The Bennett Beat #104

Hello Dolphins,

We have had a wonderful first three days at D-Y High School. During classroom visits this week, I saw teachers and students building relationships, establishing classroom expectations, and engaging in meaningful learning activities—from interactive games to thoughtful debates. I also want to commend our students for their positive response to the personal device expectations. Their cooperation has supported strong classroom engagement and helped students take full advantage of the opportunities available to them. Thank you for your continued support with these parameters. 

An update to late buses: late buses will begin during the week of September 21, 2026. They will run on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays and depart from the high school bus port at 3:45 p.m.

We are also proud to celebrate several exciting accomplishments in our community. D-Y High School has been recognized by Special Olympics as a 2025–26 Unified Champion School, reflecting our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and student leadership. Congratulations to our Unified Sports students and staff—we look forward to another terrific year of Unified Sports. Sure to be a Champion School in the 26-27 school year.

Congratulations as well to Guidance and Counseling Department Chair Dale Fornoff, recipient of the 2026 Yale Educator Award. This recognition honors educators who have made an exceptional impact on students’ growth, achievement, and future opportunities. Dale was selected from a highly competitive pool of nominees representing schools across the country and around the world.

Please join us for Open House on Tuesday, September 15, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. This is a valuable opportunity to meet your student’s teachers, learn about the year ahead, explore co-curricular and athletic offerings, tour the building, and connect with our school community.

Finally, we are looking forward to Paul Funk’s Dolphin Dash on October 3 at 10:00 a.m. This 5k road race helps eliminate participation fees for our athletics and band programs. We hope you will join us in supporting D-Y students.

Thank you and have a great weekend!

Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School’s personal device requirements are designed to prioritize learning, safety, and meaningful in-person connection throughout the school day. From the time students enter the building until 2:04pm, personal devices must be powered off, stored securely in a bag or backpack, and kept off the student’s person. This includes cell phones, smart watches, tablets, e-readers, computers, and other privately owned portable electronic devices. Students will have access to school-issued Chromebooks and personal headphones for staff-approved instructional purposes, as well as school email and designated school phones for communication when needed. Families may contact the main office in an emergency, while schoolwide and athletic updates will be shared through ParentSquare and Arbiter. Students with documented medical needs may receive a special D-Y Pass for device possession. The district is not responsible for lost or stolen personal devices, and devices observed during the school day will be confiscated and result in disciplinary consequences, including family communication and additional restrictions for repeated concerns. The High School will be following these parameters for the 2026-2027 school year.

The 2026-2027 D-Y High School Handbook is on our website. Please review it with your student and complete the electronic acknowledgment form here, or via ParentSquare as it becomes available.

Our updated School Improvement Plan reflects our ongoing commitment to student achievement, continuous growth, and a positive learning environment. The plan identifies key priorities, outlines measurable goals, and establishes strategies to strengthen instruction, support student well-being, and deepen our organizational structures to increase effectiveness. Through regular review of data and feedback, we will monitor progress and adjust our efforts to ensure that every student has meaningful opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. 

As the 2026-2027 school year begins, traffic tends to increase. Please ensure safe driving practices on the D-Y campus. Stay vigilant, keep devices away while driving, and maintain a safe speed.

For parents dropping off their children, please follow the signs and staff guidance by the front of the building. To assist you, a traffic pamphlet is attached for easy navigation.

More information on drop off and pick up can be found here.