February 2011

The world around appears unstable; but the world our teachers and administrators along with a host of parent and community volunteers and partners have created for our students remains steady and incredibly comforting.  While the struggle against outside forces that wish to defeat us continues, the Central Falls Schools rise up with a showcase of student work that defies the odds!

CF early childhood education is taking center stage as a model of positive development.  Within the early childhood classroom our most fragile little students are thriving.  Their progress is evident.  The Learning Community Charter in partnership with our teachers of grades Kindergarten, One, and Two made such progress that they captured the attention of Bryan Williams and Chelsea Clinton of NBC. (Click here to see what we mean.) The Growing Readers Initiative has provided our students with strong tools to advance their reading levels at a pace in keeping with their abilities. Our teachers and students are living proof that strong reading instruction equals in strong reading results.

Our fifth graders realized a jump in Math NEACP scores; but they have done much more than that.  Our fifth grade Racers enthralled our Trustees and the public with a demonstration of their love for their school, their knowledge of civics, their community service, their safety patrol, and their unshakable stature as a community of learners. Click here to read about their activities and successes.

Actress Viola Davis, who harkens from Central Falls, is capturing Hollywood awards as a tribute to her expertise in her profession; however, she is also, perhaps more importantly, capturing the minds and hearts of the youth of Central Falls. She and her sister, Deloris Grant, teacher of  English at CF High School, serve as living models of hope for the future of our young people. Their daring to dream and their daring to follow their dreams compel this community to action. The first step to school success is coming to school consistently, each and every day, on time. The next step is attention, attention to self, to each other, and to the work.  Our graduation rate has improved over 20% in two years because individuals decided to do just that: come to school, stay in school, and work hard.

Yes, Central Falls has financial worries; but these are overcome by the sheer energy and force of a caring community of leaders and learners willing to innovate and experiment.  This month unveils a major innovation: the merger of city and school offices. Over the next few weeks you will notice the gradual exodus from the Hedley building to City Hall. The many services of the schools will now emanate from City Hall. Funds saved by doing so not only help to balance the budget, but the savings helps to maintain educational programming. Avoiding duplication of effort saves time and money while building a truly unified community where service to the public is a top priority.

The struggle to lift the reputations of our schools and students when working one by one is heavy and nearly impossible; but that same lift approached all together becomes doable and light as the remarkable successes we have seen already demonstrate.

I am most grateful for your ongoing support of our schools and the continuous effort to improve them.  I remain especially amazed at the persevering effort of our parents, teachers, volunteers, and community partners who work tirelessly to promote the success of Central Falls Schools.

Sincerely,
Frances Gallo