Teaching & Learning
We are pleased to inform you that all four Randolph Public Schools’ elementary schools were recognized as 2022-23 Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished Schools. They each were one of 492 schools across the U.S. to receive this honor for providing broad access to transformative learning experiences for students through PLTW Launch. PLTW is a nonprofit organization that serves millions of PreK-12 students and teachers in schools across the U.S.
“PLTW has been truly transformative for our students,” said Adam Smith, Coordinator for Science, Technology, & Innovation for Randolph Public Schools. “By regularly engaging in real world challenges and problems, students’ natural curiosity pushes them to new depths of learning. The pride they show in their work is outstanding!”
The PLTW Distinguished School recognition honors schools committed to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in their PLTW programs. To be eligible for the designation, each of our elementary schools had to have more than 75 percent of the student body participating in the program and had to offer at least one PLTW Launch module at each grade level during the 2021-22 school year.
Studies show that students decide as early as elementary school whether they like and think they’re good at math and science.
Whether designing a car safety belt or building digital animations based on their own short stories, PLTW Launch students engage in critical and creative thinking, build teamwork skills, and develop a passion for and confidence in STEM subjects.
“We are proud to recognize the Margaret L. Donovan Elementary School, the John F. Kennedy Elementary School, the Elizabeth G. Lyons Elementary School, and the Martin E. Young Elementary School for their commitment to providing students with exceptional educational experiences while ensuring equitable access to PLTW programs,” said Dr. David Dimmett, PLTW President and CEO. "We congratulate them on this achievement and celebrate their important work empowering students with the knowledge and skills to succeed, not only in STEM subjects, but also more generally in life and career."
All four of our elementary schools are part of a community of PreK-12 schools, colleges and universities, and corporate and philanthropic partners across the country united around a passion for providing students with inspiring, engaging, and empowering learning opportunities. For more information about PLTW’s recognition program, visit pltw.org.
For more information on our elementary schools’ PLTW Launch program, contact Adam Smith at (339) 201-3899.
About Margaret L. Donovan Elementary School
Margaret L. Donovan Elementary School is a public school in Randolph, Massachusetts that is part of the Randolph Public School District. It serves 405 students in grades K-5 with a student/teacher ratio of 14:1. 59% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch and 91% of students are Black, Latinx, Native American, or Asian. For more information on Margaret L. Donovan Elementary School, visit randolph.k12.ma.us/don.
About John F. Kennedy Elementary School
John F. Kennedy Elementary School is a public school in Randolph, Massachusetts that is part of the Randolph Public School District.
It serves 386 students in grades PreK-5 with a student/teacher ratio of 9.6:1. 66% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch and 89% of students are Black, Latinx, Native American, or Asian. For more information on John F. Kennedy Elementary School, visit randolph.k12.ma.us/jfk.
About Elizabeth G. Lyons Elementary School
Elizabeth G. Lyons Elementary School is a public school in Randolph, Massachusetts that is part of the Randolph Public School District. It serves 304 students in grades K-5 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.5:1. 60% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch and 80% of students are Black, Latinx, Native American, or Asian. For more information on Elizabeth G. Lyons Elementary School, visit randolph.k12.ma.us/lyons.
About Martin E. Young Elementary School
Martin E. Young Elementary School is a public school in Randolph, Massachusetts that is part of the Randolph Public School District. It serves 240 students in grades K-5 with a student/teacher ratio of 8.6:1. 67% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch and 85% of students are Black, Latinx, Native American, or Asian. For more information on Martin E. Young Elementary School, visit randolph.k12.ma.us/young.
About PLTW
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a mission-driven organization that is transforming the learning experience for millions of PreK-12 students and thousands of teachers across the U.S. PLTW empowers students to develop in-demand, transportable knowledge and skills through pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. PLTW’s teacher training and resources support teachers as they engage their students in real-world learning. Approximately 12,200 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia offer PLTW programs. For more information on Project Lead The Way, visit pltw.org.
Randolph Public Schools Students Win Awards at the Massachusetts STEM Hub’s Annual Applied Learning Student Showcase
Congratulations to students from Margaret L. Donovan Elementary School and Randolph Community Middle School for winning awards at Mass STEM Hub’s annual Applied Learning Student Showcase at the Reggie Lewis Center on May 19, 2023!
The Applied Learning Student Showcase is an end of year student showcase for Project Lead The Way, OpenSciEd, and PBLWorks schools in MA for students (grades 5-12) to share their applied learning projects with industry professionals. This is an opportunity for students to present their project work to an authentic audience. Student teams each had a table to present their project and 300+ industry professionals circulated and talked with student
groups, offering them verbal and written feedback.
5th-graders
Van Chu, Kamsi George, Gabrielle Juste, and Joel Perez-Cuello from Margaret L. Donovan Elementary School won the Investigation Award for their project on planets. The Investigation Award goes to the elementary or middle school project that industry professionals voted as demonstrating the highest level of persistence and iteration in developing the final project.
8th-graders
Rachel Barber, Lauren Conlon, Ashley Eche, Kori Haynes, Jasmine Huynh, and Cassidy Nguyen from Randolph Community Middle School won the Innovation Award for their development of a therapeutic toy for a child with cerebral palsy.
The Innovation Award goes to the elementary or middle school project that industry professionals voted as having the most creative and effective solution to the problem they sought to solve. Join us in celebrating these students’ accomplishments! They make Randolph proud!
Math Update
Randolph Public Schools is excited to announce all four elementary schools were awarded a grant for ST Math for SY23-24! We are excited for this opportunity!
ST Math will be for grades Pre-K - 5. It is a visual instructional program for students to think critically to solve math problems. Students will have grade level access learning through challenging puzzles, problem solving, and immediate feedback. Students will have grade level access learning through challenging puzzles, problem solving, and immediate feedback. Our math vision includes creating opportunities for thinking critically, productively struggling, and finding joy in the Math classroom! ST Math is a wonderful tool to help us give students opportunities to think!
School leaders and ST Math Champions attended our first conference to meet JiJi the penguin that guides students through puzzles.
Randolph Public Schools
April Vacation
iReady Competition
WINNERS
Congratulations to all of our students for continuing
to learn over April Vacation!
- Students completed ELA and Math lessons over April Vacation.
- One student from each school was chosen for the most lessons passed.
History & Social Studies
RCMS
Sixth grade students at RCMS have started their final unit of the school year, focusing on the geography and culture of Latin America. Eighth grade students are beginning their civic action projects, which is a community based research project where students use civic engagement skills to try to solve an issue that they care about.
RHS
Randolph Public Schools was awarded a generous grant from DESE to promote the teaching of Genocide Education. Next year, at RHS, students will be able to take a half year elective “Genocide and Conflict” which will cover the topic of genocide and its impact around the world. This grant will provide funding for two half days of professional development with Facing History and Ourselves, an organization that is well known for its high quality resources.
School Update
Donovan Elementary School (Donovan School)
Students in Ms. Fisher's class created games to demonstrate their knowledge of different wavelengths of light. Their creativity was impressive and inspiring!
Thank you to the RPD who came to teach our 5th grade classes Mental Health First Aid! Students were engaged and learned a lot!
Multi-language learners and their families enjoyed a Game Night at school with our ML teachers. It was so much fun!
A huge “Thank you” to our PTO for pulling out all the stops to honor our educators for Teacher Appreciation Week! It was amazing!
Kindergarteners enjoyed a field trip to the zoo and followed it up with animal projects that they shared with their parents and guardians! I wonder how many parents/guardians were asked for a new family pet.
Our educators attended their third and final professional development session this year on Trauma Informed Skills for Educators. Taking care of our children, each other, and ourselves is so important!
We are so impressed with our wonderful students who attended the Mass STEM Hub Student Work Showcase! One of our teams WON! OUTSTANDING!
John F. Kennedy School (JFK School)
GLOW Dance Parties
Our 5th annual Boosterthon Fun Run was a huge success. We set an ambitious goal of raising $10,000 and surpassed this goal. Our students earned GLOW dance parties on Friday, May 26th as their incentive. The cafeteria was darkened and decorated with neon lights. Students at all grade levels had a blast with their glow sticks and neon decorations.
A to Z Countdown During the Last 26 Days of School
We have an A to Z countdown ritual at the JFK School to make the last 26 days a little more fun. Below are a few pics from day A (“Aloha Day”) and day D (“Door Decorating Day”).
Haitian Flag Day
Three JFK School students were special guests, along with Mr. Licorish, on Haitian Flag Day in Randolph. These students were recognized at the flag raising ceremony on May 18th, which is Haiti’s independence day. Mr. Licorish was an “Honorary Haitian for the day” awardee on May 18th. The flag raising ceremony was held at the Randolph Town Hall and was followed by a festive ceremony at RICC that evening. The festivities were planned by Randolph Town Councilor, Natacha Clerger.
Lyons Elementary School (Lyons School)
May was a busy month for Lyons School!
We finished up our MCAS assessments in Math and Science for grades 3-5. Students worked hard to show all that they have learned over the years. It was also Educator Appreciation Week! PTO spoiled us with goodies and snacks all week and treated us to lunch from UNOs.
Our Kindergarten Classes had some interesting visitors stop by! We met alligators, snakes, a ferret, some turtles, and a fluffy bunny!
Dress to Impress - Red Carpet School Dance
This was the first school dance we held since before the COVID-19 pandemic hit! All students were invited to attend with one adult chaperone. We danced, played games with DJK, saw a magic show and ate some fun treats. This would not be possible without the support of our PTO!
Young Elementary School (Young School)
To say May has been busy would be an understatement! This is such an exciting time of year when students can showcase their learning. One way we do this is with Literacy Day. Each year on the Friday before Memorial Day weekend each classroom does a presentation of learning.
This year we had student read-aloud, learned about birds, learned about pollinators, heard about Peter Pan, learned about countries and animals, and were treated to a play and a lot of poetry. It was awesome!
Our grade 5 students enjoy their final weeks of elementary school celebrating the A-to-Z of grade 5. Each day has a theme or activity. This leads us right up to their moving on ceremony which is June 9.
Other exciting news is that our grade one students hosted incubators, which happily resulted in four baby chicks! If you want to know anything about the lifecycle of a chick or a chick’s life, please ask a first grader.
June brings lots more celebration including Olympic day, field day, and our grade 5 moving on ceremony.
It’s been a terrific year of learning and growth at the Young School! We continue to be grateful for our families, students and staff who work together to make it all work.
Mrs. Barry with a chick
Grade 5 Field Day
Literacy Day
Thank you, Jaime Ackles, for organizing our R - we are Randolph proud!
Randolph High School (RHS)
Seal of Biliteracy
13 RHS graduating seniors are being awarded the Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy. This award recognizes high school graduates who attain high functional and academic levels of proficiency in English and another language. Congratulations to the following students: Pharytza Bernard, Casseus Danielle, Jeovany Guevara, Michaela Joachim, Fedra Joseph, Christyne Lafortune, Vitor Lopes Dos Santos, Camilla Moïse Ersue, Nhi Nguyen, Leticia Santana, Jonnathan Sumba Camas, Frantzley Supreme Val, Annya Zamy.
Beauty and the Beast
The Randolph High School Theater Company presented Beauty and the Beast to record number crowds on May 12th and 13th. The cast and crew included over 60 students from grades 8-12. It was the biggest production to date, with a cast and crew of over 60, an 8 person professional pit band, and our largest set ever! A huge thank you to everyone that came out to support these hardworking students!
Planet Aid Contest Winner
April was Earth month in which Planet Aid hosted a clothing drive contest between April 10th and April 28th.
Randolph High School’s National Honor Society has acquired four donation bins since December due to the large number of donations provided by the town of Randolph. The consistent donations by Randolph citizens from April 10th-April 28th led Randolph High School to be the grand winner of the clothing drive across 15 states! Over the course of those 18 days, the National Honor Society collected 6,415 pounds of clothing leading them to win a $1,000 cash prize. Congratulations to Randolph High School and the National Honor Society members!
Teen Art Gallery Installation at the Turner Free Library
The Turner Free Library will be hosting another wonderful teen event featuring our talented Randolph teens. Two teens from grades 7-12 have been working with local artist Jamaal Eversley and myself for the past four months to make art for our Teen Art Wall and Lit Crate subscription box service. Their work will be installed in the Teen Room next week and there will be a gallery installation event that is open to the public on Tuesday, June 6th from 5:30-7 PM. The event is drop in. Light refreshments will be served.
A publicity flier is attached. Additional pictures can be found here (captions included). If you could publish this information, I would greatly appreciate it! Please let me know if you have any questions or need any additional information.
Take care,
Melissa Bennett
Special Education Updates (SPED)
Dear Families,
As we approach the summer break, we encourage you to take this time to relax, recharge, and spend quality moments with your loved ones. Reflect on the accomplishments and growth your child has experienced this school year, and celebrate their resilience and determination. Remember to embrace the joy of learning in all its forms, whether through exploration, reading, or pursuing hobbies and interests. Before we close the school year, here are some updates for you.
DEIB Committee Updates
The DEIB Committee was able to come up with the vision, the purpose, and definitions on important terminology that will guide this important work moving forward. Below you will find what the committee accomplished.
PURPOSE: Our purpose is to actively promote the Randolph Public Schools (RPS) DEIB vision.
VISION: Our vision is to create a welcoming and inclusive learning environment where all students, staff, and families feel a strong sense of belonging. We strive to promote equity and diversity by providing accessible opportunities to explore a wide range of perspectives and cultures. By doing so, we hope to empower our community to thrive in a supportive and collaborative environment that fosters growth and lifelong learning.
DEFINITIONS:
DIVERSITY is about welcoming and embracing differences in identities including but not limited to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic, physical and mental abilities, age, and nationality.
EDUCATIONAL EQUITY is giving students what they need so that they can meet their academic and social potential.
BELONGING at RPS refers to the feeling of knowing that you are part of a community because you and your identity are seen, represented, and included. Your needs are met and are not an afterthought.
***Inclusion - we are still developing our definition
SAVE THE DATE: As part of our work and the equity audit, we are inviting you to a Randolph Speaks Town Hall Focus to capture the community voice of families and students. A voice that is integral to Randolph's equity audit process. The date is: Tuesday, June 20th from 6:00-7:30 pm. We will confirm the location of this meeting in the next few weeks. The Equity Process, the company conducting this equity audit, will provide light refreshments and a flier to the community once the location is confirmed.
RESOURCES: June is a month filled with joy, unity, and celebration as communities come together to honor and embrace the diversity of sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions. This month-long observance, known as Pride Month, serves as a powerful commemoration of the ongoing fight for LGBTQIA rights and a testament to the resilience, strength, and love of the LGBTQIA community. Together, we stand united, fostering a world where everyone can embrace their true selves, free from prejudice and discrimination.
Here are some resources that you can use in reference to Pride Month.
Pride Month Resources for The Classroom
LGBTQ Activism and Contributions from LOC
GLESN Inclusive Curriculum Guide
WeTeachNYC Resources for Pride Month
Pride Month Resources for Students and Families
Town of Randolph Pride Celebrations
Every year Juneteenth, which falls on June 19th and is also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, serves as a reminder of the resilience and strength of African Americans. This day acknowledges the painful legacy of slavery and the ongoing fight against systemic racism, marking the day when news of the emancipation of enslaved African Americans reached the state of Texas in 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Juneteenth stands as a symbol of liberation and the enduring struggle for equality and justice.
May Juneteenth continues to serve as an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the past, as well as to acknowledge the ongoing fight for racial justice and equality.
Extended School Year
- The Extended School Year (ESY) planning is in full swing. Here are some information you need to know:
- Dates: ESY will run from July 5th- August 3rd, 2023, Monday-Thursday.
- Location:
- Grades PK-5 will be located at the JFK 8:30-12:30
- Grades 6-12+will be located at RHS 7:30-11:30.
- ESY Coordinators: Ms. Sleczkowski and Mrs. Galvin are working to establish needs for this year's summer program for our Extended School year program.
They are looking forward to welcoming students, and staff this summer. Please see their contact information below:
- Katy Sleczkowski - sleczkowskik@randolph.k12.ma.us
- Danielle Galvin - galving@randolph.k12.ma.us
- ESY Survey to Attend
- Please respond to a Google survey sent by Danielle Galvin to inform us if your child will be attending the ESY Program. You may also get a phone call from your school’s administrative assistant to confirm attendance at ESY.
- Once you have responded, your child is confirmed for the program. Their ESY teacher will be reaching out closer to the end of June to introduce themselves.
LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE AT THE LYONS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, a “ZEN DEN”
Calming strategies in the Zen Den and in the Therapeutic Learning Center (TLC) using Multi-sensory supports to support learning.
Student Services Updates
RCMS and RHS continue to offer BRYT programs to students in need. BRYT is a short-term program with supports customized to each student’s needs that are culturally competent, clinically informed, and flexible.
We provide clinical support, academic coordination, family support, and care coordination services to students who are reintegrating into a full schedule after missing extensive amounts of learning due to serious mental health, medical, and/or life transition challenges.
Program staff strive to coordinate resources within the school and the wider community, and partner effectively with families to help each participating student reintegrate and finish the school year on track for graduation.
What services will BRYT provide?
- Direct clinical supports to students: intentional/planned clinical supports (customized to each student); on-demand supports; crisis intervention where needed.
- Academic coordination: direct academic support along with communication with a student’s teachers to modify assignments as needed for the student to demonstrate sufficient mastery to accrue credits.
- Family engagement: consistent, culturally-appropriate two-way communication with parents/guardians about student progress needs; provision of support, learning, and leadership opportunities for family members.
- Care coordination: consultation/collaboration with all in-school supports and collateral providers (available to each student to maximize their success).
Multilingual Learners Update
Parent Technology for Home and School Connections
We celebrated our first class that graduated from the parent technology course. The night began with presentations on what was learned in the class. The parents then celebrated their accomplishment with live music, food, and some dancing.
RHS College and Career Readiness
The multilingual learners at RHS are learning about leadership and in doing so the 11th graders went to the Norfolk County Sheriff's office ropes course. They climbed and learned how to support each other.
RHS newcomers interested in learning about the field of cooking had a culinary class from a professional chef. They learned about food safety and how to cook chicken parmigiana.
Multilingual Learner Summer Programs
Summer Discovery Zone (Elementary): Multilingual learners are encouraged to join the Summer Discovery program. English as a second language teachers will be present, helping to support language development.
SLAM - Summer Leadership Academy for MLs (RCMS and RHS)
RCMS MLs last summer at town hall.
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/1FXnaATwpKEzbEnTA
Join us for a summer of practicing English while learning leadership skills. We will be doing many field trips, collaborative activities, and practicing language skills while we do it!
July 5 - August 3, 2023
RCMS: 8am - 12pm
RHS: 8:30am - 12:30pm
Below: Lyons multilingual learners having too much fun!
Below: Randolph High School multilingual learners in Physics class.
Below: Donovan multilingual learners presenting on the Rainforest.
Below: Middle school multilingual learners present their engineering projects.
Pre-K Updates
Pre-K Enrichment was in full force in May. Students were able to experience yoga as well as interactive music.
Bala Bends with Krissy Rand – children’s wellness program focusing on whole child learning/development, growth mindset, social-emotional learning through creative movement, storytelling, music, games, and yoga.
Exploring Music with Kerry Campbell - lots of singing, rhythm-making, movement, dramatic interpretation (acting out what we hear), listening to and learning about many different forms and styles of music, and much more!
School Health Services Update
After more than 3 years, the national COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) ended on Thursday, May 11, 2023. Massachusetts also ended its COVID-19 Public Health Emergency along with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) Mask Order.
What does this mean for our schools?
- Facemasks will no longer be routinely required in school health offices.
- School health staff should continue to use appropriate PPE for management of known or suspected cases of COVID-19, including where healthcare personnel perform testing.
- Isolation and quarantine guidance for COVID-19 will not change and will be in accordance with previously issued state "Guidance for Children and Staff in Child Care, K-12, Out-of-School Time, and Recreational Camp/Program Settings."
Randolph Public Schools is immensely proud of the work and care all of our nurses, educators, and staff have shown, and continue to show, to our students, families, and the community at large when needed most. Our schools stepped up in unimaginable ways during the most unprecedented times. It has been a long and challenging road; however, we have persevered together as a community. Staying home when sick, quarantining, masking, educating yourself and others, COVID-19 testing, and getting vaccinated has brought us here today.
We sincerely appreciate the cooperation and partnership of the entire school community.
Registration Office Update
Need to register your child for Randolph Public Schools?
You can register by:
- Computer: pre-register online and complete the process.
- Call: dial (781) 961-6247 and schedule for an in-person appointment.
- In-person: Schedule an in-person appointment and work directly with a registration counselor.
Get a head start on the registration process using your cell phone by pre-registering your student online
Kindergarten Registration
Ready to get started? First, pre-register!
Pre-registering online is easy and can be done using your cell phone. If you pre-register after school hours or during a weekend or holiday, you will receive your username and password the following business day.
PLEASE NOTE: Students must be 5 years of age on or before September 1st to start Kindergarten. Registrations are not complete until all required documents are received and all registration forms are approved.
Step 1: Check your email. Once your Pre-Registration form has been approved, you will receive an email detailing next steps.
This email will include a username and temporary password. This information will be associated with your student in your parent PowerSchool account. Make sure the email you enter on the Pre-Registration form has been entered correctly.
Step 2: Gather your documents.
- Birth certificate
- Up to date physical and immunization records
- Current and signed IEP (if available)
- Legal guardianship document/custody (if applicable)
- Valid Photo ID of Parent/Legal Guardian
- Valid Proof of Address (lease or water bill, 2 utility bills, and ID)
For a complete list of necessary documents, click on this link RPS Required Registration Documents.
Step 3: Log into your PowerSchool Parent Portal Account. Information to access the account is located in the email you will receive once your pre-registration form is approved by the RPS Registration Office. When completing the registration process, you should log into PowerSchool using a browser or we HIGHLY encourage you to use the PowerSchool App, for better efficiency and accessibility features.
*PowerSchool Parent Portal Account
*Parent Guide to PowerSchool Registration
* Randolph PowerSchool App Link
Step 4: Complete the e-forms. Once you have logged into the PowerSchool Parent Portal, click “Forms” from the left hand menu navigation. Complete the forms and upload the Required Documents for each student. Please make sure you upload the necessary documents for the registration to be complete.
Complete the following Registration eForms:
A. Student Demographics
B. Student Contacts
C. Address Verification
D. Health Information
E. Home Language Survey
F. Student Services History
G. Previous Enrollment and Records Release
Grades 1-12+ Registration
Registration for the 2023-2024 school year will open for all grades beginning July 1st using our new PowerSchool Enrollment Express.
Get a head start on the registration process by pre-registering your student online and gathering your documents.
- Birth certificate
- Up to date physical and immunization records
- Current and signed IEP (if available)
- Legal guardianship document/custody (if applicable)
- Valid Photo ID of Parent/Legal Guardian
- Valid Proof of Address (2 forms)
For a complete list of necessary documents, click on this link RPS Required Registration Documents. Or call (781) 961-6247 to schedule an in-person appointment.
We wish you a safe, restful, and enjoyable summer filled with happy memories and new adventures. We look forward to welcoming you back in the fall for another year of growth, discovery, and success.
Sincerely,
Alpha Sanford, M.Ed CAGS
Director of Special Education and Student Services
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