Dear Families,
On behalf of everyone at the Attleboro Public Schools (APS), it is my pleasure to welcome you back for the 2024-2025 School Year. Central Office, your school administrators, and their staffs are all busy preparing for another successful start. The first day for students in grades 1-12+ is Tuesday, September 3. The first day for our kindergarteners is Wednesday, September 11, and for preschool students it is Thursday, September 12. You should receive more details from individual schools in the coming days.
As we enhance our communication strategies within the District, we will continue using the Attleboro Public Schools app as our primary means of direct communication with families. This app will remain a crucial tool for keeping every family well-informed and connected. While we have faced some challenges, we are optimistic that this year will bring new opportunities for growth and clarity. If you haven’t yet done so, we strongly encourage you to download the Attleboro Public Schools app, available for both Android and iPhone. This app serves as an essential resource for District and school events, alerts, administrative updates, student achievements, and emergency notifications.
One of the app's key features is "Rooms," a secure communication portal that enables direct interaction between you and your child's teacher. To access "Rooms" simply tap the icon in the bottom right corner of the app’s home screen. If you had an account last year, no further action is required. New families will receive an email from account@edurooms.com, which will provide instructions on how to set up your account. By August 29, teachers will send welcome messages to all families using Rooms. For assistance with using Rooms or resolving any issues, please visit Rooms Central. If you need further support, please contact Apptegy Support at attleboro@apptegy.com.
This year we will continue our emphasis on the importance of student attendance. School is the safest place for our students. It also remains the best environment to nurture their well-being, both socially and academically. Please support the success of your child(ren) by prioritizing their daily attendance. What is lost when students miss a day of school can never truly be replaced. I encourage families to reach out to their schools if assistance is needed.
Like many districts across the nation and in our region, APS is implementing a new policy concerning student use of cell phones. Smart phones have transformed modern life and provide an indispensable tool for connecting with the digital world. Unfortunately, they are also a significant distraction for adults and children alike. We are attempting to strike a balance between honoring the desire by most families to send students with phones and our need to manage the many negative impacts phones have on the learning environment. The expectations and subsequent rules differ at our three levels: elementary, middle, and high school. Please look for messages from your school and support our effort to find a practical solution to this increasingly challenging aspect of school in the 21st century.
We are eager to work together to meet the unique needs of your child(ren). Our partnership will ensure their healthy development and future success.
Sincerely,
David A. Sawyer, Superintendent of Schools