What's New for 2019

Dear Families and Jamestown Community -

I hope everyone had a restful summer. I know I am extremely excited to start the new school year with all of our students. I spent that past few days with our amazing staff for professional development. I will say they are ready and they are excited to get back. Our first session was on Conscious Discipline. It is a fundamental shift in thinking that empowers adults and children to be the change they want to see in the world. It is a comprehensive, brain based trauma-informed social-emotional learning program that integrates school climate, classroom management and self-regulation. Our staff was ignited to embrace the work to share with our students. In the coming months we will offer a workshop session for our parents to learn more about the program.

Parent and Community Involvement:

It is important that as a district we create a strong connection with our families, the community and the learning in our schools. We want you involved in the experiences that create greater learning opportunities for our students. Please join the Parent Teacher Organization, attend the School Improvement Meetings and Coffee Hours throughout the year. If you are unable to be at one of these events in person give us a call; there are other ways to be involved in your child’s school.

Our District Strategic Plan will be renewed this year. It is a 5 year plan that sets the goals for our district. This is another great way to get involved in the future of the Jamestown Schools. I will send more information as the time gets closer.

Instruction and Curriculum:

During the summer our curriculum team reviewed evidence-based practices to increase the rigor and high expectations for our students. It is our commitment to provide high quality learning and curriculum to your children. We will continue to offer the quality learning of a National Blue Ribbon school and a 4 and 5-Star rated school by the RI Department of Education.

Below I have highlighted some of the ways we will be enhancing our instructional practices through professional learning

• Instructional Rounds will continue for year 3. They are one of the most valuable tools to enhance educator’s pedagogical skills and develop a culture of collaboration and improvement.
• Feedback: Our focus through Instructional Rounds will be on the effective use of feedback between teachers to students, students to students, and students to teachers. Feedback is one of the top 10 influences on positive student achievement.
• Cognitive Rigor: Our teaching staff will focus on how developing student learning tasks that are aligned to a higher depth of knowledge will increase the application of cognitive rigor by our students.
• Math Coaching: K-5 teachers will receive coaching in learning and implementing Math Running Records (MRR). MRR will be used to assess students’ math fluency to improve their math skills.
• Literacy Coaching: ELA teachers at the middle level will receive coaching to enhance the application of the ELA standards and literacy practices.
• Teacher Assistants: All teacher assistants will receive training and coaching in the RI TA Standards and best practices for supporting students.

Social Emotional Learning and School Safety:

This year we will continue our commitment to the growth of our students’ social-emotional health through our partnership with the Sandy Hook Promise Organization and the Jamestown Police Department. In September we will be one of the first districts in RI along with 2 other districts to implement the “Say Something Anonymous Reporting System”. The system allows you to submit secure and anonymous safety concerns to help identify and intervene upon at-risk individuals. We will be rolling this information out to our middle school students, staff and families. Maintaining a school culture of inclusion, compassion and connectedness will promote safe schools for our students.

School Construction:

The first phase of our school construction projects are in their final stage of completion. The District will open this week with NEW 30 year warrantied Garland Roofs on both Melrose Elementary School and Lawn Middle School. The elementary school classrooms all received refurbished classroom doors that are now controlled by a magnetic holding device connected to our Fire and Active Threat Alarm System. All doors will remain in the locked position. If the fire alarm or active threat alarm is initiated all classroom doors will close automatically. Click here for more details on the School Construction Projects.

During the first week of school it is a priority of mine to spend time visiting classrooms to meet our new and returning students, observe instruction, and talk with our families. The first week of school is always an inspiring experience for all of us. The Jamestown School Department looks forward to our collaborative partnership in educating your children.

Please feel free to visit.

Sincerely,

Ken Duva, Ed.D

Superintendent

duva.ken@jamestownschools.org

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