Dear Shrewsbury Families,
As we finish the week before February Vacation – which included a full moon, a snowstorm, and is culminating in Valentine’s Day – you can imagine that our students have been very “chill!"
Our staff has been working hard to channel all of that energy into productive learning experiences, and I continue to be impressed with the quality of what is happening in our academic and co-curricular programs. Our students are demonstrating some really strong student growth in literacy and math, there was a superb science fair at SHS, and recent concerts and art displays have been outstanding. Academic competition teams such as those in Mock Trial, Model United Nations, DECA, Robotics, and Speech and Debate continue to impress. On Wednesday, I had the privilege of attending the 24th Annual Black History Assembly at SHS, which this year was an informative and entertaining celebration of Africa that included poetry, dance, and musical performances. Thank you to the SHS student Black History Committee for creating this excellent program!
Over the past weeks, I have made my annual State of the District report and presented my budget recommendation for next year. Through these presentations, I have shared that we are fortunate to be in a stable financial situation as a school district, unlike many, many others across Massachusetts (as noted in this recent Boston Globe article), while at the same time we continue to face headwinds due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic and other societal challenges.
I feel fortunate to be superintendent in a community that prioritizes the education of its children. I am deeply thankful for our Shrewsbury community’s vote for the operational override in 2021 that has provided us with financial stability, and I remain grateful for all of your efforts as families to support your children and our educators and support staff. The successes I see across our nine schools strengthen my strong belief in the power of public education, and I am proud that our schools, in partnership with you, make a significant, positive difference in the lives of our students.
I hope you enjoy the upcoming school vacation week, which is a "no homework" break (no assignments or assessments requiring studying due on Monday, February 24. Safe travels to those going away and best wishes for fun times with family and friends!
Respectfully,
Joe Sawyer
Superintendent of Schools