We hope you enjoyed a restful break and are ready for a fresh start. As we begin this new year together, we look forward to more learning, growth, and joyful moments in our elementary school.
Thank you for all you do to support our students each day. We’re excited for what’s ahead!
Warmly,
Marcella Terranova Clark
Chief Administrator/Superintendent
Drew Virbila
Principal
*This school year, every Friday is A Spirit Day! Wear Blue and/or your favorite KHA gear!
January at a glance…
Happy New Year!
In order to add more instructional minutes to the school day, the following time changes will be in effect for the rest of the 2025-2026 school year.
Drop Off FOR FAMILIES ONLY will now start at 8:30am and Pick Up will now start at 3:14pm. Bus Drop offs will begin at 8:28am. Doors will open at 8:28am for bus students only. Please do not arrive prior to 8:28 am and/or 3:14pm and/or enter the bus line. Thank you!
At first, this may not seem like a big difference. However, with this slight time change we will be adding about 9 more hours of instructional time over the course of the remaining school year! Please keep these arrival and dismissal time changes in mind as you drop off or pick up your child at school or at the bus stop. Please note: Arrival Map
Staff will direct families and students. Please drive to the back of the lot. Adults please remain in cars. Our arrival and dismissal is a Drive-Thru process. Please follow with the traffic flow and designated areas for drop off/pick up. There will be signs and staff to direct traffic.
* Please have students prepared to exit the vehicle and please place car seats on the left side when at all possible. This will assist with arrival and departure procedures as well as safety!
Thank you!
Snow has a way of sneaking up on all of us this winter season! Local news stations, radio stations, and our social media/web pages will all be updated in the case of a snow closing or delay.
We will also notify families through Black Board Connect with an email/call to all KHA families.
RI Broadcasters Closing Alert System- Please sign up for alerts for school closings! https://www.ribroadcasters.com
**Mr. V. will announce “Snow Play” the night before to families through our communication system. Students can play in the snow with their class as long as they have a jacket, gloves/mittens, and winter boots. We highly encourage students to wear snow pants and a change of clothes added in your child’s backpack in case they get wet.
Please click on the link below.
*Please plan vacations accordingly in reference to the school calendar. Vacations are considered unexcused absences by KHA and RIDE. Thank you for your support!
***School Times: 8:45 am -3:15 pm
Please report to the office after 8:45 am and after 3:30 pm.
If you need to send in a note to the office regarding changes to your student’s dismissal procedure for that day or a child’s absence, please send it to [email protected]. You will receive a confirmation email when the note has been received. Please send your dismissal changes before 2 pm. All dismissal changes are sent to the classrooms at that time. This procedure will eliminate handwritten notes sent from home getting lost. This email will not be monitored after 2 pm – Please DO NOT send an email after 2 pm. Please call the office for any emergencies after 2:00 pm. Please take a minute to add this email address to your devices. A link will also be on the KHA website. Thank you.
All KHA Families : Please complete The Opt Out form sent in the January Chief Administrator Email if you would NOT like information shared with KHA Families and/or publications such as social media and photos. We are also trying to create a student directory for families. Thank you!
KHA is proud to share several exciting recognitions this school year!
RIDE Five-Star Rating
The RI Department of Education awarded KHA a 5-Star Rating in its statewide accountability system, recognizing strong performance across key measures including student achievement, growth, and attendance. Notably, we are 1 out of only 21 schools across RI to receive this 5 star rating!
Attendance
KHA was recognized by RIDE and Governor McKee through the Attendance Matters RI Campaign for maintaining one of the lowest absenteeism rates in the state, an achievement that highlights our students’ engagement and our staff and family dedication.
America’s Healthiest Schools Award
KHA is proud to be named one of America’s Healthiest Schools for 2025 by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation–one of only two schools in Rhode Island to earn this national distinction. This recognition celebrates our ongoing work to support whole-child health, physical activity, student and staff well-being, and family engagement with our school community.
Elected Official Visit
In honor of our award, we welcomed Sen. Elaine Morgan to KHA. Her visit provided an opportunity to celebrate our award. The timing aligned with our student leadership elections and provided a meaningful real-world connection to student learning.
KHA’s Attendance Committee meets monthly to discuss proactive measures to increase attendance at KHA for students. Supports such as Hazel Health, Social Work, Nurse support are provided to our families. Letters, meetings and The Nudge Tool will be utilized by KHA.
Ask your child about “The Woot Woot Wagon”!
Here’s how it works:
We track the daily perfect attendance for classrooms. Each day a class has 100% attendance, their class gets a ticket entered in the end of week raffle and also gets a fish on the bulletin board.
At the end of each week, the grade level with the most fish stickers will win a visit from the “Woot Woot Wagon“ The Woot Woot Wagon” will visit the winning classrooms on the following Monday.
Why this matters:
Improving daily attendance supports stronger academic outcomes and builds a sense of community. This contest is a light-hearted way to make attendance exciting for students— we are “Happy To SEA Them” everyday! Please encourage your students to take pride in earning their daily fish.
Thank you for your support in helping our students show up and shine every day!
School attendance is a powerful predictor of student outcomes. Rhode Island defines chronic absenteeism as the percentage of students who miss 10% or more of school days during the year (or two days per month). Research shows that chronic absenteeism is associated with a number of negative consequences for students, including lower achievement, disengagement from school, course failure, and an increased risk of dropping out. Attendance each day is even more critical to help get students on track in the wake of the pandemic. We know some absences are unavoidable, but any absence makes it more difficult for children to keep up with the daily learning needed to grow and succeed. Absences may also speak to larger issues around school climate, which is why it is important schools use their data to problem solve and provide students with necessary support and interventions.
While more work remains ahead to continue to curb chronic absenteeism, under the statewide, cross-sector #AttendanceMattersRI campaign, chronic absenteeism during the 2024-2025 school year declined approximately 2.6 percentage points, bringing the statewide chronic absenteeism rate from 24.7% in school year 2023-2024 to 22.1%. This represents 667,510 fewer absences from the height of the pandemic in 2021-22, representing 3.7 million additional instructional hours for students and bringing Rhode Island to nearly 12 percentage points below the 2021-2022 school year rate of 34.1%.
A #Back2SchoolRI Message from Commissioner Infante-Green
Please consider packing an extra set of clothes in your child’s backpacks. Please dress in layers and dress for the weather. It is coat and jacket season and hat and mittens! Please no “summer attire” and/or crocs and/or slippers at school. PE class requires sneakers!
Please call Nurse Judy or send an email to [email protected] if your child will be absent from school. Please send in a snack and water bottle daily with your child. Please email Nurse Judy and arrange a time to drop off and complete any forms for medication at school. Please get plenty of rest at night! School is a busy place with lots of learning! 🙂
Ready, Set, Go! SurveyWorks launches January 20th!
The Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (RIDE) conducts annual surveys of students, parents, teachers, and staff as part of a coordinated effort to improve schools. Each survey is tailored to the stakeholder group. The RIDE team is busy preparing for SurveyWorks 2026. Consistent with prior years, the survey will be open from January 20 through March 31. Stay tuned families since your input matters!
KHA Grade 4 Students will be participating in NAEP this year. NAEP stands for the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as “The Nation’s Report Card,” a large, ongoing assessment providing data on U.S. students’ academic achievement in subjects like reading, math, and science, administered by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) to inform education policy at national, state, and district levels.
Please click on the link below:
Based on the recent Family Survey, Information will be shared by:
As a community, we are working on creating healthy boundaries as a staff so everyone’s personal needs are able to be met outside of school hours. We encourage a healthy work/life balance. We encourage all our families to communicate with their child’s teachers and together form a partnership while establishing healthy boundaries with one another in means of communication and style. Class DOJO will be utilized ONLY for announcements/reminders and photos this year.
Staff and families are encouraged to utilize email correspondence for communication and/or phone calls. Please be conscious that your child’s teacher will be teaching during the school day and only have access to emails during breaks, lunch, and before/after school. Staff are expected to respond within 24 hours.
In case of an emergency and/or an immediate concern, families are encouraged to call the office and messages will be communicated with staff appropriately.
If there is a concern in the classroom, we kindly request that it is brought to your child’s teacher first, and then the Principal, and Chief Administrator if necessary. Any emergency information can and should be sent to the Principal/Chief Administrator immediately.
We thank you for working with us on establishing healthy boundaries for staff and families as well establishing a chain of command for concerns and/or questions. We look forward to an excellent partnership this school year in supporting your child with you!
Literacy/English Language Arts: Literacy/English Language Arts at KHA focuses on providing high-quality instruction, identifying potential reading difficulties, and developing literacy skills so that students may become life-long readers. Descriptions of the programs we use are below.
Wonders: Wonders is an evidence-based K–5 ELA program that empowers students to take an active role in learning and exploration. Students will enjoy unparalleled opportunities to express and assess themselves through reading, writing, and speaking. Students encounter the right content at the right moment in their learning journey to promote strong educational outcomes for all.
UFLI: UFLI is an explicit and systematic program that teaches students the foundational skills necessary for proficient reading. It follows a carefully developed scope and sequence designed to ensure that students systematically acquire each skill needed and learn to apply each skill with automaticity and confidence. The program is designed to be used for core instruction in the primary grades or for intervention with struggling students in any grade.
Mathematics: Every student needs and deserves a rich and rigorous mathematics curriculum that is focused on the development of concepts, the acquisition of basic and advanced skills and the integration of problem-solving experiences. KHA encourages educators to provide challenging mathematics opportunities to foster the growth of intelligent, thoughtful, and mathematically literate members of society. At KHA we use an integrated approach to mathematics outlined in the program description below.
Eureka Math is a math curriculum for grades pre-K through 12 that aims to help students develop a solid understanding of math concepts, procedural skills, and fluency. The curriculum was written by teachers and math experts to align with college- and career-ready standards that emphasize critical thinking, conceptual understanding, and deeper learning. Eureka Math is designed to make math more enjoyable to learn and teach by connecting math to the real world.
Science: A foundation in scientific literacy prepares students to be confident and capable lifelong learners who are equipped with the skills needed to access, understand, evaluate, and apply information in various contexts. The science curriculum aligns with the NGSS, Next Generation Science Standards, and provides students a foundation for life-long problem solving and fact-based decision-making skills. Regardless of their academic standing, all students should have access to a rich and challenging science curriculum that will promote scientific literacy, while inspiring and supporting advanced study and science-related careers. Descriptions of the programs we use are below.
FOSS Web Next Generation Edition: FOSS (Full Option Science System) is a research-based science curriculum for grades K-8 developed at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley. FOSS has evolved from a philosophy of teaching and learning that has guided the development of successful active-learning science curricula for more than 40 years. The FOSS Program bridges research and practice by providing tools and strategies to engage students and teachers in enduring experiences that lead to deeper understanding of the natural and designed worlds.
Social Studies: Social Studies at KHA helps students understand the world in which they live and prepares them with the knowledge and skills to become informed, thoughtful, and active citizens in a culturally diverse democratic society and complex world. KHA creates conditions for every student to think critically and collaboratively, and act as a creative, self-motivated, culturally, and globally competent learner. The Rhode Island Social Studies Standards guide the lessons.
Physical Education: The goal of physical education at KHA is to teach students the concepts associated with health and wellness and provide students with the tools to build and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Students learn about various exercise and sports techniques, health issues, cooperation, safe play, and self-care. Emphasis is also placed on teamwork and good sportsmanship. KHA’s physical education program complies with all governing state laws and regulations.
Health: The goal of health education at KHA is to teach topics that cover all aspects of physical, mental, social, emotional health, and safety.
The Great Body Shop: The Great Body Shop promotes wellness through the integration of ten health content strands including substance abuse and violence prevention, injury and personal safety, fitness and nutrition, disease and illness prevention, body systems, growth & development, illness & disease prevention and consumer and environmental health. Social and emotional learning, as well as substance abuse and violence prevention skills and messages are integrated into every unit (if developmentally appropriate)
State Testing: RICAS is administered to all 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students each spring. This test is an assessment of student aptitude in the areas of Language Arts (Reading and Writing) and Mathematics. The Next Generation Science Assessment (NGSA) is administered to 5th graders each spring. Students are expected to meet proficiency levels in all areas of the test. KHA’s overall approach to its curriculum is designed to help students achieve proficient levels on these assessments.
Art-Each week students will receive Art Instruction with our newly appointed art instructor, Ms. Kathleen O’Connor. Welcome to KHA!
Music: Each week students receive music instruction. Music at KHA is intended to teach students about an art form based on creating, performing, and responding. KHA believes that the more students understand the basic elements of music the more they will enjoy the experience and enhance their appreciation. Music class at KHA offers a variety of opportunities to explore methods of artistic expression and enhance personal creativity.
To: KHA Families and Staff
Subject: Spring 2025 RICAS Results
Dear Kingston Hill Academy Community,
Today, the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) shared publicly the 2025 results of RICAS and SATs. These are tests given across all Rhode Island Public Schools.
In Spring 2025, Kingston Hill Academy students in grades 3-5 took the RICAS tests in Math and English. Also, students in grade 5 took the NSGA Science Assessment.
Below are our proficiency and participation listed as a district.
Kingston Hill Academy had 100% participation with all assessments.
RICAS ELA: 66.9% Proficiency and increased by 8 points since 2023
RICAS Math: 65.3% Proficiency and increased 1% since 2023
NSGA Science: 63.6% Proficiency and an increase of 5.5% since 2023
Please keep in mind that RICAS scores are just one way to measure your child’s progress and they offer valuable insights into learning and growth. They help us as a school see where we’re strong and where we can grow as a community.
With continued effort, support, and a focus on growth, we will move forward. Let’s celebrate the progress we’ve made and stay focused on the possibilities ahead. The journey of learning is long, and RICAS is just one snapshot along the way.
Please reach out with any questions/concerns.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership.
The Family and Student Handbook is currently available. Please note there were significant changes made to some sections and should be reviewed at your earliest convenience. Thank you!
Please Also Note:
We know that staying mentally healthy is critical to engage in learning.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics: 70% of public schools say more students are seeking mental health services.
This school year, we’re proud to offer all students with access to online therapy and counseling services, through our partnership with Hazel Health. Services are 100% safe and confidential.
Your student can speak 1-on-1 with a licensed therapist from the convenience of school or home, with your consent. Hazel Health provides high-quality care for all students.
Hazel Health’s licensed therapists can help students navigate a wide range of issues, including:
Hazel’s short-term online therapy program has been proven to reduce symptoms of common mental health concerns — and gives kids tools to cope with challenges they face at school and beyond. Thank you!
Parents/guardians can also visit https://getstarted.hazel.co/district/kingstonhill to find their district, create an account, complete consent, and submit a referral. Guardians can also call 888-541-7063 to submit a referral. Support available from 9am – 9pm
Attachments:
doc02044720250428122808.pdf
Please email Miss Wendy, our school social worker as well for any support, questions, and/or concerns to Wendy Gariglio at [email protected]
2025-2026 PTO Board:
Purchase your KHA Attire! The KHA Squadlocker store. The PTO gets 10% back from anything purchased. https://teamlocker.squadlocker.com/lockers/277980/download_flyer
Please click on the link below:
A special Thank you to our PTO, Staff, Volunteers, and Families as well as KHA’s Students for making this year’s Fall Festival a fun and well attended event!
Kingston Hill Academy (KHA) is dedicated to providing students with the opportunity for an inclusive, individualized, and challenging curriculum that supports them to reach their full potential.
850 Stony Fort Road
Saunderstown, Rhode Island 02874
Phone: (401) 783-8282
Fax: (401) 783-5656
Social Media:
Check us out and join us on Facebook @Kingston Hill Academy
Instagram @Kingstonhillacademy
