Mason Road Sunshine Bulletin

Message from J. Desto

Dear Mason Road Families,

Can you believe we are already three weeks into the school year? It has been such an exciting start, and I am thrilled to share how well our students, staff, and families have settled into our routines and expectations.

Our classrooms are full of curiosity, creativity, and energy as students dive into their learning. We’ve also seen our SUN expectations—Safe, Unique, Neighborly—in action throughout the school. Students are showing care for one another, embracing their individual strengths, and contributing positively to our school community.

Here are a few highlights from the first few weeks:

Students are engaging in learning assessments like DIBELS to help teachers better understand their individual needs and tailor instruction accordingly.
Our Unified Arts classes are off to a fantastic start! From music and art to PE, students are exploring new skills and creative opportunities. Be sure to check out the Unified Arts Newsletter for updates and upcoming events.
SUN Program stickers are being awarded daily for positive behavior. Students who earn stickers are entered into weekly raffles, and some may even earn a special t-shirt or other prizes!

We appreciate your continued support in helping students arrive on time, follow safety procedures, and reinforce learning at home. Your partnership makes a huge difference in the success and well-being of our students.

We are looking forward to a year filled with growth, fun, and memorable experiences. Thank you for being an essential part of our school community!

Sincerely,

Jen Desto
Principal, Mason Road School

School Safety

On Friday, September 6th, Mason Road School held our first fire drill of the year. Our students did an outstanding job, and I am so proud of how respectful and responsible everyone was throughout the process. We will continue to practice safety with three additional fire drills scheduled over the course of the school year.

Looking ahead, on Tuesday, October 7th, Mason Road will hold our first lockdown drill of the year (we will have three in total). Teachers have already begun talking with students about what to do if a “skunk” (our safe word for an intruder) were to enter the building. During this drill, students will practice the importance of finding a safe hiding spot within their classroom.

As we continue on throughout the year, the next two drills will involve evacauation practice. for this, teachesrs will begin practicing the imporatance of walking to our outdoor evacuation site at the picnic tables located behind the school playground, at the top of the beach, out of sight of the building.

While these drills can feel emotional, they are essential. It is important that students know exactly where to go and what to do to ensure everyone’s safety. This practice requires patience and consistency, and it is vital that all students participate. Families will be notified both before and after each lockdown drill is conducted.

In addition to our drills, and as part of our continued efforts to make Mason Road School as safe as possible for our students and staff, we will be strengthening our front door entry procedures. In the best interest of everyone’s safety, we kindly ask for your patience and cooperation when visiting the school.

When you arrive, please be prepared to:

Identify yourself, your child, and the purpose of your visit.
Show identification if requested by staff.

We understand these steps may feel inconvenient at times, but they are essential in helping us maintain a safe and secure school environment.

If you are dropping off an item for your child, you may place it on the designated table outside the front door. A staff member will collect it and ensure it reaches your student as quickly as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly at jdesto@dcrsd.org Thank you for your understanding and support as we carry out these important safety procedures to protect our students and staff.

Drop Off / Pick Up Notice

By now, most families are familiar with our drop-off and pick-up procedures. I am truly grateful for your patience and support as we continue to make these routines as smooth and safe as possible. That said, I’d like to remind everyone about another very important part of dismissal—student safety in vehicles.

Recently, we have observed a few instances where students were seated in the front seat or standing in the back of a vehicle while leaving school grounds. For the safety of all children, please remember that these practices are not safe.

According to Massachusetts State Law (MGL Ch. 90 Sec. 7AA):

Children must ride in a federally approved car seat or booster seat, properly fastened and secured, until they are 8 years old OR over 57 inches tall.
Once children outgrow their booster seat (usually around age 8, but more importantly, once taller than 57 inches), they must continue to wear a properly adjusted seat belt until the age of 13.
Drivers may face fines if a child under age 13 is not properly restrained.

Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our students safe—both at school and on the road.

Curriculum Based Measurements - DIBELS & MAP

What is DIBELS (K & 1) and MAP (grade 1 only):

DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) is a set of short, one-on-one assessments that help teachers see how students are developing important early reading skills. These skills include things like recognizing letter sounds, reading fluently, and understanding what they read.

The assessments are quick—usually just a few minutes—and are given to all students several times a year. The results give teachers a snapshot of each child’s reading progress and highlight areas where they may need extra support or where they are excelling.

MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) is an assessment used to measure a student’s academic growth in math. It helps teachers understand each child’s strengths and areas where they may need extra support.

How do we use the results?

Classroom Instruction: Teachers use DIBELS and MAP data to adjust daily reading lessons and activities, making sure all students are getting what they need to grow as readers.
Additional Support: If a student is showing signs of needing more practice in a certain area (for example, blending sounds or reading fluency), we provide small-group or one-on-one interventions.
Enrichment: Students who are excelling may receive opportunities for more advanced or challenging literacy activities.
Progress Monitoring: Students receiving support are checked more frequently so we can see if the interventions are working and adjust as needed.

It’s important to know that this support is fluid and flexible. A student may only need extra practice for a short time before returning to regular instruction, while another student may benefit from ongoing support over a longer period. The goal is to meet each child where they are and adjust the level of support as their needs change.

The ultimate purpose of DIBELS and MAP and the supports that follow is to ensure every child becomes a confident, successful reader. By identifying strengths and needs early, we can provide the right instruction at the right time.

If your child is identified as someone who would benefit from additional support, you will receive a permission slip. Parent/caregiver permission is required before services can begin. Once the signed permission slip is returned, support will start right away.

Let the SUN Shine at Mason Road School!

SUN Program Reminder:

At Mason Road, we follow our SUN expectations:

Safe
Unique
Neighborly

When students are spotted showing these positive behaviors, they may come home with a special SUN sticker.

This is a great opportunity to celebrate your child! If your student comes home with a sticker, please take a moment to ask them how they earned it and recognize their effort. A quick high-five, hug, or “I’m proud of you!” goes a long way in reinforcing the importance of being Safe, Unique, and Neighborly at school and at home.

Extra Incentives

Each time a student receives a sticker, their name is entered into a raffle for a prize every Friday.
Students chosen for a Friday prize are then entered into a raffle to win a special SUN t-shirt. Students who earn a t-shirt get to wear it every Friday along with their teachers!
If a student earns a t-shirt and is later identified again for another t-shirt, they will instead receive a different prize—such as a special lunch with a preferred staff member, a gift card, or another exciting reward.
Once per trimester, we will host a celebratory breakfast with families for one student per class who has earned the t-shirt. This too will be a raffle!

Together, we can continue to encourage and celebrate the positive choices our students are making every day!

Message from Mrs. Shelburne, School Adjustment Counselor

Greetings families!

Welcome, or welcome back, to Mason Road School! I hope you all had an amazing summer! My name is Rachael Shelburne and I am the School Adjustment Counselor. I wanted to take a quick moment to introduce myself and identify services that I offer within the school. As the school adjustment counselor, I wear many hats throughout the day. Some of my primary roles include:

Short-term individual counseling/check-ins
Social skills/SEL groups
Whole-class SEL lessons
Providing child and/or family counseling referrals
Identifying community resources to caregivers (food share, holiday assistance, parenting groups, shelters, etc)

If you have any questions or concerns throughout the year, please feel free to reach out to me at rshelburne@dcrsd.org or give the school a call.

Sincerely,

Rachael Shelburne

School Adjustment Counselor

Check Out What's Happening in Art, Music, health and Wellness, and Technology

The Art room could use a donation of Baby wipes for their Oil Pastel Project..

Check out the Unified Arts Newsletter for all the exciting updates, activities, and information from our amazing Unified Arts team!: Unified Arts Newsletter!

Mason Road School Picture Day(s)

We have our dates scheduled for school pictures! Information will be sent home to families prior to picture day. Mark your calendars now so you are ready for it!!

PICTURE DAY: September 30th ~ GRADE 1 & Preschool
PICTURE DAY: October 1st ~ Kindergarten & Preschool

PICTURE RE-TAKE: November 4th - Anyone who missed picture day or needs to re-take pictures (PK students are asked to come to the school if they are not in session and need pictures/re-take)

If you have any questions, please contact the main office at (508) 943-4312.

2025-2026 Mason Road School Council

Thank you to all who expressed interest in serving on the Mason Road School Council. We are grateful for your commitment to supporting our school community. The following individuals will serve as council members for the 2025–2026 school year:

Brianna Ajemian – Parent, Grade One Student
Stephanie Rice – Parent, Grade One Student
Jocelyn Bianchi – Parent, Grade One Student
Paola Penn – Parent, Kindergarten Student
Michelle Gray – Reading Specialist
Carol Connor – Grade One Teacher
Bethany Arsenault – Preschool Teacher
Jen Desto – Principal

The School Council plays an important role in shaping the educational experience at Mason Road by reviewing school policies, the budget, and the School Improvement Plan. The council will meet four times this year, on Monday (or Tuesday), third week of the month at 3:30 p.m. Meetings are open to the public and can be attended either in person or virtually through Google Meet.

2025–2026 Meeting Schedule:

(Note: Meetings are subject to change if necessary)

Monday, October 20 – Climate & Culture: meet.google.com/fbk-offn-kcy
Tuesday, January 20 – Budget: meet.google.com/cat-xdxa-fnd
Monday, March 16 – School Improvement Plan: meet.google.com/haj-qmdi-gdv
Monday, May 18 – Handbook & Building Policy: meet.google.com/hio-nywu-vyb

We look forward to working together to support our students, staff, and families throughout the school year.

MARK Those Calendars!!!

DUDLEY-CHARLTON REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT 2025-2026 SCHOOL CALENDAR

* September 26th - Early Release - Teacher Prof. Dev.

* September 30th - Picture day Grade 1 and preschool

* October 1st- Picture Day Grade K and preschool

* October 7th - PTO - 6pm - Dudley Elementary Library

* October 10th - Early Release - Teacher Prof. Dev.

* October 13th - No School - Columbus Day

* October 20th - MRS School Council

* November 4th - Make up picture day all grades

* November 4th - PTO - 6pm - Dudley Elementary Library

* November 6th - Early Release - Teacher Conferences

* November 11th - No School - Veterans Day

* November 26th - Early Release

* November 27th - 28th - No School - Holiday Break

* December 2nd - PTO - 6pm - Dudley Elementary Library

* December 12th - Early Release - Teacher Prof. Dev.

* December 23rd - Early Release

* December 24th - January 2nd - No School - Holiday Break

* January 6th - PTO - 6pm - Dudley Elementary Library

* January 19th - No School - MLK Day

* January 20th - MRS School Council

* February 3rd - PTO - 6pm - Dudley Elementary Library

* February 16th - 20th - No School - Winter Break

* March 2nd - PTO - 6pm - Dudley Elementary Library

* March 6th - Early Release - Teacher Prof. Dev.

* March 16th - MRS School Council

* March 26th - Early Release - Teacher Conferences

* March 27th - No School - Teacher Prof. Dev.

* April 3rd - Early Release - Good Friday

* April 7th - PTO - 6pm - Dudley Elementary Library

* April 20th - 24th - No School - Spring Break

* May 5th - PTO - 6pm - Dudley Elementary Library

* May 18th - MRS School Council

* May 22nd - Early Relase - Teacher Prof. Dev.

* May 25th - No School - Memorial Day

* May 31st - Class of 2026 Graduation

* June 2nd - PTO - 6pm - Dudley Elementary Library

* June 10th - Early Relase - Projected Last Day of School (last day will depend on number of snow days needed)

* June 19th - No School

Please refer to the District Calendar for future dates throughout the school year:

Dudley-Charlton Regional School District 2025-2026 School Year Calendar

Dudley-Charlton Regional School District Elementary School Handbook

The DCRSD Elementary School Student Handbook is now available online. You can access it by clicking the image on the right of the screen. The handbook includes important information about school policies, procedures, and expectations for student conduct. It is reviewed annually by the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District School Committee and is on file with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

We encourage all students and their parent(s)/caregiver(s) to take the time to review the handbook and become familiar with its contents. If you prefer a printed copy, please contact the main office at (508) 943-4312, and we will send one home with your child.

Mason Road School Swag

WE HAVE A NEW SCHOOL SPIRIT STORE!! A HUGE thank you to Kerrin Graphics, right in Dudley, for creating this amazing store for families to purchase School Swag at a low cost. Kerrin has done an amazing job on may of the things we use in our District. SHOP AWAY by clicking the SPIRIT picture or by visiting Kerrin Grapics!!!

Dudley-Charlton Education Foundation

CHAMPION: BEFORE/AFTER SCHOOL CHILD CARE

DUDLEY PTO

The Dudley PTO have been a huge supporter of programs, field trips, etc. for Mason Road School. If you are interested in joining the PTO or want to stay up to date on fundraisers, please click on the picture to access their website.

You can also follow the Dudley PTO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DudleyPTO