BBRSD District-Wide Weekly Update
May 14, 2021
Superintendent's Office
Thank You
As we begin nearing the close of the school year and this difficult one, in particular, I would like to acknowledge the shared commitment and spirit of collaboration that we maintain with our community departments, including our Boards of Selectmen, Finance Departments and Town Office staff members with whom we work closely throughout the year. Thank you for your continued support of our students, staff, and schools.
I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to our Berlin and Boylston police and fire departments. We have shared a close partnership through our crisis team efforts on behalf of the district, and can always count on them to be there for us in times of need. In addition, I extend a heartfelt “thank you” to our highway departments for doing the work that needs to be done to keep our families and busses safe on the roads in all seasons and circumstances.
Thank you on behalf of the Berlin-Boylston Regional School District.
CDC Updated Guidance on Masks
The CDC released updated mask guidance for vaccinated individuals:
- Update that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT DESPITE THE CDC UPDATE, THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS HAS NOT YET LIFTED THE MASK MANDATE FOR ANYONE.
Governor Baker's office stated: "The Administration welcomes the new CDC guidance and will be updating Massachusetts’ COVID restrictions in the near future. In the meantime, the current mask order remains in place." All students and employees will continue to wear masks in accordance with the Governor's order until further notice.
Business Office
THANK YOU to our dedicated Food Service Teams in our schools!
They have done a fantastic job running the kitchens, coming up with remote meal options and making them available to families, and complying with all the new requirements to safely serve meals during the pandemic, such as individual packaging of meals, and cleaning and disinfecting spaces after each meal.
Remote Meals!
Free remote meals will continue to be available to students in the full remote learning model that are enrolled in the district. Each child continuing to learn remotely is eligible for 5 breakfast and 5 lunches per week. Students choosing to return to the full in-person learning model will be offered free breakfast and free lunch each day they learn onsite, and will not be eligible for remote meals. Pickup windows for fully remote students will be reduced to one day pick up on Tuesday 4/13 from 11:00 am-1:00 pm.
Please fill out the form below (1 form per child) to specify your weekly order and pickup details. If you are unable to pick up during the available pickup windows please email: lstaples@bbrsd.org to arrange alternate plans. Pickup windows were created to reduce wait times, and improve traffic flow.
Pickup is at Tahanto Regional Middle/High School. Take the entrance nearest the softball/field hockey field, and idle at the cone near the dumpsters. Stay in your car, and the order will be brought to your vehicle.
Weekly remote meal ordering form link:
https://www.bbrsd.org/Page/1583
Any questions or concerns can be directed to Lauren Staples, Food Service Director 508-869-2333 ext. 2346 or lstaples@bbrsd.org.
Bob Conry, Director of Finance and Operations
Pupil Personnel Services
SEPAC Meeting
Monday, May, 17th at 6:30 pm, the Berlin-Boylston SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) will hold an Online General Meeting. To join, send a message to: info.bbrsd.sepac@gmail.com for more details. For more information: http://www.sepac-berlin-boylston.orgTechnology Department
Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
For any families struggling to provide Internet Access for their children, please click on this link to find information about the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program: https://connectednation.org/ebbprogram/
Paul Mara, Director of Technology
508-869-2837 ext. 1109
Boylston Elementary School
Amazing Race for Education
The race to the end of the year is on! And so is our Amazing Race for Education! With everything changing so drastically this year, the PTO has made a small and fun adjustment to our typical "Race for Education." This year, on Friday, May 21st, classes will go out and complete their own scavenger hunt in "The Amazing Race" style. It promises to be a fun day!
Please send kids in with their Bobcat gear or class colors.
Kindergarten is yellow
1st grade is green
2nd grade is light blue
3rd grade is red
4th grade is purple
5th grade is navy blue
Picnic Time!
Next week, weather permitting, we are also going to try a new lunch procedure. Since we've returned fully we have been exploring the idea of eating lunch outside. Not only is this a safer option, but it eliminates the need for assigned seating. We have finally entered the time of year when the weather is most likely to cooperate. The cafeteria will deliver lunches to the classrooms before the start of lunch. Students will take their lunches outside with them and have a socially distant picnic on the field. They can bring their "green mats" they've been using this year but if your child would prefer the "picnic" experience please send them in with a towel (blankets will take up way too much space). This is an experiment as we wrap up the year and gives me potential options to consider in the fall depending on what guidelines are in place. Spaces will be marked out at 6 feet. I hope the kids have a positive experience but we will be keeping an eye on it. And for those worried about goose poop, we hired a dog in the fall and have not had the problem since (fingers crossed).
There is still time to get those pinwheel orders into the BEF!
The Week Ahead:
Monday (5/17)
3rd and 4th-grade MCAS
Tuesday (5/18)
3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade MCAS
Wednesday (5/19)
5th-grade MCAS
Thursday (5/20)
5th-grade MCAS
Friday (5/21)
BES The Amazing Race for Education! (Brought to us by the PTO)
BES Office: 508-869-2200
Pinwheels
There is still time to get those pinwheel orders into the BEF!
Picnic Time!
The electronic folder
Berlin Memorial School
Well, week one of MCAS fun is over. The kids did a great job, really gave their best on a test we’d all rather skip. Next week is math, and based on what we’ve learned this week, we have made a change in schedule. All students in grades 3-5 will take the test on Tuesday, May 18th. It minimizes the disruption to the lunch and recess schedule and lets us get back on track as we finish out the year.
Fun Run, 2021!
On Monday, May 16th we will be launching the Fun Run event for this year with an all-school meeting. The Fun Run is a fundraising event sponsored by our Parent Teacher LINK organization, and the money raised will support our school activities in the coming year. I hope you will all be able to join in the fun!
A note from Nurse Ana
Dear Parents/Caregivers,
I hope that all our mothers enjoyed a restful Mother’s Day this past weekend and were treated with a little extra well-deserved TLC.
If you haven’t heard, the CDC in alignment with the FDA now recommends the Pfizer Covid Vaccine for all children ages 12-15.
Effective immediately providers in Massachusetts may begin to administer the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to individuals age 12 and older. To schedule a vaccine for your child (ages 12-15): https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/
For the CDC’s Director Statement click here.
For the FDA statement, click here.
For COVID-19 Vaccine: What Parents Need to Know, click here.
If you are an adult (age 18 or older) and would like to get a covid vaccine, the Nashoba Valley Regional Collaborative is hosting a vaccine clinic:
When: May 19 10am-5:30pm
Where: Clear Path for Veterans New England, 84 Antietam St, Devens MA
Walk-in or make an appointment: To make an appointment visit https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/ search by Local Board of Health Clinic and look for the Clear Path for Veterans New England/Devens site.
The vaccine is: Moderna
If you or someone you know could use food assistance, please be sure to check out Project Just Because Food Distribution this Saturday, May 15.
Lastly, the warmer weather is here and students are spending more time outdoors. Please continue to send your child to school with a water bottle and extra masks. Students get thirsty and sweaty during gym and recess, needing to change their masks throughout the day.
As always thank you for your continued support. If you have questions or concerns please contact me at 978-838-2214 or Aamaral@bbrsd.org.
Stay well,
Ana
Dates to remember...
Monday, May 17th - Fun Run Kick-off (in-school event for the kids)
Wednesday, May 26th - Fun Run!
Monday, May 31st - Memorial Day - No School
BMS Office: 978-838-2417
Tahanto Regional Middle/High School
Alumni Rob Joyce Class of 2011 Visits Tahanto
Nashville guitarist Rob Joyce returned to Tahanto this week to share with Mr. Doherty a guitar made out of the wood from Mr. Doherty’s door from the old Tahanto. Rob grew up in Berlin and his guitar performance during a Keith Urban concert skyrocketed him to fame. Check out the famous performance below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsu2AUxcH4k
Rob is currently a guitarist for country singer Riley Green, who is on tour with Brad Paisley. Congratulations to Rob and thank you for coming back and visiting with us!
MCAS TESTING IN GRADES 6,7,8 AND 10 BEGINS NEXT WEEK
Tahanto’s MCAS dates are listed below for students in grades 6-8 and 10. All MCAS testing will begin immediately after morning announcements. Those students who are fully remote, but who are coming in for testing should report to the main office upon arriving at Tahanto.
If your child is sick the morning of testing, please call the nurse’s office to report your child absent and we will schedule a make-up session for your child.
Those students taking MCAS remotely will be contacted by Mrs. Gallagher regarding specifics of test administration.
All MCAS for students in grades 9/10 MUST be taken in person; regardless of your current learning mode.
All MCAS tests will begin promptly at 7:45 a.m. on the scheduled date.
May 18th & May 19th: Grade 10 ELA
May 20th Grade 6 & 7 ELA
May 21st Grade 8 ELA
May 24th Grade 8 Math
May 25th Grade 6 & 7 Math
May 26th & May 27th Grade 10 Math
May 28th Grade 8 STE
June 1st & 2nd Grade 9 Biology
Scheduling for the 2021-2022 School Year
Current Grades 6-7:
Scheduling meetings with students will take place during Block 8 on Tuesday, May 18th. A link to the meeting will be sent to Mrs. Gallagher for all those students who are currently enrolled in Edgenuity. The deadline to input elective choices is Wednesday, May 26th. Questions, please contact Mr. Picariello at mpicariello@bbrsd.org
Current Grade 5:
Deadline for incoming Grade 6 students to input elective choices is Wednesday, May 26th. Questions, please contact Mr. Picariello at mpicariello@bbrsd.org
Class of 2021 Important Information and Updates
Senior Week Information/Graduation
Counseling Office News and Resources
Middle School
High School News
Resources
Ms Ford’s virtual office - A great place to find coping strategies
Important Clarification for Attendance
Beginning April 12th students who have chosen to learn in person are expected to attend school 5 days per week. In-person learners will not have access to live streaming if they are absent from school (unless COVID-related). Students who are live-streaming must follow the schedule and attend the entire class with their cameras on.
If a student stays home due to not feeling well, a parent may write a parental excusal which should be brought into the Main Office upon the student's return to school. If a live streaming student misses a class due to illness a parent must email an excusal note to Mrs. Boudreau at sboudreau@bbrsd.org.
School districts must take attendance for every student, every period regardless of the mode of learning. If your child is absent from school whether your child is remote or in person, please follow the same procedures:
- Call (508)869-2333 x 2303 to report your child absent. If your child is absent due to a medical appt. (doctor or dentist) please bring a note to the main office from the doctor’s office the next day your child is at Tahanto.
- If your child is going to be late to school for either remote learning or in-person please still call the above number and make us aware of this. Remote attendance will be taken within the first 10 minutes of class.
- Each student has 3 parental excusals that can be used during each semester for absences that are not subject to a doctor’s visit. To use parental excusal please write a note and have your child bring the note to the main office on the next day your child is in person at Tahanto.
If we do not receive a call notifying us of the absence, the secretaries in the main office will be contacting parents/guardians.
If you need further clarification or need to ask a question specific to your child’s attendance, please do not hesitate to contact Sue Boudreau at (508)869-2333 or send an email to sboudreau@bbrsd.org.
Athletics
Spring athletics are in full swing. It is so wonderful seeing all of our athletes outside and back on our fields. This week’s scores are below!
Saturday, May 8
Varsity Baseball- Tahanto-7 Bromfield-0. W
Monday, May 10
Varsity Softball Tahanto-8 Maynard-1. W
Varsity Lacrosse Tahanto-16 Hudson-2. W
Varsity Baseball Tahanto-11 Maynard-0. W
JV Lacrosse Tahanto-5 Hudson- 13. L
Tuesday, May 11
JV Softball Tahanto-23 Clinton-11. W
JV Baseball Tahanto- 6 Clinton-5. W
Wednesday, May 12
Varsity Softball Tahanto-1 West Boylston-14. L
JV Softball Tahanto-11 West Boylston-12. L
JV Baseball Tahanto-9 West Boylston-8. W
SCHOOL LUNCH
School lunch in the cafeteria is free to all students until 6/30/2022. Snack and extra meals are not included. Click here for more information.
Diane Tucceri, Principal
Sally Stukuls, Assistant Principal
Tahanto Office: 508-869-2333
Alumni Rob Joyce Class of 2011 Visits Tahanto
Nashville guitarist Rob Joyce returned to Tahanto this week to share with Mr. Doherty a guitar made out of the wood from Mr. Doherty’s door from the old Tahanto.
Graduation Info
Tahanto Athletics
Contact Us!
Email: parentquestions@bbrsd.org
Website: bbrsd.org
Location: 215 Main Street, Boylston, MA, USA
Phone: 508-869-2837