And then it was February!

January 31, 2025

Next week, we are thrilled to celebrate School Counselors Appreciation Week, a time to recognize the incredible work of those who support the mental health and well-being of our students every day. We are so fortunate to have such a dedicated team working with our K-8 community. A special shout-out to our amazing School Adjustment Counselors, Christine Rayner, and our newest addition, Karli Beul, who provide invaluable guidance, support, and care for our students. Their expertise helps students navigate challenges, build resilience, and thrive both academically and emotionally. We would also like to thank the Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services Counselors, Olivia Schleyer and Rebekah Rano, who visit our school weekly to extend critical mental health services to our students. Their collaboration enhances our ability to meet the growing needs of our young learners. In today’s world, mental health is more important than ever. These professionals play a vital role in ensuring our students feel heard, valued, and supported. Whether it’s helping students manage anxiety, build social skills, or work through tough moments, their efforts truly make a difference in shaping a positive school environment. Please join us next week in celebrating and thanking Christine, Karli, Olivia, and Rebekah for their commitment to the well-being of our students. Together, we can continue to foster a community that prioritizes mental health and ensures every child has the support they need to succeed.

As part of a district initiative this year, TPS has formed a building-level Instructional Leadership Team (ILT). Spearheaded by Mrs. Kirstoff (3rd grade teacher), this group has been looking at data and discussing our teaching practices. All of this led to the ILT conducting classroom walkthroughs this week! It was a pleasure to observe college learning from one another. Some of the kids were asking me why we do things like this. I likened it to sports. If you play basketball, you watch how others play and learn tips and tricks from them. It can be the same way for teaching. Thank you to all the teachers who allowed the ILT in and the ILT for making this happen!

I'm not sure if there was a buzz at home but the kitchen got another upgrade this week! We are thrilled to share that our kitchen now has a brand-new serving line, making mealtimes more efficient and enjoyable for our students! This improvement was made possible entirely through food services funding, with no impact on the school budget. A huge thank you to Margaret Barton, Supervisor of School Nutrition, for her hard work making this happen. Her dedication to ensuring our students have access to healthy and delicious meals in a well-organized space is truly appreciated. We are excited for our students to enjoy this upgrade—thank you to our food services team for all that you do!

A note from the Town Administrator

Town News Announcement

FY 26 Preliminary Budget Presentation

Please join us on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at 6:30 PM for the FYI 26 Preliminary Budget Presentation. The meeting will be held virtually. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the challenges and opportunities the town is facing in planning for the year ahead and the future, including an override. Members of the Selectboard, Advisory Committee and Department Heads will be available to answer your questions and discuss the challenges and opportunities they are facing.