August 2025
Greetings to all Captain Issac Paine Parents and Guardians,
Welcome to a new school year for your children - our students. We, all of the teachers, staff and administrators, are very excited about opening our doors for this new beginning.
And it is a new beginning. The school year started with a wonderful reception hosted by the Paine School PTO for our new principal, Mr. James Zanfini. Mr. Zanfini introduced himself to the many parents and students who came out on a beautiful summer evening. He comes to Paine from a principalship in Cranston where I found he had an outstanding reputation. I have been working with Mr. Zanfini in preparing for the new school year and have found him to be an excellent administrator and exceptional educator. The future of Isaac Paine looks very promising over the next number of years.
Many of you may have heard the term, “in loco parentis.” It means in the place of the parent. The term is used to describe schools . We, at Paine, do not want to be “in loco parentis.” We do not want to be in your place. For the benefit of your children, our students, now and into the future, we want to be your partner.
Learning is too important to be limited to six hour school days over 180 days. Learning is something that needs to be on-going - every day and all year. As educators, even as adults, we know the importance of learning for ourselves to be effective teachers and role models.
One area of learning in which you can partner with us is reading. The saying goes, one learns to read through grade three at which time one begins to read to learn. Reading is a critical skill.
How can you help? First by reading to your children. As a parent, I can remember settling my children down for bedtime with some quiet reading. As your child develops reading skills, you can read to them a page from an age appropriate book and then have them read the same page to you. Seeing you read, provides a role model for your child.
I understand the above advice may be “preaching to the choir” as they say. You may be already way ahead. We thank you for your efforts. We thank you for your partnership with us.
As the year goes on, we will try to keep you up to date on what is happening at Isaac Paine and occasionally offer some tips on how you can continue to partner with us on that most important of tasks - the education of your children, our students.
We hope you have been able to enjoy your summer and are looking forward excitedly to the new school year. If there are any issues involving your child’s ability to be successful in school, please contact the school at 647-5100.
Looking Forward to A Great Year,
Kathryn M. Crowley
Superintendent of Schools