The Weekly Buzz

Dear Families,

Did you know? Palmer River Elementary School is on track to become a Unified School this year through our partnership with Special Olympics Massachusetts! This exciting milestone recognizes our ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive school community where every student feels seen, supported, and celebrated. This week's Unity Day (wear orange) was the first event to celebrate our school's involvement in the Unified program.

As a Unified School, Palmer River embraces the mission of the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program—bringing students of all abilities together through shared experiences in learning, leadership, and play. Our students participate in activities that build friendship, promote kindness, and encourage teamwork both in and out of the classroom.

By becoming a Unified School, we’re not only fostering empathy and inclusion but also empowering our students to model respect and acceptance every day. We are so proud of our school community for embracing this important work and look forward to celebrating this achievement together later this year!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Kristine Kefor, Principal & Mrs. Cassey Monte, Assistant Principal

#WeAreDR!

• Halloween Spirit Day: Friday, October 31st
• Professional Learning Day for Staff-No School: Tuesday, November 4th
• Veterans Day Tribute: Monday, November 10th
• Holiday/No School: Tuesday, November 11th
• Saving Makes Cents Banking Day: November 20th
• Early Release Due to Parent Teacher Conferences/No PM PreK: Thursday, November 20th and Friday, November 21st
• Early Release/No PM PreK: Wednesday, November 26th
• Holiday/No School: Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th
• Fall Picture Make Up/Retake Day: Tuesday, December 2nd

The holidays are just around the corner, and the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District is once again partnering with the Greater Attleboro Council for Children through the Christmas Is for Kids program to bring joy and comfort to local families in need. Superintendent Runey emailed all district families earlier today with details about the program and how to apply.

Families who have previously participated must apply by Friday, November 8, and new families have until Friday, November 22. Applications are available at each school, the Superintendent’s Office, or online. Donations are also welcome—your generosity helps make DReams come true for even more children this season!

For more information or to apply, visit www.councilforchildren.org or contact bruney@drregional.org. Together, we are DR! 💚💛

We know we've shared this previously, but we are so excited to share that both elementary schools in DRRSD will be implementing newly updated report cards this year! The report cards will now be distributed twice per year—at the end of each semester (January and June), rather than by trimester. These updates include several important changes designed to better reflect student learning and growth.

This work was completed by the Report Card Committee, which thoughtfully reviewed and revised the format and content—our first major update since 2018. These changes are intended to provide families with a clearer and more comprehensive view of student progress.

Since the first report cards will not be shared until January, we want to ensure that families remain informed about their child’s learning. To support strong communication, we have extended the November Parent-Teacher Conference blocks to allow ample time to discuss each student’s progress in detail.

Please note the following conference dates:

• Early Release Days: Thursday, November 20, and Friday, November 21

• Evening Conferences: Thursday, November 20

We value your partnership and look forward to these meaningful conversations about your child’s growth and success.

We’re excited to celebrate a school-wide Spirit Day at Palmer River Elementary School on Halloween — Friday, October 31st! Students are invited (but not required) to come to school in their Halloween costumes to help us celebrate this fun and festive day. We’re looking forward to seeing all the creativity and school spirit!

To ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience, please note the following guidelines:

• Costumes are optional—students are welcome to participate, or may choose not to dress up.

• No masks may be worn during the school day.

• No weapons or weapon-like accessories (including toy swords, guns, or similar items) are allowed at school.

• Makeup should be applied at home before arriving at school and should not be brought for use or touch-ups during the day.

• Costumes should allow students to comfortably participate in all regular school activities.

We look forward to a fun day of school spirit and creativity! Thank you for helping us make this a safe and enjoyable celebration for everyone.

**The program will be live streamed for families viewing from home/work. A link will be shared with families prior to the program.

This October, Palmer River Elementary School is partnering with the East Bay Community Action Program to host a Socktober Drive, encouraging students and families to donate new socks of all sizes.

Collection bins will be placed in classrooms, making it easy for students to drop off their donations throughout the month. Each week, members of the school’s 4th Grade Student Leadership Program, known as the Community Connectors, will count and empty the bins. The school-wide total will be announced every Friday, building excitement and encouraging participation.

All collected socks will be donated to local shelters to help support individuals and families in need as the colder months approach.

Palmer River is proud to join this community effort and looks forward to seeing students and families come together to make a difference during Socktober.

Blizzard of Giving – Support for Rehoboth Families

The Blizzard of Giving program is available to all Rehoboth residents in need of support during the holiday season. The application is available for printing below.

Important Eligibility Information:

• This program is for parents or legal guardians with physical custody of children living in Rehoboth, MA.

• It is intended for families who have no other means of providing gifts for their children.

• Applications are accepted for children from newborns through high school (up to age 22 for those with special needs).

• Children who attend college or have left school are not eligible for this program.

The Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District

Website: https://pres.drregional.org/

Location: 326 Winthrop Street, Rehoboth, MA 02769

Phone: 508-252-5100/Fax: 508-252-5110

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.