The Common
Dear Nashoba Community,
On Wednesday, January 15th, our leadership team presented the first draft of the 2025-2026 school year budget to the Nashoba Regional School Committee. The first draft of the budget is always a significant milestone, though it comes with inherent uncertainties. At this stage, we don’t have all the data needed to finalize the numbers precisely, which is a normal part of the process and consistent with how budgets have been developed over the years.
What is not typical this year is the scale of the budget deficit we’re facing—it’s larger than what we’ve encountered in recent memory. The cost of educating a student within and outside our district has steadily risen, while external revenue streams have not kept pace with those increases. Families have contributed through rising fees for activities and services, employees have agreed to a new health benefits model to help manage costs, and our towns have stepped up with increased local assessments. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported these efforts—especially our residents, whose historical commitment to our schools has been unwavering. However, the challenges we face this year go beyond what we’ve experienced before, and we are committed to working hard to find viable solutions.
The budget we presented Wednesday evening requested new positions identified by our school leaders to meet the needs of our students and staff. While these requests are critical to documenting the needs of our schools, we acknowledge that not all of them will likely make it into the final budget. Additionally, we will look closely at non-salary expenses which we can reduce to close the gap. Finally, we will need to consider staffing reductions as a last resort. As we continue through this process, we will gain a clearer picture of the full scope of costs and funding streams, enabling us to make informed decisions.
If you were not able to watch the School Committee meeting on Wednesday, I would encourage you to watch our available recording of the meeting, to educate yourself on the challenge ahead for us.
We are in this together and we will work hard to ensure our students get the best instruction and services possible. I will follow up with another update on January 31st to brief you on what will be presented at the next School Committee meeting.
I encourage everyone within and outside of the school district to pause for now and digest the information we have today as introductory information. It is certain to change in the coming weeks as financial information comes in. We are dedicated to delivering the best education we can deliver to our students and we will work hard to ensure that happens.
Peace,
Kirk Downing (He/Him)
Superintendent
Celebrating Excellence: NRSD's Ms. Macharia Honored with National Award!
We are excited to announce that Ms. Jacqueline Macharia, one of our dedicated Luther Burbank Middle School educators, has been 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. Each year, only up to 110 educators across the entire United States receive this honor.
Ms. Macharia’s dedication to her craft and her students is inspiring. Her high expectations, deep understanding of content, and ability to help every student grow make her an exceptional educator and a role model for us all.
What makes this honor even more special is that it began with a parent who nominated Ms. Macharia after seeing the tremendous impact she had, not only on their children but on countless others. This is a powerful testament to the difference she makes in the lives of her students and their families.
In true Ms. Macharia fashion, she credits her colleagues and the collaborative spirit of our school for her success, often saying she stands on the shoulders of others. Her humility is yet another reason we are so proud to celebrate this remarkable achievement.
To learn more about this exciting award check out The White House Press Release naming Ms. Macharia!
NRHS Hosts Successful Annual National History Day
Nashoba Regional High School Social Studies students shared their learning this week during the annual National History Day showcase held in the Nashoba Regional High School Media Center. The showcase celebrated the quarter-long research project that had students diving deep into a historical topic of their choice that fit into the theme of Rights and Responsibilities in History.
Students conducted extensive research through primary and secondary sources. They then presented a thesis statement, evidence and conclusions through papers, exhibits, performances, documentaries, or websites. Through this process, students continued their work to develop skills that relate to the core Portrait of a Nashoba Graduate competencies of communication, creativity, empathy, perseverance, learner’s mindset, and culturally competent global citizenship. Nashoba Regional High School students have participated in the competition for nearly two decades. For more information about this year’s theme, visit the National History Day website.
The theme of Rights and Responsibilities was one that our adolescent students, not surprisingly, found very relevant to their lives and interests as they themselves gain both rights and responsibilities during their high school years! After considering what rights and responsibilities mean today and historically, students explored and then selected a topic of their choice. Students collaborated or worked independently, conducting extensive research, outlining the project, writing an annotated bibliography and producing a product to showcase their knowledge. NRHS students created interactive exhibits, featuring text, images, video, and objects. Other students created websites and wrote research papers.
The wide array of topics presented by NRHS students included everything from driving laws, Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, dress codes, pay equity, Covid-19, and Supreme Court decisions such as Tinker vs. Des Moines. The wide variety of topics and products demonstrated an impressive array of student knowledge about what constitutes a right and a responsibility and what that means in a free society.
Panorama Survey: Winter 2025 Reminder
In last week's Common we highlighted our upcoming Winter 2025 Panorama Surveys. Beginning next Tuesday, January 21st, 2025 and running through January 31st, 2025, we will be administering surveys to our students in grades 3-8. These surveys will be taken anonymously by students, and will help us learn more about the self-perceived social-emotional needs and feelings of belonging within our school communities. Following our survey administration, school principals will summarize their respective school results and share the survey findings with their school communities and the next steps.
Pre-Kindergarten Registration Open!
The Nashoba Regional School District will offer five day programming across the district in both full day and half day formats. Submission of the below form will enter you in the Nashoba Regional School District's preschool lottery for the 25/26 school year. Please complete one form for each child you would like to enter the lottery for. Nashoba Regional School District began accepting preschool lottery applications on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. The deadline for applications will be Friday, January 31, 2025. Families will be notified of their selection via email in early February.
Our program is designed for students who are 3 and 4 years old. To learn more about our program, please see our Informational Slides. For any additional questions, please contact Kristen Ryan, Director of Early Childhood at kryan@nrsd.net or 978.779.0539 ext. 3008.
Kindergarten Pre-Registration is Now Open!
Kindergarten pre-registration is now live! If your child will be turning 5 on or before September 1, 2025 please fill out the pre-registration form below to help us get started. Families who complete the form will receive important updates and next steps. Our official registration will open in Spring 2025.
Be sure to submit the form by Monday, February 3, 2025, so you don’t miss any time-sensitive information. We'll use the contact information you provide there to send out updates on events, screenings, and registration. We’re excited to have your family join our school community. To learn more check out our NEW Kindergarten page!
Illness Season is Here, What Can You Do to Reduce Your Risk of Getting Sick?
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.
Positions Available!
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!
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.
Nashoba Notable Award! Thank a Nashoba Employee!
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!
