Dear Holliston School Families and Staff,
As we head into the holiday break, when many of us will celebrate with family and friends on Thanksgiving or “Friendsgiving,” or others may just enjoy a restful long weekend before the additional holiday chaos ensues, I hope each of you can take a moment to reflect on the things that you are thankful for this school year.
I am personally grateful for our Holliston School Community, where we continue to stand united in providing a safe and supportive environment for students, even during challenging times. We strive to make our school walls safe havens, as much as possible, to drown out the things that we cannot control that might be happening outside of our school community.
Recently, I was asked to join Chief Stone of the Holliston Police Department and Chief Cassidy of the Holliston Fire Department to speak with John Cronin on his HCAT show titled Just Thinking: School Safety. We are fortunate to have a holistic, collaborative approach working with HPD and HFD to support school safety as a school community. Feel free to watch this 40-minute video to learn more about this collaboration.
This year, like others past, has certainly required resilience and commitment from everyone —our dedicated staff, supportive parents, and, of course, our wonderful students. Thank you for showing up every day and giving your very best.
With that being said, I do hope we can continue to remind one another how important it is to put students at the center of our daily work, as we likely will continue to face some uncertainty outside of HPS going into the new calendar year as well.
To our families, your partnership remains absolutely vital. As we navigate the coming months, we ask that you continue the conversations at home, encouraging curiosity, empathy, and kindness. By working together—both staff and families—we can ensure that our students feel supported and secure, allowing them to focus on learning and growth, no matter what external challenges may arise.
Your collaborative spirit is what truly makes a difference in maintaining a positive, focused, and nurturing educational experience at HPS.
I wish you all a thoroughly restful and rejuvenating break. May your time away be filled with peace, warmth, and joy.
With deepest gratitude,
Dr. Susan Kustka
Superintendent of Schools
