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MATTAPOISETT — Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55, along with the Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative have announced a joint partnership that will offer a series of free online family workshops for Tri-Town and SMEC families focusing on Social-Emotional Learning, 21st Century Learning Skills and Global Citizenship.

The Community Talks series will provide families in the Old Rochester Regional School District opportunities to participate in workshops that will assist parents/guardians/caregivers in building their tool kits to support their children in and outside of the school setting.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative for this very important series of workshops,” Old Rochester Regional School District Superintendent Michael S. Nelson said. “We encourage parents and guardians in our district to register today.”

The first workshop in the series, “Community Talks: Part 1,” will be held virtually on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022 from 6-7:30 p.m. The presenter for the workshop will be Sara Rodrigues, a clinician with the Balanced Learning Center.

Rodrigues, who has 20 years of experience working with children and families in a variety of clinical, school and community settings, specializes in working with individuals facing anxiety and depression as well as children presenting with developmental issues.

“We look forward to hearing about Sara’s experiences and the ways we can all better understand and deal with these difficult and complex issues,” SMEC Director of Communication Sherri Tetrault said. “The Balanced Learning Center’s goals and objectives are perfectly in line with those of both SMEC and the Old Rochester Regional School District, and an expert like Sara is the perfect choice to kick off this series.”

As part of the Jan. 5 workshop, guests will learn about the nature of anxiety, how to recognize and identify triggers, and how anxiety looks different in children. Practical strategies to manage stress and panic will be discussed so people are better able to connect with their children and family members.

To register for the Jan. 5 workshop, contact Director Tetrault at 508-998-5599 ext. 130 or click here.

Future workshops in the series will focus on a variety of topics related to Social-Emotional Learning, 21st Century Learning Skills and Global Citizenship.

“We are seeing a greater need to have these types of conversations, as we both learn more about the triggers of student stress and as we continue to navigate the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” said Old Rochester Regional School District Director of Student Services Craig Davidson. “That is why it is more important than ever to hold a series such as this one and engage with parents and guardians directly through an open and honest dialog.”

The Community Talks series will run through June 2023, and information on future workshops will be made available as individual dates are scheduled.

“I would like to thank the Old Rochester Regional School District for partnering with us on this effort, as well as the experts who will serve as our presenters throughout the course of the series,” SMEC Executive Director Catherine Cooper said. “Through this series, we hope parents and guardians will learn valuable information that will allow them to better understand and react to the stressors that their children face each and every day, both in the classroom and in their daily lives.”

The Southeastern Massachusetts Educational Collaborative is a public education collaborative established in 1975 that serves as an extension of nine public school systems. The present membership includes the Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Fall River, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School, Rochester and Old Rochester Regional public school districts. SMEC offers a variety of services for students with special needs aged 4-21 as well as adults with developmental disabilities. The Collaborative also offers professional development opportunities for educational staff. To learn more, click here.

The Balanced Learning Center is a collaborative effort joining behavioral health treatment, speech therapy, occupational therapy and educational opportunities to bring children, families and adults a team-based approach to meeting their needs. The BLC focuses on building strengths, learning new skills and relying on individuals as the experts on their lives. They are supporting building an open and inviting community through the sharing of each individual's unique experience, clinical intervention and engaging activities. To learn more, click here.

It’s time to dust off your boots and put on your cowboy hat — the rodeo is headed to town.

That’s right, the SouthCoast is about to get a taste of western culture, as the New England Rodeo brings its cowboy competition to Rochester.

This biweekly bull riding and barrel racing competition is the only event of its kind in Massachusetts.

Eleven years ago, Owner Elias DaSilva, a former PBR bull rider from Brazil, brought the rodeo to Norton.

Bringing a piece of home to the United States, for many Brazilians who make up a vast majority of the bull riders at the rodeo.

The rodeo hosts junior and professional bull riders and barrel racers, with contestants traveling from all over to compete in this family-friendly event.

Now, a 300-unit housing development is being constructed on the grounds in Norton, causing the rodeo to have to find a new home.

Rodeo at the Rochester Fairgrounds

With thousands in attendance biweekly, the rodeo culture is about to transform the Rochester Fairgrounds into a sea of cowboy hats, pickup trucks, and thousand-pound bulls.

"When we began looking for land, employees of ours who live in Rochester told us how it was a great agricultural community that had an unused fairground," said Kelly Pina, Strategic Advisor of the New England Rodeo. "It's a great opportunity to work with the town and integrate into the community this season."

According to a Facebook post by the rodeo, this is a temporary setting for the 2025 season, “while we work hard behind the scenes on something even bigger — our very own new property, which we hope to call home for the 2026 season.”

The news was met with many commenters who were ecstatic that the competition would be closer, or those who were disappointed that it was now a longer drive — but everyone was thrilled that there would still be a rodeo.

Although they have purchased land in a nearby city, Pina isn't sure it will be developed into a space for the rodeo. "We want to see how this year works out in Rochester," she said. "We are really liking the town, and who knows, we could have a future here."

What to expect at the rodeo

Opening and closing days can bring over two thousand spectators to the event, with over 1,000 at each biweekly competition.

Beyond the bull riding and barrel racing, there are also many cultural demonstrations to enjoy. These include horse vaulting, mounted shooting, and horse liberty work, which is a mesmerizing display of harmony between horse and rider.

They are also very passionate about sharing their rescued mustangs and showcasing mustang rehabilitation.

For anyone worried about the animals in the care of New England Rodeo, Pina wants them to know, "The animals are treated with the utmost respect and care, if they don't want to participate — they don't."

"Our animals have their own chiropractors, nutritionists, and specialized veterinarians," she continued. "We make sure they are taken care of."

Where can you see New England Rodeo in 2025

Saturdays from June to September will be your chance to experience the sport firsthand at 65 Pine St., Rochester.

The rodeo is hoping to get the community involved, they are looking for food trucks and vendors to be a part of their events. "I know Boy Scouts used to help with parking at the old fairgrounds," said Pina. "We would love to bring that back and are really hoping to become a part of Rochester this season."

"It's a great family-friendly event. where you can see lots of action, have fun, and get to interact and participate," said Pina. "You get a slice of western style."