Appreciation for Our Shrewsbury Police

January 9, 2025 Dear Shrewsbury Families, Colleagues, & Community Members, Today is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, and on behalf of our school district I would like to thank the Shrewsbury Police for their ongoing partnership in keeping our students and staff safe.  I appreciate that Chief Anderson and his team, including our School Resource Officers, work closely with us on security and on issues that help us maintain a safe school environment.     I am grateful for the support that SPD provides to our schools and to our entire community. Respectfully, Joe Sawyer Superintendent of Schools  

Thursday, Jan 09 2025

Please Read: Cybersecurity Issue

January 8, 2025 Dear Shrewsbury Families and Colleagues,  We are writing to share information about a concerning cybersecurity incident that has affected our school district and many others around the state, nation, and globe.  We have been notified by PowerSchool, the company that provides the student information system used by our District and many others across the country and world, of a cybersecurity incident affecting their systems. PowerSchool has informed us that this incident involved unauthorized access to their data systems globally. We want to share what we know at this moment about this incident and what we know now about how it has affected Shrewsbury Public Schools. We recognize that the information we’re sharing is concerning to all of us.  What is the issue?  PowerSchool has informed us that an actor compromised their company-level security, and that through this the actor was able to access many districts’ data across multiple countries. We have confirmed locally that this included Shrewsbury Public Schools. PowerSchool has assured its customers that the incident has been contained, that there is no evidence of continued unauthorized activity, and that they have taken a number of security steps to protect their clients. Our local review of our system supports this.  PowerSchool has expressed that:    1. They do not anticipate the data being shared or made public because they believe the data accessed has been irrevocably destroyed without any replication or dissemination. PowerSchool said it did not experience a ransomware attack, but that the company was extorted into paying a financial sum to prevent the hackers from leaking the stolen data. 2. They are working with a cybersecurity technology company to monitor the public domain to ensure the data was not and will not be reshared. 3. They are working with federal agencies to identify the actor(s) involved. What Shrewsbury Public Schools data was affected?  This incident resulted in the downloading of student and staff demographic data that is located in the Shrewsbury Public Schools PowerSchool system (including names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, student ID numbers and birthdates, and staff ID numbers). The data did NOT include any passwords, credit card information, legal documents used during student registration, photos, or other educational or personnel information about students or staff. Student health records were NOT included, although if a health alert was included in a student’s demographic data (such as a food allergy) that may have been included.   Again, PowerSchool has indicated that they believe all of the data that was downloaded has been destroyed at this time. What are the next steps?  Because no passwords were accessed for student, staff, or parent portal accounts, and because of the process we use to log in to PowerSchool, there is no need to change your password at this time. We participated in a webinar hosted by PowerSchool’s senior executives today from 3pm to 4pm, and based on the information provided to us we ask that you note: There will be additional information available in the coming days and/or week as they complete a full investigation. PowerSchool will be providing credit monitoring to affected adults and identity protection services to affected minors in accordance with regulatory and contractual obligations, with more details to come. What steps should you take at this time?  While PowerSchool continues to investigate, we recommend the following precautionary measures:  Monitor your accounts: Keep a close eye on your accounts and report any suspicious activity to the tech support team in your building (staff) or email  parenttechsupport@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us  (parents).  Be cautious of phishing: Be vigilant about unexpected emails or calls requesting personal or school information. This incident is concerning to all of us.   We work hard to do everything possible to prevent cybersecurity issues with the systems that are under our control, and we are deeply concerned that this breach in the PowerSchool global system compromised some of our data. When there is further guidance from PowerSchool or other information we receive, we will provide you with an update.  You may also receive updates directly from PowerSchool.  If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Kadion Phillips, Director of Information Technology, at  kphillips@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us .     Sincerely, Kadion Phillips                                          Barbara A. Malone                                              Joe Sawyer Director of Information Technology      Executive Director of Human Resources       Superintendent of Schools

Wednesday, Jan 08 2025

Please consider a gift to support innovative education

December 30, 2024 Dear Shrewsbury Families & Community Members, If you are thinking about making year-end charitable gifts, please consider supporting our public schools in promoting innovative educational opportunities. The Shrewsbury Public Schools Colonial Fund provides resources for key initiatives that enhance our students' educational experience.  You can decide to dedicate your donation toward an area of your choice, including STEM, creative and performing arts, or career technical education. Please see the information below to make a one-time gift or to schedule a monthly donation.  No amount is too small, and every dollar will be put to good use to advance our mission to provide an excellent education for our town's youth. Thank you for your consideration. Respectfully, Joe Sawyer Superintendent of Schools Make a difference where it matters most! By clicking one of the buttons below, you decide where your gift will have the greatest impact on our students. Not sure which area to choose? Let us put your gift will go towards the greatest needs. MAKE YOUR ONE-TIME GIFT HERE  MAKE YOUR MONTHLY GIFT HERE A little truly goes a long way! Join our amazing community of monthly donors who make small, consistent contributions throughout the year. These steady donations add up, creating a lasting and meaningful impact on the programs supported by the Colonial Fund. You can cancel at any time! Thank you for being a vital part of our school community and for helping us empower each student to reach their full potential. (Questions about the Colonial Fund or making a “Simple Gift”?  Email Kathleen Keohane at Kkeohane@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us )

Monday, Dec 30 2024

Superintendent's Update – December 20, 2024

December 20, 2024 Dear Shrewsbury Families, Colleagues, & Community Members, The snow has started falling, so please take it slow and be patient this afternoon with dismissal.  With the cold temperatures ahead it is looking like it will stick, and that it will be a white Christmas!  Whatever holidays you may be celebrating in the coming weeks, I hope you enjoy your time with family and friends and that the new year brings you good health and happiness.   As we end the calendar year, I remain very grateful to be part of the Shrewsbury community and to have the privilege of serving as superintendent of our outstanding public schools.  While there is no doubt that we are living through a complex time that brings many challenges to the work of public education, I continue to see our schools' superb faculty, staff, leaders put enormous effort into serving our students' needs in ways that are inspiring to me.  I am also deeply thankful for the support our families provide as partners in the work of helping your young people succeed, and for the generosity shown by our community.  One recent example was a $25,000 gift from Charles River Laboratories to help us provide innovative science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), opportunities for our older students.  Another was this past week's $40,000 sponsorship from YATCO Energy to help purchase a van to provide access to career awareness opportunities such as job shadowing and internships for SHS students.  YATCO's Yatim Family includes many former SPS students, and I was touched by the remarks made by SHS graduates Mohamed and Hussein Yatim as to why their family is providing us with this generous support – I invite you to view this two-minute clip here so you can hear them yourself.   Most importantly, I am consistently impressed by our students.   Since school began in August, they have not only worked hard to meet the learning expectations set by our educators in the classroom from day to day, but they have also excelled in the many co-curricular opportunities our schools provide.  I am very proud of the accomplishments of our students in the visual arts; music and drama performances; robotics, speech and debate, and other academic competition teams; and athletics.  I am even more proud when our students give back to the local community through service projects.  One recent wonderful example that combines high levels of learning in the classroom with a desire to make a difference for others was documented in this recent WBZ news story , where you will see one of our SHS sophomores in the Class of 2027, Nichelle Thinagar, being recognized as one of only 106 students in the nation (and one of only two in Massachusetts) to be named a "National STEM Champion."   Nichelle was recognized for creating  an innovative science project designed to assist stroke victims, which was inspired by her grandfather’s situation.  Congratulations to Nichelle! As we close out 2024 and head into 2025, please note a couple of quick reminders: • This is a "no homework" vacation period , so no assignments will be due and no assessments requiring studying will be given on January 2, the day students return to school. • The School Committee is reviewing proposed updates to the district's bullying prevention and intervention policy and  plan , and intends to vote on each update at their January 8 meeting.  If you have feedback on these, you may send it via email to the School Committee at SchoolCommittee@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us.   Thank you for your continued efforts and support, and all the best for safe travels and a relaxing and fun vacation! Respectfully, Joe Sawyer Superintendent of Schools

Friday, Dec 20 2024

All Schools Open on Regular Schedules

December 5, 2024 All Shrewsbury Public Schools will open on their regular schedules today.   Respectfully, Joe Sawyer Superintendent of Schools

Thursday, Dec 05 2024

Your Feedback Requested: Superintendent's Update to ...

November 23, 2024 Dear Shrewsbury Families, On this rainy Saturday – perfect to visit our  SHS Robotics team's holiday craft fair and pie sale at Oak Middle School from 2pm-5:30pm! – I would like 1) to invite you to give your children's schools some important feedback; 2) provide you with information regarding our Season of Giving campaign to help families in need,  3) make you aware of an opportunity to serve on our upcoming Artificial Intelligence Study Committee, and 4) a reminder about the "no homework" period during Thanksgiving break. School climate and culture survey:  As part of our ongoing work to improve supports for students social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health, and as part of our review of our district's bullying prevention and intervention plan, I ask that you complete the anonymous survey found HERE .  Please note: Most of the survey items are quick multiple choice responses, and there are optional opportunities to add comments.   The format and most items correspond to a survey that the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education gave to students who took the MCAS tests last spring, so that we can compare their perceptions with yours as parents and caregivers (we will publish a summary of the results). Please note that the survey is designed to give feedback on one school – if you have children in multiple schools, you can complete separate surveys for each. This survey is intended to collect general perceptions of your child's experience at their school. If you have a specific question or concern about your child, please contact the school directly for assistance. I would greatly appreciate it if you would complete this survey by Monday, December 2.    Thank you very much for your feedback – it is important to our work to ensure our schools are supportive and safe for students. Opportunity to help Shrewsbury families in need:  The Shrewsbury Public Schools district-wide "Season of Giving" campaign is underway.  We are seeking gift cards from between $10 and $50 each that we will provide to Shrewsbury families experiencing economic hardship during this holiday season.  Students may bring donated cards to their school office in an envelope marked "Season of Giving," you can drop them off at the School Department at Town Hall, or you can conveniently purchase directly from Amazon and have them delivered to us by clicking HERE .  Last year, we helped over 90 families; if your family is facing financial struggles, you may confidentially request assistance HERE .   For more details about the types of cards needed, click HERE .  In my experience, our Shrewsbury community has been very generous to our neighbors who are experiencing difficulty – thank you for your consideration.   Seeking parents/caregivers to serve on the district's Artificial Intelligence Study Committee: Our school district is convening a committee to study the impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on teaching, learning, and operations in our schools and to make recommendations regarding practices and policies related to AI.  We are seeking a few parents/caregivers with expertise in AI to serve on the study committee, along with SPS students, educators, and leaders.  The study committee will be meeting about twice per month via Zoom, typically Thursday afternoons from 3pm-4:15pm starting in mid-December and continuing through April, with some work in between meetings.  If you are interested in participating, please complete the form found HERE .   Finally, please be reminded that the upcoming Thanksgiving break is a "no homework" period for students, with no homework due and no assessments requiring studying ahead of time being given on Monday, December 2.   Please accept my best wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! Respectfully, Joe Sawyer Superintendent of Schools

Saturday, Nov 23 2024

Superintendent's Update – November 8, 2024

November 8, 2024 Dear Shrewsbury Families, Colleagues, & Community Members, We are continuing to enjoy spectacular weather, but on behalf of Chief Colby and our Fire Department please be aware of the Outdoor Fire Advisory issued earlier this week given the level of risk for brush fires. Our schools remain extremely busy during this fall season, as we focus on key academic priorities such as the implementation of our new literacy program in grades K-6.  See this slide deck from Assistant Superintendent Amy Clouter for an overview of this program, and stay tuned for an opportunity to attend an informational forum in the near future.  I have had the opportunity to visit several classrooms when students were engaging in literature study, and I have been very pleased with the high quality of the texts and the sophisticated reading, writing, and book discussions I have witnessed.  A big thanks to all of our educators who are working very hard to make this new curriculum implementation a successful one! Please also note the following information, including: A new partnership with Leicester Public Schools for vocational technical education programs Information on our district's Season of Giving appeal for gift cards for families in need Shrewsbury Education Foundation announces the recipients of the John P. Collins Awards for Excellence Shrewsbury Robotics open house tomorrow from 1pm-4pm at SHS New partnership with Leicester Public Schools for vocational technical education programs: I am pleased to announce that the School Committee voted unanimously to make Leicester High School our district's preferred vocational technical program, which will enable access to this type of education for Shrewsbury students that has been sharply reduced in recent years due to admissions changes at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School.  This new partnership will provide the opportunity for up to 15 current 9th grade students to transfer to Leicester High School for the second semester this year to participate in exploratory programming, and then to continue in future years in one of Leicester High School's specific vocational technical programs (currently Building and Property Maintenance; Culinary Arts; Early Education; and Health Assisting).   Ninth grad e students and their families who are interested should attend an informational session this coming Wednesday, November 13 at 6:30pm at Shrewsbury High School.  Current 8th grade students and their families will receive information in the near future about the potential to attend Leicester High School next  school year.  For more information about this partnership, click he re , or contact Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jane Lizotte at jlizotte@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us. Season of Giving gift card drive for families in need: This year our school district will again provide help to our students' families in financial need through the Season of Giving program.  Please click HERE for more information about how to donate a gift card.  If you are in need, please click HERE to provide us with confidential information so that you can get help.  I am confident that our school community will again be generous in supporting our neighbors in need. Shrewsbury Education Foundation announces the recipients of the John P. Collins Awards for Excellence The Shrewsbury Education Foundation recently notified the recipients of their John P. Collins Awards for Excellence.  These awards, named after the late Superintendent of Schools Dr. John P. Collins, who served from 1978 to 1994, recognize those whose excellent work "brings the mission of the Shrewsbury Public Schools to life."  The recipients, based on their nominations from last spring, that were selected by Shrewsbury Education Foundation representatives are: Professional Educators (6) Allysen Feeley & Missy Newell, Special Education Teachers, Paton School (Team) Christine Miner, Fourth Grade Teacher, Spring Street School Paul Quinn, Special Education Teacher, Shrewsbury High School Nicole Cormier, Fourth Grade Teacher, Paton School Emily Bredberg, Media Specialist, Shrewsbury High School Paraprofessionals (4) Emily DeLeon, ABA Technician, Beal School ABA Technician Team - Parker Road Preschool Ashleigh Carrasquillo Andressa DeLeon Guimaraes Mariana Gonzalez Support Staff (2) Kristi Baldino, Head Custodian, Beal School Nicole Nye, Secretary, Parker Road Preschool Unsung Heroes (1) Robin Gilfoy, Driver, Bus #38 Leadership (1) Donna Rice, Instructional Coach/Curriculum Coordinator, Spring Street School Congratulations to all of the award recipients! Shrewsbury Robotics open house tomorrow from 1pm-4pm at SHS The SHS Robotics team will hold their annual open house from 1pm-4pm tomorrow in the Largess Commons at Shrewsbury High School. Consider stopping by with your children to see their robots in action, tour their shop, learn more about robotics, and for a Legos giveaway!  See this flyer for more information. Thanks for your continued support of our school district! Respectfully, Joe Sawyer Superintendent of Schools  

Friday, Nov 08 2024

Message from the Superintendent – November 6, 2024

November 6, 2024 Dear Shrewsbury Families, Colleagues, & Community Members, Our school district's mission includes helping our students develop "an appreciation of our democratic tradition."  Recently, I have been impressed to see this at work both in our town and in our schools in the weeks leading up to yesterday's election.  I want to publicly thank our Town Clerk's office staff and all of the poll volunteers who worked so hard to make the democratic process possible, and I also want to thank all of you who exercised your right to vote – both for participating in our democracy and for being role models for our community's children.   I also want to recognize the excellent work that our educators did to build awareness and knowledge leading up to the election, particularly at the secondary level where Shrewsbury High School and Oak Middle School students had the opportunity to learn about the issues and participate in mock elections.  In particular, thank you to Jenn DiFrancesca, Director of Social Sciences at SHS, and Rob Dunn, Middle Level Social Studies Coordinator, and to our teachers in those departments for their skillful efforts to provide these relevant experiences, which fulfill our mission to prepare the next generation of voters. Much has been written about the political divisions in our nation.  Today, people across our country and here in our community are feeling different emotions regarding the outcome of the election. For many, those are elation, satisfaction, and justification; for others, disillusion, indignation, and even fear.  Regardless of these political divisions, I believe it is critical that our Shrewsbury community unite around the shared values that bind us.  This includes the importance of providing an excellent public education focused on the well-being of all  of our children, where they are taught and nurtured well regardless of who they are or where they are from.  Our schools must be places of belonging where our young people can learn to engage with others who have differences in background and opinion, and, as our policy states, "to grow in their understanding of the difficult and complex problems they face as citizens in today's world."   We certainly live in a difficult and complex era.  While our society and world will continue to be roiled by deeply divisive issues, it is my hope as the adults in our community that we will make sincere efforts to understand one another in order to seek common ground for the common good.  As author Amanda Ripley suggests, this does not require us to give up or stop fighting for our deeply held beliefs, but it does require us to be curious, avoid "us vs. them" and "good vs. evil" categorical thinking, and recognize that the reasons someone thinks differently than you are usually complex.   Despite whatever societal challenges lie ahead, I am confident that we in Shrewsbury will work together to best meet our collective responsibility to provide our children with what they need to thrive. Respectfully, Joe Sawyer Superintendent of Schools      

Wednesday, Nov 06 2024

School Committee Meeting Tonight - October 9

October 9, 2024 Reminder: The School Committee meets tonight, Wednesday evening, October 9, at 7pm.   The Committee will meet in person at the Richard D. Carney Municipal Office Building (i.e., Town Hall), and the meeting will be streamed live on SELCO Channel 29 and on the Shrewsbury Media Connection website .   The agenda will include: • Recognition of four members of the SHS Class of 2025 with awards • An update on the new literacy program for Grades K-6 • A vote on the District Strategic Goals & Action Steps for 2024-2025 • A report on student enrollment and class sizes • A vote on the Superintendent's Goals for 2024-2025 • A discussion of the passing of a Boston icon * For those who aren't able to watch a School Committee meeting live, the meeting video will be archived in the School Committee section of our website here , and meeting documents will be posted here .  All of the School Committee meeting dates, agendas, and minutes can be found here . Respectfully, Joe Sawyer Superintendent of Schools *His windup was imitated in every Wiffle Ball game in New England in the 1970s...

Wednesday, Oct 09 2024

Update on contract negotiations between the Shrewsbu...

In response to communications from parents and community members, the Shrewsbury School Committee has published an update regarding its ongoing negotiations with the Shrewsbury Paraeducator Association.  Please click  HERE  to view the update.

Friday, Sep 20 2024