Dewey's Details: Caregiver Update

Dear Dutile Caregivers,

What a wonderful first few days we have had at the Dutile School! There is something special about seeing our building come back to life after the summer- the hallways filled with conversations and laughter, students reconnecting with friends and teachers, and classrooms once again busy with learning, sharing, and building community.

Our students in Grades 1–4 have done an incredible job settling back into school routines, and it has been so much fun watching their excitement as they begin another year at Dutile. We do still have one very important group missing! On Tuesday, September 8th, we will officially welcome our kindergarten students for their very first day of school. We cannot wait to have them join us and make our Dutile school community complete!

As we begin a new school year, I find myself thinking again about the message behind the poem “Whose Child Is This?” There is something incredibly meaningful about the trust that exists between families and schools. Each morning, you send us the people who mean the absolute most to you. For several hours each day, we have the privilege- and tremendous responsibility- of teaching them, encouraging them, keeping them safe, helping them navigate challenges, celebrating their successes, and making sure they know that they belong.

And then, at the end of the school day, we send them back to you.

That relationship between home and school is such an important part of what makes a school community successful. We may see your children in different settings and through different lenses, but we share the same goal: helping each child grow into a confident, curious, kind, and capable person who feels safe, supported, and excited to learn.

There will be successes to celebrate this year, challenges to work through, questions to answer, and probably a few bumps along the way. Through all of it, I hope we continue to remember that we are on the same team. Open communication, mutual trust, and a shared commitment to doing what is best for children will continue to guide our work together.

Thank you for trusting us with your children each day. It is a responsibility that we never take lightly and a privilege that means so much to all of us at Dutile.

We are off to a great start, and on Tuesday, when our newest and youngest friends walk through our doors for the first time, the 2026–2027 Dutile School family will officially be together. I cannot wait to see all that this year brings!

There are three documents that will also be sent home (hard copy) in your child's take-home folder that need to be returned to school.

1) Billerica Public Schools Emergency Contact Information Form

• This form needs to be completed and returned to school as soon as possible.

2) Billerica Public Schools Medical Information Form

• This form needs to be completed and returned to school as soon as possible.

3) Student Acceptable Use Policy

• This form needs to be reviewed by both you and your child, then signed and returned to school.

Please complete these forms and return to school as soon as possible

To help us maintain a safe and secure environment for our students and staff, all visitors and volunteers must report directly to the main office upon arrival. At the office, you will be asked to sign in and wear a visitor badge so that we can easily identify who is in the building. When your visit is complete, please remember to sign out and return your badge.

For safety reasons, entry during school hours is permitted only through the front door. If you are in the building and notice someone without a badge, staff members will kindly direct them back to the office. This is a standard safety practice, not a confrontation.

In addition, anyone wishing to volunteer at the Dutile School is required to complete a CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) check each school year. Forms are available in the main office and must be completed in person, along with a copy of your driver’s license. Since processing can take several weeks, we strongly encourage you to complete this step as soon as possible. Please note that outside CORI approvals cannot be accepted, and volunteers may not begin until clearance is received.

For more details, please see the district website.

If your child will be absent or tardy, please call the Dutile Attendance Line at 978-528-8530 before 7:55 AM on the day of the absence.

This line is available 24 hours a day, so you may leave a message at any time. After the greeting, please provide the requested information about your child.

If your child is not in school by 8:05 AM and we have not received a call or email from you, we will reach out to confirm your child’s whereabouts.

For your convenience, you can click here for a printable version of this information.

For the safety and smooth dismissal of all students, please send any written notes regarding a change to your child’s dismissal plan to the classroom teacher on or before the day of the change.

Please do not email teachers with same-day or last-minute dismissal changes, as teachers are busy with students throughout the school day and may not see your message before dismissal.

If an unexpected or emergency change arises during the school day, particularly after 1:00 p.m., please call the school office directly. This allows us to make sure your child and the appropriate staff members receive the updated information before dismissal begins.

Thank you for helping us keep our dismissal process safe, efficient, and well-coordinated for all students!

Strong communication and close collaboration between home and school are essential to every child’s success. To support this partnership, we’ve put together some simple guidelines to help you know who to contact when you have a question, concern, or need assistance.

At the Dutile School, we take a team-based approach to problem-solving. Depending on the situation, several staff members may work together to provide support and determine the best next steps. While we always do our best to respond as quickly as possible, please keep in mind that teachers and staff are often working directly with students or participating in meetings throughout the school day.

To make communication as easy and efficient as possible, we’ve created a quick reference guide outlining who to contact in a variety of situations.

👉 [Click here to view the document]

Click here for a formatted document of the new Arrival Plan.

The safety of our students is always our top priority. To help keep morning arrival safe, smooth, and efficient, please carefully review the procedures below and refer to the arrival map for a visual guide. Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us model safe routines for our students.

• Caregivers should remain in their vehicles during drop-off. Students should be ready to exit the vehicle independently when you reach the unloading area.
• If your child needs assistance getting out of the vehicle, please park in a designated parking space and walk your child to the appropriate arrival area rather than getting out of your vehicle in the drop-off line.
• Please pull all the way forward to the edge of the building before allowing your child to exit the vehicle. Pulling forward helps us unload multiple vehicles safely and keeps the arrival line moving efficiently.
• Please do not allow your child to exit the vehicle if you are stopped behind the back arrival sign. Remain in your vehicle and wait until the next wave of cars is directed forward into the designated unloading area.

Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe and our morning arrival process moving smoothly!

This Google Form is to be completed ONLY if you DO NOT wish your child’s name or photograph released to the media or printed in school programs.

The Billerica Public School District uses images and sounds of students and staff participating in programs as a way of documenting the enjoyable and educational experiences they have within the Billerica schools. These images are often used on the child’s school website, classroom page or the Billerica Public School District website. In addition, there are occasions when students are photographed or videotaped by the news media, or their names may be published for recognition.

If you do not wish to have such information released to the news media, printed in school programs, or used on the district’s website, please sign below. This is in compliance with the student’s record release regulations and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.

This form is due by Friday, September 11, 2026.

https://forms.gle/ZimaNJNrsgXf12gf6

Ms. Oestreicher is creating a Fit with Fam bulletin board to celebrate families staying active and healthy together. Families are invited to submit photos of their student(s) with family or friends doing something active or healthy. Photos will be printed and displayed at school. By submitting a photo, you give permission for it to be printed and displayed on the school’s Fit with Fam bulletin board. Use this link to submit throughout the school year!

We are looking for caregivers who would like to serve on the Dutile School Advisory Council (SAC) for the 2026–2027 school year. Caregiver representation is an important part of the council, and we would love to have members of our school community join us and share their perspectives.

School Advisory Councils are made up of caregivers, educators, the school principal, and a community representative. The council works collaboratively to support the continued growth and improvement of our school.

As outlined by Massachusetts law, the School Advisory Council works with the principal to:

• Identify the educational needs of students.
• Establish educational goals for the school that are consistent with district priorities and statewide standards.
• Review the annual school budget.
• Help develop and review the annual School Improvement Plan.

Caregiver members serve as representatives of our broader Dutile community. Their perspectives, ideas, and feedback are an important part of our conversations and help ensure that caregiver voices are represented as we make decisions about the needs and priorities of our school.

I would love to have caregiver representation from across our Dutile community on this year’s council! If you are interested in serving on the 2026–2027 Dutile School Advisory Council, please email me at smiddlemiss@billericak12.com and include “Dutile SAC Volunteer” in the subject line.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to become involved and help support our students and school community!

Dear Caregivers,

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is pleased to share the MCAS Family Portal with you. This online tool lets you see your student’s MCAS test results. The MCAS Family Portal replaces paper reports that were previously mailed to families.

Preliminary MCAS results from spring 2026 are currently available. You will also see your student’s results from past years (2023–2025), if available. The Family Portal will be updated in September when final results are ready.

How to Get Started

Go to https://mcasfamilyportal.emetric.net.

To create an account, you will need the following two pieces of information:

1. Your student’s date of birth.

1. Your student’s registration code. This 12 character code can be found in the family account in Aspen. Each student will have their own code.

For mobile view of Aspen: Log in to your Aspen account, click on the menu icon (the three stacked lines in the upper left hand corner) and click “Family.” The code will be listed under Demographics with the label “MCAS Registration Code.” If you have more than one child in your household, you can use the dropdown menu in the upper left hand corner to switch between students.

For desktop view of Aspen: Log in to your Aspen account, click on the “Family” top tab, and choose your student. The code will be listed under the Demographics tab with the label “MCAS Registration Code.” You will see it in the lower left hand corner. If you have more than one child in your household, you can use the forward and backward arrows in the upper right hand corner to switch between students.

Need Help?

Resources can be found at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/family-portal.

As a first time user of the MCAS Family Portal, you can view the Quick Start Guide to set up your account. Note that the Quick Start Guide states your student’s registration code can be found in a letter from the district; however, for Billerica students, the registration code can be found on Aspen as explained above.

The MCAS Family Portal Help Guide shows you step by step how to create an account; add your student to your account; and view your student’s test results.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact your school building administration.

Thank you.

On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, the Dutile School community will celebrate International Dot Day! “Dot Day” is a wonderful opportunity for students and educators around the world to celebrate creativity, courage, self-expression, and the importance of making your mark.

International Dot Day was inspired by Peter H. Reynolds’ book, The Dot. The story follows a reluctant young artist whose teacher encourages her to simply begin by making a single dot. That small act of encouragement sends her on a journey of self-discovery and creativity—and ultimately inspires her to encourage someone else to make their own mark.

The message is a simple but powerful one for our students: Be brave enough to try, believe in yourself, and see where your creativity can take you!

Please click here for an Introduction to International Dot Day.

🔴 Dot Day Spirit Day! 🔵

We invite all of our Dutile students and staff to join in the fun! On Tuesday, September 15th, wear something with dots or choose an outfit that shows off your creative side.

We can’t wait to see our students make their mark!

On Thursday, September 17, 2026, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM, the Dutile School staff will be hosting its annual "Back to School" night for parents, guardians, and caregivers. This event is not intended for students! If you have specific concerns about your child's progress or social emotional health, please contact your child's teacher to set up a separate meeting.

The Dutile School will be utilizing the following format for the evening in the hope that caregivers have the opportunity to meet and interact with more school staff members. Please see the schedule below.

• 6:00 PM - 6:15 PM: Mr. Middlemiss, Ms. Fonseca, and the Dutile PTO in the cafeteria with all caretakers.
• 6:20 PM - 6:50 PM: Grades K, 1, & 2 Classroom Presentations (in the individual classrooms).
• 6:55 PM - 7:25 PM: Special Subject Teachers, Reading Specialists, Special Educators, Related Service Providers, BCBAs, Social Worker, and School Psychologist in the cafeteria in separate "table stations" for caretakers to walk around, meet the support staff, and ask any questions.
• Mr. Middlemiss and Ms. Fonseca will also be in the cafeteria at this time to answer any questions for those caretakers who may have missed the 6:00 PM - 6:15 PM presentation!
• 7:30 PM - 8:00 PM: Grades 3 & 4 Classroom Teacher Presentations (in the individual classrooms).

Get Involved with the Dutile PTO!
The Dutile PTO is already planning exciting events for the 2025–2026 school year—and we’d love your help! Whether you’re interested in leading a committee, helping plan behind the scenes, or just showing up to volunteer for an hour or two, we have a role for everyone. It’s a great way to stay connected, meet other families, and support our amazing school community.

Fill out our quick volunteer interest form here: https://dutilepto.com/volunteer/

Let’s make this year the best one yet!

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We’re Looking for Walk-a-Thon Sponsors!

Support Our Students!

Calling all local businesses!

The Dutile Elementary School PTO is looking for local businesses to partner with us as sponsors for our 20th Annual Walk-a-Thon, happening this October!

The Walk-a-Thon is our one and only fundraiser of the school year, and the money raised directly supports our Dutile students, teachers, and families — including K–4 programs and activities, field trips, books, playground equipment, community events, and teacher requests.

By sponsoring the Walk-a-Thon, your business will also receive recognition throughout the 2026–2027 school year, including opportunities on our website, pledge pages, social media, and our custom Walk-a-Thon shirts worn by students, teachers, and families. Our Facebook page alone reaches an average of 22,000 views each month!

Most importantly, your sponsorship is an opportunity to invest directly in the children and families in our local community. We also encourage our Dutile families to support the businesses that support our school!

Interested in becoming a sponsor or learning more about sponsorship levels?

Visit: dutilepto.com/sponsorship/

Please feel free to share this post or tag a local business owner who might be interested in supporting Dutile Elementary!

Thank you for helping us make our 20th Annual Walk-a-Thon our best one yet!

Please follow and "like" the "Frederick J. Dutile Elementary School" Facebook page. I will be posting often to share examples of the incredible teaching and learning that takes place at our school each day!

https://www.facebook.com/dutileschool

Monday, September 7, 2026

• NO SCHOOL: Labor Day

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

• School Reopens
• First Day of School: Kindergarten
• Third Day of School: Grades 1 - 4

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

• 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Dutile PTO Meeting

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

• SPIRIT Day: International Dot Day
• Wear something with dots or choose an outfit that shows off your creative side.

Thursday, September 17, 2026

• 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: "Back to School" Night in Dutile Classrooms

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

• EARLY RELEASE DAY: Dismissal at 12:05 PM