Welcome to Joseph F. DiPietro Elementary School

Joseph F. DiPietro Elementary School, established in 1989, is a cornerstone of our neighborhood community. Currently, the school serves a vibrant student body of over 400 children from Pre-Kindergarten through grade 3. Our campus includes integrated preschool classrooms, inclusive classrooms from Kindergarten through third grade, a Foundational Learning Center, and specialized programs designed to meet the unique needs of preschool and elementary students. Our mission is to cultivate strong, collaborative partnerships between parents, guardians, and staff to foster a positive, safe, and nurturing learning environment. By meeting students at their individual levels of development, we provide tailored scaffolding and support to promote academic growth and social-emotional well-being. Our ultimate goal is to empower students with the foundational academic and social skills they need to thrive, using developmentally appropriate yet challenging approaches. The dedicated staff at DiPietro Elementary are highly qualified and passionately committed to delivering a well-rounded, rigorous education for every student. Our approach is grounded in our core values, encapsulated in the acronym PAWS: Positive attitude, Act responsibly, Work hard, and Stay safe. These values guide our decision-making processes and shape the way we interact with one another, promoting a cohesive and respectful school culture.
Absentee Line
(508) 883-8029
Welcome to DiPietro!
a day ago
Phone: (508) 883-8001
Absentee Line: (508) 883-8029
Hello and Welcome to DiPietro Elementary! We are happy to have you join our school community. Below you will find a list of important information that you may reference throughout the year.
Principal: Dr. Kerri Sankey, ksankey@bpsdk12.org
Assistant Principal: Mrs. Meg Streichert, mstreichert@bpsdk12.org
Secretary: Mrs. Karen Davis, kdavis@bpsdk12.org
Nurse: Mrs. Holly Barros, hbarros@bpsdk12.org
School Hours: Students in grades 1-3 enter the building at 8:45 am and dismissal begins at 2:55 pm.
Arrival AM Preschool is 8:45 am and dismissal is 11:15 am.
Arrival PM Preschool is 12:30 pm and dismissal is 2:55 pm.
There is NO SCHOOL for PRESCHOOL on WEDNESDAYS!
Bus Transportation Information: Transportation@bpsdk12.org
Before and After School Care: Not affiliated with Bellingham Public Schools
https://www.hockymca.org/franklin/youth-development/child-care/before-after-school-child-care/
Phone number: 774-235-2736
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO): dipietroelementarypto@gmail.com
Important Reminders:
Please report students absences to our absentee line: 508-883-8029, be sure to state your child’s name, grade level, and teachers name.
In the morning PRE-K families have the right of way until 8:45 on the left side of the drop off lane. Elementary families should form a line on the right side of the drop off driveway. (Please see maps below)
If you plan to dismiss your child please contact the office ASAP. It is recommended that you contact the office and your child’s teacher by 1:00 pm for same day dismissal.
Kindergarten Parent Pick up is located on the side of the building by the garden. Kindergarten older siblings are also dismissed from this door. ID is required to pick up students.
1-3 Parent Pick Up is outside of the Cafeteria doors. ID is required to pick up students. (Please see maps below)
For students who ride the bus there must be an Authorized Person present to greet the child at the bus stop or students will be returned to the school. Authorized Person for Bus Pickup
For Families who will be driving their students to and from school
Please take a look at the maps and descriptions below.
Map #1 below provides directions for all PreK-Grade 3 students arriving by car in the morning
Map #1
All drivers who are dropping off students in Kindergarten through Grade 3 will follow the yellow arrows on the map above. There will be several staff directing students to sidewalks and ensuring their safety during arrival.
All drivers who are dropping off their preschool students for the morning session will follow the blue arrows above. We strongly encourage drivers to arrive no later than 8:40 in order to pass drivers who are waiting to have their students exit cars at 8:45. Preschool parents/caregivers are reminded that preschool students begin at 8:45. Please arrive early enough to give you enough time to drive through, park, and walk your preschool student to the doors located near the large playground (see map #3 below).
Map #2 below shows an extended part of the area where drivers approaching DiPietro on Harpin Street coming from the Rt. 126 end can turn into the small driveway loop before merging into the parent drop off car lane. Drivers approaching DiPietro from Pulaski BLVD will turn right closest to the woods to enter the drop off lane. This small loop prevents traffic backup on Harpin Street. Please remember, the drop off lane is constantly moving. There is no parking in the drop off lane.
Map #2
Map #3 below provides shows where preschool students will enter the school during the 8:45 AM arrival ONLY. Students arriving for the afternoon session will enter through the DiPietro main entrance located in the front of the school.
Map #3
Please scroll down
How to Register Your Child at DiPietro
Bellingham Public School District Child Find
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B and Massachusetts General Law 71B each school system is responsible for identifying children three to four years of age that are suspected of having a potential disability. We provide free screening during the school year to determine whether your child may possibly have a delay and may require specialized educational services prior to Kindergarten. If you have concerns about your child’s development, please contact Kim Baker for Stall Brook, kbaker@bpsdk12.org or Maryann Mello at DiPietro, mmello@bpsdk12.org to schedule an appointment for screening.
English Phrases for ELE