August 31, 2023
Dear Students, Parents, and Staff,
As summer comes to an end, we are thrilled to welcome each and every one of you back to another exciting school year! The first day of school for all K-12 students is Tuesday, September 5th. Warwick Early Learning Center’s (WELC) Open House will be Tuesday, September 5th and the first day of school will be Wednesday, September 6th.
There are many wonderful things happening this year. We have been very busy working on summer construction projects at the following schools: Park, Norwood, Holliman, Warwick Neck, Scott, Veterans Middle School, and Hoxsie. The work at these facilities has included renovating classrooms and bathrooms, new roofs and installation of new windows, HVAC upgrades and paving at parking lots. Some construction will continue into the fall and be done after school hours, but I am pleased to say all schools will open as scheduled.
Our Maintenance and Technology departments have done outstanding work to prepare our schools for the first day of school. It has not been an easy task considering the extensive construction at some of our schools. My sincerest thanks to those employees who are making our schools ready and welcoming for our students and staff.
Innovative spaces have been created in the following schools: Cedar Hill, Holliman, Norwood, Park, Robertson, Veterans Middle School, and Winman Middle School. This process started in the spring of last year and was made possible by grant funding from the Rhode Island Department of Education. Individual schools applied for funding from this grant and in each of these cases, a space was completely transformed with new furniture, equipment, technology, flooring, walls/paint, ceilings, etc. We will be sharing pictures of these sites on our website and social media platforms.
This year holds a world of educational opportunities. We remain committed to our work on a Vision of Graduate, with our focus continuing to be on student discourse, which gives students an opportunity to discuss, collaborate, and exchange ideas. As a district, we believe in the importance of student achievement and we are committed to providing learning environments where all students can thrive. Additionally, aligned with one of RIDE’s main goals, we will continue to work to ensure that every student attends school regularly. Chronic absenteeism negatively impacts learning to such a degree that we recognize it as a priority. Students who attend school every day positively impact their academic achievement. It is important for families to know that school attendance is extremely important so that all our students achieve success!!!
As we begin this new school year, I want you to know how fortunate I feel to be part of such a wonderful school district and community. It is an honor for me to serve our students, parents, and staff. I am excited about what this year will bring. Welcome Back!!
Lynn Dambruch
Superintendent