🍄HMS STUDENT FINDS RARE MUSHROOM:
Silas is a student at Hampden Meadows Elementary School, and a youth ambassador for the Rhode Island Mycological Society with an avid interest in mushrooms. While exploring the East Bay Bike Path with his dad this summer, Silas noticed a rare mushroom called Boletus billieae, or "Billie's Bolete," that had not previously been found in Rhode Island.
Way to go, Silas!
Read more about this cool find here: https://ecori.org/barrington-boy-finds-rare-mushroom-species-never-before-seen-in-r-i/
👋BMS START WITH HELLO WEEK:
This week, September 18-22, Barrington Middle School participated in #StartWithHello Week, an initiative by the Sandy Hook Promise that promotes kindness and inclusion across K-12 schools.
Thank you to our entire BMS community for committing to start with hello and make new connections - and a special thank you to Mrs. Poirier, Mrs. Nary, and Mrs. Leary for organizing this very important call-to-action!
Learn more about Start With Hello here: https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/our-programs/start-with-hello/
🍁BHS ENVIRONMENTALISTS BRING NEW COMPOST DROP-OFF TO TOWN:
Emma Pautz and Sabine Cladis, two Barrington High School students passionate about environmentalism, have been working to create a new compost drop-off site in Barrington.
They recently received approval from the Town Manager to set up the structure in the parking lot of the Barrington Senior Center. Once installed, community members will be able to drop off compost and food waste appropriate for composting at this site. Collected compost will be delivered to the Barrington Farm School for use in their gardens.
This impressive project was a true community collaboration. Emma and Sabine worked with many supporters and donors, including Mark and Mary Hanchar who funded the project and helped with design and construction.
Read more about this environmentally-conscious endeavor: https://www.eastbayri.com/barrington/stories/barrington-students-spearhead-new-compost-drop-off,116034
🍏SOWAMS SCHOOL GOES APPLE PICKING FOR A CAUSE:
Sowams School students and their families enjoyed fall fun at Rocky Brook Orchard on Sunday, September 17, and contributed to a community cause thanks to an apple picking event planned by the Sowams Family Fun committee!
The Sowams PTO funded three-half bushels of apples for donation to TAPIN and many families purchased additional pounds of apples to donate. Sowams community members donated a total of 70-80 pounds of apples to help address food insecurity in the East Bay.
⚫️POW MIA FLAGS RAISED ACROSS THE DISTRICT:
Today, September 15, is National POW MIA Recognition Day which honors United States service members who were prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action.
This morning, the POW * MIA flag was raised at all Barrington Public Schools buildings in recognition. Here is the flagpole at Barrington Middle School today!
🚴♀️RHODE TO BICYCLE SAFETY AT HMS:
Fifth graders at Hampden Meadows Elementary School are learning how to be safe cyclists thanks to the Rhode to Bicycle Safety program!
Rhode to Bicycle Safety (R2BS), is a 180-minute course that teaches fifth grade students across Rhode Island how to safely ride their bikes for transportation, physical activity, and fun.
At Hampden Meadows, R2BS is part of the Grade 5 health and physical education curriculum. Over the course of two weeks, students learn the rules of vehicular cycling, proper helmet safety, and bike safety checks, and practice navigating intersections and safely scanning their surroundings. Each student receives a helmet to take home at the end of the R2BS course to ensure safe bike practices!
R2BS is made possible by a partnership between Rhode Island Department of Transportation and Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council.
Learn more about Rhode to Bicycle Safety: https://wrwc.org/wp/what-we-do/red-shed-bike-programs/
🚀NAYATT STUDENTS GO TO SPACE:
In the 2022-2023 school year, the Rhode Island Science Teachers Association (RISTA) organized a state-wide NASA "Downlink" event for students to ask questions to astronauts on the International Space Station. Eight of the 16 student questions chosen by RISTA and NASA were asked by Nayatt School students in Ms. Perreira's 2022-2023 first grade class!
On September 14, NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli (@astrojaws) and Frank Rubio (@astro_frankrubio) called in from the International Space Station to answer student questions - and there were a few familiar faces from our Nayatt community on the stream!
Watch the downlink here: https://youtu.be/YbSfCfWiO9Y?feature=shared
👟CROSS COUNTRY TEAM WINS VINEYARD INTERNATIONAL:
Barrington High School cross country teams have started the Fall 2023 season with a bang!
The boys varsity and JV cross country teams won big at the Martha's Vineyard Cross Country International race on Saturday, September 9, in Edgartown, MA. Barrington teams won both the varsity and JV races and BHS runners placed in all three of the Invitational's races, with BHS senior and XC co-captain, Brandon Piedade, finishing first overall. Barrington girls cross country had three runners place in the top 32 of more than 700 race runners.
Boys and girls cross country teams also had a successful afternoon on Tuesday, September 12, during the first dual meet of the season on Barrington's home course.
Way to go, BHS athletes!
📸These photos were taken by Sterling Vernon of Rhode and Track/Sterling Vernon Photography.
🎨NATIONAL ARTS IN EDUCATION WEEK:
This week, September 10-16, 2023, is National Arts in Education Week, a celebration recognizing the transformative power of music, theater, dance, media arts, and visual arts instruction in education.
Arts education is an important contributor to overall student success, social-emotional development, and school engagement.
Thank you to our BPS arts educators who encourage our students to explore the world and their place within it and provide a consistent, positive outlet for students to express themselves.
🚒HIGH-FIVES FOR HEROES:
Driving through town this morning, you may have noticed a procession of first responder vehicles on the road.
That is because students and staff at Nayatt School, Primrose Hill Elementary School, Sowams School, and Hampden Meadows Elementary School lined their school's hallways to participate in "High-Fives for Heroes," a showing of thanks and support for Barrington's first responders in observance of the twenty-second anniversary of September 11, 2001.
Students from each elementary school prepared for "High-Fives for Heroes" by learning about the roles and responsibilities of first responders. In addition to high-fives, they made signs, drawings, and cards for members of the Barrington Police Department and Barrington Fire Department who walked through our schools.
Barrington Middle School and Barrington High School also showed support of first responders by writing messages of thanks.
Thank you to all of our first responders for your participation in this event and for your service!
🌳KINDERGARTENERS' DEEPER LEARNING ON DISPLAY:
It's #FlashbackFriday and we're going back to June 2023 when the work of our Nayatt School, Primrose Hill Elementary School, and Sowams School kindergarteners was showcased at the Barrington Tree Commission Open House.
The Open House provided a platform for kindergarten students to display and develop each of the three pillars of student achievement - mastery of knowledge, character, and high-quality work - upon which our English Language Arts curriculum (ELEducation), is based.
Kindergarten students showcased their mastery of content knowledge in a video capturing their reasons why trees are important. They had the character-building opportunity to interact with members of the Commission, vote on the types of trees they would like to see added to Barrington's landscape, and share their thoughts about how the importance of trees could be reflected in revisions to the town ordinance. The high-quality and creative watercolor paintings each kindergartener completed encouraged visitors to appreciate the beauty of trees through the eyes of a child and enabled kindergarteners to put their learning into action.
This experience exemplifies the hallmarks of deeper learning where, through independent and collaborative learning, students can understand and address the complex elements of a topic and draw connections within and across contexts.
📚BARRINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS SELECTED FOR TEACH TO LEAD SUMMIT:
Barrington Public Schools is one of 20 school districts across the country selected to attend the U.S. Department of Education's Teach to Lead Summit in Denver, Colorado, on October 27. At the Summit, a district team of Barrington educators will develop and refine a project aligned to the theme, "Raising the Bar: Elevating Educator Diversity to Enhance Educational Experiences."
Teach to Lead is a partnership of the Department of Education, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), and Teach Plus. Designed and led by teachers, it is a reflection of the Department of Education's commitment to creating systemic and sustained change, investing in educators, and providing students with the learning experiences and academically rigorous education they deserve.
🏃♂️CROSS COUNTRY CAPTAINS SUPPORT COMMUNITY RACE:
Sam Bishop and Brandon Piedade, co-captains of Barrington High School's cross country team, spent many hours this summer helping to organize the Barrington Woods Trail Race 5K, held on Saturday, August 26.
Over the past few months, Sam and Brandon worked closely with BHS Athletics Director, Mr. George Finn, the Barrington Booster Club, RaceWire, and multiple race sponsors to bring the first ever (of, hopefully, many!) Barrington Woods Trail Race to fruition. Through their promotion and organization, nearly 100 Barrington community members registered for and participated in this high-quality racing event on the BHS cross country team's home course.
Way to go, Sam and Brandon!
🏈BHS QUARTERBACK NAMED HOMETOWN SPORTS HERO:
Barrington High School senior and Eagles Quarterback, Alex McClelland, has been named this week's Cardi's Furniture & Mattresses Hometown Sports Hero.
The Hometown Sports Hero designation recognizes a student athlete's hard work and commitment to their sport, their team, and their community.
Alex was also recognized for his football acumen last spring at the Cam Newton 7v7 Tournament, where he won MVP. This which earned him the opportunity to meet the tournament's sponsor, former NFL MVP, Cam Newton.
Watch the WPRI spotlight from August 28 here: https://www.wpri.com/sports/hometown-hero-alex-mcclelland-barrington/?fbclid=IwAR3yC6LDuqM44GldqMON9zeCAVxCDuxufNV79jgHgeC-LdFw1bOhkJMpZUE
The photo of Alex at Barrington High School was taken by Richard Dionne, Jr. for East Bay Media.
🌅BHS SENIOR SUNRISE:
Barrington High School's Class of 2024 commenced the first full day of their senior year with unity and friendship!
In this morning's earliest hours, the BHS Class of 2024 gathered on Victory Field for Senior Sunrise, a class activity celebrating the new year ahead. Unfortunately, the weather at sunrise was foggy and drizzly - but that didn't stop the school spirit or excitement for senior year.
🏫 FIRST DAY OF THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR:
School is officially back in session! Today, August 28, marks the first day of the 2023-2024 school year for Barrington Public Schools students.
Hallways and classrooms across the district have been buzzing with anticipation and excitement for what is sure to be a fantastic school year. We are thrilled to welcome new learners to our community and just as delighted to see familiar faces returning to our schools.
BPS is proud to serve the children and families of our Barrington community. Every day, our district's schools are filled with enthusiastic and hard-working students, educators, and staff who continually put forth their best effort.
🎉BARRINGTON TEACHER OF THE YEAR 2023:
Barrington Public Schools is proud to recognize Mrs. Connie Oswald, Grade 6 math teacher at Barrington Middle School, as the our 2023 Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Oswald's dedication to the social, emotional, and academic development of her students and her commitment to inclusive instruction are inspiring.
As an active member of both our BMS and BPS communities, Mrs. Oswald makes a difference in the lives of hundreds of middle schoolers, families, and faculty members every day. Congratulations, Mrs. Oswald, for being an outstanding and devoted educator!
Thank you, Mrs. Roy and Mr. Moran, for capturing these pictures.
#BPSsoars #BPS_RI #TOTY2023
🍎 BPS EDUCATORS START THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR:
August 24 marked opening day of the 2023-2024 school year for Barrington Public Schools!
Superintendent Messore and the Barrington School Committee kicked off the District's new school year this morning with a welcome address at Barrington Middle School. BPS educators also heard from speaker, Jayne Ellspermann, author of The Fundamental 5 Revisited: Exceptional Instruction in Every Setting.
We are so excited for the first day of school on Monday, August 28. This is sure to be an incredible school year! #BPSsoars
🏀BHS STUDENT WINS ASFL CONTEST:
On August 12, Barrington High School student and varsity basketball player, Matt Raffa, recently won the 2023 Rhode Island A Shot For Life Challenge and claimed the title of "Best Shooter in Rhode Island" at the ASFL event hosted at St. George's School in Middletown.
The ASFL Challenge, a fundraiser to benefit brain cancer research, is a two hour basketball shooting contest meant to test the ability, endurance, and mental focus of high school participants. The player with the highest shooting percentage at the end of the event receives the title of best shooter in their state.
A Shot For Life (ASFL) is a sports-based non-profit that funds health and cancer research initiatives though community events and activities. ASFL engages and unites communities, inspires hope and teaches community leadership.
Learn more about A Shot for Life here: https://www.ashotforlife.org/
🦅EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT ENHANCES HMS PLAYGROUND:
Hampden Meadows Elementary School students will return to school on Monday, August 28, with a new addition to the playground! Thanks to the vision of Barrington High School graduate, Aiden Pilipski '23, and the hard work of local Eagle Scouts, there is now a giant chess board for HMS students to play life-size chess and checkers games.
Last week, Aiden organized and led a group of Scouts in constructing the board out of large stone pavers. What a wonderful sight to see former HMS Tigers working and laughing together in the hot August sun as they enhanced our Hampden Meadows community. Thank you, Aiden and Barrington Troop 2!
