Good afternoon NPS families:
Happy Spring! It is hard to believe we are in the final stretch, and it's going to be a busy one, starting with the administration of ELA MCAS tests for our grade 10 students at NHS next week.
As you are all aware, the citizens of Massachusetts voted to eliminate proficiency on MCAS tests as a requirement for a high school diploma. However, taking the MCAS test IS still a requirement for all students in grades 3-8, as well as grade 10.
MCAS results provide important data for the teachers around how well our students are learning Massachusetts curriculum standards, covering core skills like reading, math, science, critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication, which are essential for success in college, work, and daily life.
In addition, though MCAS scores will no longer preclude students from graduating, the state's accountability system will still use MCAS scores and other measures, including graduation rates and chronic absenteeism, to determine which schools and districts need support and intervention, as well as to inform decisions about resource allocation.
As such, we ask for your help to ensure our students are present when MCAS testing is taking place in their buildings (at their grade levels) and prepared to do their absolute best.
Also, an important update regarding Google Workspace for Education.
In accordance with Google’s Terms of Service, Northbridge Public Schools (NPS) must obtain parental acknowledgment before granting students under 18 access to Additional Google Services.
Starting on March 31, 2025, students under 18 will no longer be able to access certain Additional Google Services—such as YouTube, Google Earth, and Google Maps—using their NPS Google account without parental consent. To comply with this requirement, NPS will annually review and re-confirm parental consent to ensure continued access to these services.
Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, we will incorporate consent for Google’s Additional Services into the school handbook acknowledgment process. This will allow us to obtain blanket consent, enabling us to activate services deemed appropriate for our digital learning environment without requiring individual app approvals throughout the year.
For the current school year, we are providing advance notice of this change. To comply with Google’s Terms of Service, please complete the consent form at the following link: Consent Form
If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to reach out to the Director of Technology at tvital@nps.org.
Finally, the School Committee approved the FY26 Proposed Budget for the Northbridge Public Schools on Wednesday, March 19th. Any and all information about the budget can be found on the district website under the Business tab, or at the following link: NPS Budget Information
As always, we appreciate your continued support and collaboration. Have a wonderful weekend!
Amy McKinstry, Superintendent