Zeh Informational Update: Family Newsletter 8/29/25

Posted Date: 8/29/25 (4:30 PM)

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Marion E. Zeh Elementary School

33 Howard Street, Northborough, MA 01532
Phone: 508-351-7048
Fax: 508-393-5125

Family Newsletter | August 29th, 2025

Important Dates

9/1 Labor Day - No School
9/3 Northborough School Committee Meeting at 6:30 at Lincoln Street School
9/9 Early Release - Dismissal at 11:40
9/9 Open House from 6:00-7:30
9/10 5th Grade Band Instrument Rental at 7:00 at Melican
9/15 PTO Meeting at 6:30 in the Library
9/16 3rd Grade Strings Rental Night at 6:00 at Melican
9/19 Bike/Walk to School Day
9/20 Applefest Parade
9/23 Rosh Hashanah - No School
9/25 School Picture Day
9/25 PTO Back to School Picnic from 5:30-7:00

Principal's Message

Dear Zeh Families,

We had a wonderful start to the school year! It was such a joy to welcome back our returning students and to begin getting to know the new faces here at Zeh. I know this will be a year filled with learning, growth, and fun.

I’d like to share a few reminders. Our student handbook states: “Students are encouraged to avoid bringing cell phones and other electronic devices to school. If a student brings a cell phone or other electronic device to school, it must be turned OFF and kept in a backpack during the school day.” This also includes smartwatches. While we understand that families may want to stay in touch, texting and calling during the day interrupts learning. If you need to reach your child, please call the office or email their classroom teacher, and we will make sure your message is delivered.

Breakfast and lunch menus look a little different this year, so please take a moment to review the new options. In addition, food service now asks that all hot lunch counts be submitted by 9:30 each morning so they have enough time to prepare meals. If your child will arrive after 9:30 and would like a hot lunch, please call or email the office ahead of time. Students arriving after 9:30 without a pre-order may still choose one of the cold lunch options.

Next Thursday, we will hold our first Zebra Family and Community Meeting of the year. For those new to Zeh, once a month our students and staff gather in small, mixed-age “family groups” and then come together as a whole school. These meetings include fun activities that help build a positive and safe school community. They are one of my favorite Zeh traditions, and we’re excited to welcome our new students into their families.

We are off to a great start, and I look forward to everything we will accomplish together this year. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Mr. Bell
jbell@nsboro.k12.ma.us

Virtual Backpack

Please see the Virtual Backpack for flyers and information on different opportunities for students and families in Northborough.

Northborough Virtual Backpack

PTO Updates

PTO Updates (8/29)

9/15: First PTO meeting of the year
9/19: Walk/Bike to School
9/20: Applefest Parade
9/25: Back to School Picnic
10/9: Fun Run Fundraiser

Details:

The Zeh PTO is excited to welcome students, families, teachers, and staff back to school! An especially warm welcome to students, families, teachers, and staff who are new to the Zeh community…it’s going to be an awesome year!! See below for details on upcoming PTO events and opportunities to get involved.

PTO Meeting (9/15): Our first monthly meeting will be held Monday, 9/15 at 6:30pm in the Zeh library. All are welcome and encouraged to attend! Come learn about what we do and ways you can help, both big and small. Want to get involved but can’t make the meeting? Email us!
Walk/Bike to School: One of our most popular Zeh traditions! Plan to arrive at school between 8:10-8:25 am, and make sure to stop at the PTO table to sign a poster and pick up a little charm. See you there!
Applefest Parade: Parents and students can join a group from Zeh marching in the town’s Applefest Parade. Stay tuned for more details!
Back to School Picnic: Our annual family picnic will be Thursday, 9/25 from 5:30-7pm on the field (or inside if it rains). Families will have the opportunity to order pizza from Northborough House of Pizza in advance. More info to come!
Save the Date for the Fun Run: This year’s Fun Run will be held in the afternoon on Friday, 10/9 (Columbus Day weekend). The Fun Run is one of the PTO’s biggest fundraisers. Look out for details on how you can help raise money, and mark your calendar to come cheer on your runner(s)!

Literacy Screening Notification

Dear Families,

I am writing to share information about one of the ways your child in grades K-5 will be assessed in reading this year. Our teachers have many ways to check your child’s reading development and growth, including an early literacy universal screening assessment. Early literacy universal screening assessments are brief tests that provide information about your child’s early reading skills. Screening makes it possible to see if a student is at risk of developing reading difficulties, including risk of dyslexia. Screening does not diagnose dyslexia or other disabilities, but it does help us understand which students may need additional support to be successful readers. We are required to assess students in grades K-3 at least twice per year consistent with Massachusetts regulation 603 CMR 28.03(1)(f).

Our district uses screening assessments called Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills, 8th Edition (DIBELS) and Acadience RAN. These are two of several screening assessments approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Your child will be assessed three times during the school year. It typically takes five to ten minutes to complete both assessments. The tentative schedule for this school year is shown below.

Grade

Approximate Screening Dates

Kindergarten

Winter: Week of December 15th, 2025

Spring: Week of May 18th, 2026

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th

Fall: Weeks of September 2nd and September 8th, 2025

Winter: Week of January 12th, 2026

Spring: Week of May 18th, 2026

Following the screening assessment, a team at our school will review all students’ results. If your child scores “significantly below benchmark,” we will contact you within 30 school days of testing, to discuss how we can support your child.

Please reach out if you would like additional information.

For questions about the early literacy universal screening, contact Mr. Bell.
For questions about your child’s testing results, contact Mrs. Lincoln

Screening is another step that helps students at our school become proficient readers, and we are grateful for your continued support and partnership.

Best,

Mr. Bell

Student Absence Reporting

If you need to report your child absent, you can now use this email address: zehattendance@nsboro.k12.ma.us. Please be sure to include your child's name, teacher, and reason for their absence. You can also still report an absence by phone by calling our main line at (508)351-7048.