VIDEO Message from Principal Nkoli Onye to Gilbert Stuart Families and Students

March 25, 2020

Dear Providence Families,

As the world adapts to the COVID-19 threat, Providence Schools are changing how we deliver education to our 24,000 students. We are also adapting in real time, and we are trying to get as much important and helpful information to you as we can as quickly as possible.

School districts all over the country know that they will not be able to roll this out easily and seamlessly, but in Providence, Rhode Island, we are committed to trying. We believe that our students deserve a sense of normalcy and the opportunity to continue learning.

If you need support with distance learning technology, schedules or projects, please reach out to your child’s school. All teachers have emails on Skyward that you can use. If you have never used Skyward and don’t yet have the contact information for your child’s teacher/teachers, start by calling the school.

For everyone’s convenience, we have also a distance learning hotline, well-staffed to troubleshoot your immediate needs and help families connect to teachers. Call us at 401-456-0686 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on school days if you cannot reach your child’s school.

For all the helpers out there who are sharing solutions and resources with your fellow parents, classmates and neighbors, we thank you so much for making our jobs a little easier. We are all in this together and we are here for you.

Sincerely,

Harrison Peters

Superintendent

Dear Gilbert Stuart Families,

First and foremost, I trust that you are all safe and taking appropriate precautions to remain so. I know that you are experiencing events in real time that are overwhelming. Rest assured that we have been doing all we can to support you and your students. We deployed almost 700 Chromebooks to students on March 13, 2020, and we have deployed more than 200 since then. In total, we have deployed over 850 devices to students. However, we have approximately 950 students presently enrolled. If you have a device at home for your students to use during this time, you do not need to come to the school and sign one out. However, if you have not been able to secure a Chromebook from the school, and if you do not have one at home, please stop at the school on Monday, March 23, 2020, between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM, to sign one out.

If you are a family with students with disabilities and/or multilingual learners, your students will continue to receive services. Additionally, the District is working on a plan to ensure that families who don’t have access to WIFI are granted access so that students can complete assignments. We will continue to communicate to you using our Kinvo messaging service so that you are provided up to date information. You may also continue to email me directly (Nkoli.onye@ppsd.org) or send text messages to my personal cell phone number (401. 996.1602) at any time including weekends. I will get back to you.

GILBERT STUART (GS) DISTANCE LEARNING PLAN

All teachers have been asked to create a Google Classroom for every class. Google Classroom helps students and teachers to communicate more efficiently. The teacher either enters the email addresses of the students just once, or invites the student to join the class, or sends a code to the student so that she or he can join the class, and classroom communication begins Just by entering the classroom, the student becomes part of an email group and a discussion group. Teachers will post work for students and they will be able to communicate with students to help facilitate and assess their learning. Student work will be graded when appropriate. Parents and guardians will be able to see what their students are doing and communicate with teachers as well. Many students are familiar with Google Classroom. However, for some, this will be their first experience. Teachers will either send a text message to the family with a code that the student will enter once they go to Google Classroom, or students will be invited to join the class via email.

While they are working from home, Gilbert Stuart students will follow the schedule below.

1. First class begins at 8:00 AM.

2. Lunch time for all students and teachers is from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. All students are ready to begin their period 5 class at 1:00 PM.

3. Class time ends at 3:00 PM daily.

4. Personal Learning Time -Students can get extra help from teachers for any class, and teachers can meet with support staff to provide extra support for students.

Remember, teachers will be communicating with you and your students via Google Classroom and Kinvo. You will be able to communicate with them in the same manner. Additionally, you may access me directly, at the number and/or email listed above. As we begin this journey, we understand that it will not be perfect. We will work together and make adjustments, as needed, based on feedback we receive from you and your students.

Best,

Nkolika E. Onye

Nkolika Etell Onye, DC

Executive Director of Student Support

On special assignment serving as:

Principal, Gilbert Stuart Middle School

(Text) 401.996.1602

(Twitter) @OnyeNkoli

(Office) 401.456.9340

Click Here / Haga clic aquí

MAIN OFFICE                                         

Administrative Assistant to the Principal

Steve Arlan (401) 484-7308

 

ADMINISTRATION

Nkolika E. Onye, Principal

(401) 996-1602 Text

Nkoli.onye@ppsd.org

Robin Mathis, Assistant Principal

Robin.mathis@ppsd.org

Leonard Kiernan, Assistant Principal

Leonard.kiernan@ppsd.org

 

GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING

Administrative Assistant: Monique DeCostaEllis

(401) 484-7315

Lead School Counselor: Jimps Jean-Louis

(401) 484-8221

Jimps.jean-louis@ppsd.org

 

Grade Level Counselors>>                                                                      

 

 

Grade 8 Counselor: Jessica Rivera

(401) 300-5108                                                                                                                      

Jessica.rivera@ppsd.org

Grade 7 Counselor: Marie Kaminski

(401) 496-9115

marie.kaminski@ppsd.org

Grade 6 Counselor: Carmen Lopez

carmen.Lopez@ppsd.org

 

BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT

Dean of Students: Jeff Doucette

Jeffrey.doucette@ppsd.org

Dean of Students: Kevin Conway

Kevin.conway@ppsd.org

School Culture Coordinator: Chace Baptista

(401) 648-1056

Chace.baptista@ppsd.org

 

PSYCOLOGICAL & SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL COUNSELING

Psychologist: Paula Ventrone

401 484-8374

Paula.ventrone@ppsd.org

Social Worker: Hope Johnson

401 484-8399

Hope.johnson@ppsd.org

 

NOTE: In case of an emergency, please call 9-11. If there are concerns that are not emergency in nature, contact one of the resources below. Feel free to contact Gilbert Stuart support staff above, for other additional outside mental health referrals, if needed.

Emergency Evaluations/Risk Assessments

• Kidslink 1011 Veteran’s Memorial Parkway East Providence, RI (855) 543-5465
• Family Services of RI 55 Hope Street Providence, RI (401) 331-1350 X 3102
• Community Care Alliance 181 Cumberland St Woonsocket, RI (401) 235-7120
• Thrive Emergency Services 50 Health Lane Warwick, RI (401) 738-4300
• RI Hospital Psychiatric Emergency Services (401) 444 - 4779

Hospitals

• Bradley Hospital 1011 Veteran’s Memorial Parkway East Providence, RI (401) 432-1000
• Butler Hospital 345 Blackstone Blvd. Providence, RI (401) 455-6200
• Hasbro Children’s 593 Eddy t., Providence RI (401) 444-4000