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Committee hears options for new Algonquin mascot
By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter NORTHBOROUGH/SOUTHBOROUGH - From the Eagles to the Coyotes, a committee recently heard several options for a new Algonquin Regional High School mascot.
The high school launched a survey last month asking people what should replace the recently retired “Tomahawk.”
That survey came after the Northborough Southborough Regional School Committee voted to retire the mascot in April.
The Mascot Renaming Study Group recently met and reviewed the mascot suggestions, according to an update provided to the community by Assistant Superintendent of Operations Keith Lavoie.
According to Lavoie’s update, Jake Messier of HEARD Strategy and Storytelling analyzed and summarized the results of the renaming survey.
Meeting minutes further indicate that 680 people — including current and former students, parents, alumni and teachers — responded to the survey.
The data analysis, which was provided in the Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough’s update, indicated that the top suggested mascot was to keep the Tomahawk, with 99 votes.
The next highest mascot was the Thunderhawk with 67 votes. “Hawks” received 44 votes. “Eagles” saw 40. “Coyotes” had 15 while “Bobcats” had 13. “Wolves” had 11, with “Foxes” getting 10.
Other options — like “the
Keith Lavoie
Assistant Superintendent of Operations
Bears” and “Flames” — received single-digit vote totals.
“[Messier] shared his opinions on each of the top-ranking mascot options, including which were the most appropriate and suitable,” Lavoie wrote in his update.
“This does not eliminate any option, but gives the group reasons to consider,” the meeting minutes note.
Messier asked the group to take time until their next meeting in September to review the data and draw their own conclusions.
“I am thankful for the hard work and dedication of the working group,” Lavoie said. “[ARHS Principal Sean Bevan] and I are optimistic that their thoughtfulness and dedication to our school’s past and future will result in the development of exciting mascot options this fall.”
According to Lavoie, the Mascot Renaming Study Group has the charge to undergo the process of coming up with two to three options for a new ARHS mascot.
The options will be taken under consideration by the Regional School Committee before the student body makes the final vote.
Lavoie said the committee agreed that the mascot should meet several criteria, including that it should represent the ARHS community and/or the environment, specifically represent both Northborough and Southborough, be easily identifiable and unique to the region, reflect ARHS’s school colors, project a positive image and be able to be applied for all activities and not appropriate any cultures.
The committee also wanted the mascot to reflect either one or more of several attributes, including unity, strength, courage and dignity.
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Universal masking for Shrewsbury students while indoors
By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter SHREWSBURY - Shrewsbury Public School (SPS) students, staff and visitors will wear masks inside when the school year starts next month.
Additionally, remote learning will not be an option for Shrewsbury families.
The recommendation, which
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“To me, this is a decision about student safety and student health,” said School Committee member Jason Palitsch. “This is not a political decision. I intend to listen to the experts. It is clear to me that the risk is higher than we would like.”
The state added its own mask mandate for schools on Aug. 24, voting to require masks for almost all students and staff through at least Oct. 1.
One resident spoke in favor of universal masking during the meeting.
“The only way to protect our children and our school community is to institute universal masking, regardless of vaccination status,” said Nandana Kansra, who is also a practicing physician.
PHOTO/LAURA HAYES
Parent Nandana Kansra speaks during an Aug. 18 School Committee meeting.
Mitigation efforts in place
Superintendent Joseph Sawyer and Director of Nursing Noelle Freeman laid out Shrewsbury’s various mitigation efforts.
According to Sawyer, the goal is to provide full-time, in-person learning for students with minimal disruptions.
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500 Salisbury Street (at Assumption University) has said that in-person learning is important, Sawyer said, adding that he and district leaders agree.
Additionally, Sawyer said the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has made it “abundantly clear” that remote learning will not count toward compulsory attendance in public schools this year.
If a student does need to miss school because they need to quarantine or have a short-term illness, Sawyer said the students will have options to keep up with or make up school, which happens in a typical year.
The district is requiring masks to be worn at all schools and at all age levels while inside buildings at the start of the school year.
Sawyer said the district is “committed” to monitoring data and reviewing guidance to determine if and when the masking can be relaxed.
Windows will be opened where possible. HVAC will run several hours before school starts and during and after school to circulate air. Surveillance testing and hand sanitizing will continue. Tables will be cleaned between lunches.
Students to see partial
‘return to normalcy’
Shrewsbury will maintain three feet of social distancing where possible, but Sawyer said as part of returning to normal classroom instruction, there are times when that may not be possible, like small group work and a typical lunch experience.
Volunteers in the classrooms will likely restart in the fall while events will return to Shrewsbury with indoor masking. Sawyer noted, however, that large events may be modified.
Classes like band, chorus and orchestra will be held with modifications, such as wearing masks and putting bells on brass instruments.
“We’re going to make sure that, first and foremost, we’re making sure kids feel comfortable, kids feel safe, kids feel accepted, and they feel a very strong sense of belonging and, again, more of a return to normalcy around their socialization…,” Sawyer said.
