The Common
Hello Nashoba!
Last week, I briefly touched on our Returning Student Registration. This week I would like to take a moment to emphasize its importance. This process is essential for ensuring we have the most up-to-date information, including your address, email, phone number, and emergency contacts. It helps us stay in touch with you, respond quickly in case of an emergency, and ensures our school nurses have the accurate medical information they need to care for your child. If you have not yet filled out the Returning Student Registration for the 2025–2026 school year, please do so as soon as possible.
Links to the Returning Student Registration were sent out by email from the front office of each of our schools during the month of August.
Helpful Reminders:
- If you’re being directed to the New Student Registration instead of the Returning Student Registration when you click on your link, try opening the link in a new browser.
- If you completed the New Student Registration this past summer, you do not need to fill out the Returning Student Registration form this year.
Thank you for your continued partnership in helping us complete this important process.
Peace,
Kirk Downing (He/Him)
Superintendent
Introduction to the NRSD Artificial Intelligence (AI) Guidelines and Protocols
NRSD has developed guidelines and protocols for the responsible and effective integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the district. AI offers significant potential for teaching and learning at NRSD, but also requires careful consideration of ethical implications, academic integrity, and data privacy. Our AI plan aims to empower our educators and enhance student learning by developing AI literacy, ensuring both staff and students gain a shared, foundational understanding of what AI is, its applications, and its limitations. Our AI approach is about using artificial intelligence as a tool to support, not replace, the essential human skills of critical thinking, creativity, and communication.
This is a phased approach, starting with the development of our AI Literacy Framework this summer, built for our collective learning community to understand, use, and evaluate AI technologies effectively and ethically. Our framework:
- Empowers our educators to use AI to enhance their professional practice, including using it for lesson planning, creating resources, and personalizing instruction.
- Teaches students how to use AI responsibly for things like brainstorming, research, and refining their work to deepen their understanding, not as a shortcut.
- Promotes responsible use to ensure that both staff and students understand what AI can do, its limitations, and how to use it safely and ethically. This focus includes teaching about academic integrity, data privacy, and evaluating AI-generated content for accuracy and bias.
To support this plan, we've developed resources to provide clear guidance for our entire community. First, the NRSD AI Handbook is a comprehensive guide that outlines our protocols for responsible AI use, academic integrity, and integration strategies like lesson planning, creating resources, and personalizing instruction.
To start the year, we launched the NRSD AI Classroom Guide as a district-wide adoption to provide a consistent approach to AI for grades 6-12. This guide offers practical strategies for integrating AI into the classroom and provides clear guidelines for students on when AI use is permitted and when it is not. It includes a "stoplight" system to make it easy for students, staff, and caregivers to understand the rules. The goal is to promote deeper learning and help students understand the ethical considerations and importance of academic integrity when using these new technologies.
We will also be developing a team of “AI Lead” teachers to strengthen understanding and effective teaching and learning with and about artificial intelligence at Nashoba. Throughout the year, these AI Leads will collaborate to identify successful integration strategies and develop professional learning opportunities for their colleagues to advance AI literacy and integration in a format designed by educators for educators.
We're excited about this new chapter and are dedicated to preparing our students for a future where AI will play a significant role in enhancing learning while upholding our commitment to academic integrity.
Get Involved! Join Our Innovation Pathways Guest Speaker Line Up
The Innovation Pathways Program is thrilled to be entering Year Two! Over the summer, we’ve been hard at work creating fresh opportunities for our students. One exciting addition is our expanded Guest Speaker Series. We’ve enhanced the hands-on experience by designing events where students first hear directly from industry experts, then dive into a focused project related to the topic, and finally receive feedback from our guest speakers. That’s where you come in.
We’re building out our Guest Speaker Series, where professionals like you can:
- Share your career journey and insights
- Watch students tackle real-world challenges developed specifically for your area of expertise
- Offer advice and feedback to help them grow
We’re currently looking for guest speakers with experience in the following areas: Marketing, Accounting, Human Resources, Investment Advising, Product Development, Branding Management, Welding, Fabrication, CAD Design, Mechanical Engineering, Product Design, Robotics Engineering, Machining, Graphic Design, Professional Photography, Magazine Editing, Mobile App Development, Data Analytics, Technology Law, Cybersecurity, and IT.
Don’t see your role listed? No worries! Even if your role isn’t mentioned, please submit your interest anyway, you never know how your expertise might connect with our program.
State Seal of Biliteracy: Information Meeting Planned for Thursday, 9/18
High school students interested in learning more about how to earn the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy are invited to an informational meeting on Thursday, September 18, 2025 from 5:30-6:30pm. The meeting is open for both students and their families and will take place in Room 155 at Nashoba Regional High School.
You can find more information about how to earn the Seal of Biliteracy here. For students studying another language or for multilingual students, this opportunity is worth a look!
Last year, we were proud to announce that fifteen NRHS students received the 2025 Seal of Biliteracy and Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction awards! Ten Nashoba students received the Seal of Biliteracy (seven in Spanish, one in Portuguese, and one in Korean), while five received the Seal of Biliteracy With Distinction (two in Spanish, two in French, and one in Haitian Creole). To read more about last year's awardees click here.
Have Questions About Special Education? The NRSD SEPAC Can Help!
What is NRSD SEPAC?
The NRSD Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is an all volunteer group with a mission to support students and their families by providing education and information on special education issues and services. Through their efforts, the organization aims to promote a better understanding of, respect for, and support of special education in the community. The Nashoba SEPAC works closely with the Nashoba Regional School District administration and School Committee to ensure that students' needs are being met in accordance with applicable laws.
SEPAC Does This By:
Listening to families, our students and caregivers
Participating in the planning, development, and evaluation of the school district's special education programs
Advising the district on matters that pertain to the education and safety of students with disabilities
Providing family-to-family support and networking
Hosting presentations
Making recommendations for professional development
Why explore SEPAC?
SEPAC welcomes everyone. We strive to build a community of support for those on the special education journey.
Get connected
Get in touch on Facebook or by emailing: SEPACchairs@nrsd.net. Each town has parent liaisons whose contact information names can be found on the district website at: https://www.nrsd.net/page/sepac-special-education-parent-advisory-council.
Health Office Update: Mandated Screenings
Health Offices across the district are currently coordinating and scheduling the required student health screenings. As mandated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, schools must conduct annual screenings in specific grade levels. These screenings include vision, hearing, growth and BMI (height and weight), postural (scoliosis), and SBIRT Screenings.
If you have any questions or concerns about these yearly screenings please contact your school nurse. If you would like your child to be excluded from any of these screenings, please fill out the School Screening Opt-Out Form and return to your student's nurse no later than September 24, 2025.
Show Your Nashoba Spirit: Shop Now!
The Nashoba Athletics Booster Club is excited to offer two online apparel stores. Perfect for students, staff, families, and the entire Nashoba community! Stock up on hoodies, t-shirts, hats, and more to show off your school pride.
The Game One Store is focused on Wolf-themed gear and will be open until Sunday, September 21 at 11:59 PM. The BSN Sprint Store includes a mix of Wolf gear and Nashoba apparel with the “N” logo, and will stay open through Monday, September 22 at 11:59 PM.
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!
