Greetings, Dreadnaughts!
It has been a wonderful start to the school year, and it has been great to see our students and staff back together and settling into their routines. Bond construction continues across the District, and I want to thank our staff, students, and families for their patience, flexibility, and support as we navigate new traffic patterns and the changes that come with this important work. We appreciate everyone working together to make arrival and dismissal as safe and smooth as possible. As we all settle back into the busy routines of the school year, I also want to encourage everyone to continue leading with kindness, patience, and civility. A little grace goes a long way, and the way we treat one another helps make Dexter such a special community.
EFD Rivalry Match: The Educational Foundation of Dexter (EFD) and the Chelsea Education Foundation (CEF) are once again joining forces for their annual friendly competition to support students and educators in both communities. Each year, this event raises more than $20,000 for each district, providing important funding for educational grants and opportunities that directly benefit our schools. Join in the fun, support a great cause, and help Dexter bring home the win! Please see the attached flyer for additional information and details on how to participate.
Homecoming Pictures – Student Artwork for the Scoreboard: Back by popular demand! Last year, our student artwork slideshow was a huge success, and we loved seeing our students’ creativity and Dreadnaught Pride displayed on the scoreboard at Al Ritt Stadium. We’re excited to do it again this year!
Dexter Athletics is looking for pictures, artwork, or images that celebrate Dreadnaught Pride. This could be a “Go Dreads!” poster, Dexter-themed artwork, a Homecoming creation, or any other creative design that shows your student’s school spirit.
Submissions will be featured in a slideshow on the scoreboard at Al Ritt Stadium during Homecoming and before athletic events. We’d love to showcase as many of our students as possible!
Please use the link below to submit your student’s artwork before 9/28/26:
E-Bike and E-Moto Safety Reminder: DCS and the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office have received a number of questions and concerns regarding the use of e-bikes and e-motos/e-dirt bikes in our community. School Resource Officer Brian Ward shared some helpful information for families about Michigan law and safe, legal use.
Under Michigan law, e-bikes generally fall into three classifications based on how the motor operates and the maximum assisted speed. Depending on the class, requirements related to age, helmets, and equipment may apply.
It is also important to understand the distinction between an e-bike and an e-moto/e-dirt bike. Electric bikes that do not meet Michigan’s definition of an e-bike may be considered off-road vehicles and are generally not permitted on public roads, sidewalks, or bike lanes. Violations may result in citations and, in some circumstances, the vehicle being impounded.
With the growing popularity of these vehicles among students, we encourage families to understand the type of vehicle their student is riding, review the applicable rules, and emphasize safe and responsible use.
Families with questions are welcome to contact SRO Brian Ward, wardb@dexterschools.org, for additional information.
Education and Nutrition Benefits Applications: Even though school meals are free for all Michigan students, completing the Education and Nutrition Benefits form is still important. The information you provide helps our schools qualify for additional state and federal funding and may help your family qualify for other school and student benefits, including athletic fee scholarships, testing fees, and more. Even if you don't think you qualify, taking a few minutes to submit the form helps support programs that benefit students throughout our schools. Every completed form makes a difference. Worried about sharing financial information? You don't need to be. Education and Nutrition Benefits forms are confidential.
Standard Response Protocol : Michigan law requires all K–12 public schools to fully implement the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) by the start of the 2026–27 school year. SRP provides a universal, standardized language for responding to emergencies across school districts. By replacing confusing code words with clear, common language, SRP helps students, staff, and first responders quickly understand what to do during an emergency.
SRP uses an all-hazards approach, meaning the same five actions can be used for many types of incidents: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter. Each action includes a clear directive that guides students, staff, and first responders.
We will continue to do state-mandated safety drills for a variety of scenarios using this language.
For more detailed information, please visit our Standard Response Protocol webpage.
Clean Drinking Water – Filter First Initiative: Dexter Community Schools continues to implement Michigan’s Filter First Initiative, established through the 2023 Clean Drinking Water Access Act to help ensure students and staff have access to safe drinking water in schools.
While the state funding available through the initiative does not cover filters for kitchen water sources, the District is actively working to install filtration in our school kitchens as well. Because kitchen filtration can require additional plumbing and infrastructure modifications, our Operations team is currently assessing each location and coordinating the work needed to complete these installations.
We appreciate Principal for Operations Bill Harris and our Buildings and Grounds team for their continued work to implement these improvements across the District.
Have a great weekend and Go Dreads!
- 2026-2027