Cultivating A Community
April 6, 2024
Superintendent's Message
Dear WED Community,
As you are aware, on Monday, April 8, 2024 Rhode Island will experience a solar eclipse when the moon will partially cover the sun between 2:15pm and 4:38pm. This will be visible from all locations in Rhode Island. The maximum eclipse, when just more than 90% of the sun will be blocked, will be at 3:29pm. While the WED will not dismiss students early from school on Monday, we have purchased NASA approved eyeware for all students to safely view the eclipse. In addition, elementary schools will hold recess indoors during the time of the eclipse.
Families, we encourage you have a conversation with your child(ren) explaining that it is unsafe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection. The following links will provide you with more information about solar eclipses and how to safely view a solar eclipse.
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Solar Eclipse Guidance and Information
Solar Eclipse Eye Safety Information from the American Academy of Ophthalmology
Sincerely,
Patrick McGee, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Novans In The News
WHS announces Class of 2024 Valedictorian and Salutatorian
Congratulations to Matthew Cusson, who was named WHS Class of 2024 Valedictorian and Mandolyn Holliday, who was named WHS Class of 2024 Salutatorian! We are so proud of you both! Please click on the Valley Breeze article below to learn more about these two outstanding students.
Woonsocket Middle School SMILE Club students participated in Challenge Day Competition
On Friday, March 22nd, Hamlet and Villa Nova Middle School SMILE students joined other SMILE clubs throughout the state at the University of Rhode Island for the Challenge Day Competition. Students had to design, build and test a Maglev train car, as well as a hydraulic crane to lift the train car onto a magnetic track. Students worked hard and everyone created successful cranes and Maglev cars. A highlight of this trip for our students was a tour of the URI campus and a chance to eat lunch and dinner in the dining hall with college students.
WACTC students receive SkillsUSA Rhode Island awards
On March 27th, forty-one WACTC seniors, representing all ten programs, were celebrated at the SkillsUSA Rhode Island awards ceremony. Health Careers juniors, Isabella Piette, Angeliea Ortiz, Arianna Hay and Leylani Sanchez were awarded the Bronze medal for competing in Health Knowledge Bowl! Congratulations to them, their instructor Mrs. Bacon, and all of our competitors on a job well done this year! We are so proud of each of you!
District News
WED celebrates Occupational Therapy (OT) Month
April is National Occupational Therapy (OT) Month. Occupational Therapists address the physical, cognitive, psychosocial, and sensory components of performance. In schools, occupational therapists focus on academics, play and leisure, social participation, self-care skills (ADLs or Activities of Daily Living), and transition/work skills. Thank you to all the WED Occupational Therapists who work with our students and their families.
Please click on the link below to learn more about the role of WEDs Occupational Therapists.
George Nasuti Novans' Pride 5K Race
On Monday, May 27th, the annual George Nasuti Novans Pride 5K race will be held at 8:30am at Leo Savoie Elementary School. Please click on the link below to register for the race.
Order WHS athletic apparel
The following comes from the WHS Track and Field Team:
Hello Woonsocket Education Department Staff,
Many of you have asked me this year if I was going to be opening up another apparel fundraiser this year, so, I have decided to do so.
As always, I thank you in advance for your support for the WHS Track and Field team and their athletes. We all very much appreciate it. As in the past, all proceeds raised help to purchase necessary equipment, meet costs, or travel expenses that are needed to send some of our high-level athletes to high-level competitions.
This year, like in years past, we had a successful indoor season where we had multiple all-state, all class, all-division athletes, and two all-americans. We had three athletes ranked in the top 10 in the country in their events. When we have these types of athletes we need to travel to more competitive competitions to enhance their athletic needs. Participation in bigger competitions provides exposure to more and more NCAA coaches and future scholarships for our student-athletes.
I want to congratulate one of our senior athletes, Adam Beaudry, for signing his National Letter of Intent (NLI) for athletic scholarship to Division I and Atlantic-10 school George Mason University last week.
If and when you order, please give credit to any student-athlete on the Track and Field team.
Please click on the following link to place your order:
https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/SChpdqxSQZ
Thank you in advance,
WHS Track and Field Coach
WED Competencies for Success
WED Early Childhood Information
WED Early Childhood Department Newsletter
In an effort to provide you with early childhood information, the WED is excited to provide the community with its first edition of our Early Childhood Department Newsletter. We will be sending out a new newsletter the first Friday of each month. Please click on the link below to access the new newsletter providing you with the most up-to-date early childhood information and resources from the WED.
Passport to Kindergarten
Savoie Elementary School held their first of two Passport to Kindergarten events this week! Parents, grandparents, siblings, and upcoming kindergarten students joined the staff for a night of kindergarten fun. Savoie's next event is scheduled for Thursday, May 23rd from 5:00pm-6:30pm. Please plan to join us if your child is scheduled to attend kindergarten this September.
Harris Elementary School's Passport to Kindergarten is scheduled for Tuesday, April 9th from 5:00pm-6:30pm at Harris Elementary School. If your child will be turning 5 before September 1, 2024, they are eligible to register for kindergarten for the 2024-25 school year. Please plan to attend your home school events and register with the following QR code! Enjoy an opportunity for your child to come and visit their school, engage in kindergarten activities, and have a snack! Your soon-to-be kindergartner will receive a bag full of kindergarten goodies!
Community Partners News
Boys and Girls Clubs of Northern Rhode Island
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Northern RI will be opening their second preschool-aged classroom on June 24, 2024. Registration is officially open for families to enroll now! Spots are filling fast. Please scan the QR code below to register.
Upcoming District Events
- Wednesday, April 10th - Woonsocket School Committee Meeting (7pm @ Hamlet Middle School)