Ivy Day Dedication

Below is a video documenting the transformation of the EGHS Courtyard, as well as the speech given at Ivy Day 2015 to open the new seating/reflection area that was created by the East Greenwich High School community in memory of Mrs. Carrie Macsymowicz.

Garden and Seating Area in Memory of Carrie Macsymowicz

We have a special addition to this year’s Ivy Day ceremony. To me, there could be no more appropriate time, manner, place, or people to be surrounded by to formally unveil a special space that was created by members of our community to honor a woman who left an impression on all who knew her.  To your back and left you will find what I call a “small place of remarkable”. A place that was until recently, just a unused, overlooked corner in a school courtyard. However, when individuals come together, united by a cause, by friendship, by love, they can turn overlooked into remarkable.

To those who knew her, who she greeted, those she helped, know that Mrs. Carrie Mac had that same power. She could turn the average day into a remarkable one. Her selflessness and caring for anyone and everyone she came in touch with, along with the strength she fought her battles with cancer with, always left me wondering “How doe she do that”? and wondering if there were any way I could have just a little bit of her personality and constant joy for life.

It is in this vein that the community has come together to honor the legacy of Mrs. Mac and impart her love for the EGHS community to the EGHS community for years to come. Friends, family, community and students quickly realized that creating a space to: enjoy the outdoors, take time for reflection, read a book, have a conversation, or teach a meaningful lesson all symbolized what Mrs. Mac loved about EGHS.

We believe that members of our community have created a space within EGHS that when people engage with it, they are sure to love. Just like Carrie Mac.

We are also grateful that many members of her family and some of her closest friends are here to share this day with us.

Special thanks go out to all in the community who donated funds, supplies, time, effort and energy. And at this time please join me a round of applause for the efforts and love of friends, family, community, students and Mrs. Carrie Mac to whom EGHS will always be grateful for allowing us to know her.

Thank you.

EoY Chromebook Procedure (Underclassmen)

Dear East Greenwich High School Parents, Guardians and Students,

I am writing you today to let you know our end of the year plans and procedures for the Chromebooks issued to students by the East Greenwich School Department to EGHS students.

Beginning this Wednesday (6/10/2015) and continuing throughout this week and next, we will begin inspecting all chromebooks. The following scenarios address the potential outcomes after inspection:

• Scenario 1- No damage, Has Insurance: Student will be allowed to keep device throughout the course of the summer. ***
• Scenario 2- Damaged device, Has Insurance: Claim will be filed, if device is still working student may continue to use device and turn in on Friday June 19, 2015 for repair processing. Device will be kept at EGHS once repaired is completed and we will reissue at the beginning of SY 15-16
• Scenario 3- Damaged device, No Insurance: Student can bring a check made payable to East Greenwich Public Schools in the amount of the anticipated cost found below or the device will be sent for repair and family will be sent an invoice of the repair costs.
• Scenario 4- No damage, No insurance: Student chromebook will be collected after the student’s final exam on Friday June 19 2015 (or earlier if the student wishes)

***IMPORTANT: Should the device be damaged or stolen over the course of the summer, a claim must be filed and the device (or police report) turned in immediately at East Greenwich High School.

Other related Chromebook information:

• Students who do not wish to take their EGPS issued device home for the summer may turn it in on Friday June 19th.
• The device will continue to be filtered throughout the summer using the same protocols as were in effect during the 2014-15 school year.
• Students will be issued the same device that they were issued this year.
• Insurance will be made available again next year.
• Individuals who are under financial constraints and would like to set up a payment schedule in order to pay for repairs to damaged chromebooks should contact the District's financial office at 401-398-1222.

Current Repair Costs

Item	Cost*
Broken screen	$280
Broken keyboard	$160
Broken corner/case	$160
Broken touch pad	$160
Charger missing	$20
Charger wall cord missing	$5
Sticker removal/Cleaning	$10
No Chromebook	$396

*All costs based on existing invoices as of 5/18/2015. Overpayments due to price changes will be refunded once repairs are completed.

Thank you all for your help in getting this new procedure established, as well as all the support you have given us during our first year of 1:1 implementation.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Podraza

Principal

East Greenwich High School

EGHS Sophomore Elected President of Rhode Island Student Advisory Council

From the Rode Island Department of Education:

Student Advisory Council convenes, elects officers

The Rhode Island Student Advisory Council convened for its initial meeting on Monday (June 1, 2015) and elected officers, including a chairperson who will serve as a nonvoting member on the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education.

The Student Advisory Council elected Colby M. Anderson, a sophomore at East Greenwich High School, as chairperson. The Student Advisory Council also elected Lexus Fernandez, of Mount Pleasant High School (Providence), as vice-chair and Vivian Tian, of Barrington High School, as secretary.

The Student Advisory Council consists of one elected representative from each public high school in Rhode Island. Its purpose is to provide advice from students to the Council on Elementary and Secondary Education.

“I believe we should not settle for ‘good enough’ for students of Rhode Island,” Colby Anderson said. “We have been given the opportunity to be part of the process of determining what is in the best interest of students. Through hard work and determination, we can ensure that we and future generations get the world-class education we all deserve.”

“The student voice should always be a part of the conversation when we discuss education policies and priorities. I congratulate Colby on his election and look forward to having him represent the Student Advisory Council on behalf of all students at our Elementary and Secondary Education Council table,” said Barbara S. Cottam, Chair of the Board of Education. “To develop and support a great system of public education in Rhode Island requires participation from all sectors, and I am thrilled that the student voice will be a consistent contribution at our meetings.”

The Student Advisory Council is established by state law: RIGL 16-60-2(c).