Updates and Travel Reminders from Superintendent Cummings
As we pass the 1-year mark living with the Covid-19 pandemic, I want to again thank you for all of your
support of our students and staff. There has been unfathomable loss for so many members of our
community, and I know so many of you and your families have endured hardship and grief. While the
pandemic is not over, the majority of our staff has had at least the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccination,
and we now look forward to more and more members of our community at large becoming immunized.
Recently we have had some localized spikes in Covid-19 cases, but in general the infection rate in the state seems to be decreasing and, consequently, restrictions are being lifted. The following are some updates to our Covid-19 school operations and protocols:
Travel Guidance
In response to the changes in guidance from the CDC, RIDOH, and the Governor’s office, the Narragansett School System will follow the guidelines below based on the executive order for domestic travel from Governor McKee. This guidance will apply to all staff and students in the Narragansett School System. If you have questions about travel, please contact your principal or school nurse.
NSS Protocol for Return from Travel:
- Any person returning to NSS from locations with a high community spread rate as set forth on a list maintained by RIDOH found HERE must immediately self-quarantine for 10 days unless one of the following exemptions applies:
- the person obtains a negative Covid-19 test result from a specimen taken after arrival in Rhode Island; or
- the person has received the final dose of an approved Covid-19 vaccination series no more than 90 days and at least 14 days prior to the date of the person's arrival in Rhode Island and is asymptomatic upon arrival in Rhode Island; or
- the person (i) was tested positive for Covid-19 from a specimen taken no more than 90 days prior to the date of the person's arrival in Rhode Island, (ii) had no Covid-19 symptoms previously, (iii) completed the isolation requirement in accordance with Executive Order 21-17 or its successor, and (iv) is asymptomatic upon arrival in Rhode Island.
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School Committee Meeting
Our next scheduled regular business meeting is TOMORROW Wednesday, March 17th, at 6:00pm.
To join on the night of the meeting, please use the information below to join.
Attend by Video:
- Link: CLICK HERE
- Meeting ID: 873 3316 5234
- Passcode: 595455
Attend By Calling In:
- Phone: 1 929 205 6099
- Meeting ID: 873 3316 5234
- Passcode: 595455
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REMINDER: Open Enrollment for Mariners Integrated Preschool
Applications are now being accepted for full-day preschool at the Narragansett Elementary School.
Options include 3 or 5 full-days for the 2021-2022 school year.
For questions about the program, please contact Jill Hague, Asst. Director of Student Services at Jhague@nssk12.org or 401-792-9426.
To learn more and register, please click the button below!
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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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Tracey McCallig
NES Dean and Literacy Coach
How long have you been working within the Narragansett School System and what do you do?
I have been teaching for 22 years - 17 of those years in Narragansett. I spent many years as a 2nd grade teacher at Narragansett Elementary School until becoming the Literacy coach in 2018. This is my first year in the role of Dean at NES and being part-time Literacy Coach.
Where are you originally from?
I grew up in Greenville, Rhode Island. My family would often take the long ride from Northern Rhode Island to the beaches of Narragansett in the summertime, and I knew I would like to live by the ocean someday.
What is your favorite part about working at your school?
I enjoy working collaboratively with my colleagues throughout the district to help foster our students' literacy development. However, getting to know the students at NES as Dean is my favorite part of my job. Seeing the smiles on their faces every day as they come into school is a joy.
What do you enjoy doing outside of the school day or during the summer?
I grew up playing tennis and still love to get out on the court with my three children. I also spend most of my free time cheering on my children in their sports of soccer, basketball, and gymnastics. During the Summer we love to spend time visiting family and friends.
What is one thing that your students and staff may not know about you?
I love to go fishing with my youngest son, Nolan. We have a contest every year to see who can catch the biggest fish. I am the Summer of 2020 champ!
Over the past year of uncertain times, what is one thing you've learned, taken away, or implemented to help stay positive?
My motto in life is that with patience and perseverance, everything will be okay. When I am faced with a difficult situation, I try to focus on what I can control to make the situation better.
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Lunch Menus
A brief reminder that all lunch menus can be found on our website under the Calendars/Lunch link.
Printable menus will be listed if available and a link to all the menus for each school, which is from the Nutrislice site. You can also find the Free and Reduced Lunches application, payment options, and additional lunch information and updates. |
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Last Chance to Complete SurveyWorks!
This statewide survey is sent out annually to hear from Rhode Islanders directly about their experiences in our state's public schools.
Survey Window: NOW through Tuesday, March 30th.
HOW TO:
- Access the survey HERE!
- Choose your school from dropdown menu.
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Student Services Parent Workshop
Would you like to learn more about the rights of students and their families in special education?
On Wednesday, March 24th from 6:30-7:30 pm, the Student Services Team will be hosting a parent workshop on Zoom.
David Kane, Esq. will share with families how to be an active participant in the special education process. He will also explore parent leadership through the local advisory committee model.
We hope you can join us by following the Zoom link below on the 24th. If you have questions, please reach out to Director of Student Services, Melissa Denton or Asst. Director of Student Services, Jill Hague. |
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A Note from Narragansett Prevention Partnership
Dear Parents/Caregivers,
With the official start of Spring just days away and Daylight Savings Time making our daytime feel longer, a season of hope is beginning. Who couldn’t use a little dose of hope after a year of pandemic challenges and a long winter that has maybe felt a bit more isolating than usual?
Want to embrace that feeling of hope? You could:
- Grab your sneakers (and a mask in case you encounter others!) and head out to enjoy nature. A long walk with your dog or a local hike with your kids or a friend can help you feel more connected with your environment, yourself, and your companions.
- Try a new recipe or start grilling season early for a quick and healthy dinner.
- Plant hope! March is a great time to plan the flower pot you’d like to see on your front step, the fresh vegetables you could grow to add color and crunch to your family’s meals, or maybe a patch of easy-to- grow herbs to spice things up a bit. Digging in the dirt, watching sprouts emerge, and harvesting the fruits of your labor are all activities that contribute to a feeling of wellness.
- Be mindful. Take a few minutes each day to just focus on your breathing or some specific detail in nature, and really “be in the moment.”
- Make positive changes at home. Talk to – and listen to! – your kids. (CLICK HERE to read this edition of Raising Healthy Teens for the latest information about teens and alcohol.) Ask for their input on family meals, activities, or routines. Have conversations about family rules and expectations. Ask open questions about school or friends. This virtual Strengthening Families program is another way to improve the strength and resilience of your family. This is a free and engaging way to learn new relational skills to help make your family unit function together smoothly. But act quickly – the program starts very soon!
Stay Well and Keep Looking Forward!
Narragansett Prevention Partnership
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REMINDER: Take Part In our 2021 Town Banner Contest!
The Town of Narragansett, RI and Narragansett School System is excited to once again host a town banner contest, but this time asking both Middle and High School students to help design the newest artwork for the town.
Two student designs will be chosen to adorn the streets of Narragansett for the upcoming installment, which will be in the Spring of 2022.
Who Can Submit: Students in Grades 5-12
Deadline for Submissions: May 14, 2021
How to Submit: Follow the website below and read the official guidelines. Once students create artwork, they will be able to upload completed documents to the form, which is linked on the website and on the template.
Students can draw, use computer programs, paint, or use any art technique they're most comfortable with. Those needing some guidance or help, please be sure to reach out to your art teachers, Ms. Burke (NPS) and Ms. Gabrilowitz (NHS).
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Narragansett Elementary School |
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Important Elementary School Dates
March 17th: Wear green for spirit day!
March 24th: Reports cards go home for Grades 1-4
March 29th & 30th: Hearing Screenings
April 2nd: Good Friday (NO SCHOOL)
April 19-23rd: Spring Recess (NO SCHOOL)
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Wear Green on Spirit Day!
Don't forget to wear green tomorrow, March 17th for spirit day.
Rumor has it that a leprechaun may cause some mischief!
Stay tuned.
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PTO Search
NES is looking for new members to take on leadership and board roles.
At the next meeting scheduled for May 18th, those interested will be introducing themselves for appointment.
The PTO continues to support students and teachers throughout the pandemic with an upcoming teacher appreciation week, 4th grade picnic, and an end of the year gift that all students will benefit from.
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Principal Storytime
On March 11th, more than 300 families logged into a zoom session to hear Principal Wilson read to the students.
Students were given a treat bag sponsored by the PTO and Narragansett Little League that included popcorn and hot chocolate to help them get comfortable in their Jammies for a bedtime read aloud.
The stories selected highlighted the importance of recognizing and celebrating the special qualities of others and themselves.
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100th Day Celebrations!
On Thursday, February 25th, students and staff at Narragansett Elementary School marked their 100th day of school with some style!
Thanks to our families and administration for making this day special for the school community.
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Narragansett Pier Middle School |
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Important Pier School Dates
March 16th: PTO Meeting | 7:30pm
March 22nd-26th: March Madness | Spirit Week!
March 23rd: Virtual Homework and Classwork Assistance Begins
March 30th- NJHS applications for 7th & 8th graders due
April 2nd: Good Friday (NO SCHOOL)
April 19-23rd: Spring Recess (NO SCHOOL)
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REMINDER: Virtual Help Begins Next Week!
Virtual homework and classwork help for students is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 - 5:00 beginning March 23.
Tuesdays will be for Science and Math and Thursdays for ELA and Social Studies. Zoom links will be emailed to students on Monday, March 22. All are welcome! Please connect with your student's teachers or the front office for more information.
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NPS Virtual Book Fair
Get those reading lists ready and mark your calendars! The NPS 2021 Virtual Book Fair is coming up in partnership with Wakefield Books.
When: April 5th - April 11th.
Families and friends can shop online or in store with 20% of the proceeds directly benefiting Narragansett Pier School. Purchase books for the entire family or as gifts and help the middle school and the local bookstore. A printed voucher will be emailed and sent home from school the week before the Fair. Just present the voucher at Wakefield Books or use the voucher code during the online checkout process.
We hope you enjoy the event while supporting our school!
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NPS Community Collections
This local market provides food for neighbors who have trouble feeding their families and started when a small food closet was transformed seven years ago into the Community Market. It's open every Friday from 4:00pm-6:00pm in the Parish Hall for all who need food assistance.
So far, they have raised more than 368 pounds of food and some toiletries!
This greatly helps local Narragansett and South Kingstown families and the organization was beyond thankful this amount was raised in only one week!
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Join the New VEX Robotics Club!
When: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays
To learn more or for any questions, please reach out to Mr. Herz at cherz@nssk12.org. |
NPS Sports is Springing Forward
The NPS winter sports season went off without a hitch and all enjoyed great competition on the basketball court. Everything is looking bright for a “Fall” outdoor season with Cross Country and Soccer. Over 80 student athletes have signed up for the 4 teams and are looking to compete over the next 6 weeks before April vacation.
The next season starts May 3rd when the largest number of teams in one season plans to take to the Spring Season. All student athletes that hope to make the 6 teams will need to be signed up on Family ID by April 25. SIGN UP HERE.
Teams scheduled to compete in the spring will be Boys and Girls Track and Field, Baseball, Softball, Tennis, and Wrestling. Updates and information will be sent out to all those that sign up.
Time to get outside and enjoy!
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March Madness at NPS!
March Madness is NEXT WEEK at the Narragansett Pier Middle School!
Save the dates above for these fun ways students and staff will be able to celebrate in style.
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'Kindness to Action' is the Theme for Community Service Project
Over the past several weeks, a simple question was asked by two NPS students...how can we help people during the pandemic and brighten people’s day? Sierra Kielty and Avery Richard sought out to find the answer through a unique way to give back and take part in community service.
The idea came from the two students beginning research on ways they could complete Community Service hours that are required for the NPS Junior National Honors Society. With all the social distancing required these days, there are not many opportunities for students to help Community programs. The creative pair then sought out to do something on their own.
Sierra and Avery decided to hand out roses to people throughout Narragansett, especially to those who looked like they could use a smile or word of encouragement. The two spent about three hours handwriting out 38 different sayings, with some being “You Are Strong, Stay Positive, Be Yourself, You Look Good Today, Never Give Up” and many more. They were put on strips of paper and attached to the roses. They then spent another several hours driving around town with one student's mother handing all the roses and messages out to anyone they thought could use a pick-me-up or pat on the back.
Their actions were mentioned by a couple of different community members on Facebook with kind comments on their actions reading “A random act of kindness can mean so much”, “So Lovely” and “Just what we all needed!” These postings and photos were more than they or their families could have ever expected as the thread grew. The social media remarks about their act of kindness caught the eye of Michael Millen Sr, the NPS Athletic Director and Troop 1 Narragansett BSA Committee Chair, with over 40 years of Scouting to his name. Millen shared, “ These two girls' act of kindness reminded me of a 2018 story of the non- profit created after 14-year-old scout Elijah Knight from Texas was killed while camping in Georgia when a tree fell on his tent during a windstorm." Knight’s parents started a non-profit to spread his words, “Start everything with kindness and the end will be okay.” They send out on request a Kindness Coin that others can pay forward for acts of kindness they observe. There is a web site, which can be found HERE, to track these coins across the country as well as details on Elijah Knight and the Kindness Coins.
After the last girls’ basketball game at NPS, Mr. Millen surprised the two students by honoring their local acts of kindness. He shared with the audience the meaning of these symbolic coins, which he then presented to Sierra and Avery in front of their parents, teammates, and classmates.
We are so proud of Sierra and Avery and echo all the beautiful words spoken and written about their actions and the celebration of kindness that has been created though out Narragansett and the school.
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NPS ExoLab Project
The 5th and 6th grade students at Narragansett Pier School have had a great opportunity to participate in ExoLab-8!
On Friday, March 5th, the students involved started their experiments, began recording data and compared their experiments with those on the International Space Station (ISS). Students will continue to make observations throughout the month of March and share their data with scientists aboard the ISS.
This is a great opportunity for our students to participate in live science and contribute to space exploration!
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Important High School Dates
April 2nd: Good Friday (NO SCHOOL)
April 5th-9th: NHS Spirit Week
April 9th: End of 3rd Quarter
April 13th: SAT Exams – Juniors
April 15th: PSAT10 - Sophomores
April 19-23rd: Spring Recess (NO SCHOOL)
April 27th: ACT Testing - Juniors
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Superintendent's Update on Narragansett High School
While we have been “full in person” grades PK-8 since September, Narragansett High School has remained on a hybrid schedule. We are working to give as many students as possible the opportunity to safely attend in-person classes in a daily basis, and more information will be forthcoming soon from NHS. I would like to particularly encourage our Seniors, Freshmen, and CTE students to attend in-person as often as possible, as the specific programming for these grades and classes is enhanced through interpersonal connection and hands-on activities.
We are working with a committee of students, faculty, and parents to plan for end of the year activities,
including graduation ceremonies. We are closely monitoring the updates to guidance from RIDOH and the Governor regarding gatherings. We are committed to honoring our graduates in a meaningful way, and hope to have more news regarding preliminary plans shortly.
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Junior Parent Night 2021
On Tuesday, February 23rd, the NHS guidance office held their annual Junior Parent Night virtually.
Parents received an overview of the college application process followed by a Q & A with the guidance counselors.
If you were unable to make it or would like to watch the recording again, please click below!
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NHS Music News and Updates!
Recently, 5 NHS students were selected for and participated in the RI American Choral Directors Association's Virtual Jazz Honor Choir. Their performance premiered late last month and is free to the public to view! The first song features one of our own, Natalie Portillo, as a soloist. Please enjoy!
NHS Virtual Jazz Honor Choir Students:
Selina Amargo, Alex Gould, Evan Marley, Isabella McElroy, Natalie Portillo.
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February Athletes of the Month
The Athlete of the Month campaign highlights a student who exemplifies sportsmanship, dedication, and standout participation in any sports offered at the school. Students receive a certificate as well as their head shot featured on the wall in athletics for the entire month.
Congratulations to our athletes of the month!
Victoria Gauvin, Senior, Girls Ice Hockey
Victoria Gauvin scored a hat trick in the team’s victory over Smithfield. She is on both special teams for power play and penalty kill. Victoria had two goals and an assist over Warwick carrying the team to a 4-1 victory. One of those goals being a shorthanded breakaway on senior night.
Adam Melnick, Junior, Boys Indoor Track
In the Class Meet, Adam Melnick placed third in the 1,500 and fifth in the 1,000. In the RI Indoor Championships, Adam went into the 1000m seeded 9th and ended up placing fifth with a time of 3:39.1!
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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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