Bolts News
March 2019
News from the Guidance Department
*Attendance is a key factor in student success. Mr. Kelly has initiated a weekly meeting with administrators and counselors to review student attendance every Friday beginning March 1st.It is imperative that students and parents communicate with counselors about extended absences. Doctor’s notes provide for “excused” absences. A court appearance and/or a bereavement day are also considered “excused” absences.
*The Progress Report calendar notes the close of grades as Monday, March 4th. Progress Reports will be published in Aspen on Friday, March 8th.
*CCRI will hold its annual Counselor Breakfast and Information session on Tuesday, March 5th at the Warwick campus of CCRI. A number of the counselors will attend to get first-hand knowledge of the CCRI application process and/or changes at CCRI. The RI Promise Scholarship will be a highlighted topic. (A reminder to seniors who apply or have applied to CCRI-you must provide guidance with a completed signature form in order to forward your transcript to CCRI.)
*College Visions will be recruiting juniors on March 13th in the main cafeteria at all lunches. College Visions is a FREE program which supports (eligible) students with resources and support for the college process including summer workshops, etc. Applications are available in Guidance-see Mrs. Conley.
*Counselors will begin meeting with students regarding course requests for next year. Teacher recommendations will be online shortly. Students will also have an opportunity to select preferred electives in Aspen.
*The Guidance department has received a lot of returned mail due. Most likely, to a change of address. Parents are reminded that they must go online to change their residency information. Additionally, parents must apply for (free or reduced) lunch online. Go to the CPS website-Community tab-Click Lunch Application.
*Parents…please encourage any senior who plans on attending college to complete scholarship applications. Remember, a scholarship is financial aid that does not have to be paid back. Go to Aspen-Aspen Pages-Directory-Cranston East Seniors-Click on tabs at top: Scholarship tab or In House tab. Review the eligibility requirements…print out the application and submit to Mrs. Crudale in the Guidance office.
*Mrs. Murphy is completing the collection of fees for AP Tests. Deadline is Friday, March 1st. AP Testing runs from Tues, May 7th through Thursday, May 16th. Please see Mrs. Murphy if you have any questions.
Celebrate with CHSE National Inclusion Day!
Please wear your choose to include T-Shirt on March 6.
Do you need help with Math?
Peer Math tutoring is back
Stop by Room 301 from 2:5-3: 00 pm for free peer tutoring sessions.
Dates: March 5, 19, 27 April 4,9
More days to follow!
German Club food Extravanza
On February 7th, Officer Davis's mother cooked a delicious "Schnitzel" dinner for our students at CHSE!
The dinner consisted of breaded and fried pork Schnitzels, "Spaetzle" (German pasta), Sauerkraut, as well as home-cooked gravy.
We all enjoyed this special treat very much and want to thank Officer Davis and his mother for being so considerate and taking the time to cook for us!
You still have time to order your yearbook!
New Technology Courses
Art National Honor Society
NAHS dives into School-Based Community Service with Students Rebuild: The world’s ocean and the people who live closest to them face urgent environmental challenges—but you can help. For every artwork you create, the Bezos Family Foundation will make a donation to programs training coastal youth in ocean conservation and coral restoration. Ready to dive in? The NAHS will host 2 sessions for student to create art work for a cause, March 21 and 28, 2-4pm, room 122. Sign up HERE!
TEEN SEXTING: WHAT ARE THE LAWS?
by Delaney Ruston, MD
Teenagers are budding with sexual energy. Mix that with cell phones and it can be a complicated combination. According to a JAMA Pediatrics report from last April that analyzed 39 studies of just over 110,000 under 18-year-olds (the mean age was 15.16 years, but ages ranged from 11-17 years)— it was found that roughly 15% of teenagers send sexts and 28% receive them.
It is so important to have an open line of communication with preteens and teens about the issues around revealing photos and videos (yes, videos—some teens send short sexually explicit videos to one another). Today’s TTT is all about just the facts. In a pragmatic way, try sharing with your teens and preteens what the laws are in your state—and, starting with this example case can also be helpful.
In 2015, two 16-year-olds from North Carolina were arrested and charged with multiple felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor under the state’s child pornography laws. Their crime? The boyfriend and girlfriend sent nude photos to each other via text. They were charged as adults, faced four to ten years in prison and would have to register as sex offenders if convicted. The kids agreed to plea bargains that reduced their charges to misdemeanors. Still, a very scary situation. The teens were doing what some sexually curious boyfriends and girlfriends do—the last thing they wanted was to get in trouble and to break a law.
North Carolina does not have any sexting laws—in fact, half of states do not have sexting laws. If the couple had been in a state with sexting laws, such as Arizona, Florida or Arkansas, they would have most likely been charged with something such as a misdemeanor and given the chance to prove their intent was not criminal. Sexting legislation is designed to deter teens from sexting with consequences including education and less severe sentences.
Below the TTT weekly questions, I’ve included part of the Cyberbullying Research Center’s chart that shows sexting laws for each state across the country. Here are some questions to get you started:
Are you aware that it is against the law to send and receive nude pictures, even if they are from your significant other?
If you were creating laws on this topic, how would you do it?
If you were to write a letter to a younger student, what advice would you give them about issues surrounding the taking and dissemination of revealing and suggestive photos and videos?
The chart below is from Cyberbully.org and was created, and is regularly updated, by Sameer Hinduja, Ph.D., & Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D. co-directors of the Cyberbullying Research Center. To see more detail and description of laws go to https://cyberbullying.org/sexting-laws .
Congratulations!
- To Dalila Fabian winner of the Unity Dance Award given by the Natasha Love Foundation. Dalila is one of the captains of the talented Cranston East Thunderbolt Crew.
Brown Brain Bee
On February 16th Alicia Francis, Jadin Gagnon, Carlos Lourenco, and Christine Wong all went to Brown University to compete in the annual Brown Brain Bee. These students took classes in neuroscience every week, all year long, to prepare for this competition. This was a statewide competition and these students did very well and we are very proud of their hard work and dedication! Congratulations to them all!
Attention Seniors: Do you need still need to order your Cap and Gown?
Upcoming Events
- Friday, March 8, Parent Meeting @8: 00 am in the Guidance Conference Room. Everyone is welcome!
- Spring Flin Dance, Friday, March 15, CHSE Gymnasium; 6:00 pm-10: pm Tickets are $7.00 Tickets need to be purchased in advance.