Dighton-Rehoboth Regional Schools

Dear DR Community,

February gives us a chance to pause, reflect on how far we’ve come, and refocus as we continue DRiving Toward 2030. Across Dighton-Rehoboth, there’s a lot of good work happening every day—students are engaged in learning that matters, staff are working together to strengthen instruction, and we continue to fine-tune our systems to better support kids.

Our priorities remain clear: early literacy, strong college and career pathways, and keeping students engaged in meaningful ways. These focus areas guide both our day-to-day decisions and our long-term planning. As we head into the second half of the school year, we’ll continue to share our work, focus on continuous improvement, and be committed to strong partnerships with families and the community.

Together, we are DR!

#WeAreDR 💚💛
Words we live by.

We Empower. We Ignite. We Shape.
#DT2030 #PoG #EIS

Take care,

Bill Runey

Superintendent of Schools

💚 Celebrating an Exceptional Educator!
Palmer River Elementary kindergarten teacher Rayna Bouchard has been nominated for the national LifeChanger of the Year Award, recognizing educators who make an extraordinary impact on students and families.

Community voices matter in this process—please take a moment to add a comment and support Rayna’s nomination here:
👉 LifeChanger of the Year – Support Rayna Bouchard

Read the full story (linked here) to learn why Rayna’s work means so much to our youngest learners and their families.

Each of our schools has unique traditions that mean a great deal to students, families, and alumni. As our district continues to reflect on identity, pride, and belonging across PK–12, we want to pause and listen.

School Committee members have encouraged us to engage the community in conversations about how school mascots and symbols contribute to student experience, school pride, and district unity.

We are inviting volunteers to participate in focus groups that will allow us to hear a range of perspectives—what people value, what concerns they may have, and what questions should be considered as we think about the future.

These conversations are exploratory in nature, and no decisions have been made. Our first goal is understanding; only then can outcomes be pursued.

If you’re interested in lending your voice to a Focus Group, please consider signing up by completing this form.

Together, we are DR!

.

LOCAL REALTORS

We hope to see you at our Realtors Reception on February 4, at 10:00 in the DRip Cafe at the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School. For security purposes, please enter through door 2 (to the left of the HS main entrance). Parking is available under the solar panels across from the HS main entrance. Please contact Michele Blackburn 508-252-5000 or mblackburn@drregional.org for questions.

We are proud to recognize Sara Avery-Pham and Seamus Sullivan as our Student-Athletes of the Month for their outstanding performances and contributions to the Dighton-Rehoboth Indoor Track program. Sara demonstrated remarkable versatility by qualifying for the SCC Championship in every running event, from the 55 meters through the 2 mile—an exceptionally rare accomplishment. She ran a 5:55 mile, placed 5th overall in the state at the MSTCA Freshman/Sophomore Meet in the two mile with a time of 12:31, and is currently ranked 15th in Division 5 in that event. She has also been a key member of the 4x400 meter relay. Seamus delivered a historic season by breaking two school records, lowering the 17-year-old 55m dash record to 6.60 seconds and setting a new mark in the indoor 200m dash at 23.75. He captured the SCC Championship in the 55m dash and placed 2nd in the 300m with a personal-best 37.54. Together, Sara and Seamus exemplify excellence, dedication, and pride, and we are proud to celebrate the impact they continue to make within the Dighton-Rehoboth student-athlete community.

Our Alumni Spotlight celebrates the journeys and achievements of Dighton-Rehoboth graduates while highlighting the lasting impact of their school experience. By sharing alumni stories, we Empower, Ignite, and Shape connections across generations, inspire current students, and showcase the many paths to success beyond DR.

Are you a graduate? Stay connected and join our Alumni Connection here.

Recent snow-related cancellations have moved our tentative (pending any further changes) last day to Tuesday, June 23, 2026. To read more about weather-related decisions and FAQs, please click here.

The Town of Dighton, in partnership with the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District, invites residents, families, and community members to attend an upcoming Community Engagement Session focused on the future of Dighton Elementary School (DES) and the district’s ongoing work with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

The session will take place on Monday, February 2 at 6:00 PM in the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School Auditorium and is open to all members of the community.

This evening session is designed to provide clear, accessible information about the MSBA process, including project timelines, next steps, and potential outcomes related to a possible renovation or rebuild of Dighton Elementary School. Representatives from the district’s Owner’s Project Manager, Skanska, and Designer/Architect, Arrowstreet, will present and be available to answer questions.

For the first time in many years, the 2026-2027 school year will start before Labor Day. Please thoroughly review the calendar linked below prior to making travel/vacation plans.

CLICK HERE FOR 2026-2027 DISTRICT CALENDAR

Dighton-Rehoboth continues to expand meaningful pathways that prepare students for life beyond high school. Our Early College program is growing through strengthened partnerships and DESE collaboration, giving more students access to college coursework and credits while still in high school. At the same time, we are making strong progress toward new Chapter 74 Career and Technical Education pathways in Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, and Medical Assisting—creating hands-on, workforce-aligned opportunities that connect learning to real-world careers.

Elementary report cards are designed to give families a clearer picture of how students are progressing toward grade-level expectations. Rather than focusing solely on scores or comparisons, the report cards emphasize growth, mastery of skills, and areas for continued development—helping families better understand what their child knows and what comes next.

Next meeting will be held at the high school on February 10, 2025. All meetings are scheduled to start at 6:30.

Meals are subject to change and will be reflected in the DR App and webpage, but not in this folder.

Please find the recently updated Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan for the Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District here.

DR MERITS (Meaningful Experiences Related to Increasing Transition Success) Academy:

The DR MERITS Academy is always exploring new ways for students to engage with the community. HERE is a sampling of the partnerships they have developed. More recently, the DR MERITS Academy has:

• Hosted the BMS TLC Program: Before the holiday break, MERITS students welcomed the students for a holiday shopping experience, helping them with budgets and shopping lists. Later, the MERITS students visited BMS to teach a lesson on gift-wrapping.

• Held an Evening Community Event: Opened their one of a kind “Falcons Creations and Services” to the public after hours for the first time, welcoming community members to shop while enjoying free photos with Santa Claus and complimentary hot chocolate.

• Launched “Coffee Cart on the Road”: Students now take and deliver coffee orders to staff at different schools on a rotating schedule, providing hands-on experience in customer service and community engagement.

Families play an important role in supporting learning. Simple routines—such as reading together, talking about books, practicing math facts, and encouraging curiosity—make a meaningful difference. Teachers may share specific suggestions or resources throughout the year to help families reinforce learning in ways that are realistic and developmentally appropriate.

This year, we have continued our work on the district’s “Action Planning Template” in collaboration with the Special Education Coordinators, DESE, and Special Education Strategies. Building on last year’s review of our LEA Determination status, we identified key areas for growth and have been taking steps to strengthen outcomes for students. Our recent work has included reviewing elementary screening practices, analyzing MCAS reading data (which is showing a positive trend) and examining high school attendance data. We have also taken a closer look at Indicator 7 and Indicator 12 data (both PreK data) and processes to improve our practices, including the assurance that all eligible students coming from Early Intervention have an Active IEP by their 3rd birthday.

Our PreK Advisory Committee meets regularly to review programming, student placement practices, and ways to strengthen support for young learners and their families. This year, the committee has focused on ensuring placement decisions are individualized, reinforcing inclusive early childhood practices, and reviewing screening and registration processes for incoming students. We have also discussed family communication, kindergarten readiness, and ongoing opportunities to strengthen the PreK experience across the district. As part of this work, families registering new PreK students will now complete a brief screening survey to help inform screenings and planning.

Upcoming General Meetings for the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) for 2026, held at the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School’s Media Center, 7-8pm:

• March 2, 2026

• April 13, 2026

• May 4, 2026

• June 8, 2026

Here is the School Committee approved Academic Calendar for 25-26.