Reminder that next Tuesday, May 27, 2025 will be the RSU 56 Annual Budget Meeting held at Dirigo High School in the SCC starting at 6:30pm.
The budget information can be found on our website: https://www.rsu56.org/page/budget-25-26
Attention 6th Grade Parent/Guardians: We are sending the students home today with information about next week's unit in Health class. Just keep an eye out and let us know if you have any questions. Go Cougars!
SUN Bucks is a grocery benefit program to help families buy food during the
summer when schools are closed. Each eligible school-age child receives a
one-time payment of $120. Children who get these benefits can also
participate in other summer meal programs.
We have an opening at Dirigo Elementary School for an IT Support Specialist! Check out the posting on https://rsu56.schoolspring.com and reach out to Brian Keene, Technology Director, bkeene@rsu56.org with any questions.
Today, we finish up Teacher Appreciation Week. Thank you to our Student Council for their efforts all week and for providing the staff with lots of treats. Also, thank you to the many students who contributed thank you notes yesterday to build our Thank You Wall in the teachers' lounge. Thank you to the several parents who showed up unannounced and dropped off goodies (especially the flower cupcakes). And thank you to the Facebook folks who hit like on our posts. A school is, at its best, an extension of its community. We are proud to be Dirigo. Go Cougars!
TWKDMS wants to make a special shout-out to the community members who donated AWESOME raffle prizes for our Staff Appreciation Week. You helped to make some hard-working people feel appreciated. Thank you, and Go Cougars!
Mountain Valley's fields are not playable. Here is the plan for practices.
Wednesday, May 7th, is National School Nurse Appreciation Day. We are SO very grateful to have the AMAZING Nurse Wilcox as part of our team. She truly is our Captain Marvel - Go Cougars!
Due to the rain, there have been some changes to today's schedule.
Excited for Teacher Appreciation Week at TWKDMS! We have a Super Hero theme with special activities, raffles from local businesses, daily treats, and a spirit day on Friday. If you're so inclined, this is a great week to drop a thank-you note to a staff member. I certainly am grateful to work here with these wonderful professionals - and as always, Go Cougars!
This Friday is School Nutrition Appreciation Day, and we have the BEST around! We are so grateful that our kids feel the love that goes into their meals at Dirigo. A special thank you to Mimi's Place for helping us honor our kitchen crew! Go Cougars!
May Lunch Menu
Attention TWKDMS Community: Tomorrow morning (5/1/25), we will take our Spring Maine Reading NWEA. Students know it is coming, and their iPads are at school and charging. One of our 8th graders had an idea to liven things up a bit, and so... Mr. Long has agreed that if the school meets its growth goal in BOTH reading and math, he will dye his hair and new beard bright pink. We wish the students a successful round of spring assessments, and here is a little taste of what Mr. Long might look like at the final assembly if everything goes according to plan. LOL. Go Cougars!
Attention Parents/Guardians: As you know, RSU 56 School Board Policy JICJ states that student cell phones “must be turned off and stored during the school day.”
Many parents asked that we allow students to keep their devices “stored” but still with them, such as in their iPad case or pocket. We worked diligently to be accommodating and still uphold the cell phone policy. Unfortunately, many of our students have continued to “sneak” and use their devices, especially in the bathroom. It has gone on long enough. Cell phone expectations need to change at TWKDMS. We sent a letter home last week with students to provide advance notice.
Starting Monday, students must store their cell phones at 7:45 am in either the Main Office or their locker. Students are welcome to place locks on their lockers, and we also have excellent camera coverage of the lockers to ensure the safety of stored content. Cell phones may not remain with students during the school day.
If a staff member sees a cell phone between 7:45 am and 2:25 pm, it will be delivered to the Main Office for safekeeping for the rest of the day. There will be no warnings, and we will make the enforcement of this clear. We will not search their phones.
Parents needing to contact their child during school may call the Main Office at 562-7552. We will bring the student down to make a call. Thank you for your support.
As always, feel free to reach out to me with any questions. This may not be a popular change, but we are taking on this challenge because we believe it will help our students succeed. Go Cougars!
Wednesday, April 23, 2025, is Administrative Professionals' Day - and as everyone in the River Valley knows, Dirigo Middle School has a total mega-rock star in the Main Office! Thank you, Mrs. Sanborn! Enjoy your day, and as always, Go Cougars!
Spring Sport Photos will be taken after school on Wednesday, April 30th. After the April break, athletes will come home with an order form, but you may order online at any time.
RSU 56 Phone lines have all been restored, if you need anything from our buildings the numbers are as follows:
DES: (207)562-4207
DMS: (207)562-7552
DHS: (207)562-4251
Central Office & Transportation: (207)562-4300
Good Morning. RSU 56 is currently experiencing a phone outage with our phone provider. If you need to reach any of our schools, please use the emails listed below:
DES - Tricia Fletcher - tfletcher@rsu56.org
DMS - Lisa Sanborn - Lsanborn@rsu56.org
DHS - Devon Melcher - dmelcher@rsu56.org
Central Office - Cyndi Matthews - cmatthews@rsu56.org
Transportation - Terri Cox - tcox@rsu56.org
Class of 2025 Breakfast with the easter bunny 4/12/25
Attention Dirigo Community: The Autism Society of Maine will offer a free presentation on autism for families at TWKDMS from 4:30 to 6:00 on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. See the flyer below for more information. Go Cougars!
