The Common

Dear Nashoba Regional Community,

Beginning next week, we will administer surveys to all students in grades 3-12 as a means of checking in with our students to hear from them about their self-reported needs and experiences with school. The Nashoba Regional School District Strategic Plan underscores the importance of hearing from our students with Strategic Objective #3, Culture and Belonging. Hearing from our students directly enables us to better understand what is working and where there are areas for improvement.

In December, we administered surveys to students. The same survey will be used this spring so that we may confirm patterns, trends, and needs as we close out the school year and plan for the year ahead. The survey should take students at most 10-15 minutes to complete. Students will complete the survey anonymously just as they did in December.

We hope to have all of our students participate. While our goal is 100% participation, parents/guardians may choose to not have their child participate. The survey is voluntary, and your child can skip any question or choose not to participate. If you prefer your child not to participate in this survey, please fill out this Opt-Out Form . Please be aware that this survey will close at the end of the day today, May 19th.

In June, building principals will share key takeaways from their student surveys with families. We value and appreciate the feedback from our students and appreciate your support with our spring survey administration.

Peace,

Kirk Downing, Superintendent

Laura Friend, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning

For those of you who attended the NRHS First Annual InternationalFest at the end of April, you know it was a huge success. The event provided a venue for families, students, faculty, staff, and community members to come together to learn and celebrate the many cultures and traditions embraced by our Nashoba community. We would be remiss in not mentioning that the food was excellent, too!

Please take a peek at this short StowTV segment from InternationalFest filmed and created by a former Nashoba student who now works for StowTV!

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!

The federal and state public health emergencies ended on May 11, 2023. What this means for school health offices:

• Isolation and quarantine guidance for COVID-19 will not change and will be in

accordance with previously issued state "Guidance for Children and Staff in Child Care, K-12, Out-of-School Time and Recreational Camp/Program Settings"

• Facemasks will no longer be routinely required in school health offices.

• School health staff will continue to use appropriate PPE for management of known or

suspected cases of COVID-19.

At the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, speech-language pathologists Karen Fitzgerald and Caitlin Paulin decided that their goal for the school year would be to increase the accessibility of our playgrounds. Knowing that play is a crucial part of children's development, the SLPs at The Center School were fortunate to receive approval of a grant submission from the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism’s Playground Communication Boards program. Children with different abilities benefit from visual aids, not only in the classroom, but on the playground and in the community too. Visual aids, such as communications boards, use photos, symbols, and illustrations to allow individuals to express themselves. The visual communication board will promote the inclusion of children with different abilities. This board will help support children with conversations, and expressing their wants, needs, and feelings with peers and adults. We are so excited to have this in our community!

Florence Sawyer Kindergarten Art Show

5th Grade Science Fair at The Center School

The Rollerblading PE unit is under way

Luther Burbank MS 7th graders made models of DNA strands

Unified Basketball v. Bolton First Responders

Students crushed it!

A First Grader reads through the Center School Core Values in Mrs. Dyer's music class.