District Profile
PROFILE
Smithfield Public Schools
The 2009/10 school year saw several special recognitions awarded to Smithfield educators including: Rhode Island Superintendent of the year, High School Art Teacher of the Year, Environmental Education Teacher of the Year, one principal was awarded the RI Principals’ Association Interscholastic Athletic Leadership Award and one principal earned her Doctor of Education degree from the University of Massachusetts. A nin teacher joined the ranks of the National Board of Professional Teacher Standards (NBPTS) in 2009. Currently, nine teachers/administrators are currently enrolled in a Doctoral Program of Study at Northeastern University.
All Smithfield Schools Achieve Annual Yearly Progress
RIDE announced public school rankings based on the School and District Performance and Accountability System. The accountability system measures annual progress on the Rhode Island State Assessment Program (RISAP). The elementary schools, middle school and high school participated in the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP). In K-8, the NECAP assesses student proficiency in: reading, writing, mathematics and science. Reading and Mathematics are measured every year in Grades 3-8. Writing is assessed in Grades 5 and 8, and science is tested in Grades 4 and 8. At the high school level, reading, mathematics, writing and science are measured in Grade 11 only. Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) is a level of proficiency established by RIDE for the district. GMS 8th Graders scored a 80% proficiency rate on the technology assessment – one of the highest scoring middle schools in RI.
Class of 2009: 92 % of SHS Graduates Enroll in Post Secondary Education
The college attendance rate at Smithfield High School was 92% for the Class of 2009. Some schools enrolling SHS graduates include: Boston College, Dartmouth, Holy Cross, NYU, Tufts, Tulane, Wake Forest, Michigan, George Washington, James Madison, Loyola, West Point, Wake Forest, Florida, Middlebury, William & Mary, Loyola Marymount, Pennsylvania, WPI, URI, Brown, Brandeis and Syracuse. Three members of the Class of 2009 were National Merit Commended students, one student was a Finalist and one student was a Scholar. The RI #1 World Language student was a member of the SHS Class of 2009.
Wellness Center Opens at Gallagher Middle School
With a generous donation from Bryant University and District funds, Gallagher Middle School created a Wellness Center adjacent to the gymnasium. The Center will enhance the Physical Education curriculum by allowing students to increase cardio strength and endurance.
Science Addition at SHS Honors Former Teacher
Following the recommendation of the faculty, administration and superintendent, the Smithfield School Committee designated the 2004 science addition at SHS as the Eileen Fagan Science Center. Ms. Fagan passed away in August 2009; she was a SHS alumna and popular science teacher at SHS for fourteen years.
LaPerche Students Are #1 Scientists
The 2009 Rhode Island Department of Education Grade 4 Science Assessment ranked the Raymond LaPerche Elementary School as the best in RI. 95% of the forty-two 4th Graders demonstrated proficiency on the assessment.
16 College Credit Classes Offered at SHS
SHS offered 16 different semester classes for college credit in 2009/10. The courses are called Early Enrollment Program (EEP), and the classes are sponsored by The University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College and Bryant University. Classes are offered to juniors and seniors and include; English, Art, Child Care, Languages, Social Studies, Mathematics and Business. 435 students (some students taking several EEP classes) are enrolled in college-credit, EEP classes in 2009. Advanced Placement (AP) is available in Mathematics and Languages.
Smithfield Curriculum Review
The school district established a process and timeline for the review of its curriculum. The review cycle creates a timely and efficient way to review curriculum and materials that support the curriculum. All curricula are built on the Rhode Island Department of Education curriculum standards. When a curriculum is scheduled for review, teachers are invited to participate on a curriculum team to review the current program and to develop new curriculum. In the past three years, committees have developed curricula for: Physical Education, Family & Consumer Sciences, Business Education, Writing, a revision to Mathematics and a new science curriculum. Currently, teams are completing curricula for Health Education and Reading. In 2010, revised curricula for Social Studies, World Languages and The Arts will be completed.
GMS and SHS Teams Excel
Smithfield student teams were champions as athletes and scholars in 2009. The GMS Cross Country Team was RI State Champion and the SHS girls’ soccer and tennis teams won the RI State Title. SHS Finance Academy students won the Boston Reserve Bank Cup Challenge.
Smithfield Strategic Plan: 2003 to 2010
Rhode Island General Law (1997) mandates that school districts develop a strategic plan. In 2003, the school committee approved its second new five-year strategic plan that was developed by over 80 parents, teachers, administrators, school committee members, high school students and municipal officials. The plan identified six action strategies: (1) meeting the needs for program development and evaluation, (2) meeting the social and emotional needs of the students, (3) meeting the infrastructure needs of the schools, (4) meeting the need for citizenship and character education, (5) meeting the need to create school/community partnerships, and (6) meeting the need to enhance internal communication. In the past seven years of the strategic plan, the Smithfield Public Schools implemented: Literacy and Alternative Education programs at the High School, additional Social Worker services in the schools, the addition of a full-day Parent/Teacher Conference, the addition of a English Language Learners (ELL) Teacher for the District, a new District Technology Plan (updated annually) and Professional Development Plan, weekly Common Planning Time (CPT) in all schools, a new evaluation process for administrators, a comprehensive balanced literacy program for K-12, two additional pre-kindergarten classes, an integrated/extended day kindergarten class, an additional administrator for SHS, a Technology Director for the District, four full-time Reading Specialists, a new website, Smithfield Education Foundation and updated the comprehensive plan for maintaining/improving facilities. In 2008, the 2003 Plan was extended to 2010.
District Leaders Serve at State and National Level
The secretary of the Smithfield School Committee is president of the RI Association of School Committees. The superintendent is treasurer of the RI Superintendents’ Association and serves as a representative for the national superintendents’ association. The assistant superintendent serves on a national review panel that accredits US colleges and universities. The technology director serves on the RI Instructional Technology Leadership Council.
Smithfield Public Schools
The 2009/10 school year saw several special recognitions awarded to Smithfield educators including: Rhode Island Superintendent of the year, High School Art Teacher of the Year, Environmental Education Teacher of the Year, one principal was awarded the RI Principals’ Association Interscholastic Athletic Leadership Award and one principal earned her Doctor of Education degree from the University of Massachusetts. A nin teacher joined the ranks of the National Board of Professional Teacher Standards (NBPTS) in 2009. Currently, nine teachers/administrators are currently enrolled in a Doctoral Program of Study at Northeastern University.
All Smithfield Schools Achieve Annual Yearly Progress
RIDE announced public school rankings based on the School and District Performance and Accountability System. The accountability system measures annual progress on the Rhode Island State Assessment Program (RISAP). The elementary schools, middle school and high school participated in the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP). In K-8, the NECAP assesses student proficiency in: reading, writing, mathematics and science. Reading and Mathematics are measured every year in Grades 3-8. Writing is assessed in Grades 5 and 8, and science is tested in Grades 4 and 8. At the high school level, reading, mathematics, writing and science are measured in Grade 11 only. Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) is a level of proficiency established by RIDE for the district. GMS 8th Graders scored a 80% proficiency rate on the technology assessment – one of the highest scoring middle schools in RI.
Class of 2009: 92 % of SHS Graduates Enroll in Post Secondary Education
The college attendance rate at Smithfield High School was 92% for the Class of 2009. Some schools enrolling SHS graduates include: Boston College, Dartmouth, Holy Cross, NYU, Tufts, Tulane, Wake Forest, Michigan, George Washington, James Madison, Loyola, West Point, Wake Forest, Florida, Middlebury, William & Mary, Loyola Marymount, Pennsylvania, WPI, URI, Brown, Brandeis and Syracuse. Three members of the Class of 2009 were National Merit Commended students, one student was a Finalist and one student was a Scholar. The RI #1 World Language student was a member of the SHS Class of 2009.
Wellness Center Opens at Gallagher Middle School
With a generous donation from Bryant University and District funds, Gallagher Middle School created a Wellness Center adjacent to the gymnasium. The Center will enhance the Physical Education curriculum by allowing students to increase cardio strength and endurance.
Science Addition at SHS Honors Former Teacher
Following the recommendation of the faculty, administration and superintendent, the Smithfield School Committee designated the 2004 science addition at SHS as the Eileen Fagan Science Center. Ms. Fagan passed away in August 2009; she was a SHS alumna and popular science teacher at SHS for fourteen years.
LaPerche Students Are #1 Scientists
The 2009 Rhode Island Department of Education Grade 4 Science Assessment ranked the Raymond LaPerche Elementary School as the best in RI. 95% of the forty-two 4th Graders demonstrated proficiency on the assessment.
16 College Credit Classes Offered at SHS
SHS offered 16 different semester classes for college credit in 2009/10. The courses are called Early Enrollment Program (EEP), and the classes are sponsored by The University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College and Bryant University. Classes are offered to juniors and seniors and include; English, Art, Child Care, Languages, Social Studies, Mathematics and Business. 435 students (some students taking several EEP classes) are enrolled in college-credit, EEP classes in 2009. Advanced Placement (AP) is available in Mathematics and Languages.
Smithfield Curriculum Review
The school district established a process and timeline for the review of its curriculum. The review cycle creates a timely and efficient way to review curriculum and materials that support the curriculum. All curricula are built on the Rhode Island Department of Education curriculum standards. When a curriculum is scheduled for review, teachers are invited to participate on a curriculum team to review the current program and to develop new curriculum. In the past three years, committees have developed curricula for: Physical Education, Family & Consumer Sciences, Business Education, Writing, a revision to Mathematics and a new science curriculum. Currently, teams are completing curricula for Health Education and Reading. In 2010, revised curricula for Social Studies, World Languages and The Arts will be completed.
GMS and SHS Teams Excel
Smithfield student teams were champions as athletes and scholars in 2009. The GMS Cross Country Team was RI State Champion and the SHS girls’ soccer and tennis teams won the RI State Title. SHS Finance Academy students won the Boston Reserve Bank Cup Challenge.
Smithfield Strategic Plan: 2003 to 2010
Rhode Island General Law (1997) mandates that school districts develop a strategic plan. In 2003, the school committee approved its second new five-year strategic plan that was developed by over 80 parents, teachers, administrators, school committee members, high school students and municipal officials. The plan identified six action strategies: (1) meeting the needs for program development and evaluation, (2) meeting the social and emotional needs of the students, (3) meeting the infrastructure needs of the schools, (4) meeting the need for citizenship and character education, (5) meeting the need to create school/community partnerships, and (6) meeting the need to enhance internal communication. In the past seven years of the strategic plan, the Smithfield Public Schools implemented: Literacy and Alternative Education programs at the High School, additional Social Worker services in the schools, the addition of a full-day Parent/Teacher Conference, the addition of a English Language Learners (ELL) Teacher for the District, a new District Technology Plan (updated annually) and Professional Development Plan, weekly Common Planning Time (CPT) in all schools, a new evaluation process for administrators, a comprehensive balanced literacy program for K-12, two additional pre-kindergarten classes, an integrated/extended day kindergarten class, an additional administrator for SHS, a Technology Director for the District, four full-time Reading Specialists, a new website, Smithfield Education Foundation and updated the comprehensive plan for maintaining/improving facilities. In 2008, the 2003 Plan was extended to 2010.
District Leaders Serve at State and National Level
The secretary of the Smithfield School Committee is president of the RI Association of School Committees. The superintendent is treasurer of the RI Superintendents’ Association and serves as a representative for the national superintendents’ association. The assistant superintendent serves on a national review panel that accredits US colleges and universities. The technology director serves on the RI Instructional Technology Leadership Council.