Wednesday's Words

Announcing our new Director of Student Services

I am pleased to announce that, following a comprehensive search process, the Norfolk School Committee has voted to appoint Mrs. Kara Muirhead as the next Director of Student Services, effective July 1, 2026.

Throughout her fourteen-year tenure with the Norfolk Public Schools, Kara has proven herself to be a dedicated advocate for our students. Having served as both a special education teacher and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), she most recently transitioned into the role of Special Education Team Chair. Her recent completion of the Director of Student Services licensure further solidifies her readiness for this leadership role.

Prior to joining our district, Kara held administrative leadership positions where she successfully guided two private day school programs through the Chapter 766 approval process. Her profound work ethic, deep understanding of early childhood and elementary education, and unwavering commitment to our students make her an invaluable addition to our leadership team.

Please join me in congratulating Kara on her appointment. I would also like to extend a sincere thank you to the staff and parents on the search committee; your time and insight were essential to this successful outcome.

Group photo of FK Advanced Band gold medal winners!

Exciting news to share!

Mr. John Fouracre and the Advanced Band participated in MICCA on Saturday morning and did an outstanding job! Congratulations to all of our students and our amazing teacher, Mr. Fouracre, for bringing home a GOLD MEDAL! This is John’s 14th Gold Medal in a row! Thank you, John, for your passion and your dedication to our students. Your hard work is recognized and appreciated!

SUN Bucks, the federal food benefit program once known as Summer EBT, is returning for summer 2026. SUN Bucks provides a $120 lump-sum summer benefit per school-aged child for income-eligible families. The program is administered by the state Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) in partnership with DESE and with assistance from schools.

SUN Bucks income eligibility standards are the same as those for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). As such, all enrolled students identified as meeting the income eligibility standards for free or reduced-price lunch during school year 2025-26, either through an NSLP household paper application or direct certification, are automatically eligible for SUN Bucks. Students identified as homeless, migrant, runaway or participating in Head Start are also automatically eligible. Students who do not meet the aforementioned criteria can apply for SUN Bucks benefits through DTA by visiting www.DTAConnect.com.