SHRHS Newsletter
October 2026
Dear Shepherd Hill Learning Community:
I am pleased to report, the 2026-2027 school year is off to an excellent start!
At the beginning of every school year, during our annual expectations assemblies, I review an educational principle that is often referred to as “the right to recover.” From one school year to the next, the proverbial slate is wiped clean, leaving behind the academic and behavioral challenges of the previous school year. Students have the unique opportunity to learn from past mistakes and build on prior successes, and I encouraged all to seize the opportunities that the new school year offers. The first weeks of school have shown that students heeded this call, as they continue to reinvent and achieve every day!
Over the summer, one of our top priorities was recruiting highly qualified professionals to fill critical vacancies. I am pleased to introduce the following staff members, some of whom are new to the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District (DCRSD), while others are stepping into new roles. I am confident that each will make valuable contributions to Shepherd Hill’s culture of excellence!
Mr. Eric Supple, Assistant Principal
Mrs. Shannon Vail, Special Education Coordinator
Mr. Timothy Berthiaume, Band Teacher
Ms. Olivia Boehnke, Math Teacher
Ms. Gretta Cox-Gorton, Librarian
Mr. Richard Earle, Interventionist
Ms. Chantelle Kimball, Special Education Teacher
Mrs. Claire Lo, Special Education Teacher
Mr. Gregory Martinez-Torres, Spanish Teacher
Mrs. Hilary Ritacco, School Psychologist
Ms. Natalie Jennette, Speech Language Pathologist
Mr. Ronnie West, Paraprofessional
Ms. Margo Ballenas, Paraprofessional
At Shepherd Hill, school accountability is always at the forefront, and we work closely with our state regulatory agency, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), as well as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), and the College Board. During the annual faculty convocation, I outlined the following core tenets of our shared mission for the school year;
Increase student achievement for ALL students
Refine programming
Support and develop human capital
Challenge status quo practices
Collectively, our work as a faculty in these areas will ensure that we are meeting our regulatory requirements and accountability targets while providing the best possible student experience.
As we continue to foster a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for teaching and learning, the role of technology remains an important focus. Our goal is to strike a thoughtful balance between establishing clear safeguards that promote responsible use while also encouraging meaningful integration of technology to support learning, creativity, and exploration.
With regard to cell phones, our school has made significant progress since first implementing our policy three years ago. As I visit classrooms, I have been pleased with the extent to which staff and students continue to adhere to the check-in procedure. Cell phone distractions during instructional time have essentially been eliminated, and the incidents of cyberbullying and bathroom meet-ups have also decreased. We recognize that students are unavailable to respond to texts during periods throughout the day, and we very much appreciate your continued understanding and support. With regard to AI, similarly, our District has made significant strides, as evidenced by the adoption of Policy IJNDBB: Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools. Teachers have worked to identify thoughtful integration opportunities, while also reinforcing critical safety measures.
With the school year in full swing, our learning community continues to prioritize well-being for our students and staff. Mental health is a broad, all-encompassing term, and in a school the size of Shepherd Hill, the needs of our population are varied and complex. Thus, our approach to addressing wellness will continue to be multi-faceted.
• Our guidance counselors, adjustment counselors, and school psychologist, in particular, will continue to provide acute and ongoing counseling for any student, as needed.
• The DCRSD is fortunate to work with several community organizations that have been an integral part of every crisis response. The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line is available to any Massachusetts resident, free of charge. In addition, the Seven Hills Foundation has offered expedited intake for Dudley-Charlton students and families in need of community-based services.
• Currently, our District is in the staff development phase of Yale’s RULER, an evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning (SEL). RULER will allow all staff to be equipped at the Tier 1, baseline level to support students’ SEL development.
• At the secondary level, we recognize the incredible power of student involvement. Once again this year, with the generous support of the Jak-L Foundation, Shepherd Hill’s Hope Squad, a peer-to-peer suicide prevention initiative, continues to expand. As an example of the power of student agency, the Shepherd Hill Cheer Team, guided by Coach Loretta Andre, organized the second annual “Tackle the Stigma” 5K Road Race on October 4th.
Finally, we value our partnerships with parents and families, and we understand the importance of two-way communication. In the event that you have a question or concern, I encourage you to reach out to the appropriate staff member. As a reminder, DCRSD Policy KE: Parent/Guardian Guide to Address Concerns in the Dudley-Charlton Regional Schools outlines the importance of addressing concerns with the staff member most directly involved, before elevating the concerns for resolution at a higher level.
Fall is a fantastic time to become immersed in the culture of Shepherd Hill, from Homecoming and fall sporting competitions, to the Fall Music Fest and the Shepherd Hill Music Parents Association Craft Fair. I encourage you all to spend some time on The Hill!
Thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,
Principal Elwell
Thanksgiving Food Drive
This Thanksgiving season, NHS will once again be hosting our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive to help support families in our community. We are grateful for the continued generosity of our students, families, local businesses, and community members who help make this effort possible each year.
If you are an individual, company, organization, or community group interested in getting involved, sponsoring the drive, or donating food items, we would love to hear from you! Every contribution, big or small, can help make a difference for local families this Thanksgiving.
For more information or to find out how you can help, please get in touch with our NHS Advisor at (aracicot@dcrsd.org).
Absence Procedures
When your student is absent, please call or email the Main Office to confirm.
Your confirmation will prevent the absent alert from being sent.
Emails can be sent to both Mrs. Jalbert and Ms. Pytko.
Dismissal Procedures
If you need to dismiss your student, they should bring a written request to the Main Office as soon as they arrive at school. They will be issued a dismissal pass and meet you outside at the specified time. It is very important to follow this procedure whenever possible. Phone calls to classrooms for dismissals are very disruptive to the educational process. Advance notice of the dismissal with a note helps alleviate those disruptions. We appreciate your assistance!
If returning from a dismissal, students should check in to the main office to have their attendance record updated. Students must be in school prior to or dismissed after 11:00 a.m. for the day to count for participation in school activities.
Parents/Guardians can update contact information through the PARENT PORTAL (phone numbers, email addresses, employment details, and emergency contact information). To access the Change Request Form, log in and click on your user icon in the top right corner.
Locked out of the portal? Please contact your student's school to have your password reset.
Important Note: Address changes will not be accepted through the Parent Portal. If you have changed your address, please contact Mrs. Burlingame to ensure the appropriate documentation is provided to update your student’s record.
Morning Announcements are emailed in a newsletter to students daily. Parents can find them here: Daily Announcement Smore.
Our community and school take pride in the appearance that our students present. We expect that all students will dress and groom themselves neatly in clothes that are suitable for school activities. Students that dress in an inappropriate manner will be required to change into proper attire; the second offense will result in a detention and parent will be notified.
1. Yearbook will meet on Wednesdays at 2:15 in Room 216. Helps us decide on our theme and cover! Join our Google Classroom for more information!
2. Buy a Yearbook
Don't forget to buy your 2026-2027 Yearbook! We have sold out for the last 4 years!
3. Class of 2027 Seniors
Please make sure that you visit the Shepherd Hill Yearbook Website for up-to-date information for 2027 Seniors. You must share this information with your photographer for your Senior Photos, which are due 11/6 and must be submitted via Google Form. Seniors should also join the Class of 2027 Yearbook Google Classroom. I will also post information on the Class of 2027 Google Classroom page.
Important Dates
10/9 Senior Bios Due- must be submitted on Google Form
10/23 Baby Photos Due- must be submitted on Google Form
11/6 Senior Photos Due- must be submitted on Google Form
12/31 Senior Ads are Due- use this video for help with submissions on the Walsworth Website
4. Monthly Photo Contest
Share your photos with us and you could win a $10 off coupon to use towards the purchase of your yearbook! Share them with ShepherdHillYearbook@dcrsd.org or DM us on our Instagram page ShepherdHillYearbook. Each month, the photo with the most votes will win! Please make sure to include the event, your name, and school e-mail when submitting the photo.
Bus Routes
Updated Bus Routes have been posted to our website.
Students who reside in the Dudley-Charlton district will be routed to and from their home address unless other arrangements have been made.
Please note: The Late Bus schedule has been modified. Late Buses will depart Shepherd Hill at 3:30pm and run only Monday through Thursday. The 5:30pm Late Bus has been eliminated.
Click the button below for more info.
Please email Mrs. Burlingame with SHRHS transportation questions.
Please email Mrs. Kozub with School Choice transportation questions.
FirstView
Dear Parents/Guardians:
In collaboration with our transportation partner, First Student, Dudley-Charlton Regional School District is relaunching FirstView®, a real-time GPS vehicle tracking and student transportation monitoring platform.
With FirstView, parents and caregivers can download the secure, easy-to-use vehicle tracking mobile app that will allow you to stay easily connected with your student(s) daily trips.
- See the real-time vehicle location via GPS and track its progress.
- Easy access to vehicle details as well as updates regarding any changes.
- Receive multiple distanced-based ETA notifications when the vehicle is getting close.
- Set-up family members and caregivers to receive trip email alerts.
- Dedicated customer support team for all app-related questions.
Let’s get you started with FirstView!
Step 1: Download* the free, easy-to-use mobile app, which is available on both iOS and Android devices. Search for app name: FirstView 1.0 and register for a new account.
*Not all devices are compatible and must meet the minimum operating system requirements. Users from previous versions of FirstView will not migrate over and all users must create a new account.
Step 2: Set up your FirstView 1.0 mobile app profile. You’ll be
asked to provide:
- The 5-character District Code: G3I7M
- Your student’s ID number
- Your student’s last name
Confirm your student(s) name to add them to your profile.
Step 3: Add distance notifications to be alerted in the app or via push
notification when the vehicle is close to your student’s stop location. To set
this up in the app, click on Set Distance Notifications. You can edit or add
additional distance notifications by clicking on the notification bell and
selecting Notifications Settings.
Optional: Add yourself and/or other family members and caregivers as a
notification recipient to receive email alerts. To set this up in the app, click
on the notification bell and select Manage Recipients.
Step 4: Once you have added your student(s), set-up distance notifications,
and signed up for email alerts, begin tracking your student’s daily trips on
the map!
Contact Support for assistance with app-related questions or concerns:
Monday – Friday from 7:00 am – 5:00 pm EST
In App: Click Contact Support
Email: support@myfirstview.com
Phone: (888) 889-8920 Toll Free / (513) 419-2921 Local
Nurse dismissal
A reminder to parents and caregivers: Students should not be using their cell phone to contact parents if they are not feeling well. Our Health Center is staffed with a full time nurse who will meet with and assess students who are not feeling well. The Nursing Office will reach out to parents/caregivers if students who are ill need to be dismissed.
Thank you! Nurse Goetz and Nurse Colon
AP Exam Info
AP Exam fees are due on or before 10/30/26. Students and families can begin making these payments now. All payments will need to be done online through UniPay. https://www.dcrsd.org/families-students/dcrsd-online-payment-center Under SHRHS Activities, please find SHRHS AP Exam and fill out all areas completely. 2026-2027A.P. Exam costs (set by Collegeboard): All AP Exams - $99 each, Free/Reduced lunch exam cost - $22 each
Class of 2027 Instant Admission Days
If you plan on applying to any of these schools, you should consider signing up for any of these events. Contact Mr. Gendron in Guidance for sign-ups for any of these colleges. Spots are limited and are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Instant Admission Days are free events! The best part is that you will receive an Admissions Decision on the day of your meeting. If you are accepted, there is no commitment to attend.
Seniors, Join the Scholarship Google Classroom
CLASS CODE: 7whqbzf
Hard copy information on all scholarships is available in the Guidance Office.
Military Recruiters and Post Secondary Education Institutions
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires that all schools receiving federal funds must provide the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of secondary students to military recruiters and institutions of higher education. The act also requires that military recruiters be given the same access to students that is given to recruiters for post secondary institutions and employers. If a parent objects to releasing this information he/she should notify the guidance office.
The Dudley-Charlton Special Education Parents Advisory Council (DC-SEPAC) regular monthly meetings are typically held on the third Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM. Meetings alternate between Shepherd Hill Regional High School and Charlton Middle School with email reminders sent the week before the meeting.
Additionally, in order to widen the welcome, we host "Coffee & Conversation" on the first Friday of each month at 9am, which is also confirmed with an email reminder. We meet at Sturbridge Coffee Roasters and alternate between the Dudley & Charlton locations.
The SEPAC board meets for 30 minutes, prior to the monthly meetings, which are open meetings. Here's the Dudley-Charlton SEPAC Board for the 2026 - 2027 School Year:
Kenny Laferriere - Chair
Millie Normandin - Vice Chair
Shawna McNeeley - Recording Secretary
Jeanne Costello - Publicity Secretary
Paul Judd - At Large Member
Deb Judd - At Large Member
Do not hesitate to reach out to SEPAC@DCRSD.ORG with any questions and on behalf of the Dudley-Charlton SEPAC we look forward to your involvement and support.
Kenny Laferriere, Chair
Special Education Parents Advisory Council (SEPAC)
Dudley-Charlton Regional School District (DCRSD)
sepac@dcrsd.org
Shepherd Hill Regional High School
Website: www.dcrsd.org
Location: 68 Dudley-Oxford Road, Dudley, MA, USA
Phone: 508-943-6700