School Highlights For The Weeks of Dec. 20 through Jan. 2

Adopt-A-Family is an all volunteer organization that helps to provide Christmas gifts to the children of Woonsocket families in need.   Darlene McGaw and Julie Wonderlich who are members of the Adopt-A-Family Board as well as the School Success Coalition at , invited me to visit.  We went to the Elks Lodge last week to meet the people behind the scenes.  I was amazed to see how during the week of Dec 13, the Elks Lodge on Social Street is transformed into Christmas Central.  It is stocked with mountains of toys, games, clothes, bicycles and volunteers.  Some of the volunteers were even dressed in Christmas clothes helping to create the holiday spirit. 

All of the volunteers where very happy to tell me about their years of support and the joy they feel when they help out families in our community.  The operation is extremely well organized.  Donors are provided with an anonymous description of the size and the ages of the children in a community family.  One group of volunteers organizes, wraps, and packages donated gifts for anonymous individual families while another group coordinates and distributes the gifts to waiting recipients through an anonymous numerical system.  At one point, I was able to help out by delivering a bicycle and several bags of toys to a waiting family.  For a brief moment, I became a volunteer and felt the same joy and Christmas spirit that the volunteers told me about.  Over 100 volunteers contribute to the effort, some spending up to 12 hours per day. 

We also talked about how the Woonsocket Education Department could collaborate with the effort next year.  Adopt-A-Family gets book donations but sometimes has trouble coordinating the reading level with the age group they are donating to.  The Woonsocket Education Department could easily provide age appropriate book lists to assist the volunteers.  Also, we can seek age appropriate, high interest literature donations for Adopt-A-Family. 

With support from a vast donor community, comprised of individuals and corporations, Adopt-A-Family was able to provide the gifts on Christmas morning for over 1,000 families and 2,100 children this year.  That is equivalent to 85 elementary classrooms of kids!  I would like to thank all who participated and although the volunteers and donors remain anonymous through a numerical system I can identify some very special Woonsocket School Community donors.

The AFJROTC cadets and their leaders Lt. Col. Dan Richard and S.Sgt. Dan Pinckney need to be congratulated on their recent community outreach project as they purchased presents for "Adopt a Family."  For the sixth straight year our cadets are acting as Santa's elves as they purchase Christmas presents for Adopt-A-Family. 

The cadets are a fixture in the Woonsocket High School cafeteria as they promote the Christmas spirit and accept monetary donations from WHS Students to purchase gifts for their Adopt-A-Family.  Every year, after much hard work the cadets reach their goal of $500.00 and then the real fun begins!  In mid-December the cadets head out to purchase their gifts for the 4 designated children (ages 2-4).  The biggest challenge we have is to determine what cadets to take shopping; since there are so many volunteers.  After the presents are bought; we have our "elves" wrap them. (Again, a huge list of volunteers.)

This is a perfect example of what AFJROTC is all about at Woonsocket High School.  In the future, we will continue to stress the importance of selfless service and character development for our cadets.

Nancy Abato and the Woonsocket Education Department staff at McFee Administration building also need to be thanked for their "Adopt' A Family" donations.  They provided gifts this year for two families with five children ranging from ages 18 months to age 11.  For many years Nancy has been coordinating this event and also donates her time to go to the elks and wrap presents.

I think that a big thank you should go out to all of the volunteers who participated in Adopt-A-Family this year.

The Gift Basket Raffle for and Elementary Schools was another fun and successful holiday event.  The Gift Basket Raffle was organized by the Team Fairmount Parent's Voice PTO.  Principal Ron Celio was dressed in a tuxedo as he was the Master of Ceremonies.  One of our PTO members played "Santa" himself and the children had fun meeting him and having holiday snacks.  DJ Sergio of DJ Sergio Surround Sound had everyone (even Mr. Celio) dancing.  The event was attended by over 300 people.

Twenty five gift baskets were raffled including 100 gallons of heating oil (current value $308) generously donated by Kafin Oil, a local Woonsocket company and a complete car reconditioning (valued at $250) generously donated by Tarbox Toyota. The fund raising event netted $740 for Kevin K. Coleman and Fifth Avenue School.

The Woonsocket High School Music Department Holiday Concert Program was held on Friday night.  As always, Mr. Kevin Plouffe and Ms. Lisa Alves do an incredible job preparing our High School Students.  I also want to acknowledge Ms. Denton for her work and coming to the school committee to remind us all that the concert was taking place and that her middle school program is thriving this year now that it is back in the school day. 

I was extremely impressed with a flautist's ensemble that was playing in the hall as we all waited in line to enter the auditorium.  My sister was a very good flautist in high school.  Growing up listening to her practice helped me to develop an appreciation for flute music.  Having been a sax player in High School, I was also extremely impressed with the Tenor Saxophonist Marissa Sano in the jazz band.  She had several solos that were just outstanding.  Of course all of the musicians were great and deserve just as much congratulations for their efforts.

Mr. Corey Lamoureux and Mr. Neil Gagnon are both teachers from Woonsocket Middle School Hamlet.  They have invited me to view their students Egyptian Unit Projects on Wednesday December 22, 2010.  I am excited to visit culminating activities such as these because it is great to see the creative lessons our teacher provide to keep our students interested and achievement increasing.

The students were asked to write a five paragraph essay along with a visual of one of three topics.  The students could pick from grave robbers, mummification, and pharaohs. They will have well over 100 projects and essays on display. The students put a great deal of effort and creativity into their visual projects. Using the whole writing process, the students were able to draft excellent essays on their selected topics. 

Sincerely,

Robert J. Gerardi, Jr., Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Woonsocket Education Department

"Work is much more fun than fun"
Noel Coward (the great composer and playwright)