Ponaganset High School
October 2024
Parking Lot Safety
- Students who park on school property must have a parking pass displayed in their front window. Information for obtaining a parking pass can be found on the school website. There are a limited number of student parking passes due to the size of the school parking lot.
- Students who have obtained a parking pass must park in the spaces outlined in white. Faculty parking spaces are outlined in yellow. Students are not permitted to park in the faculty spaces.
- Student parking tags may be suspended or revoked by an administrator if the student is habitually in violation of any school expectations.
- Student drop off and pick up must take place on the athletic side of the building. The main entrance front circle is for bus drop off only. The parking lot near the auditorium is for faculty parking with the rear lot for student parking. It presents a safety concern if parents are dropping students off in those areas.
- Parent and student drivers must adhere to all bus safety regulations. If the bus stop sign is up, then drivers must stop. Drivers and walkers should never weave between parked or moving buses.
PHS Earns Silver Recognition on AP School Honor Roll
We are proud to announce that PHS has earned Silver recognition on the College Board's AP School Honor Roll for the 2023-24 school year. This prestigious award recognizes our school's commitment to providing students with access to challenging AP courses and supporting them on their path to college success.
Our students have shared how taking AP courses at PHS has helped them feel more confident and better prepared for college. In fact, some students have been able to graduate college early and save money thanks to the college credits they earned.
We are grateful for the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers, and staff that made this achievement possible. We are committed to continuing to offer our students these valuable opportunities and to providing them with the support they need to succeed.
Congratulations Mr. Babington
Reese Babington, Foster-Glocester Regional School District Network Administrator and Ponaganset High School Graduate of 2019 has been named a Next Tech Generation winner! All Tech 10 and Next Tech Generation honorees will be featured in the December issue of RI Monthy. Congratulations Reese!
STEAM event at the RI National Guard
Holden Jennings, grade 12, had her artwork selected to be featured at the RI STEAM event this year, which took place at the RI National Guard Base in Quonset RI. Holden’s work was on display, and she was officially recognized with a certificate at an awards ceremony.
Foster Old Home Days/ FFA Officer Retreat/ Washington County Fair
It has been exceptionally busy for the Ponaganset FFA Chapter. Members kicked off this season's events with setting up their interactive agriculture activity tent at the Foster Old Home Days (FOHD). The booth is designed for children 1-10 years old and has many different hands-on agriculture stations such as apple picking and egg collecting. FFA members interacted with the children and provided a place for families to relax and have fun for free. Members accumulated over 200 hours of community service. In addition to the agriculture activity tent, many members participated in the Woodsmen Competition while others judged FOHD floral entries and 4-H craft exhibits.
Following FOHD, the officer team participated in a full day officer retreat to prepare for this year's chapter activities and complete team building exercises.
To end the summer's events, students had a jam-packed week preparing, participating, and cleaning up at the Washington County Fair (WCF). Before the fair opened, members set up a landscape design for the FFA state landscape competition. This year's theme was “Harvest Time”. When the fair opened, students participated in various competitions and volunteer opportunities. The chapter members helped the state FFA team open their first agriculture activities barn similar to the one at FOHD. Our members gained additional work-based learning hours supervising the barn on Saturday. Some students even volunteered at the FFA Alumni pie booth to help raise money to support all Rhode Island chapters. Morgan Charette, Ashley Booker, Brooke Sirois, and graduate Eric Burgjohan all participated in the safe tractor driving competition. Eric Burgjohan won first and will be competing at the Eastern States Exposition representing Rhode Island. On Saturday night, about a dozen Ponaganset FFA members participated in the FFA Woodsmen Contest. Senior Benjamin McFee and graduate Eric Burgjohann were named overall champions in the male division. To wrap up the fair season our chapter was invited to set up the landscape design at the Eastern States Exposition.
Unified Art Class Learns about Impressionism
Unified Artists: Abby Alsfeld, Cody Blais, Robby Castelli, Fin Chandler, Amanda Fasteson, Rebecca Kelman, Nathan Mack, Logan Murphy, Cece Orlando, Paige Strickland led by Mrs. Bovenzi
Unified Art started off the school year learning about the art style called Impressionism. Their first artist they studied was Claude Monet. They learned about his famous paintings and created their own Impressionistic paintings of a garden bridge. Next, they created their own lily pads with flowers which were some of Monet’s most favorite and admired subjects.
Glocester Scarecrow Festival Art Show
Where: Chepachet Library
When: Starting October 19, 2024 through Halloween
Who: PMS 8th graders, Unified Art Students, PHS Visual Art Program students
This year will be the first time that the Scarecrow Festival in Chepachet hosts an Art Show!
We encourage all parents and students to attend and support both our middle school and high school students who will be exhibiting their work.
The Scarecrow Festival will give be awarding 5 ribbons for:
1. Funniest
2. Scariest
3. Most realistic
And 2 Honorable Mentions!
Guest Speaker: Jeff Veley and Bullying Prevention
On September 20, 2024, speaker Jeff Veley presented to our freshman class. Jeff Veley is a mental health professional. Despite extraordinary challenges, he learned how to make friends and manage enemies. Today, he’s a speaker who travels the globe empowering kids and grownups. His fun presentations inspire students to be resilient – teaching them how to leverage their adversities for psychological growth.
Jeff’s simple strategies for bullying prevention have reached 1 million people and earned two international awards for effectiveness in conflict resolution. As a result, he’s recognized as a Peace Ambassador by the United Nations. As a social skills educator, Jeff is able to connect with kids from all walks of life and provide the skills necessary to overcome life’s challenges.
