District Curriculum Night 2024

Dedham Public Schools will be hosting our second annual District Curriculum Night on OCTOBER 24, from 6:30-8:00PM at Dedham Middle School! This informative evening is an opportunity for parents and caregivers for all students PreK - 12 to learn more about current school curriculum, hear from department leaders and educators on topics including Report Cards, Social Emotional Supports, best practices for supporting students and post-DHS planning.

Families can attend up to three sessions throughout the evening. Every session will be offered at three separate times. Pre-registration is requested, but not required to attend.

• Session A will run from 6:40-7:00
• Session B will run from 7:10-7:30
• Session C will run from 7:40-8:00

Please see the program descriptions below!

Advance registration for sessions is preferred, so we can ensure that all sessions have space. Additionally, we need to plan for childcare coverage if that is something you'd like to take advantage of during the event.

Curriculum Night registration is being managed in our PowerSchool portal.

• Login to PowerSchool
• Go to Forms on the left navigation bar
• If you are using the PowerSchool App on a smartphone, you will need to click More, then Forms.
• Open the 2024 Curriculum Night Signup form, then select your preferred program in each session.

Any problems logging in to PowerSchool email hometechservice@dedham.k12.ma.us

Movie Night in the DMS Auditorium for DPS Students

Do you need child care for the event? We are offering a special movie night screening of Inside Out 2 for DPS students in Grades K-5 in the DMS auditorium! We ask that you arrive with your child by 6:30 PM as we will start the movie promptly at that time! Please note children must be DPS students in order to participate. Movie night will also end promptly at 8:00 P.M.

Translators will be available on site to assist translation and interpretation. Please check in at the table in the lobby if you require a translator.

We encourage you to come a bit early to the evening where we will have a few tables to support families - come check them out!

• Dedham SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council)
• Dedham MLL (Multi-Lingual Learning)
• PowerSchool Help Desk
• Oakdale Project Table (Principal Hermesch, Members of the SBRC & Related Project Experts)

Curious about the Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) program? Join us for an informative session where we’ll explore the key components of CKLA, including its focus on literacy development, vocabulary enrichment, and content knowledge. Discover how this research-based curriculum fosters a love for reading and prepares students for academic success. [Grades K-5]

Presenters: Ed Paris (Director of Teaching & Learning), Sara Follen (Gr 3-5 Literacy Coach), Nina Mancinelli (Gr 3-5 Literacy Coach)

Presenter: Koresha Braxton (Avery Assistant Principal)

Are you interested in discovering new ways to support your child's literacy development? Join this session to learn some new engaging games and activities you can implement in your daily routine. [Grades K-5]

Presenters: Jessica Sweeney, Dasha Layne, Hannah McMahon (Interventionists)

Are you looking to support your children with math homework, but are unsure about some of the algorithms used in your student's math classroom? Come learn about Partial Sums Addition, Trade First Subtraction, Partial Products Multiplication, Partial Quotients Division and why students use them. [Grades K-5]

Presenter: Ken Toomey (PK-5 STEM Coach)

Come learn about how City Connects will be integrated into DPS’ holistic approach to supporting each and every student with the use of school and community-based resources. [Grades K-5]

Presenter: Alexandra Lukoff, City Connects Coordinator

Families will gain a deeper understanding of the results of their child's mCLASS Home Connect Report ( Benchmark DIBELS Assessment). They will also learn how to access resources to support their child's reading development at home. [Grades K-5]

Presenters: Michelle Canty (PK-2 Literacy Coach), Mary DiSandro (Interventionist), Allison Kieffner (PK-2 Literacy Coach)

This session will teach you about two important indicators for a successful reader. Come and learn what they are and how you can support your student. [Grades K-5]

Presenters: Kristen Cannon (Principal, ECEC) & Jackie Mendonsa (Principal, Avery)

Parents will have a broad understanding of the WIN block at the elementary level and how it is connected to MTSS.[Grades K-5]

Presenters: Dana Bennett (Principal, Riverdale) & Jenny McGowan (Principal, Greenlodge)

During this workshop, families will have to hear about Dedham's plans for developing a new standards-based report and will have the opportunity to share feedback about how to improve the existing report card.[Grades K-5]

Presenter: Dr. Heather Smith, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning

Presenter: Mark Carney, Director of Health & Wellness

Would you like to learn more about the role of School Resource Officers? Come meet our partners at the Dedham Police Department and hear how we work together in support of our students. Of course Ruby the Community Service Dog will join us as well! [Grades PK-12]

Presenters: Karen Hillman (Principal, DMS), Officer Meghan Jenkins (Dedham School Resource Officer), & Ruby!

Understand the major changes that occur in the brain and the impact these changes have on development to better understand your child. [Grades 3-8]

Presenter: Dr. Sara Stetson, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services

Come learn about performing arts opportunities available for DPS students PreK-12! Curricular and extra-curricular activities will be presented. [Grades 3-12]

Presenter: Bridget O'Leary (Visual Arts Department Chair)

This session will summarize the most up-to-date, evidence-based recommendations on screen time for children and adolescents. We will discuss how families can use this information in their day-to-day decision-making.

Presenter: Dr. Tarquini (Dr. Tarquini is a Clinical Psychologist who specializes in pediatrics. She is a Senior Psychologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and an Instructor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School)

An introduction to how ELA instruction has shifted this year, the Amplify platform and ELA routines at DMS.[Grades 6-8]

Presenters: Mike Burd (ELA Department Chair) & Mai-Linh Cummings (Gr 6-8 Humanities Coach)

Join Dr. Kate Garand, the Dedham Middle School STEM Instructional Coach, as she shares some tips and tricks with families on how to help middle schoolers with math homework. [Grades 6-8]

Presenter: Dr. Kate Garand, Gr 6-8 STEM Coach

Parents will be able to review what executive functioning is. Parents will be able to receive some strategies for executive functioning assistance at home and will also learn about the support systems in place to help students at DMS. [Grades 6-12]

Presenter: Kevin Podolski , Guidance Counselor, DMS

We will explore the components of the Civic Action Project that your student will participate in during grades eight and ten. We will look at the whole project, from the selection project to the student showcase. [Grades 8-10]

Presenter: Andy Morton (History & Social Sciences Department Chair)

Families will hear an update on the new IEP regarding Family and Student Voice, Least Restrictive Environment, Transition Planning, and Accessibility of Language. [Grades 6-8]

Presenter: Meghan Armstrong (Educational Team Leader, DMS)

This session will provide an overview of the Advanced Placement courses that we offer at DHS, what to expect as a student in an AP level course, what students can do to prepare for these courses, and the benefits of taking college-level courses in high school. [Grades 6-12]

Presenter: Kristine Holloran (Math Department Chair)

Would you like to know more about student travel opportunities and course offerings at DPS? [Grades 6-12]

Presenter: Allison Guifarro (World Language Department Chair)

Presenter: Dr. Ashley Dube, Director of Counseling and Clinical Services, PreK-12

Come learn about Dedham High School! Hear about academics, social and emotional learning (SEL), and upcoming initiatives such as Innovation Pathways and MyCap, and Senior Internship.

Presenters: Jim Forrest (Principal, DHS), Kelly Cook (Assistant Principal, DHS), Pete Cavanaugh (Assistant Principal, DHS)

Dedham High School is excited to offer students ways to increase experiential learning through internships. Senior Internship is a new initiative that allows seniors to work during their last term of senior year in a career field of interest. Educational internships are also offered to Dedham High School students at various levels in DPS including DELTA, ECEC, elementary schools and DMS.

Presenters: Ashley Mansfield (Guidance Counselor, DHS)