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COVID Entry Form for Extended School Year (ESY) Students

posted Jul 6, 2020, 6:22 AM by Dan MacLeod   [ updated Jul 7, 2020, 5:56 AM ]

Please complete this form daily if your child is participating in the Summer 2020  Extended School Year program.

Lunch & Breakfast Program Continues Through August

posted Jul 1, 2020, 8:54 AM by Tom Reeve


Photo credit: Marco Verch /CCBY 2.0

Holliston Public Schools Food Service is pleased to announce that we have been approved to continue to provide free breakfasts & lunches to all community members under the age of 21 through July & August, beginning next Tuesday 7/7. This is open to all families, you do not need to be on free or reduced lunch to participate. 

Our distribution days are changing to Tuesday & Thursday from the Miller Elementary School from 11:30 - 12:30. 

On Thursday in addition to individual food packs we will be offering USDA produce boxes to all families who come for lunch. Can't come for pick up but you still have a need? The Holliston Lions are able to deliver to you. For delivery or questions please email foodservice@holliston.k12.ma.us. 

Please feel free to spread the word about this valuable program.

Let's Talk About What's Next: June 9, 2020

posted Jun 10, 2020, 1:50 PM by Tom Reeve

Please be sure to join us for the Zoom Panel Presentation
Honoring the end of the year and transition to summer:
Rituals, routines, and resources

Brought to you by Holliston Public Schools and HPS MindsShare. A brief presentation and Question and Answer featuring both Holliston Public School staff and town folks.

David Keim, Principal - Miller Elementary School
Akshara Shankar, 11th grader -Student, Holliston High School
Jackie Winer, LICSW - Director of Holliston Youth and Family Services

If you missed the presentation, you can check out the slide show and recording here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/128Hxx5U982qryGc-5wi6uU_8Db50Nayz/view?usp=sharing



Let’s Talk About Pandemic Parenting - Part 2: May 18, 7pm

posted May 12, 2020, 6:22 AM by Tom Reeve   [ updated May 20, 2020, 9:56 AM ]

Please be sure to join us for the Zoom Panel Presentation

Let’s Talk About Pandemic Parenting - Part 2
How to Stay Motivated

Monday, May 18th 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Click Embedded Link for Zoom Presentation

How do I stay motivated? How do I keep my child motivated?

Brought to you by Holliston Public Schools, HPS SEPAC and HPS MindsShare. Parents/guardians will hear from and have Q & A time with the following panel members:
  • Dr. Naami Turk, consulting clinical psychologist to Holliston Public Schools
  • Kasey Conahan, ELA, grade 6, Adams Middle School
  • Tessa Piantedosi, BCBA, Holliston Public Schools
  • Dr. Jaime Slaney, principal, Placentino Elementary School

Update: If you missed the presentation, you can view the slideshow and recording here:



"Let’s Talk About Pandemic Parenting" Announced for April 27, 7pm

posted Apr 20, 2020, 5:02 PM by Tom Reeve   [ updated May 12, 2020, 6:17 AM ]

Let’s Talk About Pandemic Parenting

DATE: April 27, 2020
TIME: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Click Embedded Link for a Zoom Panel Presentation

Holliston Public Schools, in collaboration with HPS SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council and MindShare (the Parent Education arm of the Holliston PTO) invite parents/guardians to join us as we gather for a panel discussion on the experience of pandemic parenting. The intent is to share insights and to provide community support during these unprecedented times.

Superintendent, Dr. Brad Jackson and Director of Student Services, Meg Camire will moderate the discussion. Panel presenters include consulting psychologist to Holliston Public Schools, a parent, school counselor, and Director of Holliston Youth and Family Services. The panel hopes to address questions provided through the link below as well as throughout the presentation.

As parents, administrators, and teachers, we value what is happening in your homes during these unfamiliar times. You are not alone! We are asking for your perspectives, questions, worries, silver-linings, experiences, etc. regarding pandemic parenting in the link below to help drive the conversation.


Missed the session? Watch the recording here!

Budget Hearing Details

posted Apr 2, 2020, 7:45 AM by Tom Reeve

Directions for participating in April 2, 2020 Budget Hearing at 7:00 p.m.
  1. Go to the following site to listen/watch the meeting: https://zoom.us/j/878425286
    You may be asked into install a small "helper" program on your computer or device.

  2. You will be put into a waiting room, then muted until the public hear starts.

  3. We recommend testing your audio when given the opportunity.

  4. If you would like to have your comments be heard by the School Committee during this public hearing, you will need to:
    • Turn your camera on to be seen/recognized
    • Digitally raise your hand by clicking on participants at the bottom of the screen. In the panel that opens on the right, at the bottom there is a raise hand option.
    • Once recognized, give your name and address, and offer your comments on the FY21 Budget

Coronavirus Updates

posted Mar 12, 2020, 6:46 AM by Dan MacLeod   [ updated Jun 27, 2020, 8:24 AM ]

Update #16:  Fall Reopening (June 25, 2020)

Dear Holliston Parent/Guardians and Staff:

     Today, Governor Baker’s office and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released their initial guidance about reopening schools this fall.  We applaud the level of thought and care that went into the development of this guidance, and share its goal of the safe return of as many students as possible to in-person school settings in order to best meet students’ academic, social, and emotional needs.

     Over the coming days, we will be reviewing the guidance to begin to understand how it impacts what we can do in Holliston.  We also acknowledge that these initial guidelines do not address every topic and that there will be additional guidance coming throughout the summer.  The full document can be found here, but here are some key components:

  • Current medical research supports a safe in-person return to school - with preventive measures in place - as infection and transmission rates are lower for children than adults.
  • Preventive measures include masks/face coverings, physical distancing, handwashing, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
  • Masks/face coverings will be required for all students in Grade 2 and above and for all adults; they are recommended for students in Grade 1 and below.
  • Based upon current medical research, and in conjunction with other preventive measures, a minimum physical distance of three feet has been established.    

     It is essential to note that this plan acknowledges that districts will require adequate state and local funding in order to be able to safely reopen school in the fall.  Specifically, the plan indicates that we will require, at a minimum, level-funded budgets plus DIRECT state/federal aid to school districts to fund the additional costs that will be required to make it possible to safely reopen.  I am grateful to Commissioner Riley for acknowledging this fiscal reality.

     Districts will need to develop three separate plans - one for return to full in-person instruction with safety requirements, one for full remote learning, and one for hybrid learning that combines in-person and remote learning.  Based upon the current medical situation, the expectation today is that students will return to full in-person instruction when classes resume; however, that is subject to change based upon how the medical situation develops.

     We acknowledge that there are likely to be more questions than answers at this time, and we will continue to communicate with you in the coming weeks and months. 

     Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Respectfully,

 

Bradford L. Jackson, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools


Update: June 15, 2020 -  Fall 2020

Dear Parents/Guardians and Staff:

Today marks the beginning of the final week of school for the 2020-2021 school year, and what a year it has been! This fall, we dealt with our first public health crisis – EEE, that upset our plans for outdoor PE classes, recess, and fall sports. Today, we enter the fourth month of isolation to curb the spread of the coronavirus, which has taken the lives of almost 120,000 Americans including two deaths here in Holliston. The disruption of our school year has been unprecedented and significant. Despite Herculean effort on the part of Holliston’s educators, it is undeniable that remote learning has not and cannot replace the in-person education experience.

While some restrictions on our everyday living are slowly being lifted, educational leaders from across Massachusetts are being encouraged to develop alternative plans in the likely event that 100% in-person, in-school instruction will likely not be possible at the beginning of next school year. To assist us in this planning, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is supposed to publish guidelines for school districts to follow when planning for the fall. Initially, we were told that those guidelines were expected to be published today, June 15, but in a conference call late last week, the commissioner said that “preliminary“ guidelines would “hopefully be published next [now, this] week, followed by more detailed guidelines coming in early-to-mid July.“ While this news is frustrating, we all have to recognize that, in Massachusetts, these decisions are being informed by the best scientific and medical minds in our country and that a lot will depend on the exact trajectory the virus is taking when school Is scheduled to reopen in late August.

I know the frustration the families are feeling, facing the idea that next school year may look different than “normal“ but without any idea as to what the exact differences will be. With that in mind, I would like to offer a few concepts that are highly likely to pervade the next school year:

  1. Students and staff will likely be required to wear masks and practice physical distancing throughout the school day. Parents should expect that it will be their responsibility to provide their students with masks.
  2. The availability of morning and afternoon bus transportation may be limited in order to implement physical distancing requirements.Students and staff who are exhibiting any physical symptoms of illness will be expected to stay home.
  3. The practice of giving your child some Tylenol when they wake up with a little fever and sending them off to school will not be tolerated, as it now could have life-threatening consequences to others.
  4. It is virtually certain that there will be some school days when some students will be required to stay at home and actively participate in remote learning. It is likely that some students will experience this more than others, as we accommodate and adjust our programming to meet individual student’s learning needs.
  5. Remote Learning may look quite different next year than it did this year.  For example, in the scenario where some students are in school and some are not, the opportunity exists to live stream lessons as they occur in the classroom, where in today’s model that is not possible.
  6. Schools and districts may have to adjust their instructional model, moving back-and-forth from 100% remote, to hybrid, to 100% in-school, depending on the status of the virus.  For example, if we were to open under a hybrid model (with some students coming to school and some students remaining at home) at the beginning of the school year, we might have to move to a 100% remote model if Massachusetts experiences a second wave of the virus.  Similarly, when a vaccine is available and the danger passes, we could move to the 100% in-school model.

These past months have been difficult for all of us.  What was once easy is now difficult, or still not possible.  This has required us all to demonstrate high levels of patience and understanding as we adjust.  When school opens in the fall, I am confident that we will all need to show the same high levels of patience and understanding as we work to bring as many students back to school as possible.  

As the state publishes clearer information about their plans for the fall, the Holliston Public Schools will communicate those plans to you as soon as possible.  

Respectfully,

Bradford L. Jackson, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Update: May 18, 2020 - Planning for Fall 2020

Dear Parents/Guardians and Staff:

It has been over two months now since our students and teachers have been face-to-face in their classrooms. Over that period, our students, parents/guardians, and staff have shown remarkable resilience in the face of constant change and frequent challenges. We are incredibly proud of the Remote Learning Plan that our educators developed and even prouder of the efforts of our staff to constantly update and adjust that Plan in an effort to meet the ever-changing needs of our students in this remote learning setting. While it is inarguable that remote learning does not approach the quality of instruction that takes place in our classrooms every day, nonetheless, Holliston’s teachers and staff are working tirelessly to minimize the gap between these two very different models of education. As they always do, Holliston’s teachers are giving it their all, while juggling the extraordinary demands of working at home during a pandemic, and we are deeply appreciative of their efforts and proud of their results.

One month from today, June 18th, will be the last day of the 2019-2020 school year. While we remain committed to adjusting our current practices to ensure the best possible educational outcomes for the remainder of this school year, we are also focusing our attention on planning for the start of the 2020-2021 school year. Today, the Governor is scheduled to announce his plan for re-opening Massachusetts, but this plan will NOT include much, if any, information about how schools will re-open. However, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has formed a large 30-person working group that has been tasked with developing a re-opening plan for Massachusetts’ schools. Unfortunately, this plan is not scheduled to be released until the middle-to-end of June, at the earliest.

It would be irresponsible, however, to sit idle and wait for that plan to be announced. So, the Holliston Public Schools has formed its own team to begin to study the options and develop an understanding of how each of these options would be implemented. The team will initially consist of: the entire senior leadership team of the Holliston Public Schools (Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Director of Student Services, Business Administrator, Director of Technology, as well as the four building principals); Holliston’s Fire Chief (who also serves as Holliston’s Emergency Management Director); Holliston’s Police Chief and the HPS School Nurse Leader. Initially, we are focusing our planning and brainstorming on the issues related to the four most likely scenarios:

  • Business-As-Usual;
  • Full-Opening with Social Distancing/Safety Protocols and Equipment Required;
  • Hybrid Model where only 50% (or some portion) of our students could be physically present in our schools at one time and the remainder would be taught remotely; or
  • 100% Remote model, similar to our current situation.
During Phase I of our planning for the fall, we are brainstorming the implications of each of these models on all aspects of our work, such as:

  • Student and staff schedules;
  • Health and safety protocols;
  • Technology needed by students and staff;
  • Professional development of our staff;
  • Necessary curriculum, instruction and assessment adaptations;
  • Student transportation;
  • Medical staffing and equipment;
  • Special education services;
  • Extra-curricular activities;
  • Building cleaning requirements;
… just to name a few.

Following our initial brainstorming, our thinking will be shared with our teaching and professional staff in early June for their feedback, discussion and further refinement. Our goal is to have a draft of this work completed when the state announces its plan in mid-to-late June so that we can make revisions based upon useful guidance from the state. Additionally, once the draft plan is developed, we will be formally soliciting feedback from parents/guardians in late June or early July and throughout the summer in order to inform further adjustments to the plan. We then will be ready to spend the remainder of the summer finalizing our preparations for school opening in whatever form it is expected to take.

It is highly likely, however, that the plan announced by DESE in late June will still be built upon a number of assumptions regarding the expected status of the virus when school is scheduled to open on September 1st. As a result, we will likely not know for certain what opening day will look like until mid-to-late August. In addition, even after we open schools in the fall, we are going to need to be prepared to toggle between the various scenarios in response to potential changes in the virus in the area.

We recognize that this is not welcome news for either our parent/guardian community or our staff, each of whom needs to be able to develop family plans for the return to school. If we could make the Holliston Public Schools an island of certainty in the center of all of this uncertainty, we would. But, that will likely not be possible. As we draft this letter on Sunday, May 17th, the Governor is slated to share his initial plan for re-opening Massachusetts tomorrow, yet none of us knows with ANY certainty, what that plan will entail. Whether it’s a state-wide plan to reopen our economy or Holliston’s plan to reopen school in the fall, that plan is driven by the then-current status of the virus.

It goes without saying that all of the HPS administrators and staff eagerly anticipate the time when we can safely return to our school buildings and resume face to face instruction with all of our kids. We will continue to prepare for all possible scenarios and share the status of our planning efforts as the end of the school year approaches and over the course of the summer as well.

Respectfully,

Bradford L. Jackson, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Peter J. Botelho, Ed.D.
Assistant Superintendent


Update: April 21, 2020

Governor Charlie Baker announced that all Massachusetts school buildings will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.  While many of us expected this announcement, the reality that teachers and students will not physically be returning to their classroom for the remainder of this school year elicits a number of powerful emotions, including anger, frustration, fear, anxiety, sadness and loss.  This is a normal reaction to the loss of normalcy we are all experiencing.

Over the course of the coming weeks, every one of us, parents, staff and students, will feel many if not all of these emotions and probably more.  For this reason alone, it is critical that we continue to focus our efforts on our Remote Learning work to ensure we remain connected with each other and to minimize the impact of this new reality on our students and their growth.  While our school buildings are closed, the 2019-2020 school year is not over!  We will continue to execute and adjust our Remote Learning efforts to meet the needs of our students for the remainder of the school year.  I encourage and expect all students to engage in those activities to the extent they are able. 

Over the course of the coming weeks, we will be announcing decisions regarding the status of our traditional end-of-year activities and other important issues that arise as a result of this announcement.  In the meantime, please continue to keep your families safe during this pandemic.

Respectfully,

Bradford L. Jackson, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools


Update: April 14, 2020

A Stay-At-Home Advisory from the Holliston School Nurses

As the weather gets nicer and the Stay-At-Home Advisory continues, it is tempting to gather outside, especially on the Rail Trail.  The nurses want to remind everyone that the Stay-At-Home Advisory from Governor Baker states that you should only leave your home to address essential needs.  However, if you do decide to leave your home for some fresh air and exercise, it is important to follow everyday preventative measures and the following physical distancing tips:

  • Do not leave home if you are symptomatic

  • Wear cloth or fabric face coverings in public spaces

  • Only visit parks, trails and recreation areas that are open. 

  • Stay at least six feet from others at all times. 

  • Do not gather in groups

  • Do not go into a crowded area.

  • Avoid gathering with others outside of your household.

  • Do not shake hands or hug

  • Cover coughs and sneezes

  • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

  • Bring hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol to use if soap and water are not available.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/parks-rec/visitors.html?deliveryName=USCDC_2067-DM25771


Update April 7, 2020 (April Vacation)

The Holliston School Committee has voted to change the 2019-2020 (current school year) calendar as follows:  April 21, 22, 23 and 24, 2020 are no longer School Vacation Days; they are now designated as Remote Learning Days.  As a result of this change, the last day of school for students in Grades K-11 has changed from Wednesday, June 24, 2020 and will now be Thursday, June 18, 2020.  The last day of school for seniors will remain May 29, 2020.

Since all residents of Holliston (and the Commonwealth) will be under a stay-at-home order during the week when April school vacation was scheduled to be held, I recommended that the Committee make this change.  Most families have built their stay-at-home routines with the time for Remote Learning built in.  Given that there are few, if any, options, for safe ways to travel, visit with friends or connect in person with remote family members, I felt that the time would best be used continuing the momentum we are building with our new Remote Learning Program.  Moreover, the ability to end the school year earlier in June made this choice even more attractive.

Teachers will be issuing complete Remote Learning Plans for the week of April 21-24 and our expectations for student participation will be the same for these days as it is for all Remote Learning Days.

Thank you for your continued understanding and flexibility as we adjust to new issues as they present themselves.

Respectfully,

Bradford L. Jackson, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Update: April 3, 2020

Dear Holliston Parents/Guardians and Staff:

Three weeks ago yesterday, on March 12th, I cancelled school in Holliston for Friday, March 13th and the week of March 16-20th due to growing public health concerns related to the CoronaVirus.  On Sunday, March 15th, Governor Baker cancelled school across Massachusetts through early April. On Monday, March 23rd, we began Week one of our two-week Enhanced Learning Program. This program was designed to meet several objectives:
  • To assess the digital readiness of our staff and families for future remote learning;
  • To re-establish connections between students and their teachers;
  • To assess our students social-emotional wellness; and
  • To offer students high-quality learning activities that were aligned with then-current DESE advisories that assigned work should be limited to preventing academic regression by reviewing previously-taught material and reinforcing skills already taught this school year and applying and deepening those skills.
On Wednesday, March 25th, 8 days ago, Governor Baker announced a further state-wide cancellation of school, this time through Friday, May 1st.  On Thursday, March 26th,  the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) issued their first set of written guidelines regarding Remote Learning.  These guidelines encouraged districts to continue to set the social-emotional wellness of their students as their highest priority, but allowed districts to locally determine the appropriateness of teaching new content moving forward.  

After considerable discussion, we have concluded that Phase 2 of our Remote Learning Plan will allow teachers to add new content to their remote learning instruction beginning Monday, April 6th.  At Placentino and Miller, where skill development in reading, writing and mathematics have always been the core work our teachers do, this focus will continue. At RAMS, teachers will continue to explore curriculum content through the school-wide lens of “Personal, Local, Global” with the emphasis on deeper, applied learning and deep conceptual understanding continuing to drive the work. New content will be introduced judiciously while reinforcing important concepts and skills. 

The changes for Holliston High School students will be much more pronounced:
  • HHS will be moving forward in curriculum content beginning Monday, April 6th.  Teachers have been asked to be alert to the differentiated needs of their class and offer all necessary accommodations;
  • HHS will work on a fixed class schedule beginning at 9:00AM and ending not later than 11:50AM M/T/Th/F where each period will meet twice per week for a class period not to exceed 50 minutes.  On the days when the student is not meeting with their teacher, they will be assigned independent work that should require no more than 50 minutes to complete. With this schedule, each student will meet with their Period A teacher for up to 100 minutes per week and have up to 150 minutes of independent work assigned to them.  
  • Students are expected to complete the work assigned to them and teachers will provide students with feedback on their submitted work.
Additional details can be seen in our comprehensive Remote Learning Plan.  You should expect to hear additional details from your school principal by Saturday, April 4th.

In the past three weeks, we have closed school, developed an initial plan for PreK-12 remote instruction, implemented that plan, modified the plan based on feedback and are now preparing to roll-out that revised plan.  This has been exhausting work that has required administrators and teachers to put in an extraordinary number of hours to develop and execute these plans. In addition, this work has required a level of flexibility and collaboration between administrators and teachers far beyond the already-high levels Holliston typically sees.  Everyone has rolled up their sleeves and pitched in, putting roles and responsibilities to one side, working together to make this happen. I am intensely proud of this work and profoundly proud of the teachers and administrators of the Holliston Public Schools who have worked together to make this happen. I also want to express my personal appreciation to the leadership of the Holliston Federation of Teachers for their flexibility and commitment to ensuring the students of Holliston are well-served through this shutdown.

I thank you for your continued patience and support as the Holliston Public Schools retools and redesigns itself to meet the unique changing needs of our community. 

Respectfully,

Bradford L. Jackson, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Update: March 30,2020


Dear Holliston Parent/Guardians and Staff:

One week after Governor Charlie Baker closed schools across the state to slow the spread of coronavirus in our communities, Holliston Public Schools rolled out a comprehensive set of Enhanced Learning Opportunities for students to use as a vehicle to get re-connected with their teachers and classmates and re-engage with their academic work.

This past Wednesday, Governor Baker announced that schools would remain closed through Friday, May 1, 2020. Then, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released a set of guidelines for districts to use as they develop plans for this extended shutdown period. On Friday, March 27, we wrapped up Week 1 of our Remote Learning Program, with Week 2 beginning today, Monday, March 30th. This success can only be attributed to the hard work, time, and talent that our district’s entire team has invested in this effort. It is truly a remarkable accomplishment, made even more remarkable when you consider that each of these employees were adapting to their “new normal,” – including working from home, meeting remotely, as well as juggling their responsibilities to care for family and friends, to name a few things.

During Week 1, many of our teachers reached out to students using the tools available through Google Classroom or commercially-available products such as Zoom or FlipGrid. Because many families are working in close quarters, we wanted to be explicit about our expectations of students and their families regarding student privacy. I have attached a document to this email that outlines those expectations with instructions to follow-up, no later than Friday, May 4th if you feel you are unable to meet those expectations.

This week, while staying connected with their students and rolling out Week 2 of our Remote Learning Program, Holliston’s teachers and administrators will be conducting a comprehensive re-assessment of our current program, assessing it against the DESE guidelines and reviewing it for appropriateness knowing that schools will now be closed through at least May 1st.

At a minimum, we will be looking at the following areas of our current plan and reviewing it against DESE’s new guidelines and our own goals for student learning, including:

  • Providing meaningful and productive learning for approximately half the length of a regular school day;
  • Providing students the opportunity to connect with one or more educators multiple times per week;
  • Provide students with time each day for physical activity based on recommendations from educators;
  • Provide additional time daily for enrichment activities such as the arts;
  • Ensuring teachers are providing valuable feedback on student work completed at home;
  • Reviewing the appropriateness of our current focus on “reinforcing skills already taught and applying and deepening those skills” to minimize the impact that this now-extended closure will have on all of our students, but particularly, on the ability of HHS students to qualify for academic credit for Term 3, Term 4, Semester 2 and courses 3 terms in duration; and
  • Reviewing any proposed revisions that we consider to our current program against the legal and moral imperative that “students have equitable access to learning opportunities during the closure, keeping in mind the variety of technology, health, disability and language challenges” and other unique circumstances facing many of our students during this extraordinary time.
Any changes to our current plan will be shared with parents/guardians at the end of next week with Phase II of our Remote Learning Program going on-line on Monday, April 6.

Holliston Public Schools is not just focused on serving the academic needs of our students during this time. Our talented nurses are working hard to keep Holliston healthy and our incredible School Food Service employees are working hard to feed families-in-need. Important information from our School Nurses and Food Service staff are attached to this email.

In closing, I want to assure you that the Holliston Public Schools is committed to putting together the most comprehensive, compassionate and flexible plan for remote learning possible to accommodate families during these unprecedented times. It’s important to acknowledge that Holliston, our Commonwealth, our country and our planet are not experiencing an education crisis - we are experiencing a public health crisis that is impacting our public education system. Our decisions must be and will be driven by the needs of our students -- all of our students. We must accept the fact that we will not have the same educational outcomes this June that we have always had. We must accept the fact that the recovery period from a mandated 2-month school closure will last well into the 2020-2021 school year. At the same time, we must, and we will, find a way to minimize the impact that this COVID-19 crisis will have on our students’ futures. We will not, however, achieve this goal by sacrificing those students who are already struggling to catch up to their peers or who are unable to connect with our offerings due to challenges they or their families are facing during this public health crisis. That is not who we are as a community.

Respectfully,

Bradford L. Jackson, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

>> Holliston Student Privacy Expectations and Consent
>> Holliston School Nurse COVID-19 Update April 2020
>> Holliston Food Service April 2020 Newsletter

Superintendent's Update #8: March 25, 2020

Dear Holliston Parents/Guardians and Staff:

At 3:30 this afternoon, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced that he was extending his state-wide school closure order through Friday, May 1, 2020.  This means that the Holliston Public Schools will continue to be closed through that date. The earliest date for school reopening is now Monday, May 4, 2020. 

We anticipated that the shutdown period would be extended and the plans we developed to keep our students engaged with learning activities were designed to be expandable to meet the needs of our families and students for a longer shutdown period.  In addition, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced that it will be issuing specific guidelines for districts to follow for the remote learning opportunities we provide. Once these guidelines have been shared with us, we will review our current Enhanced Learning Opportunities program and make any adjustments needed to ensure compliance with these new state guidelines.  If modifications to the plan are required, we will share those changes with students and parents as soon as possible.

In the meantime, even though many expected that the school closure period would be extended, it is a hard reality to face.  We recognize that for many staff, parents and students this new reality will only serve to increase anxiety, concern and a yearning for the return to normalcy.  Unfortunately, there is no substitute for the face-to-face, in-person schooling experience and no amount of technology or creativity can ever replace the connections that our students establish when they are physically present in school.  Nonetheless, we will do everything we can to establish and maintain meaningful connections with your children during this extended shutdown period. We can not recreate the school experience that existed in February. We are, however, doing everything we can to adapt that model to meet the unique social, emotional and educational needs of our students while we are unable to be together. 

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as Holliston Public Schools adjusts to these remarkable, unpredictable and unprecedented events.  

Respectfully,

Bradford L. Jackson, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

School Committee Mtg: March 19, 2020

The school shutdown due to Coronavirus was the main topic of discussion at the March 19 School Committee meeting. You can watch the entire meeting online, courtesy of Holliston Cable Access Television.

Update #7: March 16, 2020

Dear Holliston Families:

Holiday Dreams, partnering with Pepperoncini’s of Milford, Anthony's on the Green in Holliston, and the Holliston Public Schools, will offer lunches to families-in-need beginning Wednesday March 18, 2020 through the end of the school closure period. This program is designed to assist all Holliston families who may have a need, regardless of whether or not you have a child attending the Holliston Public Schools. As is the case throughout Massachusetts, we will be using a "grab-and-go" method of distribution in line with the Governor's instructions on social distancing.

Curbside pickup will be available at the Miller Elementary School, 235 Woodland Street from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM to any family who does not have any member of their household who is in quarantine or is showing any symptoms of COVID-19. For those unable to leave their homes, a volunteer will deliver lunch to your doorstep. If you are in need of delivery please email: foodservice@holliston.k12.ma. us by 9:00 PM the night prior. Please provide the following information: your family name, the number of people in need of lunch and your street address. This information will be kept in the strictest of confidence.

This lunch program will be available on the following days:

  • Wednesday March 18, 2020 through Friday, March 27, 2020 (excluding Saturday and Sunday, March 21st and March 22nd)
  • Beginning Monday, March 30, 2020, we will go to a three-day per week model (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) where we will distribute/deliver lunch for two days at a time.
Community volunteers and employees of the Holliston Public Schools Food Service program will be staffing this program. At this time, community volunteers are not needed. Should this change, we will inform you. Also, unfortunately, we are not able to accept food donations of any kind.

For families in need, this lunch program will likely not serve all of your needs. In these cases, the Holliston Pantry Shelf is ready to help with expanded food delivery services. Please contact them directly for assistance.

Finally, this email is being sent through the distribution system of the Holliston Public Schools and will only reach a subset of our community. Please distribute this information widely.

All community agencies are working together to support the Holliston community.

Respectfully,
Bradford L. Jackson, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Update #6: March 15, 2020

Dear Holliston Parents/Guardians and Staff:

On Sunday evening, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker ordered ALL schools in Massachusetts be CLOSED through (and including) Monday, April 6, 2020.  This means that the Holliston Public Schools will be CLOSED THROUGH MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020.  The earliest date we will be re-opening will be Tuesday, April 7, 2020.

Central Office and Building Administrators have been working throughout the weekend to begin to plan for this likely announcement.  Our expectation is that we will begin to provide enhanced learning activities for our students beginning Monday, March 23, 2020.  Parents received preliminary information from building principals earlier this weekend and you should expect more information will be forthcoming in the coming days.

In the meantime, it is critical to remember that these are NOT snow days.  The reason the Governor took this extraordinary action is to promote thoughtful social distancing to limit exposure to the Coronavirus for our students and their families.  Please take these recommendations seriously.

Additional information will be shared as it becomes available.  Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to react to this rapidly changing set of circumstances.

Respectfully,
Bradford L. Jackson, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools


Update #5: School Cancellation Notice Beginning Friday, March 13, 2020

 Dear Holliston Parent/Guardians and Staff:

I am writing to inform you that, while there are still no Coronavirus cases reported in Holliston, there are a large number of school districts in our area that are closed tomorrow and next week.  Many of our staff members have children who attend these schools, which will understandably result in an abnormally high level of staff absences. I have concluded that it is unlikely that we would have an adequate number of staff members present to be able to ensure a quality school day tomorrow and over the course of the next week.

As a result, the Holliston Public Schools is cancelling school for Friday, March 13th, Monday, March 16th, Tuesday, March 17th, Wednesday, March 18th and Thursday, March 19th.  Friday March 20th is a scheduled Professional Development Day for teachers. There will be no school for students on that day as well.  A decision regarding the possible cancellation of the PD Day for teachers will be made next week.

The Holliston Extended Day Program will be closed and will not re-open until Monday, March 23, 2020, at the earliest.

In accordance with the current advisories issued by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Holliston must make up a total of 5 school days lost to either weather or health related conditions.  This means that the last day of school will now be Wednesday, June 24, 2020. All total cancelled days beyond 5 do not have to be made up.

Further information will be shared over the next few days should it become apparent additional school cancellations are required. 

I sincerely appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we progress through this unprecedented set of circumstances.

Respectfully,

Bradford L. Jackson, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Update #4: March 12, 2020


Dear Holliston Parent/Guardians and Staff:

On March 10, 2020, Governor Baker announced that executive branch employees should discontinue all out-of-state work-related travel, cancel conferences or hold them virtually, and not attend external work-related conferences, seminars, or events. While schools are not part of the executive branch, the Governor also urged employers and other large organizations to "limit or eliminate non-essential travel" and "limit or eliminate large events where possible."  

In light of this advisory, I am taking several steps to limit possible exposures, particularly from outside elements.  Effective immediately:
  1. All after-school events, concerts, and exhibitions scheduled to take place between March 12, 2020 and Friday, March 20, 2020 are cancelled.  Cancellations are likely to be extended beyond March 20th, but that decision will be made mid-next week.
  2. I am respectfully asking parents who are scheduled to volunteer in our schools between March 12th and March 20th to cancel those plans. 
  3. Any previously-approved use of our school buildings by outside organizations is cancelled for that same time period.
For staff, I am cancelling all attendance at external professional development seminars and conferences through March 19th.  At this time, the Professional Development Day, scheduled for March 20, 2020 will proceed as planned.

As of today, our plans for our middle school and high school spring athletic season are not being changed, in order to allow time for the MIAA and/or Tri-Valley League to make some initial determinations.

As expected, as we receive increased reports of either confirmed or suspected cases of Coronavirus in some MetroWest communities, public and private institutions are being asked to curb all but essential elements of their operation.  This announcement is aligned with that objective.

Still, this issue continues to evolve at a rapid pace with even more restrictions a distinct possibility. Parents and staff should now begin to consider developing contingency plans should more fundamental changes to our overall operation become necessary.

Respectfully,

Bradford L. Jackson, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Update #3: March 10, 2020


Dear Holliston Parents/Guardians and Staff:

This is the third update issued by the Holliston Public Schools containing the most up-to-date information available as of its publication.

There are currently 92 confirmed or presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH). There are no confirmed or presumptive cases of the virus in Holliston at this time. Health officials report that the risk of contracting the virus in Massachusetts remains "low."  In addition, today, Governor Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency for the Commonwealth, effective immediately.  This declaration allows the Governor to take state-wide action to address the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts but it has no immediate effects on the day-to-day operations of the Holliston Public Schools.  As of today, Holliston schools remain open and operating normally.

I am in daily communication with Health Director for the Town of Holliston, Scott Moles and Emergency Preparedness Director, Fire Chief Michael Cassidy to ensure that we're staying up to date on developments that could affect our community.  In addition, a group of MetroWest Health Directors and Superintendents met on Tuesday to share information and work towards developing a common protocol for key decisions we may be facing in the future.  I am confident that we're doing everything we can on the local level to keep our students and staff safe and healthy, and I will continue to keep the community updated as this situation develops. 

All local actions are being undertaken in accordance with the latest guidelines from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH),  and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This includes CDC guidance for school administrators.

The COVID-19 situation is very fluid, and new information and guidelines are being posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on a regular basis. The CDC offers the following guidance for how COVID-19 spreads. The virus is believed to spread mainly from person-to-person, between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It may also be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

Today, DESE issued two important advisories that could impact some of our operations moving forward:
  1.  Districts are urged to cancel any out-of-state travel that they have planned.
Based on this advisory, I have ordered the cancelation of all student and/or staff out-of-state travel plans scheduled to take place in March and April.  I have also informed the organizers of the non-school-sponsored trip to Washington DC, scheduled to take place during April vacation of DESE’s advisory.  Impacted families should expect to receive communication from the organizers of that event in the next few days.  I have instructed staff to review plans for out-of-state travel scheduled for May and June and suggested they begin to consider in-state alternatives should this advisory continue to be in effect through the end of the school year.
  1. Districts are asked to encourage older community members and those at increased risk of illness to avoid large school gatherings.
At his news conference this afternoon, Governor Baker emphasized that he was not cancelling large school-wide events, but rather suggested that the population most at-risk for complications stemming from COVID-19 avoid them.  I will review scheduled events with building principals and reach out to Holliston Cable Access (HCAT) and ask them to consider expanding the recording of these events so that our at-risk population can continue to access our great concerts, exhibitions and events.

As always, if anyone displays symptoms of COVID-19, including a fever, cough or shortness of breath, they should not come to work or school and they are advised to contact their primary care physician. 
Finally, the DPH emphasizes the importance of good hygiene practices, including:
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds including under your fingernails. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol content) can be used when soap and water are not available.
  • Keep your hands away from your face.
  • Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing with a tissue and discard it immediately. Cough into the sleeve over your elbow instead of your hand. Wash your hands often when coughing and sneezing.
  • Stay away from people who are sick and stay home when you are sick.
I will continue to publish updates when conditions warrant.  In the meantime, for more information, visit the DPH website by clicking here and the CDC’s website by clicking here.

Respectfully,
Bradford L. Jackson, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Update #2: March 6, 2020


Dear Holliston Parents/Guardians and Staff:
This email provides you with an update on the current status of Coronavirus preparation and response since my first email to you on February 27th. 
  1. The Health Director for the Town of Holliston, Scott Moles, Emergency Preparedness Director, Fire Chief Michael Cassidy, Town Administrator Jeff Ritter and I met this week to review the various advisories we have received from the CDC and Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH).  We established a parallel reporting system into the DPH, brainstormed plans, options and discussed contingency planning.  We have agreed to meet weekly for the foreseeable future. 
  2. The State of Massachusetts has ordered that all out-of-country school trips that are scheduled to take place before May 1st be cancelled.  This order has no impact on the Holliston Public Schools as we don’t have any trips planned that meet that criteria.  While the Governor’s orders are currently limited to only out-of-country trips scheduled taking place before May 1st, we are currently reviewing all of our plans for overnight trips currently scheduled to take place before June 30th, including:
    1. HHS has a trip to Montreal scheduled for mid/late June.  This trip is school-sponsored and we are currently reviewing the details of any Trip Insurance that was included as part of the cost of that trip to determine if there are any deadlines in that Plan that would inform the timeline we’d have to use to make a decision about that trip.
    2. RAMS has the annual 6th grade trip to Nature’s Classroom scheduled for the week after April break.  This trip is also school-sponsored, and we are meeting with the Nature’s Classroom people to understand what our postponement/cancellation options could be.  THIS IS ONLY CONTINGENCY PLANNING AT THIS TIME as no government agency, as of the date of this writing, has recommended any schools change their plans regarding trips such as these.
    3. There is a NON-SCHOOL SPONSORED trip to Washington, DC that many of our 8th graders are planning on taking during April break.  We have reached out to the organizers of this trip and encouraged them to: check their Travel Insurance policy; develop contingency plans, if able; and communicate directly with those families who have children signed up for this trip.
  3. On Wednesday, March 4th at 4PM, the Massachusetts DPH issued a REVISED advisory regarding citizens who have travelled in countries designated Level 3 by the CDC (as of this writing, those countries are China, Iran, South Korea and Italy).  This advisory asks people who have travelled to these areas to voluntarily self-quarantine for 14 days from the date you returned to the United States.  Within 2 hours, we had contacted all families and staff who we are aware meet this criteria, informed them of the revised advisory and in each instance, received agreement that the traveler(s) would follow the DPH advisory.  Moving forward, the Holliston Public Schools strongly urges ANYONE who has recently returned from a Level 3 country to observe the voluntary 14-day self-quarantine period until that advisory has been lifted.  For further information regarding this issue, please see the DPH website.
  4. Superintendents from across Massachusetts are receiving numerous updates each week as the CDC and DPH learn more about this evolving situation.  I will be participating in a telephone conference with the Commissioner of DPH and the Commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) today. I will continue to closely monitor changes to their advisories and inform families and staff of any changes to our practices and procedures as necessary.
In the meantime, ALL information provided by the CDC and DPH continue to emphasize the importance of observing these important preventative measures:
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If unable to wash, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer;
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth;
  • Cover your coughs or sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve (NOT with your hands);
  • Stay away from people who are sick and stay home when you are sick.
              The last point is important to emphasize.  It is critical that NO ONE (parents, students or staff) should come to school when they are ill.  If a parent/guardian, child or staff member has any of the following symptoms, please keep them home from school until they have been symptom-free for at least 24-hours:
  • Temperature greater than 100.0 degrees (F) prior to the administration of acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil);
  • Coughing, vomiting, diarrhea or any rash not yet diagnosed by a medical provider;
  • Red or pink itchy eye, and/or drainage from the eye; or
  • Any diagnosed contagious illness such as chicken pox, strep throat or flu.
Respectfully,

Bradford L. Jackson, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools


Initial Information: Feb 27, 2020


Dear Holliston Staff, Parents and Guardians:

              Given the recent uptick in publicity regarding the new coronavirus, now known as COVID-19, some parents and staff have inquired about how Holliston Public Schools is dealing with this potential concern.  The purpose of this email is to provide the community with up-to-date information (as of Thursday, February 27, 2020) and some resources to monitor should you require additional information.

              Here in Holliston, we are monitoring the situation through the Superintendent’s office, the School Nurse Leader and Holliston’s Emergency Management Director, Fire Chief Michael Cassidy.  We are in daily contact with one another and receiving timely updates from both the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  In addition, Superintendents from across the Commonwealth are coordinating their local response to insure thoughtful and appropriate actions are being taken to protect our schools and, most importantly, the people who are in them every day.

              The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has shared guidance for school administrators and school health personnel regarding the new coronavirus. As of this writing, Massachusetts has one confirmed case of COVID-19 and DPH states that the risk to Massachusetts residents remains low. In the US, there are only 53 cases confirmed.  Only one of these cases was confirmed to be passed through human contact (husband to wife).  At the same time, the risk for the influenza virus is very high. DPH advises that residents are much more likely to become sick with a cold or the flu than to be exposed to COVID-19. The guidance letter sent to all schools is available at the DPH website at: www.mass.gov/2019coronavirus.  Here is a useful fact sheet in many languages to assist you in learning about this virus:  https://www.mass.gov/guides/information-on-the-outbreak-of-2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19#-printable-fact-sheets-

              Still, it is important to be proactive.  In that spirit, I share the following precautions, recommended by DPH, to help prevent colds, flu and to protect against COVID-19:
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If unable to wash, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer;
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth;
  • Cover your coughs or sneezes with a tissue or your sleeve (NOT with your hands);
  • Stay away from people who are sick and stay home when you are sick.
              The last point is important to emphasize.  It is critical that children or staff not come to school when they are ill.  If a child or staff member has any of the following symptoms, please keep them home from school until they have been symptom-free for at least 24-hours:
  • Temperature greater than 100.0 degrees (F) prior to the administration of acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil);
  • Coughing, vomiting, diarrhea or any rash not yet diagnosed by a medical provider;
  • Red or pink itchy eye, and/or drainage from the eye; or
  • Any diagnosed contagious illness such as chicken pox, strep throat or flu.
Our school facilities department is vigilantly disinfecting our educational spaces as we typically do during cold and flu season.  We are following all of DPH’s recommended guidelines in this area.

              It is clear that the COVID-19 situation is constantly evolving.  We will continue to work closely with other local school districts and local Holliston officials, while monitoring the information coming from the CDC and the Massachusetts DPH.  We will update parent/guardians and staff should conditions warrant.
Respectfully,

Bradford L. Jackson, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

For up-to-date information regarding the 2019 novel Coronavirus, please visit the DPH COVID-19 web site at www.mass.gov/2019coronavirus 
More detailed information and additional guidance is available from the CDC at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov 

School Choice Applications 2020-2021 Posted

posted Mar 2, 2020, 7:04 AM by Tom Reeve   [ updated Mar 2, 2020, 7:07 AM ]

high school main entrance
The Holliston Public Schools will accept applications for a limited number of “seats” for non-resident students exclusively under the State’s School Choice Law. The number of “seats” available has not yet been determined.
  1. Applications for School Choice may be obtained by contacting the Central Office, 370 Hollis Street, Holliston, MA 01746, telephone (508) 429-0654 extension 1139 or by email at “barryd@holliston.k12.ma.us”.
  2. Applications for School Choice will be accepted by the Superintendent of Schools, via the U.S. Postal Service only between April 1 – April 15, 2020. NO APPLICATION WILL BE PROCESSED WITH A POSTMARK DATE PRIOR TO APRIL 1, 2020. Applications received with a postmark after April 15, 2020 will be placed on a waiting list in the order in which they are received. 

    Applications should be addressed to: 
      Office of the Superintendent of Schools 
      School Choice 
      370 Hollis Street Holliston, MA 01746
  3. Admission will be determined by lottery, on a random basis, if number of applicants exceeds the number of available seats.
  4. Students accepted for admission to the Holliston Public Schools will be notified by June 8, 2020. PLEASE NOTE THAT ACCEPTANCE INTO THE HOLLISTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS DOES NOT GUARANTEE PLACEMENT IN A PARTICULAR PROGRAM THAT YOU MAY HAVE REQUESTED. TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM SCHOOL IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENT. SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION IS NOT AN AVAILABLE OPTION. Such acceptance for admission must be submitted in writing no later than June 18, 2020. Failure to do so may result in withdrawal of the acceptance for admission.
  5. Students not accepted who wish to be considered for acceptance in “2021-2022” must reapply.

The School Choice Application is available for download on the Forms page, under "School Choice Application."

Winter 2020 Newsletter

posted Feb 5, 2020, 5:33 AM by Tom Reeve

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ySJjwogp5gfP5U1-HjbRvQkiiwUp2VCT

The Winter 2020 edition of the Holliston Public Schools Newsletter is now available online. Click the link to read about the latest from the School Committee, school administration, school principals. The newsletter also includes important information about school cancellation notices and important upcoming dates.

School Committee Reaffirms New School Start Times for 2020-2021 School Year

posted Dec 17, 2019, 9:13 AM by Tom Reeve   [ updated Dec 17, 2019, 9:31 AM ]

At their December 12th meeting, the Holliston School Committee unanimously voted (with one member absent) to reaffirm and move forward with the plan they previously approved in May 2019, to adjust the school hours for the Holliston Public Schools as follows:
  • HHS:             8:10AM – 2:43PM
  • RAMS:          8:10AM – 2:33PM
  • Miller:           7:30AM – 1:53PM
  • Placentino:    8:50AM – 3:15PM
Originally approved in May, these revised school hours generated concerns among some parents in the community. In response, the School Committee engaged with these concerned parents and held a public forum that outlined the science behind the changes and offered people the opportunity to ask the Committee and Superintendent Jackson questions about the change. An open debate also took place at October Town Meeting.

Following these events as well as numerous meetings that individual Committee members held with concerned parents, the Committee reviewed a set of 10 proposed alternative start times scenarios proposed by this group of concerned parents. At their November meeting, the School Committee publicly reviewed each proposed scenario and concluded that eight of the ten proposed scenarios were untenable and removed those proposals from further consideration. The Committee then directed the administration to review the remaining two scenarios and report back to the Committee on their impact and viability.

At their December 12th meeting, the Committee reviewed the comprehensive analysis prepared by the administrative team and agreed with their conclusion that the drawbacks associated with either scenario were significant, making both remaining alternative solutions unviable. Following that discussion, the Committee unanimously voted to reaffirm their originally voted plan.

With this decision reaffirmed, parents and staff are strongly urged to begin planning for the impact that these changes could have on your individual family routines.  At the same time, Holliston administrators will begin finalizing the detailed plans needed to implement these new school hours. In addition, the School Committee and Superintendent will discuss the process we will use to collect the impact of these changes and how we will use that data to see if refinements of this plan are needed in future years.  

In addition to planning already under way at each school, the administration has already reported that they have a plan to open up a number of spots in our Extended Day program next school year to meet the anticipated demand for additional before and after-school care  Holliston Extended Day is also planning to offer an 80-minute “gap” program to cover the time between the dismissal of Placentino students and Miller students, so that siblings might be picked up together. The Holliston Extended Day program will formally announce the availability of their options later this winter and share sign-up information.  Further, the Committee reached out to the “Y” in Hopkinton regarding availability in their program for after-school care and that effort is showing promise. Interested parents should contact the YMCA directly if they wish to learn more about their after-school programs. Finally, the School Committee has authorized a transportation audit to see if we can find ways to make our bus system more efficient and/or convenient. The administration will share the results of this audit with the School Committee at one of their upcoming meetings as soon as the review has been completed.

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