DES Principal's Eagle News!

• Principal's Message
• Kindergarten Orientation Success
• Feinstein Golden Ticket
• Communication-DES Thrillshare Website, Facebook, Smore Newsletters
• Upcoming September Events
• DES School-Wide Calendar 23-24
• Aspen Family Portal
• Drop off & Pick up reminders
• Student Pick up Forms
• Attendance
• Early Dismissal Procedures
• PBIS
• DES School Pledge
• Lunch Forms, Menus, & School Bucks
• Dighton Firecracker Festival
• Oakie Fundraiser
• Staff Directory

We're delighted to extend a warm welcome to both our returning and new school families as we embark on the exciting journey of the 2023-2024 school year at DES! The first day at our beloved school was marked by an abundance of enthusiasm and positive energy. As students disembarked from buses or were dropped off, they were not only greeted by our dedicated staff but also by administrators from the Central Office and the local fire department, all coming together to welcome our arriving students. This collective effort created an atmosphere filled with smiles and palpable excitement.

Despite the sweltering weather, our Kindergarten Orientation was an undeniable success. Oakie, our cherished comfort dog, extended a warm welcome alongside S.R.O. Officer Hathaway, and many students couldn't resist pausing to offer a friendly pat. The orientation flowed seamlessly, affording students the opportunity to meet their teachers, explore the playground, and receive a thoughtful swag bag from the Dighton PTO. Kindergartners also had the chance to practice boarding and disembarking from the bus, and the day concluded with a delightful treat from the Kona Ice truck.

We cordially invite you to attend our Grades 1-4 Open House to meet your child's teacher, gain insights into grade-level expectations, and learn about the exciting opportunities that await your children this year. The Open House is scheduled for Thursday, September 14th. Please note that this event is exclusively for parents. We will kick off the evening in the cafeteria at 5:00 PM, where you will have the chance to meet the administration, specialists, and support staff. Following this, at 5:30 PM, parents will be invited to transition to their child's classroom.

In addition, please be on the lookout for the life touch order forms and lunch packets, which will be going out today. We kindly request that you complete all forms and return them promptly.

Our commitment to your children's well-being remains unwavering, and we are dedicated to ensuring that they step into a nurturing, respectful, and secure environment each day. With your partnership, we aspire to make our school one of the finest in Massachusetts.

Thank you for being a part of our DES family, and we look forward to a fantastic school year ahead.

Warmest regards,

Mrs. Lynn Dessert, Principal Email: ldessert@drregional.org

Mrs. Katelyn Lima, Assistant Principal Email: klima@drregional.org

Phone: 508-669-4245

#WeAreDR!

Golden tickets and discount cards were sent home with students today. We will post the Golden Ticket winners each week. Be sure to check the newsletter every Friday.

Throughout the year, a significant portion of our communication will take place through email, Facebook, and Thrillshare. Therefore, it is imperative that we have your up-to-date email address on record to guarantee that you receive all important updates and communications from us.

We are genuinely excited to emphasize the importance of the Principal weekly update and its pivotal role in facilitating essential communication while providing crucial updates throughout the year. Our enthusiasm stems from the recognition that effective communication not only allows us to celebrate our outstanding school and showcase the vibrant spirit of our DR community but also plays a crucial role in enhancing safety and security measures.

Ensuring the accuracy and currency of your email addresses and cell phone numbers in our Aspen system is of utmost importance to us. Keeping this information up-to-date enables us to communicate with you effectively. If you need to update your contact information, please do not hesitate to reach out to the office. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated.

• First Day of School for Preschool: Monday, September 11, 2023
  
• First Dighton PTO Meeting: Wednesday, September 13, 2023
• Parent/Guardian Open House for Grades 1-4: Thursday, September 14, 2023 from 5-7pm
• Early Release/No PM Preschool: Wednesday, September 20, 2023 with a 12:20pm dismissal

We are excited to announce that the Aspen Parent Portal will open its virtual doors on August 29. This will allow families to access student schedules.

The Aspen Parent Portal is a valuable tool allowing you to view and access your child's

1. Teachers: Learn who your child’s teacher will be for the 2023-24 school year.

2. Attendance: Keep track of your child's attendance records to ensure they are actively engaged in learning.

3. Communication: Easily communicate with teachers, counselors, and school administrators within the portal.

4. The Aspen Parent Portal will empower you to actively support your child's academic journey and foster a stronger partnership between your family and the school community. Open communication and collaboration are vital for the success and well-being of our students.
   

5. To access the Aspen Parent Portal, please visit this link and log in using your credentials. If you encounter any issues or require assistance, don't hesitate to contact the school.
   

We are committed to providing the best resources and support to ensure your child's successful and enriching academic year.

#WeAreDR

• Please do not arrive before 8:40 am to drop off your child.
  

• The actual drop off will be at the gym door.

• Please do not stop directly in front of the doors.

• Please remain in your vehicle. ( only exception would be kindergarten students who need assistance. This is a great opportunity to teach your child how to safely buckle up!)

• Please pull up far enough so that at least 6 cars can drop off at the same time. This might help speed up the traffic jam.

• Please do not cut over and cross into the second lane of traffic!

• Please do not arrive at the school parking area until 3:00 due to the time change at Dighton Middle School

• QR code will be turned on 3:00

• Students will not be dismissed until 3:20

• Please continue to move according with the traffic flow

• Please do not stop directly in front of the doors.

• Please pull up far enough so that at least 6 cars can pick up at the same time. This might help speed up the traffic jam.

• Please remain in your vehicle ( only exception would be kindergarten students who need assistance. This is a great opportunity to teach your child how to safely buckle up!)

• Please do not cut over and cross into the second lane of traffic!
  

Dismissing your child before the school days ends for an appointment:
Please submit a letter to the school if for some reason you need to dismiss your child early in the day due to an appointment.

Change in Transportation at the end of the day:
Please remember if you need to change your child’s after school plans please call the office prior to 2pm. Anytime after 2:00pm poses a safety concern and we can NOT ensure that the student's dismissal will be changed.

Attendance is a major factor in student success in school. When they are not in school, they are missing valuable instruction time. Good attendance also fosters good work ethic and good habits they will need later on in life. Family and sharing time with each other are very important. Throughout the school year, there are several opportunities to plan family vacations. Please do not schedule vacations when students should be at school.

Please do not let your child be tardy. Our school day begins at 9:05 AM. The beginning of the day is very important to get kids oriented and ready for their school day. Please make an effort to schedule doctors/dentist appointments after school hours. If you are going to be absent due to illness, please contact Mrs. Caldeira at 508-669-4245 extension 1100

Elementary Dismissal begins at 12:15pm

• September 20, 2023 (Teacher Professional Development Day)
• November 16, 2023 (Parent Teacher Conferences)
• November 22, 2023 (Thanksgiving Break)
• December 22, 2023 (Holiday Break)
• January 10, 2024 (Teacher Professional Development Day)
• March 6, 2024 (Teacher Professional Development Day)
• June 18, 2024 (Tentative Last Day of School)

Even though school lunches are free again this year it is still important for every family to complete the free and reduced lunch forms. These forms help the school in qualifying for Title I services for DES. This packet serves as a means for us to assist low-income families and aids the state and federal government in gauging the number of economically disadvantaged children in our school. Completing this paperwork strengthens our eligibility for entitlements and state funding, which directly benefits our school and its programs.

Universal Free School Meals has been extended in Massachusetts for the 2023-2024 school year! There will be no cost to families for students to receive breakfast and lunch at DES. Although meals will be available to all students at no cost, we continue to ask all families to complete eligibility paperwork which can be found below. School funding and competitive grants at the state and national level are dependent on accurately capturing our student population, and the completion of this confidential paperwork is important for our school and our district. If you need assistance on completing the form please contact the main office. Please see letter below with specific details.

The Dighton Parks and Recreation Commission is very excited to host our 3rd Annual Firecracker Festival this Saturday from 12-5pm at town hall! They have held this event in July the past two years but they thought it was a great way to celebrate the community by moving it to September as all the kids start the school year! This year they are excited to have the DR Marching Band Performing our National Anthem and their halftime show for the town! They also have our fantastic SRO's braving a dunk tank! And also they have groups like our Dighton PTO, SEPAC, Marching Band boosters, and the DR vocational program attending to meet the community and talk about the work they do to support our schools!

https://dightonportal.com/2023/09/05/town-of-dighton-invites-community-members-to-attend-third-annual-firecracker-festival/

• Volunteers- Cori, Leave License in Office, Confidentiality

• Entering the School- State Reason

• Picking up/Dismissing- Current License

PRE-K

Teacher Rm 5 Ms. Shira Pascal

KINDERGARTEN

Teacher Rm 31 Mrs. Deena Bellavance

Teacher Rm 34 Ms. Christina Luongo

Teacher Rm 32 Ms.Sara Cornell

Teacher Rm 36 Mrs. Paula Drury

Teacher Rm 33 Mrs. Kimberly Harr

GRADE 1

Teacher Rm 9 Mrs.Heather Fernandes

Teacher Rm 10 Mrs.Alaina St. Germain

Teacher Rm 14 Mrs. Lisa Perry

Teacher Rm 12 Mrs. Tammy Collin

Teacher Rm 13 Mrs. Stephanie Curtis

GRADE 2

Teacher Rm 15 Mrs. Jennifer Carter

Teacher Rm 17 Ms. Julia Bandera

Teacher Rm 19 Mrs. Andrea Castonguay

Teacher Rm 21 Mrs. Meghan Marcotte

Teacher Rm 23 Mr. Brian Troccio

GRADE 3

Teacher Rm 20 Ms. Deb Mason

Teacher Rm 22 Mrs.Robin Reed

Teacher Rm 24 Mrs. Tracey Gustafson

Teacher Rm 25 Mrs. Gena Maurer

Teacher Rm M2 Ms. Lauren Della Villa

GRADE 4

Teacher Rm M3 Mrs.Katie Grillo

Teacher Rm M6 Mrs. Tina Waddicor

Teacher Rm M4 Mrs. Amy Comeu

Teacher Rm M5 Mrs. Christina Duarte

TLC

Teacher TLC Mr. Rory Spellman

Teacher TLC Mrs. Dulcinea Nunes

SPECIALISTS

Art – Ms. Brigitte Rubano

Steam/Library- Mrs. Jessica Sylvia

Music - Dr. Brian Michaud

Library- Mrs. Michelle Racine-Tapper

Technology/Blended Learning Teacher – Mr. Raymond Badger

Physical Education – Mrs. Kimberly Corvi

Special Education Team

Special Ed Coord. Mrs. Jennie Baglini

Special Ed Teacher Mrs. Karin Pittsley (K & 1)

Special Ed Teacher Mrs. Susanne Martel (I & 2)

Special Ed Teacher Mrs. Laura Ouellette(3)

Special Ed Teacher Mrs. Andrea Reagan (4)

Service Providers

Adjust. Counselor Mrs. Laurie Silvia

BCBA Kaylee Campbell

RBT Kerri Mullen

APE Kim Perry

Reading Specialist Brooke Rennie

Title I Reading Interventionist Teacher Mrs. Erin Donahue-Taylor

Title I Reading Paraprofessional Kristen Vieira

Special Ed Secretary Ms. Tiffany Levesque

Speech/Language Mrs. Cara Romano

Speech/Language Kay Pease

Speech and Language Assistant Dawn Raymond

Occupational Therapy Dr. Jill Castergini

Nurse Mrs. Allison Alberto

Paraprofessionals

Mrs. Tiffany Beaulieu

Mrs. Kelly Cox

Mrs. Jen Dupont

Ms. Alexis Falcon-St.Laurent

Ms. Alyssa Forgot

Mrs. Kerri Fontaine

Mrs. Kathy Galego

Mr. Doug Giles

Mrs. Samantha Leandres

Mrs. Jen Marchial

Mrs. Amber Mullen

Mrs. Tonia Patricio

Mrs. Kaitlin Steeves

Mrs. Katia Thomas

Mrs. Stephanie White

Front Office

Mrs. Krissy Caldeira

Ms. Stephanie Hanify

Custodians

Mr. James Thornley (Head Custodian)

Mr. Gilberto Velesquez

Mr. Christian Fredricks

Mr. Kyle Medeiros