Narragansett Regional High School

Principal’s Flyer #2: August 25, 2024

Dear Students & Families:

It is with incredible pleasure that we welcome you back to school this week on Wednesday, August 28th to start the 2024-2025 school year!  Although the glorious weather this weekend and upcoming Labor Day hopefully mean you all are still enjoying the late stages of summer, we are excited for all that is in store this school year and have no doubt we’re in for a productive and outstanding 24-25!

All families are advised that our staff will return in full to our campus early this week and engage in classroom setup and professional development for the better part of Monday and Tuesday.  Thanks in advance for understanding that teachers, counselors, and administrators will return any correspondence as soon as they are able, given all will be occupied readying the school to receive students on Wednesday. 

Again, 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.

And even though NRHS is about to begin the year formally, we’re already celebrating academic and vocational scholarship as well as culture-building that has been underway for NRHS since mid-August:

• Bravo to our student leaders for introducing 8th graders and students new to the district at Warrior Welcome Academy.  Our 8th graders were phenomenal participants, and thank you to our Warrior Leaders for putting together an outstanding day of welcome for all.  Thank you also from Assistant Principal Landry to Darlene Dickson and Vickie Flood for coordinating Warrior Welcome!

• Kudos also to our Early College Seniors for attending orientation last week at Mount Wachusett Community College.  As we’ve mentioned before, Early College is a program that offers aspiring juniors and seniors dual enrollment at NRHS and Mount Wachusett and Fitchburg state, and up to 24 college credits at no cost to students and their families. Bravo to this cohort of college goers on preparing early to take courses on college campus this year!

• A special shout-out also goes out to our Montachusett Vocational Partnership students, who are the founding Junior/Senior cohort in a first-of its kind program in the state in which several local area schools are collaborating with Monty Tech to bring additional vocational programming opportunities to Narragansett students.  Last Tuesday, our students and families participated in the MVP program’s inaugural orientation.  Thank you to our families, students, and district for supporting this innovative program. 

Special Note: we do have one remaining spot in our carpentry pathway.  If any junior family is reading this memo and would like to be considered, please reach out to Katie Donnelly (kdonnelly@nrsd.org) ASAP for consideration.  

All student schedules are available in the Community Portal.  We strongly recommend all students check their schedules in advance of the first day of school.  However, if you’re a student having difficulty accessing your schedule, know that we will have a printed schedule for all students available for them to pick first thing in the morning on Day 1.  Students needing a printed schedule: please go to the high school front lobby and we’ll provide you with your schedule!  Additionally, families struggling to access the Community Portal can call us in the main office at 978-939-5388.  We’re happy to assist you in a smooth and non-stressful opening day of school.  

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 

• Students - consider taking a screenshot of this on your phone

NRHS School Counselors by Student

• 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.

• We will provide students with information on add-drop (if students need to request a course change) during our first assembly and over the intercom on the first day of school.

Student Family Handbook, 2024-2025.  Families are advised 2024-2025 NRSD Student and Family Handbook is available on our website for review.

• Please find, linked here, a step-by-step instructions for finding and acknowledging the handbook

• Handbooks should be reviewed and signed by families/parents/guardians within the first two weeks of school by September 12th.

Beginning of Year Forms (BOY). During 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 

  • If you do not have yet signed up for a senior portrait, no worries!  We have sessions coming up to sign up for, you can see them when you visit schedule.prestigeportraits.com.

Warrior Family Drop-Off Pickup at the High School Campus

Families dropping off students at the high school should always use the front horseshoe and pull up curbside.  Please use the right lane if dropping off a high school student.  Please use the left lane if dropping off only a middle school student.   Students will be able to enter the building under supervision at 7:15 AM.  

Families picking up students at the high school should use the front horseshoe and pull up to the curbside.  Families may enter the horseshoe using both lanes.  We will hold exiting traffic until either the lane is clear or a member of the administrative staff waives you forward knowing it is safe to proceed. 

Please be advised we do have larger student enrollment and more student drivers this year than in many years passed.  Thank you in advance for planning accordingly, and expecting a busy Baldwinville Road. 

Warrior Student Driving/Parking at the High School Campus

All students who have applied for a parking space able to drive have been issued a parking pass. Students if you have not yet picked up your pass, you may do so in the front office on the first day of school.  Students may park in the following parking lots:

• B Lot (the Band Parking Lot)

• The lower High School Gym Parking Lot (the two rows closes to the gym are reserved for faculty)

• The NRHS gravel lot across from Baldwinville Road

  • All students parking in the gravel parking lot must cross at the crosswalk and adhere to the directions of the NRSD Crossing Guard. 

Students that do not have a valid parking pass should not park on campus during school hours.  Cars without passes will be towed at owner’s expense. 

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

NRHS Administration & Nursing

Be on the lookout for Beginning of Year Forms especially from our Nursing Department regarding over-the-counter and prescription medications.  As always, medications must be stored in the nursing office and handed off via legal guardian.  It is important students and families are aware that medications should not be carried by students on campus.  

School Lunches

Alongside Dr. Casavant’s letter welcoming you back last week, Food Services Director Michael Onorato also sent out information regarding student meals (8/23). Please refer to this letter, and be advised of the following.

• Student Lunch Schedule

  • A student’s lunch time is always tied to their F Block class.  We will review student lunch schedules and direct students on day one of school to avoid any confusion regarding student lunches.  

  • We will continue to offer expanded choice in student meals and healthy food, which we’ve received favorable feedback from students over the second half of last year. 

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 forward to fall sports, this is a reminder that all students should register for fall sports now.  You can register and complete all documents here, via Family ID).  With most sports having already begun formal practices last 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:

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.

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.  

Finally, looking for some Warrior Athletics Team Gear?!  Please visit the Varsity Field Hockey team store: https://gansettfieldhockey.secure-decoration.com/

• The store will remain open through Labor Day

As we often say but hope it never feels redundant: it is a privilege to work with our students and this community.  We believe, firmly, NRHS is in a great place…and that this graduating Class of 2025 is going to set an exuberant, positive tone and culture for the entire Warrior student body.  Given what we have already seen these last several years, we fully expect an outstanding year ahead. Thank you to our students and families for choosing this community and our school as the place for our students to thrive.  Know that we are tremendously invested in your success, Warriors.  We’ll see you this Wednesday!

Colby Young & Michelle Landry

Updated 08/25/24.  Click here for the most Up-to-Date Schedule.

Week of 8/26/24