SPS Weekly Newsletter

This week's header photo features the Stoughton High graduation for the Class of 2025, held Thursday, June 5. In this photo, class valedictorian Sofia Issa addresses the graduates.

It was an honor to be at the Graduation for the Stoughton High Class of 2025 on Thursday.

I want to share a little from my speech to the graduates…some simple life thoughts:

One, The Journey: Your time together has been more than just an academic pursuit; it has been full of diverse experiences. From study sessions and adventures, each moment has contributed to your growth. You have learned from textbooks, various technology platforms and most importantly from the outstanding teachers and support staff of Stoughton Public Schools. The Stoughton Way has provided you with resiliency - that is who we are.

Two, Look Ahead with Optimism: Optimism is not luck. You have an opportunity, if not a requirement, to be curious. The future is not tomorrow, it is already here. Most importantly, as you dream to make your life the best it can be, you must create your actions and make decisions in your best interest, while supporting others. Those “others” are counting on you for numerous reasons - for support, for safety, and even to put food on the table and a roof over their head.

Three, Express Gratitude: The unwavering support of your families, mentors, and friends must be something you are grateful for. Do it with a smile, a note, an act of kindness. Pay it forward. An act of kindness is the best way to celebrate.

Four, A Call to Action: This is your last formal get-together as the Class of 2025. Together, consider that you will be agents of change, uphold the values you have learned, and always be the one that will do it with integrity and compassion.

Five, The World is a Better Place: The world is a better place because of you - you are smart, kind, gentle, passionate, and most importantly understanding of others….you are the future and the future is VERY bright.

I also want to share some words of wisdom from the other speeches:

• "I wish you all…a successful future, sprinkled with moments of failure. Because it is the failures that make us stronger. Tests our character. Move us forward as individuals. Failure gives you an inner strength that passing tests can’t. Failure teaches you things about yourself that can’t be learned any other way.” - Excerpt from SHS Principal Julie Miller’s Graduation speech
  
  
• "If you are feeling scared or uncertain about life after high school, I want you to know that's okay. And I can guarantee you most of the people you are sitting next to feel the same way. So no you’re not behind - you're just where you're supposed to be. Don’t be afraid to change your plan, to fail, to start over. Because things happen. Life happens. And as [singer-songwriter] Phoebe Bridgers says, ‘Know it's for the better’." - Excerpt from President of the Senior Class Peighton Mofford’s Graduation speech
  
  
• "Confidence is not about never being afraid - it is about being there for yourself, even when you are afraid. It is about being proud of who you are and what you have done, even when it feels like you haven’t done anything at all. I want everyone here today to know that even if you weren’t the captain of a sport, or the head of a club, or the lead of the school play, you contributed something simply by being yourself. We have all accomplished something monumental just by being here and walking across this stage, and I want us all to remember that we each offer a light no one else can shine and no one else deserves to dim.” - Excerpt from Class Valedictorian Sofia Issa’s Graduation speech
  
  
• "...Now that I stand in front of you, finally about to leave my childhood behind, I don’t know that I can say I’m as excited for it anymore. I mean the future is scary. Nobody likes change. It haunts us until it’s over, and even then another change is usually thrown our way. Yet I like to see this change as being a source of light for our futures. Usually when we think about growing up, we imagine all of the dark parts of it. Having to leave our family and friends behind. Never getting to play a sport we love again. Or even leaving Stoughton High…But today I’m standing here encouraging you to find the light, because after today our lives begin. After today we get to finally refer to ourselves as adults. After today we grow up.” - Excerpt from Student Council President Grace Weisenberger’s Graduation speech
  
  
• "I hope you can all agree with me when I say that I wouldn’t rather grow up anywhere other than Stoughton, despite how “terrible” outsiders (from Canton) may think it is. In fact, I would argue that we should hold the most pride in simply being from Stoughton. Stoughton has made us who we are, and that alone is something worth celebrating." - Excerpt from Class Salutatorian Lauren Price’s Class Night speech

Congratulations to the Stoughton High Class of 2025 and remember, “Once a Knight, always a Knight.”

Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,

Joseph F. Baeta, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Stoughton Public Schools

The Stoughton High Class of 2025 had its commencement on Thursday. While it was hot and humid, we were able to have a wonderful ceremony outside on the turf field at SHS. Congratulations to the more than 275 graduates! The graduates are listed below (the slide changes every few seconds listing more graduates).

You can also watch a replay of the live stream of the entire ceremony here. It starts at the 9:30 mark. Special thanks to Stoughton Media Access and SHS video production teacher Kevin Bechet for filming graduation!

Many more pictures from the SHS graduation (as well as Scholarship Knight and Class Night) will be shared in the coming days on the Stoughton Public Schools Facebook page!

Continuing a tradition now in its 31st year, five members of this year’s graduating class from Stoughton High were named "Golden Knights" - Valdina Alves, Jacob Marques, Sama Farhan, Ethan Jimenez, and Magdalie Paul.

These students have "demonstrated outstanding qualities of character, leadership, and service to the school community." Each year members of the SHS staff are asked to nominate seniors who deserve recognition for their service and commitment, as well as for their exemplary personal qualities.

This prestigious award is presented annually at the Class Night ceremony. (A special thank you to Stoughton Co-Operative Bank for underwriting the cost of the trophies and plaques.)

Congratulations to all five honorees! They are pictured together above (Sama, Magdalie, and Valdina, left to right in the front row, and Ethan and Jacob, left to right in the back row).

Read more about each Golden Knight recipient by clicking here.

Fifth graders from all of our elementary schools took part in the annual all-school field day on Friday. Hundreds of students gathered on the fields between the Wilkins School, O'Donnell Middle School, and Stoughton High for a number of games and activities. A group of fifth graders are pictured above at field day. In addition to taking part in the all-school field day, each fifth grade class had the chance to tour the O'Donnell Middle School with an OMS student leader and also listen to a presentation about making good decisions in middle school. Pictures from the tour and good decisions presentation are below.

The last day of the 2024-2025 school year is coming up. For grades K-11, the last day of school is Tuesday, June 17 and it will be an early release day. The last day for preschool students at the Jones Early Childhood Center is Tuesday, June 10. The last day for preschool will follow a regular Tuesday schedule.

If you have not already opted in to receive text messages from the District and your school, you will receive a message from BrightArrow, Stoughton Public Schools’ communication platform, on Monday.

This SMS/text message will allow you to opt in to receive important District/school updates, alerts, and other public information. (If you have already opted in to receive our text messages you will not receive this message.)

• To opt in at any time, reply "YES" to 79041.

• To opt out at any time, reply "STOP."

Thank you for staying informed!

The deadline to register for bus transportation for next school year is coming up. Tuesday, June 17, 2025 is the last day to sign up. The registration form is available on the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Students entering grades K-12 are eligible to apply.

Please note that all payments are also due by June 17. If you have registered, but not submitted a payment by the June 17 deadline, your child's application will not be processed for a seat on the bus. The cost to ride the bus is $375 per student with a family cap of $750.

If your student will be entering grades K-6 and lives more than 2 miles from their assigned school, there is no fee to ride the bus. Additionally, the bus fee will be waived for families who are direct certified by the state or are approved for fee and/or reduced meals. Otherwise, there is a fee for your student to ride the bus. If you are uncertain of your official distance from your school or free/reduced meals status, please contact your school or contact the Transportation Department via email at Transportation@stoughtonschools.org.

For more information about bus transportation, click here.

Registration is open for Stoughton Public Schools summer programs that are fee-based. The theatre program for elementary/middle schoolers and the theatre program for high school students are both at capacity, but you can still sign up for the athletics programs for high schoolers. Please click here for more information. The deadline to sign up is June 13, 2025. Please note that payment is also due by June 13.

There will be a Building Committee meeting for the new elementary school project on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at 7pm in the Conference Room at the Stoughton Public Schools District Office (31 Pierce St.). There is also a remote option. An Agenda for the meeting can be found by clicking here.

Did you know that Stoughton Public Schools has partnered with Care Solace to support the well-being of students, staff, and their family members? Care Solace is a complimentary and confidential care coordination service that can help you quickly find mental health, social services, or substance use treatment options matched to your needs, regardless of circumstance.

• Call: 888-515-0595 (available 24/7/365 with multilingual support)
• Visit: caresolace.com/stoughtonschools to search or click “Book Appointment”.

For updates throughout the week, be sure to follow Stoughton Public Schools on social media: