The Common

Dear Nashoba Families,

On Wednesday March 13th the Nashoba Regional School Committee voted unanimously to approve the 2024-2025 school district budget of $69,255,891. What’s important to recognize is that the operational portion of the budget will be $66,520,432, which is a 3.52% increase over this year’s budget. The debt service portion of the voted budget is $2,686,236 which includes our obligation for payment on the first bond for the Nashoba Regional High School building project. The remaining portion of $49,233 are lease obligations.

The budget process was a greater challenge this year than previous years due to lower than expected state aid and increases in mandatory costs for education. Through strong partnerships and thorough analysis of efficiencies, we were able to overcome that challenge. The modest increase of 3.52%will ensure that we can continue to offer our educational program without any cuts to programs or services.

To learn more about the budget details, please go to the Nashoba Regional School Committee link at NRSD.net and click on the meeting materials to see how the budget was built.

I hope you all have a great weekend.

Peace,

Kirk Downing

(He/Him)

“Be your best self. Pave your path. Impact the world.”

Our 9-12 Science ThoughtExchange will close this evening at 11:59 PM. The response to our Exchange has been solid, and we encourage familes to return to the Exchange this evening to read what others have shared, add additional thoughts, and rate the thoughts of others. At the time of this writing, we have had 92 participants, 51 thoughts shared, and 952 ratings of other thoughts shared. A thank you to our families for sharing their perspectives and feedback!

Kandice McBrearty, Curriculum Director for Math and Science, observed several high school science classrooms this week.

In Marine Science, students engaged in a hands-on activity where they first sketched and then crafted 3D models of zooplankton and phytoplankton. These models were used in a "sinkoff" competition, aiming for each model to sink as slowly as possible, mirroring the natural behavior of these organisms in the ocean. Below is a photo of the model that outperformed the others.

In Forensics, students were treated to an interesting presentation by a member of the Massachusetts State Detective Unit, who shared insights into the daily workings of a forensics detective.

Meanwhile, Physics with Engineering students took on the challenge of constructing their own motors. They tested, adjusted, and refined their designs, demonstrating resilience and creativity until their motors operated efficiently. Throughout these experiences, our Portrait of a Nashoba Graduate competencies were alive and in action. Take a peek at the photos below!

On April 4, 2024, Dr. Larry Epstein will return to Nashoba to provide a virtual presentation for parents/caregivers from 6:30-8:00 PM. Dr. Epstein is a licensed clinical psychologist and health service provider with extensive experience in clinical and school settings. For the past 28 years, Dr. Epstein has worked with families, educators, and mental health professionals supporting children with a variety of social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. Dr. Epstein presented last year to our Nashoba families and will return again in April to share his knowledge with parents about what works when supporting children who are struggling behaviorally.

Second Annual Nashoba InternationalFest, April 27, 2024

Mark your calendars for our Kindergarten Information Night! Explore our kindergarten program, meet our dedicated teachers, and learn about the exciting spring events ahead. Don't miss this opportunity to see what a day in our kindergarten looks like. Please note, this is an adults-only event geared towards preparing caregivers for the exciting year ahead! Please attend the information night hosted by your child’s future school. Questions? Reach out to Early Childhood Coordinator/Team Chair, Kristen Ryan, kryan@nrsd.net.

Take a moment to listen to the newly released second episode of our Great Road Podcast, "Portrait of a Nashoba Graduate." In this episode, we delve into the core competencies that define a Nashoba graduate and explore how these principles are shaping instruction and learning throughout our district and specifically at the high school level. Stay tuned for future episodes that will highlight our EMT program, Robotics, Drama, and Students for Social Justice initiatives.

Listen here! Or, on our District Homepage!

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!

Click here to tell someone they are Nashoba Notable!

Florence Sawyer School Eighth graders present their platforms in the interactive civics unit

"The Race to the Presidency"

Hale Middle School students investigating human brains. Thank you to the Harvard Brain Lab!

Center School Fifth grade Chorus. The concert theme was, "Around the World in 30 Days"

Denny "Wolf of the Week" Comfort Dog

Florence Sawyer School’s “Nailed It” cupcake decorating competition

Hale Middle School’s musical- the 80s-themed- Rock of Ages!