The list of graduation requirements from the state has changed and grown over the years, but one requirement that has been around for a while is the creation of a student Individualized Learning Plan (ILP). 

“During the school year, we run bi-weekly personalization sessions and have the students create Individual Learning Plans while in these sessions,” said Diana Petrosinelli, an English teacher and member of the school improvement team.

The advisories are run by teachers, and student participation in both of these activities is required by the Rhode Island Department of Education’s graduation program. The creation of the students’ ILP goals is a yearly task, and they usually set them in the fall. The goals are “academic,” “career/college” and “personal,” and students are assisted in writing them by their homeroom teachers, who are called “advisors.”

“In December, copies of the goals are forwarded to our guidance counselors for their review and use with the students,” said Petrosinelli. “In February, the students complete a mid-year review of their goals and determine whether or not they have achieved the goals or are in close to doing so. In March, the students discuss with their peers and advisors which goals they have met. The advisors then select one student to represent their advisory as the ‘winner’ of the goal completion task.”

The goals students set for themselves are varied. They include researching a college, making the honor roll or getting more sleep in order to function well at home and at school. The process gives the students the opportunity to think about and to discuss with their peers and adults, the challenges and goals that they are facing and want to achieve. 

The students who received Subway gift cards for the school year 2013-14 for achieving or excelling at their ILPs this year are:

Jamie Amaral, Emma Araujo, Logan Barnes, Marissa Cabral, Frances Deju Calixto, Samantha Campbell, Emily Castillo, Bryanna Cardona, Kadie Carter, Qi Wen Chen, Arlette Deju Claixto, Brady Curran, Leslie Defran, Ashley Dodrill, Juan Dominguez, Kristen Dove, Hasassah Duplan, Julia Fagundes, Kaileen Field, Adrian Figueroa, Connor Fraser, Jacob Frost, Brendan Furney, Mitchell Golde, Lauren Granata, Austin Hynes, Randy Klekot-Jenkins, Theodore Khvang, Lakeana Khiev, Shuyi Liang, Jonathan Lopez, Christopher Lussier, Stephen Manning, Amber Martin, Storm Martinous, Emma McDermott, Luke McGuire, Kari Mitchell, Melissa Moniz, Genesis Oliva, Shane Oliver, Alex O’Neill, Christiana Otele, Alexia Peloquin, Aaron Phillips, Nathan Picard, James Piersaint, Yasmil Santana, Rebecca Sao, Megan Scarborough, Daisha Seng, Rojeen Sindi, Natashia Silvestri, Nikolas Simijis, Brittany Smith, Jacob Souza, Ivy Swinski, Shemaiah Thompson, Dennis Vaxquez and Kaylann Zambarano