Highlander Charter School
District Newsletter - April 2023
Important Dates:
- April 1st - 401gives (Please considered donating to Highlander)
- April 3rd - 4th & 6th Grade ELA RICAS
- April4th - 4th & 6th Grade ELA RICAS; 3rd Quarter ends
- April 5th - 3rd, 5th grade and Middle School ELA RICAS
- April 6th - 3rd, 5th grade and Middle School ELA RICAS, Picture day for PVD; 2B exhibition
- April 7th - ELA RICAS testing makeups; Pre K Library trip
- April 10th-14th - April Break
- April 17th-21st - Kids Heart Challenge Week
- April 18th - Early Dismissal 11:30am for PVD - Learning Plan Meetings; PSAT/SAT
- April 20th - 4th Grade trip to Boston Tea party; Warren Campus 1/2 day for SLC
- April 21st - 5th Grade trip to New York; Oral screening for K, 3rd & 6th grade
- April 26th - 5th Grade trip to Fenway Park
To All of the Highlander Community:
After twenty years of work here at the Highlander Charter School, seventeen as the Head of School, I have made the bittersweet decision to announce my retirement effective July 31, 2023. Together we have celebrated our successes, weathered our challenges, and built our K-8 school into a school serving grades Pre-K through grade 12 that we can be proud of. I am forever grateful for having had the privilege to serve the Highlander Community and grateful for the support of each of you as I navigated the political and economic barriers associated with Charter Schools in Rhode Island.
Succession and change are never easy; however, it is inevitable. I discussed this transition with the members of the Highlander Charter School Board at our January Board Meeting, and we are working on the process for selecting the new Superintendent of Highlander Charter School. In order to ensure the continued growth and success of the school, it is imperative that whoever assumes the role of superintendent is knowledgeable about all aspects of running a charter school in the State of Rhode Island. The ideal candidate will need to understand the political and financial landscape specific to Rhode Island. The new Superintendent will also need to be able to build trust and garner confidence from the Highlander Community.
In order to have an inclusive process, a hiring committee composed of board members, parents, staff, and community members will be created within the next few weeks to vet applications and attend interviews of selected candidates. The job posting will occur once the committee is in place. When the committee identifies finalists, candidates will spend time at each campus to allow for meetings with parents, students, and staff who were not on the committee.
In closing, I want to reiterate that I am deeply appreciative for your trust and support over the past twenty years and for my years at Highlander Charter School.
Ms. Grant
Middle/High School - Principal
Middle/High School Assistant Principal
Literacy Department
Department of Teaching and Learning
Highlander Health Department
Reading Week was AMAZING!!
We had multiple events at both campuses and Reading Night was finally Back!!! Thank you to all the families and staff that participated on the many events. Can't wait for next year.
April is Kids Heart Challenge Week April 17-21,2023
In collaboration with the American Heart Association we will be celebrating Kids Heart Challenge at the Providence Campus from April 17th-21st, be in the lookout for important information from Ms. Nencka and Nurse Erin on how to keep a healthy heart. Families from both campuses are invited to join the Healthy Heart Family Challenge.
Want to join the Healthy Heart Family Challenge? Is simple everyday from Monday - Friday we will have a challenge for your family, accept the challenge and sent a picture to Ms. Tatiana tromero@hc.schopol or on Class Dojo to enter the daily raffle.
Monday 4/17: Enjoy a healthy snack as a family
Tuesday 4/18: Go on a walk with the family
Wednesday 4/19: Skip the juice and or soda and have water instead
Thursday 4/20: Be a Healthy Heart hero, create a poster to create awareness for a Healthy Heart
Friday 4/21: Share a funny video or joke that makes you laugh, take it one step further make your own video.
Earth Day Clean up - April 22nd, 2023
Join your Highlander Family and our First Lady Sue McKee on Saturday, April 22nd at the PVD Campus for Earth Day Clean up of our Community. Gloves, bags and grabbers will be provided.
Kick off event is at 9:30am
We will have two groups
10:00-12:00pm
12:00-2:00pm
Please RSVP by Wednesday, April 19th
https://forms.gle/rfr4uZhYucTYgu5q6
For more information about events around the State check https://litterfree.ri.gov/
Scholarships
FREE NATIONAL SUMMER PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AGES 15-18
Know a teen who wants to become the best version of themselves so that they can help their community become the best version of itself? Share this email with them.
We are excited to offer this one-of-a-kind program designed to develop bold and empathetic leaders (15-18 years old) from across the nation. This program includes 20+ virtual sessions and a trip to our Global Headquarters in New Hampshire. 100% of the program fees will be waived for all accepted applications. Only 20 slots are available, and applicants from all 50 states, D.C., and U.S. territories are encouraged to apply! Applications are due April 7th and applying early is recommended!
This program will focus on conflict transformation (personal and community), public speaking, communication, and identity. It is one of the most challenging youth leadership programs in the country and emphasizes resilience, empathy, and action. Participants will develop concrete skills and the confidence that will help them unify the nation and transform the world into a better place.
Interviews will be held on a rolling basis. There will be virtual sessions in June followed by a fifteen-day immersive in-person program at the FFI Campus in New Hampshire in July and then virtual sessions after the trip. Selected participants will have the opportunity to continue their journey with an international program hosted at the FFI Center in Northern Ireland in the future.
Tap the Power of the Arts this Summer!
Need-Based Scholarships for Rhode Island 6th, 7th, and 8th Graders
Recipients receive up to $600 for summer art experiences of THEIR choice. Application DEADLINE EXTENDED to April 10.
For more information and links to the application, please visit: http://ppacri.org/scholarships or email scholarships@ppacri.org.
We welcome your posting or forwarding the attached flyers (English and Spanish versions) and/or sharing the following social media postings with your networks and communities (NOTE some of the social media postings still say April 1 as the deadline). Thank you.
For students interested in musical theatre and performing, PPAC’s Next Stop BROADWAY summer intensive program for ages 10-17 may be of interest. Financial aid available. Details at http://ppacri.org/nsb.
Rhode Island PBS Foundation Scholarship
The Rhode Island PBS Foundation Scholarship offers awards to residents of Rhode Island and Bristol County, Massachusetts who demonstrate promise of a successful career in the fields of broadcasting, communications, or journalism. Applicants must be either a graduating high school senior planning to attend a 4-year post-secondary institution, or a currently enrolled college/university student studying in any of these fields. Awards of up to $15,000 will be awarded annually and are renewable for an additional three years. For application details, please go to www.ripbs.org/education. Applications are due by 5:00 pm on April 10, 2023.
Navigant Credit Union Scholarship
The Navigant Credit Union Scholarship opportunities are available by visiting www.navigantcu.org/scholarships. It is open to any graduating high school senior entering an accredited junior college, college, university or tech school. The applicant or parent/guardian must be a member of Navigant Credit Union in good standing. The deadline to apply for this scholarship is Friday, May 5th 2023.
Community Service/ Community Opportunities
New Gammbassadors (Youth Ushers) Program Launching at the Gamm Theatre: Are you a high school student aged 16-18 who loves theater? If so, you can learn about professional theater and see shows for FREE — plus earn community service hours. It's easy and fun! For details, click here Roles include: scanning tickets, directing patrons in the lobby and the theater, stuffing and/or passing out programs, seating patrons, and answering patron's questions. In return, you have the option to earn community service hours and see Gamm productions for free! Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Lauryn Sasso at 401-723-4266 x 163 or volunteer@gammtheatre.org with any questions. Remaining Performance Dates: Bad Jews, Mar 2 - 26, 2023, The Children, Apr 27 - May 14, 2023.
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR
FAMILIES OF KIDS UNDER 18
Kids’ Link RI™ is a behavioral health triage service and referral network. A program offered in collaboration with Gateway Healthcare, Lifespan, Hasbro Children's Hospital and Bradley Hospital, Kids’ Link RI is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help triage children and youth in need of mental health services and refer them to treatment providers.The free, confidential phone line, 1-855-543-5465, connects parents and caregivers to an experienced clinician that can help them access children’s services in Rhode Island, and determine the best place to go for treatment and counseling.
Contact Kids’ Link RI™ if your child is:
Feeling excessive anger or sadness.
Lashing out at siblings, friends, and adults.
Having behavior problems at school.
Having severe worries.
Hurting himself/herself or others.
Adult Education: Are you or someone you know in need of adult education? https://enrollri.org/adulted
Affordable Internet: Is your family in need of affordable internet? "The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) helps to ensure that families can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month towards internet and eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 towards the purchase price." Learn more here.
One initiative we are piloting this year is the Handle with Care. If your child is coming to school after a difficult night, morning, or weekend, please know that we want school yo be a safe and comfortable place for them. We don't need to know the details, please send me a message and let me know to "handle with care". This will alert us to make sure your child has space, time, and love throughout the day.
All families have been invited to Class Dojo, if you need assistance or haven't received an invitation please email me at tromero@hc.school
Highlander Receives a RIDE Afterschool Grant
Highlander Charter School, in partnership with the Center for Dynamic Learning, received a grant to expand our afterschool program for grades K-6! The great news is that for the next session and all sessions next year, registration will be free! We know that this will be helpful to our families. As with all programs we will have limits of the number of students we will be able to enroll. Hopefully, this is a grant that we will be able to renew in the future. Alex Torres, our Afterschool Director, will be sending registration information to elementary school families soon.
Job and Career Fair
Highlander together with the East Bay Chamber of Commerce and Mt. Hope high School is hosting a college and career fair on May 11th from 4:30pm-7pm at Highlander in Warren. This will be a great opportunity to visit all of the business that will be here presenting and learn about job openings and careers for the future. Families are welcome to this free event!
Pete Deal Highlander Golf Classic
This event that raises funds for scholarships for students is Monday, May 22nd at Swansea Country Club. If you own a business and would like to sponsor, or if you would like to donate to support our students’ lunches, please click here. A highlight of the event for the golfers and our high school student volunteers is the barbecue lunch that they enjoy together. You are welcome to join with a ticket purchase. Lunch is at 12:30pm.
Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, join our Facebook Family Engagement page and subscribe to our Youtube Channel!
Did you know that when you are shopping for everyday items you can help our students? The link Amazon Smile will take you directly to Amazon Smile for Highlander! AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support Highlander every time you shop, at no cost to you. AmazonSmile is available at smile.amazon.com on your web browser and can be activated in the Amazon Shopping app for iOS and Android phones. When you shop at AmazonSmile, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added benefit that AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to Highlander Charter School if you designate us!
Governor's Visit
Governor McKee spent the morning of March 27th speaking with students and answering questions about his work, his plans, and how the office of Governor operates. The Governor presented Mrs. Grant with a Citation honoring her many years of making sure Highlander is a great school. Miftah Ibiyemi presented the Governor with a Hawks fleece vest to commemorate the visit.
Governor McKee promised to return soon!
Shoutouts!
Jaylany Rivera
Izabella Polanco
Audrey Sarit
Connect with us
Providence: 401-277-2600
Warren: 401-247-3585
Class Dojo : https://www.classdojo.com/
Mrs. Grant: rgrant@hc.school
Mrs. Roseberry (ES): jpicciotti@hc.school
Mr. Pabst (Warren): wpabst@hc.school
Mrs. Goulart (Warren): agoulart@hc.school
Email: info@hc.school
Website: highlandercharter.org
Phone: 401-277-2600
Twitter: @highlanderChart