Hello Auburn Families and Staff,

As we begin the February break, I have a number of important items to share with you. Please make sure to continue to scroll to find information regarding the 2025-2026 school calendar, the updates 2024-2025 school calendar that reflects the snow days this year, bus transportation for the 2025-2026 school year is now open along with Kindergarten registration and we are accepting application for the Auburn Integrated Preschool also! Below, you will also find important information regarding K-5 report cards which will now be distributed electronically through Powerschool. It is amazing that we are already looking to the next school year!

Each year, the APS School Committee is charged with approving a budget for the upcoming school year. This is a daunting task and one that we all take very seriously. The coming year is going to be particularly difficult in the Town of Auburn and as such, we have been charged with keeping the increase to our budget as small as possible. We have level funded all supplies and are adding two required positions due to the special needs of our students. In order to continue to maintain our class sizes at all levels, we had to consider an increase in some of our fees. This was not something that the Committee or I wanted to do, but it was a necessary step to support our students, our staff and the overall Town budget.

If your child(ren) ride the school bus, I urge you to register them for transportation as soon as possible by following the link in the Transportation section below. You will note that the fee for transportation, which has not changed since 2007 has increased by $25 for the 2025-2026 school year. As you can imagine, the cost for transportation increases every year and has a significant impact on our yearly budget. This means that if you register your child for transportation before May 1st, the fee will $125 which translates to about 70 cents per day. As we have done in the past, there is a graduated fee scale for each month after that so we encourage you to register your child(ren) soon. In the 2025-2026 school year, there will also be a $100/year parking fee for any student who wishes to drive to school. Again, each of these will be used to offset increasing fees for transportation. Thank you in advance for your understanding.

It is the flu season again, and much like other towns, we have seen an increase in the number of students and staff with the flu. This year, it also seems that there is a longer recovery period than in the past. I am resharing information from our nursing team below so that we are working together to keep one another healthy. Please take a few moments to review the information from our awesome nurses.

As we are midway through Black History Month, I would also like to take a moment to reflect on the quote noted here from Martin Luther King Jr., "I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." As I look to the remainder of this year and into the next, I remain committed to supporting all students, protecting all students, and advocating for all students. Life would be so bland if we all believed the same things and looked the same way. Differences also make us the amazing individuals we all are. I hope as a community, we continue to move forward respectfully in peace and with care and appreciation for others.

I hope you are all able to enjoy some time with those you care about over the February break. I am thankful to be a part of the Auburn community and I thank you for your continued support of the Auburn Public Schools.

Best,

Beth

Thank you to the many families and staff members who expressed their opinion regarding the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar. After reviewing all of the votes and feedback received from the community, the School Committee has approved the calendar as presented. Please follow the link to the approved version of the 25-26 calendar.

I have also included a link to the results of the calendar survey that was sent to families and staff.

Please follow the link to the updated 2024-2025 school year calendar that reflects the snow days thus far this school year.

It is hard to believe that we are already planning for the 2025-2026 school year. As we have done for several years now, we will be using an online Bus Application for 2025-2026 and applications are now being accepted. Please see more information below.

There is a graduated fee schedule for all payments received after May 1st so we urge you to apply and provide payment before May 1st. This also allows us a much better planning window.

We have made this change due to an increasing number of late applications which significantly complicates the process of determining bus routes and assigning students to buses. As always, student safety is at the heart of this decision. We hope that families will apply electronically by following the link above. However, if you are unable to do so, I have attached a paper version of the bus application along with the graduated fee schedule and the Rules and Regulations for APS Busing. All paper applications and fees must be sent in or dropped off at 5 West Street and can be left in the locked drop box outside of the main entrance.

Please apply early and remember, your application is NOT complete until we receive the bus fee.

If you have questions, please call Central Office at 508-832-7755 or email apsbus@auburn.k12.ma.us.

Auburn Public Schools has updated their K-5 report card template and, in the interest of accessibility, Report Cards will be available to view digitally in the PowerSchool Parent Portal starting with Trimester 2 Report Cards which will be released in mid March.

As a reminder, Parents/Guardians are able to access the Auburn Schools PowerSchool Parent Portal here: https://auburnschools.powerschool.com/public/. If you are unsure of your username / password you will need to click the Forgot Username or Password? link on the Sign In page. If you are still experiencing login trouble after these steps, please contact the main office of your student’s school.

The report cards will be attached to your student’s record in PowerSchool and will be available during your student’s entire duration at Auburn Public Schools starting with this 2024-2025 School Year. (Unfortunately, past year report cards are unable to be re-generated using this new method.)

To view your student’s digital report cards, you will need to sign in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal, select your student’s name in the blue bar at the top of the screen, and then select the Student Reports section in the left hand menu. Under the Archived Reports section, you will be able to see any Report Cards that have been saved and archived for your student.

Note: The Student Reports section is not viewable via the PowerSchool Mobile App – you will need to access PowerSchool via a web or mobile browser from your computer or mobile device.

The 2024-2025 Trimester 1 Report Card was the last Report Card that will be printed and sent home to families. Starting with Trimester 2 of 2024-2025, the Report Cards will only be accessible digitally and will require a parent / guardian digital signature to verify you have received and reviewed the Report Card.

It is highly recommended that Parents/Guardians sign in to their PowerSchool Portal now in anticipation for this digital only release at the conclusion of Trimester 2, to ensure they have access to their accounts and can review the archived report cards without issue.

We thank you for your support and hope that this new Report Card and its on demand digital accessibility is found to be convenient for families and students.

We are pleased to inform you that applications for The Auburn Integrated Preschool and registration for Kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year is now open. All applications and registrations will be completed online. If your child already attends the Auburn Integrated Preschool, you do NOT need to complete the online registration process. You will receive information from the preschool for next steps. To formally register your child in the Auburn Public Schools, please visit the Student Registration Page on our website. We ask that if you plan to register your child, you do so as soon as possible. As you might expect, we will need ample time to plan for the coming year and the sooner we have a solid count of children who will attend, the more successful school openings will be.

If you or someone you know has a child turning 5 years of age by September 1, 2025, and are interested in registering for kindergarten, please follow the link above. If you or someone you know has a child turning 3 or 4 years of age by September 1, 2025 and are interested in enrolling in our preschool for the fall, you can do so by following the link above.

• You must be a resident of Auburn to attend the Auburn Public Schools.
• There are specific registration links for Preschool and Kindergarten. Please be sure to select the correct link and the correct school once you enter the registration portal.
• Proof of residency (noted below) must be brought, mailed or emailed to the appropriate school.
• A raised seal birth certificate must be brought to the school to be copied or can be mailed to the school. If mailed to the school, it will not be returned to you.
• If you are not sure which school your child will attend for kindergarten, please call either Bryn Mawr or Pakachoag and a staff member will assist you.

All children of school age who reside in the Town of Auburn will be entitled to attend the public schools.

Every student seeking admission to the school for the first time must present a birth certificate or equivalent proof of age acceptable to the principal and proof of vaccination and immunization as required by the state and the School Committee along with the residency documents noted below.

Two forms documenting proof of residency are required, one from Category A and one from Category B.

Category A

1. Property Deed

• The following items must be dated within the last 60 days:

2. Current Paid Residential Real Estate Tax Bill (for the home in which you are residing)

3. Fully signed and executed Purchase and Sale Agreement, followed by official closing paperwork, or mortgage statement with address

4. Current (not expired) Rental or Lease Agreement with Auburn address, signed by the tenant and landlord or property manager, with all residents listed

Category B:

1. Voter Registration with Auburn Address

• The following items must be dated with the last 60 days:

2. Trash, water, electric, cable, gas or oil bill under parent/guardian name with the Auburn address

3. Homeowner Insurance or rental insurance bill with Auburn address

If you do not own or rent a home in Auburn and are living with an Auburn resident, a residency affidavit must be completed and notarized and be accompanied by the above noted residency information from the owner of the property. The administration reserves the right to request proof of residency at any time.

If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact the appropriate person below. Please stay tuned for more information regarding school programming, student screening and transition opportunities that will take place later in the school year. We look forward to working with you.

Auburn Integrated Preschool

Alan Keller, Principal, akeller@auburn.k12.ma.us

Caitlin O’Neill, Administrative Assistant, coneill@auburn.k12.ma.us

508-832-7755

Bryn Mawr Elementary School

Brooke Beverly, Principal, bbeverly@auburn.k12.ma.us

Lisa Wheeler, Administrative Assistant, lwheeler@auburn.k12.ma.us

508-832-7733

Pakachoag Elementary School,

Cheryl Carlson, Principal, ccarlson@auburn.k12.ma.us

Iliana Lopez, Administrative Assistant, ilopez@auburn.k12.ma.us

508-832-7788

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Massachusetts is required by federal law to annually produce information about school performance for families and communities. Just as a student's report card shows how they are doing in different classes, school and district report cards are designed to show parents and community members how a school or district is doing in different areas. Report cards highlight a school or district's strengths as well as any challenges that need to be addressed in order to make sure the needs of all students are being met.

Please follow the links below for more information on the Auburn Public Schools.

00170000 - Auburn

00170010 - Auburn - Bryn Mawr

00170025 - Auburn - Pakachoag School

00170030 - Auburn - Swanson Road Intermediate School

00170305 - Auburn - Auburn Middle

00170505 - Auburn - Auburn Senior High

MassDOT is currently in the preliminary design stage of a bridge replacement project along Route 20 over I 395. They are looking for input from the community and will be holding an informational meeting regarding the work at the end of February. Please see the attached documents for more information.

Dear APS Community,

We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health and high spirits. As we continue to prioritize the well-being and safety of all students and staff, we would like to address an important matter regarding health practices within our school community.

As expected during this time of year, we have noticed an uptick in general illnesses among our students. Of note, gastrointestinal sickness (norovirus) and influenza (flu) cases have been on the rise.

Norovirus is spread through contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces. The virus can be transmitted in several ways, including:

• Person-to-person contact: Direct contact with someone who is sick or their bodily fluids (vomit or diarrhea).

• Contaminated food or water: Eating food or drinking liquids contaminated by an infected person, especially when food is handled by someone who is sick.

• Contact with contaminated surfaces: Touching surfaces or objects contaminated by the virus and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.

The flu is primarily spread from person to person through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. It can also spread by touching surfaces contaminated with the virus and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. Because the flu can be contagious even before symptoms appear, it’s important to take preventive measures as early as possible.

In an effort to minimize the spread of illness, please consider the following tips.

1. Practice Good Hand Hygiene: Encourage your child to wash their hands thoroughly and frequently with soap and water, especially:

• After coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose

• Before eating or preparing food

• After using the bathroom

2. Cover Coughs and Sneezes: Teach your child to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue (or their elbow if no tissue is available) when coughing or sneezing. This helps to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets.

3. Avoid Close Contact: Encourage your child to avoid close contact with people who are sick. We kindly ask that you do not send your child to school if they are feeling unwell or exhibiting symptoms of illness, such as fever, cough, sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea. Keeping sick children at home helps prevent the spread of illnesses to other students and staff, ensuring a healthier environment for everyone.

4. Clean and Disinfect: Regularly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, light switches, and shared equipment to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus. To disinfect surfaces potentially exposed to norovirus, use a chlorine bleach solution with a concentration of 1,000 to 5,000 ppm (5 to 25 tablespoons of household bleach [5% to 8%] per gallon of water) or use an EPA-registered disinfecting product against norovirus.

5. Get Plenty of Rest and Stay Hydrated: A healthy immune system is your best defense against illness. Encourage your child to get adequate sleep and drink plenty of fluids.

6. Get Plenty of Rest, Stay Hydrated, and Eat Well Balanced Meals: A healthy immune system is your best defense against illness. Encourage your child to get adequate sleep, drink plenty of fluids, and eat a diet rich in nutritious foods.

If your child begins to feel unwell during the school day, they should visit the school nurse. The nurse will assess your child’s condition and determine whether they should remain at school or need to go home. If it is deemed necessary for your child to be picked up, we ask that you or an authorized contact arrive promptly after being notified. This helps us provide the best care for your child while minimizing disruption to the school day.

We are continuously monitoring the situation and taking extra precautions to ensure a clean and safe environment for all students. Our custodial team is disinfecting classrooms and common areas regularly, and we are encouraging students to practice good hand hygiene throughout the day.

We greatly appreciate your cooperation and understanding in helping us maintain a safe and healthy school environment. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school office or the school nurse. Thank you for your attention to this important matter and for your ongoing support. Stay well!

Warmly,

The Auburn Public School Nurses

~*Limited Edition Shamrock, St. Patrick's Day gear*~

T-shirts and sweatshirts, two shades of green available, order by 2/16/25.

Shrewsbury Clay Time has been awarded a grant from the Auburn Cultural Council to host a Family Paint Night at the Auburn Senior Center on March 6th at 6 PM.

This free event is open to Auburn residents of all ages and abilities, giving each participant the opportunity to paint a plate, bowl, or mug. See the attached flyer for registration information.

Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much. ~Helen Keller