In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I remain incredibly grateful for the inquisitiveness of our students, the commitment and innovation of our staff, and the unwavering support of our Barrington community. As we enter the final stretch of 2023, I would like to share with you some of the past month’s noteworthy accomplishments.
November’s District highlights reflect our community’s shared values of collaboration, collective growth, and commitment to each other.
Sowams School was recognized as a Lighthouse School by Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence earlier this year for performance in nine categories including student performance, school culture, challenging curriculum, and active teaching and learning. This week, Principal Jim Callahan was presented with the Lighthouse Award at the national Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Conference! See pictures from the conference and learn more about the Lighthouse Award here.
Three of our District’s schools topped the U.S. News and World Report list of Best K-8 Schools in Rhode Island. Barrington Middle School ranked #1 Best Middle School in the state, while Nayatt School and Sowams School ranked #2 and #4 Best Elementary Schools, respectively. Learn more about this recognition.
Our student athletes ended an impressive fall season! From our Barrington High School football team becoming RIIL Division II Champions to our Barrington Middle School and Barrington High School cross country teams winning state championships - with many more athletic successes and triumphs in between - our Eagles have much to be proud of!
Members of our community shared their time, expertise, and talents to help our students along their personal growth journeys. “Lunch and Learn,” an elementary enrichment program, has enabled students to learn from our BPS parents and explore their own interests during lunch!
Our students engaged in immersive and experiential learning throughout the month:
Hampden Meadows students took over as junior journalists for the Barrington Times, covering topics like life in Barrington, student engagement, and popular culture! Read the Kids Corner articles here.
“Sweat for Vets,” a physical education unit for Grades 4 & 5 enabled students to learn more about Veterans Day and challenge their fitness with training activities! See “Sweat for Vets” in action.
Grade 1 students at Nayatt School experienced an enchanting performance by award-winning storyteller, Len Cabral, that connected to their classroom learning. See Len Cabral at Nayatt.
Barrington High School’s Class of 2024 is soaring. Nearly two dozen student athletes signed their National Letters of Intent or made a commitment to their chosen college or university during a special ceremony at BHS. See the photos here.
Our District’s commitment to community care was on full display in November! Many of our schools organized donation drives to help reduce food insecurity and Barrington High School’s Interact Club partnered with the Barrington Police Department to collect Toys for Tots donations through mid-December. Learn more about the Toys for Tots drive here.
Continued professional growth is a core value at BPS. Our District’s speech-language pathologists attended a national conference this month to learn about the latest research and expand their knowledge. Check out this photo from the conference.
Barrington School Building Project
Thank you for your sustained support of Barrington Public Schools. We are grateful that Barrington voters have chosen to provide funds for critical school improvements and expansion at our elementary schools and Barrington High School. This will ensure students at every school in our District can access safe and modern learning spaces for many years to come. On Monday, December 4, from 7-8 PM, the Chairs of the Barrington School Building Committee will host an online community forum to discuss the project process. This forum will inform the upcoming School Committee vote regarding decommissioning a school building in pursuit of the selected building project option, Option 5. You can find more information about this forum, including the Zoom link to attend, here.
Free Community Vaccine Clinic
As we enter the holiday season, winter illnesses are already on the rise. Our District is hosting a free community vaccine clinic on Monday, December 4, from 4-7 PM at Barrington Middle School. Three vaccines will be available: flu injectable, FluMist, and COVID-19. Registration is required to secure an appointment time.
I look forward to seeing what our students and staff will accomplish in December and celebrating more achievements together in the new year! Thank you, as always, for your continued support of the mission and vision of our Barrington Public Schools.
Wishing you a joyful and fulfilling December!
Mike Messore
Michael B. Messore III
Superintendent Barrington Public Schools