Dartmouth heads back to school Aug. 27

As Dartmouth looks to head back to school Aug. 27, Superintendent June Saba-Maguire said the district is moving forward with a number of new initiatives while continuing to build consistency and alignment across grade levels.

One of the biggest changes is the full rollout of the Core Knowledge Language Arts program for students in pre-K through grade 5, which was piloted last year. Saba-Maguire described it as “a literacy program aimed at building foundational reading skills and is a knowledge-rich curriculum.” 

Principal of DeMello School Elizabeth Correia said, “We are taking the momentum built last year to focus on getting students back into reading this year,” adding the school hopes to reignite a love of reading through new titles in the library and family events.

The middle school is also starting a new science curriculum, which had come recommended by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, according to Principal Peter Rossi.

The high school is now entering year two for both its pilot math program, Carnegie Math Solution, and the expanded world language program. But new this year is the social emotional learning resource, Wayfinder, which has been sponsored by the town through opioid legal settlement funds.

These funds are also being put toward the installation of vape detectors in all of the high school’s bathrooms and new afterschool programs at the middle school.

The school is also emphasizing freshmen this year. All ninth graders will take “pre-AP English,” which combines the regular curriculum with Advanced Placement standards. The school piloted the program last year, and this year will also pilot pre-AP biology. 

In addition to new programs, the district has hired 18 certified staff members for the year. Most of those hires are in counseling and social work, with just one new elementary classroom teacher and the high school has an additional special education position. But there have been a number of changes in the schools’ administration as well.

Quinn School welcomes Audra Thomas, who served in an interim capacity last year, as its principal as well as Rebecca Hurley as the new assistant principal. With the two of them and assistant principal Stephanie Yermalovich, Thomas said she is looking forward to a year of solid and consistent team work.

With the retirement of Rick Porter, Melissa McHenry has taken over as principal of Potter School and is joined by new assistant principal Benjamin Grande.

The middle school is also seeing leadership changes. Marc Hayes has moved into the associate principal position and longtime math teacher Justin Zexter has been named assistant principal.

At the high school, Principal Ryan Shea said the excitement of the season is already in the air. “Really excited. You feel the fall actually this week in the air and it’s like taking over, right? You get that excitement that the building’s all coming together, people are starting to return, you get the whole community feeling back.”

Shea welcomes new associate principal Stephanie Santos and a new band director, Marielle Chrupcala, as Ian Flint transitions into the role of Fine Arts Department director. 

He also highlighted facility updates, which include new auditorium lighting and front doors, along with other safety improvements.

Other changes at the schools this year include the alignment of the schedules across the elementary schools to allow for more district-wide collaboration. For example, all the kindergarten teachers in the district will have their planning period at the same time.

McHenry also was excited to announce the upcoming composting program the fifth graders will be participating in this year, noting she looks forward to seeing them get more involved with the school.

Rossi shared similar sentiments for his eighth graders: “I’m excited to see them become the leaders of our building as they get ready for high school.”

He added, “Our goal for the first day is always the same. Our goal is to get them in, to get them fed and get them home.”

“We’re super excited — can’t wait to get kiddos in the building, so we can hear noise in the hallway from students and then the staff as well,” McHenry said.