The DPS Inside Scoop

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to our October 2024 newsletter. As we settle into the fall season, I’m excited to share updates and news from across our school district. This month, each of our schools has been buzzing with learning and activities, and we’re eager to keep you informed on what’s happening in our classrooms and beyond.

In this issue, you’ll find important announcements, upcoming events, and highlights from each school. Our staff and students have been working hard, and we are grateful for your ongoing support in creating a positive learning environment for every child.

Thank you for being an essential part of our community. We look forward to a great autumn!

Warm regards,

Superintendent Stone

Friends of Middies Athletics is composed entirely of dedicated parent volunteers who work hard to support our Dracut High School sports teams. A registered non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, its mission is to promote and sponsor Dracut Middies Athletics, encourage engagement among students, parents, and the community, and provide financial support to our athletes and coaches. They are the official booster group for all things athletic.

Buy a brick, create a legacy
Through a collaborative effort by the Dracut Public Schools and Friends of Middies Athletics, you can purchase a brick engraved with a message that forever honors your family, student, team, business, or organization in the Middies Legacy Concourse at the Arthur J. Beaudry Memorial Field. A collaborative effort by the Dracut Public Schools and Friends of Middies Athletics, this program will put your purchase to work supporting current and future Dracut students in a variety of ways, and is tax-deductible.

Order yours today at FriendsofMiddiesAthletics.org under the Fundraisers tab.

Brookside Students Shine with PAWSitive Behavior!

Brookside Elementary has been filled with excitement, as students dive into learning, building new friendships, and reconnecting with familiar faces. To promote a positive school culture, we use our PAWS program, which stands for Pawsitive Attitudes, Acting Responsibly, Working and Playing Safely, and Showing Respect. This system encourages positive behavior and fosters a supportive learning environment. Every Friday, PAWS winners are recognized and rewarded with a gold star and a gold coin to use at our book vending machine, celebrating their efforts and contributions to our school community.

Expectations

Campbell Elementary is focusing on "Expected" behaviors in all areas of our school including the Halls, Classrooms, and Cafeteria. Students are being recognized for showing "Expected" behaviors and we will be implementing some school wide goals in October for students to strive toward. Thank you for reinforcing this concept at home as well.

Second Graders Shine with Creative Writing Skills!

Second grade students have been getting into the routine of using our new HMH reading program. Recently, they worked on creating sequels to the story *Picture Day Perfection*. The task required them to find details in the story that hinted at what the main character might do at next year’s picture day. To prepare for their writing, students first planned their ideas by drawing a picture of what they thought might happen next. They then composed their paragraphs, focusing on starting sentences with capital letters, ending with proper punctuation, and incorporating "power words" to enhance their writing. The students did a fantastic job sharing their completed work!

Grade 2 Spreads Kindness with Gator Greatness!

We were excited to kick off our Gator Greatness assemblies earlier this month, with our Grade 2 students leading the way for the entire Greenmont community! They shared a wonderful message about the power of kindness and how small actions can brighten someone’s day. The students reminded us that something as simple as holding the door for a friend or offering a smile can make a big difference—and it’s completely free!

Both Mrs. Jones' and Mrs. Cruz’s classes created a "Kindness Tree" as part of their Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lessons, decorating it with positive affirmation ornaments they made. Their beautiful creation was on display at Curriculum Night, spreading joy and positivity to everyone who needed a little boost!

Wheel-a-bration 2024!

On October 24, 2024, RMS students will participate in the 22nd annual Wheel-a-bration fundraising event. This is an annual PTO event that raises funds to support student programming. Students will spend one hour either biking, walking, playing basketball or rollerblading as part of this fun day. Believe it or not…last year this one-hour event brought in over $20,000! The money that is generated from this event is used to partially fund student activities as well as provide financial support to the PTO for events held throughout the school year. The Advisory group at each grade level with the largest total dollar amount will win a doughnut party for their group! There will be individual prizes for top fundraisers! Every student who participates will be entered into a raffle for additional prizes! It is our desire to have everyone participate. For those students who choose not to participate, they will be supervised by an adult inside the school building during the event. Here is a link to the RMS website where you can find additional information:

https://www.dracutps.org/o/rms/documents/students/wheel-a-bration-2024/709270

For the second consecutive year, Dracut High School has been honored with a place on the Advanced Placement® (AP®) Program School Honor Roll, earning the Bronze distinction. This prestigious recognition highlights our commitment to both student success and expanding equitable access to AP courses. The AP® School Honor Roll acknowledges schools that are fostering a college-going culture, offering students opportunities to earn college credit, and enhancing overall college readiness.

In addition, Dracut High has once again received the AP® Access Award. This award celebrates our dedication to ensuring all students, including those from underrepresented populations, have the opportunity to engage with the AP curriculum. We are proud of these achievements and remain committed to providing every student with the tools they need for future success.

On the afternoon of October 16th, third, fourth, and fifth grade teachers from across the district participated in a professional development session focused on the new Science MCAS test. A presenter from AthenaK12 guided the 3rd and 4th grade teachers through the importance of their science curriculum, as the new test will cover standards from grades 3 through 5. The session also provided an overview of the new test format, which differs significantly from the previous version, helping teachers better prepare their students for success.

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