The Common

Dear Nashoba Community,

Last November, Massachusetts voters decided to eliminate the requirement for a passing MCAS score as a condition for high school graduation. With this change, the responsibility for determining graduation competency now falls to local education authorities. Governor Healey has begun gathering input from constituents to shape what a statewide competency determination will look like moving forward—a process expected to take 18-24 months. In the meantime, we must establish our own approach.

In Nashoba, School Committee Policy IKF outlines our district’s graduation requirements, which currently include earning a passing score on MCAS. To align with the will of the voters, I am recommending that the School Committee remove the “passing score” requirement from our policy while we await further guidance from the state.

It’s important to note that removing this requirement does not eliminate MCAS testing. The state still mandates that all students take the required MCAS exams each year. Additionally, there is no opt-out provision, meaning all students must participate in the exams so we can assess learning and tailor instruction to meet their needs.

This matter will be discussed at our next School Committee meeting on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. We will also be presenting an updated budget overview, and I encourage you to tune in to learn more about the challenges we face with this year’s budget reductions. You can find a link to the meeting on our district homepage by selecting the School Committee tab.

Peace,

Kirk Downing (He/Him)
Superintendent

During last week's School Committee meeting, high school principal, Dr. Kate Boynton, presented the Program of Studies for the upcoming school year. Notable additions for next year include courses related to The Innovation Pathways Program which launched this year at the high school.

In collaboration with Middlesex Community College, the high school staff and the Pathways team have been working to develop approved dual enrollment courses. One such course is the newly created Tech Essentials for the Modern World. This course spans two semesters and offers a comprehensive exploration of essential computer and web-based technologies, preparing students for success in today’s digital landscape.

Throughout the course, students will gain proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), Google Workspace, and Adobe Creative Cloud applications (Photoshop and Illustrator). Additionally, students will develop communication skills through presentations and public speaking, learning techniques for effective storytelling and visual design. The second semester of the course focuses on preparing students for Microsoft Certification. This course equips students with both practical skills and theoretical knowledge that will support their academic success and future career prospects in a technology-driven world.

For more details on these and other new offerings, check out the NRHS Program of Studies and the School Committee Presentation.

Many of our new courses mentioned above are also featured in the second edition of our Future Focus newsletter, designed specifically for our rising freshmen. This newsletter aims to provide easy access to information about courses, clubs, and other extracurricular activities that students can engage with once they join NRHS.

Our first Future Focus introduced our administrative team, department heads, and an overview of core courses for incoming freshmen. Our latest edition hones in on elective offerings at NRHS, as well as opportunities for students to engage in career-connected learning through our Innovation Pathways Program. NRHS offers a wide variety of elective courses, ranging from studio art and graphics to computer science, music recording, robotics, drone technology, economics, and more. These electives allow students to explore their interests and develop new skills. Some of these courses also align with our Innovation Pathways Program. The Innovation Pathways Program provides a structured way for students to gain hands-on experience in high-demand fields.

For interested students, we are now accepting applications from the Class of 2029 applications

for our Business and Finance Pathway and our Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing Pathway.

Nashoba SEPAC offers virtual and in-person events to families. Up next, SEPAC will host their SEPAC Business Meeting on February 11th, 2025. The meeting will run between 6:30pm - 8:00pm. Check the 2024-2025 SEPAC Calendar of Events below to access the meeting link, along with all other upcoming events!

The colder months are here and we have entered the peak season for stomach viruses, colds, flu, and other respiratory illnesses. We've listed the best ways for students and families to reduce their risk of contracting and spreading illnesses in school and within the community below.

Hygiene Practices

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before eating.

• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.

• Avoid touching your face.

• Use hand sanitizer when soap and water aren't available.

• Stay home if you're sick.

Vaccination:

• Get vaccinated against common viruses like influenza, Covid, pertussis, and RSV.

To learn more about illnesses that are common during this time of year, please see the following links: Stomach Virus, Common Respiratory Illness, Strep Throat, and Mycoplasma Pneumoniae. Please reach out to your child’s School Nurse with any further questions or concerns.

Additionally, COVID tests are available for home use at each of our schools. If you are interested in picking up an at-home test, please reach out to the Main Office at your school.

We are excited to have you become a part of the Nashoba Regional High School Interscholastic Athletics Program. Nashoba Athletics is rich in pride and tradition. NRHS offers 50+ teams across 26 sports!

Participating at the high school level requires a greater commitment compared to a club or recreational team. Members of a team are expected to attend all practices and competitions. Weekend practice sessions may vary by sport and should be anticipated. In addition, teams do practice and compete over vacations and many holidays (i.e. Columbus Day, Veterans Day, etc.).

Prior to the start of each season, the high school will host a meeting for students and their parent(s)/guardian(s). These pre-season meetings serve as an opportunity for coaches to provide information about their program, team philosophy, expectations, and more.

The athletics office will send out information via email prior to each season, but we wanted to share information ahead of time for all potential incoming ninth graders. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Tania Rich, Director of Athletics, at trich@nrsd.net. To learn more, check our the NRHS Athletics Site, the NRHS Coaches Directory, and the NRHS Team Schedules - ArbiterLive.

Nashoba Drama is excited to announce their upcoming production of The Little Mermaid! Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale and the beloved Disney film by Howard Ashman and John Musker, this is a musical event you won’t want to miss. Performances will be held on Friday, March 14th at 7:00 PM, Saturday, March 15th at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM, and Sunday, March 16th at 2:00 PM. Tickets are available now—check out the flyer below and click here or scan the QR code to secure your tickets. Also, save the date for LBMS Drama's production of Annie Jr. on Saturday, March 22nd at 6:30 PM and Sunday, March 23rd at 2:00 PM.

The Nashoba Ski team has kicked off their fund-raising promotion with the Wachusett Ticket Sale Donation Program. For every ticket sold online that uses their coupon code: DON-NRSKI, Wachusett will donate $10.00 to the Ski Team. To purchase a ticket click here, all you'll need to do is select your date and time and add in the above code! Members of the Ski Team field a great deal of cost in their participation. All who participate must cover their Wachusett pass to train, race day tickets, and equipment upkeep.

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!

The FSS 8th Grade Activities Committee partnered with Aldrich Astronomical Society for the third annual Stargazing Night!

Fourth grade Center School students in Mrs. Jusseaume’s class celebrated the 100th day of school!

MRE's music teacher Mr. Rossley cheered on student teacher Mr. Rawlinson who stepped in to conduct a few songs during the recent MRE band concert.

Seventh grade students at FSS have been actively engaged in a unit of study focused on The Outsiders. Through rich class discussions and in-depth literary analysis, students explored the themes, conflicts, and symbolism developed throughout the text. As a culminating activity, students dressed as the novel’s characters and watched the film adaption.

MRE students came together for the Heart-of-a-Husky Kindness in the Community Assembly!