WESTERLY — Over the past three years, education has not been the sole focus for teachers and staff at Westerly Public Schools.
Superintendent Marc Garceau said staff were doing their best to help local students learn, but educators had to balance learning needs with the wide-ranging health and safety restrictions of COVID-19. was tasked with taking, adapting to masked lessons and digital classrooms, and overseeing social distancing efforts. Both national and local political climates have raised questions about the district’s curriculum and literature offerings, requiring additional consideration by administrators.
Garceau said that in the 2022-23 school year, these distractions will be largely left behind, and school district staff will be revitalized and ready to “get back to teaching work.”
“As a matter of fact, COVID seems to be largely behind us now. We are very excited to get back to what we are doing and do it well, just like we were before the pandemic. he said. “The past few years have been impacted by COVID-19 and the culture wars.We are focused and determined to teach our children without these distractions.”
After Wednesday’s first full staff rally in three years, Garceau and Westerly Middle School principal Mary Caporelli each said educators were enjoying a more “free” summer and returning to the district with energy and excitement. Told. I haven’t felt it in years.
First-grader Caporelli, who leads administration and teams at the middle school, said staff are focused on addressing the growing social and emotional needs of today’s young people without distractions. challenges of the last few years.
Over the past few weeks, the middle school community and her staff have been warmly welcoming, demonstrating a commitment to worry less about masks and distancing, and instead return to best practices, including small group learning and personalized instruction time. ing.
“We need to really focus on identifying the strengths of the community and the challenges they face. Then we get our heads together as a team and come up with a plan that will best help our students,” she said. rice field.
As she adjusts to her new role, the middle school teachers show their passion and are constantly bringing new ideas to the table to help improve services that benefit both the school and the community at large.
“There’s a great group of people here, and I’m sure we’ll push boundaries and have a great year,” she said.
Across the district, Garceau said the focus for the upcoming school year will be on students and understanding their specific individual needs. , and thinking critically about improving schools.
Next year, district administrators will work directly with leaders and town schools to strengthen the literacy and math curriculum. Garceau said this will be achieved by returning to best practices in reading and math instruction, which includes more face-to-face instruction.
Another challenge, especially for younger students, is helping them adjust to a more traditional school environment. For third graders, this will be the first “normal” school year start in their careers.
“It’s important to remember that our children were also under stress during the pandemic. It affected everyone,” Garceau said. “Some of the youngest students he has never experienced a year in a traditional setting.”
Westerly High School Principal Michael Hobin said staff and students are very focused on returning to teaching and learning, and the district’s teenage students all have more than just a high school diploma. He said it would include efforts to ensure he was able to graduate.
By the time the incoming freshman class graduates in 2026, Hobin said the district’s focus is on ensuring that all of its last graduates are qualified beyond a high school degree.
“Our number one priority is to make sure every student leaves here with some kind of credential to help them get started in life when they graduate,” Hobin said in a phone interview Friday. “Whether it’s college credit, a vocational certificate, or anything else, we want all students to graduate with something they can use.”
Garceau and Hobin said as part of that effort, the district is looking to strengthen partnerships within the community and extend the strong community partnerships that were established before the pandemic hit.
Westerly High School staff hosts regular conversations with the Olean Center to build stronger connections and seek better and more valuable hands-on and work experiences for Westerly students, says Garceau. said. Strong partnerships are expected to enable students to directly support their communities through volunteerism and vocational training.
The district is also in discussions with the United Theater and the Royce Foundation on several programs and partnerships to enhance arts, music and drama education in high schools, and is working with organizations such as the Colonial Theater, according to high school staff. I keep doing it. Also for programming fine-tuning.
No matter what a student’s interests are, Garceau says the district’s top priority is to ensure that all students participate in some way and that everyone feels welcome and included. He said.
This does not mean that the district will forget the lessons learned during the pandemic, but rather aims to continue incorporating digital learning into more traditional experiences.
“Here at Bulldog Nation, we share in our excitement to do what we love, take what we learn, and give each student the best possible experience and education.
school bond questions
In November, Garceau noted that “a very important bond referendum issue will be on the ballot,” and if the issue passes, a new kindergarten through fourth grade school will be built on the site of State Street School. He said he would build a school for
The project will also provide significant educational, safety and aesthetic upgrades and enhancements at both Springbrook and Dunn’s Corners elementary schools, officials said.
“While the preliminary plans are still being finalized by the architects and more information will be provided in September/October, this much-needed (and long awaited) ) The project is very important to the students and the community, and we expect all support to make this third attempt to cross the finish line and address the needs of elementary school facilities. ‘ said Garceau in a message sent to parents.
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