Superintendent's Update

Dear Newport Schools Parents, Families, and Staff:

It is soon that time for Open House Nights. Open House is a great opportunity to get to know your child’s teachers, principals, and to connect with school and community resources. So stop by your school’s Open House Night (Schedule) and bring your child for a fun evening. *Open House at Rogers will start with a meet and greet presentation in the auditorium at 5:00.

Parents and guardians, we really need your support in our push to improve student attendance. Our attendance is not as high as we would like for this time of year and we really need help from home on this.

Recently the Newport School Committee passed a new policy. Newport Public Schools Student Attendance Policy

You will notice the policy focuses on what an excused and unexcused absence is. These terms are set by the RI Department of Education. Our criteria has changed for an absence to be considered excused and will require a doctor’s note. It is ok to have some unexcused absences, as it is only normal, since one may catch a cold or is sick now and then. So please do not think you MUST have a doctor’s note each time your child is out now and then. It is when a student is sick or calls come in more on a daily or regular basis reporting a child is going to be out that it raises a flag that perhaps there are health concerns or something more. Please read the policy carefully and contact your building principal or my office if you have any questions. You can also email your questions to Ms. Cathy Nash at cathynash@npsri.net. We will collect all questions and concerns and share answers with you next week.

And remember if you are encountering any issues that are making it challenging for your child to attend school every day, please reach out to your school’s principal. We have a number of resources available and are eager to help.

We love seeing our students arrive every day. Whether it is by bus, car, walking, bicycles, and now E-Bikes. E-Bike safety is a priority as we start our school year. We want to remind everyone that one must be 16 to drive an E-Bike and wear a helmet until age 21. E-Bikes can be a great way to get around a busy city like Newport, and we want everyone to obey the rules of the road and be safe. So please let’s work together to keep our students and children safe. Only those that are 16 should be operating the E-BIKE and helmets are a MUST!

Finally, further down in this newsletter, if you are interested in our discussions regarding the possibility of moving Grade 5 to Pell Elementary School beginning in September of 2026, please sign up or send us your thoughts. We want everyone to be involved in this decision.

Have a great week of learning everyone and let’s work together to make this a great year!

Colleen Burns Jermain, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

A big thank you to our One Newport community partner RENEWport who has recruited volunteers to greet our Pell Elementary students as they arrive for school in the mornings. What a great way to start the day for our students, to emphasize the importance of attendance, and to show support for our schools. Thank you! Check out this Newport This Week story on the RENEWport Volunteer Greeter Program.

E-BIKE Rules: NPS is working with BIKE Newport and Newport Police Department to keep our students and children safe. Remember one must be 16 to operate an E-BIKE and WEAR a helmet until age 21. Let’s work together to keep everyone safe. BIKE Newport and NPD are giving away free helmets! Many thanks again to Office Brittany Ripke who swung by our schools this week to remind everyone of the rules of the road and gave away many helmets. Thank you!!!

During the afternoon hours from 1:55pm-2:20pm traffic and dismissal are very busy. If you are able to avoid that time of day on Wickham Road we appreciate it. With demolition and other utility/infrastructure work still happening on the site of our new Rogers High School, we are working through our new bus drop-off and pick-up challenges with limited parking spaces for everyone. Safety is our number one priority, so please carefully review the updated procedures for parent drop-off and pick-up and student parking below. Newport residents should generally try to avoid the area around Rogers between 1:55 and 2:20 PM as we are experiencing traffic congestion and delays. Many thanks to Newport Police and officer Brittany Ripke for all her help and support every day!!!

Entrance & Route

● Parents should approach the school via Brenton Road → Wickham Road → West Lot to avoid traffic and long waits.

● Do not travel from Old Fort Road to Wickham Road, as this route will conflict with bus traffic.

Drop-Off & Pick-Up Area

● All drop-offs and pick-ups must take place along the curb closest to the school building in the West Lot.

● Please do not park in the spaces within the lot. This is our limited staff parking area.

● After dropping off or picking up your student, parents must loop through the parking lot and exit the West Lot promptly.

Student Parking

● Absolutely no students may park in the West Lot, which is reserved for faculty and staff only.

● Students may park in the bus loop or along the north side of Wickham Road, where ample parking is available.

We appreciate your cooperation in following these procedures. By doing so, you help us maintain a safe and efficient flow of traffic for everyone on campus.