SPS Weekly Newsletter

I hope everyone is enjoying the start of the school year. For those of us impacted by road work projects around town, thank you for your patience as we deal with various travel delays and detours beyond our control. Speaking of transportation, as we end our first full week of school, I wanted to provide some reminders about protocols and expectations during drop off and pick up times and for students on school buses.

The expectations for students taking the bus are simple - arrive at your stop on time, be respectful, be appropriate, and be safe. Students MUST be sitting in their seats at ALL times. Aggressive behavior on buses may lead to disciplinary action.

For families dropping off and picking up students, please note your location and surroundings with attention to students using bikes, other means of transportation, or walking. Please drive slowly through the parking lot at each school and adhere to the traffic pattern and designated drop off and pick up spots at each school.

Some families arrive early for pick up each day. Please also keep in mind that ALL cars may NOT IDLE in excess of five (5) minutes as per state law. The law is Massachusetts General Law (MGL) Chapter 90, Section 16A and the regulation is 310 Code of Massachusetts Regulation (CMR) 7.11. The wording is the same for both the law and the regulation. Enforcement authority and fine structures differ somewhat between the law and the regulation. Buses are exempt from this law based on the utilization of flashing lights.

Thank you for your consideration and attention to these matters as we seek to make drop off and pick up and the ride to and from school safe for all.

Sincerely,

Joseph F. Baeta, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Stoughton Public Schools

Tana Bernard, a 9th grade student at Stoughton High, participated in a day of service on September 11th. As an 8th grader last school year, Tana represented the O'Donnell Middle School and Stoughton as our district's Project 351 ambassador, attending "launch day" in Boston over MLK weekend with other 8th graders from around Massachusetts. Project 351 is a statewide youth-led service program and the Project 351 ambassadors gathered in Boston this September 11th to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Students put together care packages for troops and veterans experiencing homelessness. (Tana is pictured here as an 8th grader after she was named Stoughton's Project 351 ambassador.)

Tana describes the experience as "incredibly emotional." Students started the day discussing 9/11 and gathering in a large circle to read the name of each 9/11 victim from Massachusetts, she explains. The students also got a red bandana to wear to honor the memory of Welles Crowther, a Boston College graduate, who worked in the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City and lost his life while heroically helping others to safety. Crowther wore a red bandana to cover his nose and mouth from the smoke as he rescued others (watch this ESPN video to learn more about his heroism).

Tana was given the opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance with a group of nine other ambassadors. Governor Maura Healey spoke to the students about unity and taking the initiative to be a leader, Tana said. Tana said she was particularly moved when she heard from speakers who lost loved ones on 9/11 and how they navigated their way through the process of grief.

"The day ended with a very enlightening reflection and many ambassadors, including myself, shared how we felt after the day of service," Tana said. "One of my biggest takeaways was that life is way too short to not love hard. With love, we can lift each other up, and achieve phenomenal things. It is free to be kind and the result of it is infinitely priceless."

Photos courtesy of Tana Bernard

Our SHS fall sports captains are pictured here Friday morning before they departed for the Hockomock League Fall Sports Captains Conference at Mass Premier Courts in Foxboro. This was a great opportunity for our captains to interact with other Hockomock League student-athletes. Workshops at the conference emphasized topics like leadership and resiliency.

Take a look at some pictures below from the recent March-A-Thon for the Stoughton High Marching Black Knights (more photos can be found here). The band and color guard gave family and friends a preview of this season’s show at this fundraising event. The show, titled "Falling Waters", features "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by The Beatles, "Rain" by SWV/Sunday Service Choir, "Waterfalls" by TLC, and "Purple Rain" by Prince. You can see the Marching Black Knights perform this Friday, September 13 at halftime of the SHS football home game (the game starts at 7pm)!

Preschool students had their first day of school on Monday. Click here to take a look at a few first day pictures from the Jones Early Childhood Center!

Click on the button below to read a welcome back letter from the Stoughton Public Schools Health Services department. This message includes reminders of some SPS policies and procedures that are important for the health and safety of your children.

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.

If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a provider:

• Call 888-515-0595, available 24/7/365 in any language.
  
  
• Visit www.caresolace.com/stoughtonschools and either search on your own OR click “Call Now” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.

Save the date! We are looking forward to celebrating Stoughton Olympic medalist Frederick Richard (SHS Class of 2022) on Sunday, October 6th! See the flyer below for more details. Stay tuned for more information as we get closer to the event.

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