The Common

Dear Nashoba Community,

Last week our Athletic Director, Tania Rich, received an email from a coach at a neighboring district regarding the positivity and participation of our high school student body at Nashoba Regional High School. Without sharing the entire email, here are some things that were written by the sender.

“I have been to the last two football home games and I am impressed by the behavior of Nashoba students. I have seen some really bad student behavior at contests over the years…but not at Nashoba. I feel that the kids are supporting the team 'the right way'. Other parents I have spoken to are also impressed as well. I also appreciate the adults who are leading them to understand the importance of positive cheering and the correct way to support any sport program. Way to go Wolves!”

I am sharing this with you because I think it is important to affirm our students when they are recognized for being models of support and good sportsmanship. We believe that lifting up and recognizing others is the best way to build a supportive community through our core values. The students in our schools today are simply stated, great kids!!! They show it every day in and out of school. Yes, they have challenges and make mistakes, but so did we when we were their age, and we still make mistakes as adults. Let’s rise up and tell our young people that we are proud of them. I hope you have a great weekend.

Peace,

Kirk Downing (He/Him)
Superintendent

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Imagine Learning EL Education overview sessions as part of our Family University series. Providing families with an understanding of our new literacy curriculum is important to us, and we are happy to have strong engagement from our community. Your enthusiasm and involvement are important and appreciated as we work together to support the learning of each and every one of our students.

For those who could not attend, we have made a recording of the virtual sessions available here and below. Presentation slides in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Russian, and French are also available.

MRE's own Gayane Hanyaloglu was recently featured on the Little Minds Big Thinkers podcast, hosted by Tammy McMorrow. During the episode, she shared her experience of building a thinking classroom. After participating in a summer book group led by MRE’s math coach, Karen Boisvert, Ms. Hanyaloglu began implementing strategies from Peter Liljedahl's Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics in her first grade classroom. She explains how she integrated these techniques into her classroom, highlighting both the challenges and successes she encountered while aligning them with the district's Bridges in Mathematics curriculum to enhance student learning. We encourage you to give the episode a listen -- whether you're a teacher, parent/caregiver, or student, you’re sure to walk away inspired!

Gayane Hanyaloglu, Grade 1 Teacher, MRE

Our Innovation Pathways Program is looking for professionals from a wide range of industries to share their experiences and insights with students. While all speakers are welcome, the program is especially interested in speakers with expertise in the sectors that line up with our Pathways Programming: Business & Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing.

Our goal is to give students real-world insights into the different career pathways available to them within their pathways. As a speaker, you would share your personal journey -- highlighting the key decisions, experiences, and skills that shaped your career. This is an opportunity to inspire the next generation by offering students practical advice on how they can navigate their own educational and career paths.

The Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) will hold its next business meeting on Tuesday, October 8th from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. This virtual meeting is open to all families and caregivers interested in learning more about SEPAC initiatives and supporting students receiving special education services. You can join via Google Meet using the video call linked here, or dial in using the following phone number: (US) +1 267-483-7909‬ PIN: ‪210 132 802‬#. We hope to see you there!

The pre-kindergarten students and teachers have settled into their routines after the first several weeks of school. The district's new five day model across all three towns has been highly praised by families, and the students are enjoying being in school.

We have a handful of spots remaining in our half day and full 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.

The Department of Early Childhood Education is hosting FREE fun-filled weekly playgroups designed for caregivers and children to learn and explore together! During each session, you and your child can enjoy open play time with optional centers like crafts, painting, playdough, dollhouses, cars, blocks, and water play. We’ll also have a brief circle time featuring music, movement, and a short story, with outdoor play when the weather allows. Plus, it's a perfect opportunity to connect with other parents in the community.

Dates and Locations:

Stow Playgroup

Location Pompositticut Community Center, 803 Great Road, Stow

Mondays, 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Bolton Playgroup

Location: Emerson Building, FSS, 50 Mechanic Street, Bolton

Thursdays, 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Lancaster Playgroup

Location: Lancaster Community Center, 39 Harvard Road, Lancaster

Fridays, 9:00 - 10:30 AM

The Music Departments have officially released their season calendar! Get ready for an exciting lineup of concerts and drama performances throughout the year. For a complete list of October and November dates and details, and for a full overview of the entire year, see below. Be sure to mark your calendars -- these are shows you won't want to miss!

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!

Students in Mr. LeBlanc's NRHS construction class are currently working on building three different styles of trebuchet.

MRE Fifth Graders explored different instruments this week!

Exciting progress began this week with the digging of the foundation hole for the new NRHS building, marking a significant milestone in the project’s development!

Students in Mrs. Hanyaloglu's classroom LOVED the tools unit in the EL reading program! They were so excited to pulled out the microscope, Erlenmeyer flasks and beakers!

Students in Mr. Wilkins engineering class at FSS have been incorporating a variety of skills and engaging in the engineering design process to create air skimmers.