Hello OCRS families,
I know that it's hard to believe, but the first week of school is here! It's been a shorter, more compressed summer, but the OCRS teachers and staff are ready and excited to welcome our students back this Tuesday. Mr. Gary and Mr. Brent have worked hard to get the school exceptionally clean for the first day and they deserve all of our thanks. It was terrific to see new families on the school tours last Wednesday, new Kindergarten and 1st grade students on the School Bus Introduction on Thursday morning, and lots of OCRS families at Deerfield Park on Thursday night.
Please bring back Chromebooks this first week
If your student took home their school Chromebook this summer to participate in any of the summer programs, please have them bring it back to school this week (including the case and the charger). Our technology staff needs to get all of the equipment inventoried, updated, and ready to go. Students should not expect to use their Chromebooks at school at all this first week.
School Lunch Information
Starting this school year, schools can no longer offer free meals for every student. The USDA ended this federal program on June 30, 2022.
Meal benefit applications are ONCE AGAIN necessary and important. Families can apply for meal benefits online at https://www.myschoolapps.com. Families can also download, review, and complete printed meal benefit applications (English | Spanish).
August and September menus
Please find the lunch and breakfast menus for August and September linked (breakfast | lunch). The menus can also be found on the school and district websites.
School Meal costs
If your child is not approved for free school meals, you must add money to your school meal account at https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ to buy any food or beverage items.
Some families have reported issues with the MySchoolBucks app and site when trying to add funds. The food service company is aware of the issues and is working on them. Any questions should be sent to the Director of Dining Service, Lori Richard at lori.Richard@compass-usa.com or 401-231-8662. We would never refuse a child lunch if there were issues with the online payment system, so please don't worry if the issues aren't resolved by the first day of school!
School Breakfast cost
Breakfast is offered daily at schools. If your student qualifies for free or reduced meal benefits, he or she is automatically eligible to receive free or reduced breakfast. Reduced breakfast is $.30 and paid breakfasts are offered to non-qualifying students at the price of $1.00 for elementary schools and $1.25 at the Middle and High Schools.
School Lunch cost
Lunch is available daily to all students. Paid meals are offered at the price of $2.70 at the elementary schools and $2.80 at the Middle and High Schools. Reduced price meals are $.40. If your child is carrying a negative balance of $10.00 or higher, he or she may receive an alternative meal in place of a hot meal in accordance with the school district policy.
Information on your school meal application
Applications are confidential and information is NOT SHARED with teachers, school staff, other students, or other agencies.
- You only need to complete one application for all children in your household.
- All applications received and processed before 8/26/22 that are determined to be eligible for free or reduced-price meals, will also qualify for 2022 summer P-EBT benefits.
- The online application can be found at https://www.myschoolapps.com/.
- For a hard copies click these links (English | Spanish) or call Kerri Dailey at 401-231-6606 x8120.
School and district staff are here to help and support families. Please reach out to Kerri Dailey at 401-231-6606 x8120 or kdailey@smithfield-ps.org with any questions or for assistance.
School Bus Transportation Information and Bus Routes
In the 2022-23 school year there will be no walk zones for any of the elementary schools. This means that ALL elementary students that were previously unable to take the school bus in past years because they lived within a walk zone will be able to take the school bus this year! Families can still choose to drive their child to and from school if they would prefer not to use the school bus.
The bus routes are posted on the Transportation page of the district's website at https://www.smithfield-ps.org/page/transportation. Look for your home address or the closest address to your home address to identify which bus your child will be riding and all of the information about the pickup and drop off times.
All busing and bus stop questions should be sent to Heather Tregaskis at Durham School Services, htregaskis@durhamschoolservices.com or 401-349-2770.
Frequently Asked "Start of School" Questions
We know that many families have similar questions about the start of the new school year, so here are the most frequently asked questions and corresponding information for families:
What are the school hours for the 2022-23 school year?
OCRS will remain one of the “early” elementary schools for the 2022-23 school year. The school hours for OCRS students are 8:15 AM to 2:45 PM. Students may be dropped off beginning at 7:45 AM through 8:15 AM. Students that arrive at school after 8:15 AM will be considered tardy.
If your child is not going to take the school bus and you plan on dropping them off in the morning and/or picking them up at dismissal, see the Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures at https://oldcounty.smithfield-ps.org/page/drop-off-and-pick-up-procedures.
What is the first day of school for students?
The first day of school for students in grades 1 through 5 is Tuesday, August 30th. The first day of school for Kindergarten students is Friday, September 2nd at 9:00 AM. Kindergarten students will take the bus home (unless they are "parent pickups").
What is the Kindergarten Screening process and what are the dates?
The screening appointments for Kindergarten students will be one hour and forty-five minutes and will take place on Tuesday 8/30, Wednesday 8/31, and Thursday 9/1. Appointments will be held in the morning from 8:45 AM - 10:30 AM and in the afternoon from 12:30 PM - 2:15 PM If you haven't done so already, we ask that each Kindergarten family complete the online form at https://bit.ly/ocrskindergarten22 to book an appointment for their child’s Kindergarten Screening
Kindergarten families can read Mr. Barrette’s letter about the Kindergarten Screening process (emailed to Kindergarten families on 7/28) here, OCRS K Screening Family Letter, 22-23.
The first full day of school for Kindergarten students is Friday, September 2nd starting at 9:00 AM. Kindergarten students will take the bus home (unless they are "parent pickups").
What school supplies will students need?
The Grade Level Supply lists can be found on the Old County Road School website under “Parent Info” at https://oldcounty.smithfield-ps.org.
PTA Information
Savers Fun Drive for 5th Grade Committee
OCRS PTA's 5th Grade Committee wants your stuff! The 5th Grade Committee is hosting a FunDrive to support special programming for our 5th graders as they begin their last year at OCRS. As you get ready for the new school year and realize you have drawers and closets full of stuff your kid (or you) outgrew, donate them to us. We have a goal of 200 kitchen garbage bags of soft goods. You can donate any soft goods such as: clothes, coats, sheets, towels, blankets, shoes, bags etc...
See linked flyer for more information!
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.
First Day of School for 1st through 5th grade students, Tuesday August 30th
Kindergarten Screening appointments Tuesday, August 30th through Thursday, September 1st
First Day of School for Kindergarten students, Friday September 2nd at 9:00 AM
NO SCHOOL (Labor Day), Monday September 5th
NO SCHOOL (Primary Elections), Tuesday September 13th
Open House, Thursday September 15th, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Thank you,
Mr. Barrette
Having fun at the PTA Back to School event at Deerfield Park
