Back to School

Update for the Week of August 29th

Paul Barrette

August 29, 2021

Hello OCRS families,

Thank you to all families and staff who came out this past Wednesday evening to the PTA's Back to School event at Deerfield Park! The students seemed to have a great time reconnecting with their friends and it was wonderful to meet some of the families new to OCRS. Special thanks to the members of our PTA Board; Jon Poyourow, Rose Poyourow, Amy Ricketson, Rebecca Regniere, and Dave Beauchamp, for planning and organizing such a fun night!

Back to School Report #2

Like last year, Dr. Paolucci will be sharing a weekly report with Smithfield families to provide the latest information on COVID-19 information and protocols. If you have not already read this week's "Back to School" report shared by Dr. Paolucci, please take a few moments to review it at https://www.smithfield-ps.org/article/522429. There is important information for all Smithfield families. Here are other places where Smithfield families can access important school information:

Teacher Assignments

Teacher assignments were emailed out this past Tuesday to the families of all students in grades 1 through 5. If your family did not receive an email message from Mr. Barrette with your child's classroom teacher assignment, please email him at pbarrette@smithfield-ps.org.

Kindergarten Screening Information and Appointments

Kindergarten families were sent an email late last week with information about the Kindergarten screening process. Kindergarten families were asked to select a screening appointment for their incoming student using an online link. If your Kindergarten family did not receive an email message from Mr. Barrette about selecting a screening appointment for your incoming student,please email him at pbarrette@smithfield-ps.org. 

Kindergarten families can read Mr. Barrette’s letter about the Kindergarten Screening process here, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1y-qVktqZJc-vuYfBaUmDdxqcCB4JoWI1AjcVxzyMZpY/edit?usp=sharing

Transportation Information

The district is continuing to work with our bus transportation company, Durham, to get bus routes and times completed. Once that information is finalized, we will email it out to families.

Temporary Fax Number for the School

Because the OCRS building is still under construction, the district's technology team would like families who need to fax documents to the school to use the district's fax number, 401-232-0870. The technology team is working with Cox Communications to temporarily forward faxes that are sent to the school to Central Office, but the most reliable option for families is to simply use the district's fax number until further notice, 401-232-0870. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility until the construction is completed.

School Supplies Lists

The grade level specific Supply lists can be found on the Old County Road School website under “Parent Info” at https://oldcounty.smithfield-ps.org.

Upcoming Dates and Events

View and subscribe to the OCRS Public Events Calendar at https://oldcounty.smithfield-ps.org/o/old-county-road-elementary/page/monthly-calendar. Clicking on the "Add to Google Calendar" to subscribe to the calendar on your own calendar app.

1st Day of School for Students in Grades 1 through 5, Thursday September 9th

Kindergarten Screening, September 9th, 10th and 13th (by appointment)

1st Day of School for Kindergarten Students, Tuesday September 14th

OCRS PTA General Membership Meeting, Wednesday September 15th at 7:00 p.m.

School Pictures, Monday September 20th

 

Please reach out to me with any questions as we get closer to the opening of school. I am temporarily working out of the district's Central Office until the construction at OCRS is completed to the point that I am able to re-enter the school building. This means that I do not currently have access to my office phone, so the best way to get in touch with me is via email. I am also collecting and sharing answers to frequently asked questions in this "Start of School questions" document and I will continue to update it up until the opening day of school https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O7qRO7f70owZ8V7n1smkSBfHx-jJYfgqdS2_svlD4uY/edit?usp=sharing.

We're looking forward to welcoming your children back to school on September 9th!

Sincerely,
Mr. Barrette