Center Connection

Dear Families,

Welcome Back! I hope everyone enjoyed the spring break and are ready for these last eight weeks of the 2025-2026 school year. This time of the year grows increasingly busy so be sure to keep an eye out from classroom teachers around grade level specific events as well as my upcoming events section. Additionally, we are coming up on our SPTO Annual Election time. Please see the SPTO Section below for details and do not hesitate to reach out with questions.

Field Day is approaching (June 15th, rain date of June 16th) and we will be looking to have some family members volunteer at different stations. Please sign up via this Sign Up Genius Link for individuals who are interested in helping for field day. We ask that volunteers who choose to help be available to support from 8:30-11:30am. Please ensure you have an active CORI form on file as it is required to volunteer. The Sign Ups will be first come, first serve. Students will be encouraged to wear the same color that their grade had for color wars spirit day this winter (Pre-School Blue, Kindergarten Purple, First Grade Orange, Second Grade Green, Third Grade Pink, Fourth Grade Red, and Fifth Grade will make new Tie-Die Shirts at school for the event).

We look forward to the various opportunities to connect this spring.

In partnership,

Kerryann

April 27: All School Meeting (9:30)

April 29: School Council (3:30)

May 12: PTO (7pm)

May 15: Early Release (11:15am Pre-K Dismissal; 12:15 K-5 Dismissal)

May 19: All School Meeting (2pm)

May 20: No School for Current Kindergarteners - Screening for Incoming K Students

May 20: Virtual Listening Session (4pm)

School Wide Save the Dates:

May 25: Memorial Day - No School

May 29: Band Concert (6pm)

June 2: PTO End of Year Picnic (5pm)

June 8: PTO End of Year Picnic RAINDATE

June 11: Fifth Grade Moving Up Ceremony (9:00am)

June 15: Field Day (All Grades)

June 16: Rain Date Field Day (All Grades)

Follow Our Events by subscribing to The Center School Calendar.

The SPTO is preparing for our Annual Election, which will take place at our Annual Meeting on June 9th, in accordance with our bylaws. All board positions will be voted on at that time.

The current board members that are seeking reelection:

• President – Kara Killough
• Vice President / Hale Representative – Vacant
• Secretary – Tanya Christensen
• Co-Treasurers – Andrea Kennedy & Kirsten Erbse
• Webmaster – Mark Gruman
• Fundraising Chair – Vacant

We are currently seeking volunteers to fill open positions for the 2026-2027 school year, including:

• Vice President / Hale Representative
• Fundraising Chair
• Secretary
• Treasurer

All positions, including those currently held, are subject to election. If you’re interested in running for any position or would like to learn more, please reach out to the board—we’d love to have you involved!

Managing severe allergies (anaphylaxis) is a shared responsibility. For some students, even trace amounts of an allergen—like peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, or eggs—can trigger a life-threatening reaction within minutes.

To ensure a safe and inclusive environment for everyone, we ask students and parents to follow these critical safety guidelines:

1. The "No Sharing" Rule

While sharing is usually a virtue, in the context of food, it can be dangerous.

• Students: Never swap snacks, lunches, or drinks with your peers.

• Parents: Please reinforce this rule at home. Explain that some friends have "hidden" sicknesses triggered by certain foods that might be perfectly safe for others.

2. Check Every Label, Every Time

Food manufacturers frequently change their ingredients and processing facilities. A product that was safe last month might not be safe today.

• Read the "Contains" Statement: Look for bolded allergens at the bottom of the ingredient list.

• Watch for Cross-Contamination: Avoid items labeled "May contain..." or "Processed in a facility that also processes..." if your child’s classroom is designated as an allergy-aware zone.

3. Hand Hygiene Matters

Allergens can easily be transferred from hands to desks, door handles, and shared equipment.

• Encourage students to wash their hands with soap and water after eating.

• Note: Hand sanitizers are great for killing germs, but they do not remove food proteins or oils from the skin.

4. Recognize the Signs

If a student complains of a "tingly" tongue, an itchy throat, or difficulty breathing, notify school staff or a nurse immediately. When in doubt, treat it as an emergency.

Our Goal: By being mindful of what we bring into the classroom, we ensure that school remains a place where every student can focus on learning without fear.

Thank you for your cooperation and for looking out for one another!

Thank you all for your support!

I am proud to announce that NRSD has been awarded as one of the 2026 Best Communities for Music Education! This is our third year being awarded. We are one of only 24 districts in MA with this distinction!

We ask that you take a look at the dates below and try to ensure your child is at school and on time for their testing days. We greatly appreciate your partnership. We did make one change to Grade 4 Math Session 1. Please see the change bolded below.

Grade 3 MCAS Dates

ELA Session 1: 3/24

ELA Session 2: 3/31

Math Session 1: 5/4

Math Session 2: 5/11

Grade 4 MCAS Dates

ELA Session 1: 3/25

ELA Session 2: 4/1

Math Session 1: 5/5

Math Session 2: 5/8

Grade 5 MCAS Dates

ELA Session 1: 3/26

ELA Session 2: 4/13

Math Session 1: 4/30

Math Session 2: 5/7

STE Session 1: 5/14

STE Session 2: 5/18

ELA Session 1 Make Ups: 3/30

ELA Session 2 Make Ups: 4/14

Math Session 1 Make Ups: 5/6

Math Session 2 Make Ups: 5/12

STE Session 1 Make Ups: 5/19

STE Session 2 Make Ups: 5/20

The cut off time for changes in Pick Up Patrol is 12:00pm. Please get any changes entered as early as possible.

Reporting Absences, Late Arrivals or Early Dismissals
All student absences, late arrivals, and early dismissals should now be entered through PickUp Patrol. This allows the school office, health office, and classroom teacher to access the information directly.

• Absences (Please enter as soon as you know of an upcoming absence. It helps us a lot when they are in prior to the day starting).

• Late arrivals

• Any changes to dismissal plans (before 12pm)
  
  

Using this program ensures that the school office, your child’s teacher, the health office, and the dismissal team all have the same, up-to-date information each day. Families can access PickUp Patrol through the mobile app or the website dashboard.

Registration for Kindergarten for the 2026-2027 school year will be shared with families in the next few weeks. If you are new to Stow or have not completed a census please send your contact information to Kirsten Gallagher, Administrative Assistant - Center School kgallagher@nrsd.net.

SEPAC Meetings:

4/29/2026

5/20/2026

6/17/2026

SEPAC Officers will meet at 7pm followed by a Listening Session at 7:30 PM open to anyone who wishes to discuss special education matters.

Zoom Meeting ID 869 8725 4504
Passcode NRSDSEPAC

The Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is conducting a survey to gather input from caregivers of students receiving special education services from the Nashoba Regional School District. This is an important opportunity to give the district feedback on your experiences this year. Your responses will help guide efforts to improve services and results for children in Bolton, Lancaster, and Stow.

SEPAC designed this survey and will receive your answers. Your personal information will be kept private. Your answers will be anonymous. We welcome your honesty and want to hear your thoughts.

The survey will open on Tuesday, March 31st and close on Tuesday, April 21st. Click here to start the survey.

Substitutes play a critical role in helping our school succeed and Center School needs more of them! If you have the flexibility in your schedule or know someone who does, it is an incredible way to support our school community. Please reach out with any questions.

Apply Here

We appreciate your help in growing our substitute pool!

The K-8 art show is up! There are 13 Center school student art works in it:

Tucker Thompson, 4

Jackson Hinds, 5

Shae Trefry, 4

Timmy Whitney, 4

Addie Christensen, 4

Aaron Chatterjee, 4

Wally Gratz, 3

Henry Christensen, K

Mckenna Mulroy, K

Meghan Mubiru, 2

Ryleigh Burman, 4

Cooper Michel, 4

Lily Terella, 2