March Narragansett School System Newsletter
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Important Budget Dates Reminder
2nd
School Committee
Budget Workshop:
3/11/19 | 5:30 pm
3rd Budget Workshop if needed
3/13/19 | 5:30pm
Budget Vote at Regular School Committee Meeting:
3/20/19 | 7:00pm
Public Hearing On Budget:
3/25/19 | 7:30pm
Town Council Public Hearing on Proposed Budget:
4/15/19 | 7:30pm
For any questions or concerns, please contact Superintendent Dr. Peter Cummings by email.
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REMINDER: Nominate an Employee of the Year
There is still time to put in your nominations for Employee of the Year.
Below is a link with the official nomination form with information outlining the criteria to use when making your nomination.
Deadline:
March 11, 2019
Please deliver or send all nominations to Susan McKnight by inter-office mail or by
email
using “Employee Recognition ” or "EOY" in the subject line.
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Last Chance to Make an Impact through SurveyWorks!
If you haven't already, we invite you to join in and help our schools by completing SurveyWorks before the
March 31 deadline.
Using your school-specific code you received from the front office, click the link below to begin. Students will be given the opportunity to participate in the survey during school. Thank you for your support.
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Free & Reduced School Meals
Has your income status recently changed or do you have questions about the USDA Free and Reduced Meal Program? It's never too late to apply to help save you money throughout the school year.
Click the buttons below to learn more about the program and how to apply.
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District-Wide WiFi Upgrades
We are now offering complementary public WiFi at all of our schools in public places during the hours of 2pm and 9pm.
This will allow our community to stay connected at games and school events making it easier than ever to log on.
Just look for
NSS OPEN
in your mobile WiFi settings.
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Narragansett Educator Highlight
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Each month, we are happy to share a little more about one of our educators here at our schools. We hope this will help better connect you with the wonderful individuals who work hard to give our students the best experience each year, while learning fun facts about them.
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Molly Hammell, NES Music Teacher
How long have you been working within the Narragansett School System and what do you do?
I have been working in the Narragansett School System for two years teaching music at the elementary school.
Where are you originally from?
I grew up in Killingworth, Connecticut, a small town where everyone knows each other, much like Narragansett. I moved to Rhode Island after high school when I attended the University of Rhode Island to study Music Education and Music Performance. After college, I was fortunate to begin my music education career at a middle school in Pawtucket. I spent four years there before coming to Narragansett.
What is your favorite part about working at your school?
My favorite part about working at my school is interacting with my students; they are always excited to learn and to share stories about their lives outside of school. Of course the teachers and staff at NES are incredible, too. I feel lucky to work with a group of dedicated music teachers. Mr. Healey, Ms. Kane, and Mr. Simeone are not only supportive colleagues, but also great friends. We are able to work together and support each other when and where we are needed.
Do you have any hobbies outside of the school day or during the summer that you like to enjoy?
I love playing music. I play the alto sax for the American Band and
baritone sax for
the Larry Brown Swinglane Orchestra. I most often play sax, but have played flute and clarinet professionally as well. The American Band is the oldest community band in the country. We are a group of about sixty musicians, and we are currently in our 202nd season. The Larry Brown Swinglane Orchestra is a Big Band primarily based out of Newport. In addition to performing, I love hanging out with my husband, Brendan, and our dog, Toaster. We can be found playing video games, board games, and music together as well as with our friends.
What is one thing that your students and staff may not know about you!
I have a twin sister! She is a special education teacher in Connecticut. I am the older twin by 17 minutes. Although we may look alike, we are fraternal twins.
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Narragansett Elementary School
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Important Upcoming Dates
March 12:
Late Night Kindergarten Registration hours at NES (4-7pm)
March 15:
2019 Pizza Pig Out (6-8pm)
March 18
:
Lifetouch Spring Pictures
March 20:
School Committee Meeting- Town Hall (7pm)
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Please Welcome Our NES Principal
We are pleased to announce that after an extensive search, Ms. Lisa Wilson has been appointed as the next Principal of Narragansett Elementary School.
Ms. Wilson is currently Principal of Peace Dale Elementary School in South Kingstown and previously served as Assistant Principal at Narragansett Elementary School. She also served as a literacy coach in Newport, RI and an elementary grade teacher in California and internationally.
Ms. Wilson brings deep expertise and experience in school leadership, literacy practices, and social-emotional learning to her new role. She holds a B.A. from the University of Rhode Island, a M.Ed. from Framingham State College, and advanced coursework certificates from the University of California and Boston University.
She will begin her new role of Principal on July 1st, 2019. Welcome back to our school!
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Preschool Applications Now Closed
Thank you for your interest in Mariners Integrated Preschool. Due to an overwhelming response to our 2019/2020 preschool enrollment, applications are currently closed. If you have already applied, your application will be included in the review process and you will be contacted on next steps if approved.
A wait list will be created for students who aren't placed in this round and families will be contacted regarding future availability. We thank you for your interest and look forward to growing this impactful program within our district.
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There's Still Time to Register for Kindergarten
Kindergarten registration is officially open and parents and guardians can easily register online by using
THIS
link or by clicking the button below. If you do not have a computer, you are welcome to use the one available in the Narragansett Elementary School main office. We will also have special nighttime office hours for parents wishing to apply after work. That will be held at NES on
Tuesday,
March 12 from
4-7 p.m.
Please note that there are some documents we will need that you may either scan or bring into the office, such as proof of residency and immunization records. Please reach out to the NES office with any questions.
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NES Art Show
A date for the the NES Art Show has been confirmed!
When
: May 23rd| 5-7pm
Where
: NES Cafeteria
Grade levels k-4 will be participating where they will have their artwork displayed, matted, and framed. You may purchase this for $25 with a portion going to the NES Art Dept! The school-wide theme of this year’s art show is collage with the sub themes outlined below:
K: birds, nests, eggs after Steve Jenkins Mama Built a Little Nest
1: abstract/geometric paper quilts
2: self portraits
3: Eric Carle inspired insects with custom printed papers
4: animals inspired by Steve Jenkins
*Art work will be returned shortly after the show if not purchased.
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NES Digital Literacy
We're pleased to share with you our most recent video parent session on technology and digital literacy.
This video will help you navigate the resources available when using the many online and technical tools provided by our schools. It will also give you a glimpse into digital learning here at NES
We hope you enjoy and find it useful!
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Narragansett Pier Middle School
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Important Upcoming Dates
March 8:
6th Grade Mindfulness Yoga (
8:10, 9:10, 11:10 and 12:35)
March 15:
6th Grade Mindfulness Yoga (
8:10, 9:10, 11:10 and 12:35)
March 20:
School Committee Meeting- Town Hall (7pm)
March 22:
6th Grade Mindfulness Yoga (
8:10, 9:10, 11:10 and 12:35)
March 22:
March Madness- 7-9pm
March 29
: Deadline to order personalized yearbook covers
Date Change Reminder:
The NPS Talent Show has been moved to May 3rd. We will continue to share information on the event as it nears.
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6th Grade Yoga Begins in March
Starting on March 1st, 6th graders will have the opportunity to participate in mindfulness and yoga classes on Fridays for the next several weeks.
There will be four 50-minute sessions a day at 8:10, 9:10, 11:10 and 12:35. Classes are being held in W1 and are led by NHS graduate and yoga instructor, Janelle Laurito and founder of
Live Well With Janelle
.
In addition to the work our classroom teachers are doing with S
ocial and Emotional Learning Standards
,
this 8 week course of mindfulness and character-building aligns with the tenets of the social and emotional standards: self awareness, self management, social awareness, and relationship skills. Participants will learn basic yoga postures, breathing techniques, mindfulness activities, and the importance of community and compassion. If you would prefer your student not participate, please email Principal
Marianne Kirby.
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Lifetouch Yearbook Reminder
Yearbooks are now on sale with forms available in the office or by ordering online.
The deadline to order yearbooks with a personalized cover is
March 29, 2019
.
If you would like to order online, please click below and enter Yearbook ID Code #11927119.
If purchasing by check, please make payable to Narragansett Pier Middle School with your student's name in the memo section. Remember there are only a limited amount of yearbooks available so order yours today
.
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Pier School Babysitting Course
The Narragansett Pier School has joined forces with the American Red Cross to host a valuable babysitting course for students who may be interested!
When
: Thursdays, March 14, 21, and 28th
Time
: 2:45-4:45pm
Where
: NPS Room E1
The price per student is $45 and there are only 10 spots available in each class, so please sign up early!
To sign up and view the full flyer, please click below.
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National History Day Contest Recap
On Wednesday, February 27th, the Narragansett Pier School's Annual National History Day Contest took place. Students have been working on these projects since before Christmas and presented them to judges from our district and the community.
Projects included student-created websites, documentaries, historical papers, exhibits and performances that connected to a theme, this year's being Triumph & Tragedy in History.
Every year, National History Day® frames students’ research within a historical theme, which is chosen for the broad application to world, national, or state history and its relevance to ancient history or to the more recent past.
This year, the Pier School 8th grade students completed 60 total projects. Of those projects, the top two in each category will advance to the Rhode Island State Contest held at Rhode Island College on Saturday, March 23rd. To help determine who would represent the pier school, members of the community including Narragansett High School teachers, school committee members, representatives from local museums, the Rhode Island Historical Society, and Narragansett retirees were invited to act as guest judges during the day-long contest.
From the Narragansett Pier School, 11 projects will advance to the State contest where they will compete with students from around the state for a chance to travel to the University of Maryland, College Park to participate in the national level contest this spring. Congratulations to all our students for well thought out projects and presentations.
See below for the list of National History Day results!
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NPS Spring Sports Reminder
All Spring student athletes must be signed up on
FamilyID.com
in order to practice for any of the Narragansett Pier School Teams. All athletes must also have a RIPCOA
Risk Form
on file and a current
School Physical
form, which can be found by clicking the link. (It must be dated within one calendar year of March 18, 2019).
Baseball, Softball, and Unified Basketball are already in full swing. Unified will have home games Thursday March 14, and Thursday March 21 starting at 3:30pm. We invite you to come support and cheer on the team!
Track and Field will start Monday March 18. Everyone signed up on Family ID will receive information on Practice times. Please sign up on FamilyID.com and have your Risk form and Physical sent in or attached to your sign up.
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Important Upcoming Dates
March 20:
School Committee Meeting- Town Hall (7pm)
April 2 -
Jr. Parent College Night - NHS Media Center (6pm)
April 4 -
3rd Annual College Fair - NHS Gymnasium (6:30-8:30pm)
April 9 -
SAT Testing
April 10 -
NHS Spring Concert - NHS Auditorium (7pm)
April 25th
Career Fair (8:30 - 10:30 AM)
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3rd Annual NHS College Fair
Students of all grades and their families are invited to our 3rd Annual College Fair. More than 25 colleges will be in attendance showcasing their programs and offerings.
When
: Thursday, April 4, 2019 | 6:30-8:30pm
Where:
NHS Gymnasium
For questions, please click below to email Joan Pratley in our guidance office.
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Student Receives Volunteer Award
NHS Sophomore Julia Highcove, has been honored for her exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award.
This award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country, was granted by the Prudential Spirit of Community
Awards Program.
Julia was nominated for national honors this past fall in recognition of her volunteer service which totaled
718.5 hours
. Her volunteering included work within the South County Sting Rays Golf Tournament, an internship at the Marine Science and Aquaculture Lab at the Graduate School of Oceanography, becoming a NPS Robotics Club Team Coach Exhibitor at Hascon, and working as a Zoo Crew Counselor at The Roger Williams Park Zoo. Congratulations Julia!
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NHS Slogan Contest!
The Narragansett High School Athletic Department is looking for two different slogans to include in the upcoming design for the locker room double doors. One for the girls locker room and one for the boys locker room. (Examples pictured here.)
We're asking our students to help come up with the slogans! The winners will receive their choice of a Mariner Athletics t-shirt or sweatshirt and the opportunity to leave your mark on the school.
Entries will be accepted for the entire month of March 2019.
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NHS Teachers Join Nation's Educators in Teach-In
Kristin Hayes-Leite and Kathy Couchon were among Rhode Island educators that traveled to El Paso, Texas for a February 17 national “Teach-In For Freedom” designed to call attention to migrant children still being held in the custody of the U.S. government.
The all-day protest was organized by the
Teachers Against Child Detention
led by National Teacher of the Year Mandy Manning and called on the Trump administration to end the detention of immigrant children and their families.
Upon returning from an influential event, Hayes-Leite shared that there was a sense of unity that teachers from across the nation felt that day. Whether educators were watching from home or with the group, they all shared the responsibility for protecting and educating children.
"That is after all what makes us tick as educators," she shared. "All children are our children and we have to speak up to protect them. The teach in was one great day of awareness and education, but there is much work to be done."
Couchon also shared that she was especially impressed with the passion that all of the educators from across the country brought to the day. "The issue of family separation and mass incarceration of children is one that is especially important for educators - we are mandatory reporters of child abuse so we must speak up," she stated. "Another factor is that these children have no access to education while in detention - another abuse we must call attention to," she continued.
A clear theme throughout the event was understanding how trauma - like the forced separations from family members - can impact the brain and a child’s ability to learn. As educators, we see the effects of trauma in our own students and classrooms and need to learn how to better support children so they can successfully learn. Attending this Teach-In was a first step for us as teachers. We will continue this fight and hope that others will join us in calling attention to this abuse.
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Sr. Project Judges Needed!
We're still looking for judges for Senior Project presentations. It's the best way to become familiar with the Senior Project and experience it firsthand.
When: Friday, May 24, 2019 | 8:30 am to 2:30 pm.
All new judges are required to participate in a training session, which will be held on
Monday, May 20, 2019 at 6pm.
Note: Those who have already served as judges will be invited to participate again. Please look for an invitation in the spring. If your e-mail has changed, please notify John O’Brien. Training will not be required for returning judges, however, any returning judge who would like a “refresher” will be welcome to attend the session.
How to Sign Up: Please contact John O’Brien by clicking below or calling 792-9400 x 4025. If using email, use “Senior Project Judge” in the subject line.
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FFA Students Recognized on House Floor
Congratulations to our NHS Future Farmers of America team who was
recognized for finishing in third place in the Hall of States competition.
Reps. Carol McEntee and Teresa Tanzi joined The House in honoring the students on the House floor on February 27, 2019. Recognized were Superintendent Dr. Peter Cummings, FFA Adviser Greg Breene and the following students: Aliana Zabek and Hannah Conlon, both individual bronze medal winners, and Hannah Foster, Abby Foster, Paige Martone, Victoria Devoe, Alex Day, Sophia Gallant, Zuzu Crane, Nick Godena, Emma Hughes and Ben Hoxie.
We continue to have so much pride for our students and the passion and leadership they exemplify throughout each year.
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CBS Update on Principal Warner
CBS 4 in Denver, Colorado caught up with Principal Dan Warner who underwent a kidney transplant on December 10th thanks to his donor, Dan Wagner. This segment follows their story of strength, the ongoing recovery process, and their goal to raise awareness about this selfless gift of life.
We look forward to welcoming Dan back into our school in mid-March and invite you to view this inspiring update!
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Matt Mahar Recognized by NIAAA
The National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) is pleased to announce that Matt Mahar, Athletic Director at Narragansett High School, has been recognized by this association as a Certified Athletic Administrator.
To earn this distinction, Matt has demonstrated the highest level of knowledge and expertise in the field of interscholastic athletic administration. The voluntary certification process included a thorough evaluation of the candidate's educational background, experience and professional contributions, as well as a rigorous, comprehensive written examination.
Matt joins Pier School AD, Michael Millen Sr., in this elite group of interscholastic athletic administrators nationwide to attain this level of professionalism.
The NIAAA is a national professional organization consisting of all 50 state athletic administrator associations and more than 10,000 individual members. It is dedicated to promoting the professional growth of high school athletic administrators and preserving the educational nature of interscholastic athletics and the place of these programs in the secondary school curriculum.
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Narragansett Elementary School
55 Mumford Rd, Narragansett, RI 02882
(401) 792-9420
Narragansett Pier Middle School
235 S Pier Rd, Narragansett, RI 02882
(401) 792-9430
Narragansett High School
245 S Pier Rd, Narragansett, RI 02882
(401) 792-9400
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