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Ponaganset High School Newsletter
June 10th, 2024
We had a great 2023-2024 school year!
Wishing the Ponaganset High School community a fun, restful, and safe summer!
Please Click the Link Below for Summer Learning Requirements:
Prepared by: Principal Amanda Grundel, M. Ed., M.S
Please be advised that this newsletter is intended to provide a snapshot of information. It is important to note that the links to the district, school and athletic sites can be found at the end of this newsletter. Please check those sites for more detailed information regarding the school calendar, announcements, and other important information.
Think Fast Assembly
ThinkFast® Interactive at Ponaganset High School!
This is an experiential team building, and awareness program that appeals to all ages with its professionally designed production set, sound system, music videos, and informative and engaging awareness trivia. The innovative concept utilizes multi digit audience response System (ARS) technology wireless remote controls, which allows the entire audience to participate. From start to finish the message of prevention, responsibility, and awareness are non-intrusively reinforced.
RIIL Educator Spotlight: Anthony Parrillo
Mr. Parrillo was highlighted as the RIIL Educator. See the write up below:
Rhode Island Interscholastic League Leadership Summit
Rhode Island Interscholastic League hosted a Leadership summit at Camp Fogarty. Six of the top leaders from our athletic teams were invited. They participated in team building and critical thinking exercises as well as were given a tour of Camp Fogarty in East Greenwich, RI.
Softball Division II Champs!
The Ponaganset Softball team won the Division II Championship Game!
Unified Basketball Division VI Champs!
Ponaganset High School's Unified Basketball Team won the Division VI Championship!
Unified Sports Award Winner
Congratulations to Brady Cullen on his Unified Sports Award!
Gala of the Arts: PHS Annual Art Show
Ponaganset High School's Annual Art Show featured in The Valley Breeze:
CLICK HERE:
Museum of Fine Arts Field Trip
Art students took a field trip to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston!
Mamma Mia Recognition through PPAC!
Congratulations to the cast, crew, and musicians of Mamma Mia for receiving 30 nominations for the Providence Performing Arts Center Ocean State Star Awards! We are elated to announce winners in 2 categories: Olivia Picard ‘25 for her portrayal of Sophie and Cordelia Siedzik ‘24 for her role as Dance Captain, AS WELL AS special RISING STAR recognitions for Coryn Pike ‘24 and Emma Estrella ‘24. On June 2nd, all 4 get the opportunity to perform on PPAC stage during the awards ceremony, along with Lighting Designer Lauren Seabury 26’ who has been invited to shadow the pros and help tech the event!
The Ocean State Star Awards program is designed to celebrate, support, and advocate for high school musical theatre education throughout Rhode Island. The Ocean State Star Awards is part of the Providence Performing Arts Center’s Education initiative which recognizes, honors, and encourages excellence in all aspects of musical theatre performance and production among area high school students.
Music Trip
The PHS Music Department had a successful trip to New York City at the end of April. One hundred and twenty one students attended the four day trip culminating in a very successful awards ceremony. One of the highlights of the trip was attending the Metropolitan Opera House in NYC to see Madam Butterfly, an opera composed by Giacomo Pucini. All four groups received a superior rating for their performances. Wind Ensemble, Concert Chorus, and Chamber Chorus all ranked 1st in their respective categories and divisions. Chamber Chorus earned the Best Overall Concert Choir Award and Wind Ensemble earned the James R Wells Overall Concert Band Award. Congratulations on an outstanding music trip!
PHS Teacher Wins the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award
Ms. Rita Kerr-Vanderslice, Social Studies teacher at Ponaganset High School, was awarded with the Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year award!
National History Day Competition Held at CCRI
Ponaganset High School students participated in the NHD competition held at CCRI.
Special Awards winners included Lily Thompson who won the Semiquincentennial and Roger Williams Awards for her paper on the Zenger Trial and the Secretary of State's Award went to Cora Miller and Liam Elderkin for their project on the Dorr Rebellion
Many Ponaganset projects finished either first or second in their category and will be eligible to continue on to the national competition, including:
-Rylee Nelson and Amanda Tondreau for their exhibit on the first successful organ transplant
-Eli Kugler for his exhibit on diversity in Marvel comics
-Fiona Hicks for her exhibit on the Harlem Renaissance
-Leah Ventura for her website on facial reconstruction surgeries during WWI
-Anjie DeMello, Jaylynn Dionne and Katharine Damasio for their website on the history of RI diners
Several other projects were awarded as runner ups in their categories including:
-Kylie Baier for her documentary on the history of Disney animation
-Ethan Lemanski and Matthew Jones for their documentary on the Station Nightclub Fire
Ponaganset CTE Firefighting Program Ceremony
The Valley Breeze highlighted the Ponaganset High School wet-down/push-in ceremony.
CLICK HERE:
Robotics
The Robotics Team had a very successful season. They started the year by winning the Hartford District Event and won the Engineering Inspiration Award at the same event. The team won the highest award in FRC, the Impact Award at the URI District Event, but their success was not done there. They went on to win the New England District Championships and qualified for their first ever world championship in Houston, TX where they were one win from making it to the Galileo Division Finals.
SkillsUSA National Signing Day
SkillsUSA National Signing Day is a nationwide celebration showcasing our next generation of skilled professionals and the skilled career paths that have been, are and always will be essential to America’s future. Each May, local SkillsUSA chapters are encouraged to host a National Signing Day event and invite industry partners, administrators, teachers, elected officials, SkillsUSA alumni, family and friends to honor students as they sign letters of intent for a job offer, apprenticeship or advanced technical training.
Student Recognition
2024 RI General Treasurer's Young Leader Award
This award recognizes students who have demonstrated an interest in entrepreneurship and developing the skills necessary to achieve their goals. Supporting a student's entrepreneurial spirit is essential to creating economic opportunity in our state. This year's recipient is Kylie White.
PHS Student Highlighted in the Valley Breeze for Book Release
Ponaganset High School student, Madelyn Lapierre, releases her first book. The link below is to the Valley Breeze article highlighting her amazing accomplishment.
Click Here:
Appelley Publishing National Student Poetry Contest
Congratulations to freshman Raegan Siedzik for her recognition in the 2023/24 Appelley Publishing National Student Poetry Contest. Her poem "Autumn" was selected for publication. You can read her poem and other students' works on the Ponaganset Poetry Post.
Informational Section
Latin Honor System Information
Starting with the Class of 2025, Ponganset High School will be moving to a Latin Honor System of recognition for our graduating classes. After gathering input from students, teachers, and community members, this shift will be implemented starting with the 2024-2025 school year. The purpose for recognition through a Latin Honor System is to:
Recognize academic accomplishments of students in a fundamentally more equitable way.
Emphasize growth.
Decrease the level of unhealthy academic competition.
Promote a shift in mindset, moving towards honoring students for meeting an academic standard and not merely competing academically against their peers.
Align with the recognition process used by most colleges and universities to acknowledge student academic achievement.
Encourage students to take classes of interest.
Class rank will not be visible on transcripts or report cards but will be available to colleges/universities should they request it.
Ponaganset High School will no longer identify a Valedictorian or Salutatorian.
A student’s cumulative weighted grade point average (GPA) after their seventh (7th) semester will be used to determine the level of honors recognition. The following criteria will be used to determine academic recognition:
Summa Cum Laude: 4.43 or higher
Magna Cum Laude: 4.10
Cum Laude: 3.77
Students will be given different colored cords to be worn at graduation. Each cord will symbolize the honor level achieved.
Important Band Information
Ponaganset High School Music Department
Band - Honors for All
In the 2024 - 2025 school year, all instrumental students at Ponaganset High School can earn honors credit for their coursework in band. All students will be enrolled in Instrumental Ensemble Honors I - IV.
To earn the honors credit, students must complete four of the six following criteria:
Audition for the RIMEA All-State band or orchestra in November.
Perform a solo or small ensemble piece in May in the RIMEA Solo and Ensemble Festival.
Score 90% or higher on 3 out of 4 quarterly scales assignments.
Over the year, the student organizes and leads 3 formal sectionals during W4 with their section/ensemble members.
Perform with another ensemble, such as The Rhode Island Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (RIPYO) or the Rhode Island Youth Wind Ensemble (RIYWE).
Attend 3 concerts per school year of a professional or community ensemble (RI Philharmonic Orchestra, Rhode Island Wind Ensemble, The American Band, Boston Philharmonic, etc.) and write a concert review for each concert they attend.
At the end of the year, students will conference with Mr. Mullen to review their progress and evidence for meeting the previously mentioned criteria.
FAQ
How does Honors for All in the 24-25 school year differ from past practice in the PHS instrumental program?
Previously, there were two separate instrumental ensembles at PHS, Concert Band and Wind Ensemble. All students in the PHS band program were members of the Concert Band, even if they were not enrolled in the course. All members of the Concert Band met weekly in the evening for rehearsals from 6:30 - 9:00 pm. Students could elect to audition for the Wind Ensemble, and if they passed the audition, they were added to a class that met during the day. Students in the Wind Ensemble earned honors credit because they learned two sets of repertoire for each of the four concerts held throughout the year, one set exclusively for the Wind Ensemble and the other set for the Concert Band.
Will nightly rehearsals still be held?
Yes, night-time rehearsals will continue in the 2024 - 2025 school year. Even though there will only be one band at PHS, they will be split into two different classes during the day to accommodate scheduling conflicts. To continue the tradition of musical excellence at PHS, students from both classes will meet once a week to rehearse their music for each concert, and the springtime festivals. A printed calendar will be given to each student at the beginning of the year, and there will also be a link in Canvas to integrate a digital version of the calendar.
What if my student can’t financially afford the auditions for All-State and/or Solo and Ensemble?
The Rhode Island Music Educators Association does offer financial assistance for those students who wish to participate in those festivals. Please reach out to Mr. Mullen to inquire about the specific festival fees.
Will the Honors for All Band initiative continue beyond the 2024 - 2025 school year?
The PHS Music Department will pilot the Honors for All Initiative for the 2024 - 2025 school year. We will analyze the data for students who earn the honors credit and the enrollment numbers for the 2025 - 2026 school year to decide if the initiative will continue. While it will represent a change from our past practice, we are confident that our ensembles will continue to achieve at the highest level at PHS.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mr. Mullen at jmullen@fgschools.com.
Senior Yearbook Photo Information: Class of 2025
Attention Class of 2025 and beyond!
We will be working with solely with Melino Photo for all student yearbook portraits/yearbook production, for all student IDs and for all school sport, event, and dance pictures. Melino Photo will communicate more information to families.
The Class of 2025 will have 2 options for their yearbook photos:
1) As always, all students will sit for a photo in the fall on Picture Day at Ponaganset High School for their student IDs. Seniors may use this photo for the yearbook at no cost to the student/family. This will include the option of a retake on Picture Retake Day.
2) Seniors may book a studio session with Melino Photo. There is a $40.00 sitting fee with the option to buy a Senior Portrait Package.
Studio appointments are available all summer at the Warwick studio. In addition, Melino Photo will be at the school for 2 days only: July 11, 2024 and August 20, 2024 for outdoor portraits for those that cannot make it to the Warwick location. Appointments are limited and can be booked by calling Melino Studios at 401-738-6614.
Please reach out to Ms. Heather Bovenzi at hbovenzi@fgschools.com with any questions.
Important Links:
This newsletter serves as a brief summary to capture and share PHS information. Please use the links below for more detailed information:
District Website Link
Please go here to view the most updated version of the district calendar.
Ponaganset High School Website Link
https://fosterponaganseths.ss11.sharpschool.com/
Ponaganset Athletics Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/people/Ponaganset-Athletic-Department/100057780424861/
Ponaganset High School Facebook Page: