Hello OCRS Families,
The weather is starting to warm up and we know that everyone is enjoying being able to spend additional time outside. It looks like this week will be the warmest we have had so far this spring, so it's important that students dress comfortably. Teachers have been taking advantage of the warmer weather to provide students with additional opportunities to be outside. Families may want to consider applying sunscreen at home before students leave for school. Unfortunately, the school cannot apply or provide sunscreen to students.
"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/461661. As usual, there is quite a bit of important information for all Smithfield families.
Monday, 5/17 is a Flex Day; No In-Person Learning
As part of the R.I. Department of Education calendar that districts were asked to adopt for this school year, a number of "Flex Days" were included to allow teachers and staff to engage in regular planning to prepare for teaching students in-person as well as virtually. A Smithfield Flex Day is scheduled for Monday, May 17th. Here is what a Flex Day means for students:- In-person students will not report to school on Flex Days. All students will be home on Flex Days.
- There will be no live instruction on a Flex Day for in-person learning students. Virtual learning students will still meet and work with their virtual tutor.
- All students, in-person and virtual, will have an English Language Arts and Math activity to work on during each Flex Day. In-person students will NOT be bringing home their school Chromebooks ahead of Flex Days. The activities will not require the use of a Chromebook.
New CDC Guidance on Mask Wearing; Additional R.I. Guidance Updates Expected
Last week the CDC published new guidance on mask wearing and it is expected that Governor McKee will be sharing updated guidance specific to R.I. later this week. The principals of all four Smithfield elementary schools are meeting together as a team to discuss and plan for this new guidance as it specifically applies to our schools. We will share information with families as soon as we are able. We appreciate your continued support as we work together to keep all students and staff healthy and safe while at school.
Field Week, Week of June 14th
We typically have "Field Day" during the last few weeks of school to celebrate the school year and provide students with opportunities to participate in fun learning challenges and activities. This year, Mr. Gruczka is planning a "Field Week" that will spread out the activities across an entire week. Because all of the activities will be outside this year, using an entire week will allow for rain dates and provide for more space to keep classes together in their stable pods.
We will share additional details as we get closer to the week of June 14th to help generate excitement among the students. We can share now that, due to the generous support of the OCRS PTA, we do have a special treat scheduled for all students in the afternoon on Monday, June 14th. Each student will receive a frozen treat from Kona Ice! It's a fun treat for the warm June weather and is allergy safe for many students who have food allergies (we will share ingredients and nutrition information with families ahead of time). Thank you OCRS PTA!
5th Grade D.A.R.E. Celebration and Step Up Ceremony
This year all four elementary schools have reserved the Smithfield High School auditorium to be used for the individual schools' 5th grade D.A.R.E. Celebrations and Step Up Ceremonies. The SHS auditorium has plenty of room to safely accommodate everyone following the social distancing guidelines which will allow for 5th grade students to celebrate the end of the school year together with their families. We are very appreciative to the SHS Principal, Mr. Dan Kelley, for sharing the high school auditorium with our school community.
OCRS has reserved the SHS auditorium for our D.A.R.E. and 5th grade Step Up on Monday, June 21st at 9:00 a.m. Students will still report to OCRS in the morning at 8:10 a.m. and we have scheduled school buses (one per classroom pod) to bring them to SHS. The celebration will last approximately one hour and students will ride the school buses back to OCRS after the end of the celebration.
We are thrilled to be able to celebrate in-person with our 5th grade students and their families!
Kindergarten End of Year Celebration
Due to the school construction, we currently do not have enough indoor space at OCRS to safely accommodate Kindergarten students and their families for an End of Year Celebration. What we are planning instead is an outdoor celebration where families will be able to spread out on blankets or using lawn chairs. Ms. Mennella and I are currently planning out the details and we will share them with families in the next week or so.
We do want to share the date and rain date with Kindergarten families so that you can hopefully make arrangements to attend. We are planning to have the Kindergarten End of Year Celebration on Monday, June 21st at 1:00 p.m. The Rain Date will be Tuesday, June 22nd at 1:00 p.m.
Upcoming Dates and Events
Flex Day (NO IN-PERSON LEARNING), Monday May 17th
Student BinaxNOW COVID Testing at School, Tuesday May 18th
5th grade State Science Assessment, Tuesday May 25th
Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL), Monday May 31st
Student BinaxNOW COVID Testing at School, Tuesday June 1st
Field Week, Week of June 14th
Student BinaxNOW COVID Testing at School, Monday June 14th
5th Grade D.A.R.E. Celebration and Step Up, Monday June 21st at 9:00 a.m.
Kindergarten End of Year Celebration, Monday, June 21st at 1:00 p.m.
(Rain Date is Tuesday, June 22nd at 1:00 p.m.)
Last Day of School, Wednesday June 23rd
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 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