The Common

Dear Nashoba Community,

It probably goes without saying that this winter has been a challenge in regards to calling snow days, two hour delays, and early dismissal. I am very much looking forward to warmer weather and greater certainty in weather patterns.

As it stands, the entire NRSD system has had a total of four snow days this year which will push our last day of school to Thursday, June 18, 2026. Center school will be required to attend an additional day on Monday, June 22, 2026 due to the school cancellation when the building did not have water pressure. Friday, June 19th is a national holiday and we will not be in session that day.

Massachusetts regulations require students to be in session for 180 school days. If we have any additional days cancelled, we will need to extend the planned end of the school year. I am crossing my fingers that warmer days are ahead and we can manage this period without any additional cancellations. I will announce the last day of school at the April 22, 2026 school committee meeting.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Peace,

Kirk Downing (He/Him)

Superintendent

MRE celebrated its Annual Community Reader Day on Thursday, welcoming a wide range of special guests into classrooms across the school. Each year, this event brings together retired teachers and principals, former students, community members, and district leaders to share their love of reading with MRE students.

In Mrs. Willard’s classroom, students were joined by Representative Meghan Kilcoyne, who read The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons. The nonfiction story introduces students to Edwin Binney, the inventor behind Crayola crayons. Students learned what made this invention so special, along with how crayons are made and discovered that more than 13 million crayons are produced each day at the Crayola factory in Pennsylvania. They also learned the origin of the name “Crayola”, which combines craie, the French word for chalk, and oleaginous, meaning oily.

After the story, Representative Kilcoyne answered questions from the class, sharing what her role as a state representative looks like and giving students a glimpse into her day-to-day work.

Across the rest of the school, classrooms welcomed many other guest readers, including former MRE principals, retired teachers, Assistant Superintendent Friend, Superintendent Downing, and MRE graduates who are now students at the high school. Each visitor spent time reading and connecting with students, making this another successful Community Reader Day!

If all of the reading talk makes you inspired, it's the perfect time to grab a book, March is National Reading Month!

On Saturday, February 28th, 2026, nine Nashoba Regional High School students participated in the Central Massachusetts History Day Regional Competition at the Leicester Middle School in Leicester, Massachusetts. The students participating in the event were NRHS freshmen Nora Miller, Savannah Solimeno, Augustus "Gus" Angelides, Matthew "Teo" Rivera, Maya Figueiredo, Elsie Konno and NRHS juniors Ben Shepard, Ryan Reis and Connor Pape.

Gus and Teo were awarded an Honorable Mention and a special achievement award from the Worcester Ecotarium for their documentary on Artificial Intelligence, while Conor and Ryan's documentary, on Nuclear Testing in the Bikini Atoll, earned them a chance to compete at the State Level in Winchester, Massachusetts, in mid-April 2026. Congratulations to our Nashoba competitors!

As part of Nashoba Regional School District’s continued implementation of My Career and Academic Planning (MyCAP), a state-supported process that helps students identify their interests, strengths, and goals while preparing for academic, career, and postsecondary success, we launched SchooLinks this year, a comprehensive college and career readiness platform for NRSD students in grades 6-12.

To further expand the real-world learning opportunities available to students through this platform, the NRHS Counseling Department has created a Google Form that allows community members and organizations to submit volunteer opportunities, part-time jobs, and internships for NRHS students. Submissions are reviewed by the Counseling Department and then posted to the SchooLinks Opportunities Board for students. We invite our local businesses to submit opportunities!

To learn more about SchooLinks please see the SchooLinks section of our NRSD Family Information Hub!

The Nashoba Community Partnership for Children's FREE STEM Event for families and children ages 5 - 8 years old was rescheduled due to weather, the new date is available below! Ignite curiosity and creativity! Join us for fun hands-on STEM stations. The event will be facilitated by Barbara Jorda, Co-Founder and Program Director of STEM Beginnings.

When: Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at 5:30 PM

Where: Florence Sawyer School - Emerson Wing, 50 Mechanic Street, Bolton

Gymnasium (Enter through main doors under the brick arches)

The Nashoba Community Partnership for Children is now accepting registrations for FREE weekly playgroups for children ages 2–5 and their caregivers. Playgroups will be held in Bolton, Lancaster, and Stow from January to June 2026. For more information on the Playgroup times, dates, and locations as well as the registration, click here, or on the button below.

These playgroups are funded by the Department of Early Education and Care’s CFCE grant and are designed to support young families in our communities with fun, hands-on learning and social opportunities. Spaces are limited!

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 welcomes everyone. We strive to build a community of support for those on the special education journey. Get in touch by emailing SEPACchairs@nrsd.net. Each town has parent liaisons whose contact information names can be found on the district website.

Upcoming Meetings

Meetings will be held on the following dates: 2/25, 3/,18, 4/29, 5/20, and 6/17. SEPAC Officers meet at 7pm followed by a Listening Session at 7:30. Open to anyone who wishes to discuss special education matters. All meetings are virtual and links can be found here (passcode: NRSDSEPAC).

The district wants to reassure families that free breakfast and lunch will continue to be available to all students at every school, and these meals will not be affected by the shutdown.

In addition to school meals, families can access support through Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline, provided by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Hotline counselors are available in 180 languages to connect families with programs such as WIC and local food pantries.

The district’s Department of Health and Wellness has also compiled a list of local resources for families who need assistance or want to help others in the community. These resources include food assistance programs, holiday gift aid, general support services, and utilities help. The community has a strong network of partners dedicated to ensuring that no family goes without essential resources.

Nashoba Drama is excited to present Big Fish as their spring musical this March. Based on Daniel Wallace's book and the Columbia Pictures screenplay written by John August, the musical follows a son trying to distinguish fact from fantasy in his father's larger than life tales.

Shows will run Friday 3/13 at 7:00pm, Saturday 3/14 at 7:00pm, and Sunday 3/15 at 2:00pm. Click the button below to grab your tickets now!

Florence Sawyer School Drama proudly presents: Disney's High School Musical Jr. This family-friendly musical follows Gabriella Montez, Troy Bolton and the students of East High as they navigate friendships, challenge cliques, and discover who they really are. Tickets are available now!

Shows will run out of the Florence Sawyer School Auditorium on:

• Friday 3/20 at 7:00pm
• Saturday 3/21 at 7:00pm
• Sunday 3/22 at 12:00pm

LBMS Drama is excited to present Disney's Alice in Wonderland Jr.! The show is based on the 1951 Disney film Alice in Wonderland and the Lewis Carroll novels: The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.

Shows will run in the Mary Rowlandson Elementary School Auditorium on, Saturday, March 21st, at 6:30pm, and Sunday March 22nd, at 2:00pm.

Tickets will be available at the door ($8 for seniors, $10 for students and adults).

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!

Center School hosted Chris Poulos, a BMX biker turned motivational speaker! Mrs. Wallat, a brave second grade teacher, stepped forward to help him demonstrate his last stunt - jumping over her!

The students at MRE enjoyed recess last week after the snow days provided them with lots and lots of snow!

FSS second grade students tested and gave feedback to eighth graders on their roller coaster designs!

Kindergarten students at Center participated in a Lunar New Year parade!