The Common
Dear Nashoba Community,
Next Wednesday, January 29th, we will present the next iteration of our budget as we work toward submitting our final proposal at the FY26 Budget Vote on March 5, 2025. Earlier this week, we received the Governor’s Budget, which has guided the preparation of our presentation and materials.
As noted last week, this year’s budget presents unique challenges. The scale of our budget deficit is significantly larger than in recent years. The rising costs of educating students, both within and outside our district, have outpaced external revenue streams. We remain committed to finding thoughtful, viable solutions that prioritize our students' education while addressing these financial constraints. We encourage our community to stay informed throughout this critical process.
To support transparency and accessibility, we have developed an FY26 Budget Development webpage. This page serves as a hub for key information, including upcoming meeting dates and links, recordings of previous meetings, and materials such as presentations and proposed budget drafts. You can find our FY26 Budget Development page by heading to our Finance & Operations Center and clicking the FY26 Budget Timeline & Updates tab.
Thank you for your continued support as we work together to build a budget that reflects our commitment to delivering an excellent education for each and every student.
Peace,
Kirk Downing (He/Him)
Superintendent
Business & Finance Pathway and Advanced Engineering & Manufacturing Pathway: Application Opens For Class of 2029 on February 3rd!
Our Innovation Pathways Program will begin accepting applications from the Class of 2029 (rising freshmen) for the Business & Finance and Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing pathways on Monday, February 3, 2025. The online application will be accessible through the Innovation Pathways homepage. Each graduating class can accommodate 20 students per pathway. Applications will be accepted from February 3, 2025, through March 31, 2025.
The Innovation Pathways program uses a lottery system to select students. Families will be notified of their status during the first week of April.
The Innovations Pathways program empowers students to excel in high-demand industries by providing hands-on, real-world learning experiences aligned with workforce needs. Through rigorous coursework, technical skill development, and industry partnerships, we prepare students to succeed in college, careers, and beyond. By fostering creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration, the program uses coursework, field trips, and guest speakers to help cultivate future-ready leaders equipped to make important decisions about their post-high school lives.
As we have written about throughout the school year, our team is in the process of submitting an application for an Information Pathway, which is planned to launch in Fall 2025, pending approval. Details about this pathway and its application process will be shared in April 2025. If you have any questions about our current and future pathways please reach out directly to our Innovation Pathways Coordinator, Bridget Hannigan, at bhannigan@nrsd.net.
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.
February Vacation Camp: Spaces Still Available!
Consider joining the Extended Learning Program February Vacation Enrichment Camp for four days of fun in February! The camp will offer an array of enrichment experiences including: Sports, Lego's, Theatre/Drama, and more! With half-day and full-day options, there truly is something for every camper to enjoy. Our vacation camp is packed with activities designed to keep kids engaged, active, and learning!
February Vacation Camp will run between Tuesday February, 18th and Friday February, 21st. Use the Vacation Camp Registration Form, or the button below, to enroll your student. Don't wait too long, registration will close on February 7th. We hope to see you there!
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!
