E.P. students participate in testing programs; committee receives Pre-K, Kindergarten update

EPHS teachers receive award, gain grant for science curriculum

By Mike Rego
Posted 4/13/17

EAST PROVIDENCE — East Providence High School students took full advantage of the opportunity to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the SAT, for free and during school hours, superintendent …

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E.P. students participate in testing programs; committee receives Pre-K, Kindergarten update

EPHS teachers receive award, gain grant for science curriculum

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — East Providence High School students took full advantage of the opportunity to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the SAT, for free and during school hours, superintendent Kathryn Crowley told the school committee during her monthly report at the body’s April 11 meeting.
Mrs. Crowley commended the efforts of EPHS principal Shani Wallace and the entire staff at the high school for implementing the first-year effort, which was funded through an initiative of Governor Gina Raimondo’s office and the Rhode Island Department of Education.
Some 90 percent of those students eligible, mostly juniors, took the SAT recently during school hours, according to the superintendent.
Mrs. Crowley also told the committee PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) testing was expected to be completed at the conclusion of last week, save for any students who needed to take a make-up exam. The superintendent said the testing this year was “very successful” and thanked both students and parents for participating. She said the district remains on track towards its goal of 95 participation in the PARCC process.
Kindergarten update
District director of operation Diana Clarkin presented the committee with an update on the incoming Kindergarten students expected for the 2017-18 term.
Ms. Clarkin said Kindergarten registration is on “par with last year's numbers” or approximately 300 pupils. For 2017-18, there will be two Kindergarten classes each in six elementary schools — Hennessey, Kent Heights, Oldham, Orlo, Silver Spring and Whiteknact — and three K classrooms at both Francis and Waddington.
Ms. Clarkin added following the meeting, “While we anticipate additional registrations this year and into the summer, currently the classroom size is averaging 15.”
Pre-K update
Assistant superintendent Celeste Bowler told the committee the district will continue its Pre-Kindergarten program, the first year currently being housed at Oldham Elementary in Riverside and in designated space at Martin Middle School.
Mrs. Bowler noted she planned to hold a pair of informational meetings last week for parents interested in enrolling their children in the program. She also said the lottery for students accepted into Pre-K, which is controlled and operated by RIDE, will likely be conducted and results announced by the end of April.
Said superintendent Crowley after the meeting, “We feel this first year has been very successful. The students and parents seem to be very happy with the program.”
The superintendent added the same number of classrooms as currently are used will once again be available in the fall. RIDE initially gave the district $1.3 million in seed funding, which allowed for seven classrooms at Martin with 90 children and two classrooms at Oldham with 36 kids. The maximum number of students is 18 per classroom. The ratio of student to teacher and aide is 1/9.
Jr. ROTC
The superintendent said the district remains very interested in starting a Jr. Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program at the East Providence Career and Tech Center. She said the administration continues to fulfill the lengthy application process and EPCTC principal Karen Mellen recently met with overseers of the program. The administrators are planning to seek monies from the Perkins Foundation to fund the program, which best case scenario could be offered to incoming freshmen beginning in the fall.
More notes

  • Among the other notable bits to come from the April 11 meeting, it was announced EPHS English teacher Wayne Branch is the latest in a line of district teachers to be recognized by RIDE for their performance and commitment in the classroom with a “Golden Apple Award.”
  • Of note as well, the superintendent announced EPHS Science Department chairman Joel Swan has attained a Mini-Science grant to assist in bringing the school’s curriculum aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) guidelines.
  • The committee also took action on a handful of items. It gave its second and final approval to a revised lactation (breast feeding) policy in the district.
  • The committee approved adding bottled water to the beverage choices available to elementary school students.
  • John McNamee, a CPA who works for the Town of North Providence and who is the brother of superintendent Crowley, was added to the non-paying position as a member of the sub-committee on buildings.
  • The committee approved the travel plans for the EPHS DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America), which will take part in a competition in California. 

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MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.