Narragansett Regional High School

Principal’s Flyer #1: August 11, 2025

Dear Students & Families:

We hope this email finds you well, and continuing to enjoy the last (hot!) weeks of summer vacation!  One highlight of the Young family summer has been a recent addition to our family of baby Zoe, who is smiley and fun and has been reminding me quickly of what Dad-Mode is like with a 6-month old.  Between baby time and getting current with my third grader’s evolving interests and slang, it has been a busy and joyous summer.  

At NRHS, we are pleased to welcome Ms. Erin O’Dea as our Assistant Principal to the high school.  Ms. O’Dea has been on the job all summer now, and has our high school ready to receive students.  And while it’s not yet time for students to give up their summer vacations, we did want to send our families some updates in the event a bit of August news helps you gear up for the impending school year.   And while this memo focuses on some nuts and bolts particulars to help everyone feel connected and ready for the school year ahead, please know that the true energy in a school comes from the connections with students, our daily interactions as a staff and student body, and our connection to our community and families.  

In case you missed it previously, here is our official welcome back letter for the 2025-2026 school year. The upcoming items in this memo will focus on practical questions students and families typically have to start a school year.   As always, please know that we are at your disposal.  If you have questions to start the school year, call our main office and we will answer your question and/or get back to you promptly if we’re on another line at the moment (978-939-5388). 

The first day of school at NRHS will be August 27th.  Doors open @ 7:00 AM to families dropping students off in the front horseshoe of the MS/HS building complex.  School begins at 7:30 AM sharp.  Dismissal is at 2:05 PM on all full days.  Half Day Dismissal occurs at 10:55 AM. We will alert you to those days in advance as they come up.  Please be reminded that NRSD has no school on August 29th and September 1st.

Students and families are advised that student schedules for the high school will be released by evening of Wednesday, August 13th.  Schedules will be available in the Community Portal, and schedules for 8th graders and students new to NRHS will be printed and given to students at our Warrior Welcome Academy this Wednesday.  Here are few additional pieces of important information regarding student schedules:

• Please note that counselors will be available to begin answering questions about individual student schedules starting on August 18th.  

• Any questions about schedules that are emailed to counselors will be answered in the order they are received beginning August 18th.

• Students with the last name beginning A-K, your counselor is Ms. Briggs. 

• Students with the last name beginning L-Z, your counselor is Ms. Jasinski. 

• Early College and Montachusett Vocational Program students, your counselor is Ms. Donnelly.

• Please be reminded that teachers have not yet returned for the fall and are learning their rosters as you are learning them. 

• Teachers will be available in late August for questions. 

• The easiest way for a student to check a schedule is to:

  • Visit the community portal and click on your student’s name

  • Click on the class to see the course and block 

Attention New NRHS Students & 8th Graders!  A reminder to all 8th graders and students who are new to the high school.  This Wednesday we will host Warrior Welcome Academy.  This morning event is intended to help students get to know one another, gain familiarity with the high school, pick up their schedules early, find your locker, and otherwise get familiar with their upcoming time as NRHS Warriors.  Although signups have officially closed, if you are just now enrolling in NRHS or missed previous communications, call us at 978-939-5388 and we’ll include you in this Wednesday’s Festivities.  Here are just a few key reminders for this coming Wednesday.

• Warrior Welcome Academy is 8/13, from 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM.

• Our parking lot is being paved currently.  Please drop-off and pick up students on Wednesday in the rear parking lot next to the baseball field, behind the Middle School Building.

• Free lunch & t-shirts will be provided to students.

If you are new (or getting reacquainted) to the high school, you will find that we put on numerous events for students, events for the community, and our students give us a great deal to celebrate. To keep you current and informed, we will draft a weekly newsletter when in school in session, which we will post under NRHS school events and send directly to your inbox (typically Sunday evenings).  We also post on social media frequently and will send infrequent text messages/emails/and voice communications for select major events or extremely important, time sensitive information.  

As fellow parents, we also know that staying on top of students schedules and logistics is no small task.  So we will also post and link flyers, updates, and reminders routinely. If you’re looking for a bell schedule, calendar, or some other piece of school information, check the blue banner on our memo.  

In the banner at the top of each newsletter you can find our school bell schedule, links to athletics calendars and registration, as well as where to access the community portal for grades and schedules, and our district calendar. 

Student Family Handbook, 2025-2026.  Families are advised the 2025-2026 NRSD Student and Family Handbook will be available on our website and to review and acknowledge later this August.  We will alert you when this is posted to the portal.  

Beginning of Year Forms (BOY). Please be advised that in the first week of school, students will receive several beginning of year forms (BOY).  As always, we will share with you what these forms are and the process for returning them. 

Updating your Contact Information.  Finally, if your contact information has changed and you need to update it, families/guardians can update their information (i.e. name, phone, email, address, etc.) by clicking on "Change Request" in the portal.  This change request goes directly to our registrar, who will update School Brains with your new information promptly.  

For those of you ready for back to school shopping, we will make some general recommendations regarding school supplies here, but please be advised that your child’s teachers will make note of any class-specific supplies recommended for the school year.  Students and families are reminded that NRHS is a 1:1 school.  

All students grades 8-12 will be provided a chromebook with unique login and security features.  Students are responsible for the care of these devices and should take them home each night for charging.  NRHS teachers plan lessons each day under the assumption that student chromebooks are charged and ready for needed use.

In terms of physical supplies, families who choose to wait for the beginning of the school year teacher recommendations are not behind in preparing for school.  Feedback we’ve received is that it is often beneficial to wait for teacher class lists at the start of the school year given how specialized HS courses can be.  That said, for those who like to begin back to school shopping now (we understand!), here are traditional supply recommendations:

• Backpack

• Writing implements (e.g., pens, pencils, highlighters)

• White lined paper for binder and/or folders

• Post it notes (recommended for annotations)

• 3 ring binder (2 inches) and/or folders per each class (students typically enroll in seven classes)

• Daily Agenda/Organizer.  This is particularly helpful for students tracking and organizing their student homework

• Calculators - for students enrolled in Grade 8 Math, Algebra 1, and/or Algebra 2 the Math Department recommends the Texas Instruments TI-30X IIS calculator. 

As we’re looking ahead to fall sports, this is a reminder that all students should register for fall sports now.  Registration is open (and you can register and complete all documents here, via Family ID).  If you are a student and family expecting to play a fall sport and have not yet registered, please do so now.

With most sports beginning formal practices over the next week, don’t delay.  If you’re an athlete or fan of Warrior Athletics, here’s a reminder of our fall sport offerings:

Golf (Varsity)

Soccer (Junior Varsity & Middle School)

Cross Country (Varsity & Middle School)

Field Hockey (Varsity and Middle School)

Football (Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Middle School)

Cheerleading (Varsity and Middle School)

We’d also like to remind you that we’ll add the HS Athletics schedule to our end of our memos, and you can follow our most up to date Athletics Calendar, here.   And if you’re unable to attend or miss a match..?  Our Athletics Department has you covered: we will stream live and recorded games on our ’Gansett Athletics YouTube Channel.

Finally, please be reminded that no student is able to practice or play if they do not have an updated physical (within 13 months) to participate. 

School Pictures for all students will be held on Tuesday, September 9th and Senior families are advised that senior portrait date signups are ongoing. 

• Reminder to our Senior Families (Class of 2026), the next Senior Portrait Date is 8/14

Student Drivers & Campus Parking.  Seniors and Juniors may apply to be issued a parking permit for the 2025-2026 school year.  Our campus historically is able to accommodate all licensed juniors and seniors who apply for a parking space.  Families of Junior/Senior drivers may apply with this form, which will be collected during the initial week of school. 

• Only fully licensed drivers with a vehicle should apply

• Students who are granted their license midway through the school year may apply for a permit

• Students may drive to school the first week of school without an NRHS permit while permit applications are being reviewed and distributed

• Administration will review designated parking spaces with students the first week of school

• SAT Fee Waiver Information.  Interested in taking the SAT but concerned about cost?  

  • Families are advised to check to see if you are eligible for a fee waiver

  • Find related information here. 

• Templeton Fire Department: Car Seat Event

  • Sign up to make sure you have the right size seat and that it’s installed properly!

  • View the Event Flyer here

Please be on the lookout for communication from us as the school year approaches.  We’ll be in touch via social media updates and letters to you directly.  We’re looking forward to seeing you soon, Warriors!

Colby Young & Erin O’Dea