D-R Dispatch

Dear DRRSD Community,

As a former basketball coach, this month always means March Madness for me; and as the weather warms up, it certainly expands the opportunities for our young people as well. Fortunately, we are just a few short weeks from "springing forward" by setting our clocks ahead, resulting in longer days.

Together...WE ARE DR!

The results of this 5-minute survey will be very helpful to our Strategic Planning work. Anyone in our two towns or any alumni can complete it. The deadline is March 7. Thank you! #WeAreDR 💚💛 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DRRSD-POG

We would be honored if you would consider participating in one of our upcoming Portrait of a Graduate (PoG) Focus Groups. Your unique perspective and insights would be extremely valuable to our PoG committee as we continue to refine our educational programs to better align with the PoG framework. The focus groups will provide an opportunity for you to share your thoughts and ideas on how well our current programs align with the PoG competencies and to help identify any areas for improvement. We understand that your time is valuable, but we believe that your participation in this initiative would be greatly appreciated and make a meaningful contribution to our efforts to provide the best possible education for our students.

Focus Groups, March 2:

• Session 1 Zoom Link: 5:30-6:25 pm
• Session 2 Zoom Link: 6:30-7:25 pm

We wanted to update you on some of the grant submissions that we have recently made to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). We are currently awaiting word from DESE on the following grants.

The Safer Schools and Communities Initiative grant proposal is aimed at enhancing the safety and security of our school buildings. If approved, this $150,000 multi-school building security camera project will enable us to install state-of-the-art security cameras, providing comprehensive coverage and real-time monitoring capabilities. This project will ensure the safety and security of all those within the building and promote transparency and accountability. The limit from the state is three buildings, but we are planning to use other revenue to augment security in the entire district.

We have also applied for the Evidence-Based Practice Grant Fund Code: 117/225B, which will enable us to develop a comprehensive early literacy plan that includes comprehensive screening. This will provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in reading, writing, and other forms of communication. Our aim is to close the gap in performance between different student subgroups and ensure that all students have access to the same opportunities for learning and growth.

Finally, we have submitted an application for the Accelerating Literacy Learning with High-Quality Instructional Materials Grant Fund Code: 730. Our district has made it a priority to improve K-8 reading outcomes, and we believe that evidence-based literacy practices must be integrated into the instructional materials and approaches being utilized to teach students reading/literacy in our elementary schools. This will be a stronger approach to combating learning loss.

We are committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all students, staff, and visitors. We appreciate your ongoing support and partnership as we work to enhance the educational experience for our students.

We are thrilled to announce that we will be transitioning to Aspen Online Registration for kindergarten enrollment, with plans to launch in early April. As this is a new system, we will be piloting it with a select group of parents to ensure any potential issues are promptly addressed. Our commitment to providing the highest quality education means we are always seeking ways to improve our processes and systems, and we are excited to continue this pursuit as we implement Aspen Online Registration.

Here is the district-wide MCAS schedule per level.

• Elementary
• Middle
• High

Bill Runey

Superintendent of Schools

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