Schools | Sippican

header_bg

Visit our partners:

Schools

Old Colony presents possible steps forward after rejected building project

Members of the Old Colony Building Project panel.

ROCHESTER — After residents voted against constructing a new Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School building, the school…

Center School Principal to retire at end of school year

Dr. Linda Ashley, principal of Center School, to retire at the end of the 2025-26 school year. Source: Old Rochester Regional School District

MATTAPOISETT — After four years as the Center School principal, Linda Ashley plans to retire at the conclusion of the school year. The Old Rochester Regional School District…

Most Popular

Old Rochester, Acushnet negotiate tuition deal

Old Rochester Regional High School students celebrating the start of the 2025-26 school year. Source: Old Rochester Regional High School Facebook

ACUSHNET — Acushnet students could come to Old Rochester Regional High School if a new tuition agreement is approved. The Acushnet School Committee opened negotiations with Old Rochester Regional, New Bedford and Fairhaven High Schools after a...

Old Rochester students cook up a holiday fundraiser to share

James Russell, Luke Pierre and Rafael Duarte, 3 class officers who created the cookbook, pose infront of an Old Rochester Bulldog. Photo by Mari Huglin

MATTAPOISETT — The junior student body class officers of Old Rochester Regional High School wanted a fundraiser that benefited everyone. They decided to create a cookbook of shared recipes called the “Bulldog Bites Cookbook.” Back in early...

Old Rochester students give back at the second annual Day of Giving

One student works on her wreath.

MARION — Old Rochester Regional High School students spread across the Tri-town to give back to their community and continue a new tradition. Students and staff members met at Old Rochester early Wednesday, Nov. 26 before heading off in buses to...

Gobble, gobble: Old Rochester Junior High School serves up turkey at Mattapoisett Council on Aging

Friends and the community smile together at shared tables.

MATTAPOISETT — Nearly 300 older adult Tri-town senior citizens were served with kindness, energy and big smiles at the Old Rochester school cafeteria by 40 students and around 12 staff members who hosted a Thanksgiving banquet on Sunday, Nov. 23....

Gravy train: Old Colony cooks up Thanksgiving for the Rochester Council on Aging

Old Colony students serve up delicious Thanksgiving fixings.

ROCHESTER — Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School students and staff served 150 Thanksgiving meals for the Rochester Council on Aging on Friday, Nov. 21. 150 Rochester seniors, ages 60 and older, were treated to a traditional...

Old Rochester vies for Acushnet students in tuition deal

Old Rochester and Acushnet Public Schools have met since August to discuss the possibilities of a new tuition deal between the districts.

MATTAPOISETT — Old Rochester and three other schools are vying for a tuition deal with Acushnet Public Schools which would welcome more students from the Acushnet district. The Acushnet School Committee will host the final vote on which districts...

What’s next for Old Colony following “no” vote on new building project?

Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School sign. File photo.

Now the Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School’s plans to construct a new school building are halted, what’s next for the Rochester-based school? On Tuesday, Nov. 18, voters from the five member towns who send students to Old Colony...

Improvements on Old Rochester athletic fields begin this winter

Aerial view of Old Rochester Regional High School and the athletic fields. Source: Old Rochester Regional School District

MATTAPOISETT — The Old Rochester Regional High School athletic fields will be improved from the winter of 2025 until the winter of 2027 with a $750,000 grant from state Rep. William Straus. The Old Rochester Regional School Committee met Thursday,...

$288 million Old Colony project denied by voters

Stickers were avaliable after voters cast their ballots. Photos by Mari Huglin

The five member towns of the Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical School district did not approve a proposed $288 million building project at the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 18. A simple majority across votes from Rochester, Mattapoisett, Carver,...

Whodunit? A murder mystery at Old Rochester

Tenley Lane, Gianna Anunziato, Amanda Tomasso and Lincoln Fauteaux are shocked at what they find on stage. Photos by Mari Huglin

MATTAPOISETT — Grab your Sherlock caps and magnifying glass to solve the crime within a crime at the new Old Rochester Regional High School fall comedy play. Running over the weekend of Nov. 20 to Nov. 23, this play within a play will explore who...

Preparing for the polls: Nov. 18 Old Colony vote approaches

Pie chart of estimated costs per town for the new construction of Old Colony Regional Vocational High School. Graphs by Grace Roche

Voters in Rochester, Mattapoisett, Lakeville and the two other towns that send students to Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School will go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 18 to determine the fate of a $288 million proposed project to...

Rochester resident hired as next superintendent of Wareham Public Schools

Amy Hartley-Matteson is the next superintendent of Wareham schools. Photo by Bobby Grady

WAREHAM — Rochester resident Amy Hartley-Matteson has been chosen by the Wareham School Committee to be the next superintendent of schools on Thursday, Nov. 6. After a months-long search process, she was one of three candidates selected to advance...

Ghouls just wanna have fun at The Loft School

Preschoolers Lillie Sprayregen, dressed as a fairy, and Ambrose Bradley, dressed as "Gekko," march alongside Erin Braman who donned a witch costume.

MARION — At The Loft School in Marion, witches, fairies, super heroes, skeletons and ghosts hit the streets to the beat of the “Monster Mash” on Thursday, Oct. 30 for their annual Halloween Parade. “The parade brings out the best in creativity and...

Turning a new leaf: Outdoor education comes to two more schools

MARION — The Marion Institute is expanding its Grow Education program into two new schools within the Old Rochester Regional School District. Old Hammondtown School in Mattapoisett and Rochester Memorial School in Rochester will partner with the...

Old Rochester ‘Walks a Mile in My Shoes’ for National Suicide Prevention Month

(from left to right) Junior Sage Elia, social worker Rosemary Williams, school psychologist Julie Andrade, social worker Kerri Dowdall, junior Abby Desorcy, junior Zadie Goyette and junior Ava Ross-Sinkler at Old Rochester's "Walk a Mile in My Shoes'

MATTAPOISETT — Shouldering heavy backpacks and personal belongings, approximately 65 Old Rochester Regional High School students and over 10 faculty members embarked on a suicide prevention walk on Tuesday, Sept. 23 and Sept. 30. Student members of...

A gourd time at Old Colony Fall Family Festival

Kieran Adams gets a harness on before ascending the rock wall. Photos by Mari Huglin

ROCHESTER — Kids raced from laser tag to a mechanical bull to a towering climbing wall while students and vendors sold handcrafted items from their booths at the fifth annual Old Colony Fall Family Festival. Debra Quin, the president of the Old...

Old Rochester adapts to new tech with flexible AI use, maintaining strict phone policy

Old Rochester Regional High School students celebrating the start of the 2025-26 school year. Source: Old Rochester Regional High School Facebook

MATTAPOISETT — “Essentially, we're trying to teach kids responsible technology use,” said Mike Devoll, principal of Old Rochester Regional High School. Old Rochester is adapting to an era of new technology with monitored implementation of AI as a...

Temporary playground closure at Center School

Students play on the Center School Playground that will be closed for the next few weeks for resurfacing construction.

MATTAPOISETT — There will be temporary closures of the Center School Playground starting Oct. 1 to accommodate a resurfacing project. The Center School Playground, located at 17 Barstow St. and will be closed for approximately two weeks. Center...

What voters should know about the Old Colony Building Project

Building plans for propsed new Old Colony building. Source: Old Colony Building Project

Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School has proposed a $288 million project to build a new high school. A vote on Tuesday, Nov. 18 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. will take place asking voters from Rochester, Mattapoisett, Lakeville, Carver and...

Tri-town outperforms MCAS state standards, still remains below pre-pandemic scores

Old Rochester test scores compared to the state average

2025 MCAS scores in the tri-town are above state standards but results were lower than scores in 2024 and 2019, before the pandemic. The Old Rochester School District met or exceeded state standards in all subjects. The Massachusetts Comprehensive...

Bill Belichick attends Tabor Academy football game

In this photo taken by Tabor sophomore Reya Hovan, Bill Belichick, second from the left, stands to watch the Tabor Academy football game.

MARION — Former New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick attended a Tabor Academy football game Friday, Sept. 26. Belichick coached the Patriots for 24 seasons, winning six Super Bowls with the team. Belichick is now the head coach at the...

Interested in learning a trade? Head to the Upper Cape Tech open house

Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School is inviting interested eighth graders and their families to an open house of the school Saturday Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The school is located at 220 Sandwich Road in Bourne and is open to kids...

Mattapoisett to potentially pay over $8.5 million for new Old Colony building

Building plans for propsed new Old Colony building. Source: Old Colony Building Project

MATTAPOISETT — Representatives from Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School presented plans to the Mattapoisett Select Board for a potential $288 million campus upgrade. Old Colony representatives, including Superintendent Aaron...

Old Rochester receives national recognition from Special Olympics

MATTAPOISETT — Special Olympics North America is awarding Old Rochester Regional High School with a National Banner recognition for inclusive sports program for students with and without intellectual disabilities. Old Rochester is one of 17 schools...

Old Colony superintendents through the decades share school’s 50 year history and evolution

ROCHESTER — Before Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School opened its doors in 1975, an unavoidable challenge had to be overcome — water had to be found. Land had been bought and cleared, and well-water professionals were hired to find...

Health is wealth at the first District Wellness Committee meeting

ROCHESTER — Student health and well-being is the new District Wellness Committee’s top priority for the school year. Wednesday, Sept. 17, the District Wellness Committee met for the first time this year to discuss their policy and approach to...

Rochester residents question $288 million Old Colony campus upgrade

A proposed building schematic for the Old Colony campus upgrade. Source: Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School

ROCHESTER — Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School has proposed a $288 million campus upgrade to construct a new building, implement new programs and bring updated technology to the aging facility. On Monday, Sept. 15, Old Colony...

A leaf of faith: Old Rochester’s native plant garden takes root

MATTAPOISETT — The Old Rochester Environmental Club’s big plan-ts for their campus finally came to fruition after a summer of work. Upon receiving a $500 grant from the Mattapoisett Land Trust and the Massachusetts Cultural Council in April and...

Old Colony presents $288 million campus upgrade for public consideration

building

LAKEVILLE — During a public meeting with town officials on Tuesday, Sept. 9, representatives of the Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical School presented a funding plan for construction of a new school building. School representatives said...

Tabor Academy celebrates 150th anniversary alongside new school year

MARION — As they kick off their 150th school year, Tabor Academy is celebrating the landmark anniversary with a new fellowship program and groundbreaking technology policies, including a new no cell phone rule during school hours and a focus on...

Progress made in Old Colony new building project

A sketch of what the building would look like from the entrance. Source: Old Colony Building Project Facebook Page

ROCHESTER — As Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School looks to expand offerings in plumbing, HVAC-R and dental assisting, as well as admit more students, a proposed plan is in the works to build a new building on the school’s campus....

Returning to St. Luke’s School of Nursing 50 years later

MATTAPOISETT — When Susan Bonnar of Rochester was a young woman in the late 1960s, the most common career paths for women were to become a teacher, secretary or nurse. Knowing that she didn’t want to be a teacher and since her mother was a legal...

A day of firsts for kindergarteners and officers

ROCHESTER - On Friday Aug. 29, Superintendent Michael Nelson joined Rochester Police Chief Michael Assad Jr. and Lieutenant Zack Dupere for a special ride-along with incoming kindergarteners on their very first day of school. "For a kindergartner,...

Sippican School students learn the ropes at open house

MARION — A line of parents and students stretched across the sidewalk outside Sippican Elementary School on Tuesday, Aug. 26, as staff, families and students welcomed the new year with an open house. Carrying bags full of notebooks, pencils, Kleenex...

Old Rochester hires new human resources manager

MATTAPOISETT — The Old Rochester Regional School District will have a new Human Resources Manager this year, starting on Monday, Aug. 25. Sarah George graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in human resources management...

New school year to be filled with opportunity for junior high students

MATTAPOISETT — As the 2025-26 school year approaches, educators at Old Rochester Regional Junior High School are gearing up to help kids transition from elementary school to junior high. “I think parents and kids are in good hands at the junior high...

Back to the books: Old Rochester elementary schools begin school year with unified curriculum, staff changes

Old Rochester Regional District elementary schools are entering the 2025-26 school year as a unified front, with all schools establishing a new math curriculum and emphasizing an eagerness to empower students. “It’s the first time in possibly ever...

Consistency will be key at Old Rochester Regional High School this school year

MATTAPOISETT — For Old Rochester Regional High School Principal Michael Devoll, the theme of the 2025-2026 school year will be consistency. “Kids will recognize the school they return to,” he said. Of the few changes coming to the high school, the...

Old Colony welcomes new school year alongside 50th anniversary

ROCHESTER — As Old Colony Regional Technical Vocational High School eagerly enters its 2025-’26 school year, it is also celebrating its 50th anniversary. “Our goal is to educate well-rounded citizens and to instill in each of our students the power...

Donate to a school supply drive

ROCHESTER — As costs rise for everyday needs and the new school year approaches, the Rochester Democratic Town Committee is collecting supplies for students and staff at Rochester Memorial School. Collection boxes will be at Rochester Town Hall,...

Old Colony awarded Career Technical Initiative grant

ROCHESTER — On Tuesday, Aug. 5, Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School was awarded a $335,000 grant from the Healey-Driscoll Administration to provide training to 40 participants for Welding and Advanced Manufacturing positions. As...

School away from home: Learning center helps teach homeschoolers

ROCHESTER — For three days a week, home-schooled kids from seven school districts across the South Coast come together at one of just 24 Christian learning centers in Massachusetts. Rochester resident Michael Costa opened the Rochester Christian...

Attend the Old Rochester Class of 1985 reunion

MATTAPOISETT — The Old Rochester Regional Class of 1985 is hosting its 40 year Class Reunion on Aug. 2 at The Ponderosa Sportsman’s Club. The event will kick off at 6:30 p.m. and is open to Old Rochester alumni who graduated from the high school or...

New panel shares the story of Center School

MATTAPOISETT — A panel describing the history of the Center School was recently installed in front of the building by the Mattapoisett Historical Commission. The panel tells the story of the school’s founding and includes pictures depicting what the...

Old Colony student wins award for electrical construction wiring

ROCHESTER — Calvin Payne, a Rochester resident and student at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School was awarded a Skill Point Certificate in Electrical Construction Wiring. More than 6,500 students competed in the 2025 SkillsUSA...

Students awarded scholarships to pursue careers in healthcare

MATTAPOISETT — Four recent Old Rochester high school graduates who intend to pursue careers in healthcare received scholarships from the Southcoast Health Ambassadors. These students are Ella Bartholomew, Elizabeth Houdelette, Caitlin O’Donnell and...

Learning Center celebrates graduates, five-year anniversary

ROCHESTER — Dancing to “Shake It Off,” “Barbie Girl” and “That’s Who I Praise,” three girls wearing light pink robes waltzed down the aisle during their preschool graduation from Learning Tree Family Daycare. Learning Tree Family Daycare is a...