Mary Rowlandson Elementary School

August 26, 2023

Dear MRE Families,

Welcome back to an exciting new school year! I hope you've had a restful and enjoyable summer break. As we gear up for the upcoming academic year, I am very excited to introduce you to some amazing educators that have joined our MRE family, as well as share important updates and changes that will support our ongoing commitment to student success.

Please join me in extending a warm welcome to our seven new staff members who bring with them a wealth of experience, enthusiasm, and dedication to fostering an exceptional learning environment for our students. I am excited to introduce:

1. Karen Boisvert, Instructional Coach for Math - Karen joins us from the NRSD Department of Teaching and Learning where she served as Math Curriculum Lead.

2. Amie Caraballo, Kindergarten Paraprofessional - While Amie is a new employee, she is very familiar with the MRE community both as a parent and as a dedicated substitute teacher.

3. Jenna Fitzgerald, Library Media Specialist - Jenna joins us from Center School in Stow where she has worked for the past five years.

4. Lisandra Flynn, 1st Grade Teacher - Lisandra also comes to us from Center School in Stow where she has nine years of experience teaching students in grades 1-4.

5. Roxy Gragen, Kindergarten Teacher - Roxy joins MRE from Florence Sawyer School in Bolton where she has taught for the past 15 years.

6. Steve Grant, Assistant Principal - Steve has been an educator in Nashoba for the past 31 years. He comes to us from Luther Burbank Middle School where he spent the past five years as assistant principal. Prior to that, Steve was both a teacher and assistant principal at Florence Sawyer School in Bolton.

7. Devyn Quigley, FRIENDS 2 Teacher - Devyn joins us from the New England Center for Children where she spent the past four years of her 13 year career as the lead teacher in a special education program embedded with Groton Dunstable Middle School.

Their unique talents, perspectives, and expertise will contribute greatly to the ongoing success of our school. We’re so excited to have them join the MRE family. Please join me in offering them a warm welcome to our community.

I am also pleased to announce that we have MRE staff taking on new roles this year. Sherri Boissoneau has moved from first grade to join our kindergarten team. Sherri will bring her years of experience to support our students who are just beginning their educational journey. Similarly, Jen Scheufele has taken on a new role as our Instructional Coach for Literacy. In this new position, Jen will be able to leverage her expert knowledge of both curriculum and pedagogy in support of continued growth and achievement for students at every grade level, K-5.

As part of our ongoing efforts to optimize our support services, we have made the decision to decouple the roles of Team Chair and School Psychologist. Lori Anselmo will be taking on the role of Team Chair and Mike Pease will act as our School Psychologist. This strategic shift will enable us to offer more focused and personalized assistance to both students and educators. We are confident that this adjustment will result in even more effective support for our students' receiving special education services.

In our commitment to transparency and collaboration, I am pleased to inform you that the Nashoba Department of Teaching and Learning has created curriculum guides for the upcoming academic year. They will be accessible on the new NRSD website which will launch on September 1. These guides provide valuable insights into the content, skills, and objectives that your children will engage with throughout the year. We encourage you to explore these resources as they will serve as a valuable tool to support student success.

As we embark on the new school year, I am filled with anticipation and excitement. The collective efforts of our dedicated staff, engaged parents, and eager students promise to make this school year a remarkable one. As always, we are committed to fostering a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment where every student can thrive.

Thank you for entrusting us with the education and development of your children. Together, we will continue to create a learning community that values curiosity, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning.

We look forward to the incredible year ahead and can't wait to see the growth and achievements that await each and every student. Here's to a successful and enriching school year at Mary Rowlandson Elementary!

Warmest regards,

Scott Blanchard

Principal