The Common
June 16, 2023
Superintendent Update
Dear Nashoba Families,
Here we are at the conclusion of another school year. I am so proud of our students and their accomplishments in the classroom, on the stage, on the fields and courts, or wherever their learning took them. Every year at this time I remind myself of how hard our students work to be their best and how much they grew. Now it is time to rest, play, explore, or do whatever brings them joy and refreshes their minds for another school year.
On Monday, June 19th, we will not have school in recognition of the Juneteenth federal holiday, a holiday that commemorates the proclamation of the end of slavery in Texas in 1865 almost three years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth is an opportunity for families and neighbors to come together, celebrate, and demonstrate the sense of belonging we strive for in our community.
Finally, our last day of school will be an early release on Thursday, June 22nd. It is my wish for you all a wonderful summer and we will see you once again when we start the 2023-2024 school year.
Peace,
Kirk Downing
(He, Him)
“Be your best self. Pave your path. Impact the world.”
News from the Department of Teaching and Learning
NRHS Students Build Civic Content Knowledge
United States History II students in Jon French's class shared their learning through showcasing their civic action projects on Wednesday in the NRHS Media Center. The civic project is a student-led, non-partisan project providing students an opportunity to build civic content knowledge, develop and practice literacy, research, and civics skills, conduct inquiries and determine next steps, and ultimately develop civic dispositions. This project builds student agency and self-efficacy through students determining an issue or area of concern, examining root causes through research and investigation, developing an action plan, taking action, and finally, reflecting on their own learning. Issues identified and explored ranged from student identified concerns on the local/school level to larger national or global concerns. The wide array of student civic action topics on display was truly inspiring, ranging from a desire to stop illegal gambling for students, to advocating for nutrition options for Nashoba athletes. Many of the students built upon research that begin in their English class related to Henry David Thoreau's ideas of following intuition and advocating for beliefs, framing the discussion of civic action historically and today.
Along the way, students demonstrated their development of the Portrait of a Nashoba Graduate competencies; they had to communicate with stakeholders and potential change agents, utilize creativity in their approach to identifying a course of action, while demonstrating perseverance and a learners' mindset as they encountered challenges and barriers to their plan along the way. Ultimately, students demonstrated empathy through looking at issues related to concerns that were not just individual to themselves, but impacted a broader community, evidence of their development of culturally competent global citizenship through their understandiing of how citizens can participate in and improve their community through civic action.
Biography Museum Walk
Third graders at Florence Sawyer have been working on their biography unit. To begin this unit, students spent time looking at many different time periods through a historical lens to gain background knowledge prior to choosing a person to study. Next, each student selected one person in history to read and learn about in order to create a timeline of their life with multiple paragraphs detailing the important events of that person’s life. Students also created a soda-pop bottle person to accompany their written project. Third graders then presented their knowledge to classmates, parents, and other grade levels in FSS.
Nashoba Notable Award! Thank a Nashoba Employee!
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!
News from the Extended Learning Department
Registration Open for June Soccer Camp!
Kick your summer off the right way with the Extended Learning Program's June Soccer Camp! Camp will run from Monday, June 26th, through Thursday, June 29th, from 12:30pm-3:30pm. The camp is open to all students grades K-5! Players won't need to bring anything but themselves and a water bottle. Register Here!
This Week at Nashoba
The Bolton Girls on the Run teams ran their end-of-season 5K at Polar Park last Saturday. Congratulations, students, and thank you, coaches!
Florence Sawyer K-3 Field Day Fun
Congratulations on the retirement of Center School teachers. From Left to Right: Paula Backiel, Ann Bonner, Judy Dyer, Karen Fitzgerald, Diane Kilcoyne, Judy Demeo, Pam Trefry , Carol Johnson, Kelley Joseph
Together, we inspire and challenge all learners to reach their unique potential and become active contributors to their community.