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:

https://www.chariho.k12.ri.us/sites/default/files/chs_program_of_studies_new_1_16_18.pdf

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