Monday, January 23, 2017

Principal's Newsletter Week of 1-23-2017

AcademicAvenger_transparent.png
Principal Michael Podraza’s Weekly EGHS Update
Week of 1-23-2017

EGHS News and Information!

A weekly newsletter with information about upcoming events related to East Greenwich High School
EGHS Front Empower.png
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

AP Capstone- Community Information Session 2/7 (Action Requested)
I will be giving an overview of the AP Capstone Program on Tuesday, February 7th at 6:30 in the EGHS Auditorium. Parents and guardians of current freshmen and sophomores who are interested in learning more about the program are asked to please register on Eventbrite by clicking here. By registering you are helping us insure that enough materials are created and available for all of the evening’s attendees.
Report Cards- Wednesday 2/1/2017
We will issue second quarter report cards to all students on Wednesday, February 1 during the advisory block. Digital copies of report cards will also be published to the parent portal of ASPEN.
EGEF Accepting Donations
The East Greenwich Education Foundation (EGEF) is an independent, not-for- profit organization that was created in 2008 to promote excellence in education throughout our town’s public school system.  Every year, EGEF solicits grant applications from our district’s teachers.  Based on the funds available, EGEF strives to award as many grants as possible – as long as the proposed projects fit the Foundation’s mission of providing creative, innovative, and sustainable initiatives for our children.
In 2016, EGEF funded grants at every school in town.   You can learn more about our school’s grant here https://www.egefri.org/2016-grant-recipients/
Teachers are getting ready to submit applications for their 2017 grants, so please consider donating to the East Greenwich Education Foundation.  EGEF is a 501c(3) nonprofit, so your donation is tax deductible-- and 100% of every dollar donated is returned to our public schools in the form of a grant.
Please visit https://www.egefri.org/donate/ to learn more, or to make a donation.
THIS WEEK’S
UPCOMING EVENTS
  • 1-23
    1. Exam Blocks 3 & 4
  • 1-24
    1. Exam Blocks 5 & 6
    2. School Committee Meeting 7 PM @ Cole
  • 1-25
    1. Exam Blocks 7 & Make-up
    2. Early Senior Project presentations

ADVANCED PLANNING
  • 2-1
    • Q2 Report Cards issued
    • Juniors meet with Guidance department during advisory
  • 2-7
    • AP Capstone Community Overview 6:30 EGHS Auditorium
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
This week’s “Food for Thought” is “Losing Ourselves”. The YouTube description states this is “A student-directed documentary about how an expectation for perfection and a status-driven definition of success undermines students’ love of learning and creativity, gets in the way of our ability to use high school as an opportunity to figure out what we love and who we are, and turns our intrinsic motivation extrinsic”. While this film was not created by an EGHS student, I think that it does provide us with an interesting “behind the scenes” look at many of the pressures, joys and fears students face in schools today.
Have a wonderful week!
AcademicAvenger_transparent.png
East Greenwich High School exists to EMPOWER
We, the EGHS community, strive to empower all members to achieve their full potential as learners, thinkers, and responsible global citizens. We take risks in order to inspire learning and discover passions.

We, the East Greenwich High School community, live our values:
  • Respect: Be considerate of others' ideas and opinions while maintaining personal integrity and self- confidence.
  • Creativity and Innovation: Embrace flexibility and individuality when explaining and demonstrating knowledge and skills.
  • Relevance: Link concepts across subjects and make connections to today's global society.
  • Enthusiasm: Generate excitement and curiosity about learning.
  • Achievement: Work vigorously to obtain knowledge and skills measured against the highest standards.
We hold ourselves and each other accountable to these values in support of our mission.



East Greenwich High School

300 Avenger Drive, East Greenwich, RI, 02818

Student Computer Generated Art Coded in Python

Please enjoy the stunning computer-generated art created by students in Mrs. Eaves' Introduction to Programming class. 


Friday, January 20, 2017

Thankful For and Thanks To EGHS Drama Club

If you saw any of the performances of Les Miserables that EGHS recently put on you would understand the reasons for accolades being given to the over 100 student members of the EGHS Drama club, and to Mr. Carniaux, Mr. Pettrucci and Mr. Kenney. However, many of the accolades are not just about the final performances. In the text below a parent (who has granted permission for me to post this as long as they remain anonymous) provides a fantastic summary of what those involved in the EGHS Drama program give to our students- which transcends far beyond the performances delivered, the music played, the stages built, and the songs sung. We at EGHS echo the sentiments expressed below and thank everyone who is involved at making the EGHS Drama club such a integral and important part of the culture of EGHS and the East Greenwich community.

Just a quick note of thanks to you for providing what I view as a once is a lifetime opportunity for our child.  They absolutely loved being part of Les Mis.  While our child opted not to “try out” given their natural tendency to avoid attention, they loved so much being a part of the ensemble and NOT having a speaking part.  Their level of commitment and sense of accomplishment about everyone's piece in the production was equal those in the top roles.  Every single day our child came home from practice energized and happy.  They have been singing around the house for weeks.  We picked our child and friends who were having lunch in between shows to drive them back to the HS to get ready for the evening show.  We were stunned to have a car full of teenagers joyfully singing show songs the entire time – we could not get a word in edgewise!!  Wow.  

Thank you for all you have done to give our child such a sense of connection, pride and creating this incredible opportunity for their participation in the arts.  We applaud you all.  We thank you -- we are so fortunate to have teachers like you. As a parent there is nothing more rewarding than to watch before your very eyes, your child develop into a better person.  

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Principal's Newsletter Week of 1-17-17

AcademicAvenger_transparent.png
Principal Michael Podraza’s Weekly EGHS Update
Week of 1-17-2017

EGHS News and Information!

A weekly newsletter with information about upcoming events related to East Greenwich High School
EGHS Front Empower.png
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS


Semester 1 Exams Begin 1-20-2017 and Continue Into Next Week
Final exams for Semester 1 classes and mid-term exams for full year classes begin on Friday this week. A full schedule can be found by clicking here.
Juniors Can Get A Head Start on Senior Project: Senior Project Support 2nd Semester
We offer a non-credit course called “Senior Project Support”. In past years, once we know that all senior demands for the course have been filled we open the class up to interested Juniors. I am please to let you know that we have seats available in the second semester for Juniors who are in good academic standing who would like to get a head start on their Senior Project. Interested Juniors should stop by the  guidance office to see if there is a support class that will fit their 2nd Semester schedule.
THIS WEEK’S
UPCOMING EVENTS
  • 1-18  
    1. PTG Meeting 9:30 in the cafeteria
    2. Advisory- Fall Athletics Pin Assembly
  • 1-19
    1. 7:00 PM “Books to Film” in the auditorium
  • 1-20
    1. Exam Blocks 1 & 2


ADVANCED PLANNING
  • 1-23 through 1-25
    • Exams Continue
  • 1-25
    • Early Senior Project Presentations
  • 1-26
    • Start of the Second Semester
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
This week’s “Food for Thought” is a brief video highlighting what the World Economic Forum presents as the five key risk areas for 2017. I present this to you (and to EGHS faculty) because regardless of “risks” presented, our challenge in education and in schools is to not only make our students able to understand these topics, but empowered to act in meaningful and powerful ways in order to shape their life in 2017 and beyond.
I hope you had a great long weekend and that you have a wonderful week.
AcademicAvenger_transparent.png
East Greenwich High School exists to EMPOWER
We, the EGHS community, strive to empower all members to achieve their full potential as learners, thinkers, and responsible global citizens. We take risks in order to inspire learning and discover passions.


We, the East Greenwich High School community, live our values:
  • Respect: Be considerate of others' ideas and opinions while maintaining personal integrity and self- confidence.
  • Creativity and Innovation: Embrace flexibility and individuality when explaining and demonstrating knowledge and skills.
  • Relevance: Link concepts across subjects and make connections to today's global society.
  • Enthusiasm: Generate excitement and curiosity about learning.
  • Achievement: Work vigorously to obtain knowledge and skills measured against the highest standards.
We hold ourselves and each other accountable to these values in support of our mission.


East Greenwich High School

300 Avenger Drive, East Greenwich, RI, 02818

Monday, January 9, 2017

Principal's Newsletter Week of 1-9-2017

AcademicAvenger_transparent.png
Principal Michael Podraza’s Weekly EGHS Update
Week of 1-9-2017

EGHS News and Information!

A weekly newsletter with information about upcoming events related to East Greenwich High School
EGHS Front Empower.png
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Exciting News- EGHS Approved to Offer AP Capstone
East Greenwich High School is one of approximately 1,000 schools worldwide to implement AP Capstone™—an innovative diploma program that allows students to develop the skills that matter most for college success: research, collaboration, and communication. The program consists of two courses taken in sequence: AP® Seminar and AP Research. Developed in direct response to feedback from higher education faculty and college admission officers, AP Capstone™ complements the in-depth, subject-specific study of other Advanced Placement® courses and exams.
Students who earn scores of 3 or higher on AP Seminar and AP Research assessments and on four additional AP Exams of their choosing will earn the AP Capstone Diploma™. This signifies their outstanding academic achievement and attainment of college-level academic and research skills. Students who earn scores of 3 or higher on both AP Seminar and AP Research assessments only (but not on four additional AP Exams) will earn the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™.
To read the full press release please click here.
Watch your emails and this newsletter for more information about AP Capstone as we will look to hold a community information night sometime in late January or February.
RIDE to Reinstitute SurveyWorks
The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) is getting ready to launch SurveyWorks, a set of online surveys for students, parents/ guardians, teachers and support professionals. RIDE has contracted with Panorama Education to run the survey. Many of you will find the surveys familiar as EGHS also used Panorama to issue surveys to our school community since SY 14-15.
All survey responses are anonymous and confidential. The surveys provide school teams, parents, and the community with a 360-degree view of critical areas for school success:
  • School Safety School Climate
  • Learning Strategies Valuing of School
  • Rigorous Expectations School Engagement
  • Teacher-Student Relationships Family Support
  • Family Engagement
The parent survey begins on February 6th and will continue through March 31, 2017. Parents can take the survey online or request a paper option if they do not have internet access. We will provide parents with an invitation to the survey and a school access code to use to ensure all data is anonymous, valid, and useful.
More information about SurveyWorks can be found at www.surveyworks.ride.ri.gov.
THIS WEEK’S
UPCOMING EVENTS
  • 1-10
    1. 7:00 School Committee Meeting in Cole Library- Approval of the EGHS Program of Studies for SY 17-18 is on the agenda.
  • 1-12
    1. Les Miserables 7 PM
  • 1-13
    1. Les Miserables 7 PM
  • 1-14
    1. Les Miserables 1 PM and 7 PM

ADVANCED PLANNING
  • 1-18  Advisory- Fall Athletics Pin Assembly
  • 1-20 Midterm Exams begin. Modified schedule. Click here for full exam schedule.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
This week’s “Food for Thought” is a blog post by Bruce Dixon entitled “In Changing Times Should We Consider Changing Times?
Have a wonderful week and a happy 2017!
AcademicAvenger_transparent.png
East Greenwich High School exists to EMPOWER
We, the EGHS community, strive to empower all members to achieve their full potential as learners, thinkers, and responsible global citizens. We take risks in order to inspire learning and discover passions.

We, the East Greenwich High School community, live our values:
  • Respect: Be considerate of others' ideas and opinions while maintaining personal integrity and self- confidence.
  • Creativity and Innovation: Embrace flexibility and individuality when explaining and demonstrating knowledge and skills.
  • Relevance: Link concepts across subjects and make connections to today's global society.
  • Enthusiasm: Generate excitement and curiosity about learning.
  • Achievement: Work vigorously to obtain knowledge and skills measured against the highest standards.
We hold ourselves and each other accountable to these values in support of our mission.



East Greenwich High School

300 Avenger Drive, East Greenwich, RI, 02818