Principal Warner Announces Retirement

Last month, our longtime NHS Principal Daniel Warner shared with the school community his official announcement of his upcoming retirement at the end of this school year.

Superintendent Dr. Peter Cummings shared a letter about the news and stated the sentiments below:

"Mr. Warner has been a driving force here in Narragansett since first joining our district in 1999 as NHS Assistant Principal and then serving our high school as its principal for the past 20 years. He has led Narragansett High School through meaningful improvements, including the introduction of Advisory, the growth of Career and Technical Education pathways, expansion of AP and college credit opportunities, development of the Senior Project, and many other programs. Dan has done so while always understanding the unique needs of high school students, and has helped our students build the knowledge, skills, and habits of mind that lead to success in college, career, and life.

In particular, Mr. Warner has helped to build a culture and climate at Narraganset High School where students are known, cared for, and supported through the challenges and opportunities of adolescence. The NHS faculty and staff work as a team on behalf of our students, and our high school continues to be a leader in the state in innovative and thoughtful programming. Dan has been an exemplar of working with the community to provide opportunities for students, and the many scholarships and other supports our students receive are a testament to his ability to build meaningful relationships. Dan’s leadership has helped our faculty provide wonderful learning opportunities for our students and he leaves the school in excellent shape, poised for continued growth and accomplishment.

I will personally miss Dan’s engaging good humor, thoughtful problem solving, and sound experience. Serving as a high school administrator is not an easy task, yet Dan has always approached his work and responsibilities with appreciation, enthusiasm, and enjoyment. Dan is a person well suited to working with teenagers, and I am grateful for his commitment and service to our students, community, and state. I hope you join me in wishing Dan all the best in his well-deserved retirement."

Our district has begun the search for Mr. Warner’s successor immediately, so please be on the lookout for requests for input to help us create a leadership profile to guide our selection process. Our hiring committee will include faculty, staff, students, and parents. We hope to have a new Principal under contract in the early Spring with a start date of July 1, 2023.

23-24 Enrollment Open for Mariners Preschool!

Applications are now being accepted for Narragansett residents for our Mariner Preschool Program at Narragansett Elementary School.

Options Include:

3 full days (M-W-F)

5 full days

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MAY 1, 2023

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!

REMINDER: CTE Applications Must Be in by March 1, 2023

Attention students interested in one of our four hands-on CTE programs! Applications are open and our team is currently reviewing all submissions. All applications MUST BE SUBMITTED BY MARCH 1, 2023 to be considered for the program.

Below are some helpful links and videos about our offered programs in Educator Preparation, Agriculture Science, Information and Computer Technology and Mechanical Trades in Plumbing as well as contacts if you have any questions or would like to schedule a tour or student shadow day.

NHS Guidance Office | Main Number- 401-792-9406

John O'Brien | Graduation by Proficiency Coordinator

jjobrien@nssk12.org | (401) 792-9400 x4025

SurveyWorks 2023

The Rhode Island Department of Education #SurveyWorks 2023 is NOW OPEN.

This survey helps us gain insight into your perception of school and district effectiveness. To ensure we continue to provide high quality, rigorous learning experiences that meet the needs of our learners and prepare them for college and career, we need your feedback and want to know what you think.

The survey shouldn’t take more than a few minutes to complete & will be a valuable source of information for us as we work to make our schools and district as successful as possible.

How to Easily Participate:



Step 1 Visit THIS WEBSITE

Step 2- Choose school name from dropdown

Step 3- Click “Take this survey” to begin! 

Step 4- Chose answers by clicking circles

Step 5- Once finished, click “Submit”

Youth Mental Health Panel Event

Youth Mental Health is the focus of an upcoming Data Briefing and Panel Discussion hosted by the Washington County Coalition for Children.

When: TOMORROW, Wednesday, February 8th Time: 7:00-8:30 PM

Where: Kingston Congregational Church

Who: RI KIDS COUNT Data Analyst Kelsey Bala will provide the data briefing followed by two panel discussions: one with school leaders and the other with South County Caucus members from the General Assembly.

Narragansett School System Superintendent Peter Cummings will be participating in the school panel discussion.

2023 College Planning Forum

You're invited to attend a free daylong conference designed for families, educators,

service providers and high school students who will like to hear about disability support services as youth transition to college.

When: March 4, 2023

Where: Univ. of R.I. | Multicultural Ctr.

Time: 10:00 am -2:00 pm

Whether you plan to attend college locally or out of state, now is the time to gather information to prepare for your college success. Come hear from youth speakers, technology and

accommodation experts, disability support services, college admissions, and more. Free resources will be provided. A light lunch will be served.

For more information feel free to reach out to kcollins@westbaycollaborative.org.

Learn more from their official flyer HERE.

Narragansett Prevention Resources

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

Youth mental health became a very hot topic during the early days of the Covid pandemic. Questions were asked: How were children dealing with uncertainty, fear, isolation, and loss? Although we have shifted back to a more “normal” way of life, there is little doubt that the trauma of the pandemic the

world experienced has left lasting effects on many people…many of them children. The data that has been compiled answers those early questions and tells the story of the effects on our youth. The mental health of our local youth is an important conversation for communities to have. If you feel like you don’t have enough information or that recognizing mental health challenges in youth is not in your wheelhouse, we are happy to share a fantastic upcoming free resource with you.

QPR Training

Like CPR for a medical crisis, QPR is a simple process anyone can be trained to use to help save the life of someone in crisis. In this free 75 min. virtual training with Dr. Rob Harrison, you will learn how to recognize the warning signs of suicide. In QPR you learn to “Q”uestion about potential suicidal thought; “P”ersuade them to seek help; and “R”efer them for professional assistance.

These trainings are held the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month at 6:00pm.

To register for a February QPR session on 2/7 or 2/21, CLICK HERE

Nurse Notes

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, Did you know Sesame is now on the “Major Allergens” list too?

Please be mindful of foods, like hummus, that might be harmful to our sweethearts. If you have questions about food allergies, please contact the school nurse. 

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Complete List of Major Allergens from the FDA are Eggs, Milk & Dairy, Peanuts, Tree Nuts, Fish, Shellfish, Wheat, Soy and Sesame.

Upcoming School Committee Meeting

Our next scheduled regular business meeting will take place in-person next week.

When: Wednesday, February 15, 2023 | 7:00pm

Where: Town Hall Chambers 25 5th Avenue, Narragansett, R.I. on the 2nd floor.

To watch remotely, below is the YouTube Live link where viewers can watch the live stream of the meeting as well as view meetings previously held. CLICK HERE

Please note that this stream is for be for viewing and recording purposes only. Open Forum and Public Comment will be offered in person.

As always, for meeting schedules, agendas, and School Committee related information, you can visit the dedicated webpage by clicking below.

REMINDER:

Family Support from The Jonnycake Center

We are pleased to share 2023 information about WIC support offered by the Jonnycake Center.

To learn more about how to sign up or to explore all of the benefits, please call 401-387-9611.

You can schedule an appointment or walk-in to their offices located at 22 Kersey Road, Peace Dale, RI on the following dates:

February 23 | 9am-3:30pm

March 30 | 9am-3:30pm

February 2/20 - 2/24 - No School - Winter Break!

February 27-March 3: NES Book Fair

March 3: Read in your Pajamas Day! (Flyer will go home with students)

March 8: NES Spring Picture Day

The NES After School Robotics Program is Happening Now!

The Narragansett Elementary School's after school Lego Robotics is in full swing.

During these sessions students are challenged to build Carnival Games such as Mini Mini Golf or Amazing Amusements Park Rides such as the Classic Carousel.

After completing the build as a team, they began programming the creation according to a scripted program using block coding. Next, students discuss what modifications and enhancements they can make to their creation or its programming and try it out.

Recently, students have also been introduced to the Dash Robot and have been working on programming it to respond to its surroundings like lighting up varied eye patterns in response to clap.

All the while students are building their problem solving and computational thinking skills!

Book Fair is Almost Here!

Get those reading lists ready and mark your calendars! The NES BOOK FAIR is back in-person and will once again be held in partnership with Wakefield Books!

When: February 27-March 3, 2023

Where: NES and Wakefield Books, 160 Old Tower Hill Rd, Wakefield, RI 02879

Students in grades K-4 are invited to shop at school , and Pre-K families will receive a voucher to shop online or in-store all week long. 20% of the proceeds will come back to NES to support our programs and initiatives throughout the school year.

February 3: 8th grade course selection due 

February 3: 8th grade Groundhog Job Shadow Day  

February 4: Report cards distributed 

February 13: National History Day Parent Night (5-7pm)

February 14: National History Day in school event (8:30am-12:30pm)

February 2/20 - 2/24 - No School - Winter Break!

March 3-5: NPS Play | James and the Giant Peach Jr.

Smoothie Bike Fun for All

On Tuesday, January 31, NPS students were treated to smoothies by the Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition, (RIHSC). There was one catch though, they had to be blended using a fun smoothie bike!

Students were able to taste healthy recipes while having a blast making each batch.

Thanks to the RIHSC and Chartwells for helping make this fun initiative happen for our kids!

NPS Winter Sports Update!

Here are some highlights from AD Mr. Millen on NPS sports:



Winter sports has been great this year with both Basketball teams making it to the Playoffs, at press time the boys are in the Semi Finals of the Division round after finishing as the Number 3 Seed. Boys basketball to play Curtis Corner on TONIGHT at 5pm at SKHS for a final four spot!

Cheerleading made a great return after a 2-year absence.

Wrestling continues to grow. 1st year wrestler Xander Smith-Neves placed 4th at the RIPCOA Futures tournament. 8th graders Marc Gallagher and Jan Arnaus competed in the Varsity States at North Kingstown.

PLEASE NOTE: Spring Sports Sign ups open March 1 on FamilyId.com for Baseball, Softball, and Track and Field. Tennis will be a club sport this year and will be offered this spring.

NPS Theatre Presents...James and the Giant Peach Jr.

When:

Friday, March 3rd & Saturday 4th at 7:00pm

Sunday, March 5th at 2pm

Where:

NPS Cafeteria

Secure your seats now by clicking below to easily purchase your ticket!

February 11: NHS Robotics Event

February 14: Secretary of State Visits 12th Grade Civics

February 2/20 - 2/24 - No School - Winter Break!

March 1: Deadline for CTE Applications!

2023 KPMG Future Leaders Program

Applications are now being accepted for the KPMG Future Leaders Program – Class of 2023! This program is offered for deserving female students who may qualify for valuable leadership development.

The KPMG Future Leaders Program annually awards 22 deserving high school female seniors:

1. A scholarship of $10,000 per year for 4 years of college
2. A leadership development retreat and ongoing KPMG support
3. A pairing with an executive woman mentor for one-year

Applications must be submitted by February 1, 2023. An independent selection committee will select

and notify the 22 recipients by April 14, 2023.

Since the program’s inception in 2016, nearly $4.5M in scholarships has been awarded to 144 KPMG

Future Leaders. Learn more about the program and students a part of it HERE!

2023 Pier Plunge Design Winner

A winner has been announced for the 2023 Narragansett Lions Club Pier Plunge Towel Design Contest!

Narragansett High School Senior Jessica Boutin created a design that was chosen to be featured on this year's towel commemorating the event. Her design was chosen because it was simply fun, perfectly representing the Lions Club New Year's Day Tradition at Narragansett Town Beach. Some years there have been as many as 2000 participating! All proceeds raised at this event benefit Narragansett Lions Club charities.

She was honored in the picture above with his design and a $100 check by the Narragansett Lions Club.

The contest was open to all NHS students and we thank the Lions club for sponsoring this event while showcasing the talent of our students.

NHS Students back at CS4RI for an Engaging Day Focused on Tech

On December 21st, NHS students were back at CS4RI hosted by University of Rhode Island!

CS4RI (Computer Science for Rhode Island) is a state initiative launched in 2016 by the Office of Governor Gina Raimondo to bring high quality computer science (CS) learning experiences to all students.

Our high school students who are a part of our Information and Computer Technology program as well as ones who are interested in this field at NHS were invited to view exhibits from all of the 2020 CS4RI High School Grant Recipients in an effort to expose students to high tech careers and recruit those interested into our own CTE program.

Our CTE students demonstrated their projects of robotics and Virtual Reality. Then, they attended special 45-minute sessions with companies such as Dan Berman from Computer Museum who presented a circular dial display workshop, Joe Mazzone from Coding Rooms who presented a hands-on workshop on creating your first mobile app, Suzanne Mello-Stark from Rhode Island College who presented a workshop on Mega Data and Digital protection and Rachel Barber from IGT who presented about pathways to jobs in her company.

Thank you to URI for hosting this event and welcoming us back for this informative day!

The Athlete of the Month campaign highlights NHS students who exemplify sportsmanship, dedication, and standout participation in any sports offered at the school. Recipients receive a certificate as well as their picture featured on the wall in athletics for the entire month.

Congratulations to our athletes of the month!

Kylee Bennett, Senior, Indoor Track

Senior Kylee Bennett excelled in the weight throw during the month of January for the Mariners. She placed 2nd at the Dartmouth Relays and then placed 1st in the Division Championship Meet. Kylee earned 1st Team All Division honors and is currently ranked #17 nationally in the weight throw. This had her ranked as the #1 seed going into the Class Meet that took place on February 4th!

Raymond McConnell, Junior, Wrestling

Junior Ray McConnell dominated his weight class during the month of January for the Mariners. During the past month, he won 1st place in the Griswold Tournament and 3rd place in the Chad Antoch Tournament. Overall this season, Ray has a 20-2 record with 14 pins.

Ray and his team remain at the top of DIII with a record of 6-0.