Superintendent's Update
Newport Public Schools | October 8, 2025
Dear Newport Schools Parents, Families, and Staff:
I want to stress and repeat a point often made in this newsletter to all our parents, guardians, and families. Our teachers and principals WANT to hear from you. If there’s an issue, either academic or behavioral, that your child may be experiencing, do not hesitate to reach out to his/her teacher or principal as soon as possible. If you find something going well- give a shout out. Let’s make school a priority in every home, every day.
And here are easy ways to make school a priority. Talk about it. Go beyond “How was your day,” and follow up with questions about what they learned in each class, what homework assignments are they working on, what classes do they really enjoy, who are their classmates, and which classes are they having a harder time in. In the beginning, it may be a struggle to get any answers-most likely you may get silence or strange looks. As you do this every day though, you will find your child will open up and you will learn more. It just takes perseverance on our side as adults to get the conversations going. So please, take the time every school day to really engage with your child about his/her education, know teachers’ names and what he/she likes the most about school and maybe not so much about school. YOU are your child’s most important educator and we need YOU-parents, guardians, and family to set the stage with your child about just how important getting a good education and attending school every day are for now and the future.
In short, we need YOU to take charge of your child’s education! Let’s work together- every day to make certain school matters!
Last week, the Rhode Island Department of Education released 2025 RICAS and SAT state assessment results. Bright spots include increases in English Language Arts and Math scores overall in some grades as well as our subgroups. We also saw some improvements in our SAT scores. We need to continue the work and do better. Please take a moment to read Commissioner of Education Angélica Infante-Green’s letter to families about 2025 results and resources you can take advantage of, like free access to the online Khan Academy, to help your student in key learning areas such as math and literacy.
The Commissioner’s letter this week is also about the need for parents and families to focus on the importance of school. She too stresses that we need our parents/guardians help to have our children attend school every day. We need to teach our children the importance of hard work, resilience, and being accountable. They will only learn this with your guidance at home and if they see how important this is to you as a parent, guardian, and family. Reach out to us if you need assistance. We will always try our best to help each and every child. Our schools have many supports that can help us work with you as a team to make certain your child is on the right track to graduate on time, learn and master the foundational skills of literacy, critical thinking, and math. Newport Public Schools have the tools to help all our families- and if we do not have them we will work with you to find them. So let’s make school a priority and attendance at school every day a priority for everyone.
Please remember there will be no school on Monday, October 13th for Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples Day.
Have a great week of learning everyone!
Colleen Burns Jermain, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
The Newport Public Education Foundation raises funds to support Newport Public Schools. They are a wonderful partner and will be hosting their annual social fundraiser and awards evening on Thursday, October 23rd, from 6:00-8:00pm at Innovate Newport (513 Broadway).Come show your support for our teachers and Newport Public Schools. Click here to purchase tickets.
The Thompson Middle School PTO is hosting Tips for Thompson at The Parlor on Friday, October 17 from 3pm-8pm. Guest bartenders donate all tips from the event to the TMS PTO.
