Notice

•Classical High School’s admissions testing for the 2009-10 school year will be Oct. 18 for students currently attending private and parochial schools and those attending Greene Middle School. Eighth-graders attending Bridgham, Hopkins, Perry, Springfield, Stuart and Roger Williams Middle Schools, as well as the Paul Cuffee and Times{+2} charter schools, are eligible to sit for testing on Oct. 25.

On both dates, tests are held at 8:15 a.m. at Classical High School, 770 Westminster St. Prior registration for the test must be completed at the student’s current school. For information, call Assistant Principal Beth Battey at (401) 456-9145.

•Last week, kindergarten and pre-kindergarten students participated in Jumpstart’s Read for the Record, a national campaign designed to break the world record for the number of adults and children reading the same book on the same day, while also raising awareness of early childhood education issues and working to break the cycle of illiteracy.

Approximately 2,300 students in Providence public schools took part by reading the children’s classic Corduroy and engaging in literacy and comprehension activities about the well-known bear and his adventures.

School Supt. Tom Brady, R.I. Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Peter McWalters and a cadre of district administrators visited elementary schools to support the effort by reading with the children.

Elementary schools

•Tina Pelit, a second-grade teacher at Harry Kizirian Elementary School, received national recognition last week with a surprise visit from a U.S. Department of Education representative. Pelit was one of 51 teachers nationwide to receive the American Star of Teaching award, chosen as the statewide winner based on a nomination by Principal Debbie Ruggieri and her teaching colleagues.

•Martin Luther King Elementary School recently held a summer reading celebration lunch. Principal Michael Lazzareschi and Literacy Specialist Susan Martin joined 46 students who had completed their summer reading logs for a special lunch in the library.

•Representatives from Volunteers in Providence Schools (VIPS) and the Providence Wal-Mart store recently visited Edmund W. Flynn Elementary School to present teacher Susan Sasken with the first Wal-Mart Excellence Award and a check for $100 for her active participation with VIPS. Flynn Principal Joyce Fitzpatrick received a $1,000 check for the school by Wal-Mart.

•The Martin Luther King Elementary School PTO has been awarded a $2,500 Community Affairs Grant from Miriam Hospital to fund improvements to the MLK Children’s Garden, which is being integrated into the curriculum, MLK’s lunch program and many other aspects of school life.

Middle schools

Esek Hopkins Middle School recently held its open house -attended by teachers, staff, parents and students.

Hopkins eighth-grade math teacher Darlene DaSilva has begun a voluntary preparation program to prepare students for the Classical High School entrance examination and to assist students who need tutoring in math.

High schools

•Students at Hope Arts High School recently began work on the second edition of INK, a literary magazine started last year by English teacher Megan Thoma. INK is published by Hope students and showcases their creative writing and artistic talents.

Submitted student work for the yearly magazine typically includes an eclectic selection of poetry, short stories, dramatic pieces and visual arts creations. Ivana Groenendyk and Michael Tillinghast, juniors in the arts community, have been selected as this year’s student editors of INK. This second annual issue is slated to be unveiled during the first week of May.

The Providence Public Schools Activities column is compiled by the Communications Department. For information, contact Kim Rose, chief communications officer, at (401) 453-9350 or kim.rose@ppsd.org.