The Bennett Beat #113

Hello Dolphins,

What a fantastic week for our Dolphins! We have so much to celebrate, both in and out of the classroom, as our students continue to demonstrate their dedication, hard work, and Dolphin pride!

This week, we administered MCAS make-up exams and took time on Wednesday to recognize and honor Veterans Day. Veterans Day is an opportunity to recognize the brave men and women who have served our country and to thank them for their dedication, courage, and sacrifice. We are grateful to all of our veterans, including those in our school community and the families who support them, for their service and commitment to our nation. A special thank you to our D-Y Veterans, Ms. McMahon, Officer Nick Pasquarosa and Officer McHowell.

A huge congratulations to our Field Hockey team, who defeated West Bridgewater yesterday, 3-0, to advance to the Division IV Final Four! This marks the team's third consecutive appearance in the Final Four, an incredible accomplishment! The Dolphins will face the winner of Sunday's Frontier/Quabbin game. Stay tuned for details on the date, time, and location of the upcoming matchup.

We are also celebrating some impressive academic achievements this week, with 419 Advanced Placement exams ordered for 228 students! This is a wonderful reflection of our students' commitment to challenging themselves, setting goals, and striving for success.

Congratulations to all of our students, teachers, and teams for making it another great week to be a Dolphin!

Today, November 13th,  marks the end of Term 1! Report Cards will be available through PowerSchool on November 23. Term 2 will begin on Monday, November 16th, bringing a few adjustments to our Dolphin Time and lunch schedules. We encourage students to take some time to familiarize themselves with these changes as they settle into the new term. If students have any questions or need clarification, they are encouraged to reach out to their Homeroom teacher. Thank you for your continued support, and we wish everyone a restful and enjoyable weekend as we prepare for a great start to Term 2!

As we near Thanksgiving, please see information attached from the Yarmouth Food Pantry.

Please view the schedule below to view the recent adjustment made to Dolphin Time. 

Dolphin Time is not going away, and the bell schedule has not changed. The adjustment is focused on how this time is structured and how it can better support student learning.

According to the 2026–2027 Dolphin Time Handbook, drafted and edited by D-Y educators, Dolphin Time is designed to provide students with opportunities for "extra help, intervention, support, engagement, extra time, and/or enrichment." The handbook also explains that students should have a goal for being assigned to a specific room or teacher on a specific day.

That purpose has not changed. Dolphin Time will continue to provide students with opportunities to receive extra help, connect with teachers, work on challenging coursework, and participate in enrichment activities.

This change is focused on improving overall student achievement for ALL D-Y High School students. The school has not yet reached its student achievement goals at the Tier 1 level, meaning more intentional opportunities are needed for every student to access academic support, additional learning time, and enrichment.

Students will continue receiving additional support from familiar teachers and will have opportunities to meet with each teacher on their schedules. Students will still have time to work on academically demanding courses, and staff will continue to offer enrichment opportunities such as Hope Squad and Student Advisory Councils. Internships and workshops will also remain part of the opportunities available to students.

The goal is to make Dolphin Time more intentional, ensuring that students have a meaningful purpose and an opportunity to benefit from this time. School leadership will continue monitoring student achievement data throughout the year and make adjustments when necessary.

Every D-Y HS student has the opportunity to succeed. Every student at D-Y High School deserves an education that prepares them to reach proficiency in all content areas. Every student deserves the opportunity to achieve the Vision of a Graduate through their high school experiences. And every student deserves to leave high school prepared for whatever comes next.

Dolphin Time is one opportunity to help make that happen.

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. 

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.