Superintendent's Update: Friday, June 3, 2022

This Sunday, June 5, 2022, at 10:00 AM, three hundred twenty-five seniors will receive their diplomas as Algonquin Regional High School holds its 59th graduation ceremony. I want to take a minute and congratulate the Class of 2022, as well as their parents and guardians, for reaching this significant educational milestone.

For those interested in watching the event, the graduation will be streamed live on YouTube by Northborough Cable Access. The link for the event will be shared on Saturday. The full video will be available for viewing any time after the ceremony on Northborough’s Cable Access

YouTube channel.

Arrival and seating:

Gates will open at 8:30 AM
Guests may enter the stadium through the entrance by the ticketing office or by ‘the McDonalds’ building
Guests may sit in the grandstands or on the field
Guests who choose to sit on the field are invited to bring their own seating (beach chairs, camping chairs, etc.; sorry, large blankets are not permitted)
Seats in the grandstands are probably as appealing as ones on the field (and vice versa). Families that are unsure of which seating option is best for them are welcome to bring chairs even if they sit in the grandstands. We will simply have the chairs stored out of the way, retrievable after the event

Guests:

There is no limit on the number of guests our graduates may bring

Access for handicapped guests:

There will be expanded parking for handicapped guests as well as easy access to the field in the area near the red buildings (including the ‘snack shack’)
Seating for guests needing handicap access and support will be provided on the track in front of the grandstands
All guests needing handicap access and support were previously asked to email ARHSgraduation@nsboro.k12.ma.us. If you have not, please do so immediately so that we can plan for your attendance and comfort

Questions:

If you have questions about Graduation, please email ARHSgraduation@nsboro.k12.ma.us and we will get back to you as soon as possible

Respectfully,

Gregory L. Martineau

Superintendent of Schools

Sandy Hook Promise’s Say Something Program

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Two years ago, the District launched the Sandy Hook Promise’s Say Something Program and an Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS) grades 6-12. The Program teaches students, teachers, and administrators how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, of individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others to Say Something to a trusted adult OR use its anonymous reporting system.

The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System is a holistic program combining education about the warning signs of potential violence or self-harm with the tools to report concerns safely. This is the only anonymous reporting system in the U.S. that provides training and a mobile app, website, and hotline – exclusively for schools.

A National Crisis Center backs the Anonymous Reporting System and:

Operates 24/7/365 – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
Solely responding to messages (aka tips) received by the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System
A dedicated team of highly skilled and trained Crisis Counselors
Fluent in multiple languages with translation support for over 600 languages
Trained in suicide prevention, crisis management, and mental health support
Qualified professionals with backgrounds in psychology, social work, and education
Directed by a former law enforcement official with 20+ years of experience in anonymous reporting systems

Recorded Session Available:

Mental health, suicidality, and supporting our children

Session: Mental health, suicidality, and supporting our children

A recording of the webinar can be found here.
You will need a password to view the recording - AX!7vjnG
Presentation slides: NSBORO Webinar May 31, 2022 Slides.pdf

Here is a list of Mental Health Resources for Families

It’s not too late to sign up for the next two sessions (both sessions are virtual):

Session 2: Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at 7:00 PM:

Keeping kids safe online and preventing cyberbullying

Session 3: Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at 7:00 PM:

Building healthy habits to improve physical and emotional health

Submit questions here

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Food Services and the Cost of School Lunch

The Finance Department and Food Service Department have examined the increased costs of operating the Food Services Program in preparation that the federal and state governments will not fund universal free lunches next year. Their financial analysis shows that a .25 increase is required. The increased costs directly result from food and transportation costs, labor costs, and a lack of access to commodities. Assistant Superintendent of Operations Keith Lavoie will present the recommendations at the June school committee meetings.

The District was hoping that the Universal Free Meals Program would continue through the 2022-2023 school year; however, the federal program will end on June 30, 2022. There is Massachusetts legislation (Meals for All -Meals for All legislation (S314/H714)) that provides a solution that lasts far beyond the pandemic. If you are interested in advocating for this legislation, I’ve included a link to Project Bread’s website and advocacy tools.