4. February 2009 by Mr. M.

OPEN HOUSE THIS SUNDAY. Our Pre-K through 8 Open House will be held this Sunday from 12:30  to 2:00 PM. We invite prospective families to visit with our faculty, ask important questions of us all and allow us to preview the new school set to open this fall.

LAST SUNDAY A SUCCESS.  We were really pleased with our turnout last Sunday. and happy to showcase our programs and facility soon available at Immaculate Conception Catholic Regional School. Apparently our visitors were equally pleased and happy.  I’d like to share an email I received from a prospective mom and dad that helps say it all:  “Dear Mr. Morissette, my husband and I wanted to let you know how impressed we were with the Open House. The enthusiasm projected by the staff and students was evident at all times.  Our tour guides were [student 1]  and [student 2]; we were so impressed by their composure, knowledge and enthusiasm for the school.  The new school is impressive with all of its additional space and technology, however the best way to judge a school is by the caliber of student it graduates.  From what we were able to witness on Sunday your school sets high standards and the students strive to achieve and exceed what is expected of them.”Wow!  I agree. 

1 PM DISMISSAL WEDNESDAY.  A reminder that we will have a 1 PM dismissal on Wednesday afternoon for a faculty inservice.  Extended Care will be held from 1 PM on. SCIENCE FAIR VIEWING TIMES SET. Parents and CJCR friends are invited to view this year’s science fair projects on Wednesday evening, February 4  between 6:30 - 7:30 PM.  All science fair projects must be dismantled at 7:30 PM. Come visit and honor our young scholars for their efforts! 

GRANDPARENTS EVERYWHERE!  What a great event our annual Grandparents Day was.  With record turnouts and absolutely delightful student presentations from Grades Pre-K through 5, Tuesday morning was near perfect.  We want to thank all the grandparents, godparents, aunts and uncles as well as parents for attending our event.  We are deeply honored. The new format for student presentations seems to have been well received.  We’ll work on shortening lines for next year. 

SPECIAL KUDOS to all the parent volunteers for their nonstop assistance during Grandparents Day.  You guys are great! Our middle school ambassadors once again rose to the occasion and helped out considerably.  Also thanks to our middle school students for the pre-program talent show.  They were excellent and entertained arriving families until 9:00 AM. 

ALL SCHOOL ASSEMBLY AND AWARDS CEREMONY.  We want to thank Deacon Thomas Raspallo, Principal Emeritus of Cranston-Johnston Catholic Regional School for conducting our prayer service on Wednesday in conjunction with Catholic Schools Week. Students and faculty were assembled in St. Mark Church for this special event. Following the service we were happy to recognize teachers who have served faithfully at CJCR.  Each received a special pin in recognition of their special contributions to Catholic education.  As I am fond of noting, these teachers comprise our “living endowment.” 

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17. January 2009 by Mr. M.

WE’RE BACK after an unexpected day off!  What was supposed to be a nasty combination of high winds, a subzero wind chill and some snow turned out to be nothing more than a winter’s day. Oh, well, Viva New England!

We missed our Thursday liturgy and will make every attempt to make it up.  I’ll  keep you posted.

HONORING DR. KING. On Tuesday, we will hold an all-school assembly honoring the memory and mission of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  The event, entitled “All That Has Gone Before” will have us joined in prayer, reflection, historical commentary and song.  You are invited to attend.  The assembly begins at 9:30 AM.  We anticipate having Mr. Alan Shawn Feinstein with us for comments at that time.  Mr. Feinstein has visited our school before but it has been a while since his last visit.  We thought it appropriate that he join us on this special day.

GRANDPARENTS DAY is coming.  We hop many of our children’s grandparents will be able to attend. Class and grade presentations will begin in the gymnasium at 9:00 AM.  We will attempt to reserve all available spaces closest to the building for our guests.  Please email, call, or drop me a note if  a disabled parking spot is necessary.  Thanks.

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26. December 2008 by Mr. M.

WELL, WHAT AN END TO THE YEAR! We expected snow at some soon date, but never wished to see a snow event strike us as we reached the Christmas in Our Hearts finale! Oh well, Thursday saw us –importantly- gather together as a school family to witness the angelic voices of our beautiful young students and to carol together before we sent everyone home to families, holidays…and snow! Christmas in Our Hearts was a season long event that saw the spirit of giving and good cheer combined. The month began with Breakfast with Santa and continued with a number of wonderful PTO events. Way to go, P-T-O! Grade 5 solicited over four hundred items for needy children in South Providence –and treated us to hot chocolate in return. School nurse, Marie Habershaw’s stuffed bear donations reached to nearly sixty huggables for needy children!

Our holiday festivities continued with a resplendent door decorating contest (congrats to Grade 1 for winning the overall Best Door), daily Advent readings by middle school students, A Christmas Carol marathon reading, our student play, Operation Baby King and more helped prove just how wonderful a school CJCR truly is.

HOLIDAY BEST WISHED TO YOU. May the peace and joy of the season fill your hearts and be with you through the New Year. We’ll catch up with you when we return the week of January 5th.

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26. December 2008 by Mr. M.

LAST WEEK OF CHRISTMAS IN OUR HEARTS: When we started the month long Christmas in Our Hearts program, we knew we would have fun but, oh what fun we’re having! Our programs have been a great success! The spirit of the season is truly with us. Next up: A Christmas Carol marathon reading. Beginning on the morning of the 15th our students will read this seasonal classic from beginning to end –nonstop!

Lower School students will conduct their Christmas holiday songfest during the school day on Thursday and our middle school choir will chime in with wonderfully appropriate carols. Of course, we want all parents, grandparents and friends to stop by. We’ll have hot chocolate ready for everyone who visits.

Help your youngster to outfit an outrageous holiday hat to wear on the 19th. Not able to decorate a hat? No problem. Prizes go to the room with the most holiday hats, period. Special prizes for M.O.H.H. (most outrageous holiday hat).

Don’t forget, if you are able to join us on Friday, December 19th you’ll be part of the fun beginning at 1:15 PM in the school’s gymnasium. Teachers Sandra LeBeau and Henry D’Aloisio have a special program planned for us.

GOING GREEN: Very soon you will hear from about Green Core, our school wide environmental plan, aimed at providing safe alternatives to presently used cleaning products in the building. This effort, spearheaded by school nurse, Mrs. Marie Habershaw, will immediately put into place at CJCR environmentally responsible alternatives to the oftentimes toxic cleaning products presently being used. Moving to our new building will see a total implementation of the program.

We are proud to state that Immaculate Conception Catholic Regional School will be the first school in Rhode Island to use all “green” cleaning products. We are happy to begin this program and eager to see its full implementation next year.

KEEPING OUR NEIGHBORS WARM: Part of Christmas In Our Hearts is the Grade 5 program to collect gloves, mittens, sweaters and the like for needy families. As a thank you to our students and their families for bringing in hundreds of new clothing items, Grade 5 will serve hot chocolate to students on Monday and Tuesday at lunch. Thanks to Mrs. Beverly and Mr. Cook for spearheading this venture. All clothing will be donated to Bishop McVinney School and The McCauley House, both located in South Providence.

SPELLING BEE SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY: Our class level winners will participate in the Grades 4-8 Spelling Bee Tuesday at 1:00 PM. Parents, grandparents and friends are welcome to attend.

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26. December 2008 by Mr. M.

We are happy to announce that Cranston-Johnston Catholic Regional School has received full accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). The school’s re-accreditation approval is valid for 10 years, the longest accreditation period allowed by NEASC. Additionally, the Certificate of Accreditation carries forward to the new Immaculate Conception facility in the fall.

NEASC is a nationally recognized organization whose affiliated institutions include elementary schools through colleges and universities. Accreditation means the school meets or exceeds all criteria for assessment. An accredited school or college is one which “has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purpose through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives every reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the future.”

NEASC’s Independent School commissioner, William M. Bennett, in a letter to the school stated: “It is with great pleasure that the commission on Independent Schools voted to grant Cranston-Johnston Catholic Regional School continued accreditation.”

In its decision, the Commission reviewed the school’s self study documents along with the visiting committee’s report and observations. Sandra Jennings, assistant principal and self-study committee chairperson, said “the accreditation validates all the hard work, dedication, and commitment shown daily by our teachers in the name of the children we serve.”

As our school moves forward, the goals and plans we have set for ourselves will result in improved programs, curriculum and instruction. I believe the entire faculty is excited to be moving in a new direction and to have NEASC’s approval.

While we are busy working on new curricular programs and refining present ones, we’ll also take time to flesh out our new strategic plan developed along with the NEASC self-study. We have lots of exciting things happening in curriculum, instruction and assessment that will be a part of the future of Immaculate Conception Catholic Regional School.

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19. November 2008 by Mr. M.

November 14, 2008

VETERANS DAY REMEMBRANCE

On Wednesday, November 12, our school recognized the sacrifices and contributions of our veterans with a Veterans Day Remembrance.  Students from grades 6,7,and 8 assisted in the presentation that honored those men and women who presently wear or have worn the uniform of our country. 

Grade 8 student Olivia Cece reminded us that “the occasion should not simply be remembered as a “day off.”  The day serves to remind us that freedom is not free, that valor and honor are achieved by the common man in uncommon situations.”

 Mia Sardella, Grade 6, noted: “since our Nation’s founding, brave men and women have taken up arms to defend the truths set forth in the Declaration of Independence: ‘That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights; that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”  

The prayer of remembrance follows:“Lord, remember those Americans who have served you wearing the uniform of their country.  Help us to recognize that as with all things of great value, our peace and freedom do not come cheaply. It comes as a result of these brave men and women who have answered the call to military duty when their country needed them.  Many of them have paid the ultimate price –their lives in defense of their country.  We pray, Lord, that you grant us the ability to always recognize and appreciate their sacrifice, as we recognize and appreciate your Son’s sacrifice for us on the cross. May those who have died be with you in eternal life in heaven.  For those who continue to serve, Lord, may they enjoy safety and be delivered from all harm.  This we ask in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” 

Samantha Sanzaro, Grade 6, reminded us that “time and time again, ordinary people have served our Nation in extraordinary ways so that all Americans can pursue the happiness our Founding Fathers envisioned. By their service, they have kept America strong, and they have protected our way of life for more than two centuries.  At this moment, men and women of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard are serving around the world in the preservation of freedom and basic human rights.”  

Christian Frangos, Grade 8 added: “As Americans, we have set aside November 11, Veterans Day, to reflect, remember, and honor those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.  Today, there are nearly 25 million veterans living among us. We honor them by teaching students, such as ourselves, about their sacrifices on our behalf.”  The roster of parents, relatives, and family friends was read.  Names represented all of the branches of the Armed Forces. 

Alexandria Hackett, Grade 8, conducted the Pledge of Allegiance to honor our veterans while her sister, Michaela, also a Grade 8 student, added a prayerful moment of silence to reflect upon the unselfish devotion and service of so many to our country’s call to duty.  We remembered especially those who have died in our nation’s cause.  

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 PULL OUT YOUR CALENDARS! The number of activities and events that CJCR hosts or participates in is truly outstanding. The holiday season brings an even greater number of wonderful family and school events.  Each one, in its own special way, helps to create an even stronger bond between and among our students and families.  I hope all of us will make a special effort to support these events and activities from our ongoing food drive to the PTO’s upcoming events.  As I have remarked to many, the heart of the school, its true spiritual and social center are the families, students, teachers and staff who make every day memorable and important.  BOOK FAIR ARRIVES TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18 While for many, books seem like such a “twentieth century thing,” we are in danger of losing valuable occasions for critical and creative thinking without the availability of and opportunity for reading.  Amidst all the electronic gadgetry and visual stimuli our children receive, we should make a special effort to enforce the joy of reading.  Many saw the Harry Potter phenomenon as a ray of sunshine in the hope we would grow more readers.  But, without constant attention –and the farewell of Harry and company, the crop of readers may never come to harvest.  Come to the Book Fair and help do our collective part in making reading the center of our lives.  

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6. November 2008 by Mr. M.

Over and over again the wonderful spirit of faculty and families displays itself. Nary a week or a day goes by where the caring, enthusiastic attitudes of CJCR folks don’t shine.  The recent pancake breakfast at Applebee’s is a current example. Well over 100 students, parents, and grandparents rose early on the day after Halloween to enjoy breakfast served by CJCR faculty. While faculty members seemed inexperienced as wait staffers and busboys (busgirls?) they served pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, juice and coffee deftly and promptly.  So much so that the tip jars assigned to each teacher ran to overflowing!  So, kudos to a wonderful faculty who so graciously donated of their time to be a part of the event. (Sra. Minervino , CJCR Spanish teacher, wouldn’t take an order unless it was recited in Spanish.  Somehow, thanks to her superb classroom instruction, her diners left well fed!)  Special thanks go to Mrs. Narducci, PTO vice-president for being the on-site coordinator and parent Joseph Sarro for really pitching in behind the scenes!

I’ve been asked to remind you that our middle school participates in regular weekly assemblies in the gymnasium.  On Tuesdays and Fridays students in grades 6, 7,and 8 begin their day with morning assembly.  Student led, each assembly is an occasion for celebrating student/class/team accomplishments and sharing news about upcoming events and club activities.  You are welcome to stop by at your leisure to attend.

Earlier, we posted the new Diocesan honor roll criteria. High Honors with Distinction is set at 4.6 to 5, High Honors 4.0 to 4.5, and Honors, 3.5 to 3.9.  This new criteria will be in effect for the first marking period.

PROCESSION OF THE SAINTS

On Thursday, we held our November liturgy and honored All Saints Day (Nov. 2), As is a tradition at CJCR, Ms. McCusker’s grade 4 students dressed in the garb of the Saints and led the procession into church.  Fr. Ronald Brassard greeted the assembly of Saints and interacted with many of them during his homily.  Ms. McCusker’s class (and there collective parents, I’m sure!) spent a considerable amount of time attaining that perfect “saintly look.” The lives of the Saints continue to be a perfect means of demonstrating the commitment and love we all have for Jesus. During my morning reflections, I often spend time speaking to a particular saint’s feast day. Each saint has a grand story to tell and is great role models

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28. October 2008 by Mr. M.

As the photo attests, we had a lot to be proud of with our successful cross country teams.  Both boys and girls teams worked hard throughout the season –in the heat, rain and otherwise.  In particular, our girls did exceptionally well team bringing home two championship plaques.  The first was for finishing first in the CAL Providence Divisional Races.  More importantly (drum roll, please) was what Coach Kevin Aucoin proudly calls “the Big One” the 2008 Diocesan Championship. Grade 8 runner, Victoria Stephens bested a field of over 270 competitors and won the Diocesan Girls’ Individual Championship and, in the offing, set a course record. Fifth grader, Jessica Apajee finished in third place while grade 7 student Alexa Tribelli finished in fourth place.

During our regular Tuesday middle School assembly, our proud 6,7 and 8 graders formed an honor line, congratulating team members with cheers and applause as they strode in to receive accolades and recognition from the administration and Coach Aucoin.

Our regular Tuesday and Friday morning assemblies have proved to be popular as there isn’t a meeting day that goes by without our middle schoolers having occasion to applaud and cheer on fellow students for one achievement or another. The assemblies are run by students and they are excellent opportunity to bring students up-to-date on the goings-on of the school.  Obviously, students conducting the meetings as well as those called upon to speak are learning valuable lessons in public speaking. You are invited to stop by to sit in on any of our assemblies.

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15. October 2008 by Mr. M.

 SPORTS DOMINATE THE WEEK

What a great turnout Sunday and Monday evenings for our winter basketball and cheerleading signups and tryouts.  A more enthusiastic group I’ve yet to see –and I’m talking about the coaches!  The athletes were even more eager to begin their season.  It appears as if we will have a full complete of teams to ensure a great basketball season.

Unfortunately, we are still in need of a coach or two so I urge parents and grandparents to consider participating in our sports program.  There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing our young athletes at play.  Help by being a part of the experience. We need coaches for basketball as well as Grades 4-5 cheerleading. Please call Susan Kolenda at 942-2950 for more information.  (She’s waiting for your call.)

While we prepare for the basketball season, the fall soccer and cross country seasons continue. Soccer coach Mario Macera has fielded a wonderful team of athletes whose enthusiasm and ability are noteworthy.  Also notable is our cross country team coached by Kevin Aucoin.  Cross country –the lonely sport- has a full roster of boys and girls who continue to top their personal best while finishing events often in the top ten of their field.

It continues to be a frantic week here as we prepare for our NEASC accreditation visit that begins Sunday.  Well prepared, the staff is eager for the process to unfold.  I’ll have more on the process in next week’s blog.

I close this entry with a photo from Ms. McCusker’s grade 4 class participating in their “Demonstrate and Communicate” project.  Similar to younger children’s “show and tell,” the class is treated to a variety of demonstrations ranging from cooking to dog care –and everything in between. The children learn valuable oral speaking skills as well as picking up new information from their fellow students.

Stopping into classes as I frequently do is the true joy of my job. The sparkle in the eye of a confident learner, the smile on the face of a reluctant one who took a risk to succeed –and did!- all as a result of a challenging teacher and a supportive group of classmates.

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11. September 2008 by Mr. M.

Here are Mrs. Denise Quirk and Mr. Kevin Aucoin parent volunteers in the school’s athletic program ready to answer parent questions –and solicit volunteers for sports- at the recent Parent/Teacher Meet and Greet.  Denise and Kevin are only two of the many CJCR parents who gladly volunteer in the ever-growing sports program at our school.

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