Dr. Stewart's Community Update
October 14, 2022
Dr. Stewart's Community Update
January 27, 2023
Dear AWRSD students, staff and families,
First and foremost, I would like to THANK YOU for your understanding and flexibility this week. New England weather has certainly taken its toll lately in our specific communities. My continued thanks and appreciation to our Ashburnham and Westminster DPW, Fire and Police Departments for their tireless efforts and collaboration to ensure the safety of all of our students, staff and families.
The Oakmont Regional High School Visual Art Department is gathering information toward planning an Oakmont Alumni Art Exhibition. The intention is to showcase and celebrate the scope and variety of art/creative visual work being made by former Oakmont graduates. Your participation in the exhibition will simultaneously bring awareness and support to the importance of the ORHS Visual Art program and its extension beyond our regional community. Additionally, there are the possibilities of exposing and connecting current students to the creative careers and passions of Oakmont Alumni. Please share this form with anyone you think would be interested. After this initial data is collected, detailed information and next steps will be shared further with those who express interest. The interest form can be found HERE.
The AWRSD Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is looking for parent/caregiver liaisons to represent each school in the district. If you are interested, please reach out to AWRSD SEPAC Co-Chairs Kim Caisse and Dorene Francis at awrsdsepac3@gmail.com or awrsdsepac4@gmail.com. Visit https://sites.google.com/view/ashburnham-westminster-sepac to learn more about the AWRSD SEPAC.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is inviting educators, parents, current and former students, and other community members to participate in a survey that will provide feedback on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) to help inform the future direction of the testing program. The survey should take about 10 minutes or less to complete. Unfortunately, responses will only be collected through the end of the day today Friday, January 27 at 5:00 p.m. If you are interested in completing this survey, it can be found HERE.
As I announced in previous correspondences, an exciting panel discussion hosted by the AWRSD School Committee Subcommittee for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and open to the entire community has been scheduled for Thursday, March 16 at 6:30 PM in the ORHS Auditorium. The event will feature three panelists with connections to our communities and/or school district who will share a bit about their life stories, their unique lived experiences and how various elements of their identities have shaped those experiences. I will have the privilege of moderating the panel. Brief biographies of the three speakers can be found HERE.
Thank you as always for your support and collaboration. Have a great weekend.
Sincerely,
Dr. Todd Stewart
Superintendent of Schools