Highlander Charter School
February 2024
Important Dates:
- February 2nd: 100th Day of School
- February 6th: PVD Virtual SIT Meeting
- February 10th: PVD Open House
- February 16th: RI Black Storytellers presentation in PVD
- February 19th: President's Day - No School
- February 20th - 23rd: Winter Break
- February 26th: Classes Resume
- February 28th: Senior FAFSA Night in PVD
Boys Basketball Schedule https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ph4tRMEVOqieGVXpznGVna5xtuasqFSD/view?usp=sharing
Girls Basketball Schedule https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0b0yvvpcoXEgW9a2Dm4KQ109w#76cd072d38e9_(1)
To the Highlander Community:
As you all know, Ms. Simpson-Thomas will join Highlander as the incoming Superintendent on March 1, 2024. I am so pleased to be able to welcome her to Highlander in this role. We wanted to share with you what we have been doing to prepare for the transition and what will happen in the next few months.
As of now, we have completed the following:
Communicated the transition plan with the Board
Communicated the transition plan with the internal community
Communicated the transition plan with families
Sent a letter of introduction from Ms. Simpson Thomas
Met with the Board to develop a wider communication plan for the public
In February, we will:
Communicate with the broader community that is connected to Highlander
Issue a press release to the community at large
In March, Ms. Simpson-Thomas will schedule the following to occur in April and May:
Individual staff meetings
Town Hall meetings with families
Town Hall meetings with for students
Podcast to share with the wider community
You will be hearing more about this exciting transition later in February, but I wanted to ensure that you knew what was happening to prepare for the change in leadership.
Ms. Grant
Middle/High School - Principal
Highlander Health Office
Guidance Department
Department of Teaching and Learning
Literacy Department
2nd Annual Job and Career Fair at Highlander in Warren
Presented by the East Bay Chamber of Commerce, Highlander Charter School and Mt. Hope high school 5-7pm Thursday, March 24th. Open to all students and families.
Visit over 20 booths with representatives to talk about open jobs, possible informational interviews, job shadows, or internships. More to come as the list of presenters grows!
Pete Deal Highlander Golf Classic and Lunch!
Raising funds for scholarships for college and trade school, and supporting the global Service Learning trip to Belfast every other year.
Monday, June 3rd at Swansea Country Club
99 Market St.
Swansea, MA 02777
If you are not a golfer, you are welcome to join us for lunch at 12:30 with the golfers, donors, and students for $25 per person.
https://checkout.square.site/merchant/3XYKG3S2Z8DC1/checkout/GV4J4RNLP3DDMAS6XQ6QPQPS?src=webqr
If you would like to golf or sponsor the event, please email Jeanne for information. jdagostino@hc.school
Peace Week was a week full of meaningful activities for both campuses.
We had students from the Mentoring Program in Warren come to PVD to teach Lower School Students about the Beloved Community, a major principle of the Kingian Non-Violence Belief, and students in 6th grade read with PreK students books about Peace.
Students in Warren heard from a few speakers and participated in a Peaceful Door Decorating Competition. Each grade level was provided with an article to read which dealt with specific ideas around Peace, and used the article as the basis for the door, or they could create their own Peace based door. It was a week full of meaningful activities for both campuses.
To end the week students in PVD and Warren students from the Mentoring Program had a Peace March from Highlander in PVD to the Institute for Non Violence were we had a Peace Rally. Former Providence Mayor David Cicilline, Shane Lee and Providence Police Lieutenant Carlos Sical share a few words and our very own Elijah Woods (4th grade) wrote a powerful speech that Olumayomikun Abiri (4th grade) read at the Peace Rally. Here Elijah's words:
"Peace is a right for all. Peace is a place where there is no violence; it is a place with no hatred. Peace is beautiful. But some beauty is hard to see. Peace is love, love should be for everyone, love should be for all. And so should peace. A peaceful environment should be a safe haven for all, a place where everyone can go and be themselves, without judgement. Kindness, love, care, respect, these are the foundations of peace. That is the peace that we all have a right to. It is something that we all deserve. Peace is equality. But sometimes we have to fight for equality, like we have to fight for peace. We have to fight as a community. We have to stand as one. Peace is accepting. Self acceptance and the acceptance of everybody. You are who you are, you can be what you want to be. You should accept everyone, regardless of their differences, that could be their skin color, race, nationality, gender, or religion. Peace is a language, it could be the way you speak. It could be the way you look at someone. It could be the way you act. Peace can be anything. And you can too."
February is Black History Month and we have some fun events planned.
PVD will be having Lunch with my loved one during the week of February 12th - 16th, to sign up and more information - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A054BA5AA2BAAF85-47588196-lunch
Basketball Season is still going, check out their schedule:
Boys Basketball Schedule https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ph4tRMEVOqieGVXpznGVna5xtuasqFSD/view?usp=sharing
Girls Basketball Schedule https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0b0yvvpcoXEgW9a2Dm4KQ109w#76cd072d38e9_(1)
Have a shoutout for a staff, a student or group of students? Please use the following link to share: https://forms.gle/mKG7d5aU2iLoq7Yx5
Scholarships and more
Scholarships and more - English
Opportunities from Community Organizations
Celebrating Black History Conference
The NEARI Professional Development Committee and the Racial & Social Justice Committee joined forces to present a full day of speakers and sessions centered on the richness of Black history. Join award-winning YA author and keynote speaker Kekla Magoon on Saturday, February 3, 2024, from 8:30am – 3:00pm to celebrate and lift up the stories of writers, inventors, and innovators in the Black community. This professional learning conference will explore new ideas for teaching Black history and cultures with classroom implementation, applicable standards and unit design. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. For more information and to register click here.
Looking for the perfect summer camp for your child?
Don’t miss our Summer Camp Fair!
Saturday, February 10 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM @ Central
Join us to explore a wide range of summer camp options, from art camps to sports camps, and everything in between. Meet representatives from day camps in Cranston and beyond. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions and learn about the unique programs each camp has to offer.
Visit cranstonlibrary.org/CampFair24 for more info & camp list
Kids Out and About Newsletter
Tutor.com Can Help High Schoolers on Their Paths to College
Are your high schoolers preoccupied with the SAT or ACT? The score is a key component of the college admissions process. Check out Tutor.com’s SAT/ACT Essentials service (includes full-length practice tests, test-taking strategy videos and more), free with AskRI.org’s Tutor.com service. SAT/ACT Essentials, powered by the world leader in test prep, The Princeton Review, will give students the edge they need to reach their target score. Tutor.com is FREE 7 days a week to all Rhode Island students via AskRI.org, Rhode Island’s Online Resource Center.
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.
It is that time of the year when Highlander start the admissions process for the next academic year. This year our application is part of the unified enrollment system launched and administered by the Rhode Island Department of Education, EnrollRI.
Visit EnrollRI page to complete the common application. When applying, please make sure to select Highlander as one of your choices:
- Highlander Elementary Charter School if you are applying to grades PreK - 6th or
- Highlander Secondary Charter School if you are applying to grades 7 - 12
The deadline for the 2024-2025 application is Thursday, March 14th at 5 pm. ALL APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL BE PLACED ON THE WAITLIST AFTER THE LOTTERY TAKES PLACE ON APRIL 1ST.
If you have an application on the waiting list for the current academic year, 2023-2024, a new application for the 2024-2025 academic year must be completed through EnrollRI. The waiting list is good for one academic year only.
Admission Open House will be held on:
Highlander Elementary (Grades PreK-6) on Saturday, February 10th, 2024 from 9 -11 am (42 Lexington Avenue, Providence RI 02907).
Highlander Secondary (Grades 7-12) on Saturday, March 2nd, 2024 from 9-11 am (360 Market Street, Warren RI 02885).
We are thrilled to share that students from our school have been selected to join the National Education Equity Lab Honor Society! They are among the top scholars in the nation in their college-in-high school course. This honor not only recognizes our students but our high school and extraordinary teacher leadership and excellence as well.
Congratulations to Andreina Dominguez, Laura Jimenez and Argelis Morel
Shoutouts!
- To the Warren students in the Mentor program, for thoughtful lessons abut the Beloved Community and joining PVD for the Peace March.
- To Andreina, Argelis and Laura for being selected for the National Education Equity Lab Honor Society.
- To the following staff that celebrate their work Anniversary during January : Ms. Garcia - 25 years, Mrs. Roseberry 23 years and Ms. Marlene 20 years. Thank you for your dedication to Highlander and our community.
Want to submit a shoutout? Use the following link https://forms.gle/mKG7d5aU2iLoq7Yx5
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