BBRSD District-Wide Weekly Update
April 30, 2021
Superintendent's Office
School Committee Meeting (May 4, 2021) Update
This coming Tuesday, May 4, 2021, our School Committee meeting will be held in person in the Tahanto auditorium.
There will be an in-person capacity limit of 50 live attendees so we can properly socially distance; however, this meeting will be live-streamed on YouTube so anyone who wishes to watch live will be able to do so from the comfort of home.
If you would like to make a public comment and are unable to attend in person, please send your comment to Kristi Turgeon no later than May 4, 2021, at 4:00 p.m.
Updated School Calendar
Our 2020-2021 School Calendar has been updated due to the school closure on April 16. Please see the revised calendar here. The new last day for students is June 15 (early release) and June 16 for staff.
Revised COVID-19 Protocols
On April 20, 2021, DESE and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced updated protocols for COVID-19 scenarios in schools. These revised protocols can be found here.
Updated in-person learning guidance was released by DESE on April 27, 2021, and can found here.
For additional information on the high school commencement guidelines recently released, please click here.
Business Office
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 pickup on Tuesday 4/13 from 11:00am-1:00pm.
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.
Free Meals Extended through School Year 2021-2022 by USDA
On Tuesday, April 20th, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released several flexibilities to allow school meal programs to serve meals safely and efficiently during School Year 2021-2022. These meal service flexibilities, available through June 30, 2022, are in response to the continued economic impact of COVID-19 and the need to adhere to strict food safety protocols.
Specifically, for School Year 2021-2022:
All schools across the Commonwealth will be allowed to serve meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Seamless Summer Option (SSO), which is typically only available during the summer months.
Area eligibility will continue to be suspended allowing all schools across the Commonwealth to continue serving free meals to all children and teens.
Bob Conry, Director of Finance and Operations
Boylston Elementary School
For your planning purposes, we will be administering the MCAS testing in grades 3 through 5 in May. This year's test will look different than it has in the past. The State has worked to limit them in duration. In the building, we will not be over-emphasizing them. Our focus will continue to concentrate on the social-emotional well-being of our students. Our teachers know where gaps in instruction are and where we have seen the most successes so the focus on this year's test will be to make it as least disruptive as possible. The scheduled days are below:
3rd grade - 5/17 and 5/18
4th grade - 5/17 and 5/18
5th grade - 5/18, 5/19, and 5/20
Next week is staff appreciation week! Our teachers and staff have worked so hard this year to support our children, I hope you will find time to let them know how much they are appreciated. I know a nicely worded email or a picture/note from a student (past or present) has always meant the most to us.
It feels like we just got back and we're already looking ahead to next year. Every year we start a robust placement process to create balanced learning communities for the following year. Parent feedback is an important part of our process. While we do not take requests for specific teachers, we do like to hear about what teaching styles have worked best for you student. Please take a few seconds to read our placement feedback letter and let me know if you have any questions.
(Check for BEF information as well as a flyer from a BES alumni for Project 351)
The week ahead:
Teacher Appreciation Week
Monday (5/3)
School Council
Thursday (5/6)
PTO meeting
Friday (5/7)
Bobcat pride day! Break out those new or old Bobcat shirts and show your school spirit!
BES Office: 508-869-2200
Berlin Memorial School
Jeff’s newsletter - 4 28 21 BMS
Greetings, all…
Just a few quick notes as we finish off our first week back after the break.
Thank you to everyone for the smooth transition back to school. From drop-off and pick-up routines to masking and distancing practices, we were able to pick up where we left off. We very much appreciate your support.
As I mentioned in a recent newsletter, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, in its’ infinite wisdom, is still insisting that we administer MCAS tests this year. For your planning purposes, here are the testing dates for those tests (subject to change, as always):
ELA
Grade Three – Tuesday, May 11
Grade Four – Wednesday, May 12
Grade Five – Thursday, May 13
Make-up tests – all grades – Friday, May 14
Math
Grade Three – Tuesday, May 18
Grade Four – Wednesday, May 19
Grade Five – Thursday, May 20
Make-up tests – all grades – Friday, May 21
STE
Grade Five only – Tuesday, May 25
Make-up tests – Friday, May 28
Dates to know...
MCAS testing - May 11 - 28
Thursday, May 6 - PTL Meeting
Wednesday, May 26th - Fun Run!
BMS Office: 978-838-2417
Tahanto Regional Middle/High School
WEEK OF 5/2-5/6
Final Learning Mode Decisions Due by 2:15 Friday, April 30th
The deadline for decisions regarding students’ mode of learning has been extended through Friday, April 30th. Please contact Sue Boudreau at sboudreau@bbrsd.org to change your child’s learning mode if needed. After Friday, April 30th no changes will be permitted.
MCAS Schedule and Requirements
Tahanto’s MCAS dates are listed below for students in grades 6-8 and 9/10. The Department of Education is allowing students that are fully remote in grades 6-8 to take their MCAS exams either online or come in person on the scheduled testing days. More information will be forthcoming.
Students in grades 9 who are enrolled in a full year Biology course and all 10th graders must take the MCAS ELA and Math on the dates listed below. 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
Believe it or not, we are in full scheduling mode for next year. Please see below for information regarding scheduling meetings and deadlines.
Current Grades 8-11:
Students who are currently in grades 8-11 should have logged into PowerSchool to choose their electives and approve their core academic recommendations. Questions regarding scheduling should be directed to your child’s school counselor. The deadline to input electives was Wednesday, April 28th.
Current Grades 6-7:
Scheduling meetings with students will take place during Block 8 on May 4th.
Current Grade 5:
Scheduling meetings for parents and students of incoming 6th-grade students will take place on Wednesday, May 12th at 6:30 pm. This meeting will be held virtually for both parents and students.
Meeting Link: Incoming Grade 6 Scheduling Night
Class of 2021 Important Information and Updates
A HUGE THANKS goes out to the Berlin/Boylston community for their help in creating an awesome Senior Gift Bag! So many businesses, families, and individuals contributed to the success of this endeavor.
A deep appreciation goes out to all of you for helping the Class of 2021 to feel special after an especially tough year.
ALL TAHANTO SENIORS: The wait is over, please pick up your goodies and lawn signs at Tahanto on Saturday, May 1st from 9-11 am. We look forward to seeing you there!
Updated commencement regulations have been released from DESE and the Commonwealth. Please click here.
Junior/Senior Prom
Prom tickets will be sold during high school lunches this week. The cost of a ticket is $85 for juniors and out-of-school guests. If you are bringing an out-of-school guest, you MUST turn in the guest permission form in order to buy a ticket for your guest. Extra permission slips can be found on our class board outside of the art room. You may pay with cash or check made out to "Tahanto class of 2021".
Seniors, although your prom tickets are free, you MUST go up to the person selling at your lunch and tell them you will be attending!
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.
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.
Sally Stukuls, Assistant Principal
Tahanto Office: 508-869-2333
New Electronic Sign
Tahanto’s electronic sign has finally been installed. This has been 5 years in the making and through donations from Stop & Shop and Class donations we achieved our goal!
Prom Tickets
Virtual College Fair May 7
Contact Us!
Email: parentquestions@bbrsd.org
Website: bbrsd.org
Location: 215 Main Street, Boylston, MA, USA
Phone: 508-869-2837