From the superintendent

Providing our students with amazing opportunities

By Jeannine Nota-Masse
Posted 9/4/19

By JEANNINE NOTA-MASSE September is an exciting time. There is an electricity in the air like no other with the start of a new school year, and it is that time of year again. Whether you are new to our schools or a returning student, know that it is a

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From the superintendent

Providing our students with amazing opportunities

Posted

September is an exciting time. There is an electricity in the air like no other with the start of a new school year, and it is that time of year again. Whether you are new to our schools or a returning student, know that it is a great time to be a part of the Cranston Public Schools. It is a great time to be a student here and it is a great time to be an educator here as well. As always, we must keep our focus on student growth and achievement. Our primary responsibility is to prepare our students for education, careers, and life beyond our schools. I am confident Cranston offers myriad opportunities for students to grow, develop and pursue careers after they leave us.

Across the district, at every level, our educators have been spending the summer planning for an exciting new year. There has been professional collaborating and planning, participating in professional book clubs, attending conferences, and setting up classrooms to be innovative, inviting and exciting by teachers and administrators throughout the district. They work hard to bring cutting edge, yet fundamentally sound, personalized instruction to their students every day.

In our schools, we have educational initiatives including STEAM education, blended learning, and a strong focus on Social-Emotional Learning. We work with community partners like the Center for Resilience to teach students strategies to reduce anxiety, our social workers and guidance counselors work with students and families to develop strategies to help students overcome obstacles to school success, and our vibrant PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Support) Programs encourage and support those students who are doing well in school and give a boost of encouragement to those students who may need a little extra motivation.

We are constantly working in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) in assuring that all of our students have access to high quality, rigorous curricula that will prepare them for the next step in their educational journeys. Whether it’s learning to read with our Wonders and Fundations programs, learning math with Eureka, or technology and Career and Technical Programs, our district provides opportunities for students of varying abilities and career interests.

Cranston Public Schools is ready to begin a five-year plan of new construction and improvements to schools in the district. As the year progresses, we will be asking for community support for bond approval that will provide funding for these projects. I realize we have many buildings in dire need of improvements and upgrades. With the help of RIDE, our elected officials and the community, I am hopeful we can begin to make impactful and substantial changes to our schools. We must make our learning spaces and teaching places better for our community. It will take many years, but I am committed to making Cranston the model in this state for modern learning spaces for our students. I ask for your support and your patience as we embark on this journey toward improved school buildings.

We have had many capital improvements that have taken place over the summer all over the district, from painting many classrooms, new kitchens and new roofs, to the overhaul of Eden Park Elementary School’s intermediate wing. Our district’s work on our school buildings, beginning with this summer’s work at Eden Park, is a model for districts all over the state and all over the country.

While it is a small piece of one school, it is a huge start and one that we are proud of and excited about. People everywhere are watching our progress and we hope that this is the spark that will help people visualize a truly contemporary learning environment. If you haven’t driven by or seen the photos of Eden Park on our district’s social media pages, be sure to check them out.

The work being done on the fields at Cranston West by the Parks and Recreation Department and the Cranston West Alumni Association will mark the beginning of exciting times on those fields for our sports teams and we look forward to welcoming other teams from around the state to play on city's fields. Improvements to the field and the concession stand on the CHSW campus should be completed in October.

As I said, it is an exciting time to be a student or an educator in Cranston Public Schools. While we will always have challenges, by working together with families, the community and our staff, we have the tools to provide our students with amazing opportunities.

To follow all of our news and updates, be sure to follow the Cranston Public School Department page on Facebook, follow @CranstonSchools on Twitter, and check in regularly at our website at cpsed.net.

Enjoy the start of this new school year!

Jeannine Nota-Masse is the superintendent of Cranston Public Schools.

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