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School Committee Communication (5/20/23)

May 20 2023

Holliston School Committee

May 20, 2023

The Holliston School Committee is committed to supporting our district’s leadership and educators, and we are confident that together they will move our district forward. In response to the Holliston Federation of Teachers’ May 15 statement, we are reaching out to HFT leadership to better understand the factual basis of their assertions in order to respond with precision and care.

We have offered mediation to the union multiple times this school year (January 14, February 13, and April 11) and we are encouraged that the union’s statement seems to indicate a willingness to engage in mediation.

Link to abridged evaluation

Link to full length

Superintendent

Superintendent Communication (5/17/23)

May 20 2023

Office of the Superintendent

Statement of Dr. Susan Kustka

Superintendent, Holliston Public Schools

May 17, 2023

I was deeply disappointed this week to learn that the leaders of the Holliston Federation of Teachers had orchestrated a “vote of no confidence” in me. Like any good leader, I recognize that there is always room for improvement, and every day I strive to be a better Superintendent who is helping to build an even better Holliston Public Schools. I remain committed to my work as the leader of this school district, and I am always seeking ways to reflect, grow, and learn as a person and as a professional.

I could address each of the claims in the HFT statement point by point, particularly to help the community separate fact from fiction, but this is not the appropriate forum for that conversation. I have repeatedly proposed ways to strengthen relations between union and district leadership, including inviting a neutral mediator to address difficult issues, but those offers usually have been declined. I will reiterate that the School Committee and I remain committed to a strong labor-management partnership, and we remain willing to sit down and work together with union leaders to resolve issues, rather than airing grievances through other channels.

In that spirit, I believe it is important to state that any disagreement or dispute between the union and district leadership should remain between those groups of adults. We have received reports about some teachers politicizing these matters in classroom discussions with students. That behavior is completely unacceptable and unprofessional and will not be tolerated.

In my 28 years as an educator, I have always been guided by a single beacon: to do what is best for children. At times, that has meant making decisions opposed by some adults – including those who may be resistant to change – but the needs of students must come first. That has been my mantra during the past three years leading this district. When I became Interim Superintendent in July 2020, we were at the height of the COVID pandemic, and I quickly learned that the students and adults in this community were strong, resilient, and firmly committed to high-quality teaching and learning, even in the most trying circumstances. Since then, I have been consistently impressed and encouraged by the dedication and determination I see in classrooms, schools, and the community. We are fortunate to live and work in a town that cares deeply about providing students the knowledge, skills, and opportunities they need to succeed.

I, for one, have tremendous confidence in this school district. I believe that together, we have accomplished a great deal, and, guided by our five-year Strategic Plan, that we are on a clear path to reach even greater heights. And by “we” I truly mean all of us – students, families, teachers, administrators, support staff, School Committee, Town officials, taxpayers, and partners. I believe we can all have confidence in the district-wide team that is deeply focused on student achievement and student wellness every day. We are making strides in aligning our work from Pre-K through high school. We are accelerating our work to address students’ social-emotional needs. We have adopted a much sharper focus on equity. Together, we tackled a glaring inequity through a creative strategy to fund full-day kindergarten. Just this past Monday, the town voted in support of a $40.5 million budget, yet another affirmation of this community’s willingness to invest in high-quality public education.

I share the union leadership’s assertion that the voices of educators must play an important role in all decision-making. I believe it is essential to hear the ideas, questions, comments, and concerns of all stakeholders. Throughout my tenure, I have created opportunities to listen closely to staff, students, and families. The conversations I’ve had in school visits, student advisory meetings, office hours, community meetings, and countless other venues have given me great insights, and on many occasions have profoundly influenced our path forward. I will continue to seek formal and informal ways to engage with members of the HPS community, recognizing that the School Committee and I ultimately have to make decisions that will not always please everyone but that we believe are in the best interest of the students and families we serve.

Finally, I want to thank the parents and others in the community who reached out this week to offer words of encouragement and support. Their positive experiences in our schools reminded me that it is more critical than ever to keep moving forward and not to be distracted from our shared goals and priorities. I believe in our students, our families, our staff, and our community, and I am confident that together there is nothing we cannot achieve.

First page of the PDF file: Communication

School Committee Communication

May 18 2023

May 17, 2023

We are resending the message below from yesterday as it was not legible for Apple Mail mobile users. We are working with the vendor to identify the root cause of this issue.

I apologize for any inconvenience.

Dan MacLeod, Director of Technology & Digital Learning

May 16, 2023

Yesterday, May 15th, The Holliston School Committee received a document outlining the no-confidence vote taken by the HFT. In order to review this document and draft a response in accordance with open meeting laws, the earliest that the School Committee can converse about this topic is at our next scheduled meeting, which is this coming Thursday night. Until such time, you are invited to review the Formative Evaluation Summary voted on by the School Committee at our May 4th meeting. We continue to support both Dr Kustka and the teachers in their continued efforts for Holliston Public Schools and are optimistic that a synergistic resolution will be found.

Community Safety Concern at RAMS

May 15 2023

May 15, 2023

Hello Families, Caregivers, Staff, and Community Members,

Earlier this morning, it was brought to our attention that last night a middle school student had posted an image of a weapon to a SnapChat group with some disturbing language surrounding it. RAMS administrators, in collaboration with the Holliston Police, were able to swiftly investigate the images and comments, and they determined that the weapon was a BB gun and that there was no written threat regarding the safety of other individuals.

However, the administration and HPD will continue to work with the family to ensure that the safety of the individual who posted this to SnapChat is being closely monitored, as a result of the disturbing nature of this communication.

Unfortunately, these images and comments were shared broadly to many students through SnapChat. Thank you to those students and families who immediately notified us of the perceived risk. As we strive to foster and promote a safe and supportive environment in the Holliston Public Schools, the message of “see something, say something” continues to be a key strategy in combating unsafe behavior in the community.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email jordand@holliston.k12.ma.us or kustkas@holliston.k12.ma.us

Regards,

Dr. Susan Kustka Dr. David Jordan

Superintendent RAMS Principal

First page of the PDF file: ImmportantAnnouncement

High School Principal Announcement

May 11 2023

The Holliston Public Schools is pleased to announce our selection for the next Holliston High School Principal. The Search Committee reviewed 14 applications and, after semi-finalist interviews, recommended three well-qualified candidates as finalists. Site visits and forums with staff, students, and community members occurred over three days last week. As a result of all of the positive feedback received, we are thrilled to announce that Mr. David List will be the next principal of Holliston High School.

Mr List is currently an assistant principal at Medway High School where he has served in this role for eight years. Prior to his current position he was the METCO director at Natick High School. Mr. List has also served as a dean and a social studies teacher. List completed his administrator licensure program through the TEC Leadership Program at Boston University, and he received his Bachelor’s degree in Jewish History from the University of Hartford and his Masters of Education from Hebrew College.

In his cover letter, Mr. List wrote,"Throughout my career, no matter my role, I have been driven by a set of core values. My values of respect, equity, inclusivity, responsibility, and collaboration, along with the school's mission and vision, serve as a guiding principle for my decision-making and can be seen in the programs and practices I have implemented and initiated. These values are integral to the work I do and shape the way I approach my responsibilities as an educator and administrator."

Thank you everyone for all your input and feedback in this process. Mr. List is very excited to join the team and get to know the community. We look forward to working with him as our next school leader.

Sincerely,

Susan Kustka, Ed.D.

Superintendent

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Placentino ES

Care Solace

Sep 15 2022

Please CLICK HERE to view the flyer as a PDF

Extended Day 23-24 and Summer Oasis Open Enrollment

Mar 27 2023

Enroll online or walk-in for easy enrollment. Walk-in enrollment is available 3:45-5:30pm Monday-Friday in the Miller Cafeteria. We are here to answer your questions and help you enroll. For more enrollment information about Extended Day for next school year please click here. For more enrollment information about Summer Oasis please click here. You can also email Dion Puleo at puleod@holliston.k12.ma.us.

Flu Info & Resources

Dec 9 2022

FLU MESSAGING AND RESOURCES

With influenza (flu) activity increasing nationally, and troubling early data showing drops in flu vaccine uptake this season, CDC has issued an urgent reminder about the importance of vaccinating for flu. Hospitalization rates in kids are among the highest seen at this time in about a decade so far this season.

Remember, your strong recommendation is a key factor in whether people get vaccinated.

Getting a flu shot is the most important action a person can take to prevent flu and its potentially serious complications. Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine as soon as possible. Encourage flu vaccination by sharing the following messages and resources with patients, especially those at higher risk, and those with parents of young children.

The flu vaccine:

Reduces the risk of flu illness
Can make illness less severe among people who get vaccinated, but still get sick with flu, reducing the risk of serious flu complications, such as hospitalization
Can be given at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine, for people who are due for both
Protects against four different flu viruses - even if a patient has already gotten flu, other flu viruses are circulating and it’s possible to get flu more than once a season

Groups at higher risk of serious illness from flu include:

Adults 65 Years and Older

Nine out of 10 people hospitalized with flu in recent years had at least one underlying health condition (Asthma, Heart Disease & Stroke, Diabetes, Chronic Kidney Disease)

Children under 5

Flu is more dangerous than the common cold for children, and healthy children 5 years and older can spread flu to vulnerable family members like infants younger than 6 months and adults over 65

During Pregnancy

Due to changes to the immune system, heart, and lungs during pregnancy make people more susceptible to potentially serious flu complications. Flu may also be harmful for a developing baby.

Resources

Questions?

For questions about influenza please call the DPH Immunization Division at 617-983-6800 or your local board of health.
For questions about state-supplied influenza vaccine, please call the DPH Vaccine Unit at 617-983-6828.

Have questions about immunizations? Contact us!

Immunization Division | 617-983-6800

Vaccine Unit | 617-983-6828

MIIS Help Desk | 617-983-4335

Unified Arts Back to School Night

Oct 31 2022

Our Unified Arts Back to School Night will be held on Tuesday, November 1st from 6:00-7:30pm. Students and families are welcome to attend to meet their UA teachers (art, music, physical education, science, and world langugage)

Please click for our flyers: English, Portuguese, Spanish.

Updated COVID-19 Policy for Students and Staff for Fall, 2022

Aug 29 2022

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.
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

**COVID-19 Symptoms for Child Care, K-12, OST, and Recreational Camps**
Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath New loss of taste or smell Muscle aches or body aches Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)	Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms Nausea, vomiting, when in combination with other symptoms Headache, when in combination with other symptoms Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies), when in combination with other symptoms

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Miller ES

Email Communication sent 3/30/23 - Grade 6 Info from Robert Adams Middle!

Mar 31 2023

Dear 5th-Grade Families,

It is hard to believe that the Holliston Public Schools are already making plans for the next school year! We are so excited for your students to join us at the Robert Adams Middle School this fall. We know that the transition from elementary to middle school can be thrilling, but also confusing and intimidating at times. With that in mind, we want to provide you with an overview of the middle school schedule and course offerings.

A Typical Schedule

First, as an overview, here is a schedule for a typical day in 6th grade.

Homeroom	8:05 - 8:12	Homeroom = morning announcements, attendance Sections 1, 2, 3, 4 = “on-team” and include math, science, social studies, and English classes. World Languages (WL) = students attend a World Language class (Spanish, French, or French Immersion) every day. Unified Arts (UA) = students will attend art, music (band, chorus, or general music), computer science, wellness/health, and wellness/physical education; each class meets once per week. RAMS Block = students return to homeroom where they work on homework, projects, and missed work; receive extra help, attend support services, or participate in band and chorus ensemble. Support Services = students who are on IEPs and 504s will be scheduled according to their plans.
Section 1	8:12 - 9:07
Section 2	9:09 - 10:03
Snack Break	10:03 - 10:10
Section 3	10:10 - 11:05
Section 4	11:07 - 12:02
Lunch	12:02 - 12:27
WL / UA 1	12:29 - 1:10
WL / UA 2	1:12 - 1:53
RAMS Block	1:55 - 2:28

On-Team Set-Up

At RAMS, teachers and students are grouped into teams (Teams 1, 2, and 3). All of the sixth grade is housed in one wing where team classrooms are clustered so students do not need to travel far when transitioning between classes.

In all three grades, Teams 1 and 2 are four-person teams, meaning that there are four on-team teachers: a math, a science, a social studies, and an English teacher. These teachers will teach four sections/class periods of their subject over the course of the day. Team 3, however, is made up of only two on-team teachers: one teacher who teaches both math and science, and another teacher who teaches both English and social studies. These teachers will have two sections of each subject, still then teaching a total of four sections/classes throughout the school day. This small team structure exists solely due to student enrollment and class sizes. In turn, this means that students on Teams 1 and 2 will rotate among four classrooms for their four on-team classes, and Team 3 students will rotate between two classrooms. Each team also includes a special education liaison and/or paraprofessional who attends various classes and sections to meet the needs outlined in IEPs.

All classes and team placements offered are unleveled and provide equal experiences for all students. There is no difference in content or opportunity across the teams. Therefore all students will be placed in their math, science, social studies, and English classes, and students and parents do not need to sign up for any on-team classes.

Off-Team Courses

World Languages and the Unified Arts classes are offered in a student’s schedule as well. In a student’s schedule, this is when they travel “off-team” to attend classes in other parts of the building. In this portion of their day, students are not grouped by team and will attend classes with peers from other teams in their grade. Students will need to sign up for specific World Language and Music classes.

World Language Options

For World Language, students will choose between Spanish, French, and French Immersion. Please consider the following factors when making your decision:

Sixth-grade Spanish is a continuation of the curriculum students have been learning at the elementary level. Students who have been taking Spanish and would like to continue with the language and culture should sign up for this class, as well as any student who is new to learning a language!

Sixth-grade French is an introductory-level course, where students who are newly interested in learning French or starting a language for the first time are welcome! This is also a great opportunity for students who would like to switch from the previously learned Spanish in elementary school to something new, or for students entering a world language class for the first time.

Students who are in French Immersion in elementary school will continue their learning in the French Immersion class. This is a single class period where instruction picks up from where students left off in 5th grade. French content and instruction are not integrated into the on-team classes as experienced at Miller and instead are reserved for this one class period.

Music Options

At RAMS we offer five different Unified Arts classes, one for each day of the week. All students will be registered for these four classes: wellness/physical education, wellness/health, art, and computer science. However, our music department provides three different options from which families must choose.

Please know that students can only register for ONE of these music class options, and their selection is a year-long commitment.

General Music provides students with an opportunity to learn performance and literacy skills and work in a keyboard lab to practice and produce music of varying types. This class only meets during a WL/UA block. There are no RAMS block or after-school commitments.

Chorus is a great option for students who participated in Miller Chorus, though all students are welcome - even without previous experience. Chorus will develop a student’s vocal range, technique, and expressive capacity through a wide variety of musical styles, and perform for family and community members at different times throughout the year. This class will meet during a WL/UA block as well as meet once a week during RAMS block to rehearse the multiple chorus sections as a full ensemble.

Band is available for any student interested in playing a band instrument (woodwinds, brass, percussion). This includes students who are currently in the 5th-grade band program, as well as anyone looking to start! Band meets once/week during the school day in a WL/UA block, once/week as an ensemble during RAMS block, and once/week after school for ensemble again.
- Please Note: Costs for instruments should not deter students from signing up for band. We have loaner instruments to ensure any student interested in learning a band instrument is able to do so. Please complete this Loaner Instrument Request form if you are interested in using a loaner instrument. If you have any additional questions, you may contact Matt Grina at grinam@holliston.k12.ma.us.

Please discuss the World Language and Music choices with your student as they will be making their selections during school in the next week or so using the PowerSchool student online portal.

Registering for PowerSchool

Separate from this communication, you will receive a letter providing you with instructions for creating a PowerSchool parent/guardian portal account. PowerSchool is a student information system, which houses contact information, course placements, schedules, and grades. This letter will provide instructions and specific credentials related to your student to set up the account. If you have any questions, please contact our Help Desk for assistance. Once the account is created you will be able to discuss the course options for World Language and Music with your student on the Class Registration screen.

Parent Information Night

Additionally, the 5th-to-6th Grade Parent Information Night will be held on April 12 at 6:30 in the RAMS Auditorium. At this time RAMS administration will provide an overview of the middle school and be open to answering questions. Additional assistance with creating a PowerSchool parent/guardian account will be made available at that time. We hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Your RAMS Administration Team

David Jordan, Principal

Jesse Conant, Interim Assistant Principal

Tessa Piantedosi, Student Services Administrator

It is the policy of the Holliston Public Schools not to discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, color, homelessness, sexual orientation, age or disability in its educational programs, services, activities, or employment practices.

235 WOODLAND STREET

HOLLISTON,MASSACHUSETTS 01746

Flu Info & Resources

Dec 9 2022

FLU MESSAGING AND RESOURCES

Remember, your strong recommendation is a key factor in whether people get vaccinated.

The flu vaccine:

Reduces the risk of flu illness
Can make illness less severe among people who get vaccinated, but still get sick with flu, reducing the risk of serious flu complications, such as hospitalization
Can be given at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine, for people who are due for both
Protects against four different flu viruses - even if a patient has already gotten flu, other flu viruses are circulating and it’s possible to get flu more than once a season

Groups at higher risk of serious illness from flu include:

Adults 65 Years and Older

Nine out of 10 people hospitalized with flu in recent years had at least one underlying health condition (Asthma, Heart Disease & Stroke, Diabetes, Chronic Kidney Disease)

Children under 5

Flu is more dangerous than the common cold for children, and healthy children 5 years and older can spread flu to vulnerable family members like infants younger than 6 months and adults over 65

During Pregnancy

Due to changes to the immune system, heart, and lungs during pregnancy make people more susceptible to potentially serious flu complications. Flu may also be harmful for a developing baby.

Resources

Questions?

For questions about influenza please call the DPH Immunization Division at 617-983-6800 or your local board of health.
For questions about state-supplied influenza vaccine, please call the DPH Vaccine Unit at 617-983-6828.

Have questions about immunizations? Contact us!

Immunization Division | 617-983-6800

Vaccine Unit | 617-983-6828

MIIS Help Desk | 617-983-4335

Care Solace

Sep 15 2022

Please CLICK HERE to view the flyer as a PDF

Updated COVID-19 Policy for Students and Staff for Fall, 2022

Aug 29 2022

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.

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.
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.

COVID-19 symptoms

**COVID-19 Symptoms for Child Care, K-12, OST, and Recreational Camps**
Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath New loss of taste or smell Muscle aches or body aches Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)	Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms Nausea, vomiting, when in combination with other symptoms Headache, when in combination with other symptoms Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies), when in combination with other symptoms

Filter

Adams MS

Care Solace

Sep 15 2022

Please CLICK HERE to view the flyer as a PDF

RAMS Morning Announcements

Sep 14 2021

https://docs.google.com/document/d/16LwSHBcY1VHiAMfcfPBBrc7HGhioL7ODED87hQiz1ms/edit?usp=sharing

RAMSNEWS- May, 8, 2023

May 8 2023

What's New RAMS!

Congratulations to our April Student of the Month Recipients!

Big Congrats to our April Student of the Month Recipients!

Each month at Robert Adams Middle School, we will be choosing one student per team in each grade, including World Language & Unified ARTS who have proven to represent our RAMS CARE values. For April, we would like to recognize the following students:

Grade 6: Amanda Oliveira, Teagan Kane, Brody Davis,

Grade 7: Luca Harrington, Emmet Flippin, Abby Barry

Grade 8: Sidney Pollard, Sarah Eppinger, Julia Furey

Unified Arts: Emerson Harrington, Mia Faletra, KJ Nolan

World Languages: Micaelly Silva, Jasleen Kamaljeet, Melissa Chiang

Great work, we are so proud of you!

Awesome Work to the Crew & Cast of Aladdin!

What an incredible show! Our students worked incredibly hard for months after school in preparation for this event. Huge thank you to Beth Hecker, the play director and Sara Peters for coordinating such a professional production for the RAMS community. The pride our students felt in working together to be part of Aladdin was fantastic!

RAMS DANCE! Dancing in the Dark-Another great night at RAMS!

Another great night recently here at RAMS! Our Dancing in the Dark event was verrrry well attended by our students. We are so proud of our student leaders who have been working hard behind the scenes for weeks now in planning this. Thank you to all of our parents who took time to volunteer and help support RAMS-we certainly appreciate that support of our students!

Proceeds from the ticket and concession sales will be donated to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher Appreciation Week is May 8-12!

Please join us by taking time to send in a personal thank you to your teachers!

PTO Updates

Teacher Appreciation Week - May 8-12

We are so fortunate to have a team of amazing educators who teach, support, and inspire our students! The PTO has plans to show our appreciation for all that our teachers do this week:

Monday: Breakfast snacks
Wednesday: Catered lunch
Friday: Coffee Cart

We encourage families to thank your teachers or do something nice for their classroom this week as well!

8th Grade - Save the Dates!

May 12: Field Trip to Romeo and Juliet
May 26: 8th Grade Community Service Day. Each year the 8th grade devotes a day to community service that includes weeding/mulching the Woodland St, helping at the Senior Center, cleaning the fields at Holliston High School, and helping out in the elementary classrooms. This is a great bonding experience for the students. Students are asked to bring a rake and gloves and $5 to cover buses etc. For those who can, we'd love to have donations of gardening gloves, rakes, wheelbarrows, and leaf bags as we seem to never have enough. Donations can be brought/sent to RAMS!
June 16: 8th Grade End of Year Celebration - held at RAMS. Casual attire (shorts/tees/sundresses/comfy shoes) for dancing, backyard games, and yummy treats!
More info and signups to follow in the coming weeks!

MS PTO Meeting

Our next MS PTO meeting will be Tuesday, May 9 at 9:00 am at RAMS. We look forward to having you there. Please check in at the office and they will direct you to where we are meeting

Join the MS PTO!

It’s easy – visit www.HollistonPTO.org to join! Just $25 to support your child, their teachers and many school programs.

HEF Presents - Parents' Night Out - May 20

We are holding our big fundraiser banquet and auction this month – “Parent’s Night Out” at Anthony’s on the Green on Saturday May 20th at 6pm. Dinner, music, dancing and auction/raffle will be on the menu. Calling all parents and teachers, neighbors and friends!

Please see the attached flyer for more details!

Junior Police Academy

The link below will take you to our department website, which then takes you to the Google Sheet for our camp sign up. The first week is July 10-14 and our second week is August 7-11. Once the form is completed, parents can drop them off at the station. If parents have any questions they can reach a dispatcher at 508-429-1212 or email:

Officer Ciavara - ciavarrah@holliston.k12.ma.us

Officer Woods - woods@hollistonpolice.com

There are also sign up sheets available in the station lobby if people would prefer to fill it out there instead of printing it out at their homes.

https://sites.google.com/hollistonpolice.com/hpd/police-community-initiatives/junior-police-academy

RAMS Field Day

As the year comes to a close, we look forward to celebrating with our annual field trips on Tuesday, June 20. Field trip forms and payment details have been (or will be soon) shared with families!

Grade 6: Field Day at Stoddard Park, Holliston

Grade 7: Kimball Farms, Westford

Grade 8: LAUNCH, Norwood

MCAS 2023

Only Grade 8 students will taking their Science, Technology, Engineering MCAS this week. Students will be taking part in the MCAS Tuesday, May 9 and Thursday, May 11

2023 MCAS Schedule

Yearbook Ordering

Hi RAMS families. Just a quick reminder to get your child's yearbook order in today. For $24, you'll receive a hardback yearbook of great memories from the year. Orders must be in by the end of April. Please use this link to order.

Any questions? Please email Mrs. Schmid (schmidl@holliston.k12.ma.us) or Ms. Ditto (dittokustwana@holliston.k12.ma.us).

Interested in playing Girl's HS Soccer in the Fall?

Interested in playing Girl's HS Soccer in the Fall? Please fill out this form to receive an invite to our informational meeting!

2023 HS Soccer Interest Form

6th Grade Trip to Hale Reservation

Attention 6th grade families:

6th grade students will be taking part in a fun, team-building event scheduled for later this year in June. Please see the attached flyer for more details!

Student Placement

Should you have questions regarding your child’s placement, we ask that you reach out to your student’s subject specific teacher to work through your questions.

The following grade levels and courses receive placement:

Grade 6 to 7: NO leveling to be recommended

Grade 7 to 8: Math and Science Only

Math Placement Criteria

Science Placement Criteria

REMINDER: Cell Phone Use

We wanted to give families notice that following the break we are going to be following our cell phone policy per the handbook with all students. Student’s cell phones should be kept in their lockers during the school day. If a student has their phone during the school day, it will be confiscated and a parent/guardian will need to pick it up. It is incredibly important that students are focused and not accessing their phones during the day.

Should you need to get a hold of your child during the day, please contact our main office and we can get them your message. We appreciate your support and conversation reminders with your student’s about this.

Supplies Needed for Innovation Lab

We would greatly appreciate any student who could bring in the following materials to help supply the innovation lab:

Egg Cartons

Q-Tips

Modge Podge

Magnet strip with self adhesive

White Glue

Hammers- can be used

Chalk Paint- Used is fine

Regular craft paint- Used is fine

Yarn- used rolls are fine

12 inch skewers

WANTED - Paraprofessionals

Robert Adams Middle School is seeking paraprofessionals to be part of our school community! If you are interested or know someone who might be, please contact David Jordan (jordand@holliston.k12.ma.us) or Jesse Conant (conantj@holliston.k12.ma.us). In our school, paraprofessionals will work with children individually or in small groups, providing instruction on reading, writing, math, and other education related activities.

WANTED - Bus Monitors

RAMS is seeking bus monitors to help assist our student needs regarding the transportation of students to and from RAMS. Please reach out to David Jordan (jordand@holliston.k12.ma.us) or Jesse Conant (conantj@holliston.k12.ma.us) if interested.

A Window Into RAMS

We would like to share a handful of recent photos which we hope to help provide a nice window into RAMS!

Make a Wish

Students at RAMS worked the Make a Wish Foundation candy station at the dance-we sold out of everything! Proceeds will be donated to the Make a Wish Foundation.

Walk, Bike, Roll to School Event

Students and HPD outside of RAMS this past Wednesday morning as past of the SRTS Walk, Bike, Roll to School event.

Dr Jordan!

Huge congrats to DR Jordan, who just recently completed his doctoral work. Great job!

RAMS Calendar

May

8-12 - Teacher Appreciation Week!

9, 11 - Science/Technology/Engineering MCAS (Grade 8 ONLY)

12 - 8th Grade Field Trip - Shakespeare Play

26 - 8th Grade Community Service Day

29 - NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day

June

2 - HHS Graduate walkthrough of RAMS

7 - Grade 5 Step Up to RAMS

12, 13, 14 - 6th Grade Day Trip to Hale Reservation

16 - Grade 8 Celebration & Dance

19 - NO SCHOOL - Juneteenth

20 - RAMS Field Day

21 - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - Half Day, dismissal at 11:00AM

RAMS Quote of the Day

The great aim of education is not knowledge but action. —Herbert Spencer

RAMS News- April 24, 2023

Apr 24 2023

What's New RAMS!

Upcoming Play - Aladdin!

RAMS ReAct Players is thrilled to announce our upcoming production of Aladdin Jr! Showtimes are Friday, April 28th @ 7pm, Saturday April 29th @ 2pm and 7pm, and Sunday April 30th @ 2pm. Tickets can be purchased at

https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/73143. Ticket prices are $10 for students and seniors and $15 for general admission. We expect to sell out quickly so get your tickets soon! Come out to support your classmates and students!

RAMS DANCE! Dancing in the Dark

RAMS is very excited to announce our next school-wide dance! On Friday, May 5 from 6:30-8:30 here in the RAMS gym, our student leadership team will be hosting this event. We are so proud of our student leaders who have been working hard behind the scenes for weeks now in planning this fun event for RAMS community. Proceeds from the ticket sales will be donated to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

PTO is looking for PARENT VOLUNTEERS - Dancing in the Dark!

Dancing in the Dark Volunteers Needed

Please sign up here if you are able to help sell tickets or chaperon the May 5 Spring Dance!

MS PTO

Middle School PTO Meeting

Our next Middle School PTO meeting will be Tuesday, May 9 at 9:00 am. Please email hollistonpto@gmail.com if you would like to be on the distribution for meeting details.

Join the PTO

It’s easy – visit www.HollistonPTO.org to join! Just $25 to support your child, their teachers and many programs within the school.

Safe Route to Schools - Wednesday, May 3

SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOLS EVENT

In collaboration with Safe Routes to School, RAMS will be participating in our annual Walk, Bike, and Roll To School Event on Wednesday, May 3. The purpose of this event is to promote students to walk to and from school. Walking not only has an impact on one's physical health, but is a wonderful way to engage in positive self care.

Join us for one of the first events in the

new and improved Blair Square

NEW THIS YEAR – JOIN THE BIKE TRAIN

OR THE WALKING SCHOOL BUS

(bike train follows a lead cyclist down the Rail Trail)

(walking school bus follows a “bus driver” walking on the sidewalk)

More details to follow!

Yearbook Ordering

Any questions? Please email Mrs. Schmid (schmidl@holliston.k12.ma.us) or Ms. Ditto (dittokustwana@holliston.k12.ma.us).

Interested in playing Girl's HS Soccer in the Fall?

Interested in playing Girl's HS Soccer in the Fall? Please fill out this form to receive an invite to our informational meeting!

2023 HS Soccer Interest Form

MCAS 2023

Students will be taking part in the Math MCAS Tuesday, May 2 and Thursday, May 4

2023 MCAS Schedule

6th Grade Trip to Hale Reservation

Attention 6th grade families:

6th grade students will be taking part in a fun, team-building event scheduled for later this year in June. Please see the attached flyer for more details!