As we settle into October, I want to thank our students, families, educators, and staff for such a wonderful start to the year. It has been a joy to see students learning, building relationships, and embracing the opportunities that a new school year brings.

Districtwide we have set a focus this year on making small changes that can have big impacts.  Administrators, educators, staff and even students have been exploring ways to bring this approach to life and I look forward to seeing how this energy and these small changes manifest in our schools throughout the year.

Already, in just the few weeks since 603 adults and 2,642 students returned for a new school year, there have been extraordinary moments worth recognizing and celebrating.

Dedham’s partnership with CityConnects was recently featured as an example of how valuable partnership work can be in creating, supporting and cultivating student opportunities. “Dedham Public Schools and City Connects are entering their third year of partnership. After two years of implementation, a quiet transformation is taking root. With Dedham’s dedication to student well-being and City Connects’ systematic framework, the district is looking to ensure every child is supported, inside and outside the classroom”. 

Please congratulate our CityConnects teams, Ali Lukoff, Ann Sherman, Ashley Dube and all of the CityConnects partners.  You can read the full feature story here. 

We are entering an exciting next phase in our work to determine what Educational Model we want reflected should the community decide to move forward with a school building project.

 At Tuesday night's School Committee meeting, the Committee voted to send Educational Model Options B4, B5, and D9 for cost estimates. This is an important step as we continue to explore what a 21st-century learning environment can look like for our students and educators. 

There is still much work ahead, but I am excited about the possibilities and look forward to continuing this conversation with our community.  

Find the latest information on this project here:https://beheard.dedhamma.gov/educational-model 

I encourage our DPS families to stop in at the October 7, 2026 Facilities Master Plan Community Listening session.  The evening will focus on municipal and community buildings as the Town works to develop a coordinated, financially responsible plan for all its facilities, shaped by community needs and resident input.  

Learn more about this event here: https://www.dedhamma.gov/Home/Components/News/News/5781/16

Our athletics and fine arts programs are an important part of the student experience.There are plenty of opportunities for every family to get out and cheer on our students this Fall! When we fill the stands and applaud from the audience we show our students that their community is behind them.  You can find the latest DHS athletics schedule here.   And please mark your calendars for the DHS production of Frozen on November 13 -15! Tickets on sale now at https://dedhamhspac.ludus.com/index.php

As part of its annual accountability reporting process, the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education identifies a small number of Schools of Recognition. These schools demonstrate progress toward annual accountability targets, with an emphasis on improved achievement in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math.  Oakdale Elementary was recognized this year as one of 56 schools around the State who made marked progress on their goals.  Congratulations to our Oakdale educators and leadership for all the hard work that went into this recognition!