SPS Weekly Newsletter

Welcome back from the holiday break and Happy New Year.

Each year we are required, as per the Stoughton Town Charter, to file our School District budget by December 31st. We met the deadline by sending it to the Select Board and Finance Committee.

The school budget can be found here. This budget recommendation is based on student needs and outcomes.

Our demographics have significantly changed over the last three years with over 600 English Language Learners and 33 languages, an increase in enrollment for the second consecutive year (and for the next 7 years per the NESDEC Enrollment Study), an increase in social emotional behavioral needs, an increase in student chronic absenteeism (18% and climbing), and an increase in specialized education supports PreK-12+.

Moreover, Stoughton Public Schools has made a commitment to teaching ALL students, supporting families with the elimination of fees, creating pathways for learning, and having at least 90% of students reading at grade level by the end of 3rd grade, to name a few.

The current fiscal year has also seen numerous challenges including over 75 newcomer/migrant students (more to be registered in January), an increase in student behaviors at the early elementary level, the number of students requiring out-of-district placement has increased, and we are continuously dealing with transportation issues because of the lack of drivers and companies willing to provide services. As the sign in the office notes, “It Is What It Is…But it will become what you make it.”

We “make it” by constantly supporting students to the best of our ability. We “make it” by striving to do our best. We “make it” by believing that ALL children can learn, no excuses. To that end, we see the FY25 recommended budget as an opportunity to move the district forward by improving student achievement in all areas. To do so we must be mindful of the needs of our students.

Lastly, the Chapter 70 Student Opportunity Act funding from the Commonwealth has not yet been provided by the Governor. We expect to see the House 1 budget this month. At that time, I will have more to say about the recommended SPS budget.

Joseph F. Baeta, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Stoughton Public Schools

Students in the Stoughton High DECA chapter attended the District conference in Mansfield this Thursday and Friday. The SHS students are pictured here at the first day of the conference on Thursday. Dressed in business attire, students spent the two days presenting, taking part in competitions, and networking with students from around the area.

Dawe School third grade students in Mr. Relihan's technology class are pictured here getting right into their coding after winter break. They are learning python syntax style code using the app CodeCombat. Click here to watch a video of the students at work.

MassBioEd recently visited biology classes at Stoughton High and ran a special lab called "Molecular Rainbow", which introduced students to the use of gel electrophoresis as a method of molecule identification.

It was a big night for Stoughton wrestling on Wednesday. The O'Donnell Middle School wrestling team had a meet with Easton Middle School in the SHS gym, followed by the Senior Night meet for the Stoughton High wrestling team against Oliver Ames.

Members of the OMS team are pictured here following their meet (first photo) and the seniors on the SHS team are pictured here before the start of their meet (second photo). It also was nice to see the members of the SHS wrestling team enthusiastically cheering on the middle schoolers during their meet (third photo).

A “Popcorn Friday” is always a great way to end the week! Members of the South School PTO are pictured here helping get the popcorn ready Friday morning for students and staff to enjoy!

Registration for the Stoughton Public Schools February Vacation Humanities Camp is open!

This vacation camp is a free program offered to SPS students currently in grades 2-5. The camp will be held at the Gibbons Elementary School, 235 Morton St., from 8:30am-12:30pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of the February vacation week (February 20-22).

This is an exciting opportunity for students to participate in a reading/ELA/social studies project based learning program that will enhance their educational experience.

For more information and for the link to register, click here.

There is no school on Monday, January 15, 2024 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. And, we have an early release day on Thursday, January 18, 2024. Please see the graphics below for more details.

Speaking of MLK Day, here are two events the town is holding to commemorate the holiday. See the flyers below for more information.

8th grade students and families - Please join the Stoughton High School administration, department directors, and some SHS student leaders on Monday, January 29, 2024 at 6:30pm in the Stoughton High Auditorium for the 8th Grade SHS Showcase!

This program is an introduction to all of our current 8th grade students and families of all SHS has to offer our students. You will hear all about classes, graduation requirements, opportunities, activities, clubs, sports, music, drama, and much much more at SHS! In addition, you will also receive important information about the SHS course selection process which will begin for our incoming 9th grade students in February.

We look forward to seeing you at the 8th Grade SHS Showcase on January 29th!

There will be a virtual public forum to learn more about the new elementary school building project on Thursday, January 25, 2024. There will be sessions offered at both noon and 7pm. There will also be an in-person forum held at the end of February (date, time, and location TBD). We will share more details about both of these forums soon.

Attention parents of school age children ages 2.9 to 4 years:

In compliance with Chapter 766, Stoughton Public Schools will screen preschool-aged children to identify those children with possible special education needs.

The screening will occur at the E.A. Jones Early Childhood Center on Friday, February 16, 2024.

The screening will include the following: Speech and language, education, motor skills, and completion of a parent questionnaire.

If you want to schedule an appointment, please call by Wednesday, January 31, 2024.

This screening is not for enrollment for the preschool. Your child must be a Stoughton resident.

If you have any questions or want additional information, please get in touch with the Jones ECC at 781-344-7003 or email Lynda Feeney at l_feeney@stoughtonschools.org.

Save the date for an afternoon of basketball fun at Stoughton High! The SHS Best Buddies Club will be hosting a fundraiser on Wednesday, February 28, 2024. First, the SHS Best Buddies Club will play the Stoughton Police and Fire Departments in a "Buddies vs. Badges" game at 3pm. This will be followed by a game between SHS faculty and SHS seniors at 4:30pm.

Click on the image or button below to see what will be served for breakfast and lunch in January!

The Stoughton School Committee will be meeting on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, with the public portion of the meeting starting at 7pm. An agenda for the meeting can be found here. The Building Committee for the new elementary school project will be meeting on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. And agenda will be shared at the beginning of the week. Both meetings will take place in conference room at the SPS District Office, 31 Pierce St.

Now that we are in January and snow is in the forecast for this weekend, here is a reminder of our school cancellation and delayed opening plan for when there is inclement weather.

Another friendly reminder that with the school year underway, we want to make sure we have accurate and updated emergency contact information and health information for your child. Please log into your PowerSchool Parent Portal account, click on the forms link in the left navigation menu and update any information that is not accurate in the two forms - Current Student Information/Emergency Form and Current Student Health Information. When you have updated the information, please click on submit at the bottom of each of the forms. If your child's information is accurate, please click on submit at the bottom of each form to indicate that you have reviewed the data and it is accurate.

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