It has been talked about before, but the possibility of a breakfast program at Rochester Memorial School could be established sometime after the Thanksgiving holiday break – pending feasibility.
RMS Principal Derek Medeiros said October 2 that he is actively exploring the possibility of bringing a breakfast program to the school. The only elementary school in the Tri-Town region that serves breakfast to students is Old Hammondtown in Mattapoisett.
Medeiros said he is looking to see if logistics will allow the breakfast service before school, considering specific details like bus arrival times and if there was enough time in the morning for kids to eat breakfast. Medeiros said he is also looking into whether the breakfast program could offer a “grab and go” type of meal, and if there is a significant enough need for the program.
“I think that’s huge,” said School Committee member Robin Rounseville. “It’s that one need a day. I hope it works out.”
School Committee member Jennifer Kulak wanted to know if breakfast would be offered to every student at RMS like it is in New Bedford. Business Manager Patrick Spencer replied that the idea is to provide lunch to students who want to participate in the program and purchase breakfast, but breakfast would not be automatically provided to all students.
Students who receive free or reduced lunch would also be able to eat breakfast for free or at a reduced cost.
Medeiros said he would weigh the options and the obstacles and report back to the committee.
Also during the meeting, Assistant Superintendent Elise Frangos reported that the Old Rochester Regional School District is having a difficult time finding a webmaster to manage all of the schools’ websites. She said the online posting received over 200 hits, but no candidates have submitted applications.
White briefly described his recent efforts exploring opportunities to implement some “one-to-one environment” technology classes. White said he has visited other schools with classrooms in which students each have their own device such as an iPad or tablet to use in their lessons, in research, and during “digital citizenship” endeavors.
Other schools in the state are ahead of the ORR district, said White, with classrooms that have already integrated technology into their classrooms. “And we want to have that happen with our students, too,” said White.
In other matters, Medeiros said the school is continuing this year with its partnership with the Buzzards Bay Coalition and its hands-on educational program for fourth graders. The BBC educators will work with students beginning October 8 at the wetlands behind the school, and students will learn about weather and food chains.
The next scheduled meeting of the Rochester School Committee is November 6 at 6:30 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.
By Jean Perry
