SKHS Principal's Newsletter
February 2018
From the desk of Mr. Mezzanotte...
This newsletter is intended to showcase the many note-worthy events of the past few months. You may submit items to me at rmezzanotte@sksd-ri.net. Enjoy!
The Sound of Music
Rebel Athletics
- Jon Sherman- 1st Team Soccer
- Steven Schmidt- 1st Team Soccer
- Anika Tomlinson- 1st Team Soccer
- Faith Hutchins- 1st Team Soccer
- Molly Pincince- 1st Team Volleyball
- Ellie Lawler- 1st Team Cross Country (and 1st Team All-American)
- Brooke Peasley- 2nd Team Soccer
- Montaner Freselli- 2nd Team Football
- Aodhan Meyer- 2nd Team Cross Country
The following fall sports teams made the RIIL playoffs:
- Football
- Boys Cross Country
- Girls Cross Country
- Girls Volleyball (Semi-Finalist)
- Boys Soccer (State Runner-Up)
- Girls Soccer (State Runner-Up)
- Field Hockey
Congratulations to all student-athletes and teams! Below are some winter sports photos, courtesy of Daniel Gagnon.
SKHS STEAM Fair
The 16th annual SKHS STEAM fair (science, technology, engineering, art, math) was held on January 9, 2018. Over 230 students presented projects to educate the public on various science topics. The 9th grade entries were based on the NGSS standard exploring Human Impact on the Earth and Natural Resources. The 9th graders chose to present artwork, engineer a solution to a problem, or perform an inquiry experiment. The older students were free to explore any topic of science that they wanted.
The public viewed the projects and voted on Best Art projects. The top vote getters were:
Paige Sayour for her sustainable fashion dress entry
Ella Prescott for her globe that showed human encroachment on animal habitats
Taylor Hurrell for her working model of renewable energy vs. fossil fuels
Corrine Robbins for her Black light picture of hidden trash in the oceans
The winners of the Science Fair judging were:
Olivia Zito with her psychology project on the Stroop Effect
Owen Caldwell and Justin Walker with their human impact project on the Most Effective Way to Clean up Oil Spills
Emma Tondre with her project on training Slime Molds to go through a maze.
The Narrow River Preservation Association also gave prizes to the top environmental projects having to do with water quality. Their winners were:
Olivia Kelly for her project on oyster shells with ocean acidification. She was awarded a check and an invitation to present her project at their annual board meeting.
Elwood Roberts with a project on Sea level Rise on Different Shorelines
Kacie Curran and Abigale Marcotte with a project on Oil Remediation using Microorganisms
Miles Corayer with a project on the Effects of Fertilizers on Freshwater
The top 14 students in the experimental and engineering division were invited to go on to the Rhode Island Science and Engineering Fair held in Warwick in March.
Congratulations to all of the student presenters and teachers Becky Galoob, Neile Dinitto, Mary Kutcher, Steph Ottilige, Ann Bianchi, Gail Saborio, and Nicole Russell for organizing the fair.
Scholastic Art Awards
Winners:
- Mae Bodziony- Painting-Gold Key
- Seneca Brown-Drawing-GoldKey
- Rachel Clancy- Drawing-Silver key
- Colin Egan-Drawing-Silver Key
- Mackenzie Fish-Drawing- Silver Key
- Maddy Miller-Photography-Silver key
- Ethan Whitlow-Photography- Gold Key
- Olivia Turcotte-Photography
- Emily Passeroni-Photography
- Elizabeth Moore-Photography
- Loren DeQuattro-Photography
- Reilly Hodge-Photography
- Emma Bondy-Divine-Photography
- Emma Barker-Mixed Media
- Lauren Cardente-Drawing
- Olivia VanOot-Drawing
- Natalie Towle-Printmaking
- Dennis Haggerty-Printmaking
SKHS Music
We are very proud of our SKHS Students in the HS Jazz Band and eSKape for their recent performances at the 50th annual Berklee Jazz Festival this past Saturday at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. The Berklee Festival, the largest school jazz festival in the world, is attended by hundreds of groups and thousands of students from around the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.
Our kids prepared a demanding program of challenging music and performed superbly under the pressure of judging from three Berklee faculty members and large audiences. MOST notably, they were supportive of each other, well-behaved, appreciative of other groups they heard, and thankful for the experience we shared on Saturday!
Although our groups did not place in this competitive event this year, they represented our school and music program with excellence and pride.
Special congratulations to students Charlotte Roberts and Luca Simeone who were recognized as the "Judges Choice" award winners for outstanding individual performers of our groups!
Students in Jazz and eSKape are:
eSKape:
Morgan Alley
Liliana Berube
Isis Brown
Owen Gilmartin
Emily Kaczynski
Devin Lloyd
Jessica Macinanti
Elizabeth Moore
Henry O’Brien
Caroline Parente
George Richter
Charlotte Roberts
John Santini
Luca Simeone
Charlie Spears
Meredith Stone
Emma Tondre
Jazz Band:
Alto Sax
Allison Haberlin
Eliot Greer
Tenor Sax
Elizabeth Moore
Jude Laroche
Baritone Sax
Andrew Precious
Ryan Sliney
Trumpet
Emily Redmond
Luca Simeone
Casey Fay-Wolfe
Leah Robinson
Trombone
Will Hartmann
Ethan Auger
Drums
Alex Crudale
Bass
Ryan Moran
Johnny Santini
Piano
Ian Dahl
Guitar
Adam Brown
Joe Mega
Congrats
- Parker Smith attended a summer institute that featured the SANS Cyber Start Program, which focused on digital forensics and the understanding of computer encryption. He received a certificate from Governor Raimondo for his completion of this program!
- The SKHS Parent-Teacher Group would like to recognize Charlotte Roberts for her exceptional learner qualities and commitment to our school community. Comments from the faculty included: "Charlotte is such a wonderful young lady. She is an amazing student -- conscientious and diligent. She is self-motivated and quite successful. She is one of the kindest people I've ever met. She shows genuine concern for those around her. She has a positive attitude that radiates from her."
- Students in Mr. Swanson’s Carpentry I, B Period Class proudly display a Guitar Rack they made for the Music Department here at SKHS. Thanks to music director Mr. Benz for his patience: he asked about this rack in September and it was finally completed in January! Students, L-R: Kyle Skiffington, Rob Skowkowski, Dakota Mondragon, Colin LeClerc, Zach Namzoff, Carter Santos, Willa Garceau, Charlotte Robbin, Mike Pierini, Nick Zarlenga, Shane Choquette, Kai Kretchmer, Matt Cinquegrana and Dylan Holtback. (Not pictured: Elizabeth Petrucci and William Nerbonne)
Award Winners
- Jonny Santini (pictured below with faculty nominator Mr. Benz) was honored with the "You Inspire Me" award. This award is given to a student who inspires his/her teacher to do their best each and every day. Another recipient of the "You Inspire Me" award is Kendall Kenner (also pictured below with co-nominators Ms. Still and Ms. Court). Congratulations to Jonny and Kendall!
- Ms. Karen Murphy was awarded with the prestigious "Lindsay's Friend" award for her dedication to raising awareness of Teen Dating Violence. Ms. Murphy is pictured below with Chris and Ann Burke, who surprised her with a visit to her health classroom.
More Kudos...
- The SKHS School Counseling Department welcomed back graduates from the class of 2017 to talk to current juniors about the college experience and the application process.
- Ms. Andrea Dickinson was recognized as the "I Make a Difference" award recipient for her outstanding work (pictured below with Assistant Superintendent Pauline Lisi).
Class of 2017 Discussion with SKHS Juniors
Class of 2017 Graduates
Andrea Dickinson
VAASA, PBIS, GSA/Freshmen Montors
- Varsity Athletes Above Substance Abuse (VAASA) traveled to CCMS on Friday, January 26th to speak with 7th graders about peer pressure, decision making and life at the high school. The theme of the day was prevention and to dispel the myth that all high school students drink and/or use drugs.
- The advisory winners of the PBIS Attendance Breakfast Contest are as follows: Grade 9- Ms. Amanda Varone, Grade 10- Mrs. Mary Kutcher, Grade 11- Mrs. Sherry Hathaway, Grade 12- Ms. Loren Richards
- The Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) joined forces with the Freshmen Mentors to "sticky note" the lockers with positive messages before exams. Thank you for your efforts!