Superintendent's Community Update
January 19, 2022
A Message from Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain, Ed.D.
Dear Newport Schools Parents, Families, and Staff:
In-person learning during the new year continues, and I again want to thank everyone for continuing to follow safety protocols including daily symptom checks, masking, social distancing, and getting vaccinated. I know this has not been easy for anyone. The good news is our student and staff attendance numbers are improving as the weeks move forward. Last week, RHS had a low of 83% to a high of 88% at the end of the week. TMS remained pretty consistent throughout the week at 87-88% student attendance and Pell had a low of 83% and a high of 88% student attendance at the end of the week. All three schools improved with attendance as the week ended. On Tuesday of this week we saw attendance rates we have not seen since before the holiday break. RHS had 91%, TMS 93.4% and Pell had 90.2% student attendance. Hopefully these positive trends will continue. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the peak is subsiding as reported in the news.
Thank you as always for your continued patience, understanding, and support through this pandemic-challenged school year. As a One Newport community, we are working together every day to support our students, learning, and growth. Have a wonderful week and thank you to everyone who is supporting our efforts to keep teaching and learning moving forward.
Sincerely,
Colleen Burns Jermain, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Un mensaje de la superintendente Colleen Burns Jermain, Ed.D.
El aprendizaje en persona durante el nuevo año continúa, y nuevamente quiero agradecer a todos por seguir los protocolos de seguridad, incluidos los controles diarios de síntomas, el uso de máscaras, el distanciamiento social y la vacunación. Sé que esto no ha sido fácil para nadie. La buena noticia es que los números de asistencia de nuestros estudiantes y personal están mejorando a medida que avanzan las semanas. La semana pasada, RHS tuvo un mínimo de 83% a un máximo de 88% al final de la semana. TMS se mantuvo bastante constante durante toda la semana con un 87-88 % de asistencia estudiantil y Pell tuvo un mínimo de 83 % y un máximo de 88 % de asistencia estudiantil al final de la semana. Las tres escuelas mejoraron con la asistencia al final de la semana. El martes de esta semana vimos índices de asistencia que no habíamos visto desde antes de las vacaciones. RHS tuvo 91%, TMS 93.4% y Pell tuvo 90.2% de asistencia estudiantil. Esperemos que estas tendencias positivas continúen. Crucemos los dedos para que el pico esté disminuyendo como se informa en las noticias.
Gracias como siempre por su continua paciencia, comprensión y apoyo durante este año escolar desafiado por la pandemia. Como comunidad de One Newport, trabajamos juntos todos los días para apoyar a nuestros estudiantes, aprender y crecer. Que tengan una semana maravillosa y gracias a todos los que apoyan nuestros esfuerzos para que la enseñanza y el aprendizaje sigan avanzando.
Atentamente,
Colleen Burns Jermain, Ed.D.
superintendente de escuelas
Free At-Home COVID Tests
To help assist everyone as the school year continues, a new tool that our entire school community can take advantage of are free at-home COVID-19 tests. Thanks to action at the federal level, all residential households can now order one set of 4 free at-home tests from the U.S. Postal Service. Here’s what you need to know about your order:
- Limit of one order per residential address
- One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
- Orders will ship free starting in late January
Click here to order free at-home tests
We are also working with our City Manager, Mr. Joe Nicholson, as he works tirelessly to help all of our City residents, in possibly obtaining more testing kits for residents and our schools. Thank you to Mr. Nicholson for all his efforts on our behalf.
Pruebas gratuitas de COVID en el hogar
- Límite de un pedido por dirección residencial
- Un pedido incluye 4 pruebas individuales de antígeno rápido COVID-19
- Los pedidos se enviarán gratis a partir de finales de enero
Haga clic aquí para solicitar pruebas gratuitas en el hogar
Monday, January 24th District Wide Professional Development Day - Distance Learning for Students
A reminder that there will be no school next Monday, January 24th as our teachers participate in a district wide day of professional development. While there will be no school, students will participate in distance learning activities.
Lunes, 24 de enero Día de desarrollo profesional en todo el distrito: aprendizaje a distancia para estudiantes
Newport Area Career & Technical Center Accepting Applications
The time is now here- let’s start planning for the future!
Check out NACTC’s program flyer and this great video overview
Applications are due by March 1st and should be submitted to your child’s guidance counselor. Click here for more information and to apply

Centro técnico y profesional del área de Newport que acepta solicitudes
Verificar Folleto del programa de NACTC y esto excelente resumen de video
End of Second Quarter, Wednesday, January 26th
A reminder that next Wednesday, January 26th is the end of our second academic quarter of the school year. Students should be aware of deadlines and make sure that their required assignments are completed by the end of the quarter.
Fin del Segundo Trimestre, miércoles 26 de enero
Attention Juniors: Learn & Earn With A PrepareRI Summer Internship
Attention juniors: The PrepareRI Summer Internship Program is a great opportunity to learn and earn this summer working with some of Rhode Island’s best known companies. Applications are being accepted through February 18th. Click here to learn more and apply.

Atención Juniors: Aprenda y gane con una pasantía de verano de PrepareRI
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