August 28, 2025
Good afternoon Falmouth Families:
We are looking forward to the arrival of students on September 2. I’m sharing important information as we look forward to the new school year.
School Safety. We will have two School Resource Officers this year. Officer Emily Levins will be located primarily at FHS. Officer Steve Senior will be primarily located at Lawrence and Morse Pond Schools. We will proceed with school safety monitors at all schools. Doors will remain locked at all times. We’ve increased the number of cameras as well as secure entries for a more direct access for staff and students to enter at multiple points around the school building. We will continue ALICE training and increase reunification drills this school year. Our Safety Coordinator, Mike Hurley, continues to research best practices to keep our school district current with safety measures and meets regularly with school safety teams. Providing a safe and supportive learning environment for all students is our top priority.
Safe Community. Amid increased immigration enforcement activity across Massachusetts, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell released a ‘Know Your Rights’ guide designed to help immigrants, families, and communities understand their rights and the basic legal framework for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions.
My Ride. As stated in a previous letter, 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. The information in My Ride K-12 went 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.
New Bus Plan for the Lawrence School Dismissal. In an effort to decrease the amount of time it takes buses to arrive at Morse Pond from Lawrence School at dismissal, we are implementing a new plan in conjunction with the Falmouth Police Department. Please expect slight delays on Gifford Street near Lakeview Avenue around 2:50 pm. Escorted by a Falmouth Police cruiser, buses will travel together from Lawrence School on Lakeview Avenue through the intersection on Gifford Street and then Gifford Street and Jones Road. This new traffic plan will help provide a safer traffic flow, keep buses running on time, and ensure students’ timely arrival at home. I want to thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as we implement this new plan.
School Meals. We will once again provide free breakfast and lunch to all students as part of the state’s commitment to ensuring every child has access to healthy meals. This initiative supports students’ well-being and learning and promotes equity by making nutritious food available to every student throughout the school day. Chef Laura Higgins-Baltzley is back again this year, creating delicious and healthy meals, bringing cultural experiences from around the world, and emphasizing fresh fruits and vegetables. We will continue to offer regular taste tests to introduce new and unfamiliar foods to ensure we’re offering what our students like most. Please encourage your child to eat breakfast and lunch at school.
Have a great weekend. See you Tuesday!
Sincerely,
Lori S. Duerr, Ed.D.
Superintendent