It has been a busy week for our learning community. I recognize the challenge it has been for math and English teachers who have had to ramp up their knowledge of the software and intricacies of facilitating PARCC. The protocols are not typical and require people to extend themselves beyond the hard work they already do. Additionally, teachers in subjects that may need access to technology for their courses are forfeiting that option for students and teachers who need to train on the TestNav software. Thank you for your collegiality. I admire the growth mindset and flexibility exhibited. In a school where autonomy, creativity and innovation are the norm your commitment to the process of managing this assessment protocol has not gone unnoticed.
Beginning next Monday we will assess our students on how well they are learning the Common Core in the English and math classes. There is valuable information including our curriculum alignment to the Common Core, our academic success rate as compared to other schools in other districts like us, and student placements in courses that can be learned from results of the PARCC. I look forward to your continued support as we make our way. As a community we will learn from this experience of the first year roll out to ensure a process that balances preparation with classroom instruction.
Staff News
Many of you have inquired
on how Donna Hutson is doing. She is home now with OT and PT coming in a
few days a week. She goes back to her surgeon on March 16th and the cast
will come off and more X-rays. When she fell it caused a pilon
fracture of her right ankle. She was in traction for 7 days after her fall,
so the swelling would go down and they could operate on her right ankle. She now has two metal plates with nine pins holding her ankle together.
She is feeling much
better and doing work from home, planning field trips and career
speakers. As soon as she gets the last cast off and permission to drive
she will be back.
Abby Chevalier is home
after knee surgery. Linda Twardowski and Karen Finlan are hoping to be back
soon from their medical leave.
Officer Andrew Greenhalgh
and Dave Cesaro both return after the passing of their father and mother,
respectively. Please keep all of these community members in your thoughts.
Students as Learners
 |
| Hailey, Josh, Laura and Mr. Lamboy are pictured with Congressman Langevin; one of the many politicians supporting this energy program throughout RI |
Six students
from Mr. Thomas' COM III class, (Hailey, Laura, Josh, Ian, Drew and Cam) Mr. Lamboy and I attended the Home Show on
March 6 in the evening. Students entered a contest from National Grid,
sponsored by SmartPower.org. Each entry had to show at least four ways that the
public can save energy. North Kingstown High School received a prize for the
number of student entries.
Representatives
from Smart Power will be visiting North Kingstown High School later this spring
to unveil the winning sign acknowledging our school and to deliver the
check to be used by Mr. Thomas' class for future sustainable projects. Details
to follow.
Adults as Learners
NKSD Art Show awards
opening reception
About the
event: On
Tuesday, March 3, 2015.
Janice
Strain, Tara Harrington, Bob Shaffer and art teachers throughout the
district joined together with the NK Arts Council and NK Free Library to host
the community and celebrate art in our schools.
After the student awards had been delivered Janice received a blue ribbon and a sketch book of her own. These were to honor her
collaborative work she has done for the Arts department in North Kingstown
Schools.
Way to go
Janice. Thank you and the Fine Arts department for keeping the "A" in
STEAM education.
Student Management Office
Please review with your
advisories where you will be located in the senior parking lot in the event of
a fire drill. We have a drill each month; while snow and mud are on the ground
the senior parking lot is our updated location. Please send all comments, both positive and
constructive, to Mitch.
We have received our survey results back from Authentic Education in an Excel spreadsheet. Our students participated in this survey in December and over 900 students completed the survey. For those who may have forgotten this survey was prompted after the Alexis Wiggins blog article, when she followed two students around after two separate days. I will go through the pages of data and pull the key items for your information.
We have received our survey results back from Authentic Education in an Excel spreadsheet. Our students participated in this survey in December and over 900 students completed the survey. For those who may have forgotten this survey was prompted after the Alexis Wiggins blog article, when she followed two students around after two separate days. I will go through the pages of data and pull the key items for your information.
Dean’s Corner
Dear teachers, when you
leave your classroom to go to a computer lab or other area, please leave a note
on your door stating the new class location. This will assist any late
arriving student and, in the event of a dean going to your room to talk to a
student, we will know where to find you. Thank you.
Health and Wellness
Sometimes a
small change, like going to bed a little earlier, can make a big
difference.
Get a good night’s sleep
before getting out the easel and paintbrushes or the pen and paper.
In
addition to consolidating memories, or making them stronger, your brain appears
to reorganize and restructure them, which may result in more creativity as
well.
Researchers at Harvard University and Boston College found that people
seem to strengthen the emotional components of a memory during sleep, which may
help spur the creative process.
Technology
Last weekend, February 28-March 1, North Kingstown educators participated in the Ed Tech Team Global
Summits featuring Google for Education at Coventry High School. Pam Rowland,
Leslie Holcroft, Rob Silveira, Rich Garland, Kris Graham and Ron Kenyon participated from the high school. I look
forward to our PD day in April where teachers may share what they learned.
Looking to the near future to make our Media Center a place for students to “Think,
Create and Innovate.”Upcoming Events
Tues, March 10th – School Committee Meeting, 7 pm
Thur, March 12th – Career Speaker Series, 7 pm, Media Center
Mon, March 16th – PARCC testing begins
Wed, March 18th – Junior Parent Night, 7pm
Tues, March 24th – School Committee Meeting, 7pm
Thurs, March 26th – Band Concert
Videos Worth Watching
Articles Worth Reading
Senior Project News:
Hi, my name is David Poirier and on March 13, 2015, I will be hosting Chris Herren to speak to the whole school about his story and drugs/alcohol awareness. I would appreciate if everyone took time on March 13, 2015, at 9:30 am, to join us in Gym A or the auditorium (depending on the size of the crowd) for his presentation. If your class can attend please email david_poirier@students.nksd.
Food for Thought
"They didn't know it was impossible, so they did it."
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