Superintendent's Newsletter

Dear School Community,

With less than 30 school days remaining in the school year, our classrooms are nearing the end of their journeys together. There are many fun and important events and activities that will occur to bring closure to the school year.

I hope that our parents and guardians join us in celebrating the final weeks of the school year by participating in these events that will showcase all the learning that has happened during the past school year and the relationships that have been built.

As always, I am proud to serve as your Superintendent of Schools.

Respectfully,

Michael S. Nelson

Superintendent of Schools

Congratulations to our ORRHS National Honor Society Inductees:

On Thursday evening, April 17th, in the ORR Auditorium, amongst parents, family, friends, and the school community, twenty-five of Old Rochester Regional High Schools best and brightest were inducted into the National Honor Society (NHS).

ORR English Language Arts educators and National Honor Society co-advisors Randy Allain and Kathleen Brunelle spoke about the symbols of membership: Knowledge, Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character. Former English Language Arts educator at the Old Rochester Regional High School, Dr. Megan Hall was the guest speaker. It was extraordinary to watch students take the National Honor Society Oath and be inducted by current members of the ORR National Honor Society.

Credit for Life Fair:

Congratulations to Mr. Devoll, Ms. Millette and high school staff for their work in holding the Credit for Life Fair at the High School this past month. A special thank you to businesses that came to support our students in learning financial literacy through real life examples. An amazing learning experience for our students to be prepared for life after high school.

The Drowsy Chaperone Performance:

On Sunday, April 12th, I was able to attend our high school drama students who had an amazing performance in the musical “the Drowsy Chaperone”. Our extremely talented students were able to bring laughter to the audience while singing and dancing through the show. The musical was very interactive with the audience and so many people were laughing. From tap dancing to solo and group skits, our students had a seamless performance and I along with the audience thoroughly enjoyed it. Congratulations to all!

Exciting Literacy Night at Sippican Elementary!

During Sippican Elementary’s recent Skip the Screen Week, I joined elementary students for a special read-aloud of Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown, at Literacy Night. The event brought students, families, and educators together to celebrate the joy of reading.

The evening also featured engaging activities and a Book Fair, creating a lively atmosphere as students moved between spaces.

This year’s Literacy Night theme was "Bluey," encouraging participants to choose books that fit the theme or ones they simply loved to share. The event showcased the school's commitment to fostering a love of reading among students. A special thank you to our principals and our teacher volunteers that made this night possible for our students and families.

Sincerely,

Shari Fedorowicz

Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning

Community Talks

In partnership with the Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative (SMEC), we are offering another Community Talks presentation. Please join us for a FREE virtual training with nationally recognized speaker Sarah Ward. This workshop is perfect for parents and caregivers of children of all ages.

"Powerful Strategies to Help Children Develop Independent Executive Function Skills"

Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Online (link provided upon registration)

Please see the flyer attached for more information. We hope to see you there!

Don't miss this opportunity to learn simple tools that make a big difference! Click here to register!

Integrated Monitor Review

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct an Integrated Monitoring Review of Old Rochester Regional School District & Massachusetts Superintendency Union #55 during the week of May 12, 2025. Each school district, charter school, vocational school, and virtual school undergoes an Integrated Monitoring Review every three years. This review addresses special education teacher and related service personnel licensure and professional development; parent, student, and community engagement, including compliance with Child Find requirements; facilities and classroom observations; implementation and oversight of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs); time and learning, and equal access. Please read this letter for more information.

If you have any questions, please contact Jaime Curley at jaimecurley@oldrochester.org or 508-758-2772, ext 1942.

We are looking for volunteers from our school community to serve on the District Wellness Committee. Please complete this form by May 9th if you are interested!

Kindergarten registration is currently available for next school year! All Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester children who will reach the age of 5 before Sept. 1, 2025, are eligible to register to attend kindergarten at the elementary school in the town they reside in for the 2025-2026 school year. Still need to register? Click here to learn more.

All schools across the district are accepting Project GROW applications for the 2025-2026 school year. Project GROW offers high quality preschool education to Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester children ages 3-5 years old, including children with special needs. If you are interested in learning more about Project GROW, please refer to the Early Childhood Website. The link to the Project GROW application is here.

Thank you to the companies that have already supported ORR Athletics! The signs are up, but a few spots are still available. This opportunity allows businesses to advertise in visible locations on our campus while directly supporting our Bulldog Athletic Program. Please contact Athletic Director, Chris Carrig at chriscarrig@oldrochester.org or 508-758-3745 ext. 1825 to advertise.

Our school community is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students regardless of their immigration status, the status of their family members, or any other measurable demographic. We are here to inspire all students to think, to learn, and to care.

Our school-system is fully compliant and supports Chapter 622 of the 1971 Massachusetts Legislative Acts, which prohibits discrimination in public school admissions and programs. The law reads as follows:

“No child shall be excluded from or discriminated against in admission to a public school of any town, or in obtaining the advantages, privileges and course of study of such public school on account of race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, disability, pregnancy or a related condition, veteran status, age, or homelessness.”

The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General has provided specific guidance and an informational flyer on ensuring equal access to education, ICE agent activity at schools and requests for information, protecting students and their information, and what to do if a student’s parents or guardians are detained. Our administrative team has received training on how to follow this guidance.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the Superintendent's Office.

Earlier this month, Kathi and Chris Sullivan presented to ORRHS students, focusing on the dangers of drug use, was funded by the Town of Mattapoisett, using resources received through national opioid lawsuit settlement funds. We thank the Mattapoisett Police Department for coordinating this for our students. Read more.

The 2nd Annual Credit for Life Fair was a big success! “The Credit for Life Fair was very informative and interactive,” said senior Avery Tavares. Read more.

The Norman Award at Sippican School was established this school year to honor students for meeting or exceeding school expectations and demonstrating good character. Award recipients are nominated by school staff. Read more.

Five ORRHS Artists Honored for Exceptional Work at 9th Congressional District Art Show. “I am incredibly proud of our art students,” said Principal Devoll. “I’d like to congratulate all of them for their efforts to put their works on display as part of the Congressional District Art Show, and we also offer a special congratulations to our Honorable Mention winners. And thank you to Congressman Keating and his staff for hosting and organizing such an awesome event each year.”

Recently, our school committees have approved FY2026 Proposed Budgets and the information is being shared with each town for their upcoming Town Meetings and are reviewing progressing on the District's goals and School Improvement Plans. Click here for the complete schedule, meeting resources and minutes. Upcoming meetings (subject to change):

May 1st - Rochester School Committee

May 8th - Marion School Committee

May 22 - ORR School Committtee

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