Latest News
District
![Notice of Destruction of Student Records]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1598277235/hollistonk12maus/x6msntdeahcwu1wrdlil/logo-no-words.png","width":244}]){kind=logo}
![Dr. Kustka Bitmoji Thumbnail]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1645298472/hollistonk12maus/xztyuecjtqqujieinn0y/DrKustkaBitmoji.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1645298472/hollistonk12maus/xztyuecjtqqujieinn0y/DrKustkaBitmoji.png","width":398}])
- Superintendent
Office of the Superintendent
September 23, 2022
Dear Parents, Guardians, Caregivers, and Staff:
Happy Friday Everyone! I want to share with you some upcoming district events, as well as seek volunteers. I have scheduled four meetings for the HPS Wellness Council. The meetings are scheduled to be in-person from 6:00pm-7:30pm on the following four dates: 10/19/22, 1/11/23, 3/15/23, and 5/17/23. Currently, I am seeking at least two educator representatives and two parent representatives, one from elementary and one from secondary, to serve on this council. If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out the information for the HPS Wellness Council in the linked Google Form no later than Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
I also wanted to share some upcoming HPS Family Engagement Dates. On Thursday, October 20, 2022, the central leadership team will hold an in-person panel discussion from 7:00-8:00pm to talk about the work we have begun as we embark on our journey together, and as we roll out the 2022-2027 HPS Strategic Plan and strategic initiatives, in order to improve outcomes for HPS Students. We will hold a second virtual panel via Zoom on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 from 7:00-8:00pm as well. We hope you can attend one of these nights, to get to know our district leaders and their roles and responsibilities in this work. Reminders will follow closer to the events.
Have an awesome weekend!
Best regards,
Susan E. Kustka, ED.D.
P.S. Try following me on Twitter (linked on our homepage) where I am hoping to be more active posting pictures and updates about all the amazing things happening at HPS.
Holliston Public Schools Superintendent @SKustka
- Superintendent
Office of the Superintendent
September 21, 2022
Dear Parents, Guardians, Caregivers, and Staff:
The 2022-2023 school year is well underway, and the buildings continue to bustle with excitement. As you know, there are numerous road construction projects occurring at both the state and local level, and this has been a source of frustration for families, staff, and students. The many construction projects are out of the purview or control of the school department, but I know how impactful this work has been related to teaching and learning. Some students and classes have been impacted more than others, due to the location of the homes and bus routes.
One of the major projects that is impacting transportation and causing detours is the project by the MA Department of Transportation. MA DOT is working to ensure that sidewalks are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act to provide necessary handicap accessibility, and this work is scheduled to continue for another month or so. The town is working with DOT to attempt to mitigate and strategize related to this work.
In the meantime, Mr. Keith Buday, Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations has been working with Holmes Bus Company to reconstruct some of the bus routes, wherever possible, in an attempt to alleviate some of the congestion and delays. He will be sending separate communications to any families with impacted students with specific details of changes or times to current bus routes.
As a longtime educator and a parent myself, I can empathize with everyone related to the impact that this work is having. While I do not have any additional solutions at this time, we will continue to work with the town and our bus company, and we will continue to update families if any additional information or if further changes are to occur in the future.
Thank you for your continued support of the Holliston Public Schools
Best regards,
Susan E. Kustka, ED.D.
P.S. Try following me on Twitter (linked on our homepage) where I am hoping to be more active posting pictures and updates about all the amazing things happening at HPS.
Holliston Public Schools Superintendent @SKustka
![Care Solace]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1663247216/hollistonk12maus/hadlivl4gz0k5dh4mzts/caresolacethumbnail.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1663247216/hollistonk12maus/hadlivl4gz0k5dh4mzts/caresolacethumbnail.png","width":504}])
- Superintendent
Office of the Superintendent
September 8, 2022
Dear Parents, Guardians, Caregivers, and Staff:
Here we have already sailed through our 2022-2023 opening events. The opening of school is always bittersweet and not without challenges. It marks the beginning of an exciting new school year but also a farewell to longer summer days. Students and staff, many of whom have been home for the summer, have now had to adjust to the more structured days that come with the commencement of a new school year. This year marks the beginning of my third year as your Holliston Superintendent, and it is the first time we have been able to start together without requiring the wearing of face coverings, as well as the first time I have been able to be in the HHS Auditorium together with all staff for our opening events. What a difference this has made, and one can truly sense the renewed excitement of both students and staff this year.
Safe & Supportive Schools
As part of our efforts to provide a safe and supportive learning and social environment where each member of the educational community can flourish in a respectful, inclusive, and productive environment under Arch #2: Social & Emotional Well-Being of our Strategic Plan, we would like to update you on our new referral program, Care Solace:
Here in Holliston, we are extremely invested in providing mental health support for our students, families, and staff. Starting for the 2022-2023 school year we will be shifting to Care Solace.
Care Solace, is a mental health care coordination service, to help you and your family connect to quality care. This is a free resource for you and your family paid for and provided by Holliston Public Schools that is 24hrs/365 days of availability.
If you are looking for help with mental health or substance use, Care Solace will quickly and confidentially find available providers matched to your needs. We will be launching Care Solace referrals from Student Support staff for students, families, and staff starting Friday September 9. However in the meantime, Care Solace has launched its “self-referral” process immediately. If you or your child is in need of mental health support please use the link below to begin the process.
In addition to working on our social & emotional well-being at schools, we have also increased our safety protocols at all four buildings, beginning with safety training for all staff on our first PD Day with help from the Holliston Police Department and the Holliston Fire Department. We are grateful for our collaborative work on the HPS Safety Committee, as we strive to improve the physical safety of all campuses this year as well.
Health Office Updates
Please see an important notice from the Holliston Public School Nurses with links to COVID Updates.
Best regards,
Susan E. Kustka, ED.D.
P.S. Try following me on Twitter (linked on our homepage) where I am hoping to be more active posting pictures and updates about all the amazing things happening at HPS.
Holliston Public Schools Superintendent @SKustka
Placentino ES
![DESE Logo]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1635265241/hollistonk12maus/irg4wb4jugxhdi0a0hjj/DESELogo.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1635265241/hollistonk12maus/irg4wb4jugxhdi0a0hjj/DESELogo.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1635265241/hollistonk12maus/irg4wb4jugxhdi0a0hjj/DESELogo.png","width":695}])
Holliston Public Schools will be following the state's COVID-19 Isolation and Exposure Guidance for Children and Staff for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year.
You can view this guidance on the state website by clicking the following link: Mass.gov - COVID-19 Isolation and Exposure Guidance for Children and Staff in Child Care, K-12, Out-of-School Time (OST) and Recreational Camp/Program Settings
OR you can read the guidance policy below:
Overview
Effective August 15, 2022, children and staff in child care, K-12, out-of-school time (OST) and recreational camp settings should follow the below guidance.
- A rapid antigen test, such as a self-test, is preferred to a PCR test in most situations.
- To count days for isolation, Day 0 is the first day of symptoms OR the day the day positive test was taken, whichever is earlier.
- Contact tracing is no longer recommended or required in these settings, but schools or programs must continue to work with their Local Board of Health in the case of outbreaks.
- The Commonwealth is not recommending universal mask requirements, surveillance testing of asymptomatic individuals, contact tracing, or test-to-stay testing in schools. While masks are not required or recommended in these settings except for in school health offices, any individual who wishes to continue to mask, including those who face higher risk from COVID-19, should be supported in that choice. For those who need or choose to mask, masking is never required in these settings while the individual is eating, drinking, sleeping or outside.
- All individuals are encouraged to stay up-to-date with vaccination as vaccines remain the best way to help protect yourself and others.
Isolation and exposure guidance and protocols
Guidance for Children and Staff in Child Care, K-12, OST, and Recreational Camp Settings:
- Quarantine is no longer required nor recommended for children or staff in these settings, regardless of vaccination status or where the exposure occurred. All exposed individuals may continue to attend programming as long as they remain asymptomatic. Those who can mask should do so until Day 10, and it is recommended that they test on Day 6 of exposure. If symptoms develop, follow the guidance for symptomatic individuals, below.
- Children and staff who test positive must isolate for at least 5 days. If they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and they have been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours, they may return to programming after Day 5 and should wear a high-quality mask through Day 10:
- If the individual is able to mask, they must do so through Day 10.
- If the child has a negative test on Day 5 or later, they do not need to mask.
- If the individual is unable to mask, they may return to programming with a negative test on Day 5 or later.
- If the individual is able to mask, they must do so through Day 10.
- Symptomatic individuals can remain in their school or program if they have mild symptoms, are tested immediately onsite, and that test is negative. Best practice would also include wearing a mask, if possible, until symptoms are fully resolved. For symptomatic individuals, DPH recommends a second test within 48 hours if the initial test is negative.
- If the symptomatic individual cannot be tested immediately, they should be sent home and allowed to return to their program or school if symptoms remain mild and they test negative, or they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and their symptoms are resolving, or if a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis. A negative test is strongly recommended for return.
Note: At this time, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved or authorized any at-home rapid antigen test for use in children under 2 years of age. However, at-home rapid antigen tests may be used off-label in children under 2 years of age for purposes of post-exposure, isolation, and symptomatic testing. It is recommended that parents or guardians deciding to test children under 2 years of age administer the at-home rapid antigen test themselves.
COVID-19 symptoms
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![Family Supply List]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1658238148/hollistonk12maus/mljxhhsoh2o9bdyoxjhq/schoolsuppliesthumb.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1658238148/hollistonk12maus/mljxhhsoh2o9bdyoxjhq/schoolsuppliesthumb.png","width":306}])
![A book resting in grass and flowers]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1623859364/hollistonk12maus/nk1r8mtxpuebhinnffcs/summer-books.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1623859364/hollistonk12maus/nk1r8mtxpuebhinnffcs/summer-books.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1623859364/hollistonk12maus/nk1r8mtxpuebhinnffcs/summer-books.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1623859364/hollistonk12maus/nk1r8mtxpuebhinnffcs/summer-books.jpg","width":900}])
Filter
Miller ES
Holliston Public Schools will be following the state's COVID-19 Isolation and Exposure Guidance for Children and Staff for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year.
You can view this guidance on the state website by clicking the following link: Mass.gov - COVID-19 Isolation and Exposure Guidance for Children and Staff in Child Care, K-12, Out-of-School Time (OST) and Recreational Camp/Program Settings
OR you can read the guidance policy below:
Overview
Effective August 15, 2022, children and staff in child care, K-12, out-of-school time (OST) and recreational camp settings should follow the below guidance.
- A rapid antigen test, such as a self-test, is preferred to a PCR test in most situations.
- To count days for isolation, Day 0 is the first day of symptoms OR the day the day positive test was taken, whichever is earlier.
- Contact tracing is no longer recommended or required in these settings, but schools or programs must continue to work with their Local Board of Health in the case of outbreaks.
- The Commonwealth is not recommending universal mask requirements, surveillance testing of asymptomatic individuals, contact tracing, or test-to-stay testing in schools. While masks are not required or recommended in these settings except for in school health offices, any individual who wishes to continue to mask, including those who face higher risk from COVID-19, should be supported in that choice. For those who need or choose to mask, masking is never required in these settings while the individual is eating, drinking, sleeping or outside.
- All individuals are encouraged to stay up-to-date with vaccination as vaccines remain the best way to help protect yourself and others.
Isolation and exposure guidance and protocols
Guidance for Children and Staff in Child Care, K-12, OST, and Recreational Camp Settings:
- Quarantine is no longer required nor recommended for children or staff in these settings, regardless of vaccination status or where the exposure occurred. All exposed individuals may continue to attend programming as long as they remain asymptomatic. Those who can mask should do so until Day 10, and it is recommended that they test on Day 6 of exposure. If symptoms develop, follow the guidance for symptomatic individuals, below.
- Children and staff who test positive must isolate for at least 5 days. If they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and they have been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours, they may return to programming after Day 5 and should wear a high-quality mask through Day 10:
- If the individual is able to mask, they must do so through Day 10.
- If the child has a negative test on Day 5 or later, they do not need to mask.
- If the individual is unable to mask, they may return to programming with a negative test on Day 5 or later.
- If the individual is able to mask, they must do so through Day 10.
- Symptomatic individuals can remain in their school or program if they have mild symptoms, are tested immediately onsite, and that test is negative. Best practice would also include wearing a mask, if possible, until symptoms are fully resolved. For symptomatic individuals, DPH recommends a second test within 48 hours if the initial test is negative.
- If the symptomatic individual cannot be tested immediately, they should be sent home and allowed to return to their program or school if symptoms remain mild and they test negative, or they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and their symptoms are resolving, or if a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis. A negative test is strongly recommended for return.
Note: At this time, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved or authorized any at-home rapid antigen test for use in children under 2 years of age. However, at-home rapid antigen tests may be used off-label in children under 2 years of age for purposes of post-exposure, isolation, and symptomatic testing. It is recommended that parents or guardians deciding to test children under 2 years of age administer the at-home rapid antigen test themselves.
COVID-19 symptoms
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Please review the linked school supply lists for grades 3 - 5.
Filter
Adams MS
Holliston Public Schools will be following the state's COVID-19 Isolation and Exposure Guidance for Children and Staff for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year.
You can view this guidance on the state website by clicking the following link: Mass.gov - COVID-19 Isolation and Exposure Guidance for Children and Staff in Child Care, K-12, Out-of-School Time (OST) and Recreational Camp/Program Settings
OR you can read the guidance policy below:
Overview
Effective August 15, 2022, children and staff in child care, K-12, out-of-school time (OST) and recreational camp settings should follow the below guidance.
- A rapid antigen test, such as a self-test, is preferred to a PCR test in most situations.
- To count days for isolation, Day 0 is the first day of symptoms OR the day the day positive test was taken, whichever is earlier.
- Contact tracing is no longer recommended or required in these settings, but schools or programs must continue to work with their Local Board of Health in the case of outbreaks.
- The Commonwealth is not recommending universal mask requirements, surveillance testing of asymptomatic individuals, contact tracing, or test-to-stay testing in schools. While masks are not required or recommended in these settings except for in school health offices, any individual who wishes to continue to mask, including those who face higher risk from COVID-19, should be supported in that choice. For those who need or choose to mask, masking is never required in these settings while the individual is eating, drinking, sleeping or outside.
- All individuals are encouraged to stay up-to-date with vaccination as vaccines remain the best way to help protect yourself and others.
Isolation and exposure guidance and protocols
Guidance for Children and Staff in Child Care, K-12, OST, and Recreational Camp Settings:
- Quarantine is no longer required nor recommended for children or staff in these settings, regardless of vaccination status or where the exposure occurred. All exposed individuals may continue to attend programming as long as they remain asymptomatic. Those who can mask should do so until Day 10, and it is recommended that they test on Day 6 of exposure. If symptoms develop, follow the guidance for symptomatic individuals, below.
- Children and staff who test positive must isolate for at least 5 days. If they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and they have been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours, they may return to programming after Day 5 and should wear a high-quality mask through Day 10:
- If the individual is able to mask, they must do so through Day 10.
- If the child has a negative test on Day 5 or later, they do not need to mask.
- If the individual is unable to mask, they may return to programming with a negative test on Day 5 or later.
- If the individual is able to mask, they must do so through Day 10.
- Symptomatic individuals can remain in their school or program if they have mild symptoms, are tested immediately onsite, and that test is negative. Best practice would also include wearing a mask, if possible, until symptoms are fully resolved. For symptomatic individuals, DPH recommends a second test within 48 hours if the initial test is negative.
- If the symptomatic individual cannot be tested immediately, they should be sent home and allowed to return to their program or school if symptoms remain mild and they test negative, or they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and their symptoms are resolving, or if a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis. A negative test is strongly recommended for return.
Note: At this time, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved or authorized any at-home rapid antigen test for use in children under 2 years of age. However, at-home rapid antigen tests may be used off-label in children under 2 years of age for purposes of post-exposure, isolation, and symptomatic testing. It is recommended that parents or guardians deciding to test children under 2 years of age administer the at-home rapid antigen test themselves.
COVID-19 symptoms
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![RAMS Logo Personal, Local, Global]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1614194058/hollistonk12maus/pyg9xtzrdqg7der0unp0/rams-logo-plg-65.psd","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1614194058/hollistonk12maus/pyg9xtzrdqg7der0unp0/rams-logo-plg-65.psd","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1614194058/hollistonk12maus/pyg9xtzrdqg7der0unp0/rams-logo-plg-65.psd","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1614194058/hollistonk12maus/pyg9xtzrdqg7der0unp0/rams-logo-plg-65.psd","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1614194058/hollistonk12maus/pyg9xtzrdqg7der0unp0/rams-logo-plg-65.psd","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1614194058/hollistonk12maus/pyg9xtzrdqg7der0unp0/rams-logo-plg-65.psd","width":2166}]){kind=logo}
Please review the linked school supply lists for grades 6 - 8.
Filter
Holliston HS
- Announcements
![HHS Newsletter]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1663256530/hollistonk12maus/jzpfgcm0adjdjeagjsxk/HHSNewsletter.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1663256530/hollistonk12maus/jzpfgcm0adjdjeagjsxk/HHSNewsletter.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1663256530/hollistonk12maus/jzpfgcm0adjdjeagjsxk/HHSNewsletter.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1663256530/hollistonk12maus/jzpfgcm0adjdjeagjsxk/HHSNewsletter.png","width":853}])
- Announcements
- COVID-19
- Health & Safety
Holliston Public Schools will be following the state's COVID-19 Isolation and Exposure Guidance for Children and Staff for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year.
You can view this guidance on the state website by clicking the following link: Mass.gov - COVID-19 Isolation and Exposure Guidance for Children and Staff in Child Care, K-12, Out-of-School Time (OST) and Recreational Camp/Program Settings
OR you can read the guidance policy below:
Overview
Effective August 15, 2022, children and staff in child care, K-12, out-of-school time (OST) and recreational camp settings should follow the below guidance.
- A rapid antigen test, such as a self-test, is preferred to a PCR test in most situations.
- To count days for isolation, Day 0 is the first day of symptoms OR the day the day positive test was taken, whichever is earlier.
- Contact tracing is no longer recommended or required in these settings, but schools or programs must continue to work with their Local Board of Health in the case of outbreaks.
- The Commonwealth is not recommending universal mask requirements, surveillance testing of asymptomatic individuals, contact tracing, or test-to-stay testing in schools. While masks are not required or recommended in these settings except for in school health offices, any individual who wishes to continue to mask, including those who face higher risk from COVID-19, should be supported in that choice. For those who need or choose to mask, masking is never required in these settings while the individual is eating, drinking, sleeping or outside.
- All individuals are encouraged to stay up-to-date with vaccination as vaccines remain the best way to help protect yourself and others.
Isolation and exposure guidance and protocols
Guidance for Children and Staff in Child Care, K-12, OST, and Recreational Camp Settings:
- Quarantine is no longer required nor recommended for children or staff in these settings, regardless of vaccination status or where the exposure occurred. All exposed individuals may continue to attend programming as long as they remain asymptomatic. Those who can mask should do so until Day 10, and it is recommended that they test on Day 6 of exposure. If symptoms develop, follow the guidance for symptomatic individuals, below.
- Children and staff who test positive must isolate for at least 5 days. If they are asymptomatic or symptoms are resolving and they have been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours, they may return to programming after Day 5 and should wear a high-quality mask through Day 10:
- If the individual is able to mask, they must do so through Day 10.
- If the child has a negative test on Day 5 or later, they do not need to mask.
- If the individual is unable to mask, they may return to programming with a negative test on Day 5 or later.
- If the individual is able to mask, they must do so through Day 10.
- Symptomatic individuals can remain in their school or program if they have mild symptoms, are tested immediately onsite, and that test is negative. Best practice would also include wearing a mask, if possible, until symptoms are fully resolved. For symptomatic individuals, DPH recommends a second test within 48 hours if the initial test is negative.
- If the symptomatic individual cannot be tested immediately, they should be sent home and allowed to return to their program or school if symptoms remain mild and they test negative, or they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and their symptoms are resolving, or if a medical professional makes an alternative diagnosis. A negative test is strongly recommended for return.
Note: At this time, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved or authorized any at-home rapid antigen test for use in children under 2 years of age. However, at-home rapid antigen tests may be used off-label in children under 2 years of age for purposes of post-exposure, isolation, and symptomatic testing. It is recommended that parents or guardians deciding to test children under 2 years of age administer the at-home rapid antigen test themselves.
COVID-19 symptoms
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- Academics
- Students