Amazing Schools

Achievement First Illuminar

Achievement First Mayoral Academy

• At Achievement First Iluminar we have launched our very first Student Council for our 4th grade! The officer positions available to scholars are Class President, Vice President, Secretary, and Homeroom Representative. This January, Iluminar had over 35 scholars apply for positions and show strong excitement for school leadership roles! Our finalists delivered speeches in front of the entire 3rd and 4th grade community. Following the speeches, the entire 4th grade had the opportunity to vote for their leaders on real voting ballots with real voting machines provided by the Rhode Island State House! Our student council meetings are held every Thursday in the principal’s office to discuss class projects and leadership initiatives to better our community!
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Austin T. Levy School

Burrillville

• At the Austin T. Levy School in Burrillville, our youngest learners are taking advantage of our brand-new Sensory Paths! Teachers got together to create and install these brightly-colored, fun and inviting activity centers throughout the building. Designed to help students regulate themselves through physical activity, the paths are set up so that students have some freedom of movement and choice but also some specific activities that will give them the sensory feedback they need to help them settle into classroom routines and activities and maximize their learning throughout the day! We're so proud of our AMAZING teachers and students and the incredible work that they do every day!
  • Sensory Path Video (Google Drive)
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Bernon Heights Elementary School

Woonsocket

• I would like to introduce you to Bernon Heights Elementary School in Woonsocket RI. We are an elementary school with a population of 455 students and 60 staff members. Our team of Social Workers came up with an amazing idea of helping with our behavior initiative. The name of the program is called the Kindness Club. Research shows that “promoting kindness among young people directly reduces bullying and disruptive behavior and helps to increase social and emotional wellbeing”. Other benefits of teaching kindness in schools: a greater sense of belonging, improved self-esteem, better health, less stress, feelings of gratitude and increased concentration. The staff members give students “caught you being kind” tickets when they witness a student doing something special. In the morning, randomly selected students are given “shout-outs” over the intercom for their acts of kindness. At the end of each month, there is a Kindness Club celebration put on by the Social Workers. One student per classroom is randomly selected to come to the celebration where they also receive an official certificate. Some of the celebrations include art projects, nature walks, special treats or listening to a guest reader. We have also invited Superintendent McGee to participate and talk at the celebration. The students and staff have totally embraced this initiative promoting empathy and kindness improving the overall school climate.

Blackstone Academy Charter School

• School Engagement
  
  We were so pleased that our school, Blackstone Academy Charter School, was highlighted in this national report on school engagement from the Center for Inspired Teaching and the Astra Center for Innovative Education.

Central High School

Providence

• At Central High School senior mentors and select sophomores led our August Freshman Orientation. It started when the class of 2021 wrote letters of advice to the incoming freshmen class as a classroom assignment. Later, students decided to expand on this to improve our school culture. The 2022 Orientation allowed student mentors and rising sophomores to share thoughts and insights with incoming Knights and reflect upon strategies for students’ success. Knights’ culture coordinator, LaShan O’Connor, teachers, community partners and administration attended the event which was orchestrated by students for students.
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Charette High School

Providence

• Student Video

Chariho Regional High School

Chariho

• Video (Google Drive)
  
  offer our Student Advisory Board Video. We are proud of the role SAB plays in elevating student voice, initiating positive changes in our school community and reaching out in service to the greater Chariho Community.

Citizens Memorial Elementary

Woonsocket

• Citizens Memorial Elementary School in Woonsocket trained their staff in how to handle bullying through ‘No Bully’, an anti-bullying program based in California. The training covered understanding the difference in types of bullying and peer conflicts, as well as how to handle and best meet the needs of all students involved. The school formed a Solution Team comprised of teachers and students. This team will bring the accused bully, the student being targeted as the bully, and two model students together to mediate and find a solution to the issue at hand. The school is pleased to report that this process has already helped in several cases and they look forward to using it this year!
• (SurveyWorks)
  
  Pothier-Citizens' campus in Woonsocket, RI has been working hard to get their staff, student and family participation for Survey Works. With one last push before the window closes, campus staff have sent all students home with a sticker on that has the link for the family survey. Mrs. Moniz, principal, has also held a survey works night in collaboration with the community agency, CCF (Connecting Children and Families). The survey works night was held on a Monday evening and was an opportunity for families to come in and see what their children had been working on in the after school program as well as complete the survey and enjoy food and refreshments. Lots of great work is happening on campus and staff worked to get it reflected with the survey!

Davies Career and Technical High School

• Press release: grant awarded to Davies teacher
  
  Stacy Jones, an English teacher at Davies Career & Technical High School in Lincoln, was awarded a $5,000 grant from The Social Emotional Learning Innovation Fund. Presented by Education First in partnership with the NoVo Foundation and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, The Innovation Fund seeks to improve systems that foster social and emotional skills in fresh, inventive or innovative ways. ... Jones, who is the Chairperson for Davies’ Diversity Committee, was awarded the grant for her proposal to implement social and emotional learning strategies combined with culturally sophisticated curricula aimed at increasing the academic rigor and student achievement in Davies’ 10th and 11th grade English Language Arts classes. 
• Press release: PBN 2018 Business Excellence Award for workforce development
  
  William M. Davies, Jr. Career & Technical High School is being honored for Business Workforce Development in Providence Business News’ 18th annual Business Excellence Awards program dinner and ceremony to occur on November 7th at the Omni Hotel. The Business Excellence Awards are PBN’s Premier Awards Event recognizing leadership and general excellence at private and public companies and nonprofit organizations.

East Providence High School

East Providence

• East Providence High School awarded 27 Biliteracy Seals to graduating students in 2018. Students received the Biliteracy Seal in French, Portuguese or Spanish in recognition of meeting the requirements outlined in the Rhode Island Dual Language Program Standards. This was our first year of awarding Biliteracy Seals at East Providence High School
• East Providence High School has launched its "Hi-Five Friday" program. Hi-Five Friday is a great opportunity for our Student Athletes to help foster positive relationships within our community. We pride ourselves on our Student Athletes, who are often viewed as role models to fellow students and especially our younger Townies. Hi-Five Friday allows our Student Athletes a chance to connect with our elementary students in a positive and respectful manner. It is a chance to give back to their community, share their PRIDE, uplift spirits, give inspiration to our young Townies, and unite our community! Officer Doug Borden, EPHS SRO continues to plan and organized these Hi-Five Friday's. Officer Doug has had a positive impact on our school and community culture. We thank him for bringing this program to not only EPHS but to the EP Community as well! Photo 1 and Photo 2
• Q: What do you get when you have High School Math Teachers, Special Educators, some passion & inspiration? A: Algebra gets a face lift, Project Based Learning! Market a new EPHS to voters! Students learned about the concerns of Republicans & Democrats as well as used data to identify the best ways to attract voters to pass the New East Providence High School referendum. They analyzed & represented data in visually appealing ways to communicate the need for a new EPHS based on their audience. Class photo. Bottle flipping & a carnival are in the future, this group is dedicated to providing experiences to students & are revitalizing an old course into something innovative & new.

Johnston Senior High School

Johnston

• At Johnston High School, our Financial Literacy classes play the “Stock Market Game”. Students are given $100,000 in their accounts and get real time trades. They compete with other high schools in our region. They learn about investing, retirement, stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. There is also a contest called “Investwrite”. Our school has had multiple winners in this contest as well as students which have won the game. The mayor of Johnston as well as the superintendent have played the game against the students and have come to the classes to talk about budgeting for the town and the school district. This class teaches real life skills that these students will use in the future.
• Johnston High School’s Marketing class has joined With RIC’s AMA (American Marketing Association) to enhance content. Arts Talk also had a professional development to bring other content areas together with the Arts. A $1000.00 grant is given to the participant. We are using the grant to help the AMA compete in New Orleans against over 100 universities/colleges. Five groups of students in the Marketing class are coming up with a theme centered around the topic “ambition”. A graphic designer will help them to create backdrops and props for the AMA to use. We are connecting community, school, and secondary education.

Hathaway Elementary School

Portsmouth

• Hathaway Elementary School is excited to announce that 11 of our fourth graders submitted a spooky saga to Young Writers USA. Of the 11 students who submitted work, 8 have been chosen for publication in the RI book of Spooky Sagas! All 8 students are being considered for the grand prize, which will be announced in April. We will also receive a complimentary copy of RI Spooky Sagas, which we will display proudly in our Library Media Center. Please join us in congratulating these students who believed in themselves and worked hard to become published writers.

Hennessey and Orlo Elementary Schools

East Providence

• Our cross-school PLC is something that we are very proud of. It is the belief of the Principals at Hennessey and Orlo Avenue in East Providence that our schools are full of valuable expertise, insight, and feedback opportunities. We have found that schools/ districts spend millions bringing in consultants when the best PD is right in our own classrooms. The collaborative process of looking at school improvement through an asset-based lens as opposed to a deficit model has transformed school climate and culture, performance, and teacher collaboration. Teachers regularly come together to solution seek, analyze success, observe, and share resources. Our doors are open to each other. We are #StrongerTogether. Follow #HennOrloCollab to see more!
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Henry Barnard School

Rhode Island College

• RIC Teacher Candidates are learning how to collect baseline data using STAR assessments in 2nd grade. The teacher candidates will then use the data to set SLO's and then develop unit plans related to beginning fraction concepts.
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Hope Valley Elementary School

Chariho

• Video
  
  Hope Valley Elementary School students singing at the RI State House on December 20, 2018
• Hope Valley Elementary School in the Chariho Regional School District will be visiting the Providence Performing Arts Center twice this school year to watch live performances of Mother Goose and Bubblemania: Science, Art, & Comedy. The Bank of America Arts Showcase brings RI students and artists together in a community arts program. These shows are free for the students and ties nicely into our specialty school focus of performing arts where students have “the arts” incorporated more in their learning. This will likely be the students first time at such an amazing venue. What a privilege for these children.

Lawn Avenue School

Jamestown

• Imagine starting Middle School coding in the Maker Space. Designing and printing 3D models. Welcome to grade 5 at Lawn Avenue Middle School in Jamestown! Curricular-aligned projects ignite students’ passion for creativity, making thinking visible. This journey continues. Sixth graders engineer their own hydroponics system, dance life cycles, and design/construct underwater robots. Seventh graders model atoms, and create Adaptation Islands. They build and modify wind turbines. Eighth grade offers the opportunity to test their hot air balloons, analyze the creek, and compete in thermal construction. Extended experiences with community partners make learning relevant. Community and career options--amazing STEAM stories.

Leo A. Savoie School

Woonsocket

• Recess Day 2018
  
  On October 3rd, Leo A. Savoie School in conjunction with RI Coalition for Healthy Schools and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of RI celebrated the work done by Playworks in implementing Recess Rocks in all our schools. A large celebration was had as Governor Gina Raimondo declared October 3rd as RI State Recess Day with a Gubernatorial Declaration. Students and staff participated in the presentation and the headed out to the school yard to share in some Recess Rocks games. Many dignitaries participated but more importantly, our games are all inclusive so all kids can participate with success. Recess Rocks at Savoie and in Woonsocket Schools!

Narragansett High School

Narragansett

• We are proud to offer students in district and across R.I. the opportunity to take part in our CTE Pathways, which hosts advanced and extensive courses with unique hands on experience. We offer programs in Information and Computer Technology, Agriculture Science, and our newest, Mechanical Trades in Plumbing, which provides students training and apprenticeship opportunities with partner RI Local 51. Courses focus on plumbing with exploration in construction management, pipe fitting, and welding. Upon completion, students are certified for apprenticeships as a full member of Local 51. Our programs are strategically built to enrich student experience and create lifelong skills.
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• Narragansett FFA Instagram page
  
  We're excited to share that our Narragansett FFA Team came in 3rd in the nation for their display in the Hall of States at the 91st National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis! The exhibit represents the four chapters in Rhode Island with information on nurseries, turf, aquaculture, and Rhody Fresh. Our FFA team is a part of our CTE program in Agriculture Science and work hard to prepare for the big weekend at nationals. We are so proud of our students as they continue representing our high school and our state of Rhode Island. Attached are some photos from the event. Our team is also updating Instagram daily on our Narragansett FFA page.
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North Providence High School

North Providence

• One minute video showcasing the North Providence High School PTECH Program

Nathanael Greene Elementary School

Pawtucket

• Student Video
  
  To go with this months theme of Student Voice, we thought about what our students think about our program using the word AMAZING. This video shows what they believe our Dual language program, English & Spanish, means to them.

North Providence School Department

• North Providence has partnered with Better Math Teaching Network(BMTN) to use Improvement Science to examine their instructional practices and increase student engagement in mathematics. The cohort will consist of fourteen teachers from the two middle schools and the high school. Dr. Melinda Griffin will lead the cohort with this year's goal on how to increase student engagement using "Instructional Routines" with the aid of recent data from RICAS, PSAT and SAT. Teachers will be meeting at North Providence High school during the school year. In addition to analyzing recent data points, teachers will implement "instructional routines" to promote student discourse and voice.

North Smithfield High School

North Smithfield

• 2018 Capitol Hill Day
  
  North Smithfield senior Brady Pendergast is the one RI student athlete chosen by Special Olympics of RI (SORI) to travel to Washington D.C. for Capitol Hill Day in February. On Capitol Hill Day athletes, coaches, parents and staff from all 50 states travel to D.C. to meet with their congressional delegation in order to seek passage of legislation to fund Unified Champion Schools and Healthy Athletes programs. Out of 36 high schools and 28 middle schools, Brady was the student unanimously chosen by SORI to travel with them and represent RI to advocate for funding. Brady will meet with Senator Reed, Senator Whitehouse, Congressman Cicilline and Congressman Langevin.

Paul Cuffee Upper School

Paul Cuffee Charter

• Student-Run All School Meeting
  
  Every Wednesday, our entire school community gets together for an All School Meeting. This event is almost entirely organized and run by students. Students set up up our cafeteria space, acknowledge one another, review a health fact of the week, make announcements, and host a Thought of the Week.
• Principal's Cabinet
  
  We have a group of elected student whose purpose is to advise the school administration on matters relating to school policy and culture. This group of students have played a vital role in changing school practice ranging from our school uniform policy all the way to the way we incorporate and celebrate people of color in our curriculum and day-to-day practices.

Pell Elementary School

Newport

• Capitol TV video about the space chat
  
  Newport's Pell Elementary School students talked with an orbiting astronaut aboard the International Space Station early October. Organized over an 11 month period by local STEAM advocate and volunteer Mike Cullen, Pell students were challenged to think about all the career possibilities that can flow from space exploration. Gov Gina Raimondo and Rep Marvin Abney shared encouraging words with the 350 grade 3 & 4 students sitting in the gym and with 600 other children watching from the cafeteria and classrooms. The shared message was to take math and science more seriously, to study harder, and to reach for the stars.

Ponaganset High School

Foster-Glocester

• Video
  
  Building a world of inclusion is an important passion to all of us at Ponaganset High School but we know it takes all of us to help make a larger difference. The students in this video are working on senior projects that have helped shape school culture here at Ponaganset. The students have recently been asked to speak at Westerly High School and Coventry High School to help spread the powerful message of inclusion and how it impacts school culture.

Portsmouth Middle School

Portsmouth

• Portsmouth Middle School is excited to announce that 49 of our fifth graders submitted a spooky saga to Young Writers USA. Of the 49 students who submitted work, 37 have been chosen for publication in the RI book of Spooky Sagas! All 37 students are being considered for the grand prize, which will be announced in April. PMS will also receive a complimentary copy of RI Spooky Sagas, which we will display proudly in our Library Media Center. Please join us in congratulating these students who believed in themselves and worked hard to become published writers.

RI School for the Deaf

• (PrepareRI)
  
  Hands waving to the partnership between committed educators at East Providence Career and Technical Center and the talented students at RI School for the Deaf. High School students from RISDeaf attend career preparation classes at EPCTC mornings and then return to their home school for the remainder of the day for core subjects. This partnership has resulted in a credential-bearing pathway for eight students this year. RISDeaf students report that the students and educators at EPCTC make them feel welcome, encouraged, challenged, and prepared to follow their dreams. Let's celebrate collaboration!

Richmond Elementary School

Chariho

• Richmond Elementary School is in the fifth year of district implementation of Spanish instruction twice a week; 35 minutes of direct instruction and 35 minutes of integrated morning meeting. The curriculum is aligned to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) standards and reinforces concepts taught in the regular education classes. Students work toward increasing their individual proficiency in listening and speaking in grades K-4, reading in grades 3 and 4 and beginning writing in grade 4. This year fourth grade students are reading a novel that takes place in the Rainforest of Ecuador, covering topics such as animals of South America, the water cycle and friendship. How exciting to see the young readers making comparisons and predictions in their newly acquired language as they increase proficiency.

SouthSide Elementary Charter

• "The Love Rap"
  
  This project was lead by Hannah Resseger, our PE/Health/Music Teacher. Ms. Hannah has the gift of being able to bring out the best talents of those around her. Below is a description of the inspiration behind this project from Hannah's perspective: While working with a 2nd grade class during extended day at South Side Elementary we noticed that the students were stuck on a song called “Rolex”. A song that promotes materialism with the main theme being about ice on your wrist and “all I ever wanted was a rolley rolley”. In order to get them to think critically about lyricism and Hip-Hop culture I shared a verse from artist Mysonne that talks about how we can “shine without jewelry” and how the true jewel is wisdom. After this lesson we created a new song with a music video where the students could express their talents in a positive way with a message. This project was empowering in many ways. The students gained writing, recording and performance skills, confidence, self-esteem and practiced team work. This song spread throughout the school and most of the students quickly learned lyrics and sing along whenever it is played at our community meeting.
• Bully Prevention Video/Rap
  
  On behalf of SouthSide Elementary Charter School, we are sharing an an amazing Bully Prevention video/rap that was created by two of our very talented second graders. Whitelle Troh and Angelina Brito were the winners of our school kindness contest. Our music teacher, Hannah Resseger is also a famous rapper in the community and she brings out the best gifts and talents in our students!

State Street School

Westerly

• This year we decided to try the BOKS (Build Our Kids Success) Program with our students at State Street School. The Mission of BOKS is “To empower school communities to improve our children mentally, physically and socially by strengthening their minds and bodies through movement”. BOKS Vision is “To reverse the worldwide pandemic of physical inactivity and its crippling effects”. Here’s what we will be doing for twelve weeks, two days a week, with 40 children before school begins. Children will check in at 7:30 and socialize for a few minutes before we begin the program. Once all the children are checked in, the lead trainers will go over the lesson plan for the day and the skill of the week. There will always be a running activity because running is an essential part of the class. Each week the children will practice a particular skill such a sit-ups, push-ups or squats. These are incorporated into fun relays or obstacle courses. The trainers will always promote community and good sportsmanship during the games. At the end of each program the trainers will cool down with the students and discuss the nutrition fact of the week. Then the children will be sent to class to begin a great day of learning. The students and staff are very excited to be able to participate in this wonderful program.

The Compass School

• Compass Participates in Keynote Address at United Nations General Assembly Event
  
  On September 24, 2018, The Compass School participated in an International Green Leadership Summit in conjunction with the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Compass was selected as an US delegate for the event, which included representatives from Rhode Island, Louisiana, Florida, Massachusetts, India and Norway. The event’s keynote address was given by Robin Organ, Founder of Project Green Schools, a national nonprofit based in Massachusetts dedicated to developing the next generation of environmental leaders. Project Green Schools partners with over 6,300 schools and 500,000 students from over 43 U.S. states and 9 countries to facilitate the development of student leaders who have engaged in E-STEM learning and projects and are pursuing higher education and jobs in the green workforce. Organ recognized The Compass School as a strong partner in environmental sustainability efforts and invited Director Brandee Lapisky and Compass students, Ruby Cameron and Jesse Fitzelle-Jones to share Compass’ best practices during her keynote speech. “I am honored to celebrate of the achievements of our students and the entire Compass community,” said Lapisky. “In 2017, we expanded The Compass School Farm, which is now the largest school garden in the state. It is humbling to be showcased as an international leader among other notable global efforts in environmental sustainability education.” Ms. Cameron, an eighth grade student at The Compass School, spoke to the delegates saying, "The growth of our school has made me realize that I can accomplish so much more that I ever thought I could with hard work and the support of my school, friends and family.” Mr. Fitzelle-Jones, another 8th grade leader at The Compass School, shared his experiences offering, “The farm program teaches us about the importance of agriculture on the ecology and environmental health of the Earth.” “... Another important memory of the farm is when I visited one of the places we donated our vegetables. It was nice to see the produce we so carefully grew being eaten by food insecure and homeless people,” continued Fitzelle-Jones. The event was hosted by Green Mentors in affiliation with Climate Week NYC, a global event that occurs annually during the UN General Assembly. Designed as an international academic event, Green School educators came together to learn, connect and collaborate to support the shared mission of creating high-performance Green Schools.
• Compass wins $500,000 for energy efficiency for R.I. Office of Energy Resources
• RI PBS Video (June 7, 2019)
  
  This 6 min video highlights The Compass School's efforts to serve as a best practice center for sustainability education.

The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center

• The Met's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which operates a full-scale, student-run commercial print shop, recently completed the first packaging production run for NaloxBox, an opioid rescue kit providing organizations reliable access to lifesaving naloxone in an easy to recognize cabinet mounted in central locations around buildings. Met students were excited to support Rhode Island Disaster Medical Assistance Team's Medical Reserve Corps (RIDMAT/MRC) in their mission to train health professional and community volunteers to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies and disasters across the state by supplying the packaging materials needed for over one hundred and fifty life-saving units.

Tiverton Middle School

Tiverton

• Article Feature of Project
  
  The community, PTO, and administration at the Tiverton Middle School worked to surprise the students for World Kindness Day by repainting (28) stalls in the boys and girls bathrooms with positive messages promoting social-emotional learning.

Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts

• The word "Amazing" is the perfect adjective for Raymond Baccari, an 11th grader at TAPA: Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts. Raymond, a FFilm major in TAPA's pre-professional Arts Pathway, has spent the year meeting with politicians and critical figures in the state to create a documentary on the second amendment and how it defines the American experience. This documentary will be submitted to C-SPAN Student Cam 2019, a national high school film contest. Raymond, through relentless organization and outreach, has conducted in-person interviews with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Mayor Jorge Elorza, Congressman David Cicilline, Dee Dee Whitman, Kobi Dennis, Lieutenant Governor Dan McKee, Speaker of the House Nicolas Mattiello, and WPRI journalist Tim White. We are all proud of Raymond, as well as the rest of our 11th grade film majors who held cameras, set up lights, managed sounds, and helped edit... and we can't wait to see the final product!
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• SHE // FEMME // THEM, a multimedia dance concert devised and performed by the TAPA Dance Company, explores feminine energy, feminism, femme and intersectional allyship, and the experience of womxn/femme-identified people in society. This piece is an opportunity for us to listen to our young femme artists and their allies. We come from womxn. Each of us carries her Chromosome. So, to allow systems and ideologies that perpetuate sexist relationships and images of the self, is an offense to all of humanity. We must make art about it. We must listen to our young femme artists and their allies.

Wawaloam School

Exeter-West Greenwich

• I am in constant awe as I observe the drive and devotion of the team at Wawaloam School. We have been so fortunate to collaborate with the Highlander Institute and have thoroughly benefited from our FUSE Fellowship. Through the collaborative efforts, we have shifted the level of differentiation we are able to provide for all students. This team has come in and shared ideas and reflections and even veteran teachers have soaked up the opportunity to thrive and grow. Our students are learning how to work together as members of a society through the social interactions and problem solving that go hand in hand with the new opportunities. We have trial memberships to many online applications so that we can make informed decisions about the learning tools that are best for our students' success. We are teachers.....but we are all learners too. We are learning and growing every single day and we have linked together for one of the best examples of on-site professional development that I have observed.

Westerly Public Schools

• (PrepareRI)
  
  Thanks to a grant from the Department of Labor and Training of RI, the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce and the Westerly Public Schools are providing Westerly youth with career exploration opportunities this school year. This initiative is called Working Wonders. The goal of Working Wonders is to expose students to the many career options that exist in Rhode Island. Working Wonders is recruiting professionals from Rhode Island who will deliver interactive and engaging presentations to students about their career. Presenters will be focusing on the real skills that students will need to be successful in that particular field.

Woonsocket Public Schools

• Woonsocket is proud to announce that three teachers have recently been recognized as Achieve 3000 PRO Educators: Elaine Zagrodny, Amanda Charchafliah, and Sharon Beausoleil. This recognition is reserved for teachers using Achieve3000's literacy instruction platform with the greatest consistency, innovation, and dedication to yield the most incredible literacy growth for each and every student, often times exceeding what's expected by more than 3X over a single school year. Congratulations to these outstanding teachers for all they do in supporting students and teachers!

Agnes E. Little School

Pawtucket

• (Computer Science)
  
  Our elementary school, Agnes E. Little School, in Pawtucket, RI has introduced CODE.org to all students in grades 1 through 5 with great success! Students are enthused by the inspirational videos offered on the website, and, they are hooked on coding! Many don't want to stop! Thanks to CODE.org creators and staff for a great introduction to coding! Also, we are hoping to continue with ScratchJr and Scratch in the near future. We think that the Scratch programs are especially good for students as they can create their own work to share.

B.F. Norton School

Cumberland

• (Social Emotional Learning)
  
  BF Norton Elementary School continues to embrace the need for social emotional learning. This year, support staff have trained and supported the school community on the Zones of Regulation. The school’s new behavior specialist provided all classrooms and common spaces with Zones of Regulation posters and signs. Each class will receive a total of nine lessons this school year. The school counselor, school psychologist, and behavior specialist have already delivered five lessons to every grade level. B.F. Norton is reaping the benefits with a significant reduction in school wide behavioral referrals. In addition to our Zones of Regulation lessons, our school counselor is leading monthly "bucket filling" (self-esteem) contests and Motivational Monday emails to support staff. Beginning in February, BF will launch it’s “Big/Little” after-school program where Cumberland High School students will mentor elementary aged students. Mentors will provide homework help as well as play games and activities to promote building healthy relationships. Way to go B.F. Norton!

Barrington High School

Barrington

• Blog Post
  
  Barrington High School has a Chain Reaction Club following Rachel's Challenge. On an annual basis, we participate in A Day Without Hate at the high school. During this day, the students celebrate with acts of kindness and challenge themselves to grow positive messages and energies. This year we extended the even to the entire PK-12 District. It was amazingly powerful. The advisors, Jason Appel and Andrea Correia, along with their students, would love to consider spreading this event to the entire state. Here is a link to the blog that was published about the day: https://rachelschallenge.org/blog/an-example-of-dwoh We invite any interested schools to contact us for more information.​​​​​

Barrington Middle School

Barrington

• Barrington Middle School's librarian and reading specialists have hosted several book clubs for students and families after school. Nancy Maddocks, Dawn August, and Dr. Brian E. Fernandes have focused the book clubs on the RI Middle School Book Nominees for 2018. Students and their families voted for the book choices and the culminating book club was a skype visit with Paul Griffin, author of When Friendship Followed Me Home. It is a great way of building a community of literacy and engaging families in reading.
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• (Summer Learning)
  
  Barrington Middle School Reading Specialists, Dawn August and Dr. Brian E. Fernandes ended the school year with a kick-off to summer reading with a book tasting for their students. Ms. August and Dr. Fernandes shared research with the students by engaging them with a question- "How many books does a middle school student need to read in order not to lose your reading growth over the summer?" Answers varied but Ms. August and Dr. Fernandes shared that information that Middle School Students should read between 5-6 books over the summer which include graphic novels and audio books. Along with the required list of reading the students have to do (1 fiction and 1 non-fiction book), students engaged in a book tasting of the 2019 Middle School Book Award Nominees, the latest in middle grade books, and some favorites shared during a book talks. Students created their own self-generated lists to bring home to their families to start on their summer reading goals. Preparing our students for summer reading is one of the keys to increasing engagement and building a culture of readers.
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Barrington Public Schools

Barrington

• "Think Your Drink" comes to Barrington
  
  (Nutrition)
  
  In collaboration with the School Nurse teachers and Chartwells School Dining Services, a “Think Your Drink” presentation was offered to Barrington Middle School students. Chartwells’ Nutritionist, Nancy Roberts and Executive Chef, Steve DaFonseca conducted the presentation for the sixth grade at Barrington Middle School on November 30th and December 1st. There was a visual display to show the actual amounts of sugar in their favorite beverages. Topics ranged from overall beverage consumption and health to dehydration, sugar content of popular beverages, water consumption and infused water. Following the presentation, there was a question/answer session along with infused water samples for students to try as an alternative to their favorite sweetened beverage.
  
  Another “Think Your Drink” presentation will be held at Hampden Meadows School for the fifth grade students on December 5th.

Burrillville High School

Burrillville

• Broncos Give Back (Video)
• Captain Isaac Paine Elementary School

Foster

• At Captain Isaac Paine Elementary School in Foster, RI, we building a community that reads together this summer. All students were given book ideas for the summer, access to our eBook library, and a summer reading Bingo Board that encourages them to read in fun places, with a variety of people. We have put together a summer reading club that meets twice a week this summer for all K-5 students who ended the year below or just at benchmark. Many of our teachers are holding "Guest Reader Read Alouds" at our local library where they are reading their favorite books to our students. Finally, the teachers are participating in summer book clubs with one other focused on our school's goals of: building a strong classroom culture and community, pushing all students to read at grade level, and personalized learning.

Central Falls High School

Central Falls

• 1-minute video
  
  Central Falls High School and Providence College Biology Partnership

Chariho Regional High School

Chariho

• Rebecca Burns, Chariho High School English teacher, started a creative writing club last year to help motivate her students and practice writing techniques. The students met weekly, most of them submitting to Write Rhode Island, and Chariho High School had not one but three winners: Marissa Alfiero, Andrew Ackroyd and Kevin Teirney. Rebecca explained, "Write Rhode Island allows my students to meet and work with local writing professionals to not only improve their creative writing skills, but also to witness a writing community that extends far beyond the walls of our classroom." This year, Rebecca Burns and the club, now called the Inkstagators, will welcome local writer Katie Dieter to two of their meetings to help students with their stories, provide feedback and guidance.
• Chariho High School is doing an exemplary job implementing Rhode Island’s Lindsay Ann Burke Act to address and prevent teen dating violence. All teachers and staff are trained in their district’s protocol on how to respond to incidents of dating violence, while administrators and staff use district-level data to guide their policies and practices. The curriculum has a clear scope and sequence, teaching about dating violence in a developmentally appropriate way across every grade level. Additionally, Chariho High School fosters a culture of prevention outside the classroom, through its theater group’s annual production and the Lindsay Ann Burke Memorial Fund’s annual poster contest. The school’s comprehensive, multifaceted approach has been lifted up as a case example by the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence in its recent policy evaluation report.

Chariho Regional Middle School

Chariho

• Kid’s Grow is Chariho Middle School’s award winning garden program, where students create a half acre garden every year and donate all the food produced to RICAN. The program started in 1996, with guidance from the Southern Rhode Island Conservation District and land donated by Tuckahoe Turf now Delea Sod Farm. It has been growing ever since. Chariho students are responsible for all aspects of the garden, from planning the layout, starting the seeds, caring for seedlings, planting the garden, maintaining the garden through the summer and harvesting the produce. Fresh produce is delivered to the RICAN starting in July and lasting through September. Since the conception of the program, our total donation of fresh produce is projected to exceed 12,000 pounds this year. Due to the student’s efforts, we have received local, state, and national recognition. We have been awarded the: “WARM HEART AWARD” from the Westerly WARM Shelter, “Outstanding Farmer of the Year 1997” from the Southern Rhode Island Conservation District, the Soil and Water Conservation Society Southern New England Chapter “1999 Merit Award”, and Gardener’s Supply Company 1st prize 2003 Garden Crusader Award in the category of “Feeding the Hungry”. Our most recent achievement was the 2007 “Children’s Garden Network Service Award”. We have also had the opportunity to present our program to other educators and at the 11th annual Nation Service-Learning Conference at the Providence Convention Center.

Chariho Regional School District

Chariho

• (Social Emotional Learning)
  
  This year, the Chariho Regional School District has focused its efforts on social emotional learning. At the start of our school year, our faculty participated in a full day of professional development entirely devoted to mental health awareness and intervention. Beginning this year, students at elementary, middle and high school levels will receive direct instruction in social and emotional learning at critical grade-level junctures and our social workers, school psychologists, school counselors, nurses and health teachers have worked together to develop these lessons, align them with our health curriculum and incorporate them into our health classes. We have been using a program called the Zones of Regulation at the elementary levels and have recently adapted components of this program for use at the secondary level. Students are learning the importance of self-awareness and self-regulation and are being taught specific calming, sensory and thinking strategies. Students are introduced to metacognition and neuroplasticity and are taught how their brains work and, most importantly, that they have the ability to create new neural pathways that are positive and proadaptive. What's most important is that students are now equipped with “tools” that they can use when faced with stressful or challenging situations. To gain an understanding of their own social emotional learning, students in grades 3-12 will complete a Panorama Survey in the fall and again in the spring. Some of the social emotional areas that will be surveyed include grit, self-management, emotion regulation and social awareness.
• Chariho Youth Task Force
  
  (Social Emotional Learning)
  
  Finally, we are very proud of our Chariho Youth Task Force, a student-led organization, who have promoted their “Standup to Stigma” campaign spotlighting mental health and addiction. To learn more about their organization and campaign efforts, please visit their website at https://www.charihoyouth.org/.

Clayville Elementary School

Scituate

• (Social Emotional Learning)
  
  Clayville Elementary School in Scituate, RI participated in Start With Hello Week, which ran from 2/5 through 2/9, and is sponsored by Sandy Hook Promise. The week was great from start to finish! Students participated in many fun activities including a poster contest, Human Bingo, Mix It Up Day, and No One Eats Alone Day. Staff and students also wore green in support of inclusion. Overall, the week successfully brought attention to social isolation and empowered our students to create a culture of inclusion and connectedness. Special thanks to our dedicated parents who helped plan activities for the week!

The Compass School

• The Compass School made Providence Business News

Coventry High School

Coventry

• (Social Emotional Learning)
  
  At Coventry High School, we have begun a mindfulness and yoga program. As a school counselor as well as certified yoga teacher, I am excited to have a tool in my counselor's “toolbox” to share with students, especially those with anxiety. The mindfulness exercises and yoga postures help them to develop resilience and coping skills to practice throughout their school day, maybe even for the rest of their lives. By offering this program during our advisory block, we are able to validate the stress they are feeling and provide concrete experiences that are proven effective in their development into adulthood.

Cranston High School West

Cranston

• One of our amazing stories at Cranston West centers around the Letters About Literature National Contest. Nine of our students won 1st place, Honorable Mention, or Semifinalist in the Level 3 contest for the state of Rhode Island. The students and their places are as follows: Anastasia Conclin, 1st Place Samah Alam, Honorable Mention (2nd Place) Mary DeSilva, Semifinalist Alexia Martin, Semifinalist Colwynne Owens, Semifinalist Abigail Shellard, Semifinalist Cheyenne Chin, Semifinalist Corinne Cifelli, Semifinalist Domenic Kaffenberger, Semifinalist Kate Lentz, Director of Rhode Island Center for the Book, presented awards to the students during Reading Week on Monday, May 21st (picture is attached). Anastasia Conclin's essay will be submitted to represent the state of RI in the national contest. We're so proud of the students and their teachers, Monalina Boscia and Melissa Colando, for all of their hard work.

Cranston Public Schools

Cranston

• Inspired by other schools' presentations at the School Librarians of RI conference, Cranston school and public librarians teamed up to create their own version of the "Rooster Games." This trivia event, based on the 2018 RI Children's Book Award nominees, was open to any Cranston student in grades 3-5 who read at least 5 of the 20 books on the list. 90 students from 11 elementary schools participated. One 3rd grader shared, "It was hard but it was fun! I already have next year’s list!” The district looks forward to a new tradition and continued partnership with the public library.

Curvin-McCabe School

Pawtucket

• (Literacy)
  
  Thirteen classrooms (grades 1-5) at Curvin-McCabe School in Pawtucket took part in national reading challenges sponsored by Read with Malcolm. Students were interested to learn about the New England Patriot player and author of “A Magician’s Hat” and his own struggle to read. The reading challenge titled “READBOWL’18” began in January and ended Superbowl weekend; students recorded reading done during the school day and reported the information on a weekly basis for a school-wide competition within the national competition. Out of the 180 classes participating nationally Curvin accounted for 13.6% of the 1.25 million minutes documented. The national competition “Carry the Torch for Literacy” coincided with the Winter Olympics . The challenge required students to calculate minutes of reading done at home and report them to their teacher. During the challenge, students were recognized at school on a daily basis as bronze, silver and gold medalists. At the closing of the national competition, Read with Malcolm identified 4 (out of 6) national winners as students from Curvin-McCabe School. After hearing of Curvin’s students’ achievements, author Jeff Kinney, owner of the local independent bookstore “An Unlikely Story”, donated 100 copies of the book “The Magician’s Hat” to distribute to the students. Throughout both challenges, students were excited for being recognized through social media on the Read with Malcolm website and from watching his videos of encouragement. The reading challenges have certainly created a “new” aspiration and love of reading.

Dutemple Elementary

Cranston

• Dutemple Elementary is using a great tool to communicate with families! Talking Points allows my teachers and I to communicate with families via text message. The fantastic thing about it is it translates my English text into the family member's preferred language (over 20 available languages) and back! Families that have not been able to easily communicate with me are thrilled with this new tool!

East Providence School District

East Providence

• "Townie 2 Townie" high school mentors photo
  
  (Social Emotional Learning)
  
  Townie 2 Townie is a mentoring program that connects high school students with elementary students within the East Providence School District. Mentoring occurs twice a month throughout the school year, providing opportunities for elementary students and high school mentors to build strong, supportive relationships through intentional, meaningful interactions. Such interactions include face to face discussions, tutoring sessions, and celebratory events like our annual Townie pep rally. While providing academic and social supports high school mentors are also developing their leadership skills and giving back to their community. High school mentors take pride in “Leading the Townies of Tomorrow”.

East Providence PreK at Martin and Oldham

East Providence

• Slide Show (Smilebox)
  
  East Providence Pre K @ Martin and Oldham wanted to share our "Townie Pride Parade" event. We hope you enjoy our slide show!

Ella Risk Elementary School

Central Falls

• (SurveyWorks)
  
  Ella Risk Elementary School in Central Falls is expecting Parent Survey percentages to be high again this year! During Parent Teacher Conferences on March 13, students will have the opportunity to complete their sticker chart as they circulate the school. With the encouragement from classroom teachers, students will earn a sticker by a parent stopping in to talk with their teacher. Other stickers can be collected by visiting Mrs. Degnan's Book Fair, enjoying Mrs. Luther's Healthy Heart table, and most importantly, completing the Parent Survey Works with Mrs. Baptista! A full sticker chart will be entered into a raffle for an amazing prize from Mr. Comet. Students are getting excited to complete their charts!!

Emma G. Whiteknact

East Providence

• (Nutrition)
  
  A Share Cart was created by grade 5 students to reduce food waste and provide extra food to students. Students’ bagged/non-refrigerated unwanted foods from the school lunch program go into baskets on the cart. Any student can take food from the cart, so food is not wasted. This is a student led initiative and students handle the day to day operations of the cart in all the lunches throughout the day. This is an amazing learning opportunity for our students who saw a problem and found a solution that makes sure students don't go hungry.

Exeter West Greenwich High School

Exeter West Greenwich

• YouTube video tribute to teacher
  
  From a student: I have an amazing example of something truly incredible that occurred at Exeter West Greenwich High School. One of the beloved teachers at Exeter West Greenwich was diagnosed with ALS. I was so inspired by everything he had done for me and the community, that I proceeded to create an 8 min Lip Dub/Music Video all with the "We Miss You Mr Rounds". I tried to incorporating every single student and every after-school club in the video. I hope you enjoy!

Founders Academy

Beacon Charter

• (Social Emotional Learning)
  
  At Founders Academy, Social Emotional Learning is a critical component of students’ education. At Tier 1, all students participate in weekly Advisory lessons. Students develop and practice SEL skills, including appropriate self-advocacy, conflict resolution, time management, positive self-talk, and emotional regulation strategies (to name a few). At Tier 2 students participate in Social Skills classes based on “Social Thinking” curriculum. Students in need of Tier 3 SEL intervention participate in weekly "Check & Connect" sessions with mentor teachers who teach students how to articulate their needs and provide targeted instruction to help students develop the skills they need to be successful.

Garvin Memorial Elementary School

Cumberland

• (Social Emotional Learning)
  
  A focus at Garvin Elementary School this year is on mindfulness. Every Monday our counselor shares a "Mindful Moment" with everyone. Throughout the year students will have opportunities to experience mindful listening, mindful breathing,mindful seeing, mindful eating and mindful stretching. All teachers are incorporating mindfulness into their daily classroom routines. Teachers are participating in the activities too and are taking Yoga on Tuesdays after school. We are already seeing positive results!

Hope Valley Elementary School

Chariho

• Example of a morning announcement on 9/15/17
  
  The Hope Valley Student Green Screen Team is in the second year of recording and directing students to edit and produce daily morning announcement videos for our school. These videos reinforce classwork with English and Spanish greetings and calendars, vocabulary word of the day videos created by various students, quote of the week, and showcasing classrooms projects including using a class set of virtual reality glasses for field trips. Often times, the principal is recorded with a problem of the week or special announcement. Our students are leading the way with their teachers to accomplish amazing products each day. #amazing
• Hope Valley Elementary School was featured in The Westerly Sun last week for being recognized with a five-star preschool rating from Rhode Island's BrightStars program. Preschools are judged on health, safety and nutrition; enrollment and staffing; staff qualifications and professional development; administration; early learning and development; and family engagement. Congratulations, Hope Valley!

JJM Cumberland Hill Elementary

Cumberland

• Staff photo
  
  JJM Cumberland Hill Elementary is focusing on building positive, healthy and supportive relationships among students, student to teacher and teacher to teacher. We began the school year with the entire staff wearing matching T-shirts saying "Kind is the New Cool" and the school's twitter tag @chillpride1 on the back. It was a huge success and sent a very positive message to start the school year!

John F. Deering Middle School

West Warwick

• As part of the Positive School Culture initiative taking place at John F. Deering Middle School in West Warwick, the school has an amazing summer program underway. Working alongside school administrators, a teacher, guidance counselor, and social worker, a group of 30 students are meeting for three weeks as the “design team.” This team is brainstorming ideas to help spread a culture of kindness, acceptance, and inclusion for the upcoming school year. In September, they will serve as the ambassadors who will help embed a healthy school environment where all feel welcome, safe, and ready to learn. It is remarkable what students teach adults when given the opportunity to do so!

John F. Horgan Elementary School

West Warwick

• John F. Horgan Elementary School, of the West Warwick Public Schools, hosts a Family Literacy Night three times a year. The recent fall event welcomed 21 families to celebrate our theme: You “Autumn “ Be Reading! Activities included a vocabulary shout out when one family read poem words and another family defined then hung on the cafeteria tree. Other students shared poems from their take-home books. We also had a craft center where students and their families made textured leaf animals and holiday centerpieces. All children chose a free book to take home with them and enjoyed a snack! This was a wonderful, family centered event!

Johnston High School

Johnston

• (Social Emotional Learning)
  
  Johnston High School's Drama Club advisor Ms. Whitman led the Drama Club in a production of the play "Love Is Not an Angry Thing" which was presented to the junior class. Following the play, the junior class conducted a Q&A discussion about the facts of dating violence with Anne Burke of the Lindsay Ann Burke Memorial Fund. Students said they learned about dating violence every year in health class since seventh grade through the comprehensive dating violence education they had received from all the health teachers at Ricci Middle School & Johnston High School. Anne Burke expressed her appreciation to all of the teachers, staff, and administrators who are dedicated to educating students and raising awareness at school. She was glad to see the fruits of the Lindsay Ann Burke Act in action as educators enabled the teens to be so well educated about dating violence and therefore prepared to prevent this health problem in their lives.

Joseph L. McCourt Middle School

Cumberland

• (Computer Science)
  
  STEAM is integrated into the Visual Art program using the Design Thinking pedagogy. Students research, brainstorm, and collaborate in order to create a product. Critiquing is done throughout the process. Personalized learning through student choice, allowed students to select Art courses for a semester or full year. Our amazing grade 8 full year course tinkered with pigment to determine how to create innovative graphic design projects. Whether it was crushing chalk using a mortar and pestle or soaking markers in water to develop upcycled pigment, students discovered amazing color schemes for innovative and unique final products.
• (Social Emotional Learning)
  
  At McCourt, I run an after-school group called Wonder Women, where adolescent girls come together each week to talk, eat a healthy snack, and bond with other young women they might not otherwise know in our school. One week, we learned self-care by making foot scrub and talking about the importance of caring for yourself amid stress. Another week, we learned breathing techniques and how to use them when feeling anxious. Yet another week, we danced around a fake fire to release negative perceptions of ourselves. The girls truly enjoy the time and are learning that women are better friends than competitors.

Kevin K. Coleman Elementary School

Woonsocket

• Growth Mindset Video (Google Drive)
  
  (Social Emotional Learning)
  
  As a brand new principal at Kevin K. Coleman Elementary School in Woonsocket one of Danira Ortiz's first goals has been to spread a growth mindset. At the core of their PBIS lies ClassDojo. Their growth mindset videos are an integral part of helping the students understand that even if they don’t know something YET, with persistence THEY ALL CAN. Here is a video sharing Ms. Wheaton's 5th graders thoughts on Growth Mindset.

Lincoln High School

Lincoln

• (Social Emotional Learning)
  
  The Lincoln High School community celebrated the Lincoln Public School system's district-wide KINDNESS WEEK January 29-February 2 with it's own unique #ChangetheWorldwithWords Campaign. At the center of the celebration were kindness pebbles - 1,200 ceramic thumbprints made by our art students that were adorned with positive in advisories and shared with peers. A series of videos captured each day's themes and activities, and every day, students used digital media for GOOD with photos of our celebration, marked with our hashtag: #ChangeTheWorldWithWords. The week ended with a Friday morning welcome: administrators and teachers welcoming students into the building with applause, noisemakers and lots of love.

Lincoln Public Schools

Lincoln

• (Nutrition)
  
  Table Hosting - shared by the LPS Food Service Director:
  
  Small groups of parents are invited to join their student for lunch and act as facilitators in a discussion about trying new fruits and vegetables. Each table of students has a parent volunteer and trays of fresh fruit and veggie samples to share with both “buyers” and “baggers”. Parents encourage students to try new produce and legumes, and then gain invaluable feedback about their likes/dislikes of the School Nutrition Program. After each session I meet with the parents to review their comments and try to provide a little education about our Program and the impact of RINR and USDA guidelines.

Melrose School

Jamestown

• One of our Strategic Plan goals is to expand the world language program to all students from grades K-8. We formed a World Language Study Group (WLSG) comprised of all community stakeholders. Our group focused on completing the action steps outlined in the District Strategic Plan. We agreed to develop a program that would introduce and improve our world language instruction. The effort emphasizes speaking, reading, and writing of the target language, in addition to including cultural exposure. Our group discussed the existing middle school program in Jamestown. We conducted an analysis of early world language programs in neighboring districts. Looking into various models, our group agreed that the world language teacher would be teaching with the classroom teacher present during instruction. A survey was created and launched to retrieve data to support this initiative from the school’s parent community. These results supported a world language program for Melrose School (grades K-4). We recommended Spanish as the world language selection. We proposed a 0.4 FTE world language teacher in the budget which reflects the frequency and depth of instruction for the first year of implementation. It was approved. We will implement phase one of a K-4 world language program this fall at Melrose School. This is very exciting!

The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center

• Article from People Magazine
  
  Keegan Bonds-Harmon, a student at The Met and a young entrepreneur, successfully started his own t-shirt company. Bonds-Harmon recently won the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship New England Regional Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge and is now competing for the top prize in the national challenge.​​​​​​​
• (Nutrition)
  
  Jada Guzman, a student at The Met High School and passionate health food advocate, recently secured a greenhouse plot at Roger Williams Botanical Center to begin growing fresh herbs and vegetables year round. Her work is part of a larger school initiative led by the Met junior to increase the availability of 100% plant-based options on the school lunch menu. Jada recently earned a scholarship to travel to San Diego, California to attend Seed To Table, a conference aimed at deepening participants’ understanding of holistic food systems and the viability of the seed to table movement within school environments.
• (Social Emotional Learning)
  
  At the Met, families actively participate in observing and evaluating their student’s progress academically and socio-emotionally. Along with a panel of their child’s school team and peers, our families attend their child’s presentation of work and experiences each trimester. Families have the opportunity to share their questions and feedback about their child’s presentation and overall performance. This valuable input is used to inform our students’ final evaluation and help identify next steps and resources in the student’s learning plan.
• Being actively involved in the evaluation process, allows families to have a leading voice in their child’s school experience, helps increase engagement and support at home and fosters relationships between families and the school team.

Narragansett Elementary School

Narragansett

• Students walked through the school's entrance to find it full of many positive messages today as they arrived at the Narragansett Elementary School for the start of the new academic year. School staff gathered early this morning and using sidewalk chalk, wrote inspirational messages and warm welcomes for the students and the town's first day back to school. Parents and their children smiled and commented on the wonderful words they encountered such as 'Be Kind,' We Missed You!,' and 'Happy First Day.' It's a great way to kick off the year and the expectation of positivity.
  • Sidewalk photo 1
  • Sidewalk photo 2
  • Sidewalk photo 3

Narragansett High School

Narragansett

• Teaching Assistant Program
  
  Narragansett High School has recently launched a Teaching Assistant Program for the first time. This new initiative allows upperclassman to act as teaching assistants in the 9th grade in support of our 9th grade academy, which is a group of individuals such as teachers, administrators and students that collaborate to support and enhance the freshmen experience. (There is a similar group for each grade.) Currently, approximately 6 students are taking part in the program assisting in a variety of subjects. Our most recent newsletter that was distributed today has a goal to gain more interest from students and how they can apply to take part. Upperclassmen that are interested are required to have enough credits for a free period and have a strong in interest in the subject matter as well as be in good standing with the school overall. For more information on the program, Principal Dan Warner is the contact.
• Narragansett High School students at R.I. Home Show
  
  The Rhode Island Home Show came with the unique opportunity for our Narragansett High School FFA Students to be involved in the designing, preparation, and event logistics in an effort to make this large event a successful one. Check out the full announcement linked above, or view the many behind-the-scenes photos through this Facebook album!
• NHS Students Embark on Edge of Leadership Conference
  
  On July 24-26, four Narragansett High School students were chosen to take part in a unique experience that would make an impact on the rest of their lives. They traveled to the High Five Adventure Learning Center in Brattleboro, VT for The Edge of Leadership Conference. This is the first time that NHS has attended the Edge of Leadership (EOL) Conference, where individuals develop empowering leadership skills that can be used to help others, set positive examples, effect change and make a difference. It focuses on helping students (and their teachers) connect and communicate in new and positive ways, opening doors and improving school culture. In the true spirit of adventure, Edge of Leadership is based on the belief that students, given the right encouragement, tools, and opportunity, are a powerful resource for bringing innovation and positive influence to the school community and to the lives of others. Thanks to a sponsorship by Collette Vacations to fully fund tuition costs for students to attend, Physical Education and Health Teacher, Jennalee Lopes worked with additional educators to select four students to attend the program based on the strength of their application. Congratulations to Jason Sweet, Michael Ward, Julia Highcove and Gabby Adamo, who attended the program and wonderfully represented our school's leadership and passion for making a difference. The students offered some wonderful reflections on the experience and on how their definition of leadership changed after attending EOL. Student Jason Sweet shared "After my experiences at the EOL program, my definition of a leader has 100% changed. As of now, my definition of a leader is someone who steps and make sure everyone has an opportunity to be heard, learn, and empowered. The activity that changed my definition was our experience on the ropes course. Cheering people on and having the support from the other participants throughout the whole camp, definitely gave me the new definition of leadership."

North Providence High School

North Providence

• North Providence High School P-TECH Healthcare Program Kicks-Off First Mentoring Event.
  
  (44) students in NPHS P-TECH Healthcare Program met their (44) mentors from industry for the first time on Thursday, November 30th. This program places students on a pathway, affording them the opportunity to graduate with a high school diploma, a Free Associate Degree from CCRI, and accrue relevant, professional experience in Rhode Island's high-growth, high wage industries.

  With the assistance of Mentor RI, mentors and mentees participated in several team-building activities to get to know one another as they begin to embark on a journey that will bring together academics, workplace experience, and the importance of community. Some of those engaging activities included Human Bingo, Matching Game to Find Mentee, "1" Minute of Me, and Rock, Paper, Scissors. All of these activities sparked an enthusiastic spirit among all participants as members of the Healthcare Industry and School District fostered life-long partnerships to best serve the needs of students. The mentors will provide support, encouragement, and guidance as students begin to explore the endless opportunities in preparing for college and careers in the 21st century.
  
  
  
  The mentors come from the industry partnerships that NPHS has formed through the P-TECH Program. They are volunteering their time to make a difference in the life of a child as the students integrate high school classes, college courses, and workplace experience with a specified focus in healthcare. Mentoring is such a powerful personal development and empowerment tool. The relationships that will develop through NPHS Mentoring Program will inspire, motivate, and challenge students in the P-TECH Program to maximize their potential, develop life-long skills, and raise self-awareness, taking on the responsibility of high school, college, and careers.
  
  
  
  A great day for NPHS Cougars and the communities supporting our students in the P-TECH Mentoring Program!!

• (Computer Science)
  
  North Providence High School has teamed up with TEALS and their volunteers to co-teach Computer Science. The volunteer has brought valuable and expertise information to our students and the students love it.! It has been a great partnership and it had definitely opened student's eyes to the field of Computer Science.
  
  
  
  ​​​​​​​North Providence Algebra I teachers from middle and high school formed a PLC group with Better Math Teaching Network (BMTN) and Christopher Castillero, RIDE Mathematics Specialist. BMTN is a "Network of teachers and researchers committed to improving math instruction and making it more student-centered, with the goal of engaging more students." The first meeting was held at North Providence High School. The PLC group will be implementing an "Instructional Routine" in Algebra I classes. Teachers will collecting data to help students become "actively engaged in understanding Algebra.” The group will continue to refine their practice and create additional "Instructional Routines."

North Providence School Department

North Providence

• (Summer Reading)
  
  ​​​​​​​NPSD #LovesServesCares about summer reading! With district committees of passionate elementary, middle, and high educators, the 1st annual K-12 Summer Reading Initiative evolved from a year-long collaboration to extend students’ 21st C literacy competencies - collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity. Remaining active participants in NP’s community of readers, writers, and problem solvers, all readers develop book joy and multiple literacies by self-selecting text and how they respond. Each level offers relatable text and assessment choices that support real world application and appeal to learners’ social, creative, written, and technological interests. Positive cultures of literacy are uniquely celebrated at each school.
• (Summer Learning)
  
  North Providence School Department will be supporting Summer Learning in Mathematics. The program will consist of grades 5 through high school with a focus on RICAS, PSAT and SAT assessments. Students will also work on closing gaps to support these assessments through blended learning and individualized one on one instruction in small group. Teachers from North Providence have dedicated and committed their time to service the program for their students. The program will be held at North Providence High School for four weeks where students and teachers will set goals. It will service about 120 students and it is free to North Providence students.

Orlo Avenue Elementary

East Providence

• (Literacy)
  
  Creating a Buzz about Reading:
  
  To kick-off Reading Week, Principal Gallant let students know that there would be a SUR-PIE-ze assembly at the end of the week. The title of the assembly was a buzz around school, not only from students, but parents and staff as well, asking what it was all about! Students read a total of 40,191 minutes in only NINE days!! Top winners received their own PieFace game as well as battled their teacher in front of the school. The overall 3rd grade winner who read a total of 916 minutes not only competed against her student teacher Mr. Mora, but faced off with Principal Gallant in a game of PieFace Showdown. She dominated in BOTH showdowns! Her advice to students, "put your tablets down, grab a real book and use a flashlight, it's the coolest thing."

Park View Middle School

Cranston

• The faculty, staff and students at Park View Middle School in Cranston hosted their 5th annual Veterans Day 5K. Over 550 runners and walkers came out to support Operation Stand Down. The partnership with this local agency shows PVMS students how community can support veterans of any age with job placement, housing and basic necessities. In addition, the Park View music program led a processional honoring family members and staff who are veterans. Students have now moved on to working with Hasbro to deliver care packages of stickers, bubbles and other goodies to children receiving medical services. The main focus of Park View Middle School is to foster student growth not only in the classroom, but also through participating in various community service opportunities.

Ponaganset High School

Foster-Glocester

• Summer Learning
  
  (Summer Learning)
  
  In the fall of 2018, the Ponaganset High School community will be bringing author Tim O’Brien (The Things They Carried) and the Vietnam Moving Wall to Foster-Glocester. The goal is to engage the entire community in discussing the impact of the Vietnam War and to personalize the literary experience. The objectives of this cross-curricular project are to generate a community-wide conversation about the war and to develop an archive of oral histories which will provide students with an opportunity to explore, debate, discuss, examine, defend, and experiment with concepts and skills they are learning. In preparation, PHS’s summer learning in the content areas are aligned to the work we will be doing school-wide in the fall.

Portsmouth Middle School

Portsmouth

• Google Doodle Competition
  
  Our very own seventh grade student, Ignacio Burgos, was honored last week at Portsmouth Middle School as a finalist for the national Google Doodle competition. There were two hundred thousand entries for the competition, and the Google staff came to announce Ignacio's doodle as Rhode Island's winner. Family, staff, and friends supported Ignacio during the celebration of his artistic accomplishments. He will be competing over the next two weeks as a finalist, and people around the nation can vote for his submission.
• (Literacy)
  
  The goal of the All Day Audible with Authors Event day on May 4 was to have every student in our building interact with an author. Our special event featured twenty-two authors from all over the country (in multiple time zones), as well as an author from the French Riviera and our very own RI Poet Laureate, Tina Cane! Our in-person authors included Steven Krasner, Molly Booth, and Youme Landowne. The other 19 authors were brought in through video conferencing via Google Hangouts and Skype.
  
  
  
  Our student body, which includes 722 students in grades 5-8, spent a grand total of 785 minutes interacting with authors. The genres and topics covered in the sessions included realistic fiction, fantasy, science fiction, creative writing, short stories, poetry, novels in verse, picture books, graphic novels, journalism, historical fiction, creative nonfiction, alternative paths to traditional publishing, screenwriting, game development, standing up to bullies, and more! The PMS PTO also generously awarded us a grant to specifically skype with Neal Shusterman, New York Times Best-Selling author of Scythe.
  
  
  
  The organizing members of All-Day Audible with Authors are Tanin Powers (7th grade ELA), Sarah DelSanto (Technology Integration Specialist), and Alyssa Taft (Library Media Specialist). This event would also not have been possible without the support of our IT Department lead by Steve Costa and our administration, Joao Arruda (Principal) and Chad Smith, (Assistant Principal) at PMS.

Pothier Elementary School

Woonsocket

• Video
  
  A focus at the Pothier-Citizens campus this year is on attendance. Every month, our students, who have perfect attendance, receive an incentive as well as have their photo taken. These pictures can be seen on our perfect attendance bulletin! All teachers are incorporating a discussion about the importance of attendance in their weekly classroom routines. With all these things in place, we are seeing a phenomenal improvement with this year's attendance percentage! Check out our video on why our students (and staff) love coming to school!

Potter-Burns Elementary School

Central Falls

• YouTube video
  
  The Potter-Burns Community participated in the Be Fearless/Be Kind Campaign, Hasbro's new signature philanthropic initiative. It is designed to inspire and empower kids to have the compassion, empathy, and courage to stand up for others and be inclusive throughout their lives.
  
  Potter-Burns enacted over 10,000 Acts of Kindness.
• YouTube video
  
  ​​​​​​​In addition, this is our, "We are Potter-Burns!"

Providence Career and Technical Academy

Providence

• (Computer Science)
  
  Providence Career and Technical Academy was named one of the nation’s 255 state finalists in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest, a program that encourages students to solve real-world issues in their community using classroom skills in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM).
  
  
  
  Carolyne Kellner’s 10th grade classroom was chosen based on their proposal to use STEAM skills to address School safety in a mobile app solution. To tackle this project, students will design, code and test a prototype of this app.
  
  
  
  We have been the best in the State of Rhode Island with "The Community Service Project" with SkillsUSA for the past five years. And in 2015, we made it to the 3rd place Nationally with Community Service. This year we are hoping to bring home another gold medal for both States and Nationals.
• A school can change students, but sometimes, it’s even better when students change a school. A trio of students at Providence Career and Technical Academy (R.I.) put their heads together to improve their campus and the results were as big as their cool hairdos. Cosmetology students Laisa Baez, Aliesha Duran and Ysmel Martinez entered the 2017 SkillsUSA Community Service contest.
  
  
  
  Their project, “The Four Cs of Cosmetology — Creating a Colorful Community with Cosmetology,” was designed to improve attendance and make school fun and engaging. “The success of the project has changed us, it has improved our image, created an impact in our district and our high school,” they explained in the written contest report. When they started, 46 percent of students had chronic absences.
  
  
  
  ​​​​​​​To help with absenteeism, they created new work-based learning experiences. On Salon Service Saturdays, they collected bundles of hair to donate to Wigs for Kids and Children with Hair Loss.

Rhode Island School for the Deaf High School

Rhode Island School for the Deaf

• Photo
  
  (Social Emotional Learning)
  
  The AMAZING high school team is committed to encouraging growth mindset! Teachers meet twice weekly during common planning time for interdisciplinary collaboration focused on fostering growth mindset through "The Power of Yet" (Dweck, TED Talks) to develop resilient, reflective, reciprocal, and resourceful learners. Students act as peer instructors teaching growth mindset concepts.

Rhode Island School for the Deaf Middle School

Rhode Island School for the Deaf

• Photo
  
  (Social Emotional Learning)
  
  The Rhode Island School for the Deaf Middle School has implemented Responsive Classroom and is doing AMAZING work to improve Social Emotional Learning resulting in student-lead fundraiser for Hurricane Harvey Relief with proceeds donated to the Texas School for the Deaf!
• (Social Emotional Learning)
  
  ​​​​​​​Two of our middle school students engaged in a school wide event for Unity Day October 25th; discussed why bullying hurts, handed out orange ribbons to promote awareness, sent flyers home to parents, encouraging students, teachers and staff to wear orange, created a large poster for staff, students, teachers and more to sign to take a stand against bullying. On the day of Unity Day, the two students led an assembly to both wrap up this event as well as to take a picture of the entire school wearing oranges to take a stand against bullying and to promote inclusivity.

Richmond Elementary School

Chariho

• Richmond Elementary School is amazing! We are reimagining learning opportunities for our students and staff every day. For students, we have expert teachers who are committed to providing rigorous instruction. Our teachers continue to expand their knowledge and use of technology to personalize learning for students. In our classrooms, teachers use a workshop model to provide targeted and small group instruction in reading and math. Students in grades 3 and 4 have two to one access to Chromebooks and use them for completing assessments using GoogleForms, RAZKids, and Zearn. Students in all classrooms use technology for research, reading, practice and presentation. Our fourth grade students prepare a weekly newscast to highlight learning in our classrooms.
  
  
  
  Richmond Elementary School is amazing! Student achievement is monitored closely using various forms of data which include local and standardized assessments. Teachers meet regularly to review student data in teams lead by a School Data Leadership Team Teacher. These “data conversations” use the Cycle of Inquiry and teacher observations are documented and shared with the principal and other relevant staff. Three times a year, our school participates in a Data Day to review Universal Screening Data and make plans to support our struggling students as well as discuss how best to challenge our strongest students.
  
  
  
  Richmond Elementary School is amazing! Special educators, therapists and administrators meet weekly to plan for students with special academic and/or social emotional needs. All students are celebrated and feel special in our school. Students who make good choices are recognized with C.A.R.E.S. Stars. All students participate in monthly C.A.R.E.S. assemblies to celebrate our community and to learn social-emotional skills using various programs such as Responsive Classroom, Zones of Regulation and Social Thinking.
  
  
  
  Richmond Elementary School is amazing! We have fabulous teaching assistants to support classroom instruction and provide supervision of our students at lunch and recess. Our custodians keep our school safe and clean. In our office, our secretary and clerk work their magic to monitor student attendance, greet visitors and classroom volunteers, and coordinate substitutes.
• YouTube Video
  
  Richmond Elementary School is amazing! We were recently commended by the Rhode Island Department of Education for our students’ achievement on PARCC. Our school is a happy place where parents and community members feel welcome to volunteer and attend school events often planned by our amazing PTO. "We Shine" at Richmond Elementary school for these reasons and more. See the short video we made to show why we are AMAZING!
• (Nutrition)
  
  Richmond Elementary School Welcomes Food Ambassadors
  
  Richmond Elementary School has formed a partnership with Farm Fresh RI and the RI Healthy Schools Coalition. Richmond Elementary School has enlisted the help of its parents to serve a Rhode Island farm-fresh fruits or vegetables to our students each month! On December 7th, students will their meet their new Food Ambassadors. In the month of December, students will be provided a “taste-test sampling” of butternut squash. Each month, Richmond Elementary School will work with their food service provider, ARAMARK, to give students the opportunity to sample different farm-fresh foods from the school’s Farm Stand located in the cafeteria. With the help of our Food Ambassadors, we’re hoping that we are introducing our students to foods they might not typically try, but also, if it’s something they like, they can advocate to have it at home too.
• Fourth grade broadcast (YouTube)
  
  (Social Emotional Learning)
  
  Richmond Elementary School is excited to support our students in learning computer science. All students K-4 are learning Blockly computer script by working through the curriculum developed by Code.org. As students acquire more coding skills, they can learn to program the brand new Dash and Dot robots.
  
  
  
  Our students are also working to increase both their speed and accuracy in keyboarding. Typing skills are necessary for lifelong success and are part of the 21st Century learning skills.
  
  
  
  ​​​​​​​Fourth grade “Highly Capable” program students are branching out into filmmaking and have taken over the production of Richmond TV. Every week students record the learning and recreational activities of their peers, edit their film, and produce a short news broadcast.

Scituate High School

Scituate

• Facebook post
  
  Please click the link to see Scituate High School’s work on a prosthetic limb for a math teacher’s son from our CTE engineering students.
• (Summer Learning)
  
  Scituate High School’s Shannon Donovan, a biology and engineering teacher, is diving in to a summer-long journey exploring and analyzing the sea aboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus with scientists from around the world. Donovan, who was chosen to join the trip through a Science Communication Fellowship, will help map unexplored areas of the Eastern Pacific Ocean including the Hawaiian Islands, the coast of southern California and British Columbia. As a member of the Ocean Exploration Trust’s Corps of Exploration, Donovan will work with scientists throughout the trip, and conduct live interactions with shore-based audiences via Nautilus Live, a 24-hour web portal that allows young, future explorers to see the engineers in action. Donovan, who serves as the lead educator for the SHS Engineering Pathway, is also the director of the SHS S.T.E.A.M. program. The Scituate High educator, who was named Rhode Island Teacher of the Year in 2011, said this opportunity to explore the sea with a team serves not only as a way for her to learn more about the ocean, but also allows young students to see the importance of exploration.

Segue Institute for Learning

• (Social Emotional Learning)
  
  The Segue Institute for Learning provides a social emotional curriculum and individualized interventions across three tiers ranging from whole school interventions to individualized plans, including our amazing mindfulness initiative. This year we are providing all students an 8-week course co-taught by school social workers and the primary classroom teacher. This evidence-based curriculum develops students' moment-by-moment awareness of their thoughts, emotions, sensations, and surrounding environment. Mindful practice has been shown through research to increase attention, emotional regulation, adaptability, compassion, calmness, and resilience.

Smithfield High School

Smithfield

• Respect week began on Monday, November 27 at Smithfield High School. School administrators and educators planned the series of events to proactively address student social-emotional needs and to nurture a positive school culture. While many related topics are included either in the health curriculum or through advisory, the sustained focus on these areas during Respect Week communicates their importance to the school community.
  
  
  
  The school planned a series of events focused on respect for oneself and others.
  
  
  
  The week kicked off with a presentation by Dr. Mary Grace Almandrez, Dean of Students for Brown University, who spoke on diversity. On Tuesday, every Smithfield High School student was scheduled into six sessions for Respect Day. Approximately fifteen community volunteers facilitated sessions on topics ranging from stress management, mindfulness and nutrition to bullying prevention and sexual harassment. The week concluded with Ending the Silence, a schoolwide assembly presented by representatives from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, designed to bring awareness to Mental Health needs and supports.

SouthSide Elementary Charter School

• (Social Emotional Learning)
  
  My school works hard to reinforce SEL skills for our students throughout each day. As the social worker, I take advantage of recess and lunch to have fun while reinforcing these skills with our students. I feel proud to work with a director who values being kind, peaceful and compassionate yet firm. We practice I-Messages and the use a Peace Table with Peace Essential Oil. The children make cards for each other if they have hurt one another. We take the time to teach, role play and model how to look at each other and communicate in a respectful way.

State Street School

Westerly

• First Grade Project: What Air Can Do
  
  (YouTube)

Thompson Middle School

Newport

• (Social Emotional Learning)
  
  Our school district, Newport RI public schools has embraced the Kingian Nonviolence philosophy. About 40 of our teachers from elementary, middle and high school have been trained (myself included).
  
  
  
  Along with this initiative, I have also adapted the Jesse Lewis “Choose Love” Curriculum. It aligns with Kingian Nonviolence beautifully. It originated out of the Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown, CT shooting in 2012.
  
  
  
  On Tuesday 1/16, our school’s Nonviolence mentor/trainer Wendy Bowen, a retired teacher from Newtown, CT, shared her experiences and how she came to be involved in the Kingian Nonviolence philosophy with my classes. Wendy did a Peace Circle with my students and I.
  
  
  
  On Tuesday, January 30 we had a school wide assembly rolling out our Kingian Nonviolence initiative to our school community. Our guest speaker was Jonathan Lewis, social activist.
  
  
  
  From Lisa Olaynack, 6th grade ELA teacher

• Article in Newport Daily News

  My 6th graders have written letters to activists of their choice to share what they have learned about activism this year. Some of the activists they have written to are: the Obamas, Oprah, Megan Markle, Scarlett Lewis the mom of Jesse Lewis victim of the Sandy Hook shooting; Johnathan Lewis, John Cena, Marshall Douglas, etc. They are set to be mailed soon.
  
  
  
  Most recently, they wrote letters of support to the students at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL.
  
  
  
  From Lisa Olnayak, 6th grade ELA teacher

Tiverton Middle School

Tiverton

• Sixth graders at Tiverton Middle School celebrate the Patriots of the American Revolution through experiential learning. Students journey along the Freedom Trail in Boston where they visit historical sites. Revolutionary re-enactors from the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment also visit the students to share artifacts and describe life in the Continental army. Primary and secondary sources are analyzed and used to write research reports. In art class, students create colonial silhouettes to display at the annual Patriot Night: A Night at the Museum. Dressed in 18th-century style clothing, students provide a brief account of their Patriot’s accomplishments and heroism
• Reenactors ​​​​​​​[JPG]
• Silhouette [JPG]
• Student Patriots [JPG]
• Colonial Silhouette [PDF]

Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts

• (Social Emotional Learning)
  
  ​​​​​​​Students from Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts (TAPA) are getting expert mindful meditation instruction! In September, TAPA social worker, Anna Macgregor Robin, asked the Brown Meditation Community (BMC) about bringing students to their meditation sessions. When it turned out that none of the scheduled times worked, BMC graciously provided a happy alternative: TAPA students now gather weekly at Brown’s Manning Chapel for BMC- led mindful meditation (shown to increase positive affect and decrease anxiety). Participants from grades 7-12 report enjoying both the meditation and the “zen” walk back down College Hill.
• Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts' English Language Learners have shown amazing progress in a short time. Five of our seventeen ELLs have exited the Academy's ESL program based on passing TAPA's rigorous course studies and the ACCESS 2.0 English proficiency test. TAPA’s combination of an academic and performing arts curriculum has creating an educational environment that allows our ELLs to thrive and develop their English Language Proficiency skills. TAPA ELLs are on the honor roll, Civic Leadership Award winners, leads in theatrical productions, and role models for TAPA peers.

UCAP School

UCAP

• (Literacy)
  
  Literacy is at the forefront of learning at The UCAP School and Beyond U; A 21st Community Learning Center. The after school book club focuses on the novel The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. This novel inspired by the real-life stories of black young men, echoes conversations about police brutality that have been prominent in the media, and continue to affect the lives of our youth and broader community. Each week, students read, analyze the text and explore themes of injustice, prejudice, and racism in an effort to understand the complexities of the current political and social climate.

Wawaloam School

Exeter-West Greenwich.

• (Computer Science)
  
  At Wawaloam School, in Exeter, we were so excited to participate in the Hour of Code using code.org with all of our first grade students over the past week. Two of the teacher trailblazers, Donna Gagner and Olga Lerner attended the code training offered through RIDE and came back very motivated with making this happen in our school. We were also very fortunate to have the support of our Technology Department who came and supported our goal and helped to make it a reality!
  
  
  
  We also sent home a newsletter to all of the families telling them about #CS4RI and provided them with login information so that the fun with learning could continue at home! We were thrilled with the number of children who came in the next day to tell us they continued their Hour of Code at home! Isn't this AMAZING??

West Warwick High School

West Warwick

• The Makings of Fearless Friday: A Student Transition and Empowerment Event (Video)
  
  The soon to be third annual Fearless Friday is a full day empowerment event designed for at risk high school students at West Warwick High School. With true community collaboration from students, educators, school leadership, community members, state agencies, and all stakeholders we provided a personal development day for our students to gain information, celebrate their differences and similarities, and be inspired by others that when being fearless they can pursue their dreams. Hear about the why, the how, and the impact that is still radiating in the halls of West Warwick High.

Westerly High School

Westerly

• Writers from Westerly High School recently entered a writing contest from the international Young Writers organization in which they had to create a 100-word "Spine Tingler." Westerly sent approximately 140 entries into the contest (which received over 4,500 entries) and 60 students were accepted for publication in Spine Tinglers - Tales from Rhode Island. Even if writers were not chosen for publication, they received handwritten personalized feedback from the Young Writers organization. It was a wonderful authentic writing experience for our budding writers and WHS is exceedingly proud of our students for this accomplishment.

Westerly Public Schools

Westerly

• (Summer Learning)
  
  Westerly Public Schools is encouraging summer reading by embracing the theme “Reading Rocks!”. K-12 students read books of their choice over the summer and use postcards to correspond about their reading selections. High school students will receive two reading-reminder postcards over the summer; one they filled out and one from their teachers. K-8 students will complete postcards with thoughts about their selections and return them to Summer Reading mailboxes posted throughout Westerly. Families, teachers, and community partners join in by hosting events, creating favorite book lists, and using hashtags like #BulldogsReadingRocks to encourage kids to read because, well, Reading Rocks!

William M. Davies, Jr. Career and Technical High School

• William M. Davies, Jr. Career and Technical High School has announced that students representing Davies at the National SkillsUSA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky this past week have been awarded for their outstanding performance at the award ceremony held on June 29. Four students placed within the top ten for their divisions. Elian Nunez (Automotive Careers) a graduate of Davies placed tenth in the Automotive Refinishing division. Marieliz Falu (Health Careers) an incoming senior placed sixth in Basic Health Care Skills. Jonathan Woolford (Machine Technology) a graduate of Davies placed sixth in CNC Milling. Davies graduate Kylie Normandin (Graphics & Interactive Media) placed third in Graphic Communications, winning her a bronze medal. This is the first time a Davies or Rhode Island student has won this award. Nine students earned their SkillPoint Certificates. SkillPoint Certification is a validation of the skills showcased in each of their competitions. Students need to demonstrate proficiency with a specific number of standards during the competition to be awarded this certification.

Woonsocket Area Career and Technical Center

Woonsocket

• (Computer Science)
  
  As an extension to CSEdWeek the Computer Science P-Tech students at the Woonsocket Area Career and Technical Center partnered with the Child Studies Program at the school to teach computer science to twenty-two pre-schoolers. For many pre-schoolers were learning to use a mouse for the first time as the high school students learned patience and the ability to explain details at a different level. It was a learning experience and fun time for all!

Woonsocket Education Department

Woonsocket

• (Summer Learning)
  
  During the week of June 25-28 educators from the Woonsocket Department of Education built a strong foundation from which their new professional learning plan will stand. Over the past few months educators from across the district have come together to discuss how and why their professional learning structures needed to shift dramatically. A shift not so much in content or strategies, but rather in overall design of professional learning. It was determined that professional learning would be most effective if educators had the option to personalize their experience and communicate meaningfully with other educators who share their focus. As a reflection of this foundational work the amazing 4 day ‘by teachers for teachers’ academy was created. A district wide survey was administered asking educators not only what they wanted to learn, but what they wanted to share with colleagues. Many educators rose to the occasion and offered to share their skills, practices and experiences with an understanding that Summer Academy was a kick off of a year of professional learning that must be sustained, collaborative and focused on effective teaching practices. Each session will be revisited throughout the school year and attendees will engage in intentional professional learning communities to deepen their understanding of the topic as well as share their in-class experiences. The academy was well received as documented by the over 800 post-session survey results. Educators scored the following components on a 1-5 likert scale: This workshop/course met the stated objectives = 4.78 /5 This instructor was well-qualified and knowledgeable= 4.86 /5 The materials provided were useful and relevant= 4.77 /5 District leadership is committed to supporting these efforts and will focus on the development of facilitators in their skills in creating and executing professional learning for adult learners.
• Photo

Woonsocket Middle School

Woonsocket

• (Literacy)
  
  Mrs. McVeigh’s Grade 7 class at Woonsocket Middle School @Villa Nova recently won the Achieve3000 National Read to Succeed Contest. Woonsocket’s Middle Schools have successfully implemented a school-wide approach to content driven literacy. Literacy coaches provided intensive classroom based literacy support, modeling, data analysis and professional development in a differentiated electronic platform. The overarching intent was to steadily increase students' ability to read, comprehend, apply and communicate information derived from complex text. Both schools are on target to make 1.5 years of Lexile growth in less than one year! Congratulations to the students, faculty, and administrators for working to making literacy a priority!

Academy for Career Exploration

Providence

• The Academy for Career Exploration’s determination to advance innovation in education, enhance student opportunities, and improve parent and community engagement, has once again brought recognition to this pioneering Providence Public Charter High School. “Invest in Your Strengths,” written and produced by Vanessa Toledo-Vickers of the Academy for Career Exploration and Latino Public Radio, will be honored by Rhode Island for Community & Justice on May 17th with the Metcalf Award for Diversity in the Media (Community category). “Invest in Your Strengths” was launched as a 10-part, bilingual radio and podcast series focused on how ACE, a Providence public charter high school, is re-thinking its educational approach to prepare youth for the 21st century workplace. Working in partnership with business and community leaders such as Tim Hebert, Chief Client Officer of Carousel Industries and Leadership Rhode Island, the Academy for Career Exploration (ACE) is committed to becoming the state’s first strengths-based high school. “Our goal is to help students, faculty and staff discover their innate talents and then develop them into strengths,” said Dr. Mario F. Cirillo, Head of School. “At ACE we are teaching students both core academics and marketable workplace skills. Our strengths-based approach is inviting them to think about how their strengths and interests can make a difference in industry and in service to their community. We’ve made a commitment to make dramatic changes in our approach to education in order to provide equal access and opportunity for some of Rhode Island’s most underprivileged students.” “We were impressed by the comprehensiveness of this project: by the partnership between a school and radio station; the bilingual interviews and materials; the nature of an educational effort that seeks to build a conversation within the school and outside in the larger community about the strengths and talents youth possess rather than their deficits,” stated Toby Ayers, PhD, Executive Director, Rhode Island for Community & Justice. “Toledo Vickers does an exemplary job of showing how ACE is helping students discover their passions and talents so they can develop career paths that incorporate these.” Calling on past success in the radio genre, Toledo-Vickers conceived of the Radio Show as a way to connect with parents to inform and engage them. Recognizing the challenges that low income families face when it comes to connecting with teachers and school activities because of work and transportation constraints, the radio format allows ACE to meet parents where they are. Show topics have focused on expanding career opportunities in technology, the intersection between education and health, and what it means to know and develop one’s strengths, and more. With “Invest in Your Strengths” Toledo-Vickers has effectively captured the attention of the Latino Public Radio listening audience while generating dialogue with industry, civic, and community leaders about these important topics and the many challenges affecting ACE students and their families. In addition to being the Director of Development at the Academy for Career Exploration, Ms. Toledo-Vickers sits on the board of CommerceRI and is a Leadership RI graduate (LRI ’01), which makes her and the Academy for Career Exploration important contributors to the LRI led initiative to make Rhode Island the first Strengths-based state and ultimately help Make RI Stronger.

Anna M. McCabe Elementary School

Smithfield

• Video (Google Drive)

Barrington Public Schools

Barrington

• Barrington Public School Teachers and Students formed an innovative new committee entitled the Research Development and Innovation Team (RDI). RDI builds on the idea that school districts, like Fortune 500 companies, research and pilot transformative strategies to re-imagine education in the 21st century. RDI will:

  1. Review teaching and learning strengths and needs through “market research.”
  2. Research best practices to maximize strengths and address needs using Design Thinking to Empower our Students to Excel through Deeper Learning.
  3. Reimagine what education will look like in 3, 5 and 7 years.
  4. Engage in “Hackathons” where we will “pitch” team generated solutions and innovative ideas.
  5. Promote the mission: The RDI team will leverage student and teacher voice to elevate Barrington Public Schools to be a leader in Design Thinking and adhere to a set of rigorous collective commitments.

Broad Rock School

South Kingstown

• Tweet from Jim Langevin
  
  This link will bring you to an article about the work being done at Broad Rock School in South Kingstown to create a nonviolent school. The work begun two and a half years ago, and continues to move forward, with parent nonviolence workshops being held this year, along with monthly nonviolence assemblies. We have redesigned in-school suspension. This year we have not had any students suspended. Last year, when that did happen, we sent students to a "Reconciliation Room". They were visited throughout the day by Peace Coaches (teachers and staff trained in Nonviolence) who helped the student fill out a plan for reconciliation with the person they harmed. Last year, beginning in January 2016, we did not have any repeat offenders. The success of this model for reconciliation, rather than punishment, is effective because of the work being done and supported by administration, educators and students.

Central High School

Providence

• Central High School has partnered with CCRI for the second semester in providing dual enrollment classes on the CCRI Liston campus. Under Prepare RI, students will take 2 college level classes with the intent to earn college credit and high school credit. More than 20 senior schedules have been modified so that they may attend their courses during the school day. CCRI has worked to provide classes that fit in our students schedule instead of after school or weekend hours. Students will be able to transition into college life with the ongoing supports of their high school counselors and teachers. We, the Central Knights, are honored to give this opportunity to our students.

East Providence Career and Technical Center

East Providence

• On January 27th, the annual Ocean State Automotive Contest, hosted by New England of Technology in cooperation with the RI Automobile Dealers Association, provides an opportunity for high school seniors to demonstrate their automotive technical abilities. Students must work at various stations to complete assigned tasks or to troubleshoot technical “bugs” that have been planted in the vehicles. Teams of two high school seniors from various Rhode Island career and technical centers had fifteen minutes to complete each station. The workstations include braking systems, steering and suspension systems, electrical and electronics systems, information systems, engine repair, parts identification and engine performance. Students also had to take part in a written exam in which the score was added to the final team score. Matthew Cardoza and Luis Medeiros from the East Providence Career and Technical Center were the winning team to receive top honors. 1st place prize included scholarships for both students to New England Institute of Technology and tools from Snap-on tools. Matthew Cardoza received a special honor as the participant with the highest written score. In addition, Matthew and Luis will represent Rhode Island at the National Automotive Dealers Competition in New York on April 17-19, 2017. Congratulations to these outstanding students and best of luck in New York.

Hampden Meadows

Barrington

• Learn. Love. Grow. Show. Barrington Public Schools, Barrington, Rhode Island, is incorporating Deeper Learning Competencies, 21st century skills, project based learning and design thinking K-12. Hampden Meadows, the district’s upper elementary school, launched its MakerSpace this month. The MakerSpace includes both a maker lab and mobile carts that students and teachers can use in any classroom. The program is remarkable in that a team of fourth and fifth grade teachers have developed EdVentures, or units of study aligned to the standards and objectives of the curriculum. Teachers report that student voice and feedback are critical to the goals of student-centered learning and engagement. As one student reports, “We get to help the teacher design how we learn!” #hmsinvents

Harris School

Woonsocket

• The Harris School Community in Woonsocket has a parent involvement initiative. We have a dinner every Wednesday, in collaboration with Sodexo, where students eat free and adults pay only $3.39. It began with Harris School students and families but now includes other schools' families, families experiencing homelessness and families involved in the YMCA after-school care. The dinner includes an enrichment activity that teachers and staff organize and run following each dinner. This has been a great way to to welcome families into the school and build positive relationships that strengthen our students educational experience.

JJM Cumberland Hill Elementary School

Cumberland

• JJM Cumberland Hill Elementary School in Cumberland takes great pride in being a positive and supportive learning environment for students, staff, and families. Teaching and learning is our number one priority. We foster a safe,supportive learning environment through our PBIS program and continue to ensure our students are prepared for success as we focus our work to provide exciting and challenging learning opportunities for all students. In fall of 2016, JJM Cumberland Hill showcased our computer programming and student technology skills during a visit by Governor Gina Raimondo. The governor witnessed students complete coding and programming activities to support 21st century thinking. Three members of the school staff are currently participating in a five session seminar for Leadership in Blended Learning. This experience will allow teachers to support the students at JJM Cumberland Hill Elementary School as they participate in engaging, relevant, and personalized learning experiences. Our staff is eager to provide face-to-face instruction supported by modern technology practices. We are a school on the move that incorporates technology, project-based learning, and hands-on activities with the whole child as the driving force behind every decision we make. Our Student Council works diligently with teacher leaders and the entire student body to plan and implement enrichment activities, fundraisers, and community service projects such as canned food drives, Pennies for Patients, and Toys for Tots. As part of a project-based math activity, students played a pivotal role in the design and development of key outdoor spaces such as our outdoor learning space/garden and walking track. In addition, there are many opportunities for our older students to mentor children in the primary grades. Older students facilitate younger students in the use of technology, partner reading at different grade levels, and social skills luncheons. Students also participate in cross-grade level ELA, math, and science curriculum-based activities. JJM Cumberland Hill Elementary School prides itself on being a positive, collaborative, and progressive learning environment. It is a place of excellence where students build a strong foundation for academic, creative, and personal development, empowering them to become lifelong learners.

Juanita Sanchez Educational Complex

Providence

1. The Juanita Sanchez Complex (JSEC) currently offers its students two CTE Pathways-Biotechnology and Community Development. The Community Development students recently formed a corporation called JSEC Goods-A School Community Food Pantry which will be housed at the school and run by the students for service to the students.
2. 75 students have signed up to take credit-bearing college courses at Roger Williams University through the ACN.
   • 40/75 students belong to either the Biotech or Community Development Pathway
   • 26/75 are enrolled in the EMT basic course
   • 10/75 are freshmen
3. JSEC hopes to open two additional pathways for students next year-Computer Programming through CS4 and Global Studies.
   • Both will provide students the opportunity to earn college credit from URI and RWU
   • The vision is that every JSEC student will be part of one of four pathways-Community Development, Biotechnology, Global Studies, or Computer Programming.
4. JSEC and Providence College have partnered and Providence College Students are serving as translators for the JSEC school community.

Newport County Regional Special Education Program

Little Compton, Middletown, Tiverton

• Newport County Regional Special Education Program (serving the Communities of Little Compton, Middletown and Tiverton) began the Project Search Program at Newport Hospital, this year. Project Search is an employment focused education program, designed to give students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities opportunities to develop employability skills in a real work place, surrounded by other working people. It is a collaborative effort that pools resources from the Office of Rehabilitation Service (ORS), Newport County Regional Special Education, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (BHDDH) and Lifespan. Students accepted for the 1-year Project Search program are called ‘interns’ and work 5 days each week at the hospital, combined with daily on-site classroom sessions. Throughout the year, each intern will complete 3 different work rotations. During this time, interns work alongside and learn from their hospital colleagues and managers. Additional support through class based sessions, progress monitoring and job coaching is provided by the staff.

Slater Middle School

Pawtucket

• Introductory lesson and photos (Google Doc)
  
  The teachers at Slater Middle School in Pawtucket, RI. came together to create lessons that would reinforce math skills in a creative and innovative way in a physical education setting. This lesson is an introduction to some of the strategies that we will using to help prepare our students for the upcoming PARCC assessments. We created escape room challenges that students must work together to solve through collaboration and team building. Here is the intro lesson with some student pictures as they progress through the challenge.

State Street School

Westerly

• Grade 1 (YouTube video)
• Grade 3
  
  Here at State Street School in Westerly, our third grade students have been tackling multiplication and division. As a challenge, students were given a set of word problems that they had to classify into two categories based on the language in the question. Using teamwork, they read and discussed the problems to select the correct math operation needed to solve the problem.
• Video 1 (Google Drive)
• Video 2 (Google Drive)
• FinCast
  
  At State Street School in Westerly, we are showcasing student activities and school culture with a podcast. “The FinCast,” named for our school shark mascot, is produced twice monthly and features audio from students, parents and teachers sharing their struggles and successes with learning, school happenings and even community events. The FinCast is sent to parents via our Blackboard Connect network and is posted on the school website. The Fincast is our way of “celebrating the learning culture of State Street School." Visit the show archive for a sample at the FinCast Archive linked above.

Tiverton Middle School

Tiverton

• Sixth graders at Tiverton Middle School celebrate the Patriots of the American Revolution through experiential learning. Students journey along the Freedom Trail in Boston where they visit historical sites. Revolutionary re-enactors from the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment also visit the students to share artifacts and describe life in the Continental army. Primary and secondary sources are analyzed and used to write research reports. In art class, students create colonial silhouettes to display at the annual Patriot Night: A Night at the Museum. Dressed in 18th-century style clothing, students provide a brief account of their Patriot’s accomplishments and heroism.

Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts

• While its students were home and enjoying the holidays, TAPA: Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts, a premier public charter school, found itself suddenly homeless. TAPA's former school building, built in the 1890's and located in the West End, sustained significant structural damage in late December and was declared unsafe for habitation. In spite of around-the-clock construction and repair work, it became clear in early January that repairs would not be completed in time for the school year to resume. TAPA Administration was notified of the dire construction situation two days before students were scheduled to return from the holiday break. With less than one week to locate and secure a new location, with little hope but determination and persistence, Nanci DeRobbio, TAPA's Head of School, reached out to the City Administration and to the Diocese for availability of school sites. Unfortunately, available sites were in disrepair and not ready for immediate access. The TAPA team and Board of Trustees then looked to Paolino Properties and former Mayor of Providence, Joseph Paolino, Jr., a long-time supporter of the arts and public education. The Paolino team sprung into action to help find a home to educate 204 students in grades 7-12 for the remainder of the year. As a result of this help, TAPA will open its doors on Monday, January 9th at 150 Washington St., Providence, RI 02903. Students will have only missed three days of school. In the performing arts "the show must go on." The move to 150 Washington Street "sets the stage" for TAPA in Down City Providence, being within walking distance of some of the state's fmest colleges and arts institutions. TAPA looks forward to finding its pulse in the beating heart of The Creative Capital.
• Video (Google Drive)
  
  ​​​​​​​The video that was made to document this amazing endeavor that was accomplished by this great team. The smiles on the students faces the first day in our new building says it all

Here are many examples sent in by principals and district administrators sharing about the amazing work taking place in their schools:

Achievement First Iluminar Mayoral Academy

• Thank you for this opportunity to share some of the great work taking place at our school, Achievement First Iluminar. We wanted to share a simple but very powerful ritual that we perform every Friday as a team.
  
  
  
  Right before we take off for the weekend, we recite our school’s mission statement through call and response: the mission of OUR SCHOOL is to deliver on the promise of equal educational opportunity for all of America's children. We believe that all children, regardless of race or economic status, can succeed if they have access to a great education. Achievement First schools provide all of our students with the academic and character skills they need to graduate from top colleges, to succeed in a competitive world and to serve as the next generation of leaders in our communities.
  
  
  
  Please see attached 38 second video of our team reciting our mission statement. This call and response is part of a much bigger ritual that we perform so that we never lose sight of the why we do what we do day in and day out. What an immense honor to be able to continue the work spawned by our forefathers and mothers.
  
  
  
  Thank you again for this opportunity to share! I look forward to seeing what other schools have shared! What a great way to promote collaboration across RI schools!

Austin T. Levy School

Burrillville

• This year, eight amazing teachers at the Levy School have piloted “Learning Communities” for reading intervention. The teachers meet monthly to collaboratively analyze data, determine which children need intervention, and flexibly group students among their classrooms for “Community Meetings” 3-5 times a week. "Community Meetings" are devoted to strategy-based work targeting the needs of each student group and are scheduled in addition to regular reading instruction and special education support. Preliminary data on this gap-closing action research project looks promising. Just 48% of students in the “Community” groups were meeting all reading benchmarks in October - 81% are now!

Birchwood Middle School

North Providence

• I am sending you a one minute video link highlighting our Birchwood Middle School Marine Trades Academy. You requested something to share about our district and I feel this is one of our most recent programs to be proud of here in NP.
• https://youtu.be/ffOvlniIYc4

Central Falls High School

Central Falls

• DNA Barcoding and Amgen Biotech Experience
  
  Thanks to having access to the Amgen Biotech Experience Kit, Central Falls High School students are participating in the World's Largest Biodiversity Genomics Project as Citizen Scientists: Barcoding Life’s Matrix. This program is a science innovation project hosted by Coastal Marine Biolabs. Through their participation in the program, students enrolled in the AP Biology class joined a global community of scientists in its efforts to build a digital genetic registry of Earth’s biodiversity using a DNA barcoding system. The data generated and shared by these students will someday help scientists to better understand how human activities and natural events impact our ecosystems and their inhabitants.
• Conditional Acceptance to RIC for Central Falls High School Students
  
  The CF/RIC Lab has implemented an initiative which promotes innovative pathways to college. Each year, students in the top half of their junior class are conditionally accepted to RIC. Throughout their senior year, supports are provided to these students, including the opportunity to earn one college credit in a College Success Strategy Course, taught by a RIC professor and her community psychology students. The Lab offers incentives to students who meet the rigorous academic and attendance requirements of the initiative. Currently, 66 students from CFHS have met all requirements for conditional acceptance and 76% of these students have been officially accepted to RIC.

Chariho Regional High School

Chariho

• ACE Program [PDF]

Coventry High School

Coventry

• At Coventry High School, we recently raised over $5000 during our Burpees for the Brave event. The money was donated to the Intrepid fund, an organization that supports wounded warriors. After a school-wide assembly to raise awareness about supporting our troops, our Phys. Ed department promoted the health benefits of burpees in their classrooms. Students and teachers were encouraged to practice their burpees on a daily basis. On the day of the event, over 100 teachers and students filled the gym. Each participant was challenged to do as many burpees as they could in five minutes. Prizes were awarded to the student who raised the most money and the student who completed the most burpees (92). It was a great school-wide event that brought teachers and students together for a very worthwhile cause. Following the event, we challenged Cranston East High School to beat our total amount raised. When they complete the challenge, they will then pass it on to another school. Our hope is that we will reach as many schools around the state as we can.
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  • Photo [JPG]

Cranston Area Career & Technical Center

Cranston

• Three of our programs (Culinary, Drafting, and Interactive Digital Media) collaborated for an interesting project. Culinary was designing cookies for a party and needed a specific shape (lego theme) for the cookie cutout they did not have. One of the Chef’s designed the shape by pencil on paper. She brought it to the Drafting classroom where a student designed it on the computer using CAD software. That design was brought down to Digital Media where the cookie cutter was printed on the 3D printer. The cookie cutter was brought back up to culinary and used in the kitchen to make cookies for the party! A great example of collaboration using technology.

Cranston Public Schools

Cranston

• Cranston Public Schools in partnership with ORS, Project Search and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of RI has been able to provide embedded community experiences for students with Intellectual Disabilities and ASD and in need of continued transition services. These students independently travel to the Providence Blue Cross building for their school program and each student completes two to three individual work setting internships. Students utilize natural supports from their departments in conjunction with a Cranston special educator and teacher assistant/job coach toward meeting employment standards. Cranston Public Schools is proud of the relationship developed with Blue Cross.

Davies Career-Tech High School

• Stacy Jones is a mainstream English teacher at William M. Davies, Jr. Career & Technical High School. She has YR 1 monitoring EL's in her classroom. Ms. Jones holds all students accountable for their learning and sees writing as a priority in her classroom. She values all students' backgrounds, which creates an environment conducive to success. On this particular project, students explored and analyzed American culture through the lens of their own diverse experiences and backgrounds.
• The William M. Davies, Jr. Career & Technical High School has had a long going partnership with Rhode Island School of Design. In the past three years, we have a very special Artist in Residence from RISD who has involved our students in producing wall murals in various locations at the school. We are very fortunate to Munir Mohammed, as Davies’ Artist in Residence.
  
  
  
  Presently, we are incorporating three technical areas in this year’s mural (Auto, Electrical, and Machine Technology) themes. Students visited each area, made notes/drawings of the tools and machinery. Along with Munir and the students, plans were drawn, sketched onto the designated wall. It is a process that involves all the students who are truly artist in their own right. It is amazing to see such talent. The opportunities by RISD’s Open Door Policy to Davies students have been very memorable over the years. Davies’ students are educated everyday by our capable faculty besides engaging their abilities and talents in the field of Art. This opportunity is a lasting legacy for the Davies School, our students and above all our relationship with Rhode Island School of Design.
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• Kristin Cassarino is a mainstream teacher at William M. Davies, Jr. Career & Technical High School. She has active EL's in her 9th grade World Cultures Class. Her classroom is set up through the eyes of the English Language Learner. The rigorous and challenging curriculum is supported with pictures, graphic organizers and examples. Her blended classroom model provides collaboration, various differentiated instruction and fosters success for all her students, especially the EL's.
  • Photo

Hope Valley School

Chariho

• The Chariho Regional School District is in the second year of implementing an elementary World Language Program. All students district-wide now begin Spanish in Kindergarten. Students, teachers, administrators, and parents LOVE it! The Spanish teachers collaborate with classroom teachers so that students are using the language throughout the day.
  
  
  
  Here at Hope Valley School, children sing happy birthday in Spanish at lunchtime. On Fridays, a student says the date and word of the week in Spanish over the intercom. At the winter chorus concert, Spanish songs are incorporated. Many classes also do their morning greeting in Spanish.
  
  
  
  This new and exciting program has brought our community together in ways we could not have imagined!
  
  
  
  Check out our amazing video 1 minute clip as well: https://youtu.be/X1XFQbj-qss

Kickemuit Middle School

Bristol Warren

• I am pleased to share our amazing story of partnership among our school, community members, and music professionals. For the last several years, the Kickemuit Middle School band program has been the recipient of the Beginning Band Project Grant, awarded by the Bristol Warren Education foundation.
  
  
  
  In Bristol Warren, we begin our band program in sixth grade at the middle school. Each and every instrument has its own set of special techniques necessary for a successful performance. Through the Beginning Band Project at Kickemuit Middle School, students are provided small group instruction by professional musicians at the very beginning of the year to ensure each and every child had the resources needed to succeed.
  
  
  
  This project also assists students in reaching the Rhode Island GSEs for Music in Grade 6. This grant helped KMS music teachers close the access gap in our district so our students had the opportunity to meet the GSEs and stay on target with the rest of the state. (Many districts begin band in the 5th grade). The techniques and lessons learned can also be applied throughout middle school and high school, and can help students earn proficiency in the arts at Mt. Hope High School through Proficiency Based Graduation Requirement 23.
  
  
  
  The Beginning Band Project promotes excellence in our schools for years to come. The benefits of this design have led to high student performance, attitude, and morale. This approach to beginning band has created new relationships and brought back together local music specialists and professionals with our schools. All Bristol Warren band directors have been involved in the design and overall evaluation of the project, as we know that a great start on an instrument impacts achievement both individually and as a member of the school band in all future years.

Lincoln Middle School

Lincoln

• 2015-16 has been a very busy school year thus far for Lincoln Middle School academically, socially and civically. One academic highlight was in the area of technology in which over 100 LMS students participated in the Hour of Code. Mrs. Johnson, an LMS technology teacher, entered her technology students in the hour of code, a worldwide competition designed to “demystify code and show that anyone can learn the basics”. The window for students in an indivudual school to complete their “hour of code” was one week. 125 students completed their “Hour of Code” over two days with one set of classes completing their one hour on 12/9 and the second set of classes completing their one hour on 12/10. Within two days, over 7 billion students, including LMS students, participated worldwide, with 8 billion lines of code written! The most outstanding statistic by far is the fact that on day two, LMS was ranked 4th in the world for participation! Please find the attached link to the Hour of Code showing our students in action created by Jay Kelley, a 7th grade social studies teacher!
  • https://www.youtube.com/embed/8_yWNdBq2Ag
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• The month of December also brought out the charity in the LMS community! This could best be captured through the Can Drive in which over 1,000 can goods were collected for three local food banks through a “Pod Wars competition in which all grade levels competed, the HoopFest; LMS Girls and Boys Basketball teams vs. LMS faculty, which raised over $2,000 for the local “Adopt-A Family” program, the Team 5 “Pie Making Project” in which 100 pies were made and provided to the seniors at the Lincoln Senior Center and the by LMS chorus spreading cheer at the Lincoln Senior Center through a special Holiday concert there. On doing so, the entire LMS community demonstrated their civic responsibility in making positive opportunities exist for others in the Lincoln and extended communities!
  • Hoopfest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aikZ0T_j_X4
  • Pie Making: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaOhvJ7cLmA&feature=youtu.be

Melrose School

Jamestown

• In response to Commissioner Wagner's request to hear about amazing work in RI's public schools, we wanted to share an item.
  
  
  
  This March, our third grade classroom will participate in a series of activities activities focused around design thinking. The project is a pilot program this year made possible by a grant from the Jamestown Education Foundation.
  
  
  
  It is called “Think - Shape - Grow” and is an innovative community based educational experience.
  
  
  
  Students will, through the course of the project, actively participate in a design challenge that will stretch their thinking in a myriad of ways. Students will produce, through the design process, an artifact and be able to articulate the process through which it was created.
  
  
  
  Lessons will be co-taught with professional graphics designer and illustrator Ryan Maguire and NBCT Phil Capaldi.
  
  
  
  Jamestown has recently added a Makerspace in the elementary school and is a truly inspiring place!
  
  
  
  We invite you to follow the project on twitter @thinkshapegrow.
• Think - Shape - Grow Graphic

Mt. Hope High School - Living & Learning Center

Bristol Warren

• Living & Learning Center Presentation [PDF]
• Living & Learning Center Brochure [PDF]

Narragansett Elementary School

Narragansett

• This video gives viewers a glimpse into what NES is doing with Digital Literacy!
  
  https://youtu.be/gxpOOsqWYCY

Nathan Bishop Middle School

Providence

• Nathan Bishop Middle School seventh graders read a different Shakespeare play every year and partner with actors and directors from either Trinity Repertory Company or the Gamm Theatre to explore such challenging text. Teachers use techniques learned from years of working with the ArtsLit project at Brown University and the two professional theater companies to explore these complex works and to put the plays on their feet. Our culminating event involves 200 students mounting a production of the play, with each class taking on a portion of the text and taking turns on the stage to tell the story. Nothing delights more than hearing the Bard’s words performed by seventh graders—especially those who start the unit saying, “No way am I going to perform!”
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• Every Friday in math, Nathan Bishop 8th grade students partner with 6th grade students to work on important 6th grade math concepts. Our 6th graders benefit from hearing math concepts from different perspectives and in student voices, and our 8th graders are developing empathy and building leadership skills as they support the learning of younger students who are struggling a bit. They leave behind a powerful legacy of older students helping younger students and help to enrich our whole learning community. Similarly, in a partnership with the 360 School, a small group of 9th grade 360 students who are English language learners make a biweekly trip to Bishop to work with 8th grade math students. Through the work and language of Algebra, these students develop positive, academic peer relationships that help to increase student success across disciplines.
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North Scituate School

Scituate

• North Scituate School has an amazing group of teachers who collaborate on our Response to Intervention team. One student in particular recently led us to think outside the box after several interventions did not lead to desired levels of success. Using data and our knowledge of the student, we have designed interventions that involve multiple staff members, varied teaching approaches, and an individualized digital learning platform. The formerly reluctant learner has recently declared, “I love school!” This sentiment and his improving performance are the best indictors of success for an approach that is blended, personalized, data driven, and student centered.

Nowell Leadership Academy

• We would like to share the AMAZING work happening at Nowell Leadership Academy! At Nowell Leadership Academy we have several initiatives and partnerships occurring. However, one partnership in particular has brought color, pattern and most importantly collaboration. Nowell Leadership Academy has partnered with Riverzedge Arts. More recently students have worked to create smaller individual art projects, and then used them to create a large mural to display in the classroom. Students used watercolors and pastels to make an above and below small scenic painting. They then transferred their paintings onto a large mural using brush and ink, charcoal, pastel, and oil pastel. This project has allowed for individual creativity as well as group collectiveness. Thank you for inviting us to share.
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Park View Middle School

Cranston

• This video highlights one of our teachers and the school's involvement in our community.
  
  https://youtu.be/bMpOl11zYNc

Peace Dale Elementary School & West Kingston Elementary School

South Kingstown

• South Kingstown is proud to announce the implementation of its dual language immersion (DLI) program in two of its district elementary schools - Peace Dale Elementary School and West Kingston Elementary School. We are extremely pleased with the progress that our kindergartners have made in both Spanish and English since September. The buzz around the community supporting our DLI program is positive, and parents are eager to enroll their children into the DLI program for the upcoming school year. Embarking on a new and innovative program has us feeling both excited and challenged and we are proud to be on the forefront of dual language immersion education in South County.
  
  https://sites.google.com/a/sksd-ri.net/dual-language-immersion/home

Pilgrim High School

Warwick

• The PRODUCTION T.E.A.M. in Studio 107 at Pilgrim High School is an academic academy collaboratively taught by English Language Arts, Music and Technology Education teachers. The Studio is primarily a classroom in which students work with different technologies in these inter-disciplinary courses. This $100k classroom has a state of the art recording and video studio, and is equipped with, what is believed to be, the largest green screen in the state. The program incorporates such course work as music theory; digital and video communications, film & literature; mass media, music technologies; sound engineering, and theater workshop. The graduates of this program are afforded real-world opportunities that will take them beyond high school and will help them truly understand the needs of practicing professionals in a variety of related industries.

RI School for the Deaf

• Rhode Island School for the Deaf entered Gallaudet University's Annual Battle of the Books this year for the first time. This is a middle school competition among Schools for the Deaf across the USA. Middle school students read and respond to several assigned novels, responding to questions on plot, character analysis, writing style, vocabulary, etc., and each competitor presets an individual short oral (signed) summary. To their joy and amazement, our first time competitors won their regional competition, then again in the second round, they scored among the top teams nationally. These three students and their coaches are being flown, all expenses paid, to Gallaudet University for the National Competition on Saturday, April 2 to Tuesday, April 5, 2016.
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• RI School for the Deaf faculty, with the help of an intern from Brown University, have planned an EDCAMP on Saturday, Match 19th specifically for Deaf Educators throughout the East Coast. This first-of-its-kind opportunity to discuss how Deaf and hard of hearing students can benefit from Ed Tech solutions and blended learning strategies has been unexpectedly popular! Originally designed for local Teachers of the Deaf, word spread quickly and now enrollment is currently full, with 65 participants coming from all New England states and from as far away as Cleveland, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Maine, and Upstate NY. Here's the info!
  • https://www.smore.com/np3pd

Richmond Elementary School

Chariho

• There are many reasons why Richmond Elementary School is AMAZING! We have hard-working students, talented teachers, committed support staff and involved families. This past month the Rhode Island Department of Education invited Rhode Island public schools to send them a brief account highlighting an initiative involving teamwork. This is the story of the Richmond Elementary School Data Leadership Team.
  
  
  
  Achievement improves when educators and administrators work together as a team to closely monitor student progress. Three years ago RIDE sent a Data Coach to train a small team of teachers from each school to become school data leaders. Over the course of one year, teachers learned strategies for analyzing and interpreting data using a cycle of inquiry to plan next steps for instruction. By the end of that year, our team had developed a sustainability plan to continue the practice of data analysis to inform instruction.
  
  
  
  The following year we expanded our school data leadership team to include one teacher from each grade level and two teachers representing our specialists. Data Team Leaders have volunteered their time to meet with me to plan our Data Days and to facilitate monthly data conversations. After each universal screening window, Data Team Leaders use Early Release Day meeting time to analyze and validate data grade level data to inform the RTI referral process. Each month leaders facilitate data conversations with their grade level or content area using common formative assessments. From this experience we believe that a common understanding of the standards builds teachers’ repertoire of instructional best practices and results in student achievement.
  
  
  
  This year our district has begun a blended learning initiative in collaboration with the Highlander Institute. The goal of this partnership is to establish learning environments that are differentiated to challenge the needs of every student through the use of small group instruction, choice and the use of technology. Our School Data Leadership Team will work closely with our three Technology Model Educators, our Technology Fellow and with their grade level/content area teachers to use data to personalize student learning for every student within the school day.
• World Language Program [MOV]

Scituate High School

Scituate

• Members of the Environmental Science class at Scituate High School teamed up with members of the NEED Team from Calcutt Middle School and the Norther Rhode Island Conservation District in a proposal to America The Beautiful Grant Program from RI DEM for their urban arboretum project. The team has been awarded a grant for their joint project that they call “Operation Tree-Hugger”. The students are creating an instructional video on tree planting and will join forces in Central Falls in April for a joint tree planting event. For more information visit the web site for their project:
  • www.centralfallsarboretum.org

The Compass School

• The Hunger Bowl - Press Release [PDF]
• The Hunger Bowl - Photo [JPG]

The Met School

• We are proud of the professional development program at the Met. Our entire staff participates in twelve days per year or focused PD in the summer and through the year. This year, supporting the instrumental and adaptive changes required to help educators build skills and build the capacity for growth and innovation in the Professional Learning Community, we've coupled small continuous critical friends groups (where educators discuss data, dilemmas, and plans with protocols) and choice workshops often run by staff. Staff surveys are very positive; the techniques, mindsets and skills directly support the culture of our school and student learning.

West Broadway Middle School

Providence

• https://youtu.be/BS31AG7_fN4a

Western Hills Middle School

Cranston

• This is a video from our students at Western Hills Middle School student's who did a project that was amazing!
  
  http://tinyurl.com/7thgradeCSPAN

Woonsocket Area Career & Technical Center

Woonsocket

• Mr. Myers, Construction Instructor @ Woonsocket Area Career & Technical Center, will teach a Lead Paint Certification class that the students the ability to earn a Nationally recognized License. It is a course set up by the Rhode Island Dept. of Health and the EPA to teach contractors how to complete work in homes with lead paint without contaminating the building or the occupants. The Woonsocket Area Career & Technical Construction class will be the first in the nation to offer this to high school students.

Woonsocket Middle School

Woonsocket

• One of our assistant principals, Tonya Curt-Hoard, creates amazing weekly newsletters for our faculty. They are called Flash Forwards and are distributed on Friday's via email. Information includes, next week's schedule, important information, professional development opportunities, professional articles and more. The Flash Forwards are dynamic, informative and supportive of our professional staff. She also does parent newsletters that are equally terrific. Please see her latest newsletters in the links below.
  • Staff one: https://www.smore.com/6ckhr
  • Family one: https://www.smore.com/tmw9u
• Mrs. Lisa Tenreiro, one of our guidance counselors, is the leader of professional development of our Mentor Program. The district-wide Mentor Program is designed to accelerate teacher growth and student achievement. The program services over sixty beginning teachers and has a direct impact on over 1,500 students. The program includes ongoing professional development through on-line resources, a on-on-one mentor/mentee partnership, workshops and a Google Community. Please see her latest newsletter in the link below.
  • https://www.smore.com/7jhad