PHS PATRIOT 5/3/22
Perseverance-Respect-Innovation-Dedication-Engagement
Principal's Message
According to research and our own experiences, nothing matters more to a student's learning than their teachers. Teachers craft and refine lesson plans, give constant feedback, ask probing questions, encourage confidence, increase self worth and afford the dignity that every young adult needs in this world. Teachers have in every generation made a difference to help advance the growth of our young minds and hearts. Our PHS teachers are hard working, committed and talented people who love our kids and prepare them for their future. Salute our heroes by sending an email to thank the wonderful work.
PHS Honored as a TOP 5 AP Schools in RI
Senior Activities / Graduation Information
Follow all the information you need to finish Patriot strong for this month. Notice the deadline to make sure you are eligible to graduate on time. If you have any questions, please see the appropriate people on the bulletin.
PHS Student Wins RI VFW Essay Contest - Megan Chevalier
The Very Beginning
As children growing up in America, we start at the very beginning. In our education, we begin with “a b c”, we begin with you and me in the land of the free. Each and every kindergartener is taught the morals that constitute a functioning United States - be kind to one another, listen to one another. Now more than ever it is time to start at the beginning, and remember what we teach our children.
America is made of every type of person. We are the home of the brave, the home of the billionaires, and the home of the homeless. We are the land of the free, the land of pains and mountains, and the land of stolen land. Though there are faults to every beauty of this country, pointing fingers at whoever is more wrong does nothing to fix it. America strives for freedom to be who you want to be, but does not allow the space to grow from who you do not want to be. For every type of person who has died for this country, there is every type of person who has been hurt by this country. We must go back and start at the very beginning. George Washington believed, “[The spirit of party] serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another” - and, well, he was right. Political parties polarize each other. There are people afraid to speak their minds, despite freedom of speech. There are people afraid to be who they are and make mistakes, despite the pursuit of happiness. Zoom out and see the red and blue state lines blur. To everyone else in the world, America is a melting pot - welding ourselves into a shiny penny, glimmering with opportunities.
We are a hodge-podge of everywhere else. From around the world we have collected languages, products, knowledge, but our history begins right here. We collected what we have from everyone else, and made it new. Now we give this college to our own children, who are slathering glue trying desperately to hold it together. We have to show them how to keep it together. Start at the beginning and remember all that we have taught them: be kind to one another, listen to one another, include one another. Remember all that we have fought for them, so they can keep their lives, their liberty, and their pursuit of happiness. Rather than how wrong we have been, focus on the opportunity to fix it. There are some who have lost their patriotism by focusing on the differences between one another. Start at the beginning. We teach our children to retrace their steps when they lose something; but what about lost values? Start at the beginning: retrace our steps. What do we stand for? We are red, white, and blue. We are valor, peace, and justice.
I remember in preschool when teaching us about the beginning of America, they sat us around a table and held hands for thanksgiving dinner. Thank you for each other. Thank you for this home. We had every type over person around that table, and we still do. Let us push our chairs back together, let us close our eyes, let us hold our hands and give thanks. Let us start at the very beginning. Remember and acknowledge the mistakes we have made, but do not make them our focus. Do not dwell - we only have a future if we leave the past. Do not point fingers - we can only move forward if we go together. Where do we go from here? We go together. This is where we make our new start.
Civics Mural
Senior Exams
5/23 B Day: 5,6,7,8
5/24 A Day: 1,2,3,4
5/25 B Day: 7,8,5,6
5/26 A Day: 3,4,1,2
Notes:
- Seniors can be exempted from full year course finals if they have an "A" average for the year
- Because we did not administer midterms, there will be no finals for any students in semester courses.
Vision Screening
Vision Screening is being conducted with Grade 9 students on 5/10 and 5/12 from 8 am-10:30 am. in the old gym. The Lion's Club volunteers, many of whom are retired eye doctors, will be conducting the screening with the assistance of the nursing staff. Vision screening is mandatory for students in grade 9.
During the pandemic it was difficult to conduct health screenings however now we are making every attempt to be sure they are completed for this school year. If you have any questions, please contact Linn Alvarnas, Head Nurse.
PHSO Post Prom
March 1, 2022
Dear Parents and Guardians of Portsmouth High School’s Class of 2022,
The PHSO Post Prom/Recognition Committee is optimistic the class of 2022 will have a prom and are anticipating a post prom celebration. It may not be a traditional post prom celebration, but the committee is dedicated to creating a phenomenal celebration for the class of 2022. Of course, in the safest way possible too, so rest assured we will adhere to all CDC and RI Department of Health guidelines. A kick-off meeting was held on February 15 th and we would like to thank the parents who were able to attend and share your great ideas with us!!
This event is organized by senior parents and funded through donations from
friends, family and local businesses. The traditional post prom costs approximately
$50.00 per student and our goal is to raise $12,000 - $14,000. If you would like to
contribute and help provide the Class of 2022 with a celebration that they deserve,
please consider making a tax-deductible donation.
Please make checks payable to: PHSO Post Prom
And mail to: Post Prom
Attention: Jennifer Amaio
29 Schooner Drive
Portsmouth, RI 02871
For up-to-date information, please “like” the PHS Class of 2022 Parent Page on
Facebook and follow along.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Lynda West (401) 266-9855 lyndawest44@gmail.com
Jennifer Amaio (401) 489-0815 amaiojennifer@gmail.com
Sincerely,
PHSO Post Prom/ Senior Recognition Committee
Portsmouth High School
PHS - Home of PRIDE Students
Email: amaralj@portsmouthschoolsri.org
Website: https://www.portsmouthschoolsri.org/Domain/8
Location: 120 Education Lane, Portsmouth, RI, USA
Phone: 401-683-2124
Twitter: @PortsmouthHS_RI