The Common

Dear Nashoba Community,

As we prepare for the change of seasons into Winter, I am providing you with the snow day protocol we use to notify students, staff, and families in the event that school is delayed or canceled due to inclement weather.

Many factors impact the decision to call a snow day, like: weather forecast, weather conditions, road conditions, and conditions in surrounding towns where employees reside. In New England, we know weather forecasts don’t always match reality. Some storms may fall short of expectations, while others turn out to be more severe, requiring us to adapt quickly.

To ensure road safety, our Facilities Department works with the Departments of Public Works in all three towns, coordinating on road preparations and plowing effectiveness starting as early as 4:30 a.m. on days with anticipated poor weather.

I also stay in close contact with neighboring Superintendents to gauge whether they will announce delays or closures, which could impact our staffing as many employees live in those areas.

My goal is to keep the public informed and make decisions in a timely manner. If the forecast is clear and cancellations are imminent, I will announce a decision by 9:00 p.m. the night before. Otherwise, I will make the call by 5:30 a.m. the next morning. If you don’t receive a notification, please assume school will proceed as scheduled. We will also inform local media outlets by 5:30 a.m.

Deciding on a snow day involves careful judgment based on current conditions. While our priority is to keep students in school, we must also consider travel safety for families and staff. These decisions are not taken lightly, and our focus remains on what’s best for our students and staff as a whole.

Enjoy the beautiful weather while we have it as we know winter will be coming soon. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility as we navigate winter weather.

Peace,

Kirk Downing (He/Him)
Superintendent

We are excited to welcome our French Foreign Exchange students, who arrived from Lycée Andre Maurois in Rouen, France on Tuesday evening! They immediately jumped into their exchange experience, rehearsing and performing in the Nashoba Fall Choral Concert.

Within 24 hours of their arrival, they performed a moving set of three songs themed around World War II, the D-Day Landings, and resilience in the face of adversity, incorporating movement and unique staging into their performance. Nashoba Choir Director, Eric Miller, and his French counterpart, Céline Lecomte, also prepared both choirs to perform the French-Canadian folk song “J’entends le Moulin” ("I Hear the Windmill") in both English and French as the concert finale. It was a collaboration to remember, with excellent student musicality and cross-cultural exchange on full display.

This marks the return of our French Exchange program after eight years. This exchange involved extensive collaboration, both across departments and oceans, all with the aim of creating opportunities for students both in and beyond our French program. Thanks to strong partnerships between the Music and World Language Departments, and their French counterparts, 17 Nashoba students from the German, Choir, and French programs, along with 23 French exchange students, were able to participate.

Planning began last year with the selection of host families and participants, and over the summer, students connected through email and Zoom.

During their stay, our French exchange students will enjoy events like pizza parties, trips to Harvard University and Boston, and the opportunity to present a 40-minute "Freedom Prize" presentation to interested NRHS students. Most importantly, Robin Hermans, NRHS French teacher, emphasizes, “They’ll have the chance to walk in the steps of a Nashoba student.” In April, Nashoba students will have the same opportunity when they travel to Rouen, France.

The Health, Wellness and Safety Department is hosting the third installment of our Family University series! Join Myriah Zwicker, Director of Health, Wellness, and Safety, for a short and informative session on the importance of school attendance and ways to support your child’s success. Topics include why attendance matters for students and families across all grade levels, helpful tips to encourage consistent attendance, resources available for caregivers, and will wrap up with a Q&A to address your questions. This virtual session will take place on Wednesday, November 13th at 6:00pm. For those who can’t make it, materials and a recording will be available in The Common.

The Student Services Department, SEPAC, and the Nashoba Community Partnership for Children have an exciting lineup of virtual and in-person events planned in the coming month! Take a look at the offerings and register below!

Nashoba Special Education Parent Advisor Council (SEPAC) focuses on providing support, information, training and workshops related to special education to families of children with special needs. This webinar gives an overview of the complex special education laws and procedures and will focus on Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Massachusetts Laws, Referral and Consent to Evaluate, Required and Optional Evaluations, Team Meeting Process, Eligibility Determination Process, Difference between IEP and 504 Plan, Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE) and Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), Parent/Caregiver's Response to IEP, and Procedural Safeguards. Register Here!

We invite you to participate in a virtual discussion to provide parents with effective strategies to help their children manage worries and build resilience. Led by: Liz Daniels, LMHC, ECMH-E, a Licensed Psychotherapist and Early Childhood Family Specialist. This virtual event will take place Wednesday, November 6th, 2024 at 7:00pm. Register here!

Join Mister Vic and Kristen Ryan, Director of Early Childhood & CFCE Coordinator, for an exciting interactive event that highlights the remarkable benefits of music in fostering child development. This FREE family enrichment event is designed for children aged six and younger. This event will take place Wednesday, November 13th, 2024 at 6:15pm, and will run out of the Florence Sawyer School (Emerson Building Gym). Register here!

Students in Bolton's Pre-K made "Exploding Apples" with hollowed out apples, baking soda and vinegar this week. What a fun hands-on science activity! There are still open spots remaining in our half day integrated pre-kindergarten programs for students who are 3 and 4 years old. Please reach out to Kristen Ryan, Director of Early Childhood at kryan@nrsd.net for more information.

Nashoba Drama is exciting to present A Christmas Carol this November! A Christmas Carol recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. Tickets are available for Friday, November 22nd at 7:00 PM, Saturday, November 23rd at 7:00 PM, and Sunday, November 24th at 2:00 PM. Check out the flyer below and click here or scan the QR code to get your tickets!

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!

Band and Choir students from across the district came together last week! Thank you to the Nashoba Music Department for hosting the best Nashoba Band (and Chorus) Day yet!

Assistant Superintendent Friend was the Mystery Reader for a 3rd grade class at Center!

Students in the full day integrated pre kindergarten classroom had tons of fun this fall! They learned about emotions and feelings and painted emotion faces, created art out of leaves as an extension of Lois Ehlert's book Leaf Man and made "apple boats" during their apple STEM unit.

Earlier this month seniors in Dystopian Literature and Film kicked off their reading of "Klara and the Sun" by pitching their AI-driven inventions to a panel of judges.

Third Grade students at MRE enjoyed lunch together.

NRHS students had the chance to cast their ballot in a Mock Voting Day coordinated through the AP History class!