From the Desk of Dr. Goguen

Dear Students, Staff and Families,

Congratulations to Avery Murphy!

Congratulations Avery Murphy for placing second place in the 1-Mile race at the MIAA State Division 5 meet!

With a time of 5:16.37 it’s a new school record and her second fastest time ever over the distance!!!!!

Next Week
Wishing the elementary schools, a wonderful school vacation week. School will resume on school on February 26th. Have a safe and wonderful vacation week!

Murdock Middle and High School will have 3 make up days next week due to the building issue we experienced in December. Students and staff will come to school on Wednesday February 21, Thursday February 22, and Friday February 23rd. These days will be 1/2 days for Murdock students (7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) and full days for staff. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for students. Bus schedules will run as they normally do on 1/2 days for middle and high school students.

Murdock Middle and High School will make up the other two days after the last day of school, and these days will be 1/2 days for Murdock Middle and High students and staff. Because the actual last day of school often changes when we have a full snow day, these two makeup days will be announced in the spring.

Other Important Announcements

1. Mr. Craig Murdock, Interim Principal of the Middle School has resigned and today is his last day. Mr. Murdock sends the following message to families:

I want to thank you for entrusting me with your greatest treasures. You have been a joy to work with throughout this school year and I appreciate the amazing individuals you have raised and allowed me to spend time with.
I have cherished my time as a Blue Devil and want nothing more than to see the school grow and continue to develop into the great school you all deserve it to be. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

2. Mr. Cory Rogers, who was recently hired as the interim Assistant Director of Special Education will step into the Interim Principal position at Murdock Middle School on February 26th. Mr. Rogers has experience as an Executive Director, Director of Special Education, Assistant Principal of a High School, and a Business Teacher. He is looking forward to supporting the Murdock Middle school students, staff and families. Mr. Rogers will be setting up a Principals Meet and Greet for families to be able to come by and meet him.

3. Mr. Thomas Osborne, Interim Director of Finance has resigned. We wish him the best and thank him for his service.

Kind Regards,

Dr. Ruthann Petruno-Goguen, Interim Superintendent

Dear Students, Staff, and Families:

Every year, each public school and school district in Massachusetts receives a report card. Just as your child’s report card shows how they are doing in different subjects, the school’s report card is designed to show families how our school is doing in different areas. A link to our district’s and each school’s report card is listed below:

District at https://reportcards.doe.mass.edu/2023/DistrictReportcard/03430000

Murdock High at https://reportcards.doe.mass.edu/2023/03430515

Murdock Academy for Success at https://reportcards.doe.mass.edu/2023/03430405

Murdock Middle at https://reportcards.doe.mass.edu/2023/03430315

Toy Town Elementary at https://reportcards.doe.mass.edu/2023/03430050

Memorial Elementary at https://reportcards.doe.mass.edu/2023/03430040

Winchendon Preschool Program at https://reportcards.doe.mass.edu/2023/03430010

These report cards include multiple measures of a school’s performance – more than just MCAS scores. They represent a new way of looking at school performance, by providing information on student achievement, teacher qualifications, student learning opportunities, and more.

Report cards are designed to be useful tools for everyone connected to our school. Families can use the information to have meaningful conversations with us about what the school is doing well and where there is room for improvement. Community and education leaders can use the information to better understand how to support students and our school.

We encourage you to become involved in helping us improve our school. We see parents as critical partners in the success of our students and school, and we are grateful for your continued support.

Finally, if your child attends a school that receives federal Title I funds, you also have the right to request the following information about the qualifications of your child’s classroom teachers:

• Whether your child’s teacher is licensed in the grade levels and subject areas they teach;

• Whether your child’s teacher is teaching under an emergency license or waiver;

• The college degree and major of your child’s teacher; and

• Whether your child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.

If you have questions about our school’s report card, would like to become involved in school improvement activities, or would like to request information about the qualifications of your child’s classroom teacher, please contact either Central Office or your school Principal. To see our district’s report card or to search for other schools’ report cards, visit reportcards.doe.mass.edu.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ruthann Petruno-Goguen, Interim Superintendent

The district's request for a waiver for the five days missed by Murdock Middle and High Schools due to the building issue in November has been denied by the Commissioner. The makeup days for Murdock Middle and High students and staff will be as follows:

3 Days Made Up During February Break:

Wednesday February 21, Thursday February 22, and Friday February 23: 1/2 days for Murdock students (7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) and full days for staff. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for students. Bus schedules will run as they normally do on 1/2 days for middle and high school students.

2 Days Made Up After the Last Day of School:

We will make up the other two days after the last day of school, and these days will be 1/2 days for Murdock Middle and High students and staff. Because the actual last day of school often changes, if we have a full snow day during the year, these two makeup days will be announced in the spring.

The district plans to ask again for a waiver of the 2 days to be made up after the last day of school. Updates will be provided as they are available.

Dear Students, Staff and Families,

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Year! May 2024 bring our school community all good things!

Congratulations to the newly inducted National Honor Society Students!

Class of 2024

Alexander LeBlanc

Class of 2025

Tanner Brimhall

Rachel LeBlanc

Avery Murphy

Bradley Wightman

Gavin Zabik

District Strategic Plan

In accordance with our new district strategic plan (attached here), I am attaching a voluntary school climate survey for families and staff. We will also be giving age appropriately designed surveys to students in grades 3-12. We have attached an opt out should you not want your child/children to participate. These surveys are from the Positive Behavior Intervention & Supports Center and designed to gather feedback on school climate.

It is our intention to give surveys as a method of collecting input on school climate and gaging a sense of belonging in our school communities.

Snow Communications

Should school be closed or delayed due to inclement weather, a phone call will go out along with a ParentSquare announcement, website announcement, and news station announcement. As a reminder any full snow days missed, will be made up at the end of the school year.

Middle & High School Waiver Update

I have formally requested that the Commissioner of Education waive the 5 days of missed school due to the building issue we experienced at the middle and high school. While the Department has received it, I have yet to be informed of their decision. I will keep you posted should we receive a waiver for all or some of the days.

If I do not hear back before the February break, the plan is to make up these days for the middle and high school students and staff on February 20, 21, 22, 23 and the day after the last day of school. All of these make up days will be half-days for students. (Half Day dismissal for middle and high school is 11:30am)

Upcoming Events

Get your tickets now!!!

The Murdock Middle and High School musical this year will be Newsies!!

Friday, February 2nd & Saturday, February 3rd, 2023

7:00 pm in the Murdock Auditorium.

**Tickets**

Adults (includes students & children 11 and older) $10

Children (10 and under) $7

Senior Citizens FREE

January 15: No School/Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

January 16-19: Half Day for High School Only (Mid-terms)

January 31: Half Day for all students

Kind Regards,

Dr. Goguen, Interim Superintendent

Dear Students, Staff, and Families,

Congratulations to Colin Rowe!

Colin was selected as the Murdock High School senior to receive the Superintendent's Academic

Achievement Award. Colin was recognized at the December 7, 2023 School Committee Meeting. This annual award recognizes one senior who has demonstrated distinguished academic performance AND personal contributions to their high school communities.

Colin is a senior at Murdock High School and is currently ranked third in his class, with a GPA

of 4.388.

• He is a member of the select choir and the jazz band, where he plays drums.
• Colin has participated in the musical and the Converse Tournament of Plays throughout his four years at Murdock.
• He has auditioned for the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts and is patiently waiting to hear of his acceptance.
• You may be familiar with Colin from his role as the current events anchor on Blue Devil Weekly.

Kudos to Memorial’s Music Teacher Ms. Kelsey Aggrey and the Memorial Students

Memorial School held their grade 1 and 2 Winter Concerts in the middle/high school auditorium today. It was a FANTASTIC musical performance by all! Joy filled the auditorium as we watched with pride on how confident and proud our students were to share their musical talents!

NRT Filled a Bus for Student in the Winchendon School District

Last night, staff from NRT sponsored their Fill A Bus donation for students in need in the district. They received over 100 gift wrapped presents for our students! Thank you to all our donors and to NRT for their time and efforts!

Emergency Preparedness for Medical & Behavioral Health

Medical & Behavioral Health Plans have been created for the district. Principals will continue to review these plans with staff periodically throughout the year to ensure the safety of all our students. Part of these plans included updating of the Community Resource Guide (attached) for parents/guardians.

Update on Middle/ High School's Return to School and Status on Gymnasium

Students and staff returned to the middle and high school on Thursday December 7th, with good stories to tell about their adventures at Elm Street School and Cornerstone Church! We are grateful for all the support we received during this unexpected building crisis. There has been much progress on the cleaning of the gymnasium, and we will continue to keep you updated on the progress as we know our students miss using this space. We hope to have it completed for when the students return in January, but we can not promise that just yet. We will continue to keep you updated.

Holiday Office Hours for Central Office and Schools

December 25th and 26th- All offices closed

December 27th, 28th, 29th- 8:30 to 3:00

January 1st- All offices closed

Attendance Matters!

Students need to be to school on time every day. When they are late and or absent for reasons unrelated to being sick, they miss important learning and fall behind. We need parents/guardians to assist us with monitoring attendance issues and helping us with creating supportive action plans to stop patterns of chronic absenteeism. Each school is sending out attendance notices when students miss excessive days. In some cases, Principals will be scheduling meetings with parents/guardians and students to create action plans that will help students with coming to school on time and attending regularly.

Volunteering

As we look to the start of 2024, please consider volunteering in one of our schools. Schools are always seeking additional support during the lunch/recess time, or looking for parent/guardian volunteers to assist in the classrooms. The more our students see us working together, valuing the importance of their education, the more invested they become! If you are interested in volunteering, please start at the Central Office to complete the appropriate paperwork.

Gratitude

In my short time (4.5 months) as your Interim Superintendent, we have experienced several unexpected and challenging events. It is important to pause and to recognize that on any given day across our district and in our schools, there are way more positive things that do occur on a daily basis. I continue to be impressed with the collaboration and team efforts that I have witnessed across our community. I am extremely grateful for this and look forward to 2024 and what our team efforts bring forth for our students!

Wishing everyone a safe and peaceful holiday with loved ones!

Kind Regards,

Dr. Ruthann Petruno-Goguen

Dear Students, Staff and Families,

New District Strategic Plan

I am pleased to share with you the new District Strategic Plan & Instructional Priorities for the 2023-2024 school year. You can view the Plan by clicking the link below.

The District Leadership Team has taken a few months to complete this plan of action. Teachers and staff have had the opportunity to share feedback, and the Winchendon School Committee approved.

This plan outlines a new mission and vision for the district, lists core values and beliefs, and details how working together as a school community we can build a culture of achievement where everyone feels a sense of belonging and students are doing the majority of the thinking and applying what they are learning in real life.

The plan has four focus areas: Safe and Supportive Learning Environments; Providing Equitable Access to High Quality Instructional Materials and Experiences Aligned to Massachusetts Standards; Culturally Responsive Instructional Practices and the Celebration of Diversity; and Two-Way Ongoing Communications to Strengthen Family and Community Partnerships. Under each area there are strategic objectives we will be working on this year. This District Plan will serve as a guide for the development of each School’s Improvement Plan.

Other Updates:

1. We are currently working to improve the middle school nurse’s office. The current office does not have running water/ sink, or a bathroom, or a place for students who are ill and need to lay down. Our Director of Facilities, Brian Croteau, has taken a close look at the building, and we are in the process of getting quotes to modify an area across from the middle school office for a new nurse’s room. ESSER funds will be used for this project to better ensure the safety and wellbeing of middle school students by providing them an adequate area when they are ill.

2. Thanksgiving Day Football Game starts at 10:00 a.m. Admission is $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for students, and Senior Citizens are free. Come on down with your family to support the Murdock Blue Devils as they play against the Narragansett Warriors.

3. Next week is Parent/Teacher Conferences and half-days of school for students on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. There is no school on Thursday or Friday.

Wishing all of our students, staff and families a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday with loved ones!

Kind Regards,

Dr. Ruthann Petruno-Goguen, Interim Superintendent

Dear Students, Staff and Families,

Happy Friday! I hope everyone is doing well.

Here are some updates:

1. Today is Amanda Babinski's last day as our Director of Finance, but she will be continuing to work up to 10 hours a week offsite as the search for her replacement continues. Liz Latoria, Darcie Morin and I, will team up to assist with the job responsibilities in the interim. Please join me in thanking Mrs. Babinski for her work and organization of the finances. We will miss her greatly!

2. The District Leadership Team has been meeting with frequency, and we are working on the following things:

• A new District Plan of Action. This plan will outline a strategic approach to accomplishing goals and will be shared soon.
• Developing cohesive systems and consistencies between the schools with protocols and practices. From simple things like sending school newsletters out on the same day to bigger things like code of conduct expectations, effective building scheduling, family outreach, school councils, etc.
• Improved safety measures. I have started a monthly District Safety meeting with local fire and police officials, SRO, Principals, Director of Facilities, Director of Maintenance, Director of IT. We are currently updating the Medical Emergency Plan and working on the Behavior Health Emergency portion of this plan. Principals will be reviewing some of the safety preparedness protocols at the upcoming November 1st professional development day with teachers and staff. More to come.
• Reviewing building schedules for maximized effectiveness and efficiency and to hopefully locate certified staff for open positions across the district.

3. Safety Improvements:

• Additional crossing guard time has been provided for the middle/high school dismissal.
• New signage has been posted on the sidewalk towards the crossing guard to remind students walking, biking or scootering, to slow down prior to the road and crossing guard.
• A new fence has been put up to block off the path into the woods by the corner of Memorial Elementary School. Students are expected to walk on the sidewalk and utilize the crossing guard for safety reasons.
• The signs on the main road signaling drivers that they are approaching a school zone have been fixed, and the brush has been cleared so all school zone signs are visible.
• The highway department has plans to repaint the road symbols marking this area as a school zone to increase the visual reminders for drivers to slow down on this road.

4. Kudos to:

• Deb Connelly for carrying the Athletic Department while we did not have an Athletic Director. Mrs. Connelly has worked diligently to make sure our students' athletic program continued. She cares deeply about our students and athletics. Please join me in thanking her for all her extra efforts to ensure athletics did not fall apart during this time.
• Cheryl Jordan's 1st grade class who joined us at the October 19th School Committee Meeting to show off their reading and comprehension skills. We thoroughly enjoyed listening to several students reading synopses of their favorite books and showing us what they liked about these books.
• Dave Bilodeau, who does the grounds for the athletic field is truly an artist! Take a look at Blue Devil pride in these pictures! This takes a tremendous amount of time and effort. Please join me in thanking Dave for sharing his gift and all the extra time it takes to do this.
  

Upcoming Events:

October 27th- Memorial and Toy Town Halloween Bash 5:30 to 7pm at Toy Town Elementary

October 28th- Haunted Hallways at Murdock High School 5-7pm

November 10th - No School / Veteran’s Day

November 13th- Winchendon Special Town Meeting 7pm

November 16th - School Committee Meeting 6pm.

Kind Regards,

Dr. Goguen

Dear Winchendon Public Schools Community,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Murphy and Anthony Findley as our new Athletics Co-Directors. Both have extensive experience in our district as coaches, and both bring a strong sense of commitment to the development of our athletic programs for the middle and high school.

Mrs. Murphy has lived in Winchendon for 19 years with her husband, Michael. She has two stepsons who graduated from Murdock as student athletes, and her 8th grade son and an 11th grade daughter are both three season athletes. Mrs. Murphy is in her third season of Cross Country coaching, and she will be going into her fourth season of coaching Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field for Murdock. When Mrs. Murphy is not coaching, she is working as a Veterinary Technician. She enjoys spending time at her family farm and hiking with her dogs. She is very excited to see what this upcoming year has to offer for our student athletes at Murdock Middle and High Schools.

Mr. Findley is excited about the opportunity to help grow the sports program at Murdock Middle and High Schools. He has been coaching at Murdock for 21 years, serving as coach for middle school and varsity soccer, cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. Mr. Findley is a graduate of Murdock and a three sport athlete. His oldest son graduated from Murdock and was a three sport athlete was well. Mr. Findley has three sons who will be entering the Murdock athletic programs. He is truly honored to have this opportunity to oversee athletics at Murdock and build successful programs for all of the student/athletes at Murdock Middle and High Schools.

Please join me in ​congratulating Mrs. Murphy and Mr. Findley.

Best,

Ruthann Petruno-Goguen, Ed.D.
Interim Superintendent

Dear Students, Families, and Staff,
I am pleased to announce Mrs. Tasha Gamble as the new Interim Assistant Principal for Murdock High School. Mrs. Gamble has been an educator for 15 years, working in many different roles. She worked as a para-educator at the elementary, middle and high school levels, part of that time as a one-to-one. She also worked as a middle school general education science teacher for six years and a high school special education teacher for three years before making the jump into administration. The last two years, she worked as a special education administrator in the Gardner Public School district. She has a Masters of Education in Moderate Disabilities from Bay Path University. Mrs. Gamble lives in Gardner with her husband, Jake, and their two sons, Jacob and Logan, and their little dog, Harvey. In her spare time, she loves to travel. Mrs. Gamble will be starting on October 23, 2023 and is excited to join the Winchendon school community!

Best,

Ruthann Petruno-Goguen, Ed.D.
Interim Superintendent

October 4, 2023

Dear Students, Staff, and Parents,

It’s been a busy beginning of the school year! I want to thank all our students for their hard work and also all our parents/guardians for participating in the many ongoing school events at each building. Supporting our students and building school pride is such an important driver to each of our students’ success here in Winchendon.

Many of our principals are still looking for parent/guardian and community members to volunteer for the School Councils. If you are interested in serving on these important committees, please reach out to your school principals as soon as possible. These School Councils are instrumental in putting together new School Improvement Plans and goals for this year. School Councils meet monthly and we need parents/guardians and community members voices on these committees!

Also, a friendly reminder that pets are not allowed on school property or at school events at any time. Please refrain from bringing your dogs to parent pick up/drop off, athletics practices or any other school events.

Staffing Updates:

1. I regret to inform you that Mr. Shamgochian, who was supposed to start work on October 10th, as the new High School Assistant Principal and part-time Athletic Director, has just informed us that he has decided not to come to Winchendon. This is both surprising and disappointing to us as we stopped our search when he officially accepted this position. We have re-posted these positions, and I will keep you updated on our progress with filling these two important roles.

2. Although our open teaching positions have been posted since the summer, we, like many other districts nationwide are facing staffing shortages. To combat these shortages, we are in the complex process of looking closely at our existing staff, efficiency of building schedules, and class sizes. This information will assist us with how best to re-allocate existing teaching staff to fill these open positions. We will keep you posted on any updates with filling open positions with certified teachers.

3. Math Coach, Shauna Lapointe, is filling in at Murdock Middle school as the grade 6 math teacher for a few weeks and then she will return to her role as Math Coach for grades PreK-5. Mrs. Lapointe will continue to provide coaching to all PreK-5 teachers, work closely with principals and their ILTs on data analysis, and planning interactive Math Nights.

4. With the notification of Amanda Babinski, the Director of Finance’s resignation, we are in the process of interviewing for her replacement. Mrs. Babinski has been a wonderful support for the district, and she will be greatly missed. We are fortunate that she has agreed to stay on a bit as we find her replacement, and it is our hope that she can work with her replacement to assist with a smooth transition.

Program Updates:

1. The Murdock Academy for Success is a separate high school within our district, and it is currently housed at the Central Offices. This is not a special education alternative high school or a therapeutic high school, rather it is categorized by DESE as a regular separate high school. We are currently in the process of hiring a new teacher for this program, and we are in the planning phases of moving the Murdock Academy for Success back to Murdock High School to better meet the needs of our students. The Murdock Academy for Success will continue to be overseen by Murdock High School Principal, Mr. David Fredette. Once housed back at Murdock High School, it will remain as a separate high school with its own separate exit and entrance to the building. Bringing this program back to the high school will allow for students enrolled in the Murdock Academy for Success to have access to a counselor, nurse, inclusionary opportunities and special education and related service providers.

2. EL Services to second language learners are provided by Mrs. Tabitha DeHays. She is responsible for providing services to our second language learners and can be reached at tdehays@winchendonk12.org.

3. As a Title One district, we have a few Title One teachers who are responsible for providing supplemental interventions to students who qualify. Currently, Memorial has Mrs. Kim Gaidanowicz, and Toy Town has Mrs. Joanne Forsythe and Mrs. Lisa Crawley. It is important to note the Title One interventions are in ADDITION to core instruction and not meant to supplant core instruction.

4. Summit is an online program used only at Murdock Middle School. This program holds instructional lessons, tasks and worksheets for students to independently work on during the school day. We are in the process of assessing the amount of time middle school students are spending on the computer each day on the Summit tasks assigned verses the time on direct explicit instruction and real student engagement in classroom activities that involve discussion, group work and independent face-to-face communications with their peers and teachers. If you are a parent of a middle school student or a staff member using Summit, your feedback on these questionnaires are greatly appreciated.

· Summit Parent Survey

· Summit Staff Survey

Curriculum & Instruction Updates:

Literacy:

1. Currently we are in the process of looking at updating the literacy curriculum for K-5 to ensure that the materials teachers are using are high quality, research-based instructional materials. Teachers have been provided opportunities to review Wonders 2023 and Wit & Wisdom and provide feedback.

2. We have also applied for the DESE’s HQIM Grant to assist us with covering the cost for purchasing a new program.

3. We are continuing to work with HILL Consultants on literacy improvements. They conducted a Systems Analysis Report last year, and we recently received the data they collected. A District Literacy Committee that consists of administrators and teachers from Memorial and Toy Town will break down this report and put together a Literacy Action Plan that will focus areas of need.

Upcoming Dates:

Oct. 5th. at 7pm: Bring your family and come to the Homecoming Football Game. Entry is free.

Oct. 9th - No School/ Columbus Day Holiday

Kind Regards,

Dr. Ruthann Petruno-Goguen, Interim Superintendent

Dear Students, Families and Staff,
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Murdock High School Interim Assistant Principal and Athletics Director, Mr. Thomas Shamgochian. Mr. Shamgochian has been working with students in a variety of capacities for the last several years as an Athletic Director and Dean of Students at Ware Junior Senior High School.

Mr. Shamgochian is dedicated to making strong connections with students, faculty, administration, and community members. He believes that all students should be supported and encouraged to reach their full potential both in and out of the classroom. Through academics, athletics, and other extracurricular opportunities, he hopes to create an environment in which every student can enjoy their high school experience to the fullest and become active members of their school and local communities.

Mr. Shamgochian resides in Ware, MA with his wife Kelly, a fellow educator, his daughter Hannah, who is a student at Penn State University, and their two cats Baby and Binx. He enjoys music, professional sporting events, and spending time with family. Mr. Shamgochian will begin on October 10, and we are so excited to welcome him to the Winchendon Public Schools family.

Ruthann Petruno-Goguen, Ed.D.
Interim Superintendent

Dear Students, Families, and Staff,

Today, the 2023 MCAS results in ELA, Math, and Science have been released. These standardized tests are one way to assess how the schools and the districts are teaching grade-level standards in grades 3-10, and to assess how well individual students are performing on a computerized tests of the grade-level standards they are expected to know.

We know that the effects of the global pandemic created learning gaps for some students, but the 2023 MCAS results across the state of Massachusetts, are showing gains in ELA and Math.

The Winchendon Public School District Accountability rating is not requiring assistance or interventions. The District as a whole is making substantial progress (61%) toward targets.

Murdock High School’s Accountability rating is not requiring assistance or interventions. Murdock High School is making substantial progress (55%) toward targets. Murdock High School’s Accountability rating puts it at the 13th percentile among the state’s high schools.

Murdock Middle School’s Accountability rating is requiring assistance or intervention. Murdock Middle School is making moderate progress (41%) toward targets. Murdock Middle School is in need of focused targeted support because it had low participation rate on MCAS for students with disabilities. Murdock Middle School’s Accountability rating puts it at the 31st percentile among the state’s middle schools.

Toy Town Elementary School’s Accountability rating is requiring assistance or intervention. Toy Town Elementary is making substantial progress (57%) toward targets. Toy Town Elementary School is in need of focused targeted support because of the low student group performance with the white subgroup. Toy Town’s Accountability rating puts it at the 13th percentile among the state’s elementary schools.

The Winchendon Public School results are listed below in an Annual Comparison chart by grade level and content area, with a brief summary highlighting some gains from 2022 to 2023. It is important to remember the following when reviewing the charts below:

- 2019- full tests in grades 3-8 and high school

- 2020- No MCAS

- 2021- Half tests in grades 3-8, full tests in high school

- 2022- Full tests in grades 3-8 and high school

- 2023 -Full tests in grades 3-8 and high school

In reviewing the data below, keep in mind that across the state and country, students’ outcomes are still recovering post-pandemic, so our scores this year are not as high as they were in 2019.

Your child’s individual MCAS scores will be mailed out once we receive them from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. For more information go to https://profiles.doe.mass.edu/accountability/report/district.aspx?linkid=30&orgcode=03430000&orgtypecode=5&

Kind Regards,

Dr. Ruthann Petruno -Goguen, Interim Superintendent

August 29, 2023

Dear Students, Families and Staff,
I am pleased to announce that Mr. David Fredette has been hired as the Interim Principal for Murdock High School. Mr. Fredette's educational background includes a Master's degree in Middle School Administration from Fitchburg State College and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in School Administration from American International College. Mr. Fredette spent 14 years teaching middle school ELA in both Worcester and Holden. He was also an Assistant Principal in Sterling and Ware, and a Principal in Garner for 6 years. Mr. Fredette shares, " My educational philosophy and moral imperative is firmly rooted in the power of positive relationships. Building strong, meaningful, positive relationships with students, staff, and families is the key to everyone's success. Building relationships on a foundation of trust, respect, love, and empathy, allows all stakeholders to feel and see their value. From there, all students' potential is limitless."

Mr. Fredette enjoys watching all types of sports, listening to music, and gardening. He specializes in growing tomatoes and super hot chili peppers! He lives with his wife, who is a Health/ PE teacher in the Nashoba District, along with his son who is an amazing baseball player and daughter who is an incredible artist.

Mr. Fredette is very excited to lead Murdock High School and become a part of the Winchendon School Community.

Dr. Ruthann Petruno-Goguen

Interim Superintendent

August 28, 2023

Dear Students, Families and Staff,

I am pleased to announce that Mrs. Rebekah Leonard has been appointed as the District's Lead Nurse. Mrs. Leonard has served the district as a Nationally Certified School Nurse for the past twelve years at Murdock Middle and Murdock High School. Her strengths lie in acting as a care provider, an educator, and an advocate for every student within her care. Mrs. Leonard has in-depth knowledge of the health and wellness needs of the Winchendon School District, and her goal-directed attitude towards growth will be an asset to the district’s nursing department, students, families, and staff. Mrs. Leonard is a proud graduate of Murdock High School, and she looks forward to supporting her community in this new role. It is her hope to further promote school and community health initiatives that facilitate learning, growth, and development, as well as increased outreach to students and families. She enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and two kittens in her spare time!

Dr. Ruthann Petruno-Goguen

Interim Superintendent

August 25, 2023

Dear Students, Staff, and Families,

I am pleased to announce Mrs. Heidi Bevacqua has been appointed as the Interim Dean at Murdock Middle School. Mrs. Bevacqua has been working in Winchendon since 1997 in a variety of roles, and most recently she was the Coordinator of the Murdock Academy for Success. Mrs. Bevacqua’s strength is in special education and supporting students and families. Mrs. Bevacqua is a proud Murdock High School graduate and is excited to provide supports to students as the Interim Dean of Murdock Middle School. It is her hope to build stronger school to home connections and to make middle school life a joyous adventure for all students. Mrs. Bevacqua is the proud mother of 3 boys and 2 crazy dogs!

Dr. Ruthann Petruno-Goguen, Interim Superintendent

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August 22, 2023

Dear Students, Families, and Staff,

I am pleased to announce we have hired the following new administrators:

1. Mrs. Laura Lambert will be the Interim Dean at Toy Town Elementary School. Mrs. Lambert has worked with children and families for the last 25 years in varied roles as a Social Worker. She earned her Bachelors Degree in Psychology in 1999 from Fitchburg State University and then her Masters Degree in Social Work from Boston University in 2017. Mrs. Lambert is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and is a Licensed School Social Worker. She previously worked as a School Adjustment Counselor at Memorial Elementary School and is excited to take on the new role as Dean at Toy Town Elementary. Mrs. Lambert is an avid lover of the outdoors and spends a lot of time camping in the summer months and hiking year round.

2. Mrs. Kelsey Garcia will be the Interim Assistant Director of Pupil Services. Mrs. Garcia is a devoted wife and mother who has dedicated over a decade to a fulfilling career in special education. With a deep passion for both her work and family, she has demonstrated unwavering commitment in fostering a supportive and nurturing environment. Her journey is a testament to her ability to balance her professional dedication with her love for her family. Mrs. Garcia is eager to begin working within her own community!

Students, families and staff are invited to a meet and greet with all our new administrators this Thursday, August 24 from 4:45pm to 5:30pm in the library at Toy Town Elementary.

Dr. Ruthann Petruno-Goguen, Interim Superintendent

August 18, 2023

Dear Students, Staff and Families,

I am pleased to announce, Mr. Craig Murdock has been hired as the new Interim Murdock Middle School Principal. Mr. Murdock has 17 years of experience as an educator and a Vice Principal for 6 years. Mr. Murdock lives in Western Massachusetts and has four children. He enjoys camping at Tully Lake, hiking, golfing and walking his dogs! Mr. Murdock is very excited to join the Murdock Middle School and the Winchendon School Community.

Dr. Ruthann Petruno-Goguen, Interim Superintendent

August 15, 2023

Dear Students, Families and Staff,

I am pleased be a part of the Winchendon School Community as your Interim Superintendent through June 2024. I took this position to help the district get restabilized and to ensure that students and teachers have what they need to be successful in the teaching and learning cycle. I have experience with assisting districts in moving forward, and I am eager to learn more about the Winchendon School Community. I believe a school community is as strong as the people within it! I know that the people within this community want the very best for their students! During my tenure, it is my goal to assist with building stronger home-to-school connections so that families, students, and staff feel valued and appreciated. I am a collaborative leader who is committed to creating a united community of learners where everyone is engaged in the process of supporting ALL students with a safe, engaging, and rigorous learning environment.

I am pleased to share three important positions in the district that have been filled:

• Mrs. Charlotte King has been hired as the Interim Director of Pupil Services. Many of you may know Mrs. King as she was the Dean at Toy Town Elementary. Mrs. King received her Bachelors of Science in Human Development from Wheelock College in 1993, and her Masters in Early Childhood Education from Fitchburg State College in 2000. In Mrs. King’s 30 years of experience in education, she has worked doing early intervention home visits for children with special needs from birth the age three. She also worked as an Integrated Preschool Teacher and Kindergarten Teacher in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Mrs. King’s prior leadership roles have included working as Team Chair and Principal of an Early Childhood Center in Massachusetts. Mrs. King is well-known by those who work with her as a highly effective leader whose strength lies in her natural ability to build professional and trusting relationships with staff and families. With her extensive experience in early childhood education, Mrs. King is student-centered and adds insight and vision to the initiatives our district is undertaking. Mrs. King is excited to be leading the Pupil Personnel Department and making connections with families.

• Mrs. Bobbie French has been hired as the Interim Principal of Memorial Elementary School. Mrs. French is a passionate and dedicated educator with over 28 years of experience. She holds a Bachelors, Masters, and CAGS from Fitchburg State University, with a focus on psychology, counseling, and special education. She has also completed the NISL (National Institute of School Leadership) and Lynch Leadership programs. Mrs. French is an active member of MSAA (Massachusetts School Administrators Association) serving on the board as chair of the Elementary Committee. Mrs. French is passionate about creating schools where all students feel a sense of belonging that allows them to excel despite learning challenges. Bobbie believes should be a place where all are welcome and can see themselves reflected in their classrooms and are encouraged to be the best versions of themselves. Mrs. French is a lifelong learner and believes in the power of being a connected educator. She is passionate about focusing on the whole child and creating an environment where all students are welcome and can excel. She appreciates and recognizes the hard work of teachers, and is committed to supporting others to be their best for kids every day. Her passion and enthusiasm for creating a positive and engaging school culture is contagious. Mrs. French lives in Phillipston with her husband (Curt), son (Zachary) and two yellow labs (Blizzard & Koda). Mrs. French is also an avid photographer, reader, and loves fishing with her family.

• Mr. Scott Simoneau has been hired as the Districtwide Maintenance Manager. Many of you may also know Mr. Simoneau as he served as the Day Custodian at Murdock Middle/High School.

Please join me in welcoming Mrs. King, Mrs. French and Mr. Simoneau to their new roles. I am certain more information will be coming from them as we prepare for a new school year!

Other news:

• Today I received the resignation of Mrs. Mary Jane Rickson, Principal of Murdock High. Mrs. Rickson will be staying on as we start up the search for a new principal, and we thank her for that and wish her the best on her new journey.
• The process of interviewing for a new Middle School Principal, Middle School Dean, and High School Assistant Principal is ongoing.

Upcoming Events…Mark your Calendars!

• August 22nd- SEPAC Meeting at the Beals Library at 6:00 p.m. Come join in and learn more about the SEPAC and how you can be a part of this important group.
• August 24th - School Committee Meeting at Town Hall at 6:00 p.m.
• August 25th, August 28th, 29th - District Opening/ PD for Teachers and Staff (more to come)
• August 25th – Memorial Elementary Snow Cone Social at 3:30 p.m. (more to come)
• August 30th – First Day of School for Students, Grades 1-12
• August 31st- Kindergarten Practice Day (more to come)
• September 1st, 4th – No school
• September 5th – First Day of Kindergarten

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your summer break, and I look forward to the year ahead.

Dr. Ruthann Petruno-Goguen

Interim Superintendent