IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES:
March 16 (Mon): Youth Risk Behavior Survey
March 17- March19 (Tue-Thu): Scheduling Presentations grades 9-11 respectively
March 24th & 25th (Tue/Wed): English Language Arts (ELA) MCAS All 10 graders
March 27th (Fri): Parent Conference/Early Release (10:50)
April 3rd (Fri): Professional Development/Early Release (10:50)
April 7th (Tue): Beginning of Term 4
April 15th (Wed): Term 3 Report Cards Published
April 20th - 24th: April Break
PRINCIPAL MESSAGE
A couple of unifying events were held this week. On Thursday, we had the State Police provide a safe driving program for juniors and seniors called the ThinkFast Initiative. It is an experiential program that is geared towards promoting safe driving habits through an exciting game show type format. The students were highly engaged and Thinkfast did a terrific job at weaving in safe driving messages through the fun! Thanks to Mr. LeBlanc for organizing this.
Today we will have over 70 students jumping into a pool on wheels during our 2nd fundraiser for the Special Olympics appropriately called, The Polar Plunge! There will be many students cheering them on as we continue to support this wonderful organization. Hats off to Mrs. Vella who once again was the motivating force behind this chiller of an event.
March is labeled appropriately as it feels like a hard “march” to April, warmer weather and the notion that a New England Spring may be around the corner. It rarely reveals itself but we were able to enjoy a few sunny and warm days this week. Fingers crossed for more of it, but experience tells us not to put away the shovels just yet!
Spring Sports start on Monday and it looks like snow, mud and water are on the menu for a short while. However, with so many of our students anticipating the Spring Season, there has been lots of activity already in the hallways, on the roads, in the gym, and in the weight room. Good luck to all the athletes and coaches as they lay the foundations for successful seasons.
We are GD!!
Rick Arena
GD ENGLISH 10 MCAS
Website: Test Prep, Scholarship, and Accommodations Info
The Grade 10 English MCAS will be given on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, and Wednesday, March 25, 2026. It is an untimed test. It is an untimed test. Students have as long as they need to complete it.
Ms. Kelly Cook, the English Department Chair, met with the sophomores today in the Black Box to notify them that the test was coming up in less than two weeks, and she shared the GD English 10 MCAS website with them as a resource through their school email.
Your child can use this website to get familiar with the test and to learn about college scholarships related to doing well on the MCAS.
Even though the MCAS is no longer a graduation requirement, a high school's performance on the test does affect the school's ranking on different lists that come out every year comparing cities and towns across the state, so we ask you to encourage your child to do their best.
If your child is on an IEP or 504 for a language-based learning disability or has an IEP or 504 with any special language pertaining to test-taking, please encourage your child to to check with their liaison or with our Team Chair, Ms. Vanessa Black (vblack@gdrsd.org), about their accommodations.
If your child's first language is not English, and they are currently receiving ELL support (and even if they have in the past), they should check in with Ms. Nicole Freitas (nfreitas@gdrsd.org), our Multilingual Learner Teacher, to see if they will have access to a word-to-word dictionary in your primary language.
Kelly Cook, 9-12 English Language Arts and Literacy Coordinator
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES - THIS SATURDAY!
Sign up genius link below for any students available and interested in helping out with the FloRo Elementary Science Fair this Saturday 3/14. Slots are still open and they are looking for help, thank you!
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C0D4EACAF2EA3FBC25-61531045-2026
Jillian Doyle
Florence Roche Elementary PTA
ATTENTION SENIORS!!!!
Order your Class of 2026 senior yard signs!
Signs are $20 each and will be available for pick up the first week of April at the High School.
ORDER DEADLINE: March 15, 2026
Payment is via - gdboosters.square.site
Or check payable to: Groton-Dunstable Athletic Booster Club (dropped off at the HS front office)
SCHOLARSHIPS: Scholarships are arriving. They can be found in your Naviance account or on the Guidance Website. Check back often because new ones arrive daily.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR GROTONFEST SPRING
Student volunteers requested for the GrotonFest spring festival. The festival will take place on Sunday, May 17th and they are in need of volunteers to help set up for the event and to help clean up afterwards. A lot of this work will involve helping the vendors get to/from their spots quickly, so that they can keep traffic moving smoothly.
They have two shifts available: Morning Shift: 7:45am - 10:45am and Afternoon Shift: 3:45pm - 5:30pm.
For more info. or to RSVP
Jennifer Moore | Event Coordinator | GrotonFest
GrotonFest Family of Festivals
Website | www.GrotonFest.com
GD ATHLETIC BOOSTERS FUND RAISER
Spring Flower Sale is Here! Support the Groton-Dunstable Athletic Boosters and get your spring flowers at the same time! Choose from tulips, hydrangeas, lilies, daffodils, hyacinths, and begonias—perfect for brightening up your yard or gifting.
Order by: March 24
Pickup: April 4 at Groton-Dunstable Regional High School
Order here: http://gdboosters.square.site
Thank you for supporting Groton-Dunstable student athletes!
SEPAC NEWS
SEPAC will hold a General Meeting on Thursday, March 19th at 7pm on zoom. Additional details regarding the agenda as well as the zoom information is on the event flyer. SEPAC will be having Jill Greene, Director of Student Services joining us for our meeting. All are welcome!
NM SEPAC and NMHS are proud to announce our first ever Transition Information Fair. This fair is geared towards students in grade 9-12 who are currently on an IEP or 504.
The fair will feature colleges who offer educational supports for students, technical programs for students who do not want to attend college and transition programs for students who need additional assistance post HS graduation.
GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT NEWS
NEACAC COLLEGE FAIR @ BISHOP GUERTIN -
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 6:30 pm.