Beckwith Bulletin

August 22, 2025
BMS Community,
Summer is winding down, and the new school year is just around the corner! We’re excited to welcome students back on the first day of school (Wednesday, September 3rd).
Please see below for important back-to-school information, including:
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5th Grade and New Student Orientation Flyer
A message from the Superintendent
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Backpack and school supply information
Drop Off / Pickup Procedure
Welcome to Our New Staff
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Bus Route Information (routes have not been published yet)
Fall Sports and Clubs
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Recommended School Supplies
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Summer Reading Expectations
Where to Report on the First Day of School
Aspen and Student Paperwork and Schedule Information
School Cafeteria and Lunch Information (menus have not been published yet)
School Nurse Information
Student Absence Procedure
Student Handbook
Clothes & Shoes Recycle Bin
Family Resource Center
District Calendar & Related Arts Calendar
Important Dates
In the News
Rehoboth PTSA Link
Classic Car Show
We look forward to a great start to the year!!! #WeAreDR!
SUPERINTENDENT'S BACK TO SCHOOL MESSAGE
Click below for a welcome back message from Superintendent Bill Runey.
DROP OFF / PICKUP PROCEDURE
We follow the same procedure above for Pickup. The School Day ends at 2:30 p.m. (dismissal begins at this time).
WELCOME TO OUR NEW STAFF!!!
We are excited to share our new staff for the 2025-2026 school year.
- Priyanka Kusumwal will be taking over for Gelene Sousa who retired and will be teaching 7th and 8th Grade Science. Priyanka is coming from the Mansfield Public Schools where she taught middle school science. She holds a Master's of Science in Microbiology, A Bachelor of Science in General Science and a Bachelor of Education in Education. Priyanka is excited about the opportunity to share her passion for science and her commitment to student success.
- Jennifer Brochu is a new district reading specialist who will be housed for the majority of the time at Beckwith. She has been a certified reading specialist since 2002 and also holds certifications as an elementary school teacher and special education. She is trained in both Orton-Gillingham and Wilson.
- Adam Rodrigues will be a new paraprofessional who has experience as a paraprofessional in the Fall River Public Schools and Whitney Academy. He looks forward to bringing his passion, experience, and collaborative spirit to the Beckwith Middle School community.
BUS ROUTES
Please note that bus routes will be made available on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. They will be emailed to parents.
FALL SPORTS AND CLUBS
Please note that cross country, girls soccer, and boys soccer tryouts are slated to start on September 4th and 5th until 4:00 p.m. If something changes, we will let you know.
A current physical must be on file in the health room in order to try out. Physicals are valid for 13 months. Students without a current physical on file will not be permitted to try out.
ACE Clubs and other school clubs will not start until we are well in to the beginning of the school year. We will provide this information when available.
2025-26 SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Click below for the DRRSD School Supplies List
BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES AVAILABLE
We are fortunate that the Greater Attleboro Council for Children has once again shown their generosity by donating backpacks and school supplies to support our students. These resources help ensure that every student starts the school year feeling prepared and confident. If your student would benefit from receiving a backpack or supplies, please reach out to Mrs. DiFilippo, guidance counselor, mdifilippo@drregional.org or 508-252-5080, who will be happy to assist. We will respect your confidentiality through this process
SUMMER READING
Summer Reading Overview:
Grade 5: Students may choose between reading a book or keeping an experience journal centered around the theme "Experiences."
Grade 6: Students will select a book related to the theme "Tolerance" and complete a brief reading reflection.
Grade 7: Students will read Hatchet by Gary Paulsen and answer comprehension questions. All materials can be accessed through the Grade 7 Summer Reading Google Classroom.
Grade 8: Students will read Uglies by Scott Westerfeld and complete an evidence log. Materials are available on the Grade 8 Summer Reading Google Classroom.
Both Grade 7 and Grade 8 novels will be incorporated into students’ beginning-of-year writing assessments, so timely completion is especially important.
Where to Find Everything:
All materials, instructions, and book lists can be accessed here:
Summer Reading Website Link
WHERE TO REPORT ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
All 5th grade students will report to the cafeteria on the first day.
6-8th grade students will report to their homeroom.
To find your child's homeroom, you must be on the Dighton-Rehoboth Parent Portal website. Click on the link earlier in this paragraph or go to the Beckwith Middle School website and under "Menu" and "Aspen Portals," click "Aspen Parent Portal."
Next, click on family, select your child, use the details tab on the left and then select demographics. It will be in the bottom right corner. To view this from your phone, you have to "view full site" on the left or view it from a computer.
ASPEN AND STUDENT PAPERWORK AND SCHEDULE INFORMATION
Students (and parents) will be able to log into the Aspen Portal on August 23, 2025 to view their schedule. Email Mrs. DiFilippo, BMS Guidance Counselor, at mdifilippo@drregional.org if you have questions about student schedules.
In addition, in Aspen, there is a section called "Permissions" that needs to be completed by all new families and reviewed by returning families. Please be sure to log into the Aspen account and select your "Permissions" for each student.
For information about the Aspen Portal, please CLICK HERE.
The only paperwork that will be sent home and requires a signature includes the Pupil Information Sheet, the Consent for Medication form, and the Free and Reduced Lunch Form (if applicable - click below or use fill out the form by using the online app CLICK HERE). These forms should be returned no later than September 15th.
SCHOOL CAFETERIA INFORMATION
School breakfast and lunch will once again be provided free of charge to all students; however, all students must use the point-of-sale system to obtain their free lunch. Please encourage your child to remember their lunch pin number, as this helps speed up the lunch lines. If a student forgets their pin, the cafeteria workers need to look it up, which can cause delays. Please note that only breakfast will be served on early release days.
While meals are available to all students at no cost, we kindly ask all families to complete the eligibility paperwork, which can be found above. Accurate completion of this confidential paperwork is crucial, as school funding and competitive grants at both state and national levels depend on capturing our student population accurately. Please complete the form and return it to BMS. If you need any assistance, feel free to contact the main office.
Additionally, please see below for a letter from Whitson's with instructions on setting up a MySchoolBucks account, which is required for purchasing snacks. This letter also includes information about the cafeteria's interactive menu and relevant contact details.
LUNCH MENUS
SCHOOL NURSE INFORMATION
Please note that a current physical and proof of immunization T-Dap booster, 2nd varicella, and meningitis vaccines are required for entrance to grade 7. Please email proof to cmondor@drregional.org.
If your child/children require medications during the school day, it is essential to complete the parent medication forms and obtain doctor orders for the school nurse so the medication may be given. Doctor's orders may be faxed to the school at: 508-252-5082 with attention to Nurse Mondor.
Additionally, prescription medications must be in the original container with the student's name, the name of the medication, and the dosage on the label. Medications should not be delivered to school by students and parents and guardians should make arrangements with the school health office for dropping off medications. If you have any questions, then please email Mrs. Mondor (see email above).
STUDENT ABSENCE PROCEDURE
Thank you for notifying us when your child will be absent. Please note that while these notifications prevent you from receiving an automated call from the district, they do not excuse the absence.
School attendance and punctuality are strongly linked to academic success. Time spent in class is invaluable and cannot be fully replicated by simply providing the absent student with missed work. Frequent absences can create gaps in a student's education that may affect them for years to come. For more information on attendance and absences, please review the Student Handbook.
To report your student's absence, please call the 24/7 Absence Line by the start of the school day (8:15 a.m.). Leave a message with your child's name and the reason for the absence. You can reach the Absence Line by calling 508-252-5080 and pressing 1. Alternatively, you may email the Main Office at bmsattendance@drregional.org by 8:15 a.m. This email address can also be used to report tardies or dismissals.
Families of students marked as having an unexcused absence who do not call the Absence Line or email the above address by 8:15 a.m. will receive a phone call, text message, and email notification from the District at 9:15 a.m., prompting them to confirm the absence with the Main Office as soon as possible.
All absences are considered unexcused except for the following: student medical appointment/illness/quarantine (with a doctor's note), bereavement, family emergencies, observance of major religious holidays, inclement weather that endangers the child's health, court appearances, out-of-school suspension, disability-related absences, and unique circumstances approved at the Principal's discretion. In cases of chronic or irregular absences reportedly due to illness, the school administration may request a physician's statement certifying the absences as justifiable.
Please arrange for doctor's notes to be sent to the Main Office via fax at 508-252-5082 or via email at bmsattendance@drregional.org.
STUDENT HANDBOOK
CLOTHES AND SHOES RECYCLE BIN
We have partnered with Clothes Bin to maintain a clothes and shoes recycling bin on the Beckwith Campus. They collect, manage, and distribute clothes, shoes, and textiles. If you have any clothes or shoes that could be recycled, please feel free to drop it in the bin which is located at the far end of the parking lot. Beckwith Middle School receives funds for donated contents. To learn more about Clothes Bin, please CLICK HERE.
FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER - RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES
The Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District has made a community connection with Community & Social Services | Old Colony YMCA. Their Family Resource Center is available to both Dighton and Rehoboth families and has much to offer in the form of support. Please feel free to check out all that they have to offer by using the previous links.
DISTRICT CALENDAR
CLICK HERE for the 2025-2026 District Calendar which was approved by the School Committee.
RELATED ARTS COLOR CALENDAR
September 3 & 4 - Red Days
September 5 & 8 - White Days
September 9 & 10 - Blue Days
September 11 & 12 - Red Days
September 15 & 16 - White Days
September 17 & 18 - Blue Days
September 19 & 22 - Red Days
September 23 & 24 - White Days
September 25 & 26 - Blue Days
September 29 & 30 - Red Days
IMPORTANT DATES
*September 1 - Labor Day - No School
*September 3 First Day of School for Students in Grades 1-12
*September 4-5 Soccer Tryouts until 4:00 p.m.
*September 4-5 - Cross Country Tryouts until 4:00 p.m.
*September 5 - Patriots Spirit Day (Students and Staff are encouraged to wear New England Patriots clothing or their favorite NFL team or red, white,and blue)
*September 9 - Soccer Rehoboth @ Middleboro
*September 9 - School Committee Meeting 6:30 p.m.
*September 10 - Cross Country Rehoboth and Swansea @ Berkley
*September 11 - Soccer Dighton @ Rehoboth
*September 11 - PTSA Meeting
*September 15 - Student Forms to be returned no later than this date
*September 16 - Soccer Swansea @ Rehoboth
*September 17 - Cross Country Middleboro @ Rehoboth
*September 18 - Open House BMS 6:00-8:00 p.m.
IN THE NEWS - FROM THE REPORTER TODAY
Beckwith Middle School Honor Roll (Trimester 3 - June 2025)
Beckwith Softball & Baseball Have Strong Seasons - June 5, 2025
Middle School Students, Runey Honored by Lions - May 23, 2025
Beckwith Students Perform at 2025 Junior SEMSBA Music Festival - May 5, 2025
Beckwith Middle School's Project 351 Ambassador - May 2, 2025
Beckwith Middle School 2024/2025 Trimester 2 Honor Roll - March 31, 2025
Beckwith Middle School Math Team - March 28, 2025
Beckwith Middle School Students Shine at Junior District Music Festival - March 13, 2025
Basketball at Beckwith - March 6, 2025
Beckwith Middle School Receives National Banner Recognition - February 28, 2025
Introducing SCOOP DOGG! Highway Department "Name a Truck" Contest - February 11, 2025
Click the #WeAreDR photo above to access the school district's Facebook page
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Dorothy L. Beckwith Middle School
The mission of the Dighton-Rehoboth middle schools, in collaboration with parents and the community, is to develop the whole child and to provide students with the knowledge, skills, global education, technology, and social responsibility to become contributing citizens and life-long learners in our ever-changing world.
Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected group.
Email: bmsattendance@drregional.org
Website: bms.drregional.org
Location: 330r Winthrop Street, Rehoboth, MA, USA
Phone: 508-252-5080
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