Hello OCRS families,
As we approach the Holiday Break, it is more important than ever that we all continue to be as diligent as possible in following the COVID guidelines to ensure that our students and staff are healthy and safe going into the Holiday Break. Like the other schools, we have been seeing a large increase in the number of students being identified as close contacts.
Your cooperation has been crucially important in keeping our students in school this year. Thank you in advance for your continued cooperation and support during this short week of school. We all want to do everything we can to help our students and staff be able to enjoy the Holiday Break with their family and friends!
Back to School Report #17
Like last year, Dr. Paolucci will be sharing a weekly report with Smithfield families to provide the latest information on COVID-19 information and protocols. If you have not already read this week's "Back to School" report shared by Dr. Paolucci and our district COVID team, please take a few moments to review it at https://www.smithfield-ps.org/article/612235.
Family Guides to Support Learning
These guides for families provide an overview of the important literacy and math topics students learn in each grade. Each guide describes what students should know and be able to do by the end of the grade level. The guides also include suggestions for everyday family activities to reinforce what students are learning and tips for focusing conversations during parent-teacher conferences.
| Kindergarten | English version | Spanish version |
| 1st Grade | English version | Spanish version |
| 2nd Grade | English version | Spanish version |
| 3rd Grade | English version | Spanish version |
| 4th Grade | English version | Spanish version |
| 5th Grade | English version | Spanish version |
December Spirit Days
We would like to give students and staff an opportunity to have some fun together and celebrate our OCRS spirit the last week of December. While we always encourage students and staff to wear their OCRS Spirit Gear on Fridays, we thought that some special theme days would make December extra fun! As always, participation is encouraged, but not mandatory. Here's what we have planned:
Monday, December 20th: "Merry Monday" Holiday Colors
Wear your favorite holiday themed colors to school on Monday, 12/20! Holiday themed colors can be for any December holiday.
Tuesday, December 21st: Ugly (or Holiday Themed) Sweater Day
Wear your favorite ugly or holiday themed sweater to school on Tuesday! Holiday themed sweaters can be for any December holiday.
Wednesday, December 22nd: Silly (or Holiday Themed) Hat Day
Wear your favorite silly or holiday themed hat to school on Wednesday! Holiday themed hats can be for any December holiday. Please be sure that hats do not interfere with mask wearing.
Seeking Golden Apple Nominations
NBC 10 and RIDE have teamed up to recognize outstanding teachers across our state with the Golden Apple Award. This award honors those who believe in the true spirit of teaching by making classrooms a creative and safe place to learn. Winning educators also receive a $250 contribution from Ocean State Credit Union. Those who nominate teachers include their students, fellow educators, and students’ families.
If you know an outstanding OCRS teacher who deserves recognition, you can nominate them by using this form. You can also see previous winners on the Channel 10 website.
PTA Information
Thank you for the Scholastic Book Fair
Thank you to the PTA and the volunteers that provided the opportunity for our students to participate in the Scholastic Book Fair last week! It was terrific to see students and their families coming into the school to look at books to read together!
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.
"Merry Monday" Holiday Colors, Monday December 20th
Ugly (or Holiday Themed) Sweater Day, Tuesday December 21st
Silly (or Holiday Themed) Hat Day, Wednesday December 22nd
NO SCHOOL, Holiday Recess, Thursday December 23rd through Friday, December 31st
Thank you,
Mr. Barrette