A fresh start: Dartmouth public schools sees changes, improvements for new year

School is almost back in session.

A number of changes and new initiatives have made their way into Dartmouth Public Schools this year, including the move of Cushman Elementary kindergarten classes back to DeMello Elementary for the first time in about two decades as well as new leadership, curriculum and programs. 

Superintendent June Saba-Maguire said the School Committee will also be voting soon on the five-year district strategic plan. The community will hear more about the plan over the next few meetings.

“We believe that introducing this plan to the greater community is going to be something that everybody is able to kind of see themselves in, hear their own voice and be able to see the future of where we're hoping to bring the Dartmouth schools over the next five years.”

Entering her second year as superintendent, Saba-Maguire said she feels she has a great understanding of how the Dartmouth start of the school year rolls out and looks forward to it, with the return of campus activity and spirit leading the way.

In the elementary schools

Saba-Maguire said she believes moving kindergarteners will benefit the students at DeMello who previously missed out on the benefits and connection that comes from sharing a school for that additional year.

Elizabeth Correia, principal of DeMello, said the three classrooms for the kindergarten students are bigger than they were at Cushman and are already all set for the school year thanks to the hard work of the school’s custodians. 

“It’s pretty exciting,” Correia said. “We consider this a big win for the DeMello School.”

Kelly Mooney, the new Early Childhood Director at Cushman, said the move gives her school the opportunity to showcase how “incredible this integrated preschool program is.”

Mooney added she is excited to join the Cushman team and has made it goal to get to know the staff and find out what their goals and visions are for the school.

Also at DeMello this year, two teachers have received Dartmouth Education Foundation grants, including one to launch a Makerspace in the library, which will provide creative activities for students who may not want to participate in outdoor recess, and a year-long campaign on being a “math person.”

Correia said oftentimes, students will say they aren’t a math person, and completely dismiss their own skills. However, the goal of this new program will be to incorporate math throughout the school year in a way that is palatable to those students and celebratory of what they can accomplish.

Though a familiar face, Quinn Elementary School has also seen a change in leadership, with Audra Thomas serving as interim principal for the year. Thomas was formerly one of the school’s assistant principals. 

She said she believes a search for a principal will be held toward the end of the year.

Thomas added she is excited for the start of the school year and continuing to encourage students with their year-old mascot, Leo the Lion, who teaches kids to ROAR, which stands for being responsible, organized, accepting and respectful. 

“It's my home away from home, and I feel like we're a Quinn family,” she said, adding how she wants it to feel that way for the students as well.

Similar sentiments were expressed at Potter Elementary for this upcoming school year. Principal Rick Porter said the school will continue to focus on being “PAWS-itively” Potter, with the school’s mascot being a paw print.

“We PAWS to be kind, PAWS to be safe and PAWS to be a learner,” Porter said. 

Additionally, the school will be continuing to explore its new Foundations Program, which focuses on phonics learning.

Porter said while he and his assistant principal working all summer is OK, “a school building needs to have children in it, so we're looking forward to reopening the school and getting all the kids back in so we can put the spirit back in the building.”

At the middle school 

Peter Rossi, principal at Dartmouth Middle, said there’s certainly nothing “groundbreaking” at the school this year, but as always, he looks forward to welcoming the new class of sixth graders.

Rossi said the school is implementing a new hands-on science curriculum, which focuses on critical thinking and real-world problems.

“I think that's going to be kind of a shift for our kids, and I think it's going to be a great thing,” he said. 

Additionally, Rossi said the teachers will be creating new professional practice goals and student learning goals at the start of the school year.

“It's always great to go on this journey with the kids, and we're ready to roll,” he added.

Last stop, the high school

As seniors get ready to gather for their traditional sunrise event that kicks off the school year, Principal Ryan Shea highlighted some of the physical work that's been done to the high school building, including new speakers in the auditorium and gym through DCTV and fresh paint on the walls.

On the academics side, the school will e working with a new math curriculum through Carnegie Mellon University this year, Shea said. Additionally, the school will continue to encourage students to take the offered pre-Advanced Placement classes.

He said the focus at the high school this year will be on teaching, learning and being “present and really available to support.”

“The high school is like the flagship of the town, where it's like the building you take the most pride in, and we hold a lot of the events there.

“We have really amazing, talented students and staff here that we're really proud of, and we do so much more than just instruction and learning, which is such a big part, but we really try to build our whole student,” he said. “Our day really doesn't try to end at 2:03 [p.m.], we want our students involved in clubs, activities, sports, band, drama — all of that.”