Dighton-Rehoboth Regional Schools

Dear DR Community,

As I shared in my message to families yesterday, Staff Appreciation Week is a meaningful opportunity to recognize the people who support our students every day. It takes an entire team to create the experience our students have in our schools. A simple note of appreciation can go a long way in recognizing that impact. I encourage you to take a moment this week to reach out to a staff member who has made a difference. It’s a small gesture that truly reflects the spirit of #WeAreDR.

With important milestones ahead, including MCAS, end-of-year celebrations, and graduation on the horizon, we’re focused on finishing the year strong, together.

Together, we are DR!

#WeAreDR 💚💛
Words we live by.

We Empower. We Ignite. We Shape.
#DT2030 #PoG #EIS #MovingTheNeedle

Take care,

Bill Runey

Superintendent of Schools

Congratulations to Katie Jefferson’s Kindergarten class at Palmer River Elementary School on winning our “Name the Falcon Contest” and being our FIRST recipient of the DR Falcon Cup! Ms. Jefferson’s class named our mascot, Falco the Falcon, after learning that falcons are fast, strong, laser-focused, and never give up: just like our students. Watch the video below, or here!

The Falcon Cup will serve as a rotating recognition, honoring students, staff, classrooms, and groups across Dighton-Rehoboth Regional Schools who embody our DRiving Toward 2030 characteristics and #WeAreDR culture.

Nominate a DRRSD student, staff member, classroom, or group to be the next recipient of The Falcon Cup!

Here is the link to the summer reading for the high school. The middle and elementary will be posted SOON!! Check back!

• Elementary Schools
• Middle Schools
• High School
  

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We are proud to recognize Aiden Beagan and Ainsley Zibrida as our Student-Athletes of the Month for April in recognition of their leadership, dedication, and outstanding performances in their respective programs. Sophomore Aiden Beagan has made an immediate impact on the boys volleyball team as the primary setter, showing tremendous growth early in the season. He currently leads the team with 82 assists through eight games, along with 15 kills, and has earned praise from opposing coaches for his poise and maturity. His leadership and steady play have helped guide the team to be competitive night in and night out, and he is expected to continue his leadership as a future Green and Gold Ambassador.

Senior captain Ainsley Zibrida has been a standout leader for the girls lacrosse team and a five-year member of the program. She reached her 100th career point early this season and now has 117 career points, including 55 goals and 62 assists, helping lead the team to a strong 6–1 start. Ainsley is a dynamic scorer, a skilled playmaker, and a dominant presence in the draw circle, while consistently modeling positivity and composure for her teammates. In addition to lacrosse, she has served as captain of the girls soccer team and competed in winter track. Ainsley also excels academically with a 4.0 GPA and will attend the University of Connecticut to study Allied Health Sciences. Together, Aiden and Ainsley exemplify the pride, leadership, and commitment of Dighton-Rehoboth student-athletes, and we are proud to celebrate their achievements.

As you may know, we have partnered with Karen Shmukler and Bill Lupini from Ribas to conduct a comprehensive Special Education Audit of our programming. This process has included an initial round of interviews with a wide range of stakeholders, and a visit to all five schools to observe special education classrooms, programs, and staff in action. The next phase of the audit will include surveys for both staff and families. We will be sure to share those once they are available, so please be on the lookout. These surveys may be followed by a second round of interviews. Once the audit is complete, we will share a summary of findings, including both commendations and any recommendations to help guide our continued growth and improvement.

Our Alumni Spotlight celebrates the journeys and achievements of Dighton-Rehoboth graduates while highlighting the lasting impact of their school experience. By sharing alumni stories, we Empower, Ignite, and Shape connections across generations, inspire current students, and showcase the many paths to success beyond DR.

You can find our April Alumni Spotlight here.

Are you a graduate? Stay connected and join our Alumni Connection here.

Our district has been awarded a competitive federal grant to enhance how we support student emotional regulation and safety. This initiative aligns with the 2025 Massachusetts Department of Education (DESE) regulations, moving our schools toward proactive, trauma-informed care and away from traditional "time-out" practices. We held a couple initial meetings focusing on reflecting on current practices and making goals. In our next meeting, we will focus on creating Action Plans for implementation. We are focused on developing data collection tools and acquiring materials for the “cozy corners” or “zen dens” in classrooms to support all students. We have partnered with the South Coast Educational Collaborative to support this initiative. This partnership will include training and coaching for staff, as well as presentations for families.

The District Wellness Committee held their last meeting for the year and celebrated a strong year of initiatives, including wellness coaching, policy review, and engaging activities like the Logo Contest, BINGO, and the development of quarterly newsletters. Looking ahead, the focus will be on increasing student voice, expanding school representation, and boosting participation through student ambassadors, recognition efforts, and simple, inclusive wellness activities that strengthen connections and promote a positive school culture.

We still have spots available in; Carpentry, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood, Fun with Food, and Mad Scientist. Register for the DR Summer Experience now!

For the first time in many years, the 2026-2027 school year will start before Labor Day. Please thoroughly review the calendar linked below prior to making travel/vacation plans.

CLICK HERE FOR 2026-2027 DISTRICT CALENDAR

The next meeting will be held at BMS on May 12, 2026. All meetings are scheduled to commence at 6:30 p.m.

Meals are subject to change and will be reflected in the DR App and webpage, but not in this folder.

Please find the recently updated Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan for the Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District here.

Here is the School Committee approved Academic Calendar for 25-26.