Narragansett Regional High School

Principal’s Flyer #1: August 12, 2024

Dear Students & Families:

We hope this email finds you well, and soaking in the last weeks of summer vacation!  One highlight of the Young family summer was rediscovering swimming with my seven-year old as she picks up confidence in the water.   As part of this, I discovered pretty quickly (if watching the Olympics didn’t provide enough evidence) that my backup career plan of winning the 400M (any stroke) is not in the cards.  Swimming endurance reckoning aside: the extended daylight has been glorious, and our school is in outstanding shape heading into the 2024-2025 school year.  We sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed/are enjoying summer vacation and have found it recharging. 

As we inch toward the school year, we’re sending this August update to you so our students, families, and wider-Warrior community feels confident about beginning the upcoming school year.  And while this memo focuses on some nuts and bolts particulars to help everyone feel connected and ready for the school year ahead, please know that the true energy in a school comes from the connections with students, our daily interactions as a staff and student body, and our connection to our community and families.  This brings a school to life…So we’re very much looking forward to the return of our students and will be in touch as the school year draws nearer.

In case you missed it previously, here is our official welcome back letter.  The upcoming items in this memo will focus on practical questions students and families typically have to start a school year.   As always, please know that we are at your disposal.  If you have questions to start the school year, call our main office and we will answer your question and/or get back to you promptly if we’re on another line at the moment (978-939-5388). 

The first day of school at NRHS will be August 28th.  Doors open @ 7:15 AM to families dropping students off in the front horseshoe of the MS/HS building complex.  School begins at 7:45 AM sharp.  Dismissal is at 2:20 PM on all full days.  Half Day Dismissal occurs at 11:10 AM. We will alert you to those days in advance as they come up.  Please be reminded that NRSD has no school on August 30th and September 2nd.

Students and families are advised that student schedules for the high school will be released during the evening of Wednesday, August 14th.  Schedules will be available in the Community Portal, and schedules for 8th graders and students new to NRHS will be printed and given to students at our Warrior Welcome Academy this Wednesday.  Here are few additional pieces of important information regarding student schedules:

• Please note that counselors will not be available to begin answering questions about individual student schedules starting on August 19th.  

• Any questions about schedules that are emailed to counselors will be answered in the order they are received beginning August 19th.

• Students with the last name beginning A-K, your counselor is Ms. Briggs. 

• Students with the last name beginning L-Z, your counselor is Ms. Jasinski. 

• Early College and Montachusett Vocational Program students, your counselor is Ms. Donnelly.

• Thrive students, your counselor is Mr. Grady.

• Please be reminded that teachers have not yet returned for the fall and are learning their rosters as you do; they will be available in late August for questions. 

• The easiest way for a student to check a schedule is to:

  • Visit the community portal and click on your student’s name

  • Click on the class to see the course and block 

Student Family Handbook, 2024-2025.  Families are advised the 2024-2025 NRSD Student and Family Handbook will be available on our website and to review and acknowledge later this August.  We will alert you when this is posted to the portal.  

Beginning of Year Forms (BOY). Please be advised that in the first week of school, students will receive several beginning of year forms (BOY).  As always, we will share with you what these forms are and the process for returning them. 

Updating your Contact Information.  Finally, if your contact information has changed and you need to update it, families/guardians can update their information (i.e. name, phone, email, address, etc.) by clicking on "Change Request" in the portal.  This change request goes directly to our registrar, who will update School Brains with your new information promptly.  

School Pictures will be held on Tuesday, September 10th and Senior families are advised that senior portrait date signups are ongoing. 

• Senior families (only) please review this important note regarding Senior photos and our Yearbook 

For those of you ready for back to school shopping, we will make some general recommendations regarding school supplies here, but please be advised that your child’s teachers will make note of any class-specific supplies recommended for the school year.  Students and families are reminded that NRHS is a 1:1 school.  All students grades 8-12 will be provided a chromebook with unique login and security features.  Students are responsible for the care of these devices and should take them home each night for charging.  NRHS teachers plan lessons each day under the assumption that student chromebooks are charged and ready for needed use.

In terms of physical supplies, recommended back-to-school supplies include:

• Backpack

• Writing implements (e.g., pens, pencils, highlighters)

• White lined paper for binder and/or folders

• Post it notes (recommended for annotations)

• 3 ring binder (2 inches) and/or folders per each class (students typically enroll in seven classes)

• Daily Agenda/Organizer.  This is particularly helpful for students tracking and organizing their student homework

• Calculators - for students enrolled in Grade 8 Math, Algebra 1, and/or Algebra 2 the Math Department recommends the Texas Instruments TI-30X IIS calculator.  

As we’re looking ahead to fall sports, this is a reminder that all students should register for fall sports now.  Registration is open (and you can register and complete all documents here, via Family ID).  With most sports beginning formal practices over the next week, don’t delay in getting registered!  If you’re an athlete or fan of Warrior Athletics, here’s a reminder of our fall sport offerings:

Golf (Varsity)

Soccer (Varsity & Middle School)

Cross Country (Varsity & Middle School)

Field Hockey (Varsity and Middle School)

Football (Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Middle School)

Cheerleading (Varsity and Middle School)

We’d also like to remind you that we’ll add the HS Athletics schedule to our end of our memos, and you can follow our most up to date Athletics Calendar, here.   And if you’re unable to attend or miss a match..?  Our Athletics Department has you covered: we will stream live and recorded games on our ’Gansett Athletics YouTube Channel, courtesy of Mr. Brad Bond, our Athletic Director.  

Finally, please be reminded that no student is able to practice or play if they do not have an updated physical (within 13 months) to participate. 

Senior Student Parking.  Seniors who have applied for a parking pass have been issued a parking pass for the 24-25 school year and have been contacted directly by administration.  Parking passes are available for pickup between 8:00 AM and 2:30 PM Monday through Friday up until the start of school in the main office. 

• Any senior who has not yet applied for parking may do so, and will be entered in a lottery for remaining parking spaces. 

• We will review parking locations with seniors when students pick up their parking passes, and at the beginning of the school year during class assembly. 

Junior Student Parking. Juniors and Junior families received an email this evening explaining the process for applying to enter a lottery for a junior parking spot at NRSD.  Please check your email for updates regarding applying for an NRHS parking pass. 

Attention Students and Community!  Warrior Fest and homecoming week will be held early this year during the week of September 9th 2024.  Varsity Letterman’s Club and students/participants have met over the summer and plans are coming together. Here’s what to know…and Save the Date!

• Spirit Week Schedule Poster (students: this is one of our first major spirit weeks of the year)

• Homecoming Dance is Friday September 13th at Otter River Sportsman’s Club.  

  • Theme: Disco Fever, Check it out!

• Warrior Fest will be held Saturday, September 14th!

  • Local Vendors, Music, Booths, and Games 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM for all families

  • ‘Gansett Varsity Football vs. Monty Tech @ 7:00 PM

  • Fireworks will take place @ 9:00 PM (Conditions Permitting)

  • See our Dynamic Poster (mp4) or Warrior Fest Flyer for details

  • We’ll send weekly reminders about Warrior Fest as the school year begins

Please be on the lookout for communication from us as the school year approaches.  We’ll be in touch via social media updates and letters to you directly.  Check the banner of this memo for links to our website, live updates, social media page links, and alerts pages.  We’ll see you soon, Warriors!       

Colby Young & Michelle Landry