Dartmouth Public Schools
iInspire, You Matter, Kindness Matters
Dr. Bonny Gifford
Summer Institute
DPS Summer Institute
Thursday, June 13th and Friday, June 14th Curriculum Summit
Monday, June 17th, Tuesday, June 18th, and Wednesday, June 19th Individual Sessions
Interested in facilitating a session for our teachers? Please fill out Part 2!
March Madness (Not Just About Basketball!)
Final Bracket: Wonder by R.J. Palacio vs The Hate U GIve by Angie Thomas
Which great book are you rooting for to win?
Final Bracket: The Pigeon Finds a hot Dog by Mo Willems vs We're All Wonders by R.J. Palacio
Which are you cheering for?
MCAS Development Committee
Elementary iStem Club
Elementary iSTEM Club is once again the place to be at 8AM on Wednesdays. This year, students from all elementary schools have been working on developing and creating their own games. Focusing on the concept of a game (rules, parts, objectives, etc.) and having the students build/assemble their own and then present their games to each other, arcade-style.
Cushman Learners
Student Reflection
Grade five teachers gave their students an enlightening opportunity, to go back and review one of their 4th grade MCAS essays, that had been released by the Department of Education! The goal of this work was to provide students with insight and reflection that would help them to improve their performance as a writer on the state assessment.
After each student received their 4th grade essay and the rubric from the state, they were asked to write an action plan about their work moving forward. Students commented on their strengths and weaknesses as a writer. Some students were pleased with the effort that they had put forth last year, while others were shocked by their performance. Students provided the following comments; “I can’t believe I only wrote a few sentences.” “I didn’t even give evidence from the text!” “Ugh, I didn’t proof read my work, some of the sentences didn’t it even make sense!” “I used boxes and bullets to organize my work; it helped me to remember to explain my thinking.” “My essays as a 5th grader are crazy good compared to this!”
Teachers of course helped students reaffirm that they are now a year older and know so much more, encouraging them to show what they know as a 5th grader.
We strive to make every moment a teachable one, by providing our students with feedback in a timely manner so that everyone is able to make adjustments to practice.
“The more you know the more you’ll grow!”
PD with the Author!
DPS takes the PLUNGE for Special Olympics
Special Olympics Massachusetts hosted a Polar Plunge at East Beach in New Bedford on Saturday March 23rd. Dartmouth Public Schools staff and students took the challenge and plunged into the cold water raising money for Special Olympics. For the third year in a row, Potter School took the plunge. Dartmouth High School also had a group of plungers led by team captain Ashley Kocur-Pierpont. With the help of students, staff, and family members, the DHS team was able to raise over $5,200, which was the highest fundraising team in the plunge. Collectively, the New Bedford Polar Plunge raised more than $27,500 for Special Olympics Massachusetts and local programs. The event was put on by Dartmouth High graduate and Special Olympics employee Ellie Gamache. Despite the morning snow, the Dartmouth plungers braved the chilly water all for a great cause and are looking forward to next year's plunge already!
Potter School Polar Plungers included Mrs. Brooks, Mr. Porter, Mr. Fluerent, Jack Fluerent, Mrs.Doucette, Mrs. Morrison, Abigail Morrison, Alexa Morrison, Caiden Martinho, Casey Martinho, Dylan Dionisio, Eric Dionisio,and Ms.Smeaton
Dartmouth High Polar Plungers included Mrs. Kocur-Pierpont, Mr. Breault, Mr. Cappello, Mr. Thibault, Mr. Martin, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Reed, Mr. Hellkamp, and Mr. Gaffney, Mrs. Gamache along with student plungers Travis Tetrault, Lavender Bourque, Katherine Rosen, Charlie Gamache, and John Gamache.
Renewing Your Academic Professional License
Do you have a Professional license or licenses that you need to renew and want to learn about renewal requirements? If so, this presentation provides a tutorial on licensure renewal.
Water Works
Blended and Personalized Learning
The Blended and Personalized Learning Core Team has continued our work studying best practices in face to face and virtual meetings. The Ambassador Innovators Team is also continuing to meet with the Core Team to support bringing the future focused practices into the schools. The Ambassadors will bring the classroom lens to our team by reviewing these practices with the core team.
Dartmouth Public Schools' Core Team consist of the following members:
Dr. Bonny Gifford, Superintendent
Michelle Roy, Assistant Superintendent
Tracy Oliveira, Director of Teaching and Learning
Carl Robidoux, Associate Principal Dartmouth Middle School
Elizabeth Correia, Assistant Principal Demello School
Trisha Leary, Instructional Technology Specialist Quinn School
Kristen Martinho, Grade 1 teacher Potter School
Dartmouth Public Schools Ambassador Team consist of the following members:
Lindsey Sousa - Cushman
Leslie Gamache - DeMello
David Finn-Clarke - DeMello
Robin Kolbeck - DeMello
Nicholas Bolger - Middle School
Anne Brown - Middle School
Laura Gardner - Middle School
Helen Mitchell - Middle School
Jeremy McDonald- Middle School
Dana Doucette - Potter
Anne Goodman - Potter
Jennifer Oliver - Potter
Richard Porter - Potter
Wendy Candeias - Quinn
Tracy Chamberlain - Quinn
Erin Finnegan - Quinn
MaryBeth Richardson - Quinn/Demello
Shannon Salvador - Quinn
Together will be ushering in transformation in teaching and learning in a slow and careful manner, one activity at a time, getting feedback to tweak our plans and thinking along the way.
In a recent meeting, teams discussed the questions below thinking about, "What do you envision an ideal classroom to look like at DPS?"
- What are the teachers (lesson architects) doing?
- What are the students (learners) doing?
- What kind of tasks are the students working on?
- What does the ideal classroom look like, feel like and sound like?
What is Blended and Personalized Learning? What is it not?
Wellness at DHS
Voice and Choice in Reading at DMS
Staff Spotlight
Name: Maria Rafferty
School/Position: Secretary @ Dartmouth Middle School
Hometown: Sao Miguel, Azores
Education: Kinyon Campbell Business School: Accounting Major
One goal I have achieved in my career so far that I feel most satisfied about: Setting up student exchange programs with Dartmouth and sister city Lagoa, Sao Miguel, Azores.
Role model or someone who has had a great impact on my life: My parents for their courage, strength and love.
If I could travel anywhere in the world, it would be: Italy and Greece
Pet peeve: Clutter
Favorite leisure time activity: Gardening, walking and reading
Favorite movie: Sound of Music
Favorite author: Danielle Steel
I think the world's greatest invention is: GPS system
Dartmouth Public Schools
The mission of Dartmouth Public Schools is to provide a quality education for all learners.
Website: https://www.dartmouth.school
Location: 8 Bush Street, South Dartmouth, MA, USA
Phone: 508 997-1107
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dartmouth-Public-Schools
Twitter: @DrBGifford