We are so proud of these role models who demonstrated the character trait of optimism. The staff have nominated these outstanding students for their ability to demonstrate a positive attitude, even when things don't go according to plan. Each child's name was announced over the intercom and they received a special certificate. Congratulations and keep up the great work!

Dear Families,

Thank you so much for all of your generous donations to our food drive. Our student council and community service group will be making baskets for Palmer River Families. We will also be making a generous donation of food to our local food panty. We would like to thank you again for your thoughtfulness and generosity.

Don't forget that November's theme is Thankfulness. Thankfulness means showing gratitude or appreciation for someone or something.

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us anytime. We are happy to help.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Kristine Kefor, Principal

email: kkefor@drregional.org

Dr. Cheryl Leandro, Assistant Principal

email: cleandro@drregional.org

phone: 508-252-5100

#WeAreDR!

Dear Parents/Guardians,

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Public Health is working with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) so that school districts are able to provide at-home COVID-19 tests at no cost to our students. Should you choose to use them, these tests are primarily intended for use by students to support the return-to-school process after Thanksgiving and Winter breaks. Three testing kits will be going home with our students prior to our Thanksgiving break. Thank you.

• Wreath Sale: November 1-20th
• Half Day: Wednesday, November 23rd
• No School/Thanksgiving Recess: November 24th (Thursday) and 25th (Friday)

The girls Rehoboth Youth Basketball Clinic scheduled for this Saturday is cancelled. The floors at the High School are being re-done. It will be rescheduled for a later date.

Please ensure that your contact information is up to date in ASPEN. The district utilizes the contact information in ASPEN to notify you of delays or cancellations. If you need to update your contact information, please email prupp@drregional.org or lsaxon@drregional.org Thank you!

Please note, lunch will no longer be served to students on early release days. The district was notified that we are not considered a high-needs district and are no longer obligated to serve lunch during early release days.

Hello, Palmer River Families and Friends:

Before we initiate our annual screenings, I wanted to share some information on vision. Vision is complex and changes quickly during the elementary years. It is not uncommon for children to contend with nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), lazy eye (amblyopia), and crossed eye (strabismus):

• Nearsightedness is a condition where a child can see objects close up; however, objects far away will appear blurry.

• Farsightedness is a condition where a child will see objects far away, but items close up will seem blurry.

• A lazy eye is reduced vision in one eye and is the leading cause of reduced vision in children (mayoclinic.org).

• Crossed eyes focus in different directions at different times. This disorder can be challenging to detect without an exam by a pediatric eye doctor.

Vision problems with behavior struggles are another area I encourage parents to consider. When we think of vision, we think of the eye primarily. However, vision issues have social-emotional outcomes due to specific links within the brain. It is important to note that processing often starts with what a child sees. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that children be seen for a comprehensive eye exam if:

• They have failed a screening

• They have been referred by their pediatrician or school nurse

• They have a learning disability, developmental delay, neuropsychological condition, or behavioral issue.

If your child is displaying a behavioral issue, not achieving their true potential in school, struggling to pay attention, or not enjoying learning, a pediatric eye exam might be of value.

What signs might I see if my child has problems seeing even if they pass a screening?

• Headaches, eyestrain, fatigue, itchy and watery eyes, double vision, words or letters that float off the page, poor hand-eye coordination, dizziness or motion sickness, poor concentration-memory-comprehension, frustration with reading and writing, head cocking while focusing, constant squinting, holding reading materials close to their face, symptoms consistent with ADHD or executive function deficit.

The symptoms mentioned above are indicative that your child may need to be referred for additional consultation. How we interpret what we see does not depend entirely on the clarity of our sight. A field known as behavioral optometry takes a deeper look at the child’s vision. Corrective lenses are one step to facilitating learning. Some of our students may additionally qualify for vision therapy, teaching them visual skills to improve learning. In its simplest terms, critical brain-eye communication is developed or sometimes re-trained. Prescribed eye exercises as an adjunct treatment is often therapeutic.

For more information, visit behavioral optometry. Ask your pediatrician or eye specialist if an evaluation by a behavioral optometrist for your child might be appropriate.

Nurse Alyson Bellora Palmer River Elementary School abellora@drregional.org

The Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District

#WeAreDR!

Website: https://pres.drregional.org/

Location: 326 Winthrop Street, Rehoboth, MA 02769

Phone: 508-252-5100/Fax: 508-252-5110

Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected group.