Superintendent's Message

Dear Newport Schools Parents, Families, and Staff,

Banners of our Rogers seniors up on Broadway is a sure sign that graduation is just around the corner and the 2024-2025 school year is wrapping up. Next Thursday at 6:00pm at Toppa Field we’ll be sending our seniors off with a wonderful graduation ceremony for students and their families, honoring their hard work, celebrating their accomplishments, and looking forward to their bright futures as contributing members of our community. We are so fortunate with so many fun in and out of classroom events happening at all of our schools from field trips, to concerts, to family fun days, as well as our community partners’ events. So please keep an eye out for school newsletters and weekly announcements.

Speaking of community activities, our budget each year includes funding to help support the work our partners do in our schools-before, during, and after school hours. This year, due to our own staffing challenges, we had to reduce funding to all our partners while trying to keep as many of our own NPS staff and programs. The community organizations then decide how to spend the money we allocate to them, do their own budgets, and spend as they see fit to help support our schools. The school committee and administration have heard from many about these decisions, forcing the partners to make their own staffing decisions based on this reduced allocation from the schools. The NSC then directed the administration to help a partner so some staff could be retained. The good news is that we have identified a way to help our partner so hopefully some of those beloved positions will remain. Woo-Hoo!!

I want to end with more good news with two big shoutouts. First, a great job to the Thompson Middle School band, orchestra, and choir who performed in last Thursday’s Spring Concert. The concert was closed out with a spirited rendition of the TMS fight song led by Don Chilton! Go Warriors! And a big shout out to the NACTC Culinary program who held the soft opening of their new Seaside Bites food truck last week. See more below. I can tell you that the food was delicious and this incredible mobile learning experience will be making stops around Newport in the near future- stay tuned for more. Great job NACTC culinary students, Chef Matt Reilly, and Director Robert Young and Kerry Clarke for making the Seaside Bites food truck a reality!

Have a great week of learning everyone!

Colleen Burns Jermain, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Introducing the Newport Area Career & Technical Center's new Seaside Bites food truck! Last Thursday was the truck's soft opening and the food was delicious! Seaside Bites' truck wrap was designed by NACTC design students, will be manned by NACTC culinary students, and maintained with help of NACTC automotive students. What a fantastic and yummy platform for learning! And one that will be making stops around Newport in the near future. Great job team NACTC! And thank you to the Rhode Island Department of Education's Menu for Success initiative, which provided grant funding to make this project a reality!

Graduation is next Thursday evening starting at 6:00pm at Toppa Field. We’re so excited for and proud of our graduates! Here’s a great message from Rogers Principal Jared Vance who has been signing diplomas in preparation for the big day:

“My favorite time of the year! Signing each diploma just reminds me of just how amazing our students are and the paths they have begun to blaze as they prepare for their future! You Vikings all make me and our community so proud! #weareviking”

Last Thursday, Thompson Middle School closed out their Spring Concert with a spirited rendition of the TMS fight song by the Thompson Middle School Band, led by director Mr. Don Chilton. Watch the video here. Go Warriors!

Our Rogers MLL students enjoyed a fun field trip to Toppa Field on Monday. Thank you Mr. Nick Manson and Ms. Ana Gomes for pulling together this special event for our MLL students who have overcome many challenges this year while staying focused on their studies.

All Pell students and families are invited to this Saturday’s Learn 365 Pell Family Fun Day at Miantonomi Park from 11:00am-2:00pm. Come join in this end of school year celebration with fun activities, games, and food!

"Elliot's Ride for Everyone" is a chance for everyone to ride along Newport's spectacular coastline WITHOUT CARS! This Saturday, June 7th, from 9:00am until noon. More information at bikenewportri.org/elliots-ride/. There is no cost to participate. Please come, bring your family and friends, and have fun!

Join RENEWport on June 18th from 5:00-7:00 pm at Salve Regina University for their second World Cafe community conversation. Learn more are RSVP here.

Last Friday evening Pell Elementary School had their SpringFest. Many thanks to our wonderful PTO, Principal Westman, and all the families that came out to join the fun!!

Cell phone free Fridays continue through the end of the school year at Rogers. RHS has held Cell Phone Free Fridays for the past 5 weeks and both students and Faculty/Staff have participated. We would have liked to see more participation but, as this was a voluntary activity, participation was relatively low. Beginning next year we will not be allowing cell phones during the school day in our new Rogers High School. Here are some highlights from the survey results.

• 41 Students Participated in the Cell Phone Free Friday

• 16 Faculty/Staff Participated in the Cell Phone Free Friday

• I feel more focused in class when I do not have access to my cell phone. - 42% Strongly Agree

• Not having my phone during the school day helps me stay engaged with lessons and activities. - 34% Strongly Agree

• I feel anxious or stressed when I cannot check my phone during school hours. - 42% Strongly Disagree

• I feel more connected to my peers when we are not using our phones during the school day. -34% Agree

• I understand the reasons behind limiting phone use during school. - 50% Strongly Agree

• Being without my phone during school helps reduce distractions in my learning environment. - 34% Strongly Agree

How many times did you check your cell phone during Cell Phone Free Friday?

• 67% - Zero

• 25% - 1-3 Times

• 8% - 4-6 Times