Hello OCRS families,
I know that it's hard to believe, but the first week of school is here! The OCRS teachers and staff are ready and excited to welcome our 1st through 5th grade 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 and Kindergarten families this past Wednesday!
Focus on Consistent, On-Time Daily Attendance for All Students
One of our main goals this year is to improve daily attendance for all students. Regular and punctual attendance is essential to the overall academic, personal and social development of students. Our school is looking to partner with families to help all students be successful, beginning with consistent, on-time daily attendance right from the first day of school!
Daily attendance for all students in the school district is monitored and reported to the Rhode Island Department of Education. The cooperation of families in not scheduling personal appointments, activities, or vacations during school days is strongly encouraged whenever possible. All absences, both excused and unexcused absences, count towards a student's attendance totals and are considered in determining student truancy.
Bus Transportation Information for Families
We have put together answers to the most "Frequently Asked Questions" from families regarding their child's bus route information. You can view the information at https://bit.ly/OCRSBusRouteInfo. You can also watch the “Find your child’s bus route information” video on the school’s YouTube channel.
If for any reason you need to change your child's dismissal routine on any specific day, please either send in a note with your child or call the school at 401-231-6613. We cannot accept email messages notifying the school of dismissal changes.
Free/Reduced Meal Information
Here are links to Free/Reduced Lunch/Breakfast Application Packets in English (https://5il.co/22o2z) and Spanish (https://5il.co/22o30). If a family needs an application in another language please contact Kerri Dailey at kdailey@smithfield-ps.org. Families can also submit an online application at https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application.
Students with Free or Reduced meal benefits from the 22-23 school year will have a 30 day carryover period that will end on October 11th, 2023. Please complete and submit a new application as soon as possible to ensure that your child is able to receive meal benefits.
Families can find all lunch and breakfast information, including menus, on the district's website at https://www.smithfield-ps.org/page/school-meal-program.
Morning Drop-Off and Afternoon Pick-Up
Morning arrival begins at 7:45 a.m. and students may be dropped off up until 8:15 a.m. That provides families with a 30 minute window for morning drop-off which should alleviate some of the traffic backup. Students that are dropped off after 8:15 a.m. will be considered tardy. Consistent daily, on-time attendance is crucial to the success of students.
- Family vehicles will enter the campus using the driveway in front of the front door. Vehicles will enter using the right entrance of the driveway and exit using the left entrance next to the playground.
- Family vehicles will pull forward as far as possible and follow the directions of an OCRS staff member to drop-off their child at the sidewalk.
- After dropping off their child, family vehicles will pull forward and come to a complete stop where the front entrance driveway meets the driveway that runs along the playground and around the rear of the school. Be aware of school buses entering the campus!
- Family vehicles will exit the campus onto Old County Road after coming to a complete stop. Again, be aware of school buses entering the campus!
Afternoon dismissal is at 2:45 p.m. Students that are picked up earlier than 2:45 p.m. will be considered an early dismissal. Consistent daily, on-time attendance is crucial to the success of students.
- Family vehicles will enter the campus using the driveway in front of the front door. Vehicles will enter using the right entrance of the driveway and exit using the left entrance next to the playground. There may be a line of cars that extends onto Old County Road. Follow the directions of the crossing guard.
- Family vehicles will pull forward as far as possible and follow the directions of an OCRS staff member to pick-up their child at the sidewalk. Please clearly display the sign with your child's name in the vehicle's windshield.
- After picking up their child, family vehicles will pull forward and come to a complete stop where the front entrance driveway meets the driveway that runs along the playground and around the rear of the school. Be aware of school buses entering the campus!
- Family vehicles will exit the campus onto Old County Road after coming to a complete stop. Again, be aware of school buses entering the campus!
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.
Teacher Vacancies
We do have two teacher vacancies to begin this school year. As you know, Mrs. Dohoney is now the new Assistant Principal at Pleasant View Elementary School, so we are interviewing for a new reading specialist later this week. We also had the unexpected resignation of our new music teacher, Mr. Votolato, just two weeks before the beginning of the school year. We have been actively trying to find a new music teacher, but there is currently a shortage of music educators in the area. Mr. Barrette has contacted URI, Rhode Island College, the R.I. Music Educators Association, and the Massachusetts Music Educators Association for assistance and we will continue the search. In the meantime, we are also looking at a few different options for a long-term substitute that has experience in teaching music.
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. Click on the "Add to Google Calendar" button to subscribe to the calendar using your own calendar app.
First Day of School for 1st through 5th grade students, Tuesday August 29th
Kindergarten Screening appointments Tuesday, August 29th through Thursday, August 31st
First Day of School for Kindergarten students, Friday September 2nd
NO SCHOOL, Labor Day, Monday September 5th
NO SCHOOL, Primary Election, Tuesday September 6th
PTA General Meeting, Thursday September 7th at 6:00 PM
Open House, Wednesday September 20th from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Thank you,
Mr. Barrette