Special Enrichment Resources

Our special library collections honor some of Paul Cuffee School’s greatest champions while providing books, music, film, and other resources on topics that enrich our curriculum and support the interests of our students. Find out how you can support one or more of these collections.

The Rosalind C. Wiggins Collection

To honor the racial and social justice legacy and passion of early school supporter and friend Rosalind (Posy) Wiggins, the Rosalind C. Wiggins Collection became Paul Cuffee School’s first named library collection in 2005. The spacious Wiggins shelves in our library rooms include books and other resources by and about African Americans for multi-generational readers. There is also an endowment in Rosalind Wiggins’ name, managed by the Rhode Island Foundation, to support continued expansion of the collection.


Click here to view the trailer for “Posy Wiggins, Paul Cuffee, and Justice.”


Click here to view the full version of “Posy Wiggins, Paul Cuffee, and Justice.”

The David L. Bourns Collection

PCS established a named collection for founding Head of School David L. Bourns on his retirement in 2010. The collection honors his visionary leadership, impressive accomplishments, insatiable curiosity, and positive impact on the lives of hundreds of PCS students, families, faculty, friends, and staff. A compassionate, reflective consensus builder, Bourns believed that we should work together to address issues and solve problems. That belief has informed the collection, which houses works that honor men and women who have developed thoughtful, intelligent approaches to addressing our world’s problems.

The Carol Montrond Collection and Book Clubs

A kindred spirit and generous friend, Carol Montrond inspired dozens of her colleagues at The Providence Journal Company to read to and speak with students and teachers at Paul Cuffee School during Reading Week events each year. Her love for people, books, travel, dance, music, and cooking, combined with her easy sense of humor and innate ability to make life more joyous for others, is the spirit in which Carol Montrond can be remembered each time a student or teacher takes a book from these special collection shelves.

The work of Carol Montrond has also inspired the creation of PCS’s Carol Montrond Book Clubs. Students with a passion for literature join the book club at their school to read and discuss books of interest over lunch. The Book Clubs provide an opportunity for students to build community, reinforce literacy, develop their leadership and public speaking abilities, and hone their listening skills.

PCS BY THE NUMBERS

Average Class Size: 20
Current Enrollment: 820
Students of Color: 96%
Female Students: 51%
Male Students: 49%
Free/Reduced Price Lunch Eligibility: 82%
Multi-Language Learners: 19%
Students Receiving Special Education Services: 13%
Total Employees: 168
BIPOC: 45%
Female Employees: 75%
Male Employees: 25%