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District
October 2, 2023
Dear Parents, Guardians, Caregivers, and Staff:
Linked is a press release from the town administrator regarding some small paper swastikas that have been found on Damigella Field recently. While this field is used after hours by the community for evening and weekend sports, it is concerning that this is happening adjacent to the schools. We continue to be a “No Place for Hate” school community, and this representation of hate in the Holliston Community is unacceptable and something that we take seriously in the Holliston Public Schools. We will continue to educate students and staff to do our part to help eradicate examples of hate such as this in the community. This is an opportunity to speak with your children about these examples of hate and prejudice that continue to happen at times in Holliston and the world at large and that have a negative impact on our community.
Sincerely,
Susan E. Kustka, Ed.D.
Proud Superintendent
09/12/2023Holliston Public Schools Community Safety Concern
Pacqui "One Chip Challenge"
September 12, 2023
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Yesterday, some RAMS students participated in a “One Chip Challenge”. This was of serious concern, particularly given the recent death of a Worcester student who had taken this challenge last week. Thankfully, none of our students became seriously ill but this could have been much more serious.
According to the National Poison Control Center, “The Paqui One Chip Challenge is a social media challenge that involves consumption of a spicy tortilla chip. The chip contains capsaicin, a compound found naturally in chili peppers. Capsaicin consumption typically causes mouth and throat pain but can also result in more serious health problems including heart attack and esophageal damage”.
The Paqui chip company’s disclaimer states that the chip “should not be ingested by individuals who are sensitive to spicy foods, have allergies to peppers, nightshades, or capsaicin, and those who are minors, are pregnant or have any medical conditions”.
The side effects caused by the pepper dust, the same ingredient in pepper spray, include blue tinged vomiting and severe abdominal pain. Other serious side effects include burning in eyes, nose and throat, coughing, trouble breathing, sweating and mouth pain. This challenge is a serious health and safety concern for our students so we ask that students not bring these Paqui chips into school buildings and that families communicate with their children about this serious safety concern.
For more information regarding the potential dangers of this challenge please visit https://www.poison.org/articles/is-the-one-chip-challenge-dangerous.
Please also see below the communication sent by Principal Jordan to RAMS families about this incident yesterday.
Sincerely,
Dr. Susan E. Kustka
Superintendent
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
September 11, 2023
Dear Families,
Earlier today during the 7th grade lunch, a group of approximately ten students participated in the “One Chip Challenge”. This was discovered immediately due to the physical distress the chip created for all of the students involved. All students who ate or touched the chip were monitored by the nursing staff and picked up by their families immediately. It was recommended by the nurse that the students go to the emergency room.
For those who aren’t aware of the “One Chip Challenge”, I am linking in the news of a recent Worcester middle school student death as a result of eating the chip. The product has since been pulled from the store shelves. Paqui, the chip used in the challenge, contains very high levels of capsaicin, which has been found to cause esophageal damage, heart problems, and restrict breathing at the levels in the chip.
The “One Chip Challenge” is another example of one of the highly risky, and sometimes life threatening, Tik Tok challenges that middle schoolers are particularly vulnerable to participating in due to their age-related development and interests. I ask that all families please speak to their children about the risks of “challenges” of this nature and be aware that your child may have or may be considering participating in a challenge such as this.
Lastly, this is a plea to monitor your students’ social media presence. I would highly discourage your student from having a Tik Tok, SnapChat, or similar social media account, due to the increasing amount of unsafe challenges that our youth are being exposed to. Student safety is of our utmost concern at Holliston Public Schools.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me directly at jordand@holliston.k12.ma.us.
Thank you.
David Jordan
Principal
Robert Adams Middle School
AdditionalResources
Parents' Ultimate Guide to TikTok
With so many social networks to keep track of, it's not surprising if your kid's obsession with the TikTok app leaves you scratching your head. So what is it exactly? TikTok is a free social media app that lets you watch, create, and share videos -- often to a soundtrack of the top hits in music -- right from your phone.
Is the One Chip Challenge dangerous?
The Paqui One Chip Challenge is a social media challenge that involves consumption of a spicy tortilla chip. The chip contains capsaicin, a compound found naturally in chili peppers. Capsaicin consumption typically causes mouth and throat pain but can also result in more serious health problems including heart attack and esophageal damage. (Article from Poison.org)
Facebook, Instagram, and Social
Please take a look at Common Sense Media's social media guide for parents. It contains tips, advice, and the latest research to navigate the social media landscape and help keep your kids' online interactions safe.
Susan Kustka
Holliston Public Schools is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters
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August 23, 2023
Dear Parents, Guardians, Caregivers, and Staff:
Although it is always sad to see the longer, warmer days of summer end, it is with enthusiasm that I look forward to welcoming back our amazing staff on August 28th, with most of our amazing students arriving the following day. This is always a busy, but exciting time for our school community.
There have been a number of projects underway throughout the school district all summer long. In addition to the incredible projects our team completes every summer, I am happy to be able to share about some of the larger, non-routine capital projects that have been taking place through collaborative efforts with the Town of Holliston. Currently, should you ride by the Miller/ Placentino campus, you will see that portions of the shingled roofs at both buildings are being replaced. Also, we are seeking quotes to either repair or replace the Placentino playground, preferably in the not-too-distant future. At Holliston High, the library will have a new look with Flotex carpet being installed. At HHS, we have been seeking quotes to repair an exterior wall that has been an ongoing and longstanding problem.
At all four buildings, the FOB security systems (to allow for staff keyless entry) have all been installed and additional interior cameras are being added later this year at all four buildings as well. This is part of our larger plan to enhance safety and security throughout the entire school district, in order to protect our most important assets, our much-loved students and staff.
The 2023-2024 school year will mark year two of our Holliston Public Schools 2022-2027 Strategic Plan. Due to the efforts of all of our amazing staff throughout the district, we made a tremendous amount of growth in 2022-2023 as a school community, having launched our strategic initiatives in year one of our plan, and with progress shared in our end-of-year District & School Improvement Plans Presentation on June 1, 2023.
We will begin our school year journey on August 28, 2023, with our opening day events for all staff to attend. Thank you especially to our Townwide Parent Teacher Organization for providing breakfast that morning to all of our hardworking staff. Students in grades 1-12+ will join us on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, with Kindergarten following on August 30, 2023, and our first Professional Development Day for staff will take place on Friday, September 1, 2023.
We have been so very fortunate to hire a number of dedicated administrators, educators, and support staff, and I cannot wait for our school community to meet each and every one of them as well!
Best regards,
Susan E. Kustka, Ed.D.
Proud Superintendent
Holliston students need you!
We are facing a shortage of Paraprofessionals to support our students as school prepares to open on August 28, 2023. Our paraprofessionals are often our unsung heroes in the background and forefront working with our general and special education students and are critical in order to safely meet the needs of students!
We need:
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Full-time and part time staff ( Starting at $19.00/hr or higher)
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Short-term employment
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Volunteers!
Do you have 1 or more days per week to commit? We would love to hear from you.
Public School employees of Massachusetts are required to submit their fingerprints to a National Criminal Database check. The check will require you to pay a fee of $55 if you hold an Educator’s License, or $35 if you are an unlicensed employee. In addition to the national background check, a satisfactory Massachusetts Criminal Record Check (CORI) is required.
Holliston Public Schools
HumanResources@holliston.k12.ma.us
508-429-0654, option 5
- Human Resources
Holliston students need you!
We are facing a shortage of Paraprofessionals to support our students as school prepares to open on August 28, 2023. Our paraprofessionals are often our unsung heroes in the background and forefront working with our general and special education students and are critical in order to safely meet the needs of students!
We need:
-
Full-time and part time staff ( Starting at $19.00/hr or higher)
-
Short-term employment
-
Volunteers!
Do you have 1 or more days per week to commit? We would love to hear from you.
Public School employees of Massachusetts are required to submit their fingerprints to a National Criminal Database check. The check will require you to pay a fee of $55 if you hold an Educator’s License, or $35 if you are an unlicensed employee. In addition to the national background check, a satisfactory Massachusetts Criminal Record Check (CORI) is required.
Holliston Public Schools
HumanResources@holliston.k12.ma.us
508-429-0654, option 5
Placentino ES
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Miller ES
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Miller School Family News Friday, September 29, 2023 | ||
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