The Common

Dear Nashoba Community,

Tomorrow, Saturday, May 17th, we’ll come together to celebrate an exciting milestone for our community, the Beam Signing of the new Nashoba Regional High School. This special event will take place at the high school from 10:00am to 12:00pm and marks a meaningful moment in the progress of the new building. The decision to build a new high school supports our ongoing commitment to delivering a strong education for each and every one of our students. We are deeply grateful to the community for its continued support and dedication to this mission.

Everyone is invited to take part, including former students, district staff, and community members. It’s a great chance to leave your mark - literally - by signing one of the final beams that will be placed in the new structure. We look forward to sharing this moment with you and hope to see you there!

Peace,

Kirk Downing (He/Him)
Superintendent

We’re proud to announce that the Nashoba Regional School District has been awarded the Information Technology Innovation Career Pathways designation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The designation was officially announced on Wednesday, May 7th, during the Massachusetts STEM Summit, and shared with our School Committee on Wednesday, May 14th.

This exciting recognition reflects Nashoba’s ongoing commitment to providing career-connected learning in high-demand fields. The new Information Technology Pathway marks the district's third Innovation Pathway, joining our existing programs: Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing and Business and Finance. This pathway further expands student opportunities in digital creation, data and computer science, and media production.

Applications are now open for current 8th grade students entering Nashoba Regional High School and will remain open until Friday, June 6, 2025. To learn more about the Innovation Pathways Program see our website, or reach out directly to Innovation Pathways Coordinator, Bridget Hannigan (bhannigan@nrsd.net).

Nashoba Regional School District is proud to announce the 2025 Seal of Biliteracy and Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction award recipients! This year, ten Nashoba students received the Seal of Biliteracy (seven in Spanish, one in Portuguese, and one in Korean), while five received the Seal of Biliteracy With Distinction (two in Spanish, two in French, and one in Haitian Creole).

The Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy recognizes high school graduates who showcase high functional and academic levels of proficiency in English and a world language. Our heartfelt congratulations to all recipients!

2025 Seal of Biliteracy Award Recipients are: Ty Agoglia, Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish; Emily Barrett, Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish; Melissa Cerioni, Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish; Riley Dinjan, Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish; Natasha Dirsa, Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish; Madison Oxnard, Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish; Emelin Ramos Juarez, Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish; Carla Vielevski, Seal of Biliteracy in Portuguese; Rosalyn Lai, Seal of Biliteracy in Chinese, and Ellen Jun, Seal of Biliteracy in Korean.

2025 Seal of Biliteracy With Distinction Award Recipients are: Ruby Izquierdo, Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction in Spanish; Joann Maldonado Jacome, Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction in Spanish; Christina Vaval, Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction in Haitian Creole; Clemence Hubert, Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction in French, and Christina Vaval, Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction in French.

Nashoba Regional School District's Pre-Kindergarten enrollment is ongoing! There are still limited spots available in both our full day and half day program sections. Reach out directly to our Director of Early Childhood, Kristen Ryan, at kryan@nrsd.net, if you're interested in enrolling.

Free Virtual Parent Education Presentation

Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 8:00 - 9:00 PM

Presented by: Jennifer T. Gillette, MA, Child Development/Behavior & Parenting Specialist

Jennifer is the founding director of The Loved Child (TLC) and brings nearly 28 years of experience supporting the growth and well-being of parents and their children. With a strong clinical foundation in Developmental Pediatrics, she has worked at some of Boston’s most esteemed institutions, including Boston Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Boston Children’s Hospital. Throughout her career, Jennifer has provided guidance to countless families and collaborated extensively with professionals in developmental and behavioral child health, offering training, consultation, and support. Her dedication to research includes managing studies on children’s temperament styles at both the Brazelton Institute at Children’s Hospital and the Psychology Department at Harvard University. Jennifer has also contributed to the Healthy Steps for Young Children program—an influential initiative developed through Johns Hopkins University, The Boston Foundation, and Partners HealthCare. Beyond her professional accomplishments, she is deeply connected to her community and takes great joy in being the proud mother of three college-aged sons.

What is NRSD SEPAC?

The NRSD Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is an all volunteer group with a mission to support students and their families by providing education and information on special education issues and services. Through their efforts, the organization aims to promote a better understanding of, respect for, and support of special education in the community. The Nashoba SEPAC works closely with the Nashoba Regional School District administration and School Committee to ensure that students' needs are being met in accordance with applicable laws.

SEPAC does this by:

• Listening to families, our students and caregivers

• Participating in the planning, development, and evaluation of the school district's special education programs

• Advising the district on matters that pertain to the education and safety of students with disabilities

• Providing family-to-family support and networking

• Hosting presentations

• Making recommendations for professional development

Why explore SEPAC?

SEPAC welcomes everyone. We strive to build a community of support for those on the special education journey.

Get connected

Get in touch on Facebook or by emailing: SEPACchairs@nrsd.net

Each town has parent liaisons whose contact information names can be found on the district website at: https://www.nrsd.net/page/sepac-special-education-parent-advisory-council

As the days get warmer and we spend more time outside, it’s important to protect ourselves from ticks and mosquitoes. These tiny pests can carry diseases, so a few precautions can go a long way in keeping you and your family safe. Nashoba Associated Boards of Health has offered the below information along with the Mosquito Prevention graphic to help make getting through this time of year a little bit easier.

Prevent Tick Bites

• Use EPA tick repellent
• Wear long sleeved shirts and pants when walking in the woods or grassy areas
• Stay on cleared trails
• Check yourself, gear, and pets for ticks before getting into your car or home

Check for These Common Tick Bite Symptoms

Many tickborne diseases can have similar signs and symptoms. If you get a tick bite and develop

the symptoms below within a few weeks, see your healthcare provider. The most common symptoms of tick-related illnesses include:

• Fever/chills. All tickborne diseases can cause fever.
• Aches and pains. Tickborne diseases can cause headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. People with Lyme disease may also have joint pain.
• Rash. Lyme disease, Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), ehrlichiosis, and tularemia can cause distinctive rashes.

Don't Forget! Tick Checks!

One of the most important things you can do is check yourself for ticks once a day. Remember to check your children and pets, too. Remove any attached ticks as soon as possible.

Come support Nashoba's Relay for Life event! Bring your friends and family to support Nashoba's fight against cancer. This is a rain-or-shine event is open to the whole community. There will be food, games, and activities hosted by Nashoba students and alumni throughout the day! For additional information or to sign up, scan the QR code, or click the button below! Questions? Contact lsmith@nrsd.net.

📅 Saturday, May 17th, 2025
📍 Nashoba Regional High School Track and Field
⏰ 10:00am - 10:00pm

The Nashoba Regional School Committee gifted Ava Wyman, dedicated Student Representative to the School Committee, a parting gift during her last in-person meeting before graduation! Thank you for your hard work, Ava!

Earlier this year we announced that Ms. Macharia (LBMS) was selected to receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)! This past Tuesday she was recognized along with 31 other award-winning Massachusetts educators at DESE's annual Celebration Honoring Excellence in Teaching. Learn more from DESE's Press Release!

Center School 5th graders showed off their hard work and research skills during the annual 5th Grade Science Fair!

Kindergarten students at MRE mark the final 26 days of school with an "ABC Countdown" (that's all that's left!?). Above you'll see them celebrating the letter "B" with beach blankets and books!

Girls on the Run helped out by repainting the play area at FSS!

Third grade students at Center School headed to the Concord Museum for an end of year field trip!

Kindergarten students at FSS shared and enjoyed the class book that they create together!