Dewey's Details: Caregiver Update

Dear Dutile Families,

There really is something special about the start of October in New England. The cooler mornings, changing leaves, and signs of fall around us also seem to bring a comfortable rhythm to the school year.

As we begin a new month, our students and staff have settled into routines, classrooms are busy with learning, and our school community continues to grow together. It has been great to see our students becoming more confident and independent each day while continuing to practice what it means to Be Safe, Be Responsible, Be Respectful, and Be KInd throughout our school.

October will bring plenty of learning, activities, and opportunities to come together as a school community. Thank you, as always, for your continued partnership and support. I hope your family is able to enjoy some of what makes October such a great time of year!

Have a wonderful week ahead!

~ Scott Middlemiss, Principal

On Friday, October 2, we celebrated School Custodian Appreciation Day here at the Dutile!

We are so thankful for Mr. Mike and Mr. Gomez and all that they do each and every day to support our students and staff. From keeping our classrooms and hallways clean, to helping with events and activities, to making sure our school is a safe and welcoming place to learn, they are such an important part of our Dutile community.

Please join me in thanking Mr. Mike and Mr. Gomez for their hard work, dedication, and all they do behind the scenes each day to keep the Dutile looking its best. We are very fortunate to have them as part of our school community!

Monday, October 5th, is World Teachers’ Day, a day set aside to recognize teachers and the important role they play in the lives of their students.

When we think back on our own time in school, most of us can probably remember a teacher who made a difference- someone who encouraged us, challenged us, believed in us, or simply made us feel like we belonged. Teachers do so much more than teach academic skills. They build relationships, create welcoming classrooms, celebrate successes, and support students through challenges along the way.

Here at the Dutile, we are fortunate to have an incredibly skilled and dedicated group of teachers who care deeply about our students. Each day, I see the time, energy, patience, creativity, and care they put into making sure our students feel supported and are growing as learners.

As we celebrate World Teachers’ Day, I hope you’ll join me in saying thank you to our Dutile teachers for everything they do for our students and families each and every day!

A reminder to please send in a copy of your third grader’s most recent physical exam if you have not already done so.

Under Massachusetts state regulation 105 CMR 200.00, all third grade students are required to have a physical exam on file that is dated no more than one calendar year prior to the start of the school year (September 2026).

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out.

Thank you,
Caitlin O’Leary, RN
Dutile School Nurse
978-528-8540

Get Involved with the Dutile PTO!
The Dutile PTO is already planning exciting events for the 2026–2027 school year—and we’d love your help! Whether you’re interested in leading a committee, helping plan behind the scenes, or just showing up to volunteer for an hour or two, we have a role for everyone. It’s a great way to stay connected, meet other families, and support our amazing school community.

Fill out our quick volunteer interest form here: https://dutilepto.com/volunteer/

Let’s make this year the best one yet!

Our next Dutile PTO Meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 7, from 7:00–8:30 PM.

Caregivers are welcome to join us in person at the Dutile School or virtually. PTO meetings are a great way to stay connected, hear about upcoming events and activities, and learn more about what is happening in our school community.

We hope you can join us Wednesday night!

One fundraiser. A full year of opportunities for our students.

The Walk-a-Thon is the only time the Dutile PTO plans to ask families to help raise money this school year.

Instead of holding multiple fundraisers or repeatedly asking families to contribute, our goal is to raise what we need now to support students throughout the entire year.

Walk-a-Thon funds help provide:

• Field trips for every grade at no cost to families

• The fourth-grade end-of-year field trip and celebration

• Educational assemblies, enrichment programs and author visits

• Student events like the Holiday Shop, Family Math Night, Spring Social and Art Show, and Field Day

• School resources and special projects, including playground and calming-corner improvements

• Other activities and experiences that are not covered by the regular school budget

We know not every family is able to donate, and that is okay. Registering your student and sharing their fundraising page with friends and family still makes a meaningful difference.

A successful Walk-a-Thon means more opportunities for Dutile students and no additional fundraising requests for the rest of the school year.

Ready to show off your Halloween creativity? We’re looking for families to decorate a trunk and join us for our Trunk or Treat!

Trunk decorators should:

• Sign up by October 19th
• Arrive by 5:00 PM to decorate and get set up

Trunk or Treat begins at 5:30 PM

Donated candy will be distributed - please consider purchasing some extra candy to hand out throughout the night

Best Trunk wins a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

Get creative, get spooky, get silly — and help make it a fun night for our Dutile families!

Sign up here: https://signup.com/go/sqerrVZ

We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

To help us maintain a safe and secure environment for our students and staff, all visitors and volunteers must report directly to the main office upon arrival. At the office, you will be asked to sign in and wear a visitor badge so that we can easily identify who is in the building. When your visit is complete, please remember to sign out and return your badge.

For safety reasons, entry during school hours is permitted only through the front door. If you are in the building and notice someone without a badge, staff members will kindly direct them back to the office. This is a standard safety practice, not a confrontation.

In addition, anyone wishing to volunteer at the Dutile School is required to complete a CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) check each school year. Forms are available in the main office and must be completed in person, along with a copy of your driver’s license. Since processing can take several weeks, we strongly encourage you to complete this step as soon as possible. Please note that outside CORI approvals cannot be accepted, and volunteers may not begin until clearance is received.

For more details, please see the district website.

If your child will be absent or tardy, please call the Dutile Attendance Line at 978-528-8530 before 7:55 AM on the day of the absence.

This line is available 24 hours a day, so you may leave a message at any time. After the greeting, please provide the requested information about your child.

If your child is not in school by 8:05 AM and we have not received a call or email from you, we will reach out to confirm your child’s whereabouts.

For your convenience, you can click here for a printable version of this information.

For the safety and smooth dismissal of all students, please send any written notes regarding a change to your child’s dismissal plan to the classroom teacher on or before the day of the change.

Please do not email teachers with same-day or last-minute dismissal changes, as teachers are busy with students throughout the school day and may not see your message before dismissal.

If an unexpected or emergency change arises during the school day, particularly after 1:00 p.m., please call the school office directly. This allows us to make sure your child and the appropriate staff members receive the updated information before dismissal begins.

Thank you for helping us keep our dismissal process safe, efficient, and well-coordinated for all students!

Strong communication and close collaboration between home and school are essential to every child’s success. To support this partnership, we’ve put together some simple guidelines to help you know who to contact when you have a question, concern, or need assistance.

At the Dutile School, we take a team-based approach to problem-solving. Depending on the situation, several staff members may work together to provide support and determine the best next steps. While we always do our best to respond as quickly as possible, please keep in mind that teachers and staff are often working directly with students or participating in meetings throughout the school day.

To make communication as easy and efficient as possible, we’ve created a quick reference guide outlining who to contact in a variety of situations.

👉 [Click here to view the document]

Ms. Oestreicher is creating a Fit with Fam bulletin board to celebrate families staying active and healthy together. Families are invited to submit photos of their student(s) with family or friends doing something active or healthy. Photos will be printed and displayed at school. By submitting a photo, you give permission for it to be printed and displayed on the school’s Fit with Fam bulletin board. Use this link to submit throughout the school year!

Please follow and "like" the "Frederick J. Dutile Elementary School" Facebook page. I will be posting often to share examples of the incredible teaching and learning that takes place at our school each day!

https://www.facebook.com/dutileschool

Monday, October 5, 2026

• World Teachers' Day

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

• 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM: Dutile PTO Meeting

Monday, October 12, 2026

• NO SCHOOL: Columbus Day

Thursday, October 15, 2026

• Dutile PTO Walk-a-Thon

Friday, October 16, 2026

• RAIN DATE: Dutile PTO Walk-a-Thon

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

• Dutile Fall Photo Day!

Friday, October 23, 2026

• 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM: Trunk or Treat

Thursday, October 29, 2026

• EARLY RELEASE DAY!
• Dismissal @ 12:05 PM
• 12:20 PM - 2:20 PM: Caregiver-Teacher Conferences Afternoon Session
• 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Caregiver-Teacher Conferences Evening Session

Tuesday, November 3, 2026

• NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS: Election Day!

Wednesday, November 11, 2026

• NO SCHOOL: Veterans Day

Mark your calendars! The Billerica Playground Project will be hosting a family-friendly Car Show Fundraiser on Sunday, October 4, from 10:00 AM–2:00 PM at Billerica Memorial High School.

Stop by to check out some amazing cars while supporting a great community project! The event will also feature breakfast and coffee, sweet treats, music from a DJ, Billerica merchandise, a 50/50 raffle, and more. All makes and models are welcome to participate in the car show, with a $20 entry fee per car.

Come out, enjoy a fun morning with the family, and support the Billerica Playground Project!

Mark your calendars for the Billerica Wellness Festival on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM at Marshall Middle School (15 Floyd Street).

This family-friendly community event will focus on health, community, and fun and will include apple cider donuts and cider, pumpkin decorating, face painting, fire trucks, food trucks, games, local vendors, and more!

We hope many of our Dutile families can stop by and enjoy a fun fall day with the Billerica community!