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Superintendent's Newsletter

June 2025

Superintendent's Newsletter June 2025
Superintendent'sNewsletterJune 2025

Message of the Month

Dear School Community,


With the end of the year celebrations and graduations behind us - the summer months are here. Our students have successfully finished the 2024-2025 school year. It has been a privilege watching them grow over the course of 180 days. To our students that have graduated, I wish them nothing but future success and hope they stay connected to their school community. As for our students that will return next year, I look forward to welcoming you back in the fall.


We have a strong school-system because of the incredible students we serve, the dedicated faculty and staff members, and the supportive families that partner with our schools.


On one of the last days of the school year, a fourth grade student at Old Hammondtown School approached me and asked, "Mr. Nelson what are you going to do during the summer without any students?" After sharing a quick laugh I responded by stating, "I hopefully will enjoy a few summer days like you and then start getting ready for you to return next school year!"


Please take a few minutes to read through the updates and information in this month's Superintendent's Newsletter. The next newsletter will be shared in August.


Enjoy the summer break everyone!


Respectfully,

Michael S. Nelson

Superintendent of Schools

Pictures of Superintendent School Visits

JHS Awards

RMS 6th Grade Carnival

OHS Field Day

Congrats Grads!

HS Graduation

Sippican Concert

Office of Teaching and Learning

Portrait of the Graduate:

This year, from April through June, a dedicated committee made up of teachers, school leaders, parents, and community members met four times to help shape a draft of our district’s Portrait of the Graduate. Their goal was to use the work from the high school team and continue to identify the essential skills and attributes all students should develop from PreK through high school; skills that will serve students well in school, in the workplace, and in life. As part of this work, we also hosted four community forums to gather additional input and ensure the Portrait of the Graduate reflects the values and aspirations of the wider school community. This effort is a key component of our strategic plan, Vision2028, and will help schools develop age-appropriate, vertically and horizontally aligned learning goals that support student growth across all grade levels. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the members of the committee for their time, expertise, and hard work in bringing this vision to life. Their commitment to our students has helped to lay the groundwork for a Portrait of the Graduate that will guide teaching and learning.


Sincerely,

Shari Fedorowicz

Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning

Office of Student Services

It has been a busy yet incredibly rewarding year in the Student Services office. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the wonderful communities of Rochester, Marion, and Mattapoisett.


It has truly been a pleasure meeting so many of you and your children. Your warm welcome and continued support have made this year especially meaningful.


Thank you for the opportunity to work alongside such engaged and caring families. I look forward to the year ahead!


Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)

The mission of the Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester and Old Rochester Regional Special Education Parent Advisory Council (ORR SEPAC) is to work for understanding of, respect for and support of all children with special needs in our community. To that end, the ORR SEPAC will work to promote a network of parents of children with and without special needs, and provide a forum to share information and:

  • Advise the Districts on development of special education programs;

  • Promote communication and programs within the community to encourage understanding, acceptance and inclusion;

  • Provide informational forums to families, educators, students and professionals.

If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact Jaime Curley at jaimecurley@oldrochester.org or 508-758-2772, ext 1942.

Statewide Graduation Stakeholder Survey

On behalf of Secretary Tutwiler, we wish to inform you that in response to the overwhelming feedback from our initial Statewide Graduation Council listening sessions, the Healey-Driscoll Administration is offering two additional virtual listening sessions, including one specifically for students, to inform Governor Maura Healey’s K-12 Statewide Graduation Council. The listening sessions will be held virtually on June 25 and June 30, 2025 and are a chance for students, educators, parents and caregivers and a broad range of stakeholders to offer feedback on a new statewide graduation requirement, including the role of assessment, the potential for differentiated pathways to earning the competency determination, and the completion of additional experiences that demonstrate civic, college, and career readiness.


Register for listening sessions:

The Healey-Driscoll Administration also launched an online survey to expand opportunities for public input. Students, parents and caregivers, educators, school counselors, businesses and community residents can complete the survey at Mass.gov/K12GradCouncil by June 30, 2025. The survey is available in six languages and takes 7-10 minutes to complete.

Summer Reading

Click on the school name below to view summer reading information from our librarians!


Center School

Old Hammondtown School

Rochester Memorial School

Sippican School

ORR Junior High School

ORR High School

SUNBucks and Free Meals Available

Earlier this spring, Massachusetts was approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide SUN Bucks (formally known as Summer EBT) benefits to eligible households during summer 2025.


SUN Bucks provides grocery-buying benefits, in the amount of a $120-lump sum per child, for income-eligible families with school-aged children for the summer period. The program is administered by the state Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) in partnership with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) with assistance from schools. SUN Bucks complements the Summer Eats program, which provides free meals to kids and teens in eligible areas all summer long. Learn more on our Food Service Website.

Vision2028 - Strategic Plan Update

At the Joint School Committee on June 12th, our Leadership Council provided a progress update on our strategic plan, Vision2028. The team explained outcomes from this school year, which is year two of the five year strategic plan. View the presentation here. This work and progress is made possible by all stakeholders within our school community.

Superintendent's Goals Update

The Superintendent's Goals are tied directly to the strategic plan, Vision2028. This month is the mid-way point of the 2024-2026 Superintendent's Goals, and an update was shared at the Joint School Committee on June 12th, along with evidence of progress. View the presentation here.

Help Improve the DESE Website

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is working with HRiA to redesign the DESE website to better serve families, students, educators, and school communities. The goal is to make it easier for everyone to access the information and resources they need. The Department invites everyone to share their feedback by completing this survey. Please help spread the word by sharing this survey with relevant networks and in any newsletters and listservs. The survey is expected to be open through Monday, June 30.

Updated DESE Special Education Webpages

From DESE's Office of Special Education Planning & Policy:

DESE will launch an update to the Special Education webpages this Summer 2025!

This update has been carefully designed with families in mind, and reflects DESE’s strong commitment to accessibility, equity, and user-centered design. Whether you’re exploring resources for the first time or looking for specific guidance, the new layout will make it easier than ever to find the information and support you need.

What You’ll Find:

  • Family-friendly navigation to help you quickly locate topics like the IEP process, student rights, and available services
  • Clearer pathways to information about your rights, options, and ways to be an active partner in your child’s education

This update is part of DESE’s broader effort to ensure all families — regardless of background, language, or digital experience — have equal access to the tools and knowledge they need.

The launch is just the beginning. Your feedback will be essential to help us improve and grow these pages over time. We will share another notice once the update is published, and we encourage you to explore and complete a feedback form which will be shared at that time. This will help shape future updates to better serve all families. Thank you for your continued partnership and support in building a more inclusive and accessible educational experience for every child.

Policy Updates as Approved by the Joint School Committee

2025-2026 School Calendar

Know Your Rights Guide About Immigration Action

The Attorney General’s Office has issued a Know Your Rights guide for immigrants, families and communities about federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The guide outlines the rights of the individual being arrested/detained and the rights of bystanders. The guide also includes a link to previously issued guidance for K-12 schools on protecting students and their information. The Attorney General’s Office is in the process of having the Know Your Rights Guide translated. Please review the guide and share it with your staff and families.

In addition, the slides from the Know Your Students’ Rights webinar that the state Office for Refugees and Immigrants and the Attorney General’s Office held for superintendents in January remain available for download on DESE’s website

Our School Committees have wrapped up the school year, approving the disposal of surplus items, recognizing student achievements, retirees and more! Click here for the complete schedule, meeting resources and minutes. Upcoming meetings (subject to change):

September 11th - Mattapoisett School Committee

September 18th - Marion School Committee

September 15th - Rochester School Committee

October 2nd - ORR School Committee

October 9th - Joint School Committee

ORRconnect Mobile App

This mobile app allows families to receive targeted, real-time updates right at their fingertips regarding school happenings. Families can filter content, calendars and settings unique to one building or all.

Search ORRconnect in the app store!

ORRconnect on Facebook

ORRconnect is also on Facebook!

Like us on Facebook to stay up-to-date with school happenings.


You can follow all of our schools on Facebook too!

Center School

Old Hammondtown School

Rochester Memorial School

Sippican School

ORR Junior High School

ORR High School

Community Information and Flyers
Flyers from throughout the Tri-Town are shared with families on our website on the Community page.
Michael S. Nelson, Superintendent
www.oldrochester.org
Old Rochester Regional School District and Massachusetts Superintendency Union #55 proudly serves the students from Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester. The mission of our school system is to inspire all students to think, to learn and to care.