August 14, 2025
Dear Staff and Families,
I hope you’re enjoying your summer! In just a couple weeks, we will welcome back our amazing Clippers! I am so excited to see everyone again, and to welcome some new students, although I still wish you long summer days and lots of fun before school begins!
New Principals! We begin our school year with two new principals. We welcome Principal Stephen Kapulka at Teaticket Elementary School and Principal Shannon Carlson at Mullen-Hall Elementary School.
Clipper Pride! Every year, our Clippers seek out new opportunities and find new ways to shine. Strong academics are the cornerstone of the Clipper Experience. Adding to our many courses and offerings, we are ready to get started with our new K - 6 English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum, EL Education. We’re also excited to see how the Regal Seagulls move ahead in their second year of competition in the NE FIRST Robotics League as we also introduce robotics opportunities in earlier grades with thanks to Falmouth Education Foundation. In addition, we take great pride in continuing to celebrate our commitment to sustainability. We are fortunate to host the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce’s annual Big Blue conference focused on the Cape & Islands blue economy. These are just a few highlights for the new year, and there are certainly many, many more to come. I look forward to another great school year celebrating all of our Clippers!
Facility Improvements! We had a successful renovation of the North Falmouth Elementary’s Roof and related improvements due to multiple leaks and classroom damage. The project came in under budget and on schedule. East Falmouth Elementary is in the middle of a two year improvement plan that includes floor replacements, painting, and a great deal of Clipper warmth. Wait till you see how light and bright the school looks! Teaticket has additional new flooring that is part of a multi-year project. Morse Pond is looking good after all new exterior soffit painting. And FHS will have a new Mobile Phone Infrastructure installed prior to school to improve safety protocols.
All buildings are looking cheerful with freshly waxed floors and overall deep cleaning. Many thanks to our custodians who work long hours in the heat of the summer to welcome back our staff and students!
I would also like to thank Jerimiah Pearson and his team at DPW for putting in a new track at East Falmouth Elementary. And just like each summer, the team does an exceptional job with the grounds and gardens at all our schools.
Summer Learning! Thank you to all the staff who worked this summer. We hosted our Extended School Year (ESY), the Summer Language Academy, Camp Invention, and both Lawrence and FHS Summer Schools. We had a great summer of learning!
Back to School Bash! Please join us for this free family event at the Gus Canty Recreation Center on August 22 from 4:30-6:30. There will be music, games, activities, give aways, Lawrence School clothing, sporting equipment swap, and information tables. Fun for the whole family!
Our Buses are Ready to Roll! We are excited to introduce a new tool for families this year—My Ride K-12! This app will provide real-time access to your student’s bus location as they travel to and from school, offering added peace of mind and convenience. There will be a short period of time for the transition, but we are confident that this app will be a great resource for our families. My Ride K-12 will go live on August 26, 2025. To learn more and get started, please visit our website: https://www.falmouth.k12.ma.us/cms/one.aspx?portalId=6135966&pageId=17013423.
Free Meals Continue! We’re pleased to share that Falmouth Public Schools will continue to provide free breakfast and free lunch for all students during the upcoming school year.
Communication! We’re always trying to improve our communications and stay connected. Here’s what to expect this year. All administrators across the district and schools will send out routine family emails on Friday. This will be the primary mode of sharing information. Occasionally, you will also receive texts. Phone calls will be used in emergencies and unexpected events only. Look for Fresh Market information by email and text this year. We hope everyone will still participate. We will also be asking your feedback on how we’re doing with district and school initiatives through QR codes, survey links, and short surveys at events. As Superintendent, I will also continue with forums and coffee hours.
First Day of School! We look forward to seeing all our Clippers on the first day of school, Tuesday, September 2. Please watch for letters from the principals for information on open houses, meet your teacher nights, and back to school information.
Sincerely,
Lori S. Duerr, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools