Hello OCRS families,
Happy Valentine's Day!
This week is February Break and it's an opportunity for students and staff to take some time off from the daily school routine, relax, and recharge. Mr. Barrette and Mrs. Deus are also off this week, so email messages and phone calls will be returned when school reopens.
"Back to School" Report from Dr. Paolucci
If you have not already read the latest "Back to School" report shared by Dr. Paolucci, please take a few moments to review it at https://www.smithfield-ps.org/article/400752. As usual, there is quite a bit of important information for all Smithfield families.
Free Lunch and Breakfast during the February Break
If your family returned the form to sign-up for free lunch and breakfast during the February Break, the pick-up will be held daily at Smithfield High School from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
Kindergarten Registration for the 2021-2022 School Year
Kindergarten registration for the 2021-2022 school year is now open! Please click the link below for details and instructions on how to register your child for Kindergarten. Online registrations are open from February 9th to February 19th.
https://www.smithfield-ps.org/o/smithfield-public-schools/page/registering-a-new-student
Thank you for Donations of Supplies and Stuffed Animals
We have recently had donations from two OCRS families that have been able to directly support students and teachers. We would like to thank these families for their generous donations!
Thank you to the Salomon family for the donation of learning supplies. Mrs. Gaule has already begun distributing them to classrooms.
Thank you to the Poyourow family for the donation of the stuffed animals that were handed out to students as a Valentine's Day surprise on Friday. We will also distribute stuffed animals for virtual learning students during the next pick-up of learning materials to ensure that no student is left out.
Virtual Town Forum on Race and Equality in Smithfield
The Smithfield Town Council Invites the Community to a Virtual Town Forum on Race and Equality in Smithfield. The forum is being held on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, at 6:00 p.m.
Join Virtual Forum by clicking the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86072620568?pwd=cVdjOXZBbndkcWIvNUJSVVhkY3Zmdz09
Supporting LGBTQ+ Kids
The Tri-County Community Action Agency is offering a session on February 24th at 6:00 p.m. titled "Supporting LGBTQ+ Kids: A discussion on how to have meaningful conversation". The session will be facilitated by Dr. Will Giordano-Perez, Medical Director of Tri-County Community Action Agency specializing in LGBTQ+ care and Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Parents can register for this session at https://forms.gle/SkhFb2CTY2fbwF8x6. See the linked flyer at https://5il.co/pm6b.
Travel Guidance Reminder
With February Break around the corner, the district is again sharing our new policy about travel. An executive order issued by the governor allows for three quarantine options for someone returning to RI after traveling to a US state where greater than 5% of COVID tests are positive (check the RIDOH website for an updated list of these states at https://covid.ri.gov/covid-19-prevention/travel-tofrom-ri).
- The “gold standard” is to quarantine for 14 days and self-monitor for symptoms.
- As an exception, you may provide proof of a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to your arrival back in RI.
- Travelers may also receive a COVID-19 test during their 14-day quarantine period in RI If they get a negative result, they can stop quarantining but should still self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days.
The district is now allowing members of our school community to use the testing options to reduce or eliminate the need to quarantine. Please notify Mr. Barrette and Mrs. Forte if your family is travelling during the February Break (or at any time) so we can review all of the information and keep everyone in the OCRS school community safe.
We also remind parents that travel during school days is considered a non-excused absence, even with the availability of distance learning. Ensuring school attendance is an important parental responsibility that results in school success as well as strong work ethics in adults.
PTA Information
5th grade committee meeting
The OCRS PTA 5th Grade Committee is meeting online on Monday 2/15 at 7:00 p.m. All 5th grade families are invited and encouraged to attend. You can find additional information at https://www.facebook.com/events/2834576956830512.
Upcoming Silver Graphics PTA Fundraiser
Coming soon, the OCRS PTA will be offering an unique fundraiser that will feature the artwork or our OCRS students on a variety of products that can be safely ordered online and delivered right to families. We are going to be working with Ms. Moretti, the OCRS art teacher, to help students create artwork that follows the OCRS theme of Be Kind, Be Respectful, Be Responsible. More information will be coming after February Break! See the linked flyer at https://5il.co/pm6a
Upcoming Dates and Events
Winter Break, NO SCHOOL Monday 2/15 through Friday 2/19
Student BinaxNOW COVID Testing at School, Monday March 1st
Ongoing thanks to OCRS families for your Patience, Flexibility, and Empathy. Those three words are guiding us throughout this school year and we will all need to continue to make adjustments as the year progresses (as we did these past few weeks). As long as we approach those adjustments with the best interests of our students as our priority, I am confident that this will continue to be a safe and successful year.
Sincerely,
Mr. Barrette
