Resilience
Our school community dealt with tragic loss at the beginning of last week. I think we mirrored our larger society in our reactions to Dan’s death: Some students and teachers on Tuesday were ok and ready to get to work, others needed some time and space to heal. I would like to formally thank the mental health crisis team, our teachers, staff and students who jumped in to create an environment of warmth and support. It is nothing we ever wanted to do but it is wonderful to know that we are here for one another in crisis.
Focusing on this week there was a pivot -- plenty of emotions and in this case for school spirit. Resiliency is the word that comes to mind. Athletes are preparing for end of season games and playoffs, academic competitions created opportunities in Engineering/Robotics and Business for our students to showcase their skills and today the school came together to promote unity in our support for athletes and the fans in the stands.
Health and Wellness
From Karen D’Abrosca
Enjoy the Halloween festivities this coming Monday! I also wanted to share an interesting story about “Extra Mile Day”, Tuesday November 1.
"It’s easy to complain and point fingers about everything we don’t like," says Extra Mile Day Founder Shawn Anderson. "However, it’s not so easy to give our time and resources going the extra mile in order to really create that change.” Anderson continues, “All across the country there are passionate people who have taken the ‘go the extra mile’ message to heart and are living it,” concludes Anderson. “When we ‘go the extra mile’ in our actions, we pass forward gratitude, kindness and hope. It’s safe to say that the world could benefit from more of all three.”
It is a joy to say so many of us here @ NKHS go the extra mile every day for our students and each other.
Good News
From Cindy Zito:
Interact Students Sending “Thank Yous” to our first responders
A sample of our "Thank You" boxes for the first responders in NK. Interact Club members made treat boxes for NKPD, NK Fire, and a box for our NK State Troopers, with thank you notes for keeping our community safe!
From Rick Powell:
I am proud to say that NK students from the Engineering and Robotics program, along with some AP Physics classes took part in the second annual Engineering Olympics today at Toray today. We entered two teams and had one team place first overall and the other place third overall. The attached picture is of the students that competed:
Patrick Gannon-12
Nathan Rome - 10
Mackenzie Hinde - 9
Chase Goulet - 10
Maddie Maguire - 12
Andrew Houlihan -10
Grace Castillo - 12 (missing from photo)
1st place - Maddie Maguire, Grace Castillo, Andrew Houlihan
3rd place - Patrick Gannon, Nathan Rome, Mackenzie Hinde, and Chase Goulet
Financial Literacy Education for the NK Community
We are pleased to announce that Mr. Michael Abbood, a certified financial advisor and member of our Academy of Business and Finance Advisory Board, will be offering classes to the community on financial literacy in the form of eight classes ranging from the basics of wealth planning through preparing estate plans. Mutual funds, stocks, and tax free investing are just a subset of the topics Mr. Abood will cover.
The first class was offered on Thursday, October 20th from 6:30 pm to 8 pm in room 110 of the high school and on Thursday's following. The flyer containing the dates and topics was sent in the NK Listserv and copies are available in the faculty mailroom. Please call Michelle at 401-294-6308 to register and secure a spot.
A big thank you goes out to Mr. Abbood for caring about the financial wellness of our community!
Shining Stars
Mark DeLucia and Adam Laliberte were co-recipients of the Shining Star Award this month. Dr. Auger and Dr. Humbyrd came by our school on Thursday to celebrate and announce the honor to our unknowing recipients. The following was shared with Mark and Adam to let them know why they were chosen, please congratulate them when you see them next.
Mark DeLucia
In your brief time as a department chair you have engaged your department to do collaborative work. You are always a contributor to our instructional leadership team meetings and what you say moves the conversation forward in a positive direction.
Time on the tech committee, being the lead tech teacher in the building, having you as the liaison with the IT dept and helping NKHS before things get too concerning has made our life at the high school work very smoothly. You make technology fun and in doing so teachers and students want to use it. Your work with RIDE and Patty Kirwin to champion the Bi-literacy seal for our students at NK for this year’s graduation class will be an additional feather in your already heavy cap.
Adam Laliberte
Adam you are a role model for your students. From the moment they walk into your classroom and it is Spanish only, you provide multi-modal options for students to learn their work. All students are always happy in your room. I remember my daughter 5 years ago laughing with her friends for hours working on their video. It didn’t seem like work to them. Your work with our special ed population and peer partners make the World Language Dept cutting edge. In the past, teaming up with our Music Department made all the students and their parents so happy. This year, you have delved right into the Leadership Academy, advising with Julie. You do not wait to be asked, you jump right in and give all of yourself to the cause. And finally your work after school coaching, it takes skill and leadership to do what you are able to do with your teams.
So Mark and Adam, when we take these two individual profiles and you team together, of course the magic happens. What I most appreciate about both of you is that you are strong, confident teachers in your own right. You do not always share the same ideas, I am sure of that. However, you put individual successes aside to always team up and showcase our World Language department and the talented individuals among it. Thus, we all receive the best instruction with the funniest of deliveries.
For all of these reasons your are deserving of the Shining Star Award this month.
Thank you for making NKHS a better place to be.
Students as Learners
Management 100 - Case Study Analysis to a Real-World Problem
Since last year, Rich Garland has been modifying the curriculum of his Business Leadership and Entrepreneurship class by incorporating more case study analysis of real world problems into the course curriculum. According to Rich, it's really adding another dimension to the course by further introducing opportunities for authentic learning in the classroom.
The first case study students attacked addressed the U.S. economy with the essential question, "Is the U.S. a Submerging or Emerging Nation". Using Harvard's style of case study development Rich developed the case study which largely compares U.S. economic and business data with that of emerging market nations. Not all the data is pertenent - students need to sort that out - as in real-world business consulting.
Each team presented their position and solution to the question, as if consultants competing for a bid to further develop the U.S. economic strategy for growth. As the photo shows - the students loved it! If anyone would like a copy of the case - feel free to contact Rich.
Next up - Can Subway Survive - the $6 Foot Long!
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Upcoming Events/Important Dates
October
28 Pep Rally, Homecoming Football Game 7 pm vs. Middletown
29 Homecoming Dance, 7 pm - 10 pm
November
5 SAT
8 No School - PD Day for staff
9 STEAM Night, 5-9 pm
9 School Committee Meeting
11 No School - Veteran’s Day
15 PTSO
15 National Honor Society Induction
December
9-11 Christmas Carol--Save the Date
Student Services Office
From Donna Sweet:
In addition to our traditional Homecoming, we would like to tie in our School Culture Themes and have more Spirit Days throughout the school year. The Homecoming Week Champions will help to kick that off for us as we move into November. The first Friday in November (11/4) will be PJ day!
Teaching and Learning
Students were doing their civic duty over the last two weeks; students stayed after school to prepare for Candidate’s Day with Mr. Verria and their Democracy teachers. We had multiple candidates in and out of the building last week and our students were there to greet them and off they went to interview the candidates. From there one student explained that they would create the write up to introduce their candidate on Candidates Day. Next, last Thursday was the actual Candidates Day and the candidates were so impressed by the work of the students, the questions that were asked and the event itself.
AM Finley, our Student Assistance Counselor, was invited into the freshman health classes last week. She was able to visit everyone to explain what she does and how anyone who needs to talk to her may be able to contact her. Additionally Jonathan Quinn, PE, sent a picture showcasing AM engaging the students during their health class to discuss topics as they transition to high school health.
From Jon Quinn: “A big shoutout and Special Thanks to our Student Assistance Counselor AM Finlay who made her classroom visits to every scheduled 9th grade health class this week. Through her collaboration with the PE department AM was able to introduce herself and her role to a majority of freshmen in the building this year.
From Barbara Morse:
Apex Learning
Starting on November 14th and continuing through Quarter 2 and 3, we will be conducting a pilot of Apex Learning Tutorials in the Algebra Everyday, Problem Solving and all of the Success Academy 10th grade classes. Apex Learning was requested by the Math Department after a presentation last year, and we decided to try to open it up to as many teachers in other departments as possible. The SA team was a perfect fit for the number of student subscriptions we were able to pilot.
The Apex Tutorials are multimedia learning units that can be used by students independently, as part of a blended learning lesson, or as part of a "flipped" curriculum lesson. The teachers of students in the pilot will have access to pre- and post-testing modules, adaptive worksheets and individualized practice. Although the student prescriptive work is only available to students in the pilot program, the multimedia teaching units will be available to all teachers in the building during the pilot session. For more information about the units, go to https://www.apexlearning.com. The log-on information will be going out to teachers as soon as the units are available.
Blended Learning Mentoring
Want to hone your expertise in creating and delivering blended learning modules? Looking for some more innovative ideas to utilize the 1:1 technology in your classroom? Whether you are a complete novice or a savvy technology user, the Highlander Institute mentoring program may be for you. We have the opportunity to provide technology mentors to five teachers in the high school. The mentor will meet with you individually to devise strategies and lesson plans, and can visit your classroom to help with the implementation. For an application, please email Kim Ramos or Michele Humbryd.
School Culture
From Janice Strain:
2nd Annual STEAMing Ahead Evening
Hands-On Free Workshops
Open to All Students & Parents in Grades 6-12
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
5:00pm - 9:00pm
Hosted by North Kingstown High School
Keynote Speaker: Congressman James Langevin
Join us for an evening of hands-on workshops, topics include:
Pen Turning, Squid Communication, Biomedical Illustration, Coding with Electronics, Boat Building, Raspberry Pi Universe, Cannibalizing Technology, Robot Picasso, Lego Mindstorms, and much more!!
The Business (DECA) Club Readies for Competition
From Rich Garland: The NKHS Business Club is getting ready for its competitive events that will take us through the school year and I'd like to thank all of you, staff and faculty, here at NKHS, for all the support you give us. For instance, allowing the team to staff the coat room at the Homecoming Dance helps pay for transportation to our competitive events. We'll be preparing for our Bryant Bulldog Challenge soon, then the DECA Career Development Conference in March...and if all goes well, some of the team will enjoy scholarships, and some will be off the California for the Nationals in Disneyland. There's a lot to do - any many fundraisers coming up.
Our ability to be counted in the competitions are due to all of you - as students exercise all that they learn in our courses across NK when competing.
Popularity has surged with 57 club members this year - and only 12 DECA blazers to share!.
Videos Worth Watching
Be Strong “I like bow ties not bullying.” You tube
Food for Thought
“Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit” -Bern Williams
Until next time, Think, Create, Innovate...Denise
