April 17, 2026
Dear Staff and Families,
Spring has sprung! Longer days and warmer weather will be a welcome change from this past winter. As we wind down the school year, there will be many events throughout the District. Please be sure to check the calendar for all the exciting activities planned.
Lawrence School Renovation. At the spring Town Meeting, members voted overwhelmingly to financially support a feasibility study at two million dollars for the next phase of the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) process for the renovation of the Lawrence School. The MSBA will be funding a portion of this study. The much-discussed grade configuration will continue to be studied during this phase. Therefore, the School Committee will wait to make the final determination during the feasibility study.
Civic Project. On May 1, 2026, students in US History II will engage in a Committee Hearing Simulation experience as part of the state’s civic project graduation requirement at Falmouth High School. Students will provide testimony to a panel comprising State Representatives David Vieira and Thomas Moakley and State Senator Dylan Fernandes. (All three FHS graduates!) Students will be providing the panel with their testimony on actual bills that are currently under consideration in the Massachusetts legislature. Bill topics range from affordable housing, online sports gambling, to student voting rights on local school committees. At the end of the simulation, the legislators will provide students with feedback on whether or not they convinced them to move the bills forward in the legislative process. The purpose of this simulation is to give the students an authentic experience of the legislative process. Rigorous opportunities like this do more than just build knowledge; they build student confidence and critical thinking skills that will serve them far beyond the classroom. Thank you to the Social Studies Department for leading the way.
What’s Cooking in FPS? As part of the Clipper Community Collaboration Dish, members of our community are sharing their favorite dishes. In March, my Executive Assistant, Sharon Reid, shared her tried and true Corn Chowder recipe. Our Food Service Coordinator, Magali Chbarbi, shared a favorite Moroccan chicken dish, reminding her of family visits to Morocco. Recreating favorite dishes has become a new and popular lunch trend in our schools. We encourage you to share one of your family favorite recipes for our School Community Chef to prepare for our students. A taste of home to share!
Sun Bucks are Back! This federal food benefit program provides a $120 lump-sum summer benefit per school-aged child for income-eligible families. SUN Bucks income eligibility standards are the same as the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)—all enrolled students identified as meeting the income eligibility standards for free or reduced-price lunch during school year 2025-26, either through an NSLP household paper application or direct certification, are automatically eligible for SUN Bucks. Students identified as homeless, migrant, runaway, or participating in Head Start are also automatically eligible. The program is administered by the state Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) in partnership with DESE with assistance from schools.
Clipper Corner! I hope you’re catching our school-by-school news and articles in the Enterprise. We’re having fun sharing highlights of the opportunities our students have in FPS.
I wish everyone a wonderful spring break. We look forward to seeing our staff and students when we return on April 27, 2026.
Sincerely,
Lori S. Duerr, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools