BACK TO SCHOOL 2012

Schools prepared to change lives, meet challenges

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EAST PROVIDENCE – Like the students at St. Margaret School who were forced to take refuge from a sudden downpour on the first day of school last Tuesday, Catholic schools across the diocese face challenges yet thrive as they instill strong values and provide a quality education to students.

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While schools confront issues such as maintaining enrollment, providing financial aid and making capital improvements, the picture remains optimistic, like the sunny weather that greeted the students at St. Pius School, Westerly and Blessed Sacrament School, Providence.

“I think everything is going to be fun,” proclaimed St. Margaret eighth grader Madison Fagan of Rehoboth, Mass. “We’re just one big happy family, and everyone just takes care of each other.”

Third grader Jameson Conlon, who enjoyed an exciting trip to Costa Rica this summer, said he has fun at the school, and likes the teachers.

“My sister told me it’s a good class,” Conlon added, as he was about to enter his new classroom.

According to John Rezendes, who has served as principal of St. Margaret School for 13 years, this year’s enrollment experienced only a slight decline over last, dropping from 215 to 209 students.

“It’s been a gift,” he said. “We have teachers who love what they do and stay with St. Margaret School.”

Rezendes said a new middle school science curriculum, introduced last year in short units, will now be used throughout the year. The program utilizes a hands-on approach to science in which the students conduct experiments, make observations and record data in notebooks.

The longtime administrator emphasized that one of his main priorities for the new academic year will be to “continue the school’s strong family spirit and build on the faith-filled community.” He added that the school would begin preparations for the 2015 NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) reevaluation by redeveloping long-range strategic plans and assessing curriculum. Every Catholic school in the diocese must periodically undergo the accreditation process to ensure that all students receive the best education possible.

As the new school year gets underway, Rezendes plans to By Brian J. Lowney

Assistant Editor

EAST PROVIDENCE – Like the students at St. Margaret School who were forced to take refuge from a sudden downpour on the first day of school last Tuesday, Catholic schools across the diocese face challenges yet thrive as they instill strong values and provide a quality education to students.

While schools confront issues such as maintaining enrollment, providing financial aid and making capital improvements, the picture remains optimistic, like the sunny weather that greeted the students at St. Pius School, Westerly and Blessed Sacrament School, Providence.

“I think everything is going to be fun,” proclaimed St. Margaret eighth grader Madison Fagan of Rehoboth, Mass. “We’re just one big happy family, and everyone just takes care of each other.”

Third grader Jameson Conlon, who enjoyed an exciting trip to Costa Rica this summer, said he has fun at the school, and likes the teachers.

“My sister told me it’s a good class,” Conlon added, as he was about to enter his new classroom.

According to John Rezendes, who has served as principal of St. Margaret School for 13 years, this year’s enrollment experienced only a slight decline over last, dropping from 215 to 209 students.

“It’s been a gift,” he said. “We have teachers who love what they do and stay with St. Margaret School.”

Rezendes said a new middle school science curriculum, introduced last year in short units, will now be used throughout the year. The program utilizes a hands-on approach to science in which the students conduct experiments, make observations and record data in notebooks.

The longtime administrator emphasized that one of his main priorities for the new academic year will be to “continue the school’s strong family spirit and build on the faith-filled community.” He added that the school would begin preparations for the 2015 NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) reevaluation by redeveloping long-range strategic plans and assessing curriculum. Every Catholic school in the diocese must periodically undergo the accreditation process to ensure that all students receive the best education possible.

As the new school year gets underway, Rezendes plans to send a letter to parents informing them of the state’s new anti-bullying law, the Safe School Act, which was enacted on June 30. According to the statute, “The bullying of a student creates a climate of fear and disrespect that can seriously impair the student’s health and negatively affect learning.”

The principal added that parents reinforce the school’s “zero tolerance” policy for bullying and seldom does he have to address the issue with a student.

Rehoboth resident Paula Bizier said she chose St. Margaret School for her two daughters because she wanted “the values system we have at home to continue throughout the day in school.

“Mr. Rezendes is critical to the school,” noted Bizier. She added that the faculty sacrifices much of their personal time to attend sports events and functions held at night and on weekends.

“I go over homework every night and I’m impressed by what they are learning,” she said.

Just as the steady downpour welcomed the students at St. Margaret, brighter skies greeted eager learners on opening day at St. Pius X School.

According to Principal Henry Fiore, enrollment has increased from 206 to 212 students.

“It was a good opening day,” he said, noting that the school welcomed a new school librarian and part-time resource teacher.

The veteran educator said the school would offer an after school class in American Sign Language to better help students communicate with a new seventh grade student who is profoundly deaf and who will be assigned an interpreter through the Westerly School Department in cooperation with the Rhode Island School for the Deaf.

Fiore said the school would continue its foreign language program that offers instruction in Spanish to grades Kindergarten-3; German in grade 4; Latin in grades 5-7, and Italian in grade 8. He added that the program not only teaches students about other cultures, but also helps them to increase their vocabulary and writing skills.

Meanwhile, Janet Rufful, the new principal of Blessed Sacrament School, noted that opening of the new school year ran very smoothly, despite a few tears shed by students in the lower grades.

She noted that the school’s enrollment dropped from 283 to 260, but added the number of students continued to fluctuate.

Rufful emphasized that one of her top priorities is to promote the “Year of Faith” and student involvement in the church and parish. Another goal is to strengthen the school’s parent-teacher organization, which more staff members have expressed an interest in joining.