16 • COMMUNITY ADVOCATE • Friday, November 12, 2021
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS Northborough student asks for Diwali to be an observed holiday By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter NORTHBOROUGH - A local eighthgrader is asking the Northborough School Committee to include Diwali as an observed holiday. “The Town of Northborough observes numerous holidays —
Christmas, Thanksgiving, Columbus Day or Indigenous People’s Day, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah and many more,” said Ishita Urs during a Nov. 3 Northborough School Committee meeting. “In order for us to be a truly inclusive community, Diwali should be included in the list of holidays that
are observed.” Urs wrote a letter to the School Committee, which she read on Nov. 3. She has resided in Northborough for the past seven years with her family. “My family and I practice Hinduism, which is more than a religion; it’s a way of life and code of
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behavior,” Urs said. She said her family believes that all beings in creation have a sense of faith, duty and morality. “We are connected to each other through our different cultures, and they should be highly valued,” Urs said. Diwali, which is also known as the Festival of Lights, is important to the culture and religion of Hinduism, celebrating the return of Rama after his exile and victory over Ravana, Urs said. “Diwali symbolizes the universal message that good always prevails over evil,” Urs said. There’s a large Hindu population in Worcester County, she said, adding that other school districts, including the Westborough Public Schools, observe Diwali. “Considering the two towns are situated exceptionally close
Northborough to study elementary school configuration By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter
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to each other, our school district should also consider adopting an inclusive approach for diversity to flourish,” Urs said. She said such an approach could be accomplished by adding Diwali to the list of no-school days. “This is a wonderful opportunity for Northborough to be one of the few towns that have declared Diwali a holiday,” Urs said. “It is crucial for our community to be inclusive and accepting of others’ beliefs. Awareness of others’ culture can help one appreciate and value diversity.” School Committee Chair Lauren Bailey-Jones said this letter and presentation came at a great time because the school calendar will be discussed at the next joint school committee meeting. That meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Dec. 15.
NORTHBOROUGH - The Northborough Public Schools will be forming a study group that will study the configuration of the town’s elementary schools. This group could eventually recommend changes in terms of where families in certain parts of town send their children for school. The Northborough School Committee voiced their support for the effort during their Nov. 3 meeting. “I love this,” said Committee Member Kelly Guenette. “I’ve been thinking about this for years and trying to figure out something, especially with the enrollment numbers the way they are and redistricting that has to happen.” Enrollment numbers Superintendent Gregory Martineau said at a Sept. 1 School Committee meeting that there were 1,541 students enrolled in Northborough schools. At that time, he said there were several classrooms at the cap under the district’s class size policy, which indicates that the target class range for kindergarten through second grade is between 16 to 20 students. The target range for third through fifth grade is between 16 to 22 students. For sixth through eighth grade, it is between 18 to 24 students. Over the summer, a first-grade classroom was added at Peaslee Elementary School because all of the classrooms there were at the
class size ceiling, Martineau said. “That allows us more space for new enrollments in terms of first grade,” Martineau said. What is proposed Martineau initially raised the idea of a study group. “We have amazing elementary schools, and they’ve been organized by neighborhood schools for many years,” Martineau said. “Any good organization evaluates and assesses the advantages and disadvantages of current configurations.” School Committee member Erin Tagliaferri asked if the group would have a blank slate or whether Martineau had an idea of what the configuration should be. “I think we have some ideas, obviously, but I also want to keep an open mind. I want to look at all different opportunities. My prediction is that we’ll land on two potential scenarios,” Martineau said. The group would examine those advantages and disadvantages, considering enrollment trends and grade level configuration to see if there are other opportunities to maximize Northborough schools and resources, he said. The group will hold its first meeting next month. Staff, families and the community will then be surveyed throughout the first couple of months of 2022, and an analysis will be conducted. The group will present a formal report to the School Committee next year. Martineau projected that such a meeting would occur in April.
