Superintendent's Newsletter 10.03.2025

Posted Date: 10/03/25 (1:56 PM)

Family Newsletter | October 3, 2025

Dr. Jennifer O'Neill
joneill@norton.k12.ma.us
@joneill727

Superintendent’s Message

September seemed to pass in the blink of an eye this year, and it has been truly wonderful to watch our students and staff settling into routines, learning side by side, and building community together.

One of my favorite traditions each fall is spending a full day in each of our schools as part of my residency visits. These days give me the opportunity to connect with each building early in the year and experience, firsthand, what daily life looks like for our students and staff. From watching the morning arrival bustle, to joining classroom lessons, to sharing time in the cafeteria and on the playground, these visits allow me to see and feel the heart of each school.

So far, I’ve had the privilege of spending residency days at both the H.A. Yelle Elementary School and Norton Middle School. I am so grateful to the principals, staff, and especially the students for welcoming me into their school communities, it is a joy to learn alongside you!

Norton High School Chorus Visit

This week, we were delighted to welcome the Norton High School Chorus for a special visit. They treated us to a beautiful song, and I can’t thank them enough for sharing their voices with us. They sounded fantastic, and it was such a great reminder of the talent and spirit we have here in our schools.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a great reminder for all of us — students, families, and staff — about the importance of staying safe online. With more learning and communication happening digitally, it’s essential that we help our children build smart online habits.

A few quick tips for families:

Use strong passwords and encourage your child not to share them with friends.
Think before you click - be cautious with links or messages from unknown senders.
Talk about online safety - have regular conversations about what’s appropriate to share and what’s not.
Update devices regularly to keep software and apps secure.

By working together, we can help ensure that our students stay safe, responsible, and confident in the digital world.

As part of our participation in the Massachusetts Municipal Cybersecurity Awareness Grant, KnowBe4 offers free online cybersecurity training. The training will teach you about common threats like phishing emails, social media scams, and mobile device security weaknesses. Learn how to spot suspicious activity, protect your passwords, and keep your family safe online. Topics included are:

Identify what security awareness is and why it's essential to your online safety.
Understand how cybercriminals use common tactics to mislead and manipulate you.
Learn what you can do to protect yourself and those closest to you from cyber attacks.

Visit the following website and type in the password when prompted

knowbe4.com/homecourse

Password: homecourse

Food Services Substitutes

The Food Service Department is looking for part time assistance in the Cafeteria. If you are interested, please contact Mike Vaccaro at mvaccaro@norton.k12.ma.us or (508) 285-0150.

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 6th

School Committee Joint Meeting with Finance Committee and Select Board

October 8th

School Committee Meeting

October 13th

Schools Closed

October 14th

Norton Middle School Term I Progress Reports

October 20th

Town Meeting

October 22nd

Elementary Conferences

October 23rd

Elementary Early Release / Conferences

October 29th

Districtwide Early Release / Professional Development

School Committee Meeting

October 31st

Norton High School Term I Marks Close

November 5th

Norton Middle School Conferences

November 6th

Norton Middle School Early Release / Conferences

November 7th

Norton High School Term I Report Cards

November 11th

Schools Closed

November 12th

School Committee Meeting

November 13th

Norton High School Open House for Grade 8 Students and Families

Virtual Backpack
Explore here to find e-flyers on events, offerings and more in our community.
To submit a flyer to the Virtual Backpack, please contact Pam Anderson at pamelaanderson@norton.k12.ma.us.

10.03.25