First Week In The Books!📚
A Back to School Newsletter 2026-2027
What A First Week!
There is something so special about the first week of a new school year—the excitement, the nervous energy, the new faces, the familiar smiles, and that feeling that anything is possible.
This week, I was reminded once again that Charette is more than a school. It is a community. From our freshmen taking their first steps into high school to our seniors beginning their final chapter, there was a beautiful sense of connection and possibility throughout our building.
A new school year brings new opportunities to learn, grow, challenge ourselves, and create memories that will stay with us long after the final bell rings. I am so excited for what lies ahead and grateful to begin this journey alongside our incredible students, families, and staff.
📅 Things to remember
And before we head into the weekend, a little reminder that students have a 5-day weekend ahead!
There is no school Monday, September 7 through Wednesday, September 9:
Monday, September 7: Labor Day
Tuesday, September 8: Rhode Island Primary Election Day
Wednesday, September 9: Professional Development Day
Students return Thursday, September 10.
Enjoy the long weekend, Charette! We’ll see everyone back refreshed and ready for another great week! 💙
— Mrs. Martin
Day 2 | All Grades Together!
We welcomed our 10th and 11th graders and officially had all four grades under one roof! Seniors led our first Senior Walkthrough, creating a meaningful full-circle moment as they walked through the second floor, where they began their Charette journey, and down to the first floor as they begin their final year.
And the learning has already begun! 📚 check out 9th grade History!
Our 9th graders are diving into Global Empires, exploring the factors that helped empires become successful and powerful. Students are beginning to examine questions around leadership, resources, innovation, geography, and other forces that shaped some of history’s most influential civilizations.
🌎 10th Grade: Exploring Colonization
Our 10th graders kicked off a new unit exploring colonization and the motivations behind it. Students are beginning to dig into an important question: Why would one country want to colonize another? Through the unit, they’ll examine the political, economic, and social factors that influenced countries to expand their power and control over other regions.
✍️ 9th Grade: Finding Their Voice Through Poetry
Our 9th graders are diving into poetry and exploring how writers use words, experiences, and creativity to express themselves. This week, students got a special opportunity to read a piece of poetry written by their own ELA teacher, Ms. Mendoza! 📖✨
Reading their teacher’s work gave students a chance to see poetry from a different perspective and connect with the person guiding them through the unit. We can’t wait to see where our 9th graders take their own voices and ideas as they continue exploring poetry!
📚 Meet Kenia Mendoza! ELA 9 & 10
Kenia Mendoza is a first-year teacher and recent graduate of the Brown University Master of Arts in Teaching program, where she studied Secondary Education English and was an Urban Education Fellow. Originally from Houston, Texas, Kenia was raised in a Mexican immigrant household and speaks Spanish natively.
Before joining Charette, Kenia completed her teaching residency at Central Falls High School, where she supported a 9th-grade ELA classroom and taught a unit on To Kill a Mockingbird. She is especially passionate about helping students grow as writers and use writing as a way to engage more deeply with literature and their own ideas.
After spending the past year in Providence, Kenia is excited to continue calling Rhode Island home and to join the Charette community. She hopes to help students build a lifelong love of learning, both inside and outside the ELA classroom. ✏️📖
✨ Fun fact: Kenia loves creative writing and has a concentration in Fiction!
📐 Meet Megan Eddy-Joost! Geometry & Statistics Teacher 11-12
Megan Eddy-Joost teaches Geometry and Statistics to Charette’s juniors and seniors. She is passionate about helping students build confidence, strengthen their problem-solving skills, and see how math connects to everyday life. ➗✨
Megan earned her bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, Mathematics, and History from the University of Rhode Island. With experience working with students across middle and high school, she loves creating a supportive classroom where everyone feels encouraged to learn, try, and grow.
This week, Megan’s Geometry students have been constructing shapes and learning how to use known information to justify their conclusions. In Statistics, students are getting ready to collect data about their own lives and turn their findings into a creative postcard featuring a data diagram and written explanation. 📊💌
✨ Outside of school: Megan enjoys spending time with family and friends, crafting, and exploring new places!
🏀 Meet Our New 9th & 10th, History Teacher! Ms. McFate
Born and raised in the very small town of Fairlee, Vermont, our newest History teacher is a recent URI graduate who earned bachelor’s degrees in History, Secondary Education, and Political Science. 🎓
With a strong interest in government, international relations, and how the world has changed over time, they are excited to bring history to life for Charette students and explore the many different places, people, and systems that shape our world. 🌎
They chose Charette because they connected strongly with our school’s values — and especially appreciated the support Charette provides to new teachers. They’re excited to share their love of history while learning and growing alongside our students.
✨ Outside of school: You can find them playing basketball or soccer, running, working out, or cheering on women’s basketball and hockey! 🏀⚽🏒
🧪 Meet Baowei Wan! Science Teacher — Chemistry & Physics 11&12
Baowei Wan’s journey to Charette has taken him across four cities — and even across continents! 🌎 Originally from China, Baowei earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees there and spent six years teaching chemistry in Shanghai.
He later came to Rhode Island to earn his Master of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in Science from Brown University. Now, he is excited to bring his love of learning and teaching to Charette, where he teaches Chemistry and Physics.
Baowei’s own teachers inspired his passion for education, and he hopes to do the same for his students by supporting them as they learn, explore, and grow. 🔬⚡
✨ Outside the classroom: Baowei is a new dad! He also loves cooking different cuisines, meeting new people, and spending time with his chunky cat. 🐈
