Dallin Digest Newsletter
Meet the Staff!
1/16/2026 6:00 am
Hi all! I’m Mr. Gamero and I work with the 4th grade team this year. This is my third school year at Dallin. I love music, hiking, and soccer. I always look forward to making new connections with students, and knowing I’m making a difference for them with my help. I also can’t say enough about how much of a pleasure it is to work with such outstanding people every day.
Hi! I'm Mr. Joel and I'm a part of the 2nd grade team. I support the 2nd grade classrooms. I love finding connections and being silly with the students. I’m always open minded and patient.
Hello Dallin families! I'm Ms. Orlandi. This is my first year working at Dallin as a School Social Worker and my sixth year in the Arlington Public Schools. It's been a joy to get to know Dallin students and support their social emotional wellbeing. Outside of school, I love to read (just finished and loved N.K. Jemisin's Broken Earth series), work in my garden (a constant battle against the bunnies), and hang out with my husband and 5yo twin daughters.
Hi. My name is Mrs. Paget and I work with the 4th grade team this year. I’m a mom of 3 and my youngest is here in 3rd grade. I love music, theater, reading, hiking and rock climbing. This is my 4th year at Dallin and I love working here. All the teachers and staff are so friendly and welcoming and I always feel supported in my work and putting forward my ideas for improvement. I love supporting students and coming up with fun and new ways to engage students in their learning. This year I am particularly enjoying running the after school theater club with my wonderful colleagues Ms. Schwarze and Mr G.
Hello! I’m Ms. Snook, the Math Coach at Dallin. I have loved supporting math teaching and learning for the past 8 years. One of my favorite things is being a thought partner with students and adults as we work hard to make equitable and sense-making environments for your children in math class. Prior to Dallin, I was a 5th grade teacher at Stratton and taught at public and independent schools in Brookline, Andover, and Long Island. My daughter will be a teenager soon (eek!). When not teaching or parenting, I love traveling, being outside, and playing tennis, volleyball, and biking.
Read MoreSTEAM Game Night, Thursday Jan 29
1/16/2026 5:58 am
Dear Dallin Families,
Please join us on Thursday, January 29th for STEAM Game Night, a fun and free PTO-sponsored event for all Dallin students. Game Night runs from 6pm - 8pm in the Dallin Cafeteria.
- Students should come with a chaperone, at least one adult per 3 children (friends welcome!)
- To keep games clean, we ask you to leave food at home. Water bottles encouraged.
- All attendees can enter a raffle for a chance to win a Henry Bear’s Gift Card!
The event will provide a range of classic and new games and activities geared for students in K-5 including:
- Giant interactive Connect 4 and Jenga (Strategy and Engineering)
- Traditional board games and card games like Sorry! and UNO (Counting and Arithmetic)
- One-person and group puzzlers, mazes, and game sheets (Geometry and Spatial Relations)
- Prime Climb, Qwirkle, Countdown, and MORE!
Link to the event flyer: STEAM Game Night
Contact dallinsteamteam@gmail.com if you have questions.
Read MoreDallin Read-a-Thon coming soon!
1/16/2026 5:56 am
Coming soon... Dallin's 1st annual Read-a-Thon! For two weeks, Monday, January 26th through Monday, February 9th, our community will read to raise funds that support our terrific school. On Monday, January 26th be on the lookout for a bookmark with QR code and pencil that will come home with your child (along with an email) which will give you all the details you need to access your student's shareable fundraising page. Thank you, stay tuned and happy reading!
Read MoreSign up for Culture Night, April 11!
1/16/2026 5:54 am
Families are invited to bring in food dishes that represent their culture and/or share crafts/activities related to their heritage (past activities have included henna tattoos, drawing Celtic knots, and writing students’ names in other languages). Families are encouraged to create a poster display with a few interesting facts about their culture. We hope a few families will teach a song, dance or game from their culture.
All Dallin families are welcome to attend!
Please sign up below to indicate what you plan to contribute. Please sign up by mid-March so we have enough time to plan and organize the event.
February 10th APS Community Conversation for Elementary
1/16/2026 5:52 am
All are invited to an elementary level gathering at Brackett Elementary School on February 10th 5:15-6:15 to celebrate and support the LGBTQIA+ community with activities run by the APS Rainbow Alliances and the Arlington Rainbow Commission. We will be joined by Chief Flaherty and officer White with his canine officer, Roger.
Read MoreCalendar and additional community events
1/16/2026 5:50 am
Friday, January 17
Arlington High School Childcare Connections Kids Night Out, 5-8pm, AHS
Monday, January 19
NO SCHOOL -- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Arlington Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration, 6:30pm, Town Hall
Friday, January 23
STEAM Team meeting, 8am, cafeteria
Monday, January 26 -- Monday, February 9
Thursday, January 29
STEAM game night, 6-8pm, cafeteria
Saturday, January 31
AEF Grant Showcase, 10am-12pm, Arlington High School
Tuesday, February 10
APS Rainbow Task Force Community Conversation, 5:15pm, Brackett School
Saturday, April 11
Dallin Culture Night, 5:30pm, cafeteria
Please join to celebrate and commemorate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with music by Peoples Baptist Church Male Chorus and a keynote by Jackie Jenkins-Scott, the first African American President of Wheelock College.
Event is happening on Monday, January 19, 6:30 PM at Arlington Town Hall, 730 Massachusetts Avenue in Arlington.
Free refreshments and open to all!
The Arlington High School Childcare Connections club is starting a Kids Night Out program to provide an evening of supervised childcare for children in grades K-6. The first event will be on January 17th from 5 - 8 pm and another is planned for March 13. Families must register in advance here
Read More
Meet the Staff: SLC!
1/9/2026 6:00 am
Hey hey! My name is Mr. Brady, I work in Dallin’s SLC program (Supported Learning Center). This is my second year here at Dallin. I work with kids from 1st-5th, I am one of the lucky few that get to pop around to most of the school and work with many of our amazing teachers and meet so many wonderful students!
I am from New Mexico, but I have lived in Massachusetts for about 5 years now. I received my Degree in Counseling and hope to continue my education toward Social Work/Education/Admin work! I am also a Volleyball coach at the high school, I coach the Boys JVB team and the girls JV team!
Kaitlyn - Heyo! My name is Teacher Kaitlyn and I have been at Dallin for 3 years now in our SLC program. I came from Burlington, VT where I worked as a Behavioral Interventionist for about 5 year. I am also one of the lucky folks who gets to see most grades every day. I’m currently in the Master’s program at Cambridge College to become a Mental Health Counselor. I feel so lucky to be at Dallin and I have loved all 3 years here!
Hi! I'm Mr. Dylan, and I’m thrilled to be joining the Dallin team this year. I work in the school’s SLC (Supported Learning Center) program, and I currently have the pleasure of supporting classrooms in grades 1–5. I love this position because it allows me to be part of the entire school community on a day-to-day basis and collaborate with so many of our teachers and students.
I grew up in Burlington MA, and recently graduated from Salem State University with my bachelor’s degree in Psychology. I plan to continue my education soon to pursue my master’s in School Counseling, and I hope to continue working in school settings in the future.
I’m excited to be part of the Dallin community and look forward to a great year ahead!
Hello! My name is Ms. Davin and this is my first year as part of the Dallin community. Prior to working here, I attended Vassar College in New York and graduated with degrees in Educational Studies and Africana Studies/Arabic. I have always been passionate about inclusive education practices and making school a welcoming and safe environment for all students.
At Dallin, I work in the SLC (Supported Learning Center) and in other classrooms around the school, as needed. You’ll regularly find me in 1st-5th grade classrooms and I’ll also pop into Kindergarten from time to time. Outside of school, I love watching soccer, playing with my dog Beatrice, and doing the daily crossword.
Read MoreMeet the Staff: Reading Specialists!
1/9/2026 5:58 am
STEPHANIE FERNALD
My name is Stephanie Fernald. I am a reading specialist at Dallin. I have been working here since 2005. I consider myself lucky that I get to work with all the grade-levels at Dallin. I love that I get to work with so many of the families in this community. I have two adult sons who attended the Arlington Public Schools. In my free time I exercise, travel, read, and play the ukulele.
KELLY O’TOOLE
My name is Kelly O'Toole. I have worked as a reading specialist in Arlington since 2009. I love working with all grades, supporting young readers, and hopefully introducing students to their next favorite book. I live in Arlington with my husband. We have four grown children who all attended Arlington Public Schools. I love to read, crochet, travel, and take long walks. I am trying to learn Mahjong and as a student of something that is unfamiliar and hard, I am reminded it is ok to make mistakes and that everyone learns at their own pace. I have a lot of empathy for how hard our students work every day!
From the Dallin Nurse: Back to School Health Guidelines
1/9/2026 5:56 am
- Do you have to give them medication before school, to "get them through the day"? If so, that's an indicator that staying home is the best option.
- Were they up all night? Are they exhausted? A day of rest is best.
- Will they come see the school nurse at 8:01, and 15 more times during the school day?
- Will they be able to fully participate in their school day and fully access their learning?
Q3 Library Volunteers needed
1/9/2026 5:54 am
From the APS Nurses
1/9/2026 5:52 am
Please click through to the APS Nurses's Newsletter for more information on the following topics:
- Staying Home When Sick: APS Illness Guidelines
- In the News: Norovirus
- Head Lice (Pediculosis)
-
Brrr...It's cold outside!
- Documentation Required for Assistive/Orthopedic Devices
- Dressing for the Winter Weather
- Arlington Community Resources
January Webinar: Helping Kids Handle Big Feelings
1/9/2026 5:48 am
The holidays and the return to school in January can bring up big emotions for kids and parents alike. If your child is feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or struggling with transitions, this webinar is for you.
Join Cartwheel and Alex Hirshberg, Psy.D., for a free, live webinar on helping kids handle big feelings and build confidence on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 7–8pm ET. You will learn simple, practical ways to support your child through uncomfortable emotions, everyday stress, and change. Parents and caregivers will leave with tools they can use right away at home and as kids head back to school.
See the attached flyer for details and register here.
Read MoreSAVE THE DATE: AEF Grant Showcase Jan 31!
1/9/2026 5:46 am
SAVE THE DATE for the Arlington Education Foundation Grant Showcase!
What: A family-friendly and fun-filled opportunity to hear directly from AEF grant recipients (teachers AND students) about their innovative work.
When: January 31, 2026 - 10AM-Noon at Arlington High School
Who: Teachers, students, community-members, everyone who cares about Arlington Public Schools
Why: To celebrate learning, innovation, and eat fun snacks
How: RSVP here
Read MoreCommunity News
1/9/2026 5:44 am
Arlington Youth Baseball and Softball Association's spring session is open for registration for Tee Ball (ages 4-5), Baseball (ages 6-12), and Softball (ages 6-14). Visit https://www.aybsaonline.org/ for more information and registration forms.
Read MoreMeet the staff part 1!
12/19/2025 6:00 am
RACHAEL HAAR (she/her) - Hello families! I am happy to be Dallin’s new K-5 Music Teacher. This is my 6th year teaching elementary music, and my 8th year teaching overall. I love the sense of community that music brings, and I love seeing children grow into independent people throughout their elementary years. In class, we meet our objectives through singing, playing instruments, dancing, listening to music, composing, improvising, and more! Outside of school, I live with my husband and my cat, Mozzarella, and I enjoy being outside, doing yoga, and playing board games. Please reach out to me anytime via email!
STACIE GREENLAND - This is my 12th year as the Dallin Art Teacher. It’s been my dream job, and I’m thrilled to work with K-5 students in a multitude of art media. I favor a TAB approach (Teaching for Artistic Behavior) which trains young artists to: 1. do what artists do, 2. create from their own inspiration, and 3. to set up and clean up their own art studio spaces. Dallin artists teach me as much as I teach them. My hope is that all Dallin artists will be lifelong learners of the visual arts by expressing their vision, views, and passion, and by appreciating the art that is all around them! In my free time, I love being outdoors in nature, reading fantasy books, and playing video games.
MELISSA MALDONADO - Hi! This is my first year at Dallin, and I am beyond excited to join this incredible community of readers. I grew up on the Texas-Mexico border and have lived in Cambridge for 18 years with my husband, three sons, and beloved dog.
I aim to make our library a dynamic space where every child finds joy, embraces curiosity, and feels empowered. I foster an environment of care and kindness while students develop critical thinking and information literacy skills essential for success while also nurturing their love of reading.
When not surrounded by books or my family, I am a medium format photographer, quilter, and baker. I am also the co-founder of a Cookie Club that has been baking through cookbooks since 2019, making me an avid collector of them!
JEANNETTE CHRISTENSEN or Ms. C in PE as students know me - This is my 7th year in Arlington and 5th at Dallin teaching Physical Education and Health. I love getting to know all the students and what brings them joy. We try to plant the seed that movement can be fun in PE for all learners. Outside of Dallin I love baking, photography, watercolor painting, learning about different cultures, and puppy playdates with my new puppy.
RYE DAILY - This is my 5th year at school and every year is just awesome. I really enjoy being a teacher in Arlington. I am from Maine, big on skiing and outdoor activity, and an overall sports fan. I am aspiring to become a school leader and feel very fortunate to be working with Mr. Dingman on this professional goal. I am a dad of two little guys (4 and 1) and we have a lot of fun everyday. My hope for Dallin students is that they learn to have fun with movement, play well with others, and be excited about lifelong activity.
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