Hello OCRS families,
It's hard to believe, but we only have four and a half weeks of school left this year! As we complete the final month of this school year, teachers and staff will be working hard to support students in their learning right up through the last few days. We want to do everything possible to help students complete the year strong and provide for a great jumping off point for next year.
"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/467045. As usual, there is quite a bit of important information for all Smithfield families.
Mr. Gruczka is Hosting a "Work Party" After School on Tuesday, May 25th
To prepare even more of the outdoor classroom space and connected trails for Field Week activities, Mr. Gruczka is hosting a "Work Party" this Tuesday afternoon to ask for families to assist with moving and spreading mulch. Mr. Gruczka has done a terrific job all year utilizing the revitalized OCRS outdoor classroom and trails with our students and OCRS families were a huge help this fall to get those spaces ready to use. He would like to make as much additional trail space available for students to use during Field Week by adding mulch to some old trails. If you are interested in joining Mr. Gruczka after 3:00 p.m. this Tuesday to assist with moving and spreading mulch, please email him at tgruczka@smithfield-ps.org.
Field Week, Week of June 14th
As we shared last week, 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 held 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 most students who have food allergies (we will share ingredients and nutrition information with families ahead of time). Thank you OCRS PTA!
OCRS Spirit Day each Friday
We would like to invite all OCRS students to wear their OCRS gear to school each Friday from now through the end of the year. We know that it's been a tough year for everyone and we want to celebrate some pride and school spirit each Friday. If your child does not have any OCRS gear to wear, that's OK! They can wear anything that includes the school colors; green, white, and gold.
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. In partnership with the Smithfield Parks and Recreation Department, we are going to use Mendes Field for the outdoor celebration! We really appreciate the assistance of Bob Caine over at Parks and Rec to make this happen for our students and their families.
We 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.
School Construction Items and Information
As all OCRS families can see if you drive by the building, the school construction on the new addition is progressing extremely well. There is still much work to be done, particularly in areas of the building that contractors are unable to work in when the students are present in the school. In order to make sure that all work is completed in time for the opening of school next year, the contractor and subcontractors are often working weekends and 2nd shift. Here's what that means for OCRS students, staff, and families.
Be very careful if visiting the playground after school or on the weekend
At various times in the next five weeks contractors will be working on the exterior of the building after dismissal and during the weekends. We know that families enjoy coming to utilize the fantastic OCRS playground when school is not in session. Please be very careful if you do bring your children to the OCRS playground after school or on the weekends. Contractors may be working on the exterior of the building and moving equipment back and forth. We want to make sure that children are safe and well supervised if there is active construction taking place.
Access to the school and grounds will be limited after June 23rd
After the last day of school on June 23rd, access to the school building and grounds will be limited. Staff will not be able to enter the school again until we receive clearance from the contractor in the second half of August. Also, access to the surrounding school grounds may also be restricted due to work being done on the grounds and the blacktop all around the building.
Upcoming Dates and Events
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 challenging school year and we will all need to continue to make adjustments up to the last day of school. 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
2nd grade using pattern blocks
