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ORR School Committee starts off year with nearly $300,000 in grants

From left: committee members James Muse, Peter Damien McCann, Robin Rounseville and Betsy Stewart at a Thursday, Oct. 1 Old Rochester Regional School Committee meeting. Photo by Grace Roche

MATTAPOISETT — The Old Rochester Regional School District is starting the school year with nearly $300,000 in additional funding. The Old Rochester Regional…

RMS bathroom controversy continues to dominate School Committee public comments

Luis Rivera, left, speaks during a Thursday, Sept. 24 School Committee meeting. Photo by Grace Roche

ROCHESTER — Public comment during the first School Committee meeting of the year largely focused on ongoing frustrations over how…

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Tri-Town students perform above state average in MCAS for most subjects

MCAS results show students performed above state average in many subjects, although some scores decreased compares to last year. Photo source: DESE

Students in the Old Rochester Regional School District scored above state averages in nearly every category for the MCAS, although the percentage of students meeting or exceeding state standards dropped for civics, science and elementary school...

Sippican School enlists former teacher to provide math support

From left: School Committee members Nichole Nye McGaffey, Nichole Daniel and April Nye, and Superintendent Michael Nelson at the Sept. 17 School Committee meeting. Photo by Grace Roche

MARION — This year Sippican Elementary School has introduced a new role to its staff, enlisting a former teacher as a math interventionist. Principal Lynn Dessert announced Leanne Dineen, a former fourth-grade teacher, has been moved to the new...

Class of 1966 to hold 60th reunion

MATTAPOISETT — The Old Rochester Regional High School class of 1966 will hold its 60th reunion on Saturday, October 3 at 5 p.m. Classmates wishing to attend can contact Donna Thompson Tufts at dltufts@pm.me for details and RSVP.

Mattapoisett elementary schools start year new principals, staff

Charles West and Amanda Chamerblin gave a report on schools opening at the school committee meeting Sept. 10.

MATTAPOISETT — New leaders have joined Old Hammondtown Elementary School and Center School this year, with one administrator a familiar face in the district and one newly joined from Seekonk Public Schools. Charles West is Center School’s new...

Rochester Memorial School Committee chair joins education fellowship

Rochester Memorial School Committee Chair Kate Duggan is participating in this year's Massachusetts Education Policy Fellowship, organized by the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy. Photos source: Old Rochester Regional School District

MATTAPOISETT — Kate Duggan, the Rochester Memorial School Committee chair, has joined the Massachusetts Education Policy Fellowship. The fellowship helps leaders of educational organizations understand and advance equitable education policy. The...

Sippican School celebrates return to school with open house

Marion's comfort dog, Norman, sits in the hallway of Sippican School during an open house Tuesday, Sept. 1. Photos by Grace Roche

MARION — Ahead of school beginning today, students and their families crowded Sippican School to explore new classrooms and meet new teachers. The school held an open house Tuesday, Sept. 1 to welcome kids back to school and help them get ready...

Old Rochester names interim assistant superintendent of finance and operations

Michael Perrone has been appointed as interim assistant superintendent of finance and operations for Old Rochester Regional School District. Photo source: Old Rochester Regional School District

MATTAPOISETT — The Old Rochester Regional School District will soon welcome an interim assistant superintendent of finance and operations. Michael Perrone will join the district Sept. 21, bringing over 20 years of school finance and administration...

How to keep students safe on the road as school year begins

Back-to-school season brings safety precautions for students and drivers. Photo source: ORR School District

MATTAPOISETT — As the new school year begins, the Old Rochester Regional School District shared safety guidelines for students, their families, and drivers. The district asks parents and students to review safety recommendations, and for everyone...

Investigation determines administration handled RMS bathroom incident legally

An investigation determined the district acted in accordance with state law and policy after a parent filed a Title IX complain. File photo

ROCHESTER — The Old Rochester Regional School District announced Friday, Aug. 21 that an investigation found the school did not violate a student’s federal Title IX rights in connection with an incident at Rochester Memorial School. In a message...

Old Rochester District receives literacy education grant

MATTAPOISETT — The Old Rochester Regional School District received a $117,000 grant as part of state-wide funding supporting literacy education. The Partnership for Reading Success–Massachusetts grant programs, is designed to help districts,...

Old Rochester granted $30,000 for civics education

MATTAPOISETT — Old Rochester Regional High School received a $30,000 state grant to fund its civics education efforts. The school was among 28 districts to receive similar funding to support teachers’ professional development, strengthen civics...

Former Tabor teacher charged with raping student

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MARION -- A former English teacher at Tabor Academy has been arraigned on 12 charges of rape after allegedly abusing a student over a three-year period. Nannie Clough was arraigned Aug. 17 in Brockton Superior Court on the rape charges and one...

New assistant principal of Rochester Memorial School appointed

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MATTAPOISETT — Joshua Vanderquist has been appointed Assistant Principal of Rochester Memorial School. Vanderquist officially began his new role on July 1, succeeding Charles West, who was recently named Principal of Center School in Mattapoisett....

Amanda Chamberlin Appointed as Principal of Old Hammondtown School

Amanda Chamberlin. Photo source Old Rochester Regional School District

MATTAPOISETT — Amanda Chamberlin has been appointed as the next Principal of Old Hammondtown School. Chamberlin will begin her role on July 8, succeeding Stephanie Wells, who has served as principal since 2024. Chamberlin joins the school system...

Marie Grable named Old Rochester assistant superintendent

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MATTAPOISETT — Marie Grable, who has spent much of her career in education, joined the Old Rochester Regional School District as the assistant superintendent Monday, July 6. Grable will fill the role Jamie Curley recently vacated to become the...

Old Rochester, Tabor Academy students receive Southcoast Health scholarships

Four Old Rochester Regional High School and one Tabor Academy students received Southcoast Health scholarships. The Southcoast Health Ambassadors award $1,500 scholarships to graduating high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding academic...

The Sippican Woman’s Club awards $15,600 in scholarships to students

MARION — The Sippican Woman’s Club announced they awarded $11,100 in scholarships to graduating high school seniors who reside in Marion. In addition, the group has awarded $4,500 in renewal or continuing education scholarships to residents of...

Students celebrate last day of school with graduations, goodbyes

Sippican Elementary School students were treated to ice pops after early dismissal on Monday, June 22. Photos by Grace Roche

There’s no more pencils, no more books for Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester students, because school’s out for summer. Schools around the Tri-Town celebrated the last day of class Monday, June 22 with ceremonies and early dismissals. In...

Voters deny $288 million high school building project a second time

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Residents in Rochester and Mattapoisett headed to the polls on Saturday, June 20 to decide on the future of the Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School building project. Rochester denied the vote with 831 “no” and 579 “yes” votes....

Old Rochester’s annual cardboard boat race floats on

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MATTAPOISETT — To float or not to float? That is the question many seventh grade Old Rochester Junior High School students asked themselves as they placed homemade cardboard boats into Mattapoisett Harbor. On Thursday, June 18 Old Rochester hosted...

Isabel Gomes-McCann wins contested school committee race after recount

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ROCHESTER — Isabel Gomes-McCann has won the contested seat for Rochester Memorial School Committee after an official recount on Wednesday, June 17. On Wednesday, May 27, Gomes-McCann and Barabra Lee originally tied for a position on the Rochester...

Old Rochester Junior High School students research littering

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MATTAPOISETT — Old Rochester Regional Junior High School students Irene Costa and Aybree Johansen saw that littering was a problem in the Tri-Town and decided to do something about it. All eighth graders in Massachusetts are required by the state...

Superintendent exceeds evaluation at Old Rochester School Committee

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MATTAPOISETT — As the school year winds down, the Old Rochester Joint School Committee hosted a meeting where the Superintendent Michael Nelson was evaluated on how well he met his goals for the year. A Joint School Committee meeting occurred on...

Combatting tardiness: South Coast schools use data, relationships to increase student attendance

Gary Linehan, principal of Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School, speaks at a graduation. Photo by Grace Roche

High schoolers show up to school late for many reasons. Some can’t resist an early-morning coffee stop while some stay awake too late on their phone and don’t wake up in time. Others struggle with serious mental health issues or complicated family...

Junior high, elementary student wins Feinstein Golden Ticket

Old Rochester Regional Junior High School seventh grader Lauren Dowd was recently selected as a Feinstein Foundation Golden Ticket winner. Photos source: ORRSD

MATTAPOISETT — Two Old Rochester Regional School District students were recently selected as Feinstein Foundation Golden Ticket winners. Seventh grader Lauren Dowd and first grader Lily Bowser each earned their school a $2,000 grant and won an...

High school graduates receive Marion Social Club scholarships

MARION — Three high school graduates were awarded scholarships from the Marion Social Club. Leah Hollenbeck, a graduate from Old Colony Vocational Technical High School was awarded the William H. Claflin, Jr. scholarship for $2,500. Caroline...

Old Rochester alumni association provides scholarships, grants benefiting student

MATTAPOISETT — The ORR Bulldog Pride Alumni Association awarded $6,500 to students and school initiatives this year, celebrating student leadership and strengthening the Old Rochester community. The association selected Nina Pierre, of...

South Coast Community Foundation scholarship winners

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Recent graduates across the South Coast have received scholarships from the South Coast Community Foundation who partners with area families, organizations and businesses to support students. The SouthCoast Community Foundation proudly celebrated...

Bathroom controversy draws crowd at Rochester School Committee

Luis Rivera speaks at the June 3 Rochester School Committee meeting. Photos by Grace Roche

ROCHESTER — Parents and residents packed the Rochester School Committee’s Wednesday, June 3 meeting to discuss how the administration has handled complaints about a 9-year-old transgender student allegedly pushing into a classmate’s bathroom...

Old Colony Building Project returns to polls June 20

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ROCHESTER — Voters will once again be asked to approve a $288 million project proposal for a new Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School building on Saturday, June 20. The five member towns — Rochester, Mattapoisett, Lakeville,...

Rochester will have dual ballots again for Old Colony revote

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ROCHESTER — Rochester will once again present voters with two ballots on the Saturday, June 20 vote for the Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School Building Project. The Select Board agreed to present voters with one ballot asking to...

ORR students awarded in essay contest

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MATTAPOISETT — Four Old Rochester Regional High School students won awards for their essays about democracy. The essay competition was designed by the Marion Democratic Town Committee to promote interest in civic engagement and help students define...

‘Make kindness your priority’: Old Colony graduates its 50th class

The graduates of the class of 2026 throw their caps in the air at Old Colony's commencement Sunday, May 31. Photos by Grace Roche

ROCHESTER — A day after torrential downpour caused Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School to reschedule its commencement ceremony, faculty, friends and family celebrated the class of 2026 on Sunday, May 31. The school’s first...

‘Play to your strengths’: Old Rochester graduation celebrates class of 2026

Graduating students toss their caps in the air at Old Rochester Regional High School's commencement on Saturday, May 30. Photos by Grace Roche

MATTAPOISETT — Classmates, parents and friends came together Saturday, May 30 to celebrate the graduates of Old Rochester Regional High School’s class of 2026. Among the 146 students who graduated Saturday were leaders, record breakers, athletes...

150 years later, Tabor celebrates class of 2026

Graduates toss their commencement programs in the air at graduation on Friday, May 22. Photos source: Lawrence Films

MARION — The Tabor Academy community marked the culmination of the school’s 150th year celebrating the class of 2026’s graduation. The graduates and their guests were joined by the underclassmen for the Friday, May 22 ceremony under a large tent on...

Old Rochester seniors take a ‘stroll’ down memory lane

Senior Max Chace embraces his former teacher, Ashley Sweatland. Photos source: ORRHS

MATTAPOISETT — Days before seniors at Old Rochester Regional High School walk in commencement, they looked back in time for Senior Stroll on Friday, May 29. Soon-to-be graduates visited Rochester Memorial, Sippican and Old Hammondtown elementary...

Old Rochester names top 10 class of 2026 scholars

State Rep. Mark Silva awarded the top 10 students at Senior Awards night on Thursday, May 28. Photos source: ORRHS

MATTAPOISETT — Old Rochester Regional High School honored the top 10 graduating seniors during Senior Awards night on Thursday, May 28. This year’s highest-ranking students were Ella Milhench, Hannah Thorell, Jacob Iappini, Gavin Coffey,...

Outrage erupts over trans Rochester Memorial School student using girls' bathroom

Luis Rivera, left, speaks during a May 7 school committee meeting. Photo source: ORCTV

ROCHESTER — The angry father of a Rochester Memorial School student is calling for the district to change its policy on bathroom access for transgender students after he reports a transgender classmate barged into his daughter’s bathroom stall....

Old Rochester students set to attend Boys and Girls State

MATTAPOISETT - Eight students at Old Rochester Regional High School are slated to attend the Massachusetts Boys and Girls State conventions at Stonehill College in June. At the convention, students attending Boys and Girls State study state and...

Catch a wave! Gnome Surf Therapy offers adaptable surf exercises for all

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MATTAPOISETT — Everyone can surf with a program based out on the South Coast catering to athletes of all ages and abilities. Gnome Surf Therapy spent the day working with Old Rochester Regional elementary, junior high and high school students...

Touch a Truck rolls in to Old Rochester

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MATTAPOISETT — Young kids and their families had a honkin’ good time at Old Rochester Regional High School’s Touch a Truck event on Saturday. Students in the school’s early childhood education program and community organizations partnered for the...

Two Mattapoisett high school graduates receive Lions Club scholarship

MATTAPOISETT — The Mattapoisett Lions Club announced that Leah Hollenbeck a senior at Old Colony Regional Technical High School and Caitlyn Lund, a senior at Old Rochester Regional High School, are the recipients of the 2026 Mattapoisett Lion’s Club...

Assistant Principal Charles West selected as new Principal for Center School

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MATTAPOISETT — Assistant Principal Charles West was selected as the next Principal of Center School. West is set to begin the role July 1, pending on contract negotiations that are ongoing. West served as the Assistant Principal at Rochester...

Meet Kate Duggan, candidate for Rochester school committee

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ROCHESTER — Incumbent Kate Duggan is running for her third term on the Rochester Memorial School Committee. She has served two, three year terms on the School Committee previously first elected in 2020. Duggan has lived in Rochester for 16 years...

Meet Isabel Gomes-McCann, candidate for Rochester school committee

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ROCHESTER — Isabel Gomes-McCann is running for the Rochester Memorial School Committee position for the first time. She is focused on being apolitical and serving the district's students first. Gomes-McCann has lived in Rochester for over 30 years....

Incumbent and newcomer race for Marion seat on Old Rochester School Committee

Margaret McSweeny and Katharine McAuley.

MARION — Two contenders are racing for a spot on the Old Rochester Regional School Committee ahead of Marion town elections. Incumbent Margaret McSweeny and Katharine McAuley are running to represent Marion on the school committee ahead of the...

Old Colony students shoot for the stars at culinary competition

Old Colony students set up for competition at the Johnson Space Center during the NASA HUNCH culinary challenge. Photo source: Ashley Ulett

ROCHESTER — Chicken vindaloo tacos helped a group of Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School students blast off to Houston this spring. A team of Old Colony culinary students cooked their dish for judges at the Johnson Space Center...

Sippican Elementary students take p-art in display of creativity

Sippican School students play with a teacher during the Arts-in-Action event. Photos source: Old Rochester Regional School District

MARION — Sippican Elementary School was full of paintings, music, dances and other art created by its students throughout this year. The school held Arts-in-Action, an event showcasing student art and creativity, last month. The event features...

Old Colony, Upper Cape each receive $2 million state grant

Old Colony is among the technical schools receiving grant funds. File photo

Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical and Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical high schools will receive $2 million each in state funds, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today. These grants are part of a state-wide effort to expand...

Old Rochester welcomed former Celtic Chris Herren for substance abuse presentation

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MATTAPOISETT — Former Celtics player Chris Herren let students at Old Rochester Regional High School try on his shoes as he shared his perspective about a promising basketball career derailed by substance abuse and his subsequent journey to...