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VAN SICKLE CAMPUS
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A Message from the Principal

Dear Parent, Guardians, and Students,

It is an honor to introduce myself to you all as your Principal of Van Sickle Prep Middle School (formerly called Rise Academy Middle School) beginning July 1, 2024.  Your former principal, Principal Breen, will be transitioning to focus solely on Rise Prep High School effective July 1, 2024.
 
To give you a bit more info about my background and career, I have been working in the Springfield Public School system since 2004 – first as a Math Educator, then an Assistant Principal and most recently as the Principal of Van Sickle Academy (located upstairs from your child’s school), which I’ve had the pleasure of leading since 2016. In my time as Principal at Van Sickle Academy, we have seen tremendous improvement in our schools’ culture as well as closing academic achievement gaps and so I’m incredibly excited to bring that same knowledge and experience to the student and families of Van Sickle Prep.

With the transition in leadership from Principal Breen to myself, I’m sure you will have a lot of questions that my team and I will be happy to answer for you in the coming days, weeks and months however, there are a few more time-sensitive pieces of information that we wanted to notify you of so that you are able to take the summer months to plan and prepare accordingly.

Outlined below are the main changes for the 2024-25 school year:

  1. School name change - We have decided to rebrand/rename the school to be Van Sickle Prep Middle School from its former name Rise Academy so you will no longer see any signage for the former school name, the school will be outfitted with new signage.
 
  1. Uniforms & cell phones - Effective on the first day of school, August 26, 2024, Van Sickle Prep (VSP) will be adhering to Springfield Public Schools uniform policy, as well as the district’s cell phone protocol.The uniform for VS Prep will be black polo shirts with khaki or black pants (no jeans, sweats, or leggings allowed).  To kick-off our new year, students will receive one Van Sickle Prep t-shirt which can be worn to school. Any former Rise Academy apparel will no longer be allowed.   
 
  1. School hours, arrival and schedule - The school day will remain the same, 7:30 AM – 3:05 PM and students will arrive and dismiss the exact same way as they have in previous years – using the front main doors. Academically, each student will have Math, ELA, Science, Social Studies classes, as well as PE and Intervention classes daily.
 
  1. Outside food & delivery - In accordance with SPS policy, outside food/drink (McDonald’s, Dunkin Donuts, etc.) is not permitted during school hours. Per District policy, any outside food delivery services (i.e. DoorDash, Grubhub, Delivery Express, Uber Eats etc.) will also not be allowed.

I’m sure these changes will raise some questions from you, so I invite you to attend an information session on Van Sickle Prep to help answer those questions and to learn more about the school changes. Information sessions have been scheduled on the following dates:
  • June 10th at 5:00 P.M.
  • June 24th at 4:30 PM
  • August 13th at 1:30 P.M. and 4:30 P.M.    

As your Principal, I firmly believe that open communication and collaboration are essential to each students’ success so throughout the school year, you can expect regular updates on important VS Prep events, individual academic achievements, and extracurricular (after school) opportunities via newsletters, emails, and updates on our school website (www.vansickleacademy.org). 

I also encourage you to always encourage parents and guardians to actively engage in their child’s education, attend school activities and functions, and participate in the vibrant school community that we are planning to build at Van Sickle Prep as I firmly believe that your involvement is vital to the success of our students and school community.

I am truly excited to embark on this journey with all of you and look forward to getting to know each and every one of our students and families. Please feel free to reach out to me at 413-750-2887 or [email protected] if you have any questions, concerns, or simply want to introduce yourself.

Have a wonderful, relaxing summer, and I look forward to seeing everyone on August 26, 2024.

Sincerely,

Robert Francesca
Principal
Estimados padres, tutores y estudiantes,

Es un honor presentarme a todos ustedes como su director de la escuela secundaria Van Sickle Prep (anteriormente llamada escuela secundaria Rise Academy) a partir de 1 de julio de 2024. Su exdirectora, la directora Breen, hará la transición para centralisarse únicamente en Rise Prep High School a partir del 1 de julio de 2024.

Para brindarles un poco más de información sobre mis antecedentes y mi carrera, he estado trabajando en el sistema de escuelas públicas de Springfield desde 2004, primero como educador de matemáticas, luego como subdirector y más recientemente como director de la Academia Van Sickle (ubicada arriba de la escuela de su hijo/a), que he tenido el placer de dirigir desde 2016. Durante mi tiempo como director en Van Sickle Academy, hemos visto una enorme mejoria en la cultura de nuestra escuela, además de cerrar las brechas de rendimiento académico, por lo que estoy increíblemente emocionado de brindar ese mismo conocimiento y experiencia a los estudiantes y las familias de Van Sickle Prep.

Con la transición en el liderazgo de la Directora Breen a mí, estoy seguro de que tendrán muchas preguntas que mi equipo y yo estaremos disponible para responderles en los próximos días, semanas y meses; sin embargo, todavía queda algo de tiempo. -Información sensible que queríamos notificarle para que pueda tomarse los meses de verano para planificar y prepararse.

A continuación se describen los principales cambios para el año escolar 2024-25:

1. Cambio de nombre de la escuela: hemos decidido cambiar el nombre de la escuela a Van Sickle Prep Middle School de su nombre anterior Rise Academy, por lo que ya no verá ningún letrero con el nombre anterior de la escuela, la escuela estará equipada con nuevos letreros.

2. Uniformes y teléfonos celulares: a partir del primer día de clases, el 26 de agosto de 2024, Van Sickle Prep (VSP) se adherirá a la política de uniformes de las Escuelas Públicas de Springfield, así como al protocolo de teléfonos celulares del distrito, ambos adjuntos a esta carta para su revisión. El uniforme para VS Prep será una camiseta polo negra con pantalones caqui o negros (no se permiten jeans, sudaderas, ni leggings).  Para comenzar nuestro nuevo año, los estudiantes recibirán una camiseta de Van Sickle Prep que podrán usar en la escuela. Ya no se permitirá ninguna vestimenta anterior de Rise Academy.  

3. Horario escolar, llegada y horario: el día escolar seguirá siendo el mismo, de 7:30 a.m. a 3:05 p.m. y los estudiantes llegarán y saldrán exactamente de la misma manera que en años anteriores: utilizando las puertas principales. Académicamente, cada estudiante tendrá clases diarias de Matemáticas, ELA, Ciencias, Estudios Sociales, así como clases de Educación Física e Intervención.
 
 
4. Comida y entrega de comida: de acuerdo con la política de SPS, no se permite comida/bebida del exterior (McDonald's, Dunkin Donuts, etc.) durante el horario escolar. Según la política del Distrito, tampoco se permitirá ningún servicio externo de entrega de alimentos (ejempelos: DoorDash, Grubhub, Delivery Express, Uber Eats, etc.).

Estoy seguro de que estos cambios le generarán algunas preguntas, por lo que lo invito a asistir a una sesión informativa sobre Van Sickle Prep para ayudar a responder esas preguntas y aprender más sobre los cambios escolares. Se han programado sesiones informativas en las siguientes fechas:
• 10 de junio a las 5:00 p.m.
• 24 de junio a las 1:00P.M y 4:30 p.m.
• 12 de agosto a las 4:30 p.m.   

Como su director, creo firmemente que la comunicación abierta y la colaboración son esenciales para el éxito de cada estudiante, por lo que durante todo el año escolar, puede esperar actualizaciones periódicas sobre eventos importantes de VS Prep, logros académicos individuales y oportunidades extracurriculares (después de la escuela) a través de boletines. correos electrónicos y actualizaciones en el sitio web de nuestra escuela (www.vansickleacademy.org). 

También los animo a que siempre alienten a los padres y tutores a participar activamente en la educación de sus hijos, asistir a actividades y funciones escolares y participar en la vibrante comunidad escolar que estamos planeando construir en Van Sickle Prep, ya que creo firmemente que su participación es vital. para el éxito de nuestros estudiantes y de la comunidad escolar.

Estoy realmente emocionado de embarcarme en este viaje con todos ustedes y espero conocer a todos y cada uno de nuestros estudiantes y familias. No dude en comunicarse conmigo al 413-750-2887 o [email protected] si tiene alguna pregunta, inquietud o simplemente desea presentarse.

Que tengan un verano maravilloso y relajante. Espero verlos a todos el 26 de agosto de 2024.

Atentamente,
 
Roberto Francesca
Principal

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  • VAN SICKLE PREP
    • About VSP >
      • Message from the Principal
      • Contact VSP
      • Uniforms VSP
      • Parent Student Handbook VSP
    • TITLE IX
    • Teachers VSP >
      • Laptop/Tech support VSP
      • 6th Grade / Newsletter & info. VSP >
        • Mr. Boisvert
        • Mrs. Colon
        • Ms. Crannell
        • Ms. Martinez
      • 7th Grade / Newsletter & info. >
        • Ms. Baran
        • Ms. Burke
        • Mr. Haynes
        • Ms. Normand
        • Mr. Shink
      • 8th Grade / Newsletter & info. >
        • Mr. Beem
        • Ms. Fontanez
        • Mr. Haynes
        • Mr. Kelly
        • Mr. Ramsey
      • ESOL >
        • Ms. Al Resul
      • SEBS / Newsletter >
        • Ms. Baez
        • Mr. Charles
        • Mr. Sanders
      • Interventionist >
        • Mrs. Melo-Pestana
        • Mrs. Page
        • Mr. Rivera
      • PE / Newsletter >
        • Ms. Delaney
        • Mr. Page
    • CNSLR/Resources VSP >
      • Counselors / Newsletter >
        • Counselor - Mr. Frazier
        • Counselor - Mr. Joslyn
        • Adjustment Counselor - Ms. Ryan
      • Wellness
      • Community LGBTQ Resources
      • Suicide Prevention Hotline
    • Curriculum VSP >
      • Extra Curriculum Resources
    • Power School
  • VAN SICKLE ACADEMY
    • About VSA >
      • Message from the Principal
      • Contact VSA
      • Uniforms
      • Parent/Student Handbook forms
    • TITLE IX
    • Teachers >
      • Laptop/Tech Support
      • 6th Grade / Newsletter & info. >
        • Ms. Caraballo
        • Mrs. Gates
        • Mr. Leecock
        • Ms. Velez
        • Ms. Williams
      • 7th Grade / Newsletter & info. >
        • Mr. Damboise
        • Mr. Doming
        • Mrs. Gates
        • Mrs. McGarvey
        • Mr. Pestana
      • 8th Grade / Newsletter & info. >
        • Mr. Billings
        • Mrs. Deslauriers
        • Ms. Giordano
        • Ms. Pupek
      • ESOL >
        • Mrs. Al Resul
      • Life Skills / Newsletter >
        • Mrs. Borowski
        • Mrs. Grimaldi
        • Mrs. Morales
      • LLD >
        • Ms. Garcia
        • Ms. Montgomery
      • Interventionist >
        • Mrs. Melo-Pestana
        • Mrs. Page
        • Mr. Rivera
      • Specials >
        • PE - Ms. McGaughey & Mr. Rivest
        • Visual Arts - Ms. Lash
    • CNSLR/Resources >
      • Counselors / Newsletter >
        • Ajdustment Counselor -Mr. Healy
        • Counselor/ Student Life - Ms. Lugo
    • Curriculum >
      • Extra Curriculum Resources
    • Power School
  • NURSE
    • VSA Nurse Abby
    • VSP Nurse Rocio
    • Wellness
    • Community LGBTQ Resources
    • Suicide Prevention Hotline
    • Health forms and information
    • Interpretor / Translator Services
  • LUNCH
  • TEACHER RESOURCES
  • Interventionist