NSboro Back-To-School Newsletter - 2025-2026

Posted Date: 8/19/25 (4:30 PM)

The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough Back-To-School Newsletter 2025-2026

The NSboro Annual Back-To-School Newsletter is designed to provide valuable insights into the Northborough-Southborough school community. This newsletter aims to be easily accessible and offers a comprehensive overview of various topics of interest. We encourage you to visit each link to learn more about our ten schools and three districts, and to become a part of our community of learners.

Photo Credit: Emma Purple

The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough
"Educate, Inspire, Challenge"

Quick Links

Welcome to the 2025-2026 School Year

Gregory L. Martineau Superintendent of Schools

Dear Parent(s) and Guardian(s),

On behalf of The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough, I warmly welcome parents, guardians, and students for the 2025–2026 academic year. On Thursday, August 28, 2025, 826 employees will eagerly welcome more than 4,200 students for the first day of school.

This year holds great promise for continued growth, innovation, and collaboration. Over the summer, our dedicated educators and staff have been preparing schools, classrooms, and programs designed to inspire curiosity, foster achievement, and support every student’s journey.

The District’s theme for 2025-2026 remains Belonging, continuing the vital work from last year. Together, the District educators and staff will explore the essential question: What does it mean for a student to belong in a classroom, a school, and a community? The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough is committed to guiding this work, ensuring every student feels valued, connected, and purposeful in our school community.

I look forward to a school year filled with growth, accomplishment, and a strong sense of belonging for every student. Please reach out if you have questions or want to share vital information to ensure your child(ren) has a successful school year.

Respectfully,

Gregory L. Martineau

Superintendent of Schools

New and Updated Policies

Over the course of the 2024-2025 school year, the Northborough, Southborough, and Northborough-Southborough Regional School Committees updated several policies. I'm asking parents and guardians to review the policies closely and reach out with any questions.

Bullying Prevention and Intervention Policy A-150 (N/S/R)*
Civil Rights Nondiscrimination Policy A-180 (N/S/R)*
Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy A-190 (N/S/R)*
Animals on School Premises During School Hours I-250 (N/S/R)*
Religious and Cultural Observance Policy I-340 (N/S/R)*
NEW - International/ Out-Of-Country Field Trips Policy (R Only)

*The policies are identical across the three districts: N=Northborough, S=Southborough, and R=Regional.

Welcome, Helene Desjardins, Director of Student Support Services

Welocme Ms. Helene Desjardins,

Director of Student Support Services

Ms. Desjardins brings more than 17 years of experience supporting students, families, and educators across The Public Schools of Northborough, The Public Schools of Southborough, and The Northborough-Southborough Regional School District. Since 2021, she has served as the Assistant Director of Student Support Services, providing leadership across all three districts.

Earlier in her career, she served as a Team Chairperson in Southborough, where she partnered closely with families and staff to coordinate referrals, evaluations, eligibility determinations, and the development of Individualized Education Programs. She began her career in 2007 as a Speech-Language Pathologist at the elementary level in Northborough, working directly with students with a wide range of disabilities.

Ms. Desjardins holds a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Worcester State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Social and Rehabilitation Services from Assumption College. She is licensed in Massachusetts as both a Special Education Administrator and a Speech-Language Pathologist and has completed the School Management and Leadership Certificate from Harvard Business School.

Throughout her career, Ms. Desjardins has demonstrated a deep commitment to inclusion, collaboration, and continuous improvement. We are excited to welcome her as the Director of Student Support Services and look forward to her continued student-centered leadership.

On behalf of The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough, please join me in congratulating and welcoming Ms. Desjardins to her new role.

School Committee Meetings

Northborough School Committee Wednesday, September 3, 2025 6:30 PM Agenda (TBD) Lincoln Street School Cafetorium 76 Lincoln Street Northborough, MA 01532	Southborough School Committee Wednesday, September 10, 2025 6:30 PM Agenda (TBD) P. Brent Trottier Middle School Library 49 Parkerville Road Southborough, MA 01772	Regional School Committee Wednesday, September 17, 2025 7:00 PM Agenda (TBD) ARHS Library 79 Bartlett Street Northborough, MA 01532

	Combined School Committee Meeting Northborough School Committee Southborough School Committee Regional School Committee Superintendecy Union #3 Wednesday, September 17, 2025 5:30 PM Agenda (TBD) ARHS Library 79 Bartlett Street Northborough, MA 01532

Superintendent's Office Hours

In-person office hours provide a time and space for parents and guardians to connect with the Superintendent about questions, feedback, or concerns about their student or their experience with The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough.

Monday, November 3, 2025, from 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM - Algonquin Regional High School Career Resource Center

Monday, January 26, 2026, from 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM - Lincoln Street School Library

Monday, May 4, 2026, from 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Woodward School Library

Key Information

Transportation	NSboro 2025-2026 District Calendar


Say Something Anonymous Reporting System	Northborough School Committee Southborough School Committee Regional School Committee

School Safety

Download the ParentSquare Application to Your Phone


Parents can expect to receive District and school-based emails via ParentSquare, the District's unified communication system. Parents will receive District and school-based emails automatically to their inboxes. However, to access advanced features, I encourage caregivers to download the ParentSquare application or log in to the ParentSquare portal and sign up. Announcements, Reminders, and Emergency Alerts: Stay informed and up-to-date with important announcements and reminders from the District and principals. Furthermore, parents will receive urgent and emergency alerts via ParentSquare.	Multi-Language Support: ParentSquare is designed to cater to the diverse needs of our school community. It offers multi-language support, enabling effective communication. We strive to ensure that all parents can fully engage in their child's education. Privacy and Security: We understand the importance of keeping your personal information secure. ParentSquare prioritizes privacy and provides a safe environment for communication.
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Transportation Information

The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough is beginning a new contract with North Reading Transportation. The new contract focuses on using technology to enhance the student and family experience. One updated technology feature is a new Bus Tracking Application that is available to all families. The District website has information on how to maximize this offering, and a separate communication will be sent to show families how to register and use the new tracking application.

Support for Families:

Sheila Hana, Transportation and Registration Specialist, is available to answer questions and support your requests. Sheila can be reached by email at shana@nsboro.k12.ma.us or by phone at 508-486-5115 ext 71252.

Communication:

Personalized communication through ParentSquare will provide bus information, including bus number and stop details. This communication will also include instructions on how to use the new bus tracking application. The instructions (linked here) will only be useful once your bus information has been sent by August 22, 2025.
While exact pick-up and drop-off times cannot be predicted, the “Bus Route & Estimated Times” will be documented on the Transportation Website once routes are finalized. Please be sure to have your students out at the bus stop 10 minutes before the “estimated bus stop time.”

Food Services and Support Information

The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough is pleased to share that Whitsons Culinary Group, Inc. has been selected to provide Food Services Management for the District's ten schools.

Whitsons offers a proven track record of leadership, operational excellence, culinary creativity, and strategic purchasing power. Through this partnership, we look forward to enhancing the quality, variety, and overall dining experience for both our students and staff.

Whitson's Culinary Group Icon

Welcome from Whitsons Culinary Group: At Whitsons Culinary Group, our mission is to enhance life one meal at a time™—and that starts in the school cafeteria. With over 45 years of experience in food service management, we specialize in providing nutritious, well-balanced meals that fuel student success. As a family-operated company, we believe wholesome food plays a vital role in both learning and development. Our dedicated school nutrition teams focus on creating delicious, healthy menus that meet USDA guidelines while also introducing students to new flavors and ingredients. We're proud to be a trusted partner in your school community and a part of your child’s educational journey.

Matthew Delaney will serve as the District’s Food Services Director through Whitsons and will be supported by a dedicated leadership team with expertise in:

Purchasing
Marketing
Staff training
Program operations

We look forward to this exciting new chapter and the improved service it will bring to our schools. For more information, visit our District’s Food and Nutrition webpage. Here, you can learn about MySchoolBucks (an account for purchasing snacks and extra lunches), view monthly menus, and access the Free and Reduced Lunch Application.

Menu - Access to the menu, including the printable version, can be found by searching for your school here: https://www.fdmealplanner.com/ — You can find the menu by using the search bar to find your child’s school – For example, if your child attends the Peaslee Elementary School, you can search “Peaslee.”

Support for Families:

Department of Transition Assistance (DTA): Families in need of additional support are encouraged to apply for assistance through the DTA, which provides help both in and out of school. Visit DTA for more information.
Project Bread Hotline: Unsure if you qualify for DTA support? Contact the Project Bread hotline at 1-800-645-8333 for application assistance.
Free or Reduced Lunch: If you do not qualify for DTA support, consider applying for Free or Reduced Lunch to receive additional aid.

For any questions, please contact:

Keith Lavoie, Assistant Superintendent of Operations - klavoie@nsboro.k12.ma.us
Sheila Hana, Transportation & Registration Specialist - shana@nsboro.k12.ma.us

Annual Notices

Ten Schools, Three Districts, One Community of Learners

Northborough-Southborough Regional School District

Sean Bevan

Principal

Algonquin Regional High School79 Bartlett Street
Northborough, MA 01532
508.351.7010

Algonquin Regional High School Webpage

Michelle Kaelin
Career Development Coordinator

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! I hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer filled with quality time spent with loved ones.

Our administrators work with our students and families in various ways, and to the degree possible, we ensure that your child's administrator works with them for all four years, establishing a relationship with them as they and their classmates go from one grade to the next. They are:

Class of 2026: Asst. Principal Brown (jbrown@nsboro.k12.ma.us)
Classes of 2027 and 2029: Asst. Principal Gitkind (mgitkind@nsboro.k12.ma.us)
Class of 2028: Asst. Principal McGowan (amcgowan@nsboro.k12.ma.us)

As we approach the first day of classes, August 28th, we eagerly await the return of our students and the start of another exciting school year. I hope you and your family are enjoying the remaining days of summer, and we look forward to seeing you all on the first day of classes.

Janet Brown Assistant Principal	Matthew Gitkind Assistant Principal	Andrew McGowan Assistant Principal

Northborough PreK-8

Jennifer Callaghan
Principal

Lincoln Street Elementary School
Lincoln Street School logo

76 Lincoln Street
Northborough, MA 01532
508.351.7030

Lincoln Street School Webpage

Lincoln Street School takes pride in providing a joyful and nurturing environment with high expectations for academic, social, and emotional development. Our mission is to prepare all students to become responsible, respectful, and productive global citizens in an ever-changing, diverse society. We strive to create learning experiences that engage and extend individual talent, creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, and curiosity. We encourage students to ignite their abilities through practice, perseverance, and passion. We are grateful for the strong partnerships that we share with our families and dedicated volunteers. We welcome our new and returning families to the 2025-2026 Lincoln Street Elementary School Community. Go Polar Bears!

Dr. Mary Coakley
Principal Dr. Mary Coakley Principal

Marguerite E. Peaslee Elementary School

31 Maple Street
Northborough, MA 01532
508.351.7035

Peaslee School Webpage

The Marguerite E. Peaslee School is a vibrant, student-centered learning community dedicated to nurturing the academic success and personal growth of every student.

Learning at Peaslee is active, collaborative, and purposeful—designed to support each student in reaching their full potential. We encourage everyone to embrace opportunities, find joy in learning, and stretch their thinking in meaningful ways.

We place a strong emphasis on social and emotional development, recognizing it as essential to student success. Our work is grounded in a shared commitment to supporting one another and building a strong, connected community. We believe that the highest levels of achievement happen in a safe, respectful environment—one that celebrates our differences and fosters a sense of belonging for all.

Stacy Mahoney
Principal

Fannie E. Proctor Elementary School

26 Jefferson Road
Northborough, MA 01532
508.351.7040

Proctor School Webpage

At Proctor, relationships come first. We strive to create a warm, inclusive school where every child feels a strong sense of belonging. Rooted in our district’s core values of integrity, empathy, inclusivity, equity, perseverance, and respect, we help students grow academically, socially, and emotionally. We celebrate diversity and help students value different perspectives as they learn to care for themselves, each other, and the world around them.

Jonathon Bell

Principal

Marion E. Zeh Elementary School

33 Howard Street

Northborough, MA 01532

508.351.7048

Zeh School Webpage

At Marion E. Zeh School, we prioritize strong relationships among families, students, and staff to support every learner. Our vibrant community is built on collaboration, care, and a shared commitment to student growth. We create an engaging, inclusive environment where children develop essential academic and life skills. As we prepare for the 2025–2026 school year, we’re excited to welcome new families and reconnect with our returning students.

Michelle Karb

Principal

Gretchen Bean

Assistant Principal

Robert E. Melican Middle School

145 Lincoln Street

Northborough, MA 01532

508.351.7020

Melican Middle School Webpage

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! At the Robert E. Melican Middle School, our mission is to create an environment that empowers and engages all learners by creating a sense of belonging and community. We aim to support all middle school students as they become active collaborators, critical and creative thinkers, and effective communicators. Our students will grow to become socially and civically engaged, growth-oriented, and healthy and balanced individuals. We can’t wait for the start of the new year!

Southborough PreK-8

Jennifer Henry

Early Childhood Administrator Jennifer Henry Early Childhood Administrator

Early Childhood Programs

Office Location: Mary E. Finn School

60 Richards Road

Southborough, MA 01772

508.485.3176

Early Childhood Webpage

The Northborough/Southborough Public Preschool Programs, located at the Mary E. Finn School in Southborough, MA, provide a rich learning environment for all students, with and without special needs. Our inclusive classrooms are dedicated to ensuring that all children learn and develop in a caring, supportive, developmentally appropriate, and fun-filled environment. Additionally, our strong teaching staff and flexible learning models allow us to individualize programming for students in order to help all children reach their fullest potential.

Clayton Ryan

Principal

Mary E. Finn Elementary School

60 Richards Road

Southborough, MA 01772

508.485.3176

Finn School Webpage

Welcome to the Mary E. Finn School—where curiosity is nurtured, individuality is celebrated, and the early years are the foundation for lifelong learning and well-being. Our dedicated staff embraces a whole-child approach, blending mindfulness with academics to create an emotionally and physically safe school environment for every learner. We’re thrilled to welcome you and your child into our caring, connected, and joyful school community.

Steven Mucci

Principal

Albert S. Woodward Memorial School

28 Cordaville Road

Southborough, MA 01772

508.229.1250

Woodward School Webpage

Kathleen Valenti

Principal

The Albert S. Woodward Memorial School maximizes academic achievement, fosters social responsibility, and promotes lifelong learning by addressing each student’s unique needs in supportive classrooms. We collaborate with families and the community to ensure comprehensive growth. Believing education extends beyond academics, we cultivate a community where students feel valued, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential through inclusive practices, creativity, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Margaret A. Neary Elementary School

53 Parkerville Road

Southborough, MA 01772

508.481.2300

Neary School Webpage

Neary is a vibrant and inclusive learning community where every student, staff member, and family feels a genuine sense of belonging. We are dedicated to fostering a safe and supportive environment grounded in meaningful relationships. Through engaging learning experiences, we promote academic, social, and emotional growth. At Neary, children are empowered to be kind, curious, collaborative, and motivated learners, guided by shared values and a love of learning that inspires and unites.

Gary Hreschuk

Principal

Todd Kittelson

Assistant Principal

P. Brent Trottier Middle School

49 Parkerville Road

Southborough, MA 01772

508.485.2400

Trottier Middle School Webpage

Welcome to the 2025–2026 school year! We are excited to begin another year of learning, growth, and connection. Our dedicated staff has worked hard to ensure a safe, engaging, and inclusive environment where every student feels a true sense of belonging. This year, we’re launching new programs, expanding extracurriculars, and deepening our commitment to community partnerships. We also encourage your involvement through our SOS and volunteer opportunities. Together, we’ll build a strong, supportive community and help every student thrive—academically, socially, and emotionally. Let’s make it a great one!

Meet the Central Office Leadership Team

	Gregory L. Martineau Superintendent of Schools
	Stefanie Reinhorn, Ed.D. Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning
	Keith Lavoie Assistant Superintendent of Operations Transportation Webpage Food and Nutrition Webpage
	Rebecca Pellegrino Assistant Superintendent of Finance Business & Finance Webpage
	Heather Richards, Esq. Executive Director of Human Resources Human Resources Webpage
	Helene Desjardins Director of Student Support Services Student Support Services Webpage
	Deborah Lemieux Assistant Director of Student Support Services
	Kathleen (Kate) Clark Assistant Director of Student Support Services
	Cathleen Carmignani Director of Instructional Technology and Science
	Jonathan Parent Director of Information Technology Information Technology Webpage
	Mary Ellen Duggan District Wellness Coordinator and Nurse Leader Health & Wellness Webpage
	Megan Kelty English Language Arts (ELA) Coordinator PreK-8
	Kathleen Lizotte District Mathematics Coordinator PreK-5
	Selvi Oyola Director of Multilingual Learners Multilingual Learner Education Webpage
	Maggi Ibrahim Director of Belonging and Community Engagement