DMS Delivers
September 26, 2025

Welcome to the 2026-2027 School Year!
Dear DMS Families,
It has been another wonderful week at Dighton Middle School! Our students and staff have been busy reviewing expectations, building positive rapport, making new friendships, and getting to know one another. Classrooms are buzzing with energy, and learning is underway! We are so proud of the way our Falcons are settling into routines, supporting one another, and helping to create a positive and welcoming school community.
We would also like to extend a warm invitation to our DMS families to join us for Open House on Thursday, September 17th at 6:00 PM. We look forward to welcoming families into our school, sharing what our students will be learning this year, and continuing to build strong partnerships between home and school. Your partnership is an important part of helping our Falcons soar!
We are excited to celebrate our Falcon Pride on Friday, Sept. 18th, βTogether, We Are All Falcons!β Day! We encourage all students and staff to show their DMS spirit by wearing Green and Gold as we come together to celebrate Dighton Middle School and that we are ALL FALCONS .
Go Falcons! ππ...Together, we SOAR! ππ
With Falcon Pride,
Dr. Cheryl Leandro, Principal cleandro@drregional.org
Mr. Sean Kinney, Assistant Principal skinney@drregional.org
Superintendent Runey's Welcome Back Message to Families
Staying Connected
Office Staff
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!
Together, We Are All Falcons! ππ
On Friday, September 18, our district will come together for βTogether, We Are All Falcons!β - a celebration designed to ignite our districtwide spirit, honor our unified PKβ12+ Falcon identity, and celebrate the pride that connects all five of our schools. Staff members are encouraged to wear their Convocation Day shirts, while students are invited to show their school spirit by wearing Green & Gold. This celebration builds on our long-standing Green & Gold Spirit Day tradition while giving it new meaning: from our youngest learners to our graduating seniors, we are all Falcons now. Letβs fill our schools with Green & Gold and celebrate what it means to be part of one district, one community, and one Falcon family. Together, We Are DR!
Aspen Permissions
One of the required "Permissions" youβll be asked to sign in Aspen is the Student Handbook. Please take a few moments to review the handbook to ensure you are familiar with both school and district guidelines. Click below to review our student handbook.
Medication Reminder
Before medication can be administered:
- Please complete all required medication forms.
- Provide a physicianβs order for any prescription medication.
- Send prescription medications in their original pharmacy container, with the label clearly displaying:
- Your childβs name
- The name of the medication
- The prescribed dosage
π« For the safety of all students, medications should never be sent to school with your child.
Parents and guardians should make arrangements directly with the DMS Health Office for medication drop-off.
If you have questions about medication procedures or would like to arrange a drop-off, please contact our school nurse, Mrs. Denise Wilkins, at dwilkins@drregional.org. We appreciate your partnership in helping us keep our students safe, healthy, and ready to learn!
School Council 26-27
We are looking for interested parents & community members to join this year's School Council. If you are interested, please send an email to cleandro@drregional.org
Upcoming Events
- 9/15: Soccer: Dighton v. Berkley (Away)
- 9/16: Soccer: Dighton v. Middleborough (Away)
- 9/17: DMS Open House 6-8pm
- 9/18: Together, We Are All Falcons: Wear Green and Gold!
- 9/21: Soccer: Dighton v. Free-Lake (Home)
- 9/22: Soccer: Dighton v. Rehoboth (Home)
- 9/25: PTO Meeting @ 6:30 DES Library
- 10/11: Unified Fun Run/5K (see flyer below)
- 10/20: Fall Picture Day
- 10/25: DES/DMS Fall Fest
- 11/17: PTO Meeting @ 6:30 DES Library
- 12/7: Band Concert Time TBD
- 12/1: PTO Meeting @ 6:30 DES Library
- 12/14: Chorus Concert @ 5pm Location: DRRHS Auditorium
- 5/21: Color Run
- 5/24 Color Run Rain Date
- 6/7: Band Concert Time TBD
- 6/10: Chorus Concert @ 6:30 pm Location: DRRHS Auditorium
2026-2027 District Calendar
Recommended School Supply List
Backpacks and School Supplies Available
If you need any assistance with purchasing school supplies, a backpack, or a lunchbox for your child, please don't hesitate to reach out to Mr. Kinney and Dr. Leandro- we're here to support you and ensure every student has what they need to start the year off right.
Student Service Resources
Information Regarding School Meals
School Meals and Cafeteria Information
We are pleased to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students each school day. Our goal is to ensure that every child has access to nutritious meals that support their health, well-being, and success at school.
Weekly menus will be shared in our weekly newsletter to help families plan ahead.
Although meals are provided at no cost, milk and water are available for purchase each day for students who would like an additional beverage with their lunch.
As the school year gets underway, we will gradually introduce snack sales in the cafeteria.
Families may use cash or check for snack and beverage purchases. We also encourage families to consider MySchoolBucks, a convenient way to manage meal accounts. Through the MySchoolBucks website or app, families can create or manage an account, reset passwords, view balances, and add funds directly to their childβs account.
Finally, we kindly ask all families to complete the Free & Reduced Lunch Application, even though meals are provided free of charge. The information collected through these applications plays an important role in determining school funding and eligibility for valuable grant opportunities, which directly support our students and school community.
We appreciate your partnership in helping us make sure every student has access to the meals and resources they need to have a successful school day.
The Free & Reduced Lunch Application is linked below for your convenience.
Open House
Start and End Times for Middle School
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.
Bus Routes
Please find the bus routes from Bloom Bus Company on the district website by clicking the button below. If your child's bus stop is not on the expected route, please email or call the school to let us know so that we can work with Bloom to fix any errors.
Late Bus
The late bus for DMS students will begin on Tuesday, September 8th. The late bus departs DMS at 3:10 and heads to DES, where students can board the appropriate bus home.
DMS Drop off/Pick Up Route
Sports and Activies Information for DMS Students
Unified Bocce
Registration is now open for our Unified Bocce Team. Bocce offers a wonderful opportunity for students of all skill levelsβno prior experience is necessary. Athletes and partners participate side by side, building lasting connections while developing teamwork, sportsmanship, and active habits.
If your child is interested in participating in this rewarding experience, please complete this sign-up form by September 18th. Students will walk supervised to the bocce courts behind the Lion's Pavilion, next door to town hall.
Season Schedule:
First practice September 24th
Season Dates to be determined by Special Olympics
Parents are welcome to watch their student(s) play at the Bocce courts. Expected pick-up time will be 3:30 p.m. There will be a $200 participation fee which will cover your child's participation in any Unified Sports Program (Bocce, Bowling and Basketball) throughout the year.
If you have any questions please reach out to Jennifer deMatos at jdematos@drregional.org or 508-669-4200 x. 2304. We look forward to a fantastic season!
Technology Repair Fees
DR Inclusive Sports Open House
FUN RUN/5K To Benefit Unified Sports
Join us for the Unified 5k and Mile Fun Run. Proceeds raise will benefit both DMS and BMS Unified Sports. Click here to sign up or donate.
Place
2700 Regional Rd
North Dighton, MA US 02764
Description
Registration & Check-In: 8:00 AM-9:45 AM
5K Race: 10:00 AM
1 Mile Fun Run: 11:00 AM
Awards will be immediately after the fun run:
Awards 5K: Top 3 male and female finishers of each age division
(7-10, 11-14, 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+)
Awards 1 Mile Fun Run: Top 3 finishers male and female; medals for all participants
Entry Fees:
5K: $25.00 Early Bird (5/1/26 thru 9/21/26) $30.00 Regular (9/22/26 thru 10/10 @ 6pm)(includes t-shirt and medals for top finishers)
Race Day: $35
1 Mile Fun Run: $20.00 (includes t-shirt and ribbons for all) participants
Course: The Dighton Rehoboth High School Cross Country Course
Amenities: T-shirts for all runners registered by 9/21