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Shrewsbury student’s science fair project earns national recognition
By Cindy Zomar Education Coordinator
SHREWSBURY - Oak Middle School student Angad Singh Pannu turned curiosity about COVID-19 and immunity into an innovative science experiment earlier this year.
In September, Pannu and his school community celebrated as that work earned national recognition.
Pannu took advantage of Shrewsbury’s Oak Middle School Science Fair Club, doing research on his project, “Managing Antioxidant Levels: The Immunity Booster.”
His diligence paid off when he was named to the Broadcom Masters 300 list, which recognizes 300 young “scientists, engineers and innovators” working “to solve the grand challenges of the 21st century,” according to a press release.
Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift from God.
~ Joyce Meyer
Brought to you as a community service by Robert J. Terkanian ~ ad design by Tina Berthiaume, Community Advocate art dept. Angad Singh Pannu is a student at Oak Middle School in Shrewsbury.
PHOTO/CINDY ZOMAR
Student takes project to local science fairs
Pannu chose his project after hearing about the benefits of antioxidants, particularly as they related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Many different foods are rich in antioxidants, and build our immunity, which is really important now in particular,” he said in a recent interview with
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the Community Advocate. “I wanted to educate people as to how to find them.” “In my research phase, I wanted to find the pros and cons because, even though they help fight disease, too many can have a negative effect as they tend to neutralize each other,” he continued. “It’s important to have a balance.”
Pannu then wanted to discover which fruit or vegetable provided the most antioxidants. Secondly, he wanted to know if it was more beneficial to consume them in juice or pulp form.
His hypothesis stated that he believed oranges, in pulp form, would be the winner.
Using a process known as titration, Pannu had to count how many drops of the antioxidant it would take to get the desired reaction. His test items were bell peppers, apples, tomatoes, oranges and broccoli. To his surprise, bell peppers proved to have the most antioxidants, while apples came in at a distant last. Pulp form was the most rich in antioxidants.
The antioxidant level in oranges, in either form, ranked in the middle of the five fruits and vegetables.
Pannu took his project to a regional science fair at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), where it was judged positively in overall rankings. It then placed in the state science fair hosted by Worcester Technical High School.
Those achievements qualified Pannu to apply for the Broadcom Masters list, involving a process of submitting his project itself alongside “a lot” of writing, according to Science Fair Club Advisor Jeremy Mularella.
300 award winners chosen out of 1,841 entrants
The 300 students included on the Broadcom list were selected from 1,841 entrants.
They come from 41 states, plus Guam, with 69 from California, 31 from Florida, and 22 from Texas.
More than two thirds of students attend public school, with 59 students in private school and 15 in charter schools.
The remaining students are in home, magnet or online schools according to that aforementioned press release.
Beyond the distinction of joining the Broadcom Masters 300 group, Pannu will receive a t-shirt, a bumper sticker and a special edition booklet of Invention and Innovation articles, provided by The Lemelson Foundation.
Oak Middle School Principal Ann Jones said she was happy to see Pannu represent the success of the school’s science curriculum and extracurricular offerings with this achievement.
“All you need to do is provide the opportunity and encouragement and the kids take it from there and love it,” she said.
Shrewsbury Schools Superintendent decries hateful language incidents
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Come play with me at Dottie Jean’s! By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter SHREWSBURY - Shrewsbury Public Schools Superintendent Joe Sawyer addressed a pair of incidents involving “unacceptable” and “hurtful” language at Shrewsbury High School during a joint meeting with the Board of Selectmen last week.
His comments were part of a larger school department update in which Sawyer discussed challenges the district was facing.
One of those challenges, he said, was a need to focus on equity and anti-racism.
The Shrewsbury Public Schools already have goals for diversity, belonging, inclusion and equity work, Sawyer said.
“Unfortunately, we had [very] unfortunate and concerning ... incidents at Shrewsbury High School recently around hateful language related to race and students’ national origin that just reminds us that we need to continue to focus those efforts because we are not immune to these issues, obviously, in our community,” Sawyer said.
In one of the incidents, staff members said they found “hateful” graffiti in two of the high school’s girls bathrooms, according to a letter sent to families on Nov. 19.
In another incident, students on a bus allegedly wrote phrases on an iPad that were “demeaning to Brazilian students.” Students then showed the iPad to Brazilian students in a car behind the bus, the letter to families said.
The students were identified and staff said they will be held responsible.
In the graffiti incident, school administrators conducted an investigation and identified a student who was responsible for some of the graffiti. They held that person accountable.
Principal Todd Bazydlo denounced their language and behavior.
He said the school “will redouble its efforts to educate students on the impact hate has upon our society and our fellow citizens, and provide structured opportunities for students and staff to work to combat hate.”
Westborough talks school transportation as statewide busing woes continue
By Dakota Antelman Managing Editor WESTBOROUGH - Students and families in Westborough continue to feel the impacts of a bus driver shortage, district officials acknowledged last month.
That problem still affects some despite a new bus driver hire and the rollout of a bus tracking app entitled “Where is My Kid.”
“For those that are still struggling with the bus driver shortage where it is causing an impact to your bus, we are sorry that that is still impacting you,” School Committee member Lisa Edinberg said at a School Committee meeting on Nov. 17. “It’s a terrible situation and it’s very frustrating and we agree that we must find solutions to that.”
Driver shortages cause delays, disruptions
Busing has been a concern in Westborough and across the state particularly since the start of this 2021-2022 school year.
Students and their families have experienced delays and inconsistencies.
Athletic directors, coaches and student athletes have felt the impacts as well, with busing companies deprioritizing sports transportation, particularly in the first few weeks of the school year, to focus on primary transportation to and from school.
The state took action in September, with Gov. Charlie Baker mobilizing members of the Massachusetts National Guard to assist in school transportation.
As many as 240 members of the Guard eventually shuttled students in 13 districts to and from school over two months this fall.
PHOTO/LAURA HAYES NRT busses for the Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough sit parked at the Solomon Pond Mall. NRT also provides transportation for the Westborough Public Schools and recently hired a new bus driver for Westborough.
That program came to an end on Nov. 8, according to the state, as those 13 districts were finally able to hire enough bus drivers to fill their needs. promoted the launch of a new app allowing families to track their children as they travel on their buses.
The app, known as “Where is My Kid,” is operated by NRT. Edinberg said the app “works considerably better than our last app,” though she acknowledged that it has had lingering issues for some users.
Westborough follows the nearby Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough in sharing “Where’s my Kid” with families.
Officials in that district spoke about the app on Nov. 8, generally celebrating its effectiveness.
“For a new app, we did anticipate glitches, but overall I think the experience has been pretty good for our families that have chosen to participate,” said Assistant Superintendent of Operations Keith Lavoie.
Westborough hires new bus driver
Westborough was never part of the National Guard’s school transportation mission. But it’s still seeking new bus drivers, recently onboarding one such driver.
“We do now have a new person that can back up the process,” Director of Finance and Administration David Gordon told the School Committee on Nov. 17.
Gordon said the district and its not busing contractor, North Reading Transportation (NRT), were working to “re-communicate” their hiring effort.
“We’re progressively looking,” he said of that process.
“The state and NRT are still dealing with the driver shortage, but as a community, we’re putting our best foot forward,” he continued.
District shares new bus tracking app
These conversations play out as NRT and the Westborough schools have recently
By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter SHREWSBURY - Members of the Shrewsbury Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) recently voiced their support for Shrewsbury Public Schools paraprofessionals, whose union is headed to mediation with the district.
“As a parent of students with special needs, we know the vital role that paraprofessionals play in our schools,” said SEPAC President Colleen Corbett during a Nov. 17 School Committee meeting.
Corbett, who has two children who have received special education services since elementary school, said she was disappointed that negotiations had ended and transitioned to mediation.
The Shrewsbury Paraprofessionals Association’s (SPA) contract expired in August. The paraprofessionals have since been working under the terms of their old contract.
“Their work benefits students, teachers and classrooms in ways that surpass description,” Corbett said. “They quite literally keep our schools functioning.”
SEPAC board member Blake Poggi said the paraprofessionals struggle to cover basic necessities, choosing whether to leave Shrewsbury or take on second jobs.
“Retaining experienced paras who are trusted by students and valued by teachers is an investment that benefits our entire school community as it rewards dedication and fosters stability,” Poggi said.
The school committee has said their most recent proposal called for cost of living increases were greater than the two percent mark in year one and three. Between cost of living and step increases in year two, the district’s proposal saw between a four and a 10 percent wage increase.
The SPA said in a statement to the Community Advocate earlier this year, though, that a two percent increase at the contract’s top hourly pay rate of $18.84 amounted to just $0.38 in extra hourly pay.
School Committee Chair Jon Wensky clarified that the district’s most recent offer to the Paraprofessionals Association included increases greater than two percent for all categories of the proposed contract, in addition to step increases.
Wensky said on Nov. 17 that he was “optimistic” that mediation will allow the district and its paraprofessionals to reach an agreement.
“The School Committee values its relationship with the Shrewsbury Paraprofessionals Association,” he continued. “Paraprofessionals, as you referenced, are critical to the success of our students.”
See additional coverage online at CommunityAdvocate.com.
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COMMUNITY SCHOOLS Westborough seeks funding for pedestrian, bicyclist safety improvements near middle school
By Dan Miller Contributing Writer WESTBOROUGH - Safety improvements for walkers and bicyclists could be coming to an area of Westborough near Gibbons Middle School, following the Select Board’s Nov. 23 decision to back a grant application to the state.
The board voted 5-0 to send a letter of support for an application for up to $1.5 million in Safe Routes to School grant funding.
Safe Routes to School is a program under the umbrella of the state Department of Transportation focused on safe ways for children to walk and bike in their communities.
School Committee Member Sara Duella explained in a presentation to the Select Board that proposed improvements would focus on the Fisher Street and West Street areas.
The plan envisions new sidewalk, curbing, crosswalks and signage along Fisher Street from Otis to West streets. The plan would also add crosswalks and pedestrian signage on West Street at Grant Road.
All sidewalk and curbing would comply with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.
The plan also calls for pedestrian and bicycle safety markings on roads.
Officials additionally hope to use a portion of grant funds for other specific safety improvements in the area. That could involve replacing aging signs with solar-powered flashing beacons and installing speed reduction displays for vehicles.
Existing signage stands of Fisher Street in Westborough near the entrance to Gibbons Middle School. A new grant application is looking to win money for improvements along Fisher Street between its intersections with Otis Street and West Street in Westborough.
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The grant funds would cover design and construction of the proposed improvements. Under the grant funding timetable, planning for the project would begin in 2023 with work completed sometime in 2025, according to Duella’s presentation to the Select Board.
The amount of money potentially available under the grant could range anywhere from $200,000 to $1.5 million. No local match would be required, meaning neither the town nor Westborough schools would have to contribute any funds to get this grant money.
The formal grant application was due Dec. 1.
Westborough’s Department of Public Works is the primary applicant, with the Westborough Public Schools’ Buildings and Grounds Department being the co-applicant.
Westborough schools have already been participating in the state-funded Safe Routes to Schools program for the past five years, with an emphasis on encouraging students in grades kindergarten through 8 to bike and walk to schools.
“It is in our best interest to encourage students and their parents to allow the kids to walk and bike to school, but this helps us ensure we can do it in a safe manner,” Select Board member Ian Johnson said.
By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter 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 firstgrade classroom was added at Peaslee Elementary School because all of the classrooms there were at the class size ceiling, Martineau said.
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Shrewsbury school administrators break down 2021 enrollment data
By Laura Hayes Senior Community Reporter SHREWSBURY - This new school year saw changes for Shrewsbury Public Schools, including a new elementary school, new school zones and full-day kindergarten for all students for the first time.
Superintendent Joe Sawyer laid out the district’s enrollment numbers during a Nov. 17 meeting.
“This is a very good news story for the community because, really, these are the fruits of the investments our community has made in our school district,” Sawyer said.
Those investments, he said, included having enough teachers to meet class size targets as well as having enough space and programming opportunities.
As of Oct. 1, there were 5,885 students enrolled in preschool through grade 12 in Shrewsbury.
Full-day kindergarten
This is the first year Shrewsbury has offered tuition-free, full-day and in-person kindergarten, thanks to the town’s Proposition 2 1/2 override, which passed as a ballot question earlier this year.
“Every single one of our kindergarten students gets to attend a full-day program in a K-4 elementary school,” Sawyer said. “We’re really excited that that became a reality for our school district.”
There are 343 students enrolled in kindergarten this year, which is an increase from 287 in 2020.
“We don’t have great data
Northborough | from page 16
“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.
Northborough’s Lincoln Street School 67 Lincoln Street in Northborough. A new study group is looking at the configuration of all of Northborough’s elementary schools.
PHOTO/JESSE KUCEWICZ
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.
PHOTOS/LAURA HAYES Floral Street School kindergarten teacher Emily Rosenzweig works with Cassandra Lee SwensonAnsley.
Floral Street School kindergarten teacher Emily Rosenzweig talks with her students on the carpet. This is the first year kindergarten has been offered at Floral.
on this,” Sawyer said. “But, anecdotally, we know that there are some families who decided to keep their child back [and] not have them start kindergarten because of the situation with the pandemic.”
First grade enrollment did see a drop from 407 students to 339 this year.
With the new Beal Elementary School opening, Shrewsbury implemented new elementary zones to free up space in previously crowded schools.
Floral Street School, for example, saw its lowest enrollment in its existence, according to Sawyer, with 508 students. That is a drop from 679 last year.
Capacity at SHS
There are 1,843 students enrolled at Shrewsbury High School (SHS), which is a decrease from 1,875 last year.
Principal Todd Bazydlo said that’s still the third highest mark in 10 years, though.
Bazydlo said the school was only built to serve 1,475 students.
Bazydlo said about 50 percent of SHS teachers move classrooms twice per day under these current enrollment circumstances. Between 30 and 40 percent of teachers move three times a day, he said.
“There’s a lot of movement happening within the building,” he said. “So, no one has their own classroom.”
Sawyer said the Beal committee will be undertaking a preschool through grade 12 space study that will, in part, consider this enrollment data.
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