New Bedford Public Schools

Students first inspired a group of teachers to organize and fundraise for a new playground at Sgt. William Carney Academy. The existing playground was decades old and very small. School counselor Heather Macedo recalls, “One day in a fourth grade class, students asked, ‘when are we going4 to get a new playground? We can’t play on it because it’s too small and there’s many students.’ More questions from the class included concern for their fellow students who were cognitively and physically limited and had less access. I said Wow!” Ms. Macedo reached out to her Carney colleagues, Special Education Teacher Katelyn Poitras, and Teaching & Learning Specialists, Jodie Maitoza and Gina Amancio. The group agreed that based on student input, what was needed was a greatly expanded playground to accommodate the entire student population and neighborhood children for off-hours use. Ms. Maitoza agreed, “It was a wow moment for me, too. It was clear this needed to be a playground for the community as well.”

Hathaway student Kingston Moultrie was construction manager for a morning, as his school undergoes top-to-bottom renovations this summer. Kingston and his family met for a worksite meeting with Mr. Josefek, president of Architectural Consulting Group, Inc.. and toured the work in progress. Major upgrades include new doors and windows, classroom renovations, new flooring and ADA improvements throughout. Kingston enters 5th Grade this year.

Superintendent O’Leary presented the NBRR team with a small token of our appreciation, the Superintendent's Community Partner Award.

2,500 backpacks from Cradles to Crayons Massachusetts had the staff of NBPS Family Welcome Center busy Friday morning receiving the huge donation. NBPS Registrar Julie Mador notes, “For nearly ten years, they have continued to support our students by providing thousands of backpacks and very necessary school supplies. Cradles to Crayons and their corporate donors’ steadfast generosity have helped so many New Bedford families and we are so grateful for their continued partnership.”

Pulaski and Congdon students will participate in 10-day program Public webinar on student sleep health, Sept. 26, 6 pm As part of Student Sleep Health Week (September 17-23), two elementary schools. The sleep challenge was developed by Dr. Kathleen Mackenzie, NBPS Supervisor of Clinical and Behavioral Services in collaboration with New Bedford Cable Access.

IT Academy teacher and A.P. Computer Science Content Director/Specialist Isaiah Houtman (left) discusses operation of a high-speed mechatronics system used in industrial automation applications with IT students Kevin Ayala, Victoria Arribada, Tucker Duarte and Gabriela Tsaliagos.