintendent Downing, focusing on the important contributions of student representatives and what the experience is like from their perspectives. You can listen in here, or on our NRSD District Homepage.

This past Wednesday evening, our elementary schools buzzed with excitement as we hosted our district-wide Kindergarten Information Night. Parents and caregivers joined us for an engaging evening, discovering the heart of our kindergarten program and connecting with our dedicated teachers and administrators.

We eagerly anticipate welcoming the remarkable class of 2038 into our school community with a series of enriching events and activities in the months ahead. Up next we'll be welcoming incoming kindergarten students to get ready to ride the bus! We encourage each of our families to save the date and to register!

📅 Mary Rowlandson Elementary School, May 8th, 6:00pm-7:00pm

📅 Florence Sawyer School, May 14th, 6:00pm-7:00pm

📅 The Center School, May 15th, 6:00pm-7:00pm

If you haven't registered yet, here's your chance! John McDonough's Pumpernickel Puppets will be putting on a special performance in the Emerson Gym on March 27th. Come enjoy two classic stories brought to life with puppets: The Mouse and the Lion and Three Billy Goats Gruff. It's a wonderful opportunity for children to experience the magic of storytelling and puppetry! The show will start at 6:15 pm, and is the perfect event for children ages 3 and up.

Up next, SEPAC will host their SEPAC Business Meeting on April 8th, 2025. The event will run between 6:30pm - 8:00pm. SEPAC stands for the Special Education Parent Advisory Council. SEPAC is a volunteer organization made up of parents/guardians of students with disabilities (IEPs and 504 plans) or other special education needs in Stow, Bolton and Lancaster. Check the 2024-2025 SEPAC Calendar of Events below to access the meeting link, along with all other upcoming events!

As the Cold and Flu Season winds down, the Allergy Season is gearing up. Health Offices do not have allergy medications as standing orders, so if your children take medications for seasonal allergies, they will need to be taken at home. But, medication is not the only intervention against allergies!

Below are some tips that may help to Nip Seasonal Allergies in the Bud!

• Reduce exposure to allergy triggers by:

• Wearing a light layer outside and removing it when you come inside

• Washing your hands and face after being outside

• Keep an eye on high pollen counts

• If pollen counts are high, consider masking while outside

• If counts are up, consider closing windows and doors to keep pollen outside

• Rinse out the sinuses

• Consult your medical provider about additional treatments if current treatments are not working

For additional information on seasonal allergies please see the resources provided by The Mayo Clinic.

This past weekend, Nashoba Drama delivered a truly impressive performance of The Little Mermaid! Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale and the beloved Disney film by Howard Ashman and John Musker, this musical was a must-see. A huge bravo to all our talented performers for bringing the magic to life on stage! Keep reading to see more picture!

Couldn't make it to The Little Mermaid? We've got more shows coming! Each of our three middle schools are hard at work preparing for their own performances. Learn more about each of our upcoming shows below and from their flyers.

📅 Get ready for another unforgettable performance! LBMS Drama will be presenting Annie Jr. on Saturday, March 22nd at 6:30 PM and Sunday, March 23rd at 2:00 PM.

📅 Florence Sawyer’s Drama Group will perform The Addams Family on April 4th at 7:00 PM, April 5th at 7:00 PM, and April 6th at 12:00 PM. This musical tells the story of Wednesday Addams, who shocks her eccentric family by falling for a “normal” boy, leading to a night filled with comedy, secrets, and spooky chaos! Online tickets are available.

📅Hale Middle School will cap off the spring drama season with Jolly Roger and the Pirate Queen, set to perform on April 10th at 7:00 PM, April 11th at 7:00 PM, and April 12th at 11:00 AM!

Don’t forget to check out the "What’s Next?" section below, as each of our schools’ band and chorus groups have exciting upcoming performances you won’t want to miss!

Join the Extended Learning Program for four days of fun during their April Vacation Camp! This April's camp will offer amazing enrichment experiences with sports, Lego's, theatre/drama, and more!! Each vacation camp is packed with activities designed to keep kids engaged, active, and learning, and with half-day and full-day options, there truly is something for all campers to enjoy.

Camp will be offered on Tuesday, April 22nd through Friday, April 25th. Please utilize the Vacation Camp Registration form below to enroll your student, but don't wait too long, registration will close on April 11th.

Are you looking for a way to earn extra income while maintaining a flexible schedule? Do you want a role that aligns with your child's school hours, or are you a former teacher looking to stay connected to education?

Consider becoming a substitute—opportunities are available! Thank you for considering this meaningful way to support our school. Learn more here!

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!

Click here to tell someone they are Nashoba Notable!

Bravo to the incredible cast of The Little Mermaid! Featuring talented performers from both our high school and middle schools, they truly wowed their audiences!

The new husky mascot finally made his way to MRE! He was so excited to be part of the school community that he popped into a first grade class to say hello.

NRHS students worked closely with their teacher during their chemistry lab this week.

Congratulations to the NRHS Robotics Team, who successfully defended their winning title at the New England First District URI Event!