PORTSMOUTH — “A new concept in learning,” boasted the front page of a special issue of The Sakonnet Times from more than 50 years ago. 

The just-opened Portsmouth Middle School was indeed something new, with a sunken reading area in the library — some joked it was supposed to be a swimming pool — and large “learning centers” that could be divided into four separate classrooms.

“That was the thing at that time,” said Jackie Shearman, who worked at the school for “35.8 years” as a clerk and main office worker. The new school was full of energy and youth, she said.

“Most of the teachers were brand new and they had just come out of college. They had learned that method of teaching. When the kids were done working, they could go off on their own. People came from all around to look at it,” she said.

Now Shearman and a committee formed by the Portsmouth Middle School PTO are planning events to celebrate the middle school’s 50th anniversary. (The school actually opened its doors in the fall of 1971, but the pandemic made any in-person events impossible until the restrictions were recently lifted.)

“We started this committee because Portsmouth Middle School prides itself on being a community, and by being a community we wanted to celebrate the 50 years since this building has been in existence,” said Principal Joao Arruda.

Although the main birthday bash isn’t until June 10 — more about that later — the school is already celebrating with monthly events, such as a St. Patrick’s Day hallway bulletin board project, a 1970s dress-up day, and a food drive that benefited the St. John’s Lodge Food Bank on Sprague Street.

The school also plans on erecting a 50th birthday sign outside, and the School Committee will hold its April 12 meeting at the school, where members “can blow out candles,” Arruda said.

June 10 party

The fun will culminate with a 50th Birthday Celebration at Newport Vineyards, 909 East Main Road, Middletown, from 6-10 p.m. on Friday, June 10. There will be music, hors d’oeuvres, a school bus photo booth, silent auction, raffles and more. 

Tickets, at $50 each (adults only), can be purchased at https://pmsri50.eventbrite.com. Proceeds from the raffles and silent auction will be used by the PTO toward enhancing enrichment opportunities for students.

“We are hoping to raise enough money to offset the cost of improving the outdoor space at the school with either an outdoor classroom and/or redoing the athletic courts and providing new outdoor specific fitness equipment,” stated a letter the PTO sent out to the school community.

The group is asking for item donations for the fund-raiser and silent auction. The items could include, but are not limited to, tickets to events or experiences, time-share stays, vacation packages, travel vouchers, sports memorabilia, gift certificates for restaurants, camps, stores, services and goods. 

E-mail portsmouthripto@gmail.com for questions or to donate. Donations can be mailed to, or dropped off at, Portsmouth Middle School, Attn: PTO, 125 Jepson Lane, Portsmouth, RI 02871.  

The committee is also hoping to locate former students and faculty members who’d like to attend the event, or another one Arruda is planning the day after the fund-raiser, June 11.

“I’m looking into having an open house on Saturday for former students or faculty and staff who haven’t been here for a while who want to look at what the school looks like now,” he said.

And if you know of any families with three generations who all attended the school, contact Shearman at jshearman@cox.net. The committee wants to hear your stories.

Tailored to students

Arruda said Portsmouth Middle School is celebrating 50 years of educational excellence. “To me, Portsmouth Middle School is an institution that provides an education that’s tailored to the students, and it’s always willing to work with families,” he said.

Added Francesca Faria, a school counselor, “Everybody’s so respectful and kind to each other. We’re definitely a family. It makes it a nice place to come every day.”

Shearman, now retired, agreed.

“We had fun,” she said. “We did a lot of things after school, too. We had a bowling league for staff. Everybody got along. Never once did I drive to work and say, ‘Ooh, I got to go to work.’ Every day was different.”