http://smithfield.patch.com/announcements/smithfield-schools-hit-the-mark-with-necap-scores
We are thrilled to announce that Smithfield students continue to demonstrate high marks on the NECAP! The results of the 2012 NECAP were released to the public on Friday, February 8. The most significant gains were noted in Mathematics at SHS where students posted a 23 percentage point increase! Furthermore, 94% of SHS students were proficient in Reading!
The elementary schools and Gallagher Middle School continue to rank near the top in the state.
Congratulations to Smithfield's students, parents, teachers, and administrators for their outstanding work!
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Back to School!
Welcome back to school! The past week was a busy and rewarding one! On Monday, August 27 we welcomed our faculty and staff members back to school with an Opening Ceremony. Neil Wood, a motivational speaker, spoke to us about the power of positive thought and how to ride the wave of change! Our students shared a few songs of inspiration before sending us off to engage in professional learning! Faculty groups met throughout the day focusing on the CCSS and our newly-developed curricula. Powerful, collegial conversations prepared us for an outstanding year!
On Tuesday, August 28, we welcomed our students back to school! There was excitement in the air as our students, young and old, returned for another year! A special thank you to the teachers who had prepared their classrooms and worked tirelessly throughout the summer to implement the best of ideas, new and old!
I must say that I am often pleasantly impressed with the level of professionalism our teachers demonstrate. Dressing for success, being organized and prepared, and teaching with enthusiasm are all aspects of the Smithfield Public Schools for which I am grateful and proud.
As we embark upon the 2012-13 school year, I wish everyone a spectacular year!
On Tuesday, August 28, we welcomed our students back to school! There was excitement in the air as our students, young and old, returned for another year! A special thank you to the teachers who had prepared their classrooms and worked tirelessly throughout the summer to implement the best of ideas, new and old!
I must say that I am often pleasantly impressed with the level of professionalism our teachers demonstrate. Dressing for success, being organized and prepared, and teaching with enthusiasm are all aspects of the Smithfield Public Schools for which I am grateful and proud.
As we embark upon the 2012-13 school year, I wish everyone a spectacular year!
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Welcome to the 2012-13 school year! We are thrilled to be welcoming back our wonderful staff members and students!
This year will bring continued change and improvement as we implement our newly-developed CCSS-aligned curricula (ELA and Math). Our teachers will be busy at work developing units and lessons to complement our scope and sequence documents at each grade level. The transition to the CCSS will require an "all hands on deck" approach! Stay tuned as we embark on this journey toward excellence!
As always, we look forward to partnering with our stakeholders! Best wishes to all for an outstanding school year!
This year will bring continued change and improvement as we implement our newly-developed CCSS-aligned curricula (ELA and Math). Our teachers will be busy at work developing units and lessons to complement our scope and sequence documents at each grade level. The transition to the CCSS will require an "all hands on deck" approach! Stay tuned as we embark on this journey toward excellence!
As always, we look forward to partnering with our stakeholders! Best wishes to all for an outstanding school year!
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Welcome Mrs. Dorsey!
Congratulations to Julie Dorsey for being named R.C. LaPerche principal! Mrs. Dorsey is an outstanding administrator, instructional leader, and teacher. Mrs. Dorsey brings a wealth of experience with her to LaPerche. She has served as an elementary teacher, instructional coach, and most recently, as the principal of Saylesville Elementary School in Lincoln.
Mrs. Dorsey was selected as the new principal at LaPerche Elementary School from over 40 applicants and eight candidates. A rigorous screening and interview process consisted of a team of teachers, administrators, and a parent representative.
We welcome Mrs. Dorsey to the Smithfield Public Schools and wish her the very best!
Mrs. Dorsey was selected as the new principal at LaPerche Elementary School from over 40 applicants and eight candidates. A rigorous screening and interview process consisted of a team of teachers, administrators, and a parent representative.
We welcome Mrs. Dorsey to the Smithfield Public Schools and wish her the very best!
Summer learning is a hot topic among educators, parents, and students. Some parents are in favor of ensuring that their children continue with their studies, while other parents are adamant about their children needing and deserving a break from the rigors of school.
The Common Core State Standards are forcing change in our schools today. The authors of the CCSS contend that in order for American-educated students to survive and thrive in the global economy of the 21st century, they must be educated with higher levels of rigor and expectations.
The industrial-age school calendars by which we currently operate are being scrutinized by education reformers and experts. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the expectations of the CCSS are very difficult to meet or exceed in the traditional 180 day school year. Additional learning time is needed. Now, more than ever, we need parents as our partners to ensure that our children are prepared to flourish in a competitive global society.
Our policies and beliefs about homework and summer learning must be re-examined. Students will need to read closely at home after school hours and during the summer months. Homework will need to be purposeful and rigorous- not merely "busy-work" for our students to develop responsibility. Parents- WE NEED YOU! Please partner with us by carving out time for your children to engage in deep reading and complete worthwhile tasks that are designed to prepare your children for success.
For more information about the importance of summer learning, please go to http://www.teachercreatedmaterials.com/curriculum_files/pdfs/lakids/LAUSD_summer_learning_loss.pdf
Happy Summer Learning!
The Common Core State Standards are forcing change in our schools today. The authors of the CCSS contend that in order for American-educated students to survive and thrive in the global economy of the 21st century, they must be educated with higher levels of rigor and expectations.
The industrial-age school calendars by which we currently operate are being scrutinized by education reformers and experts. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the expectations of the CCSS are very difficult to meet or exceed in the traditional 180 day school year. Additional learning time is needed. Now, more than ever, we need parents as our partners to ensure that our children are prepared to flourish in a competitive global society.
Our policies and beliefs about homework and summer learning must be re-examined. Students will need to read closely at home after school hours and during the summer months. Homework will need to be purposeful and rigorous- not merely "busy-work" for our students to develop responsibility. Parents- WE NEED YOU! Please partner with us by carving out time for your children to engage in deep reading and complete worthwhile tasks that are designed to prepare your children for success.
For more information about the importance of summer learning, please go to http://www.teachercreatedmaterials.com/curriculum_files/pdfs/lakids/LAUSD_summer_learning_loss.pdf
Happy Summer Learning!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
One of the modes of communication our district leaders are hoping to improve is our use of social media and electronic forms of communication. Blogging is a method of communicating updates on our district happenings to our stakeholders.
As often as possible, I will be posting updates to our curriculum, instruction, and assessment initiatives and efforts in Smithfield. We are very proud of the leadership role we play in the education community in Rhode Island. As leaders in the transition to the Common Core State Standards, we have worked closely with the Rhode Island Association of School Principals to share our successes and challenges as we work diligently to align our curriculum, instruction, and assessment to these rigorous new standards.
For the past several weeks, teacher leaders from Smithfield have worked collaboratively with their colleagues from Burrillville, Foster-Glocester, North Providence, and Coventry to create exemplary mathematics curriculum documents and resources. As a teacher, first and foremost, I review these documents for their clarity and connection to the standards. I am thrilled to report that our latest CCSS-aligned curriculum is comprehensive and world class! Way to go Smithfield!
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