DMS Delivers

Happy Friday, DMS Families!

It is hard to believe that we are already entering the month of November! The school year continues to fly by, and we are grateful for the many wonderful moments, learning experiences, and opportunities our students and staff share each day.

As we head into the weekend, I want to wish all of our DMS families a Happy and Safe Halloween! I hope everyone enjoys the festivities and makes wonderful memories with family and friends. Please remember to stay safe and have fun!

A Few Important Reminders:

• Sunday, November 1: Daylight Savings, Remember to set your clocks back one hour.

• Monday, November 2: School will be in session as regularly scheduled.

• Tuesday, November 3: There will be NO SCHOOL for students due to a Staff Professional Development Day. Our teachers and staff will be participating in professional learning and collaborative work to continue strengthening teaching and learning for all of our students.

Thank you for being an important part of our DMS community. Wishing everyone a wonderful Halloween weekend!

With Falcon Pride,

Dr. Cheryl Leandro, Principal cleandro@drregional.org

Mr. Sean Kinney, Assistant Principal skinney@drregional.org

Go Falcons! 💚💛...Together, we SOAR! 💚💛

Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the new Cell Phone Policy and it's implementation at DMS.

Our Dighton Middle School front office staff is here to partner with and support you and your child throughout the school year. We are always happy to answer questions, provide assistance, and help connect you with the right person when needed.

Below, you will find the key members of our front office team and their roles. If you would like to reach a staff member by email, our district email addresses follow a simple format:

First initial + last name @ drregional.org

For example, Dr. Cheryl Leandro can be reached at cleandro@drregional.org.

Principal: Dr. Cheryl Leandro

Assistant Principal: Mr. Sean Kinney

Office Secretaries: Karen Alves and Jessica Rapoza

Nurse: Denise Wilkins

Guidance and 504 Coordinator: Aaron Andrade

School Adjustment Counselor: Jennifer DeMatos

School Psychologist Samantha Quinn

Special Education Secretary: Allison Hanson

Special Education Coordinators: Gloria Monty and Katy Sleczkowski

We look forward to working together to make this a successful and positive school year for every DMS student and family!

• 11/2: Soccer: Somerset v. Dighton (Home)
• 11/3: No School- Professional Development Day
• 11/5-11/13: DMS Bookfair
• 11/11: No School Veteran's Day
• 11/17: PTO Meeting @ 6:30 DES Library
• 11/18- Early Release
• 11/23: Picture Retakes
• 12/7: Band Concert Time TBD
• 12/1: PTO Meeting @ 6:30 DES Library
• 12/14: Chorus Concert @ 5pm Location: DRRHS Auditorium
• 2/2: PTO Meeting @ DES Library 6:30pm Start
• 3/16: PTO Meeting @ DES Library 6:30pm Start
• 4/6: PTO Meeting @ DES Library 6:30pm Start
• 5/11: PTO Meeting @ DES Library 6:30pm Start
• 5/21: Color Run
• 5/24 Color Run Rain Date
• 6/1: PTO Meeting @ DES Library 6:30pm Start
• 6/7: Band Concert Time TBD
• 6/10: Chorus Concert @ 6:30 pm Location: DRRHS Auditorium

As we start to move into the holiday season, we are reaching out to all families regarding holiday assistance. Please be sure to let us know if your family could benefit from any food assistance around the holidays by completing this form no later than November 13th for Thanksgiving assistance and December 11th for December holiday assistance. All requests for assistance will be kept confidential.

The Dighton Middle School community is coming together this holiday season to support local families in need through our Falcons for Families initiative!

Our mission is to bring our school and community together through generosity, compassion, and the spirit of giving. We want to help make the holidays brighter for local families and ensure that every child has the opportunity to experience the joy of the season.

Throughout November and the first week of December, DMS students will have opportunities to participate in fun, meaningful activities that encourage them to use their talents and interests to give back.

💪 Push-Ups for Presents — Physical Education

During the first week of December, students will participate in a push-up challenge to raise funds for local families. Donations can be collected for each push-up completed or as a flat contribution. For more information, students can speak with Mr. Gousie during PE classes.

🎵 Practicing for Presents — Band

Band students will put their musical skills to work during the first week of December. Students can collect pledges based on their practice time or receive a flat donation to support the cause. Every note practiced helps make a difference!

📚 Pages for Presents — Library

Throughout November and into the first week of December, students are encouraged to read as much as they can while collecting support from family and friends. Donations can be pledged for each page read or made as a one-time contribution.

🥤 Stacking for Stockings — STEM

During the first week of December, students will put their creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills to the test through a cup-stacking challenge. Families can support participants with donations based on the challenge or through a flat contribution.

❤️ Together, We Can Make a Difference!

Falcons for Families is about more than fundraising. It is about teaching our students the importance of kindness, teamwork, and helping others. By working together, we can make a meaningful difference for local families and help bring joy to children throughout our community this holiday season.

Thank you to our students, families, staff, and community members for supporting this important initiative. Let’s show what it means to be a Falcon by giving back and making sure no family feels forgotten during the holidays!

Once a Falcon, always a Falcon — Falcons helping families! 🦅🎁

Dighton Middle School will once again participate in collecting for the Feinstein Food Pantry beginning on November 2nd. All items will be counted, sorted (by student volunteers) and divided between our DMS Community Closet and the Dighton Food Pantry for distribution to any Dighton Resident! Please have all donations in by December 11th! The grade with the most items collected will be awarded with a special surprise!

Below is a list of preferred items by grade, but of course any non-perishable donation is greatly appreciated (they are always in need of aluminum foil/plastic wrap, toiletries, toilet paper, tissues, paper towels).

Grade 5: Soap; Peanut Butter; Jelly; Chef Boyardee/Spaghettios

Grade 6: Shampoo; Canned Meats (Tuna, Chicken, Spam); Cake mix/Brownie Mix/Jiffy Mix

Grade 7: Deodorant; Soups & Hearty Soups; Baked Beans; Boxed Rice/Noodles (Rice a Roni - Knorr)

Grade 8: Toothpaste; Cereal; Spaghetti Sauce (plastic or canned preferred); Pasta (spaghetti, ziti, elbows)

This year marks the third annual blood drive held in memory of Donna Arruda, who worked in the Beckwith School kitchen and tragically lost her life in a car accident four years ago. The blood drive honors her memory and celebrates the spirit of giving back to the community. The link provided will take individuals directly to the registration page, where they can sign up to donate blood in her honor.

Please use THIS LINK to sign up.

We’re seeking our first Falcon Cup recipient of the 2026–27 school year!

As One Falcon Family, we want to celebrate the people who make our district special. Student, staff member, classroom, or DR group - who do you think deserves this recognition?

Nominate a candidate now!

Mark your calendars, Picture Retake Day is scheduled for November 23rd. Ordering online is easy, visit https://inter-state.com/FlyerEntry/0716FBF.

The Arts and Cultural Vitality Committee is looking for parent volunteers to join our team! Our goal is to help ensure that every student’s DR experience reflects and celebrates the diverse cultures, identities, and perspectives of our district families. If you’re interested in getting involved, please email Brian Michaud at bmichaud@drregional.org.

Is your child (a current 6th-8th grader) interested in trying out for the DMS Middle School Basketball Team? If so, please complete this form by November 2nd.

Our first School Council meeting will take place on Oct. 28th at 2:45pm. The agenda can be found by clicking HERE.

Dighton Middle School's instructional day begins at 8:15 a.m. Students may enter the building starting at 7:45 a.m. The school day ends at 2:30 p.m. Please inform the school office (508-669-4200) of any changes to dismissal plans.

The late bus departs DMS at 3:10 and heads to DES, where students can board the appropriate bus home.

As part of the DR Wellness Committee’s commitment to fostering a positive school community, we are excited to reinstate our Gratitude Initiative! We invite students, staff, and families to share their appreciation for our incredible staff. We believe that expressing gratitude can uplift spirits and strengthen our connections.

To participate, simply fill out the Google Form to recognize a staff member who has made a positive impact on you or your family/child. Your submissions will be featured in a DR Wellness Committee Newsletter, celebrating the hard work an