01:00 AM EST on Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Italian honors

More than 300 Rhode Island students in grades 8 to 12 recently took the National Italian Exam at LaSalle Academy. The winners from the Esek Hopkins Middle School are: Level IA -- third place, Jamie Aguilera, and Level IB -- first place, Monica Ardon. Ardon's score was the second highest score of all students taking the exam.

The state winners from Classical High School: Level IB -- third place, Claudia Cerna; Level IIIB -- third place, Alexandria Lindstrom Peralta; and Level IVA: third place, Hope Williard.

Category A is a student who has studied Italian only in the classroom. Category B is a student who has had exposure to Italian and to all other foreign languages and practices in his or her home (dialect included), spent 18 weeks or more in Italy or in other countries or has studied or is studying the third year of another foreign language.

Elementary schools

Feinstein at Sackett Street PTO is sponsoring a school assembly presenting the basketball handler, Sandy "Spin" Slade, tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.

Fogarty will host a multicultural night on April 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. School staff and Providence Academy of International Studies (PAIS) students have taught the students cultural dances which they will perform. Johnson & Wales University students from different countries will write students' names in their native languages.

Fogarty will hold parent-teacher conferences on April 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. Johnson & Wales students will provide provide a demonstration called Fun with Foods: How to Create Healthy Foods for Families.

Middle schools

Seventy-five Roger Williams students went to work at Rhode Island Hospital, Hasbro Children's Hospital and Johnson & Wales University. The students had an opportunity to "shadow" a professional for part of their day and to learn what it takes to be successful in the business world. Students were required to attend two preparation sessions at the school and complete an interest survey, resume, question form and feedback form. They were required to write a thank you letter to their mentor for taking the time to work with them.

Participating students were Daniella Amparo, Emely Barroso, Marie Brown, Milagros Cabrera, Jessenia Caraballo, Carlos Carvajal, Reyna Castillo, Geisha Cedeno, Crisella Cepeda, Sovannary Cheng, Rosalinda Cruz, Angelica Curiel, Jennifer Dossantos, Joel Duarte, Emily Estrela, Benito Estrella, Andrea Francia, Gardeni Garcia, Andres Gomez, Danny Gonzalez, Marilyn James, Maranda Johnson, Yaritza Lama, Amanda Loch, Parrisha Louis, Katia Martinez, Miguel Medrano, Yharitza Miranda, Umpone Mongkolsombat, Sovannica Monn, Francisceo Montanez, Graciela Morales, Isamar Morales, Christopher Pacheco, Kimberly Padula, John Pena, Sharon Perez, Brian Perez, Llerlin Perez, Atrik Pineda, Ashlei Redding, Christina Richardson, Joel Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Elva Rosario, Carolina Sanchez, Sarah Sanchez, Sheila Santiago, Nayadet Santos, Maria Saygbe, Deanthony Sylvia, Jennifer Thet, Odolph Thomas, Anny Valenzuela, Alejandra Vidal, Lina Villasenor, Jasson Barrios, Shaquira Cruz, Shaynna Cuba, Yeriel Hernandez, Mary Khang, Lilliam Kroma, Victor Martinez, Joan Medrano, Dario Montero, David Navarro, Elizabeth Para, Jose Perez, Victorri Rasombath, Danny Reyes, Eudy Rodriguez, Henry Rodriguez, Matias Rodriguez, Brenda Rosario, Jorge Salgado, Ilienes Santana, Jose Santiago, Natalie Savinon, Jose Vargas, Jovana Washington and Christopher Yang.

Bridgham is hosting its second Strengthening Families Program (SFP) for Spanish-speaking families. The SFP focuses on reducing family-related risk factors for adolescent problem behaviors and building protective factors in young adolescent children and their parents/caregivers. The program runs for seven weeks and is financed by a grant awarded to RIEAP, Student Assistance Services, to serve Hispanic families living in Providence with children in the sixth grade. Transportation, childcare, dinner and incentives ($100 gift certificate for the parents/caregivers and $25 for participating youth who complete the program) are provided for the families.

There will be one more cycle of the program open to any Hispanic family living in Providence with children in the sixth grade starting the last week of April. Space is limited. To sign up for this program or for information, call Lisa Gonzalez at (401) 595-4755.

High schools

Mount Pleasant's Girls State Division III basketball team won the state championship in their division.

The third annual spring career day will be held on Tuesday for the junior class. The fair, designed to expose students to the different career choices they will have upon graduation, is sponsored by a Perkins Grant through the Transition Committee at the high school.

Classical High School recently held a speakers' forum to introduce students to various professions and career fields. More than 100 students attended the two-day event organized by Barbara Robbins, school-based coordinator, with the assistance of Johnson & Wales intern, Anthony Pape.

Central tenth grade honor student Keisha Olopade spent her winter holiday at the law offices of Lovett, Schefrin and Harnett as part of the School-to-Career program.

Central's Vice Principal Harold Metts, who is one of only two minority state senators in Rhode Island, will be inducted into the Coaches Hall of Fame tomorrow during the organization's annual dinner.

In addition to his duties as senator and vice principal, Metts is a graduate of Central and a member of several key school-based teams working towards redesign and improvement of public education at the school and in the district.

Hope Leadership Academy students Mark Butler, Anthony Pena, Maggie Payen, Raymond Delgado, German Mendez, Jessie Nichols, Ashleigh Whitehead and Charitza Dominique along with teachers Jennifer Briggs, Michaela Keegan and Diane Viera will head to Lee County, Fla., to help build a house through Habitat For Humanity during next month's school vacation. They will leave on Sunday, April 16, and return Friday, April 21. Students held several fundraisers to aid in the cost of the trip, including selling flowers for Valentine's Day and selling ice cream at Coldstone Creamery. They walked to different business explaining their goals.

Southwest Airlines donated the airfare.

The participating students and teachers were recently honored at the State House with citations for their outstanding efforts.

Hope High School Theatre Company will participate in the RI State Drama Festival sponsored by the RI Theatre Educators Association April 7 to 9. Hope will perform Christopher Durang's The Actor's Nightmare at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 8, at Mount Hope High School in Bristol. The two best shows will represent the state at the New England Drama Festival.

Students participating in the play include Natasha Andrews, Ari Brisbon, Victor Calderon, Kyle Chavira, Violeta Cornelio, Manuel Columna, Jasmine Long, Joshua Mancini, A'lena Rose, Mildred Rivera, Carlos Torres, and Rosa Villasenor.

Tickets will be on sale at the door at Mount Hope High School or from any of the participants.

The Providence Schools Activities column is compiled by the Communications Department. For information or to be placed on the weekly district news report by e-mail, contact Maria Tocco, senior communications officer, at (401) 278-0592 or maria.tocco@ppsd.org.