FEBRUARY 2018 Blog

We hope your child finished semester one on a strong note and that he or she is ready for a fresh start for semester two.  With the close of semester one, we start preparing for next year's course selections.  Students will begin this work with their school counselors shortly.  In this issue, we share our newly re-designed program of studies, which we ask that you view with your child to help with the course selection process.  It's also that time of year again where we ask you to participate in Survey Works.  This is a statewide survey that provides us with valuable information on areas such as the condition of the school building, instruction, and safety.  We also preview our spring sports meeting and the preschool fair which will take place the weekend of Artessy.  A recent topic that has been in the news and is a growing concern is vaping and we share information about this important topic below.  

Craig MacKenzie
Principal
@dflamturnover

Andrea Spas
Assistant Principal
@Andrea_Spas

Gerry Auth
CTC Director
@CHARIHOTech

PROGRAM OF STUDIES
We now have a re-designed Program of Studies!  We hope that this new format is a bit more interactive for our students.  Please encourage students to access the Program when selecting their courses. There are many new updates, so please make sure to check it out and ask your child to do the same.  Our hope is that students are thoughtful in their course selection process and use the Program of Studies as a guide in determining what courses best match their needs and future interests.   The table of contents is now hyperlinked so they can jump to the desired section by clicking on the page # to the right.  The Program of Studies can be found on the HS webpage as well as the School Counseling/Guidance page:




SURVEY WORKS
We are pleased to announce that you and your children in grades 9-12 will have the opportunity to give feedback about Chariho Regional High School through SurveyWorks. SurveyWorks is a statewide survey that asks you questions about the learning environment of schools.  This is an opportunity to let Chariho Regional High School leadership know what you think about your child’s experience.  We are always open to suggestions on how to improve the learning environment for your children.

Topics on the survey include school safety, school climate, learning strategies, family support and others. As in previous years, all surveys are anonymous. Students will take the survey on February 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th of 2018. All surveys are available in English and Spanish. Accommodations will be offered as necessary.

The survey results are most useful when all parents participate.  Please participate as we are looking for 100% participation! Your views on matters like the safety of your child at school, the way students are taught, the condition of the school, and how connected you feel to this school are important.  By taking this short survey you can help our school leadership and School Improvement Team. Responses are anonymous and cannot be linked to any individual; no one can tie your responses back to you. For more information about Survey Works, please click here.

You can take the short survey online between January 16th and March 30th, 2018.   To do so is easy, visit:  surveys.panoramaed.com/ride and enter the access code 98101family. If you don’t have access to the Internet, please contact Mrs. Nikki Scott at 364-7778 ext. 2102 to access a paper survey.

VAPING
A growing concern in our school is the number of students "vaping".  Faculty and staff attended a professional development last month to create awareness on this disturbing and unhealthy trend in adolescent behavior.  The devices, originally marketed as a smoking-cessation product, are now being marketed to teens and serving as a vehicle for increased nicotine addiction in students.  Many of the vaping devices are made to be easily concealable; some are shaped to look like zip drives or inhalers.  Vaping delivers a cocktail of chemicals to students lungs, none of which the FDA is monitoring or controlling.  We have spoken to students at all grade levels about the dangers and will continue to educate them on the consequences of this behavior.  We need your support in monitoring your students and engaging them in candid conversations.  A new state law prohibits vaping on school grounds.  If caught vaping in school, students will be consequenced under categories that include possession of drug paraphernalia, which does not look good on a permanent record for students looking for acceptance to technical schools, colleges and universities.  We have charged students with holding each other accountable to higher standards of behavior and purging this habit from our school community.  Thank you in advance for your support in this concern.



LUNCH ORDERS
This is a reminder about lunch purchases, students bringing lunch from home are welcome to purchase a-la-carte items, just not charge them.  


SPRING SPORTS MEETING
The Spring Sports Meeting for parents and athletes is scheduled for Tuesday, February 27th at 7pm in the CMS Auditorium.
PRESCHOOL FAIR
All families with small children are invited to attend the preschool fair.  There will be books, games, and crafts. This year the Preschool Fair will be part of the Chariho Artessy program. There will be artwork displayed, chorus singing, cupcake decorating, hair and nail styling, face painting, science activities, plus much more. At the fair you can register your child for Kindergarten, sign up for a free child outreach screening and/or sign up for preschool!

When:  Saturday, March 17, 2018
from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Where:  Chariho Middle School

JANUARY 2018 Blog


Independent & Innovative Learning Opportunities:

The focus of this month's blog is to share the unique learning opportunities available to our students and to preview our upcoming Career Fair.  

At CHS and CTC we are committed to providing students with course opportunities where they can direct their own learning.  Our goal is for students to have greater choice and stronger voice in their learning experiences.  In some cases, students can experience these courses as early as their freshman year, take our AP Seminar course, for example.  Please talk with your child about exploring any of the following unique course offerings:





INDEPENDENT STUDY
Independent Study is a student-centered credit-bearing course of study, which is independently designed and pursued by the student. It is a unique and innovative learning option. Because Chariho Regional High School is determined to meet the diverse instructional needs of all students, the Independent Study allows students to engage in deep and relevant study aligned to their unique interests and passions. This educational route requires applied and rigorous engagement in authentic learning, which may take place during, before or after the regular school day; it allows opportunity for study in areas not addressed in the Chariho Regional High School Program of Studies. The Independent Study content must center on “new learning” for the student.  While it may perhaps be based on prior knowledge, it primarily is framed around new learning that includes transferable concepts and understandings, rather than simply demonstrating what the student has already mastered.

All requests for Independent Study must be initiated with a Chariho Regional High School counselor and reviewed by the Independent Study Program Coordinator. An approval form, signed by the student, school counselor, Independent Study Coordinator, parent or guardian, mentor and the Assistant Principal must be complete before an independent study may begin.  

When the Independent Study is complete, the student will present his or her project to a review panel. The Independent Study will be assessed and assigned a grade of pass or fail that will serve as an elective credit.  This grade will not influence the student’s GPA or class rank calculations. The credit earned will depend on the scope of the project, including but not limited to, the amount of time a student invests in the project. The credit earned will be determined before the Independent Study begins.

STUDENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Student internships are experiences in which students work for an employer for a specified period of time to learn about a particular industry, business, or occupation.  The student can develop both job skills and academic skills when the internship integrates worksite activities with classroom projects and learning objectives.  Internships provide the context in which a student’s classroom learning is applied.

Students must be in Grades 11 and 12.  Students should prepare for this experience by making an appointment to meet with the Internship Coordinator.  Internships may be arranged at any time, providing all requirements can be met. The duration of all internships is no less than 60 hours.  One-half credit will be granted for each 60 hours of internship, up to two (2) credits.  Students may receive credit for a maximum of two internships during their high school career.  Students need to commit a minimum of one academic semester.


INCUBATOR
The INCubatoredu entrepreneurship concept is designed to get students excited about becoming true entrepreneurs by giving them the opportunity to create and fully develop their own product or service. Real-world entrepreneurs and business experts will serve as coaches and mentors guiding student teams through the process of ideation, market research, and business model development. Over the course of the year, student teams will learn about marketing, finance, as well as the legal aspects of starting a business. They will have access to a network of professionals to further develop the skills (teamwork, problem solving, presentation, communication) that will prepare them for college and careers. The program will culminate with Pitch Week. Pitch Week helps to further fire the entrepreneurial spirit by putting student teams in front of actual investors so they can pitch and promote their innovative idea to win funding and turn their dreams into reality. 


AP SEMINAR COURSE

This is a 1 credit, year-long course open for students in 10th and 11th grade and is also available to 9th graders on a case-by-case basis.  By taking this course early on in their HS career, students can build a foundation of discourse skills needed to prepare them for success in future AP courses.  This course is a prerequisite to AP Research, which will be offered in 2019-2020 to 11th or 12th graders and to 10th graders on a case-by-case basis. While students aren't required to take both AP Seminar and AP Research, if they earn a 3 or higher in both of these courses they earn an AP Seminar and Research Certificate. If students earn a 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and also earn a 3 or higher on four additional AP exams of their choosing, they earn an AP Capstone Diploma. 

The following is the AP Seminar course description provided by College Board:
AP Seminar is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives.  Using an inquiry framework, students practice reading and analyzing articles, research studies, and foundational literary, and philosophical texts; listening to and viewing speeches, broadcasts, and personal accounts; and experiencing artistic works and performances.  Students learn to synthesize information from multiple sources, develop their own perspectives in research-based written essays, and design and deliver oral and visual presentations, both individually and as part of a team.  Ultimately, the course aims to equip students with the power to analyze and evaluate information with accuracy and precision in order to craft and communication evidence-based arguments.  

COLLEGE CREDITS
Please also make sure to visit page 14 of our Program of Studies to see the variety of college credit opportunities available to our students.

VIRTUAL HIGH SCHOOL
Virtual High School (VHS) is an online program that allows students to take classes that are not offered at CHS. VHS offers everything from "Psychology 101" to “Ghouls, Ghosties, and Long-Legged Beasties”, with options of semester or full-year courses. VHS is best suited for students who are self-motivated and will thrive in an online environment. The biggest challenge for students is managing their time and adjusting to the online platform. Students can choose a “GPA” or “Pass/Fail” option, meaning that the course grade can be issued numerically or can count towards credit for graduation without being calculated into their GPA. 


Career Fair

Chariho parents: we need your support creating a meaningful career fair experience for our CHS students:
  • Do you have a career you would like to promote?  
  • Would you like to help our students understand the expectations and pathways offered through your field?  
  • Are you looking to recruit seasonal or full-time employees?
We will be hosting a career fair on February 16th for CHS and CTC students. At this event, representatives from various businesses, unions, and organizations will have their opportunity to meet with Chariho Regional High School students during advisory to discuss pathways to professions, expectations for professionals in the field, and expected income for various positions within the profession. Professionals will have tables/displays set up at Chariho Tech, or if necessary, at locations that allow them to best represent what they do. We need you to help our students understand the skills, expectations and pathways to success in your profession. Please contact CTC Director, Gerald Auth, at Gerald.Auth@Chariho.k12.ri.us or CHS Principal, Craig MacKenzie, at Craig.MacKenzie@chariho.k12.ri.us for more information. If you are interested in registering for this event please click the following link: Chariho Career Fair Registration Form.

A message from Ms. Toso, our Reading Specialist:


I have created an informative newsletter that includes Response to Intervention Reading information. This newsletter includes reading strategies that students are working on. It can serve as an information source for parents, and a way for students to practice strategies at home. I will update the link every month with new reading strategies that help us all to be better readers. Please email me if you have any questions or concerns!  Here is the link: https://www.smore.com/p4nxe-chs-reading