Dear KHA families,
As we move through the final stretch of the school year, I want to thank our students, staff, and families for the energy, support, and commitment you bring to our school each and every day. May and June are always a busy and exciting month filled with learning celebrations, concerts, field trips, special events, and preparations for the transition into summer.
This month, we encourage students to continue giving their best effort in the classroom, staying focused on attendance, and showing kindness and respect to others. Every day of learning matters, and we are proud of the growth our students have made throughout the year.
We are also grateful to our teachers and staff during Teacher Appreciation Week for the care and dedication they show our students every day.
A special thank you to our PTO for an amazing staff appreciation week in which they provided activities, food, and gifts for all staff .THANK YOU!
Please take some time over the weekend ahead to review the important dates and updates included in this newsletter. We look forward to finishing the school year strong together.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support.
Warmly,
Marcella Terranova Clark
Chief Administrator/Superintendent
Kingston Hill Academy
*This school year, every Friday is A Spirit Day! Wear Blue and/or your favorite KHA gear!
May at a glance…
Week of May 4 – Wicked Themed Staff Appreciation Week- Thank you PTO! It was a great week celebrating our AMAZING Staff!
May 10- Happy Mother’s Day
May 15 – Dodgeball Tournament -5:30-7:30pm
May 13- KHA Finance Meeting- 11:45-1:45pm
May 13-School Improvement Team Meeting at 3:45pm- Note: Date Change!
May 18 – KHA Playground Hangout and PTO Meeting- 3:30-5pm- Playdate/5:30-7pm -PTO Meeting
May 20 -Board of Trustees Meeting at 6pm- Maker Space Room
May 25 – No School due to Memorial Day Holiday
Week of May 26 – Friendship Week
May 26- Chris Poulos Assembly
May 26- Building Committee Meeting- 5pm- Conference Room
June Activities
June 3 – Annual Patriotic Concert
June 4 – PTO Meeting with Ice Cream Social Basket Making
June 5 – Ice Cream Social 5:30-7:30
June 10 – Field Day (rain date June 15)
June 11 – Graduation Day- Grade 5
June 16 – Talent Show (students only)
June 17 – School Improvement Team Meeting at 3:45 and Board of Trustees Meeting at 6
June 18 – Last Day of School
June 19 – No School due to Juneteenth
KHA RICAS/NSGA Dates:
May 6th and 7th – 5th Grade Math
May 12th and 13th – 4th Grade Math
May 14th and 15th – 3rd Grade Math
May 20th and 21st – 5th Grade NGSA
Please read the information below:
Second Math Matters RI Event Fast Approaching
The second Math Matters RI event, the RI STEAM Expo: The Ocean State: Anchored in Math, Powered by STEAM, is coming up on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Providence Career and Technical Academy. The event will feature professional learning opportunities for educators, fun activities and workshops for students and families, and interactive exhibits for all. It is free and open to the public, but registration is required to attend.
April 1st and 2nd – 5th Grade ELA
April 7th and 8th – 4th Grade ELA
April 9th and 10th – 3rd Grade ELA
May 6th and 7th – 5th Grade Math
May 12th and 13th – 4th Grade Math
May 14th and 15th – 3rd Grade Math
May 20th and 21st – 5th Grade NGSA
Dear Families,
This spring, students in grades 3–8 will participate in the Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System (RICAS). RICAS measures student progress in English Language Arts and Mathematics and is aligned to Rhode Island’s learning standards.
The purpose of RICAS is to provide valuable information about your child’s academic growth and to help schools continue improving instruction. While this assessment is important, we want students to approach testing with confidence and simply do their best.
You can support your child by ensuring they:
Get a good night’s sleep before testing days
Eat a healthy breakfast
Arrive at school on time
Feel encouraged and supported
Our teachers have been preparing students throughout the year, and we are proud of the hard work they demonstrate each day. If you have any questions about RICAS or the testing schedule, please contact your child’s teacher and/or Mr. V.
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting your child’s learning.
Grade 5 Students Only:
This spring, students will participate in the Next Generation Science Assessment (NSGA). This assessment measures student understanding of science concepts and practices aligned with state standards.
The NSGA is designed to assess not only what students know, but how well they can apply their knowledge to real-world scientific questions and problem-solving. The results help inform instruction and support continuous improvement in our school.
*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 8:45am and after 3:30pm.
POWERSCHOOL IS COMING…
We are excited to announce that we will be rolling out PowerSchool Student Information System in the 26-27 school year. This robust school software will allow KHA to streamline our student data, provide accurate reporting to RIDE, and transition your child’s forms and school activities to online approval. We will be in touch over the summer break to share login details and instructions around approving/editing your contact details for the 26-27 school year.
Survey Works Update
I am writing to say thanks and congratulations as we wrapped up another successful Survey Works season! In total, we had 150 surveys completed, which is definitely enough for a special incentive for the students! Stay tuned for more details!
Please know that your participation is more than just a checked box – it is a vital part of how we shape our school’s future. Because so many of you took the time to share your honest feedback, we now will have a clear, data-driven picture of what is working well and where we can continue to grow. This partnership is what makes our school community so resilient and successful year after year.
May 6th: 12:00 p.m.: Embargoed survey results are available to Districts.
https://ride.ri.gov/information-accountability/ri-education-data/surveyworks
Thank you for your continued dedication to our students and for helping us make this year’s Survey Works season another resounding success. We look forward to sharing the key takeaways and our next steps with you soon!
State Testing
The next round of state testing started this week. The 5th Graders are up first for the Math RICAS on Wednesday and Thursday. The following week, the 4th Graders step up to the plate on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by the 3rd Graders on Thursday and Friday. Please ensure students arrive on time, get a good night’s sleep, and start off the day with a healthy breakfast. The KHA team is ready for these students to shine!
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.
KHA is proud to share several exciting recognitions this school year!
RIDE Health and Wellness Grant
The RI Department of Education awarded KHA a $10,000 grant that will fund our social emotional curricula such as Conscious Discipline, and Second step as well as our social emotional screener, DESSA. The grant will also fund a staff wellness initiative and student wellness initiative centered around mindfulness and exercise. Thank you to The SEL/Attendance Committee for their contributions to the grant I submitted on behalf of KHA.
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.Attendance is just as important this time of year!
NEW News:
RIDE and the Rhode Island Football Club (RIFC) have launched the RIFC Attendance Matters Challenge to encourage students to finish the year strong.
From now through May 22, 2026, a total of 24 schools will be recognized for having the highest attendance rates and the greatest week-over-week improvement in attendance. Winning schools will receive tickets to an upcoming RIFC game.
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. Please no 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! 🙂
Please click on the link below:
Families and KHA Buses (Together) can begin arrival at KHA at 8:25 am. KHA Staff will be present outdoors and doors will open for student arrival at 8:28 am until 8:45am. Arrivals after 8:45am are considered tardy and will need to report to the front office.
KHA Buses will arrive at KHA at 3:10pm for dismissal and students will begin dismissal at 3:14pm. Buses begin first and then parent pick ups.
Parents/Guardians- please arrive at 3:14pm and not 3:10pm when forming a line. This will assist with road traffic as well.
If your child requires a dismissal earlier than 3:14pm it is considered an early dismissal. Our school day ends at 3:15pm. Please contact the office if we can support you and your family in any way and/or email Mr. V. and/or Mrs. Clark with any questions/concerns.
Based on the recent Family Survey, Information will be shared by:
Black Board Connect- KHA Emails/tests, and Robo Calls
*Phone calls
*Web page
* Newsletters: KHA and Classroom
* Class DOJO- Announcements only and photos!
*Families- Please use email! Class DOJO can not be utilized for communication and messages are not monitored! Thank you!
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.
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 @
Wendy Gariglio
2025-2026 PTO Board:
President-Samantha Motulski
Vice President,-Nicole Tumblin
Treasurer-Nicole Campbell
Secretary-Pam Zagadsky
Room Parent-Jess Mathis
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:
Please click on the link below for Staff Appreciation week events.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J5L7c807fsiikIcmL28vjzUZAqWjl-s6/view?usp=sharing
We could use your help! The PTO is looking to next year with upcoming elections during our May meeting. As the saying goes, more hands make light work. If you are interested in helping the PTO as an executive board member (president, VP, secretary, treasurer, etc), co-chairing an event, or have another idea, please complete the interest form before the May meeting at https://forms.gle/FzN8BMfkdUxyh1x1A.
This is Staff Appreciation Week! The PTO has planned a week full of Wicked-themed surprises! See the attached flyer for more information. The PTO is running this event on behalf of all KHA families, but you are welcome to send in a kind note to a staff member who has made a difference in your or your child’s life.
As you can see below, there are a lot of upcoming events at KHA, and this doesn’t include all the field trips and grade-specific events! Just a reminder, background checks (BCI) are required to volunteer for any school events such as field trips, the ice cream social, field day, and more. Now is a great time to get a background check to make sure it is on file ahead of time. Background checks last for one year. More information can be found here: https://riag.ri.gov/i-want/get-background-check.
Thank you PTO for making this week extra special!
Thank you Staff for all your dedication to our students, staff, and community! You are APPRECIATED! Thank you!
We wish our student teachers all the best and welcome our new student teachers beginning 2026-2027 school year. Did you know KHA is 1/8 schools that have partnered with URI and the student teaching program in RI?
Dmitry Zagadsky
Chair
Dr. Alicia Storey
Vice Chair
astorey@kingstonhill.org
Lauren Nkwocha
Treasurer
Treasurer
Joe Garcia
Trustee
Tiffany McClanaghan
Trustee
Kirsten Yagoobian
Secretary
Lori Filiberto
Trustee
Alex Petrucci
Trustee
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