DHS Community Update
May 28, 2021
Remembering the Fallen & Looking Forward to Commencement Exercises
Greetings DHS Community Members:
This weekend marks an important holiday in our nation--Memorial Day. While for many it is the unofficial start to summer that will be celebrated I ask that you please join me in being mindful of the purpose of the holiday which is to remember those who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice to our nation. We honor and salute our fallen men and women this weekend who placed country above themselves.
On Tuesday, June 1, 2021 the events ramp up in honor of our senior class. At 8 a.m. on Tuesday, June 1, 2021 all members of the senior class should report to Dartmouth High School to receive their cap and gown. Immediately afterwards, all members of the class will board a bus for an elementary school where they will participate in the senior stroll. After students have strolled through their former elementary school they will re-board the bus and the entire class will meet at Dartmouth Middle School where they will be greeted by the DMS students and staff. Immediately following the senior stroll we will have our first graduation rehearsal at Dartmouth Memorial Stadium. If another graduation rehearsal is necessary then it will take place on June 3, 2021 at 10:30 a.m.
On Wednesday, June 2, 2021, members of the Class of 2021 who are being presented with scholarships or an award will be honored at our annual Scholarships and Awards Night. Students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) who will be honored on June 2nd were notified by email earlier this week and have been asked to complete a form to pre-register guests who will be in attendance. Only pre-registered guests will be admitted to the event.
On Friday, June 4, 2021, all members of the senior class must report at 12 p.m. for Senior Check Out Day. During this time, members of the senior class who have any outstanding debts to the school i.e. lost textbooks, chromebooks, uniforms, etc. are expected to make payment or return the items. Once all materials have been returned the seniors will be issued their medical and academic records as well as 4 graduation tickets which MUST be presented at the gate on graduation day in order for guests to get in. Once seniors have completed the check out process they are invited to participate in the senior picnic which is being generously sponsored by Jersey Mike's Subs.
On Saturday, June 5, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. we have, weather permitting, a Senior Sunset event. The event will take place at Round Hill. All members of the senior class are invited to share a sunset together as their time as Dartmouth Public Schools comes to a close. Parents and students should note that NO Lifeguard will be on duty AND NO SWIMMING at the event is permitted. In the event of inclement weather this event will be canceled and there is no rain date.
Finally, on Sunday, June 6, 2021 the Class of 2021 Commencement Exercises will take place at Dartmouth Memorial Stadium at 1 p.m. Each graduate will be issued 4 tickets for guests to attend the Commencement Exercises. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate requests for additional tickets; however, DCTV will be live-streaming the graduation ceremony. The link to be used is embedded below.
We know this has been a challenging school year for all members of the community--students, faculty and staff, parents, families and friends of our students, but we appreciate the continued support and cooperation that we have received and look forward to a successful end of the year, the Class of 2021 deserves it.
Sincerely and With Gratitude,
Ross Thibault
Principal
DHS 21 for 21: Senior Shout Outs
Senior Shout Outs will be resuming this week right up until graduation day! Seniors who have completed the form already will receive their senior shout out this week.
From the Desk of the Associate Principal
MCAS Exams
Biology MCAS
Biology MCAS will be administered to all freshmen on June 8th & 9th. Students are to report to their testing rooms by 7:30 am; testing rooms will be shared in the next Community Update and with students via email. The exam will begin at 7:45 am. This is the Legacy MCAS which is paper and pencil. Students may bring a calculator to use for this exam, but it is not mandatory. If students finish the exam early, they may have a book to read or they may work on assignments that are not related to the subject of the exam.
Advanced Placement Update
The second week of AP Digital Exams went seamlessly; students were prepared and all steps were completed before the exam administration. Please see the links provided for information regarding the AP Digital Exams, AP Exam Room Assignments, the Digital Exam Setup, Check-In Calendar, and the AP Calendar At-A-Glance.
Set Up
It is important that students complete the set-up for AP exams scheduled next week. Exam setup is a critical, time-sensitive step that loads a student's specific exam onto the computer they're going to test with. If a student doesn’t complete exam setup 1-3 days before exam day, they may not be able to test.The College Board will send a reminder to students when exam setup opens for their exam.
Lunch
Students who are scheduled to take a noon AP Digital and/or Paper and Pencil exam will need to report to their testing rooms by 11:15 AM. In order to provide students with lunch before the exam, students are to report to the cafeteria at 10:55 AM to purchase and/or eat their lunches before the exam.
Administration 4: AP Exception Testing Window
A fourth testing window is available in June only for students who need to take a makeup digital exam for either of these reasons:
Students who were registered for an exam during Administration 3 and need to take a makeup exam because something impacted their ability to successfully test during Administration 3.
Students who tested during an earlier administration and need a makeup exam, but they were unable to take a makeup exam on the scheduled exam dates during Administration 2 or 3 due to a conflict.
All exam subjects for Administration 4 will be digital exams.
Exams are not available during Administration 4 for AP Chinese Language and Culture and AP Spanish Language and Culture.
Requesting for a Makeup Exam
After Administration 3 begins, a student who is registered for an Administration 3 digital exam can submit a request for a makeup exam through MY AP. They should submit a request as soon as they know they need one. Requests must be submitted no later than 7 calendar days before the makeup digital exam they want to take in Administration 4.
School Counseling & Support Services Department Updates
Class of 2021 Updates
Complete Graduation Survey in Naviance - All students in the Class of 2021 received an email from Mrs. DaSilva to complete the Graduation Survey. To access the survey log into Naviance. Click on the About Me tab and then click on My Surveys. Students will then need to click on surveys not started. Finally click on DHS Graduation Survey and complete the survey. The survey must be completed by May 28th and this will allow your guidance counselor to send your final transcript to your correct post secondary school. Congratulations!
Let us know your post-secondary plans (college, workforce, military, GAP year, etc.) by filling out the Class of 2021 Post-Secondary Plans! We want to highlight your successes!
Scholarship Information for Seniors
All Scholarships are listed in Naviance. Login to Naviance once a week to see if there are any new scholarships. Click on colleges on the top right hand side; then click on scholarships and money link. Choose the second option scholarship list
Class of 2022 Updates
Class of 2022 if you have not had your junior meeting with your school counselor, please schedule one with them as soon as possible. It is a time to talk with your guidance counselor to talk about what your plans are after high school: Sign up to meet with your counselor during PASE or sign up for an appointment on your remote days with your counselor.
College Planning Night Class of 2022 - June 2nd 6:30 PM
Co-hosted by College Edge and Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative (SMEC)
For college-bound seniors, the summer offers an opportunity to slow down, get organized, and complete many of the college planning tasks in front of them. We're excited to share our Top Five To-Do List with students in this session! Parents, we also have something for you! We'll introduce you to a few essential financial aid tools, plus we'll share some insights about how to have "the money conversation" as a family. Clink link to join!
PSAT Scores have been released!
Grade 11 students who took the PSAT/NMSQT on January 26th your scores have been released by the College Board as of March 8th and you should have received an email from the College Board. Log in to the student score portal by clicking this link. Understanding your PSAT Score Report click to watch YouTube video. Also, all students should link their College Board accounts to Khan Academy for free help on how to improve their scores click to watch YouTube video on how to link.
Grade 10 students who took the PSAT 10 on April 15th or April 16th depending on your cohort assignment your scores have been released by the College Board as of May 14th and you should have received an email from the College Board. Log in to the student score portal by clicking this link. Understanding your PSAT Score Report click to watch YouTube video. Also, all students should link their College Board accounts to Khan Academy for free help on how to improve their scores click to watch YouTube video on how to link.
Information For All Grade Levels
Dual Enrollment Information
Bristol Community College and UMass Dartmouth dual enrollment information for the Fall Semester has been emailed to students in current grades 10 and 11. Dual Enrollment classes that are selected should be held after 2:03 PM due to our rotating schedule. Students will turn in their dual enrollment applications to their guidance counselor.
Webinars
Interviewing 101 - May 31st 4:00PM-5:30PM
Learn the dos and don'ts of the college interview. During this virtual session, you will hear best practices, learn how to prepare for your interview, and have a practice interview with a member of the admission team. Click link to register
MEFA Webinars - all webinars are free!
5 Ways High School Juniors Can Strengthen Their College Admissions Application - This interactive webinar for families of high school juniors with guest speaker Andrew Carter, Senior Associate Director of Admissions from College of the Holy Cross, will give tips on how students can put forward their best college admissions application. Click on link to view webinar dates.
Comparing College Loan Options - There's a lot to consider when borrowing a loan to pay for college. This webinar will help you differentiate among college loan options and better understand the true cost of borrowing. Click on link to view webinar dates.
Scholarship Resources
This website resource is made for high school students to access many scholarship opportunities/extracurricular competitions before entering college. The link is here to look for scholarships or competitions: https://www.scholarships4highschool.org/
Summer Jobs Information
2021 Summer Youthworks Program - This program connects young adults to summer employment and pays participants for 20 hours weekly at minimum wage for up to six weeks.
Must be 14-21 years old
Applications must be submitted by May 28th Click link to apply!
Positions are filled using a lottery system, so placement is not guaranteed.
School Social Workers Update
Scheduling a time to meet with one of the school social workers
Social workers are available during the school day to students and families. Students can sign up in Enriching Students to see a social worker during the PASE period or sign up with an appointment slot.
Free food boxes/meal resources
Free Meals for kids 18 and under at the New Bedford YMCA! The New Bedford YMCA is offering free fresh meal boxes (breakfast and lunch) on Wednesday (3 days of meals) and Saturdays (4 days of meals). No paperwork or pre-registration is necessary and the child/children do not need to be present for pick-up. Meals can be picked up at New Bedford YMCA Parking Lot 25 S. Water Street New Bedford, MA 02740.
Wednesdays - 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.*** (or until meals run out)
Saturdays - 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.*** (or until meals run out)
PACE Food Pantry - PACE continues to operate its own Food Bank, Monday through Friday, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Please call the program at 508-999-9920 for information on how to access the Food Bank.
Updates from the DHS Virtual Learning Academy
Continue Making Progress: As a reminder, the "Actual Grade" is the Final Grade that students who have been in the VLA for multiple terms will be awarded at the end of the school year. In using this approach to grading, students have been assured maximum flexibility without penalty for completing coursework at a pace that worked for them. Students should continue to work toward completing each of their courses and if necessary should reach out to Jill Lenz with any questions they might have. Ms. Lenz can be reached by email at jilllenz@dartmouthschools.org.
VLA Testing Center: The VLA Testing Center continues to be open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday each week. In addition, students wishing to request to test on Monday or Wednesday may do so by emailing Mrs. Jill Lenz at jilllenz@dartmouthschools.org. VLA students are reminded, that unless there is an extenuating circumstance that has been approved, testing should be completed through a school-issued chromebook.
Remain Vigilant: VLA students need to remain vigilant in their studies; engage in their work 30 hours per week (6 hours per day). This time commitment is necessary to finish assigned coursework, earn strong grades and complete the credits required for a successful academic year. Students with low “Actual Grades” relative to their “Overall Grades” in Edgenuity are not putting enough time into their studies.
From the DHS Health Office
If your child is exhibiting cold-like symptoms or any other symptoms that mimic or include symptoms of COVID-19, please keep your child home and call your PCP for advice. If your child comes into school with symptoms of COVID-19, they will be isolated and parents will be called to pick up their child and to have their child evaluated by his/her PCP. If the PCP feels the symptoms are related to an illness other than COVID-19, a medical note must be written to the school indicating the diagnosis and when the child may return to school. In EVERY case, the child must have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication before returning to school. Resources to support parents in monitoring symptoms are included below.
Reporting Student Absences, Tardiness & Dismissals
Attendance and academic success go hand-in-hand. We ask that parents continue to report known absences or tardiness to Dartmouth High School using the attendance line (508-961-2700 ext.1). In addition, parents are encouraged to submit medical notes and/or discuss illness related absences with Nurse Wildrick in order to ensure we are able to support your child's health and wellness. Nurse Wildrick can be reached at 508-961-2700 ext. 7420.
If your child needs to be dismissed we ask that you please email DHSdismissals@dartmouthschools.org as early as possible. This will allow us to maintain accurate attendance records.
DHS Grading Policy
Please be reminded, that students will be given an additional opportunity to demonstrate a deeper understanding or mastery of the standards-as driven by student need-after consultation with the teacher within one week after the return of a formative or summative assessment. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the PASE period to clarify any misunderstandings or misconceptions they may have, to practice or improve upon a standard or skill, etc. prior to their second attempt at demonstrating their mastery of the standards.
Food Services Update
As a reminder, all meals served in the Dartmouth Public Schools continue to be free for all students. We encourage students and families to take advantage of this benefit. Please note that students who wish to have breakfast should report directly to the cafeteria each morning.
21 for 21 Event: Cap and Gown Distribution
All members of the Class of 2021 will receive their cap and gown beginning at 8 a.m. Seniors will then board a bus for the Senior Stroll event. Immediately following that will be Graduation Rehearsal.
Tuesday, Jun 1, 2021, 08:00 AM
Dartmouth High School, Bakerville Road, South Dartmouth, MA, USA
21 for 21 Event: Senior Stroll
Members of the Class of 2021 will board a bus for one final ride together. Each bus will report to one of the Elementary Schools where members of the Class of 2021 can take one final stroll through the halls of their elementary school before re-boarding the bus to Dartmouth Middle School. Once students have completed the final stroll we will conduct Graduation Rehearsal at Dartmouth Memorial Stadium.
Tuesday, Jun 1, 2021, 09:00 AM
Dartmouth High School, Bakerville Road, South Dartmouth, MA, USA
21 for 21 Event: Graduation Rehearsal
Tuesday, Jun 1, 2021, 10:30 AM
Dartmouth Memorial Football Stadium, Slocum Road, Dartmouth, MA, USA
21 for 21 Event: Scholarship and Awards Evening
Students receiving an award or scholarship will be invited to this special ceremony which will be held at Dartmouth High School in the Carlin Lynch Activity Center. Students being honored will be invited and will be permitted to bring a select number of guests who must pre-register for the event.
Wednesday, Jun 2, 2021, 06:00 PM
Dartmouth High School, Bakerville Road, South Dartmouth, MA, USA
21 for 21 Event: Senior Check-Out & Picnic
Seniors will check-out by turning in any outstanding Dartmouth High School property i.e. books, Chromebooks, uniforms, etc. Seniors will be issued all of their temporary student records once they've checked out, including any academic, special education and/or health records on file. Once seniors have checked out they are invited to remain for a Class of 2021 picnic which is being organized by the DHS After Prom Committee and sponsored by Jersey Mike's Subs.
Friday, Jun 4, 2021, 12:00 PM
Dartmouth High School
21 for 21 Event: Senior Sunset
The Class of 2021 will enjoy the sun and sand of Round Hill as the sun sets on their time as members of DHS while enjoying the music of DJ ABL.
Saturday, Jun 5, 2021, 07:15 PM
Round Hill Town Beach, Mishaum Point Road, Dartmouth, MA, USA
21 for 21 Event: Class of 2021 Commencement Exercises
The Class of 2021 Commencement Exercises are being planned to take place outdoors at Dartmouth Memorial Stadium on Sunday, June 6, 2021 at 1 p.m. with rain dates on Friday, June 11, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 13, 2021 at 1 p.m.
Sunday, Jun 6, 2021, 01:00 PM
Dartmouth Memorial Football Stadium, Slocum Road, Dartmouth, MA, USA
Dartmouth High School
Email: rossthibault@dartmouthschools.org
Website: dartmouth.school/domain/8
Location: 555 Bakerville Road, Dartmouth, MA, USA
Phone: 508-961-2700
Twitter: @DartmouthHS