June 4, 2024
May was a fast-paced month for Barrington Public Schools, filled with many events, activities, and accomplishments! National and state assessments, achievement celebrations, and a host of instructional and extracurricular successes kept our community very busy in May.
As we prepare for the final weeks of the school year, I would like to share with you some noteworthy accomplishments that represent our district’s commitment to inclusive and immersive teaching, learning, and leading.
Hampden Meadows School was named a Lighthouse School by Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence. This award makes Hampden Meadows the third Lighthouse School in our district, following Sowams School's award in 2023 and Primrose Hill Elementary School's award in 2022. The HMS community recently celebrated this exciting achievement and even Paws joined in on the fun!
After an extensive search process, we are pleased to welcome Ms. Dawn August as the new principal of Primrose Hill School. She brings more than 30 years of elementary education and leadership experience to this role, and she is committed to fostering a positive and inclusive school culture.
The spring athletic season came to an end with exciting wins and first-time appearances at national competitions for some of our Barrington High School teams!
Congratulations to the boys tennis team for finishing their undefeated season with a State Championship win! Student athletes, Gabe and Bryce, repeated their 2023 victory as tennis doubles state champs and became the first doubles team to win a back-to-back State Championship since 2002.
Congratulations to the boys track & field team for winning the outdoor track State Championship for the first time ever in Barrington’s 100-year history of the sport! The team also won the RIIL Class B championship and the Eastern Division Championship earlier this month.
Congratulations to the BHS unified basketball team for their Division Five State Championship win!
The Barrington High School sailing team competed at the National Invitational Tournament in Chicago for the first time in school history and placed 7th overall. The team had a great time on Lake Michigan!
Professional development activities are important elements of learning and working in Barrington Public Schools. In May, our students presented at conferences, shared projects at events sponsored by professional organizations, collaborated with local organizations on public shows, and competed at national tournaments.
Barrington High School students and educators attended a professional learning conference and gave a presentation on how Eduscrum, a methodology that integrates Scrum/Agile principles into education, can empower learners to take charge of their education.
Students from Sowams School, Nayatt School, Primrose Hill School, and Barrington High School shared projects celebrating the rich diversity of our multilingual learners at the Rhode Island Teachers of English Language Learners (RITELL) Identity Gallery Walk.
Students in Ms. Lindenberg’s Advanced Placement art class had their paintings featured in a collaborative art show, “Art in Bloom,” at the Barrington Public Library. Floral designers from the Hameho Garden Club created floral arrangements to pair with students’ paintings. See pictures of the show here.
The Barrington High School Science Olympiad team competed against students from across the country at the Science Olympiad National Tournament, which was held at Michigan State University!
Barrington High School students have been recognized in Rhode Island and beyond for their talents and academic achievements.
A painting by BHS student artist, Vivian, won the 2024 Congressional Art Competition for Rhode Island's First Congressional District! Vivian's painting, titled "Burnout," will hang in the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC, for the rest of the year.
BHS student, Emma, received the 2024 Rhode Island Young Leader Award which recognizes her commitment to community service and entrepreneurial spirit.
Inclusion and belonging are central to positive and welcoming school cultures. This month, students and community members from across our district affirmed their commitments to creating inclusive, positive, and friendly learning communities.
Barrington High School's Chain Reaction club recently organized a district-wide celebration of A Day Without Hate to encourage all members of our Barrington community to commit to unity, mutual respect, and nonviolence.
Students, staff, and families created peace posters for display in each of our schools as a visible reminder that kindness is a cornerstone of our community and BPS does not tolerate violence or hate.
Students at Hampden Meadows School created a kindness chain more than 170 feet long to represent recent acts of kindness by students and staff in celebration of A Day Without Hate.
Morgan’s Message, a student organization at Barrington High School, helps raise awareness of important causes like mental health in the student athlete community. The girls lacrosse team dedicated their last home game of the season to supporting Morgan’s Message. See photos from the game here.
The entire Barrington Middle School community participated in a Best Buddies Unity Walk to celebrate inclusion and friendship. Check out these pictures from the second annual Unity Walk!
Barrington Public School’s School Resource Officer, Officer Joel, received the Glenford Shibley Leadership Award from the Rhode Island SRO Association. Congratulations, Officer Joel!
This year’s Tough Tiger race drew a huge crowd despite the gloomy weather. We are already looking forward to next year! Check out pictures of the race here.
End-of-year activities for the Barrington High School Class of 2024 have begun! Seniors recently walked alongside the Barrington Education Foundation in the Town of Barrington’s annual Memorial Day parade, a longstanding tradition that marks the end of the school year for seniors.
Third grade students at Sowams School learned about real world applications for math and coding, thanks to a life-size R2-D2 droid and a BPS alum who brought a galaxy far, far away to Barrington. See photos from the visit here.
School Construction Project Update
Last week, the Rhode Island Council on Elementary and Secondary Education (RI CESE) voted to approve Barrington’s school building project. This is a significant milestone because it means funding for the renovation and construction of four like-new schools has officially been secured from the State. It also allows the Barrington School Building Committee and the Committee’s team of architects and project managers to continue working toward Stage III of the Rhode Island Department of Education’s (RIDE) Necessity of School Construction application. Visit the project’s website to learn more. Additional updates are also provided during bi-weekly meetings of the Barrington School Committee and monthly meetings of the Barrington School Building Committee.
June is a short month, but it is perhaps the busiest in our school calendar. As we enter the final stretch of another impressive school year, the next few weeks are sure to be filled with feelings of excitement and anticipation. Graduation for the Class of 2024 is just a few days away and, with our students as next-generation leaders, there is a bright and promising future. Our whole community has much to celebrate this school year! These collective achievements are made possible by our students who commit to their learning, our educators who empower our students to excel, and our community members whose partnerships enable a world of possibilities. I look forward to celebrating our students and educators in the days and weeks ahead, and thank you for your continued support of our Barrington Public Schools.
Thank you,
Mike Messore
Michael B. Messore III
Superintendent
Barrington Public Schools