SPS Weekly Newsletter

Welcome back from winter break and Happy New Year! I hope you enjoyed the holidays and time off.

While we are just a few days into 2025, the new year comes closer to the midpoint of the school calendar - we just wrapped up our 75th day of school on Friday - and January is a busy month, so we jump right back into our school/work routines.

But, turning the calendar to a new year is also a chance to reflect on opportunities that lie ahead. I look forward to seeing the district continue to make positive strides with student achievement and look forward to celebrating student and staff accomplishments in 2025. I am also hopeful that 2025 is the year we take a step forward with the elementary school building project.

I will be providing updates in upcoming newsletters on the elementary school building project, as well as other important and timely topics like redistricting and the budget for next school year.

Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,

Joseph F. Baeta, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Stoughton Public Schools

Dr. Baeta will periodically hold virtual office hours for SPS families (grades PK-12). The next virtual office hour is scheduled for:

• Wednesday, January 8, 2025 from 6-7pm

Click here to join this virtual office hour.

Students in Mrs. Catrambone's and Ms. Stone's classes at the Gibbons School held a food drive last month. The students were learning about empathy as part of the Character Strong program at the Gibbons and were able to put it into action. The donations will go to Saint Anthony's Food Pantry in Stoughton.

Next week, students in the Stoughton High DECA chapter will attend the District conference in Mansfield. Dressed in business attire, they will spend two days presenting, taking part in competitions, and networking with students from around the area. Before winter break, SHS DECA held a mock role-play night to prepare for one of the events at the conference. Some of the students who took part in the training session are pictured here. Best of luck at districts!

Congratulations to the Stoughton High boys basketball team for winning the Tornado Classic Basketball Tournament over winter break! The Black Knights won both games in the tournament, 93-48 over host Malden in the first game of the tournament, and 54-48 over East Boston in the championship game. Captain Aiden Rideout was named the tournament's MVP and fellow captain Anthony Alessi was named to the tournament's all-star team. With the pair of wins, Stoughton is now off to a 5-0 start this season.

Stoughton High wrestlers Angie Berry and Ava Vieira both won their respective weight classes in the girls division of the Dan Balboni Holiday Classic in Framingham over winter break. Vieira went 3-0 on the day with three pins and Berry went 3-0 with two pins and a technical fall. They are both pictured here with Coach Iverson. Stoughton High is hosting a girls high school wrestling tournament this Saturday (January 4) starting at 10am in the SHS gymnasium.

Matt Colantonio, SPS Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources & Wellness, and Tony Phippen, SPS Educational Technology Supervisor, recently attended a cybersecurity seminar in Quincy, along with Trish Shropshire, the Senior Director of Information Technology and Special Projects for the Town of Stoughton. They are pictured here with Walter Timilty, former State Senator, and as of the new year, the Clerk of Courts for Norfolk County. Participants in the seminar heard presentations from the National Guard, State Police, and the state's Office of Municipal & School Technology and Executive Office of Technology Services & Security.

The O'Donnell Middle School's winter concerts are being held in January, starting with a choir concert this coming Wednesday, January 8 at 7pm in the SHS Auditorium. See the graphic below for the full schedule:

The Stoughton Public Schools and the Stoughton Historical Society are pleased to announce that nominations for the 2025 Academic Hall of Fame for Extraordinary Achievement are being accepted. Eligible nominees are graduates of Stoughton High School who have achieved notable success in his/her chosen profession either from a singular extraordinary accomplishment, career of exceptional achievement, or significant contribution to society.

Candidates may be nominated by any former Stoughton High School student, any present or past employee of the Stoughton Public Schools, or any present or past Stoughton resident. All previous nominations will be reviewed.

All nominations must be accompanied by a resume, which includes: date of graduation, degree(s), work experience, hobbies and awards/recognitions. The nominee will be asked to submit a portfolio documenting his/her work. The deadline for applications is Friday, January 31, 2025.

Review of applications will be made by a committee composed of the Superintendent of Schools, Stoughton High School Principal, a member of the National Honor Society, and two members of the Stoughton Historical Society.

Please submit nominations to: Dr. Joseph Baeta, Superintendent of Schools, 31 Pierce Street, Stoughton, MA 02072.

The Stoughton OASIS Coalition is offering a series of parent workshops, including one for elementary school families on Tuesday, January 7 from 5-7pm at the Wilkins School (1322 Central St.).

The topic for this workshop is managing challenging behaviors. Families from all of our elementary schools are welcome to attend, but please note that registration is required (click here to register).

Light dinner and childcare will be provided. See the flyers below for more information and to see a list of when other workshops for elementary families are being offered.

The Stoughton High students taking part in the Norfolk County District Attorney's Peer Leadership Program are organizing a drive for the Stoughton and Canton animal shelters. See the flyer below for more details and for the items they are looking to collect. Donations will be collected at the Stoughton Police Station. Students/staff may bring donations to SHS during school hours.

Did you know that Stoughton Public Schools has partnered with Care Solace to support the well-being of students, staff, and their family members? Care Solace is a complimentary and confidential care coordination service that can help you quickly find mental health, social services, or substance use treatment options matched to your needs, regardless of circumstance.

• Call: 888-515-0595 (available 24/7/365 with multilingual support)
• Visit: caresolace.com/stoughtonschools to search or click “Book Appointment”.

The theme for this year's Martin Luther King Day event in Stoughton is “Pursuing Your Purpose”. Come together with the community to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and reflect on how we can each live with intention, drive, and impact. The event takes place Monday, January 20, 2025 from 10am-2pm at the Stoughton Public Library (84 Park Street).

This year’s event will feature inspiring speakers, community connections , and empowering discussions to help you pursue your purpose.

Let’s celebrate, learn, and inspire each other to make a difference - big or small - in our lives and communities.

See the flyer below for more details.

For updates throughout the week, be sure to follow Stoughton Public Schools on social media: