Dear Families,

As you may have seen in Friday's edition of the Common, Superintendent Downing's Newsletter, we will be mailing the students' MCAS reports on Thursday. I have reprinted his message below.

Next Thursday, October 10, 2024, Spring 2024 MCAS Parent/Guardian Reports will be mailed home to families. The MCAS Parent/Guardian Report provides families with their child’s results from the Spring 2024 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science and Technology/Engineering, where applicable.

The MCAS assessment is designed to measure performance based on the Massachusetts curriculum standards and to report the performance and progress, or growth, of individual students, schools, and districts over time. It is important to remember that the MCAS assessment represents only one measurement of achievement. Information about your child’s achievement in the MCAS Parent/Guardian Report should be considered alongside other assessments. At Nashoba, we have multiple assessment data measures to support our understanding of student learning needs.

As we look ahead, we will continue to work towards continual improvement for all students. We see parents as critical partners in the success of our students and school, and we are grateful for the continued support of our families. The following site contains resources that may be helpful: MCAS Resources for Parents and Guardians.

In other FSS news,

• This Wednesday, October 9, Dr. Levine and the Bolton Police Department will lead our students in a walk from the Bolton Town Common for our fall Walk to School Wednesday.
• The Bolton 5K will take place this Saturday, October 12. You can find more information and registration links below.
• School pictures are scheduled for October 16.
• The first Student Council dance (grades 7 & 8) is Friday, October 18.
• PTO's Night at the Worcester Railers is coming up on October 20. Please check out all of the new PTO news below.
• Friday, October 25 is an early dismissal day for students.
• Friday, October 25 is also the Nashoba Regional Homecoming football game. Our middle school bands are invited to play with the other NRSD bands during the game.
• PTO Bingo returns to Florence Sawyer School on November 15.
• Save the Date for our Annual Pasta Dinner on November 21.

Yours in partnership,

Joel Bates,

Principal

We are very excited about our new lunch options and I hope that your children are enjoying them. To access the menus for each wing of the Florence Sawyer School Emerson Wing (PK-1) and the Sawyer Wing (2-8) there are different menus. We have included them below.

We are excited to share a new process for lunches in the Emerson Wing K-1 (only). To expedite the morning routine for our classroom teachers we are asking for all families to partner with us and please complete the Google Form by 8am each Monday. This will be the new way that K-1 students in the Emerson-Wing order their lunch choice. We will send a new form home on Friday so you can make selections over the weekend for the upcoming week.

We have created the Virtual Backpack as a convenience for our families to capture forms, flyers, calendars, and other information that might have traditionally come home in a backpack.

Included on the Virtual Backpack page is a Community Events and Activities page where you can find non-school sponsored activities such community events, youth sports, community information for families, and other activities for children. We do our best to keep the CAEP updated.

A Reminder from the Health Offices...

If you have not already done so, please complete your child's online returning student registration form. Information on how to access the online form has been sent out via email three times since the start of the school year.

Please note that included in the online registration is the parent consent for your child to be able to receive our standing order medicines while in school. Your child will not be able to receive any of these medicines without having a completed returning school registration.

Thank you.

On October 9th, FSS and the Bolton Police Department will offer a Fall Walk and Bike to School Day. Students can come to the Bolton Town Common between 7:55 and 8:15 a.m. Parents should drop off students near the parking lot. At 8:10, students will gather together and at approximately 8:15 we will leave the Bolton Town Common for both wings of the FSS campus.

In the event of inclement weather, we will postpone the event. Parents will be notified through School Messenger.

We ask that you pre-register your child to participate by completing the form below, no later than Tuesday, October 8th, by 3:00 pm Please submit one form per child participant.

Please find a link for our Fall Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 9.

Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Club – Open to students in grades 3-8

The first meeting of the 2024-25 RAK Club will be on Wednesday, October 16th at 7:45 am in Mrs. Scudiere’s Room #160. Interested students in grades 3-8 who wish to continue in or join the club should complete a permission form and return it to Miss Richards by the first meeting.

Drop off for RAK Club: Mrs. Scudiere or Miss Richards will be at the front door of FSS from 7:40-7:50 am to let club members into the building. We ask that students be on time for club.

We will meet Wednesday mornings throughout the school year to organize and plan a variety of new kindness activities leading into Kindness Month currently scheduled in May 2025 (more details to come).

Gardening / Nature Club - Open to students in grades 3-8

Gardening/Nature Club will be starting on Monday, October 21st and is open to students in grades 3-8. Club will be meeting in Miss Richards’ room #243 after school on Mondays until 4:00 pm through May 19th.

Interested students should return permission slips by Friday, October 18th. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at jrichards@nrsd.net .

Dear Florence Sawyer School Families,

We are excited to announce an opportunity for you to become an integral part of our school community! We are currently seeking enthusiastic individuals to apply for the position of Paid Lunchroom Monitor at Florence Sawyer School.

Position Highlights:

• Student-Facing Role: Engage with our students daily and play a vital role in their lunchtime experience.

• Collaborative Environment: Work alongside a supportive team of school staff and fellow monitors.

• Support Our School Community: Contribute to creating a positive and organized lunchroom atmosphere.

The role involves working approximately 3 hours a day, helping to ensure that lunch periods run smoothly. This is a fantastic way to get involved with our school, support our children, and be an active part of our community.

If you are interested in this rewarding opportunity, please apply here.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our school community. We look forward to hearing from you!

Looking to support the Florence Sawyer School?

We are actively seeking volunteers to assist our on duty staff for both lunch and recess duties.

We are seeking individuals who would be willing to sign up for specific time intervals on a monthly calendar.

Lunch Duties in the Sawyer building run for 30 min intervals starting at 10:55 until 1:30pm.

Lunch Duties in the Emerson building run from 12:30-2:00pm.

You will be required to have a current CORI on file with the district.

If you are interested in helping us out please send an email to kdean@nrsd.net .

Additional information will be provided to those who reach out.

Any questions, please call 978-779-2821 X5106

The Nashoba Regional High School Basketball teams will be offering a fall basketball clinic for students in grades 4-8 in November. For more information and registration click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe2zDx9QGd7YVCX-Y7GJks3o5E0eotSAEsq-NYfQdsMLl-yBQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

Nashoba Regional High School is proud to offer two Innovation Pathways: Business & Finance and Advanced Engineering & Manufacturing. These pathways are designed to give students hands-on learning experiences through internships, capstone projects, and technical and advanced level coursework, while partnering with local employers to expose students to high-demand careers. The goal is to help students build practical skills and make informed decisions about their futures. To learn more check out our Innovation Pathways website!

In this inaugural year, the program is off to a strong start and has generated high interest among students. Building on this success, we are excited to explore the addition of a third pathway: the Information Pathway! This pathway would dive into industries focused on producing and distributing information and cultural products, transmitting these products, and processing data. Key areas include broadcasting, publishing, digital media creation, computer science, and data processing.

To ensure the Information Pathway aligns with student interests and community needs, we are inviting families with Nashoba students in Grades 6-10 to speak with their children and complete our brief survey. We've extended the deadline until Friday, October 18th, 2024.

Two students at Nashoba Regional High School created a brochure detailing all of the clubs and activities offered at Nashoba. For more information click on the QR code below.

Worcester Railers Hockey Fundraiser

Join our Florence Sawyer community at the Worcester Railers Hockey game on Sunday October 20th @ 3:05pm! Students in 4th-8th grade will have the opportunity to sing the national anthem before the game. A portion of the ticket sales goes back to our PTO to help fund enrichment events.

https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/florencesawyerschool

Exciting News: Join the FREE Online Family Directory Today!

The Bolton PTO is thrilled to announce that our Online Family Directory is now FREE for all families! This is your chance to connect with other parents and families and build a stronger school network. To be included in the directory, all you need to do is visit our website, set up your profile, and add your child(ren) and their classroom(s).

If you have previously had an account, please log in and update your child(ren)'s grade and teacher so that it is up to date. Information does not automatically update, unfortunately!

Can we add 100 students this week? Remember, the directory is only as powerful as the number of families who join, so don’t miss out—get connected today! Get started here!

PTO Volunteers Needed—Be Part of Something Great!

The Bolton PTO is calling on YOU to help make this school year the best one yet! We're an all-volunteer organization dedicated to supporting our school through innovative teaching supplies, enriching activities, field trips, teacher appreciation, and so much more. Whether you can spare a few hours a year, month, or week, we have a place for you!

This week we’d like to highlight the need for volunteers to help with planning the 2024 FSS Bingo Night. This popular night for family fun happens in November (Event date TBD) and the 2025 Bolton PTO Auction, our biggest fundraiser of the year, which will take place in March! If you are interested in joining either of these committees, please contact Event Fundraising Chair Sara Brazer at sarabrazer@gmail.com

Save the Date for our popular family event, Bingo Night!

Bingo Night is scheduled for Friday, November 15, at 6 pm. Tickets will go on sale THIS WEEK. We will also be looking for donations to support the event. More information will be included in next week's Happenings.

Picture Day is coming up October 16th. Look for order forms coming home soon. We need volunteers to help that day! If you can offer a few hours, please contact Melinda Neyland at wpiee00@yahoo.com.

What do volunteers need to help with on picture day?

For individual photos, we need help getting students lined up to the photographers in a timely fashion and assist students in making sure they are neat and 'picture ready' (have collars straightened, hair smoothed, intending for jacket to be on or off, etc.) If students have order forms or envelopes, these can be collected and handed to the photographers.

For group photos, we need help with keeping students lined up with their class (or grade for middle school students) and then ensuring they are organized or tiered per the photographer recommendation.

As a reminder, similar to other visits and volunteer opportunities in school, volunteers will need to ensure that they have an up-to-date CORI on file. If you have any questions about your status (and whether it remains current), please check in with the front office prior to Picture Day.

Any questions, please email Melinda Neyland at wipee00@yahoo.com.

Bolton 5K Festival this Saturday, October 12 @ Schartner Farm

Bolton's favorite Fall event is here!! Come support the Bolton Community Fund at Schartner Farm this Saturday at the 5K Festival. Florence Sawyer's own Ms. Gurley is coming back for the 9:30am Kids Fun Run around the corn maze, followed by the 5K Run/Walk at 10:30am. There will be kids crafts, food, and of course music by Principal Bates, as well as a raffle and silent auction with a chance to bid on exciting items like a foursome at the International, watercolor paintings and a 60 minute professional photography session.

You can register for the Fun Run here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdc1LcJgvvwkGToBoUme6HW1m0Rm_Qd5NnpAo2f5H_af5DpPw/viewform

And for the 5K here:

https://www.racewire.com/register.php?id=14136

Friends of the Bolton Public Library to hold Book Sale

The Friends of the Bolton Public Library will hold their semiannual book sale on Saturday,

October 26 th from 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM. There will be no Rain Date. Location is the Houghton

Building, 697 Main St. There are over 5,000 books sorted and “not picked over.” Puzzles, CDs

and DVDs.

​

The book sale is the Friends' largest fundraiser. Proceeds from the sale support programs,

events, museum passes, and our online newsletter, “ Wowbrary.”

October 2024

9 - Walk to School Day

14- No School

16 - Picture Day

18 - Student Council Dance - Grades 7-8

20 - Worcester Railers PTO Event

25 - Early Dismissal (12:15)

Looking ahead

November

4 - Early Dismissal (12:15) - Fall Conferences

5 - No School - Fall Conferences

11- No School - Veterans' Day

15 - PTO Bingo Night 6-9pm

21 - Pasta Dinner

27-29 - No School - Thanksgiving Break

Be your best self.

Pave your path.

Impact the world.

Website: https://sawyer.nrsd.net/
Location: 100 Mechanic Street, Bolton, MA, USA
Phone: (978) 779-2821

You can download the App by going to NRSD.net, scroll down to the bottom of the home page and click on the App Store or Google Play links.