June 21, 2023
Dear Shrewsbury Families, Colleagues, & Community Members,
When walking our dog this morning, I noticed the first tiger lily in our yard had bloomed. This cluster of flowers usually blooms near the end of the school year, and while it's a cliché, it reminds me of the many ways in which our students blossom over the course of a school year, thanks to the expert teaching provided by our staff, the support given at home, and the resources provided by our community.
There are many ways in which our students have demonstrated spectacular successes, which I've called your attention to in my updates over the course of the year. Recent achievements include SHS junior Siri Ural earning 5th place in the U.S. in extemporaneous international speech, with several other SHS students also competing well at two national tournaments; an SHS Boys Crew boat competing in nationals for the first time since 2008; opportunities for students to practice mindfulness; and the success of the SHS Mock Trial team are all noteworthy. You may also have seen the remarkable story of SHS junior Kubra Mohammadi, who courageously escaped from Afghanistan last year and, while learning English, recently placed 4th in the nation in speech for her moving original oratory about her personal experience of surviving her school being bombed by the Taliban because it was educating girls (see the articles here and here). Kubra's emotional recounting of losing friends to the bombing and her aspiration to become an international journalist who will tell the stories of how girls and women are being denied education by oppressive governments is incredibly inspiring, and a reminder of just how fortunate we are in Shrewsbury to be able to provide all of our children with excellent educational opportunities.
While these achievements and the many others I have reported to you throughout the year are remarkable, I also want to recognize that there have been thousands upon thousands of less public moments of success in all of our schools. Every day, from preschool through high school, our extraordinary educators and support staff make a positive difference in the lives of our students through excellent teaching and unwavering support, and on this last day of school please join me in thanking them for their efforts.
I want to especially thank our 19 retiring staff who are completing their careers for their service to our schools. They have the benefit of knowing that they did something important with their careers that improved the lives of the students they served, and on behalf of the school district, I wish them all the happiest and healthiest of retirements.
Thank you as well to all of our families for your continued support of your children and our schools, and to our community for providing what we need to do the job of educating our town's youth. We could not do this important work without your partnership.
It remains my honor and privilege to serve as your superintendent. Best wishes to you all for a happy and safe summer vacation!
Respectfully,
Joe Sawyer
Superintendent of Schools