The Common

Dear Nashoba Community,

As this is the final issue of The Common for the 2024–2025 school year, I want to express my gratitude to all the hardworking educators, support staff, and administrators who have dedicated their time, effort, and energy to educating the young people entrusted to us by this community. I know our educators care deeply about the success and well-being of our students because I see it in the halls of our schools each and every day.

I also want to thank our families and caregivers for their support and kindness. I’ve received many messages from families who are appreciative of the work our educators do, and your affirmations give us energy and encouragement to do our best for our students. Thank you to all who uplift our educators—your support fuels us to continue doing the work we so deeply love.

Finally, to our students: Every school year has its ups and downs, and I hope yours was filled with enough “ups” to help you persevere through the challenges. We are so proud of the way you carry yourselves in our schools and throughout the community. Learning is a lifelong journey, taking many forms and rooted in memorable experiences. This summer, take time to pursue your passions, explore new ideas, or simply find joy in the beauty and lightness of the world around you. These experiences will shape you and inevitably make their way into your classroom learning when you return in the fall.

Lastly, I want to honor our newest Nashoba alumni by sharing this graduation video with you. It captures the moment we look forward to for all our students.

Have a wonderful summer!

Peace,

Kirk Downing (He/Him)
Superintendent

This spring, Sophomore Honors students in Ms. Foley-Procko's class explored themes of poverty, resilience, and homelessness through their study of The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. The memoir, a powerful and often heartbreaking account of Walls’ turbulent upbringing, prompted deep discussions about the challenges faced by families living in instability. To connect these themes to real-world issues, the Director of Development from North Star, a local organization that supports families experiencing homelessness, visited their class, and what began as a classroom discussion turned into real-world action.

As part of the district’s Portrait of a Graduate initiative, which emphasizes Empathy and Global Citizenship, students extended their learning through a Project-Based Learning (PBL) experience. Students began their work by establishing their own hobbies, skills and interests and then connected them to fundraising and project ideas to help those in the community. Students ran book drives (and filled a full bookshelf to donate!), raised over $600 through bake sales, and volunteered their time by planting vegetables in North Star's garden beds!

MRE students and staff honored members of the Lancaster community to thank them for their public service during last week's Husky Assembly which highlighted community.

Center School Kindergarteners enjoyed a weather lesson from Stow resident and WHDH Channel 7 Chief Meteorologist Jeremy Reiner during their E.L. Unit about weather!

FSS Girls on the Run participants gave back to their school community by repainting the playground!

Center School students came together to run their own successful food drive!

This year prioritized creating opportunities that prepare our students for full and meaningful lives beyond graduation. Significant progress was made this year with the launch of our first two Innovation Pathways Programs in Business & Finance and Advanced Engineering & Manufacturing. We're excited to continue this momentum with the introduction of our third pathway, Information Technology, launching next year. These programs have opened up new opportunities for students to explore their futures through field trips, guest speakers, and coursework aligned with their individual interests. Combined with our ongoing Portrait of a Nashoba Graduate work and the launch of our digital PoNG portfolios, this year has prioritizes student reflection on who they are, who they want to become, and how their experiences at Nashoba are helping shape that journey.

At the middle school level students started laying the groundwork for their futures during Advisory periods. Additionally, Lasada Pippen visited each of our middle schools to deliver his powerful message of P.U.S.H. -- Persevere Until Success Happens. Through heartfelt stories from his own life, Mr. Pippen encouraged students to start thinking about who they want to become and how they can get there. His presentations focused on building confidence, resilience, and a mindset of growth, especially as students begin to explore new interests and elective opportunities transitioning into high school.

Nashoba Regional High School also partnered with Best Buddies to host a Career Presentation event! High school students, along with visiting peers, explored potential career paths by researching professions, identifying key job responsibilities, and understanding the skills and education required for success in each field.

These experiences helped students in grades six and up connect who they are today with who they hope to become tomorrow, laying the groundwork for informed, confident choices as they move forward in their educational journeys!

Hale students took part in a Career Day where they sat down with people working across jobs ranging from Journalist to Chemist!

Florence Sawyer School's Thea Tully, was named the 2024-2025 Middle Level Social Studies Teacher of the Year by the National Council for Social Studies (NCSS)! This prestigious award recognizes Mrs. Tully's outstanding commitment to strengthening and advancing social studies education. The NCSS is the largest professional association in the country solely devoted to social studies education, with members across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 35 countries. It serves educators in a wide range of disciplines, including history, civics, geography, economics, and more. Its mission is to advocate for high-quality social studies education and provide leadership, support, and services to educators at every level.

Mary Rowlandson's own Gayane Hanyaloglu was featured on the Little Minds Big Thinkers podcast, hosted by Tammy McMorrow. During the episode, she shared her experience of building a thinking classroom. After participating in a summer book group led by MRE’s math coach, Karen Boisvert, Ms. Hanyaloglu began implementing strategies from Peter Liljedahl'sBuilding Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics in her first grade classroom.

Luther Burbank's Jacqueline Macharia was selected to receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)! This prestigious honor is the highest recognition a K-12 math or science teacher can achieve in the United States. It is a reflection of her exceptional dedication to teaching and the meaningful impact she has made on her students and our school community. Earning this award is no small feat. The Presidential Award is one of the most rigorous and selective in education. Teachers must meet stringent eligibility requirements, complete a comprehensive application showcasing their expertise and impact, and undergo a detailed evaluation by state and national panels of distinguished educators, scientists, and mathematicians.

On Monday, May 12th, the Nashoba and Clinton baseball teams took the field at Polar Park for a memorable evening filled with excitement, school spirit, and purpose. With perfect weather and a stadium full of fans, it was a truly special community event.

The night began with Superintendent Downing throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, setting the tone for a game that went beyond the scoreboard. This game was also Nashoba's Mental Health Awareness Game, held in partnership with the KyleCares Foundation. Players wore green ribbons and Nashoba bracelets that read “Mental Health Matters. Nashoba Cares.” as a symbol of our commitment to supporting mental health awareness in our schools and beyond.

We are incredibly proud of how our student-athletes represented Nashoba, both on and off the field. Thank you to the families, sponsors, and community members who helped make this night such a meaningful and unforgettable experience.

MRE hosted their first annual PTO-sponsored Spring-Fest for students, parents/caregivers, staff and the community. It was a well attended event with activities and games, one of which was dunking staff members in the dunk tank.

Thanks to the support of community partners, both new and returning, the 26th Annual Children's Day Fair was a big success. Community involvement helped make the day memorable for children and their families.

Principal Bates welcomed incoming kindergarten student's during the Kindergarten-Sneak- Peek!

The Extended Learning Program held their own field day!

Nashoba Regional School District has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the NAMM Foundation for their outstanding support and commitment to music education. Now in its 26th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement for providing music access and education to all students. This is Nashoba's second time earning the recognition. NRSD is one of 22 districts in the state of Massachusetts to be recognized for 2025, and one of 935 districts recognized across the country.

This year, the Nashoba Regional School District music programs offered a variety of events and opportunities for student musicians. The Nashoba Symphonic Band, supported by the local Arts Councils of Bolton, Lancaster, Stow, Berlin, Clinton, Ashby, and Lunenburg, presented the Wolves of Nashoba Festival which included local history talks, a radio-play version of "The Devil and Daniel Webster," by Stephen Vincent Benét, and the Wolves of Nashoba Festival Concert.

The Music Department also hosted its second annual Great Road Musical Festival, bringing together students from across the district. Both bands and chorus groups performed for judges, received feedback through clinics, and had the chance to earn medals.

Four students from Stow’s Hale Middle School were selected to perform at the Central District Massachusetts Music Educators’ Association (CDMMEA) Junior High Festival Concert on May 3 in Blackstone, MA.

The LBMS Chorus wowed the audience while performing "America the Beautiful" at the start of a Worcester Railers hockey game, and the MRE Chorus was able to clear up a few questions they had with rock legend Dee Snider!

This year, Nashoba Regional High School celebrated two monumental accomplishments that showcased the talent and dedication of its students in global competitions.

DECA set a school record with 32 students qualifying for and attending the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Orlando, Florida - the largest DECA event with over 26,000 participants. Nashoba’s students excelled on the international stage, with three groups reaching the final round, ranking in the Top 20 worldwide, and the Business Services Operations Research team finishing in 7th place globally. Additionally, all 10 students competing in written exam events placed in the Top 30% nationally, each earning a Certificate of Excellence.

Al Fordiani, Robotics' Team Director

Meanwhile, FIRST Robotics Team 1768 capped off an outstanding season at the FRC World Championships in Houston, Texas, following a series of impressive performances in New England District Events. After securing their spot at the World Championships by winning both the URI and WPI New England District Events, and finishing 3rd at the New England Championships, the team became the #1 seed in the Hopper Division out of 75 teams. Team 1768 led an alliance with Team 2767 Stryke Force from Michigan and Team 2877 LigerBots from Newton, MA, to win the Hopper Division playoffs and advance to the Einstein Tournament. Though eliminated in the final round, they earned an impressive 5th-place finish in the world.

Nashoba Regional School District is proud to celebrate both the 2025 Seal of Biliteracy recipients and the recent cultural exchange trip to Elbeuf, Normandy. This year, ten Nashoba students earned the Seal of Biliteracy, with seven in Spanish, one in Portuguese, and one in Korean, while five students were awarded the Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction—two in Spanish, two in French, and one in Haitian Creole. The Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy recognizes high school graduates for demonstrating high proficiency in both English and a world language.

In addition to these academic achievements, nineteen Nashoba students participated in an enriching cultural exchange in Elbeuf, where they were welcomed by their French host families, many of whom had visited Nashoba the previous fall. During the trip, students attended school, explored historical sites like the Bayeux Tapestry and the American Soldiers Cemetery, and participated in a collaborative concert that celebrated the D-Day landings and human rights. The trip also featured a festive potluck, an open mic night, and a formal reception at city hall. Throughout the experience, students stayed connected with their families by sharing daily updates via WhatsApp.

Luther Burbank's International Club hosted the NRHS International Club to boost collaboration across our schools and grade levels!

The 3rd Annual International Fest was bigger than ever! Thank you to the district students and families who participated and helped continue to grow this event!

Eighth grade students at Florence Sawyer School wrapped up their "Race to the Presidency" project, a hands-on civics assignment where they researched political issues, developed stances, and worked in teams to campaign for support. The project included lobbying school district members, creating campaign materials like billboards and flyers, and designing buttons to promote their political parties. The final event was a lively debate in the FSS auditorium, with the top candidates presenting their positions to peers. Principal Bates moderated the debate while special guests, including Assistant Superintendent Laura Friend and Senator Robyn Kennedy, posed questions representing different news networks. Afterward, students had the chance to engage with Senator Kennedy, gaining real-world insight into the political process. To learn more about the Race to the Presidency project, and to hear directly from previous students, check out our article, "Student Campaigns and Real-World Politics: The FSS Race to the Presidency Hosts Senator Robyn Kennedy", or listen in to The Great Road "Episode 4: Race to the Presidency".

Students from Hale attended the Middle School Model United Nations at Northeastern University.

NRHS sent two student representatives to Massachusetts' Annual Student Government Day.

At the start of the school year we welcomed Whitsons and Ms. Mayra Maldonado into our kitchens, and rave reviews have been pouring in from both staff and students! We had a fantastic time celebrating the 62nd annual National School Lunch Week and watching our district administrators help serve up a Thanksgiving Day feast! A huge thank you to our incredible Nashoba Food Services staff and Ms. Maldonado for their hard work in bringing delicious, nutritious meals to our students every day of the year.

On April 25, 2025, Massachusetts was approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide SUN Bucks (formally known as Summer EBT) benefits to eligible households during summer 2025. SUN Bucks provides grocery-buying benefits, in the amount of a $120-lump sum per child, for income-eligible families with school-aged children for the summer period. The program is administered by the state Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) in partnership with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) with assistance from schools. SUN Bucks complements the Summer Eats program, which provides free meals to kids and teens in eligible areas all summer long. Click below to learn more!

Over the past year, significant strides have been made in the development of the new Nashoba Regional High School. The project took off last October with the preparation of the foundation soil, followed by the installation of concrete footings and foundation walls in late 2024.

Thanks to the dedication of our construction team, we’re now seeing the building begin to take shape. In May 2025, we reached a major milestone with the placement of the final steel beam, a moment celebrated by our community as it symbolizes not just construction progress, but the shared commitment of students, staff, and residents. This final beam, signed by many, serves as a reminder of our collective support and investment in creating a space where every student can thrive. While there’s still much work ahead, we’re excited about the continued progress!