Did You Know?

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” — William Butler Yeats

Did You Know?
Highlights from 2005-2006
Student Data
Student and teacher survey
Special Feature: Counting stairs
Highlights from 2005-2006
Student accomplishments
The Upward Bound Program at Rhode Island College released grade point averages for those schools participating in their 2005 summer classes. Of the six urban schools in the program, Central's students received the highest point average. Participating students included: Eric Butler, Clark Alexander, Janice Cosenza, Kenisha Haye, Yaviry Hernandez, Ying Khang, Tiffany Konmaniwong, Katrina McKlintock, Ropta Ok, Keisha Olopade, Christopher Peralta, Yenissa Polanco, Shakiris Presbot, Yenisabeth Vasquez and Fragenly Ventura.
Seven students from Michael Malardo's Public Speaking Class joined more than 40 community leaders, artists, and storytellers at the Rhode Island School of Design for the 11th annual community poetry reading celebrating Langston Hughes. Students Tiffany Torres, Dalida Alves, Kenisha Haye, Kevin Joaquim, Shane Lee, Rene Quinones and Othello Smith read from the Seven Moments of Love. Students received the only standing ovation for their spirited reading of Hughes' poetry.
Several Central students made all-state and all-division honors in football, soccer and volleyball: James Shoneye, Mario Francia, Darryl Sirleaf, Othello Smith, Bryan Lindsey, Rataney Noth, Josue Garcia and Elliott Wright in Football; Miguel Sagastume, Kelvin Flores, Mateo Giraldo and Jean Augustine in Boys Soccer; Monica Urizar and Vanessa Reyes in Girls Soccer and Elizabeth Suy in Girls Volleyball.
Central hosted the final competition of the citywide Urban Debate League. Five Central students participated: Carlisandra Compuzono, Steven Hopp, Kevin Joaquim, Dalida Alves and Shane Lee.
In January, Central hosted HOT 106 radio station in conjunction with the "Your Voice Your View" radio contest. Students in Michael Malardo's Public Speaking Class entered the contest and submitted 60-second advertisements to raise awareness for sexual assault and hone their skills writing a promotional text. Radio hosts returned to Central for a press conference in April. Also in attendance were students from Woonsocket and Coventry high schools, Congressman Patrick Kennedy and members of the Sexual Assault and Trauma Resource Center in Providence. Central Senior Kevin Joaquin was one of the speakers and was praised by others for his outstanding contribution.
Central's students have found time and resources to contribute to the community in variety of ways. In November students raised money and food to share with families in need for the Thanksgiving holidays. In December students raised more than 300 pounds of food during the Homecoming Week for the Ronald McDonald House. In March 2006, Central students raised money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society's 12th Annual Pennies for Patients. The project was coordinated by Tenth grader Lubi Lora and Nurse Doucette and raised more than $2,500, about $500 more than the goal of $2,000.
Junior Chris Peralta received gold medal at the Statewide Science Olympiad in the science bowl event. Sophomore Keisha Olopade spent her winter break working at the law offices of Lovett Schefrin and Garnett as part of School to Career program. And Seniors Leanne Snead, Kayla Nicoll and Humberto Olivo were asked by Mayor Cicilline to join Mayor's Council on Substance Abuse Task Force due to their impressive advocacy on substance abuse prevention.
Seniors Jonathan and Joel Sanchez are the fastest sprinters in Rhode Island in the 100 and 200 m track.
In January 2006, Leanne Candace Snead was declared the winner of the District 4 Essay Contest in the Voice of Democracy Competition sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Leanne was the guest of honor at the Annual Voice of Democracy awards dinner.
Shane Lee, last year's Central Idol, known for his love of music and public service engagements, sang the national anthem at the opening of the state Senate in February 2006, as part of the Black History Month Heritage Celebration.
Senior Kevin Joaquim represented Central at the English Speaking Union's Shakespeare Speaking Contest. Kevin selected a soliloquy from the Merchant of Venice as his entry for the contest. He received an honorable mention for his outstanding contribution.
Abel Hernandez, Junior Class President, received a scholarship to the RISD Summer School in recognition of his talents as an artist. Abel is also taking a class at RISD as part of the after school programs developed for young people.
Community and professional connections
Almost 500 Central freshmen began their first year at Central with a day-long orientation on transition to high school at the Carriage House, the home of the Everett Dance Theatre on the East Side of Providence. For one week, teams of students traveled to the Carriage House where they participated in improvisation to explore the complexities of starting high school and getting to know one another. Students were also treated to a mini-performance by the Everett artists and encouraged to demonstrate their own talents as dancers, singers or storytellers.
Central's Tenth Grade teachers participated in a yearlong study of teacher assignments and student work conducted by the American Institute of Research (AIR). Each teacher provided four typical and four challenging assignments, along with student work for each. AIR compared Central's scores to those of 8 other urban schools with similar demographics and geography. Central scored well above average on both rigor and quality of student work, but scored slightly below average in the relevance of English assignments. In Math, Central scored well above average on both rigor and relevance, while student work quality was the same as the average score of the eight schools.
Social Studies teachers Becky Coustan and Ed Abbott, in partnership with a Brown University student, produced a model lesson in their US History classes by using tools of disciplinary literacy. Members of the Pittsburgh Institute for Learning taped the presentation for use as an exemplar for other districts. Special Education teacher Elizabeth Vazquez was also chosen to demonstrate a model lesson for the Pittsburg Institute.
Members of the Future Health Professionals Club, coordinated by Nurse Karen Doucette, visited Rhode Island Hospital to observe an ECHO Cardiogram and to hear a lesson on human anatomy as told by Patrick Szalashta of the hospital staff. A host of health professionals have spoken to the club, which was created at the request of students who were eager to explore health profession as their future careers.
Joe Wilson of Providence's Trinity Repertory Theater visited Central for a three-week workshop with seniors in Ms. Dillon's English classes. He also visited Ms. Jackson and Mr. Gurspan's second period classes for one visit each. A native of New Orleans, he worked in Minneapolis and New York City before becoming a member of the Trinity Rep ensemble.
In the news
Mayor David Cicciline and Superintendent Donnie Evans came to Central to kick off the multi million-dollar renovation project, holding a press conference in the Auditorium. Senior Shane Lee introduced the Mayor and Superintendent.
Social worker Priscilla Mello, a longtime member of the school's guidance team and the person most responsible for working with truant students and their families, was profiled in the Providence Journal in an article titled, "Social Worker is on a Mission to Get Students Back in School."
At the end of last year, students at Central were profiled in the Providence Journal in a story titled, "Absolutely, Positively Proud," which addressed the school's negative image over time.
Vice Principal and State Senator Harold Metts was inducted into the Coach's Hall of Fame for his contributions to intramural sports in our city. Mr. Metts, a long time administrator, is also a graduate of Central High School.
In March, Providence Journal profiled Central's Learning Walk for ten visiting professionals looking at what constitutes good teaching with a story titled "Educators get candid look at Central."
Actor Joe Wilson's residency at Central in April appeared in the Providence Journal under the heading: ³A captivated audience: Trinity stages drama lesson² as well as on the local television station (Channel 12).

Student data
First quarter (Fall 2005) began with 1,705 students. By the end of second quarter, there were 1,528 students. This makes Central the largest high school in the city.
575 freshmen entered Central in the fall; today there are 466.

There are 421 sophomores, 353 juniors, and 288 seniors.

48% of the students are female, 52% male.

302 (20%) are African-American.

152 (10%) are Asian.

949 (62%) are Hispanic.

114 (7%) are White.

Of the 575 students who entered Central last fall, 25 were reading at grade level. Central offers READ 180 courses, a reading intervention program designed to support and develop good readers. Outside reading, the great majority of Central students are enrolled in grade-level courses.
Central has 107 ESL students, 106 ESL/Bilingual and 142 Special Education students. Of the total 1,705 students, 20 percent have an IEP.
162 students are repeating a grade. Of them, 48 are repeating 9th grade.
Only 20 students pay for lunch. The rest qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Freshmen have the highest absenteeism rate, followed by special education and students repeating a grade.
361 students have missed at least 6 to 10 days since the beginning of the school year, and 389 students have been absent for more than 11 days.
How does Central High School data compare to the rest of the high schools in the district?
Almost 20% of Central students have an IEP as compared to 16% district-wide.

About 11% of students are repeating their current grade compared to 9% district wide.

26% of the students were absent 11 or more days in Quarter 2, as compared to 18% district wide.

50% of students were absent 11 or more days by the end of Quarter 2, as compared to 38% district wide.

Males have better attendance than females by about 3 percentage points. ESL and ESL/Bilingual students had better attendance than other students. Students with IEP and students repeating a grade had the worst attendance. Slightly more than 50 percent of ninth graders are on a team (repeating students, ESL, ESL/Bilingual and special education students are not teamed).

Student and teacher survey
Junior Evelyn Robertson surveyed 79 students and six teachers about their families, interests, and thoughts about Central. Of the students interviewed, 43 were girls and 36 were boys. Students represent 9th grade (6), 10th grade (3), 11th (45) and 12th (25).
Students
Where are you from?
Salvador/Guatemala, Cambodian/Chinese/Vietnamese, Cambodia/Laos, Cambodia, Native American/Afro-American/Italian/German, Cape Verde, Haitian, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Liberia, Laos/China/French, Cambodia/Vietnam/China, Scottland/Aremia/Germany/Italy, French/Russian, Puerto Rico, Afro-American, United States, Cuba, Bolivia, Guatemala/Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico/Mexico, Hmong, Laos/Thai, Chinese/French, Mexico, Portugal/Puerto Rico/Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Haitian/French.
Where were you born?
23 boys and 26 girls were born in America, while thirteen boys and seventeen girls were not born in America. Of the total, 49 students in the sample were born in America and 30 were not.
Do you eat lunch at school?
Eighteen boys and 21 girls said yes, ten boys and ten girls said no. Twenty boys and girls saying sometimes.
Are you athletic?
21 boys and nineteen girls said yes. ten boys and eighteen girls said no. Five boys and six girls said sometimes.
Are you artistic?
Thirteen boys and fifteen girls said yes, while fifteen boys and 24 girls said no. Eight boys and four girls said sometimes.
Do you enjoy school?
Fifteen boys and 23 girls said yes, ten boys and five girls said no. Eleven boys and fifteen girls said they enjoy school sometimes.
Do you like your teachers?
Fourteen boys and 24 girls said yes, fourteen boys and five girls said no. Eight boys and fourteen girls said they like their teachers sometimes.
Are you a good student?
Eighteen boys and 32 girls said yes, six boys and two girls said no. Twelve boys and nine girls said sometimes.
Do you work?
Fourteen boys and fourteen girls said yes, 22 boys and 29 girls said no. Of the total, 28 students work and 51 do not.
Teachers
Where are you from?
French/Irish/Italian/Native American, Welsh/Irish/English, Italian/French, American/Eastern European, Italian/Irish, Irish
Do you like students?
Four teachers said yes, one said no, and one said sometimes.
Do you enjoy your job?
Two said yes, one said no, and three said sometimes.
Do you have a job other than teaching?
Three said yes, two said no, and one said sometimes.

Special feature: Amanda Mariano counts the steps at Central
Ninth grader Amanda Mariano, a member of Central's WKCD team, spent several days counting the many stairs at Central. Here are her findings.
Central was built in the 1920s, the first of three comprehensive schools built in that decade (followed by Mount Pleasant and Hope High School).
The main building has three floors and six sets of stairways that lead from the first floor to the basement, and up to the third floor. Counting the basement there are four levels of stairways, with the main stairway in the middle of the building and two on each side of the building.
Stairway number 1
Basement to 1st: 22 stairs
1st Floor to 2nd Floor: 24 stairs
2nd Floor to 3rd Floor: 24 stairs
Total: 70 stairs
Stairway number 2
Basement to 1st Floor: 22 stairs
1st Floor to 2nd Floor: 24 stairs
2nd Floor to 3rd Floor: 24 stairs
Total: 70 stairs
Stairway number 3
3rd Floor to 2nd Floor: 22 stairs
2nd Floor to 1st Floor: 23 stairs
1st Floor to Basement: 22stairs
Total: 67 stairs
Stairway number 4
3rd Floor to 2nd Floor: 24 stairs
2nd Floor to 1st Floor: 24 stairs
1st Floor to Basement: 22 stairs
Total: 70 stairs
Stairway number 5
Basement to 1st Floor: 22stairs
1st Floor to 2nd Floor: 24 stairs
2nd Floor to 3rd Floor: 23 stairs
Total: 69 stairs
Stairway number 6
Basement to 1st Floor: 22 stairs
1st Floor to 2nd Floor: 24 stairs
2nd Floor to 3rd Floor: 24 Stairs
Total: 70 stairs
Grand total: 416 stairs

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