DMS Delivers

Have a great weekend!

• October 22nd: Soccer Game at Dighton
• October 22nd: School Committee Meeting at 6:30 p.m.
• October 28th: Soccer Game at Norton
• October 29th: Soccer Game at Somerset
• November 4th: SEPAC Meeting
• November 5th: No School- Professional Development Day
• November 6th: PTO Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
• November 7th: Scholastic Book Fair begins- in Library Class
• November 11th: No School- Veteran's Day
• November 12th: School Committee Meeting at 6:30 p.m.
• November 13th: Picture Retake Day
• November 18th: DMS School Council Meeting
• November 26th: School Committee Meeting at 6:30 p.m.
• November 27th: Early Release- Thanksgiving

As a reminder to all families, we are halfway through Trimester I. Students have been reminded to check in with their teachers to ensure that they are up to date with class assignments, but we also wanted to make families aware. Please be sure to check Aspen Parent Portal for up to date information, and if you have any questions, reach out to the classroom teacher. In addition, if your child is not making effective progress in classes, you will receive a letter from our Office of Student Services indicating such. We are hoping to be as proactive as possible in supporting students within our new trimester structure.

To learn more about our upcoming Book Fair, please see below, or click on the title above to access the Scholastic web page. You can also set- up an E-Wallet through the web page as well.

Dear Families,

We hope this message finds you well. As part of our commitment to maintaining our technology resources, we wanted to inform you about our updated repair fee structure. This will go into effect on October 28, 2024. These fees help us cover the cost of repairs when school-issued devices are damaged due to misuse or carelessness. The fees are divided into three tiers, depending on the extent of the damage:

• Level 1: Charger, Cover (top or bottom), Touchpad, etc- $40
• Level 2: Keyboard, Monitor- $75
• Level 3: Total Loss/Replacement- $300

We encourage students to handle their devices with care to avoid any damage and the associated costs. If a device does require repair, the appropriate fee will be communicated to you along with the steps to resolve the issue.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support in keeping our technology in great condition!

Please see below for an essay contest opportunity for 6th- 8th grade that is sponsored by the VFW. If you would like a paper copy, please reach out to the DMS Main Office.

Old Colony Habitat for Humanity is excited to announce that the application for our next home at 5 Chester Court in Taunton is OPEN!

Old Colony Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that helps families build and improve places to call home. We believe affordable housing plays a critical role in strong and stable communities. We service 24 communities in Norfolk & Bristol counties (Assonet, Attleboro, Bellingham, Berkley, Dighton, East Freetown, Fall River, Foxboro, Franklin, Mansfield, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Norton, Plainville, Raynham, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, Taunton, Wrentham) and applicants must live or work in one of these towns. Our mission is to build homes, communities, and hope, as everyone deserves a safe and decent place to live. You will find more info here: https://oldcolonyhabitat.org/home-ownership/

In order to qualify for our homeowner program, applicants must (a) have a need for safe and decent housing; (b) have lived or worked in our service area for at least a year; (c) attend homeownership / financial management seminars at our offices; (d) meet the HUD median income guidelines; (e) have secure employment, good credit, legal residency, no felony convictions, and no more than one misdemeanor; (f) be able to pay a down payment; (g) demonstrate an ability to pay a mortgage on time, in full, each month; (h) willing to partner with Old Colony Habitat for Humanity by completing the required sweat equity. The requirement is 250 hours of sweat equity hours.

A Habitat partnership may be the solution for your family, if:

• You are able to make housing, taxes, and insurance payments
• Your maximum household income does not exceed 80% of the area median income
• You are unable to qualify for conventional mortgage financing for a market rate home
• You are a first-time home buyer (some exceptions may apply)
• You are a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Your Household meets the income and asset limits

There are initial requirements for the application process. In order to determine eligibility, individuals should fill out this Google Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mpz28pKlwk4ZjFoj9aekNHJ-uQYmlNWZ_xXufPvd0U0/edit?pli=1 .If the potential applicant qualifies, an application will be sent. The application deadline is Friday, December 6, 2024, at 5PM.

Please contact family@oldcolonyhabitat.org for any questions.