Superintendent's Update

Friday, May 6, 2022

Congratulations to sophomore Deven Bullard, who won Best of Show at this year’s Congressional Art Awards Competition! Her ballpoint pen drawing, “Seeing Through the Virus,” will hang in the US Capitol Building for one year, representing the Second MA Congressional District.

GONK.ARTSThe Blog of the Algonquin Fine & Performing Arts Department

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Family Update: Friday, May 6, 2022

Table of Contents:

Superintendent’s Weekly Message - Congratulations ARHS Artists

Neary Building Committee - Feasibility Study Update

Community Collaboration Between our District and StoryBridge

Save the Date: NSPAC Go the Distance Awards

Coalition for Equity - Save the Date

Asian American and Pacific Islander Month and Relay for Life 

NSMA - Get to Know the NSMA Meetings

COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 Testing Opportunity

2021-2022 Key COVID-19 Protocols, Guidelines, and Recommendations 

Sign Up for Weekly COVID Safety Checks (Pooled Screening)

Local Testing Site Information

Daily Symptom Checklist

Sign Up for an at-home antigen test kit (Staff)

Sign Up for an at-home antigen test kit (Students)

With OPTIONAL masking, masks will still be REQUIRED

Dear Parent(s) and Guardian(s):

Each spring, a nationwide high school art competition is sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives. The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 and is a unique opportunity to showcase the artistic talents of high school students around the nation and within the 2nd Congressional District of Massachusetts. 

Algonquin Regional High School was well represented and many Algonquin Regional High School (ARHS) artists received accolades. Sophomore Deven Bullard won Best in Show at this year’s Congressional Art Awards Competition! Her ballpoint pen drawing, “Seeing Through the Mask,” will hang in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year, representing the Second MA Congressional District. In addition to the award, Deven received plane tickets to the ceremony in Washington later this year. 

Sophomore Ellie Ouano, won Second Place in the Photography category for her piece, "Untitled (unmasked)" Overall, more than a dozen ARHS artists were recognized for their art. I’d like to congratulate the students for their success and for all of those art educators who supported and inspired them along their educational journey. Lastly, I’d like to thank Rebecca Duffy, ARHS Visual Art Educator, for sharing this great news with me.

Respectfully,

Gregory L. Martineau

Superintendent of Schools

Neary Building Committee - Update on Article 16

On Wednesday, May 4, 2022, Southborough Town voters approved Article 16, which was to fund a Feasibility Study for the Neary Elementary School. As a result of the approval, the Neary Building Committee will continue its partnership with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). The work will continue on August 1, 2022, which is the official start date MSBA has designated for Southborough. I’d like to thank the Neary Building Committee for its work and diligence and the Town’s approval of Article 16 to allow for further study of a potential pathway.  

Summary: At the 2022 Southborough Annual Town Meeting, voters appropriated $950,000 to perform a Feasibility Study for the Margaret A. Neary School. Originally opened in 1970, Margaret A. Neary School has not had significant capital investments since 2000. This Feasibility Study will analyze potential options to bring this school building up to modern educational standards, including but not limited to renovation, expansion, or new construction.

What does this article approval not do? 

• It does not fund the construction or renovation of Margaret A. Neary School. A future Town Meeting will decide what should occur based on the outcome of the Feasibility Study.
• If grade consolidation occurs, it does not commit any funding for a potential Community Center at the current Albert S. Woodward Memorial School.

The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough had the privilege of hosting a keynote presentation by local author Jennifer De Leon. Jennifer inspired us with her story and the power of telling stories. This community event was sponsored by the Coalition for Equity and The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough. This also signified the launch of an exciting Community collaboration between our District and StoryBridge, led by Jennifer De Leon and her husband, Adam Stumacher. 

This partnership will focus on Jennifer and Adam supporting ten individuals in writing and workshopping their stories which they will ultimately share at a community celebration in October 2022. The goal is for students (over the age of 14), family members, community members, and educators to tell their stories so that we can connect with each other in new ways. Please view these slides, including videos, to better explain the upcoming event and the opportunity.    

Coalition for Equity - Save the Date

Asian American and Pacific Islander Month

and

Relay for Life

During the month of May, The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough are recognizing Asian American and Pacific Islander Month. The month of May is significant as it recognizes the immigration of Japanese people to the United States in 1843. Chinese workers played a prominent role in the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869. 

As a District, we celebrate and honor the impact that Asian American and Pacific Islanders have had on our society, culture, and history. Below are some resources for families to learn more about Asian American and Pacific Islander Month:

• https://www.parents.com/holiday/asian-pacific-american-heritage-month-history-and-activities-for-kids/
• https://www.colorincolorado.org/books-authors/literacy-calendar/celebrating-asian-pacific-american-heritage#authors

Finally, the Relay for Life Club at ARHS invites all members of The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough to participate in the 2022 Relay for Life on May 13, which begins at 6 PM on the ARHS football field. More info here: https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR?pg=entry&fr_id=101562. Please consider joining them in the fight against cancer!