Superintendent's Update

1. Superintendent’s Message
2. Secretary of State Recognizes Thompson Civic Education Teacher Tara Mello
3. Salve Pathways Program Profiles Rogers Grad And Current Salve Student René Rodriguez
4. RENEWport Community Dinner for Pell 3rd and 4th Grade Families, April 2
5. Newport Special Education Local Advisory Committee Meeting, April 2nd
6. Grenon’s Newport Night Run, April 4th
7. Free St. Michael’s “Surviving Youth Sports” Community Conversation, April 22nd
8. Kindergarten Registration for 2026-2027 is Open
9. March 25 - Newport Community School - Unity in the Community Resource Fair
10. March 27 Thompson PTO Fundraiser
11. MLK Community Center to open new food pantry in late Spring
12. Charlie Holder Sr. Memorial Race, May 9th
13. URI Hiring Summer Student Lifeguards
14. Events
15. Resources

Dear Newport Schools Parents, Families, and Staff:

From three feet of snow two weeks ago to 60 degrees and sunny, what a pleasant change of weather!

Spring is on the way and for our students that means exams and assessments. Pell and Thompson students will be taking National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessments next week. The NAEP, also known as "The Nation's Report Card" is a powerful tool for measuring student achievement and progress. In addition, in April, Pell, Thompson, and Rogers students will be taking RICAS and SAT exams used by the Rhode Island Department of Education for state mandated testing. Please note that RICAS and SAT exam dates may change slightly due to the five days of school missed due to February’s blizzard.

Exam and assessment windows can be a stressful time for students, but they don’t have to be. Help support your child by encouraging a good night’s sleep, a good morning meal, and by talking with them about how their testing went. When our students feel supported, they’re prepared to do their best!

Next Friday will mark the end of Pell’s second trimester. Thompson and Rogers parents, please note that midterm reports have been delayed due to the blizzard. 3rd quarter midterm reports will be sent to you shortly after March 18th.

As I have shared several times in this newsletter, instilling leadership skills is one of the key pillars of our Strategic Plan and Portrait of a Graduate vision for our students. I want to share a wonderful example of student leadership in action. This past fall, Rogers High School Junior Grace Muenter started an emergency diaper bank to ensure that all families in our community have access to diapers for babies and toddlers. Thanks to help from local businesses, Grace’s diaper bank is now full and delivering diapers to families across Aquidneck Island, and even as far away as Pawtucket. Newport This Week has a profile of Grace’s emergency diaper bank community service project. Great job Grace!! You are showing what real leadership looks like and making a difference in the lives of families in our community!

Let’s keep focused on Attendance Matters, Every Day and supporting our students during spring assessment and exams.

Have a great week of learning everyone!

Colleen Burns Jermain, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Earlier this week, Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore visited Thompson to recognize Ms. Tara Mello for being one of our state’s outstanding civics teachers. Great work Ms. Mello and thank you for all that you do for our students!

Our One Newport community partner RENEWport will be hosting another community dinner for Pell 3rd and 4th grade families on April 2nd from 6:00-7:30pm. Come enjoy a night of food and fun as well as meet other families and parents from Pell!

All Newport families are invited to attend the Newport Special Education Local Advisory Committee’s meeting on April 2nd to learn more about special education resources and supports in our community.

Run the night at the 2026 Grenon’s Newport Night Run, a Race for Education on Saturday, April 4th! The city-by-the-sea’s annual after-hours 5K starts and finishes at Rogers High School and benefits the Newport Public Education Foundation. The course showcases some of Newport’s most beautiful rural roads, including parts of Ocean Avenue and Hazard Road. Walkers and runners of all ages and paces are welcome to participate! The race starts at 7:30 PM. Click here to register.

So, your kid plays sports in school: now what? Join the St. Michael's Country Day School Community Education Series in April for "Surviving Youth Sports", presented by Steven Borelli, editor and writer for USA TODAY. He'll be your guide through picking the “right” team, coach, and overall experience for your child that they'll remember for years to come.

The event will be held Wednesday, April 22nd from 6-7:30 PM at St. Michael's Country Day School as part of our Community Education Series. This event is open to all adults on Aquidneck Island and surrounding areas—free of charge! Click here to RSVP for free.

Kindergarten registration for the 2026-2027 school year is now open! Students registering for Kindergarten must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2026.

The Newport Community School will hold their annual Unity in the Community Resource Fair on Wednesday, March 25th from 5-7 pm at Thompson Middle School. In collaboration with local community partners, there will be a free grocery marketplace, information and resources for job opportunities, health and wellness, youth programs, giveaways, and MORE.

The Thompson PTO's annual spring fundraiser is coming up - join us on Friday, March 27 from 7-11pm at Queen Anne's Loft (212 Thames St) for music trivia, music bingo, and dancing. There will be a live DJ, a raffle, and a cash bar. Tickets are $20 pre-sale or $25 at the door, and all proceeds go right back into our school and our students! 21+ only.

The annual Charlie Holder Sr. Memorial Run is an amazing day of community fun and togetherness. Charlie Holder Sr. was a beloved Newport local with a passion for running. His family holds the race each year in his honor to carry on his legacy and support the community he loved. The race benefits the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center and the Newport County YMCA in memory of Charlie.

There are options for everyone at this event. There’s a competitive run, a walk, a virtual component, a 100-yard dash for kids, and lots more fun in store as the event grows each year. Click here to register.

● Newport Public Schools Arts Calendar 2025-2026

● March 25 - Newport Community School - Annual Unity in the Community Resource Fair

● March 27 Thompson PTO Fundraiser, 7:00-11:00pm at Queen Anne’s Loft

● April 2, 2026: RENEWport Community Dinner, 6:00 PM at Pell

● April 2, 2026: Newport Special Education Local Advisory Committee Meeting, 1:00 PM at Thompson Middle School

● April 4, 2026: Grenon’s Newport Night Run

● April 22, 2026: Surviving Youth Sports, 6:00-7:30pm at St. Michael's Country Day School

● May 9, 2026: Charlie Holder Sr. Memorial Race

● Salve Pathways Program Week of March 2nd Newsletter

● Rhode Island Department of Education School & District Report Cards

● Newport Public Schools Student Cell Phones and Personal Electronic Devices Policy

● Newport Public Schools Student Attendance Policy

● Newport Public Schools 2025-2026 School Year Bus Schedule

● Newport Public Schools Portrait of a Graduate

● Rhode Island Department of Education Assessment Portal

● Rhode Island Department of Education Attendance Leaderboard and Attendance Calendar Heat Map