More than 50 Newport families with children in kindergarten through second grade gathered at Pell Elementary School on Oct. 9 for a community dinner featuring activities from more than 20 local organizations.
The event, hosted by RENEWport in partnership with Newport Public Schools, is part of a continuing series that began earlier this year with dinners in January and April.
Children participated in activities including filming with newportFILM, observing crabs in Save The Bay tanks, singing karaoke with Newport Sings, dancing with Kindermotion, playing Loteria with Conexion Latina, and making Halloween masks with the Women’s Resource Center. Other partners included Bike Newport, Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, Sail Newport, Boys & Girls Club of Newport County, Aquidneck Community Table, Newport Historical Society, Newport Little League, the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s TeamFAME, Newport Police Department and Newport Fire Department.
The Fire Department brought a fire truck for children to explore.
“We loved it,” said Sarah Brady, mother of Pell first and third graders. “We thought it was a great opportunity to learn about what the community offers.”
Families ate pizza and salad followed by Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Those who registered in advance were eligible for a raffle of 10 $100 Walmart gift cards.
Newport Public Education Fund representatives and Rogers High School Key Club members served the meal and volunteered.
“This Community Dinner exemplifies what Newport Public Schools is about — bringing all of us together to support our children in having a great education and participating in all the wonderful activities and organizations throughout our community,” Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain said. “It is a true team effort!”
RENEWport will host another community dinner for Pell families with children in third and fourth grades on Feb. 26, 2026.
The dinners support RENEWport’s mission to build stronger ties between Newport Public Schools and the wider community. The organization also launched a Volunteer Greeter Program at Pell in September, with volunteers welcoming children to school each morning.
RENEWport is seeking additional volunteers. For more information, contact susansipprelle@renewport.org or visit renewport.org.
