Students at the Resiliency Preparatory School (RPS) participated in a Start of School Block Party on September 16, 2016 part of which was held outside on Rock Street which had been closed off and the other part inside the building. The event was designed to get students excited for the new year and have some fun before the summer weather is gone. RPS Community Supporters were also honored in an awards ceremony. The student government planned this event to create a positive, welcoming school culture to boost attendance and student engagement. The event helped foster relationship building between staff and students and promoted a safe, fun forum where students felt connected to their learning community. Following burgers and hot dogs, students danced to music provided by Alex Dias from Unique Sounds took turns trying to trip the lever on  dunk tank with various "victims", including Vice-Principal Talley, and played games on Rock Street as the school lacks an athletic facility. Then they headed indoors for a watermelon eating contest and some fun with inflatables and sumo wrestling outfits. Click here for a 90-second video. Click here for the Herald News article. Click here for photos of a Youth Empowerment Conference held at the RPS school last year. For more information, contact Principal Reis at 508-675-8230. 

(Top row) Students Kyara Alston and Jaliyah Hall, left, dance to music provided by Unique Sounds as Malachi Brasher, Michelle Lopez and Ashley Santana, right, pose for a photo. (Row two) Director of Educational Options Jan Doyle and Director of Student Support Robert Correia confer as Principal Magdalana Reis is interviewed on camera and Physical Education Teacher Mr. Scott offers a ball to one of the students. (Row three) Mr. Scott watches as students throw the ball at the target to cause student Donelle Ortiz to plunge into the water. (Rows four and five) Social Science teacher Eric Pavao oversees the watermelon eating contest as students cheer on the contestants. (Row six) Contest winner Denolitio Delgado poses for a photo before Davantge Carrastuillo suits up to challenge Danny Andrade in a sumo wrestling contest.