Parent Newsletter, January 2020 · Johnson & Wales University Brittney Lucero Johnson & Wales University University of New Haven Community College of Rhode Island Curry College

St. Patrick Academy provides a Catholic, college-preparatory education to all students,

regardless of need, who aspire to spiritual, personal and academic excellence.

224 Smith Street

Providence, RI 02908

421-9300 * fax 490-4511

www.stpatsri.org

PARENTS NEWSLETTER, JANUARY 2020 Dear St. Patrick Academy Families, As we wrap up 1st semester exams, we are halfway through the 2019-20 academic year! Report cards were mailed home last week. If you have not yet received your child’s report card, please call us at 421-9300. The 3rd Quarter started last Tuesday, January 21st and ends on March 31st.

2019-20 School Calendar: Each month you will find an updated School

Calendar enclosed with this newsletter, which can also be found on the homepage of our website at www.stpatsri.org. Please note the following dates and times on your calendar at home:

• Friday, January 30: Dress-Down Day

Students are asked to donate $2 for the privilege of dressing down and to sponsor Emmanuel House, a homeless shelter sponsored by the Diocese of Providence.

• Thursday, February 13: School Field Trip – Providence Performing Arts Center *

PPAC has invited all of our students, faculty and staff to attend a special free performance of the award-winning Fiddler On The Roof. Free bus transportation is also being provided.

• Friday, February 14: St. Valentine’s Day

The Student Council is planning a student activity to commemorate this day.

• Friday, February 14: Deadline for FACTS application for Accinno tuition assistance

• Monday, February 17 through Friday, February 21: Winter Break – No School • Wednesday, February 26: Ash Wednesday

A service will be held at 12 noon for students and parishioners. Parents and families are invited to attend.

*School Field Trip As noted above, all St. Patrick Academy students, Grades 9-12, will be attending a special free performance of the Broadway musical Fiddler On The Roof on Thursday, February 13th at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC). Free bus transportation is also being provided. Students will return to school around 1:15pm and will have lunch as usual in our cafeteria. Enclosed in this mailing are two permission forms – one from PPAC and one from St. Patrick’s – that you must fill out and return to us by Monday, February 3rd. If we do not receive both forms, your child will not be able to attend this field trip. Please call us at 421-9300 if you have any questions. Thanks for your cooperation!

Engaged in the relentless pursuit of excellence!



Applications & Re-registration for 2020-21

We have already received 50 applications for the 25 seats in next year’s 9th grade class. In this month’s mailing, you will find a re-registration form enclosed for next year; there is no re-registration fee. We encourage you to re-register as soon as possible to make sure your child has a reserved seat for next year, as we are already receiving applications for the upper grades. We remind you that all families who are re-applying for next year

must complete the online FACTS Grant and Aid form each year. We use this information to determine your family’s financial need. As soon as you have received your 2019 W-2 wage statement from your employer, please fill out the FACTS form. The deadline to file your FACTS application in order to receive tuition assistance through the Accinno Fund is Friday, February 14th.

We will only be accepting the online version of the FACTS form, which you can find at www.factsmgt.com. There is also a link to this site on our website at www.stpatsri.org. For those who need assistance, you may call the school at 421-9300 and make an appointment with Deacon Stephen Raymond for one-on-one help.

Student of the Month Sophomore Chasterin Peralta was unanimously selected by the faculty as December’s Student of

the Month. The Student of the Month award honors a student who reflects the best attributes of St. Patrick Academy: Christian charity,

respect for self and others,

positive attitude, consistent effort

and successful or improving

academic performance. In nominating Chasterin for this honor, her teachers noted her academic success, her polite and respectful behavior to peers and teachers, her hard work, and especially her kindness to others. Chasterin is a consistent Honor Roll student and has been involved in Student Council, girls’ basketball, and our track and field team. She resides in Central Falls with her family.

2nd Quarter Honor Roll

2019-20

Highest Honors (GPA, 4.0 min.)

Angelica James, 12

Moeisha Joseph, 12

Fernando Ibanez, 11

Oscar Cabral, 10

Alessandra Gonzalez, 9

Krystal Valentin, 9

High Honors (GPA, 3.7-3.99)

Isabel Arnaut, 12

Dulce-Maria Flores, 12

Victoria Fuller, 12

Daniel Cantera, 11

Sofia DelaCruz, 11

Salma Disla, 11

Alicia Martinez, 11

Martha Salvatierra, 11

Tahj Aime, 10

Edwin Hernandez-Zanella, 10

Danielle Lanoue, 10

Nataly Larios, 10

Daniela Morales, 10

Elijah Nsoah, 10

Sofia Paiz, 10

Thomas Oliveira, 10

Chasterin Peralta, 10

Nayelie Rodriguez, 10

Arianna Taveras, 10

Brianna Montoya, 9

Honors (GPA, 3.3 – 3.69)

Angel Benitez, 12

Brittney Lucero, 12

Giselle Martinez, 12

Cleia Monteiro, 12

Abisola Oladipo, 12

Sebastian Perez, 12

Jaylin Carty, 11

Rayanns Joseph, 11

Roysel Galvan, 10

Derek Llerena, 10

Valarie Aguilar, 9

Elon Anderson, 9

Wendelyn Bonilla, 9

Aleysha Avila Mejia, 9

Gabriella Rojas, 9



Guidance Office

We have had a busy month in Guidance. PSAT results for sophomores and juniors were released.

Both classes had a seminar on “what’s next”. Each student was given a College board account so

that they can access their individual college plan. Part of the PSAT is access to personalized

study programs for future SAT testing.

Juniors should begin thinking about registering to take the SAT or ACT exams this spring. You

must register for the exam online one month before the test date.

Class of 2020 College Acceptances – so far…

Aleson Cabrera

Community College of Rhode Island

Giselle Martinez

Johnson & Wales University

Franklin Pierce University

Curry College

St. Joseph University, CT

University of New Haven

Elms College

Assumption College

Cleia Monteiro

Roger Williams University

University of Rhode Island

Worcester State University

Abisola Oladipo

Southern Connecticut State University

Victor Rodriguez


Mount St. Mary's University

Luvince Tilus

Bridgewater State University

Merrimack College

Yamile Vasquez

Curry College

Angel Benitez


Husson University

Assumption College

Angelica James

Husson University

Mass College of Pharmacy and Health Science

Western New England University

URI (Talent Development)

Xavier University of Louisiana

Assumption College

Moeisha Joseph

Husson University

University of Rhode Island

Assumption College


Marygrace LaRocque


Plymouth State University


Brittney Lucero




Curry College

Merrimack College



Seniors have been given (and will continue to be given) information regarding available, relevant scholarships. Please encourage your seniors, if they qualify, to apply to the following scholarship, which is currently open to all Rhode Island high school seniors:

Roger Williams Scholarship: http://findingrogerwilliams.com/scholarships/roger-williams-scholarship

The scholarship provides sponsorships up to $20,000 per student per year for graduating high school seniors in Rhode Island. Awards are renewable for up to three consecutive years following the first award, with proof of continued financial need and academic good standing. Our intent is to help support enrollment at a college or university that may have otherwise out of reach of the student and his/her family. Awards will be made by April 30. Applications are due at midnight on February 12, 2020.

Development Office We are saddened to announce the departure of Mrs. Cara Massey, Development Director, who has brought the Development Office to a new standard of excellence these past two years. Cara has taken a new position closer to home. We wish her God’s blessings and all our best wishes. However, we are delighted to announce that Ms. Robin Tagliaferri (photo, left) will be picking up the reins as our new Development Director beginning February 10th. Ms. Tagliaferri has an extensive background in development, most recently working in the diocesan Catholic School Office as a consultant to the Catholic elementary schools, such as Bishop McVinney School and Sacred Heart School, helping them establish their own development programs.

We also express our deep appreciation to Mrs. Tyler Lewis, our Donor Relations Officer, who is coordinating the transition and keeping all our development programs on track.

National ART Honor Society

On January 31, 2020, St Patrick Academy will hold our 7th

Annual National Art Honor Society Induction ceremony. The event will be held in the Academy Gymnasium at 1:15pm. The following students have shown the required talent and

ability to be invited to become members of the St. Patrick Academy Chapter of the National Art

Honor Society: Freshmen – Angelina Luna and Alyssa Pierre; Sophomores – Tahj Aime, Samantha Galvao, Leanne Gomes, Nyisha Valentin, Kevin Hernandez, Danielle Lanoue, Derek Llerena, Sofia Paiz, Chasterin Peralta and Shelley Reyes; Juniors – Jaylin Carty, Icelys Dieguez, Martha Salvatierra and Nacada Perry; and Senior Angel Benitez. Congratulations to all! The NAHS at St Patrick Academy is sponsored by Visual Arts Instructor, Patricia E. Hart. Fr. James Ruggieri will open the ceremony with prayer, and Moeisha Joseph, Chapter President,



will be the emcee. New Hampshire Photographer Jessica Arnold is scheduled to be the guest speaker. Parents are invited to attend. There will be a brief reception after the ceremony.

Athletics News The boys’ basketball team has gotten off to a tremendous start this season, with an overall record of 7-3 (and a league record of 6-3). The team has scored victories over such powerhouse schools as Mount St. Charles Academy, Scituate High School and defending Division III Champion Mt. Hope High School. Standout players include Keith Wilson and Luvince Tilus, but important contributions from Victor Rodriguez, Jaylin Carty, Jason Andrews, Camren Davis and Ryan Joseph have propelled the team’s success. We also welcome Mr. Greg Rakovic as our new Head Coach for the boys’ basketball team. Coach Rakovic served as our first head coach from the advent of our basketball program in 2012 through the 2014-15 season. During that time, he laid the foundation for the team’s success this year, establishing standards of excellence for teamwork, attitude and scholarship that earned our team the Division

III Sportsmanship Award for three straight seasons during his tenure. We’re delighted to have him back. After a strong start to the season, the girls’ basketball team has struggled, with a season record of 1-7 at the halfway point of the season. Much to their credit, the team’s players have persevered, fighting to keep games close and giving their best effort in every game. We’re very proud of them! All boys’ and girls’ home games are played at UCAP, 75 Carpenter St., Providence. You can sign-up for RIIL schedule notifications for both basketball teams using the link below: https://www.rhodeislandinterscholasticleague.org/public/notify/ genie/267/school/765

Nurse’s Office

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) announced this month that the flu is now "widespread" in Rhode Island. Many parents ask when they should seek medical attention for their child when he/she comes down with flu symptoms. Many types of illnesses and injuries do not require an emergency department visit, including flu, when the symptoms are not too severe. Some cases of the flu, however, present immediate symptoms that require emergency treatment. Warning signs in these cases

include: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; pain or pressure in the chest; and flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough. If you are not sure if you need to bring your child to the emergency room, you should contact your primary care physician who will be able to provide guidance about the next best step. (Most offices have physicians on-call after hours.)



Student Council • Thank you to all students, faculty and staff, and SPARK for participating in December's

Dress Down Day. We raised $140 for the Charles Street Community Day Care Center!

• January's Dress Down Day is on Thursday, January 30th. The cost to participate is $2.00 and all money raised will be donated to Emmanuel House, a local homeless shelter, sponsored by the Diocese of Providence.

• The Student Council is now selling snacks and beverages after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30-3:00. Funds raised will be used to offset the cost of student activities throughout the year.

Library

The top five winners of the Christmas Tree Ornament Contest received their favorite books from the library. The winners were selected by the faculty and staff to appreciate the student’s participation in decorating the library Christmas tree. Many thanks to one of our teachers, Ms. Kelly Andreoni, for sharing her idea with our librarian, Mrs. Amina Mazhar, for making and decorating our own Christmas tree this year. The library will soon be starting a St.Valentine’s Day Club for the month of February. Students can stop in after school from Monday, February 3rd through Thursday 13th to get the Magic Flip

Sequin Wristband Bracelet and bring their own gifts to wrap up for St. Valentine’s Day. The library will have various gift wraps, gift wrap accessories, and colorful pens available in the first week of February to celebrate this month’s special event.

Class Acts

• The freshmen Biology class recently finished a unit on cell structure and function. Each student constructed a 3-D model of a plant or an animal cell for further application of concepts. Following mid-term exams, students are now learning how cells receive materials through active and passive transport. A recent lab involved soaking Gummi Bears overnight in tap water and saltwater and comparing the results due to diffusion and osmosis. Eggs and potatoes were also used as media for comparative purposes. Next up: Cellular reproduction and division! (Photo left: Alyssa Pierre completes her diffusion and osmosis lab.)

• Students in all English classes are memorizing a poem for our fourth-annual participation in

the national Poetry Out Loud competition. Kate Lehman, a guest teaching artist, visited 9th, 11th, and 12th grade English classes to coach students on recitation skills, such as: articulation, posture, and dramatic appropriateness.

• The sophomore Geometry class has been tasked with the Kite Project for the second

semester. Working in pairs, the students will make a detailed scaled drawing of the proposed kite, including shape, length, width, and angle measurements, along with a detailed list of materials that will be used and construction instructions. They will then produce a video



presentation of flying the kite and write a paragraph about what was easy and difficult, and what they learned during this project.

• The senior Pre-Calculus class finished their second quarter

project on researching an important mathematician and presenting their findings in a PowerPoint presentation. The students were required to identify the person and the time-period in which he/she lived, explain the contributions he/she made to the area of discrete mathematics, provide at least two examples of a mathematical idea or problem he/she worked on in mathematics, and provide proper citations for their work. In the photo, right, senior Victoria Fuller makes her presentation to the class.

Social Media

St. Patrick Academy is now on Facebook! Like our page and follow us at https://www.facebook.com/stpatrickacademy/ to get an inside look at the Academy.

Also, our school now has an Instagram account that profiles what’s going on here at school. If you use Instagram, please make sure to follow us at @stpatrickacademyri.

We ask for God’s blessings on you and your family throughout this school year and especially through the challenging weather of Rhode Island’s winter. Please call us if you have any questions or issues. God bless,

Bruce Daigle Principal

Documents

Parent Newsletter, January 2020 · Johnson & Wales University Brittney Lucero Johnson & Wales University University of New Haven Community College of Rhode Island Curry College