The DPS Inside Scoop
What's Happening at Dracut Public Schools -December Edition
Dear Dracut Parents and Guardians,
As we usher in the festive month of December, I am thrilled to present the latest edition of the Inside Scoop.
Before you delve into the wonderful updates from our schools, I want to take a moment to extend my warmest Christmas and holiday wishes to all our families. May this season bring you joy, love, and cherished moments with your loved ones.
As we embrace the holiday season and reflect on the achievements of our students and educators, I'm filled with gratitude for the incredible community we have in Dracut. Thank you for your ongoing support, and I look forward to a bright and successful new year.
Warm regards,
Superintendent Steven Stone
Brookside Elementary School
Last month, our 5th-grade Student Council members at Brookside Elementary School played a significant role in our monthly Bear Dens. They joined forces with Mrs. Romano and Mr. Scarpitto to create an engaging presentation about honesty. During the session, the students shared their slides and recited some heartfelt poems on the topic.
Campbell Elementary School
Last month at school, we made great progress on our school-wide charter. In October, each grade level received a special word that represents how we want to feel. In November, during our Coyote Corral event, each grade level shared their word and showed us how we can all contribute to making our school-wide charter a reality!
Englesby Elementary School
In Math and Science we have been busy learning about the volume of rectangular prisms and Earth’s place in the universe. We also had fun the last week of October dissolving candy corn and learning about our skeleton! The children have been involved in a lot of hands-on and cooperative activities.
In Reading our fifth graders are enjoying our Chris Van Allsburg author study. Chris Van Allsburg has won two Caldecott Medals for Jumanji and The Polar Express, but has also written many other fantastic picture books. We began our book clubs by reading and diving deep into a wide variety of chapter books. Lastly, our amazing students are learning what “Good Writers Do” while writing their own creative, imaginative narrative stories.
Greenmont Elementary School
Last month at school, we had a special visit from representatives from construction firm PJ Keating to teach our students about rocks and their significance in our world. Our students had the opportunity to discover how rocks are mined, the various industries that rely on them, and the surprising ways rocks play a role in their daily lives. To make the experience even more exciting, each student got to try on personal protective equipment (PPE) and took home their very own hard hat as a keepsake!
Richardson Middle School & Dracut High School
We had a fantastic Halloween celebration on the evening of Monday, October 30th! Our 6th-12th grade Orchestra Students put on a spooktacular performance at the Center for Performing Arts in Dracut High School. The concert featured eerie and enchanting pieces introduced by our student emcees, along with special guests from the Dracut High School Show Choir. A big thank you to Director Valerie Callahan and our talented Orchestra students for their hauntingly impressive performance!
The feedback from both the students and their professors has been exceptionally positive. This partnership is a win-win, benefiting both the nursing students and our Richardson Middle School community. We are eager to expand this opportunity to more health offices across the district in the near future. Stay tuned for more updates!
Dracut High School
The main lobby is getting a fresh "Middie Pride" makeover with large school spirit messages and logos soon to adorn the walls. Superintendent Stone recently engaged with students to gather their input on the best language and placement of what will be placed in the lobby. Stay tuned for a vibrant display of our school spirit!
Dracut High and Richardson Middle School teachers and staff collaborated within their grade levels and departments, delving deep into MCAS data and contributing to school-wide action plans to better support our students.
Elementary teachers and staff had the opportunity to choose from a variety of workshops led by educators, coaches, principals, adjustment counselors, and outside experts. These workshops covered topics such as "I have the data, now what?", "The Science of Reading 101," and "Making Stations/Centers work in your Classroom."
Teachers and staff across grade levels conducted data analysis, with 3rd-5th grade teachers following the lead of their secondary counterparts, also focusing on their MCAS data.
Other highlights included ELL staff coming together to discuss student success plans and ACCESS testing, district nurses participating in an online Boston Children's Hospital Conference, and K-12 Health and PE teachers attending the MAHPERD conference.
It was a fantastic day of learning and collaboration, showcasing the dedication of our educators to provide the best for our students!
