Above: There are a lot of strange symbols to decipher on this year’s school calendar – but that’s a welcome improvement for families trying to track half-days as well as holidays. (images cropped from NSBORO website)
Southborough and Northborough students will head back to school next week. So, it’s a good time to share district news and save-the-dates.
The biggest news in the NSBORO newsletter issued last week was the launch of a new “platform” for keeping students’ families informed.
District Communications
It’s clear that the NSBORO administration is focusing on improving communications this year. In fact, a Combined School Committees meeting tomorrow night is focused on that topic. An outside firm specializing in K-12 Education strategic communications will be running a facilitated session for school committee members.
As part of their efforts, the administration is encouraging families to sign up for “ParentSquare”. The “unified communications tool” allows parents to choose how to receive messages and how often. You can even download an app:
Stay connected from anywhere with our online portal and parent app, ParentSquare! Get all school notifications in one place.
View only what’s relevant to your children. Never miss out again!
The back-to-school NSBORO newsletter does clarify for parents:
you will continue to receive school and District communications regardless of whether or not you sign up for Parent Square. However, to access the advanced features of ParentSquare, parents must register.
Learn more here.
The annual newsletter also includes a blurb from each of the schools. Only one of those had news on changes to expect this year – Algonquin Regional High School.
The high school is implementing a new bell schedule. Some changes to the schedule that were implemented during the pandemic for safety protocols weren’t ideal for educational purposes. Recognizing that teen students may struggle more with early classes, the subjects will again rotate through periods. The change also allows the return of some longer periods to accommodate labs. (I happen to know the new schedule is controversial. It’s not surprising, since there have always been factions with opposing opinions on this topic.)
To see the full newsletter, including links to other resources and information families may be looking for, click here.
Following one of those links to Transportation, it seems that sometime today parents can expect emails with their children’s bus information. Updated bus routes will also be posted.
School Calendar
As usual, the first day is the Wednesday before Labor Day. What is new, is that the long weekend that follows will be longer than usual.
This year, presumably for security, school won’t be in session on any days that elections are taking place – and the day after Labor Day is the State Primary.
Between those days, special half-days for the schools, holidays, and breaks, there are a lot of days off to keep track of. For the first time, the administration placed all of the schools’ half days on the District Calendar. (It’s about time!)
But, since the calendar is combined with Northborough, there are a lot of symbols to decipher. So, I’ve compiled the list of dates impacting Southborough schools and Algonquin that may be easier to follow.
First, here’s the return to school schedule. (These aren’t on the District Calendar but most are in individual schools’ calendars and parents/students should have received emails.):
- Thursday, August 25, 2022
- (5:00 – 6:00 pm) — Trottier New Student Open House
- Monday, August 29, 2022
- (9:00 – 10:00 am) — ARHS Orientation for new students
- (9:00 – 11:00 am) — ARHS Freshman Orientation
- (6:00 – 8:00 pm) — ARHS Freshman Dance in the Cafeteria
- (6:00 – 8:00 pm) — ARHS Freshman Parent Meeting in the Auditorium
- Tuesday, August 30, 2022
- (2:30 – 5:30 pm) Finn School Open House
- 1st Grade — 2:30 pm Last names A-M, 3:00 pm Last names N-Z
- PreK & Kindergarten — 3:30 pm Last names A-M, 4:00 pm Last names N-Z
- (3:00 – 5:00 pm) — Neary School Open House
- (3:00 – 5:00 pm) — Woodward School Open House
- (2:30 – 5:30 pm) Finn School Open House
- Wednesday, August 31, 2022 — First Day of School
- Friday, September 2, 2022 — Welcome Back, Community Outdoor Movie Night (Despicable Me) on the ARHS football field (Algonquin Student Council fundraiser. For details, see dedicated post.)
Below are the Half Days and days off (and last day) you’ll want to mark on your calendars:
- Monday, September 5, 2022 — Labor Day Holiday – No School
- Tuesday, September 6, 2022 — No School (State Primary voting polling places are in NSBORO schools)
- Thursday, September 22, 2022 — K-6 Early Release Day (Finn, Woodward, and Neary Schools)
- Monday, September 26, 2022 — Rosh Hashanah – No School
- Wednesday, October 5, 2022 — Yom Kippur – No School
- Monday, October 10, 2022 — Heritage Day – No School
- Tuesday, November 8, 2022 — Professional Development – No School for students (State Election voting polling places are in NSBORO schools)
- Friday, November 11, 2022 — Veteran’s Day – No School
- Thursday, November 17, 2022 — K-8 Early Release (Finn, Woodward, Neary, and Trottier Schools)
- Friday, November 18, 2022 — K-8 Early Release (Finn, Woodward, Neary, and Trottier Schools)
- Wednesday, November 23, 2022 — Early release to start Thanksgiving Break – School resumes Monday, November 28, 2022
- Friday, December 23, 2022 — Early release to start Christmas Break – School resumes Tuesday, January 3, 2023
- Monday, January 16, 2023 — Martin Luther King Day – No School
- Thursday, February 9, 2023 — Trottier Middle School Early Release
- Saturday, February 18, 2023 — February Vacation starts – School resumes Monday, February 27, 2023
- Thursday, March 30, 2023 — K-6 Early Release Day (Finn, Woodward, and Neary Schools)
- Friday, March 31, 2023 — K-6 Early Release Day (Finn, Woodward, and Neary Schools)
- Friday, April 7, 2023 — Good Friday – No School
- Saturday, April 15, 2023 — Spring Break starts – School resumes Monday, April 24, 2023
- Tuesday, May 9, 2023 — Professional Development – No School for students (Town Election voting polling places are in NSBORO schools)
- Monday, May 29, 2023 — Memorial Day – No School
- Monday, June 19, 2023 — Juneteenth Holiday – No School
- Tuesday, June 20, 2023 — 1st possible last Day of School (1 day will be added for each snow day/emergency closing during the year)
