March 17, 2022

Dear Staff and Families,

Driving across the district to visit schools, I catch myself smiling when I hear robins sing. It’s a sure sign that Spring is on our doorstep.

Storytelling. Through a series of collaborations with Immigrant Refugee Alliance, Stellar Story Company, and Falmouth Education Foundation, Falmouth Public Schools is excited to host its first ever storytelling event, “A World of Stories.” After engaging in storytelling workshops with Cheryl Hamilton, owner of Stellar Story Company, multilingual learners have prepared their stories and are excited to share their international stories and help build community. Please consider joining us on the evening of April 14, 2022, at 7pm, at the Lawrence School. Admission is free.

Mathematical Problem Solving. This week our elementary students leveled up as they have now solved more than 1.5 million puzzles in ST Math. Even more, second grade students were seen celebrating St. Patrick’s Day by applying their pre-algebra skills. Our young CLIPPERS continue to show the joy they find in learning math. It’s a message we have also heard in the feedback they share in their written comments to the School Committee.

Partnering for Continued Learning. Our elementary students have also been engaged in a series of after school programming with our amazing community partners. One is centered on music, movement, and art. It’s offered in partnership with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, Cape Verdean Cultural Center, Turning Pointe Dance Studio, and Artist Diane Enzian. A second is “Inquiry and Innovation,” a STEAM program in partnership with organizations in the Woods Hole and Greater Falmouth Science and Research community. These partners include Buzzard Bay Coalition, WHOI, USGS, NOAA, MBL, and WBNERR.

Several high school students are also engaged in intensive learning sponsored by our partnership. FHS has a team of students at MBL in a CRISPR workshop. This experience allowed students not only to learn how this cutting-edge technology works but also to apply the technique in an MBL lab. Students manipulated key genes involved in development to understand embryogenesis and organ formation and how this research is directly connected to understanding human health and birth defects. As we ease into spring, we have accelerated learning. Go CLIPPERS!

Science Fair Successes. On Wednesday March 9, 2022, Massachusetts Region V Science and Engineering Fair winners were announced. Aksel Jensen won a 2nd Place Award, earning the MA Chemistry and Technology Alliance Award for his project titled Toxicity of Road Runoff Entering the Waquoit Bay Estuarine System. Also competing in the Massachusetts Region V Fair were Abigail Okon with the project titled The Effectiveness of Corexit on Oil Spills as well as Caroline Moskal and Elmira Colpus with the project titled How to Build a More Carbon Efficient Vehicle. All three projects will be presented at the Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair to be judged virtually May 5 & 6, 2022. We wish our Clippers continued success!

All Bands Night. Members of our Morse Pond, Lawrence, and Falmouth High School bands came together last night for an amazing show of talent and enthusiasm. The field house was rocking with both concert and jazz band performances. Congratulations to all our musicians! All Choral Night is next week on March 23, 2022 in the Lawrence Auditorium. The chorus performances will be equally spectacular. I hope you can join us to applaud our talented students.

We have so many great traditions returning to the spotlight this spring. Another opportunity presents itself at the Lawrence School. This year’s theater production is live with 45 students participating in the production of Beauty and the Beast Jr.! I hope you can join us next weekend, March 26 & 27, 2022!

Sincerely,
Lori S. Duerr, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools