Dudley-Charlton Regional School District DUDLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL

70 Dudley-Oxford Road Dudley, Massachusetts 01571

Gregg J. Desto, Principal
Phone: 508-943-2224

John D. Paire, Assistant Principal

Fax: 508-949-0720

July 27, 2012 Theres work and then theres your lifes workthe kind of work that has your fingerprints all over it. The kind of work you could never compromise on. You can do that kind of work here. People dont come here to play it safe; they come to swim in the deep end. They want their work to add up to something something big - something that just couldnt happen anywhere else. Dear Staff: Are you having any fun yet? If so, good for you. Thats what summer is for. If not, youd better get moving. We only have 4 weeks left! This is not to say that we cant have fun once school starts, but the more relaxed pace of summer is surely a nice change of pace from the intensity of the school year. You have worked hard and well to get to where you are in your life. Please be sure to reflect with pride on your accomplishments and to breathe in the summer slowly and deeply before we exhale, straighten our backs and get back to our lifes work on August 27. Some of you will recognize the above quotation as part of a business recruitment letter for Apple Corporation. I came across it last week and it resonated with me big time. I thought that to some degree it spoke to what we have tried to build together at DMS through the years. For most of us, working at DMS is about more than the basic things that employment brings. We take a little extra pride in the service we give to the community; in the way we take care of our students as we would our own family. It seems to me that DMS is not just a building or our place of employment. Rather, it is indeed our lifes work, embedded in our DNA. We are proud of it. We are protective of it. We believe that we are doing something big. This coming year, even as our student population continues to grow and change, we will make that something even bigger - and better. Thats just what we do. Its the DMS Way. Toward that end, at our last faculty meeting in June, Mr. Paire and I asked you what 2-3 things you think should be seen in every classroom, school wide. We received many thoughtful responses, but two came up continuously: 1. A daily agenda posted each day so students will know what to expect (this can also be adapted to a list of things students will be able to do by the end of the lesson perhaps both would be ideal). 2. A uniform, school wide behavioral step plan As a result, we will expect a daily agenda or list of student objectives to be posted in every classroom every day. This will be something we look for as we implement the new evaluation procedures. Additionally, a meaningful introductory activity was suggested by many staff members. This is something that we highly recommend, but will stop short of mandating because many of you already have an effective routine. Either way you choose, as we do evaluations this year, we will be emphasizing a prompt, smooth and effective opening of class. As for the step plan, Mr. Paire will introduce this at the first faculty meeting, and as he has garnered input from team leaders, it is not likely to represent a major shift for any grade level. The Apple Corporation recruitment letter that I previously referenced was accompanied by a brief video. In the video, an employee says, There are a lot of places to work where you can find happiness. This is a place where you can find meaning. While Im not sure you can find happiness in all that many places, I do know that meaning can only be found in precious few. Is DMS one of those places? It is for me, and Id like it to
to advance the knowledge and well being of our children and our community.

Dudley-Charlton Regional School District DUDLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL

70 Dudley-Oxford Road Dudley, Massachusetts 01571
Gregg J. Desto, Principal
Phone: 508-943-2224

John D. Paire, Assistant Principal

Fax: 508-949-0720

be for all of us. So, as we enjoy the month of August, lets methodically prepare ourselves to continue with our lifes work. Lets be ready to not play it safe. If were going to bring true meaning to our students lives, we have to be different from other places. We have to care more, prepare more thoroughly, show more creativity, be more dedicated. Simply, we are going to have to be ready to swim in the deep end. I look forward to seeing you on the 27th. Are you enjoying this time? Having fun? Relaxing? Connecting with loved ones? Counting your blessings?

to advance the knowledge and well being of our children and our community.