District Newsletter
Issue #1
9.5.21
Welcome Back to School!
  I would like to welcome everyone back after a beautiful Rhode Island summer. It is our hope with the eased RI Department of Health restrictions we will return to a more comfortable and fluid learning environment. We learned and experienced last year that being in school in-person 5 days a week is what is best for our students and staff. Jamestown School Department believes the delivery of instruction must remain consistent with rigorous expectations, in establishing a strong approach for developing relationships with students and families, and providing opportunities to engage with families, students, and staff as partners in providing a high quality education.
You can look forward to an increase of family engagement events, coffee hours, and PTO events this year. Your children will also experience more opportunities for after-school programs, sports, the arts, and field trips. We will expand our opportunities this year while keeping the health and safety of your children our priority!
We will continue to implement the same cleaning and disinfecting procedures as we did last year. We will continue to use the recommended Merv-13 filters in our schools for appropriate ventilation in the classrooms. We will sustain efficient air filtration throughout the year. It is our priority to keep our facilities clean, healthy, and safe to provide the optimal learning environment for our students as well as the optimal work environment for our staff.
   I do appreciate your support and patience as we approach our first day of school. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
  I still feel like a little kid; full of excitement and anticipation for the first day of school. One of the best things about my job is that each year is always new, exciting, and brings new challenges for growth! I am looking forward to seeing all of you on Wednesday, September 8th!

In partnership,

Kenneth A. Duva, Ed.D
Superintendent of Schools
(401)423-7020 x103 - Office
Meet our New Staff and Staff Changes...
Matt Juhnowski - Grade 1

 I worked as a special education teacher at both Cornerstone and Meeting Street School before coming to Jamestown. I spent the last 9 years as a special education teacher at Melrose School. I have a wife named Danielle, a 6 year old son named Michael, a 4 year old daughter named Emma, and a Mini Berne doodle named Molly. I am excited to join the first grade team and my students. I enjoy playing sports like golf and basketball, coaching and hanging out with my family. I am looking forward to a new experience and a fun and healthy school year
Michele Kennett-Fick - Special Educator Melrose School

My name is Michele Kennett-Fick, but the children call me Mrs. Fick. This will be my tenth year teaching in Jamestown. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education and Regular Education, a Master’s Degree in Teaching and Learning, Certification in ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) and Certification in Administration. Currently I am working on my Master’s in Psychology at Purdue University. I have a very supporting husband, four children( two boys and two girls), and the youngest is currently starting her Senior Year at North Kingstown High School. I also have 3 dogs and a cat. I am very excited to return to Melrose Elementary as the Special Education teacher in 3rd and 4th grade. I look forward to working with old friends and new ones and returning to the foundations of education with the younger students. I enjoy learning, reading, writing, and spending time with my family.
Michelle Steever - District Library Media Specialist

I have been working in education since 1996, starting in higher education for the Office of New Student Programs at the University of Rhode Island. Since then, I helped establish a University for Emirati women in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and worked as a school librarian serving preschool to grade 12 students for schools in Sharon, Massachusetts, Exeter-West Greenwich, and East Greenwich.
 I grew up in southern Minnesota, moving to Little Rhody for graduate school. My family of four live in Cranston, RI. My husband Frank is a nurse on the oncology floor at Rhode Island Hospital. Our son Gavin is a 9th grade student and just started high school while our daughter Genevieve is a senior and deep in the process of college selection. I play on a women's soccer team, and love to travel and bake.

I am excited to be working in the libraries at Jamestown Schools. Reopening the libraries to the students and making the space and resources available is critical. My vision is for students to find a safe and supportive space, be excited to read, ask questions and seek answers. I can't wait to meet everyone!
 I am excited for children of all ages to be back in school, in person, with their friends and teachers.
Megan Francis - District Substitute Nurse

I am so excited to be here in Jamestown for the year while my husband attends Naval War College. I am from Nashville, Tennessee, and have been a nurse there for 20 years. After graduating from Middle TN State University in 2001, I worked in labor and delivery, postpartum, and been the Director of Nursing for a rehabilitation center. While those were all enjoyable, my heart is in pediatrics, where I have spent the last 14 years. My husband and I have 3 daughters, 14, 12, and 9. They keep us very busy! When I’m at home, I love to be in the kitchen, baking with my girls. We’ve spent many days here at the beach, and are thrilled to be able to call Jamestown home for a little while.
Kayla Silva - District Nurse

I am looking forward to being a part of the Jamestown Community. I went to school at New England Institute of Technology and Capella University. I am currently a nursing supervisor for Lifespan and an ER nurse. I also worked at Eastconn as a School Nurse.
Tiffeny Kutz - Long Term Substitute Grade 5 for Mrs. Bernardo

Hi! My name is Mrs. Tiffeny Kutz and I am so excited to be your child’s 5th grade teacher!  I am a proud Air Force wife to my husband Tom, who has served our country for the past 18 years and is currently attending the Naval War College. Although our family has not been in Jamestown long, we have fallen in love with the community and are delighted to be here! 
We have 4 daughters and a dog named Banzai. I love teaching, reading, running, and spending time with my family. This will be my 6th year teaching (I was blessed to stay home with my daughters before they began school).  I am confident that this will be an amazing year full of excitement and growth!   
Donna Barnes - Long Term Substitute Grade 6 for Ms. Tuttle

My career in education began in West Hartford, Connecticut where I was a third grade teacher for 6 years. I am the mother of three wonderful children. My two oldest have just graduated from college and my youngest is a senior at The Prout School. I love walking our dogs, reading and cooking.  I am thrilled to be back at the Lawn School once again as a long term substitute. I look forward to getting to know our grade 6 families. 
Amanda Bridges - Gr. 7 Math Teacher

I started teaching back in 1997 in Colorado. In 2000, I moved to Tacoma, Washington, where I taught 3rd grade for four years. I was an English tutor in Korea from 2004-2006. I started subbing in Jamestown in the spring of 2016. After a couple of years away, I jumped back into it in the fall of 2018 and continued up until now.
 I have three great kids, Kate (16), Nick (14), and Will (11). My husband is retired from the Air Force and now flies for JetBlue. I was an Army brat and then Air Force wife, so I'm enjoying the novelty of settling down in one place long-term! I also have a dog and two cats.
I've spent a lot of time in the Jamestown Schools over the years, both as a parent and a substitute. I'm excited to take on a new role and simply to be a part of such a wonderful district.
I play the clarinet in the Jamestown Community Band. I love to travel, read, and find great shows to binge watch.
 I'm looking forward to a time when it won't be necessary to wear masks every day, so I can see everyone's face. I'm also looking forward to a fun year with a great group of 7th graders, sharing my favorite subject, math!
Samantha Possemato - Gr. 7 ELA Teacher

  I have spent three and a half years teaching middle school at Tiverton Middle School and Portsmouth Middle School. I also spent some time working in New Bedford, MA and at a behavioral school program in Cranston. 
   I am a born and raised Rhode Islander. I grew up in Charlestown. I do have one younger brother. I have one pet, a cat. 
   I am excited about returning to teach in the middle school setting. 
  I am a big Boston Bruins fan. A couple of my hobbies are reading and knitting socks. 
  I am looking forward to growing as an educator and becoming more involved outside the classroom at Jamestown Lawn School.
Jenn Kittredge - District Instructional Coach

I have been a teacher in Jamestown for 15 years, primarily in grade 5 teaching math and ELA and I spent last year as the interim principal at Melrose. I am excited to step into my new role as the District Instructional Coach for the upcoming school year. I look forward to supporting and guiding fellow teachers in the areas of curriculum and instruction as well as helping administration to implement our district's professional development initiatives. In my free time, I enjoy painting, reading and traveling.
Health & Safety Procedures
Ensuring we provide a safe, healthy, and engaging learning environment for our students and staff is a top priority. Our Health and Safety Policy can be accessed by clicking the green button below.

Here are some highlights:
  • All individuals must wear masks when inside school facilities and riding school busses. When outdoors individuals are not required to wear masks.
  • Parents/Guardians must screen children daily for COVID-19 symptoms before coming to school, any school event, and riding the school bus. All parents/guardians will be required to sign-off on this understanding in Aspen. A Infographic for COVID-19 symptoms can be downloaded here to hang up in your home.
  • Quarantine is for unvaccinated individuals who were identified as a close contact to a case (infected person). We will be following the RIDOH recommended quarantine of 7 days with a test on day 5 or later. Students who are quarantined will need a negative test to return to school after day 7.
  • Exceptions to quarantine as a close contact in K-12 schools.
  • The exposure occurred in an indoor K-12 classroom;
  • Both the exposed (close contact) student and the infected student wore face masks at all times during the close contact exposure; and
  • At least three feet of physical distance was maintained at all times during the exposure.
  • Students who are fully vaccinated and do not have any symptoms do not need to quarantine.
  • Each grade level will be considered a stable pod. Students will travel to other classrooms in the school. Students will have lunch in the cafeteria sitting with their peers from their classroom. Each grade level will have recess together outdoors.
  • Seating charts will be kept in all classes for contact tracing purposes.
  • Students in grades 5, 6. 7, and 8 will be using their lockers during passing time.
  • We will provide testing for symptomatic students and staff as well as asymptomatic testing on site. After school vacations we will hold school-wide testing clinics.
All eligible individuals 12 and over may schedule a vaccination appointment for this Thursday, September 9 to be held at the Melrose School. The vaccine clinic is open to students and adults in the Jamestown Community. Please click here to register for a COVID-19 vaccine.
Curriculum
Teaching & Learning 2021
The Jamestown School Department is proud to be starting year 2 in identifying and evaluating high quality curriculum. We are following the RI Department of Education's requirements to adopt high quality curriculum in the areas of ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies by 2024. Last year we began our implementation of Ready Classroom Math in grades k-8. The middle school began to pilot EL English Language Arts curriculum in grades 6-8. We will be working with our ELA Committee this year to identify a high quality ELA program for grades k-8 to adopt for the 22/23 school year. Science and Social Studies will be the next two curriculums we will be working on.
In other exciting news, we will begin year 1 of our new District Strategic Plan. We will be recruiting our families, students, staff, and community members to become involved in creating the action plan for year 1 of our goals. Please be on the look out for more information from each school. In the meantime please read our 5 year District Strategic Plan.

Right to Read Act - By the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, all teachers employed in a teaching position in grades Prek-5, Special Educators K-12, and Reading Teachers shall demonstrate proficiency in knowledge and practices of scientific reading and structured literacy instruction. All other teachers in grades 6-12, specialists, and related service providers shall demonstrate awareness in knowledge and practices of scientific reading instruction and structured literacy instruction.

The Jamestown School Department will be partnering with the AIM Institute for Learning and Research to provide the Pathways to Proficient Reading training to our Prek-5 classroom teachers, reading teachers, and special educators k-8. This training is designed to strengthen educators' knowledge and skills in the science of reading instruction. All of the
content, including online coursework and a series of community-of-practice meetings focused on implementation, is aligned to the International Dyslexia Association’s Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading. This training will also meet the requirements of the Right to Read Act.
The RI Department of Education is partnering with BRIDGE-RI to develop courses to provide the Awareness of Reading training. Our teachers in grades 6-8, Specialists, and Related Service Providers will participate in this virtual training during the 21/22 school year.
Theory of Action...
If we . . .

- Engage students in learning utilizing a rigorous standards-based curriculum;
- Provide students with access to innovative resources and technology;  
- Invest in the professional learning of teachers, leaders, and school staff;
- Collaborate with our families and community partners; and
- Align school and central office supports and resources to our core beliefs.

Then every student in the Jamestown School Department will develop the skills and qualities of a Jamestown 8th grade graduate. 
Upcoming News & Events

  • Superintendent's Student Advisory Council: This is something new! I will ask children from grades 3-8 to consider being on the council. The purpose is to provide feedback, create initiatives, and present solutions for district goals. More information will be shared later this month.
  • New District Website: Our Technology Department will be rolling out a new District Website designed by Edlio. The website will be released later this week.
  • COVID Vaccine Clinic - Thursday, September 9 at Melrose
  • Yom Kippur/No School or Activities: Thursday, September 16
  • Melrose Open House: Tuesday, September 21
  • Lawn Open House: Tuesday, September 28
  • School Committee Meeting: Thursday, September 23 6:30 pm at Melrose
"Rise Between the Bridges and Beyond!"