Hello OCRS families,
Like many of you, I spent quite a bit of time yesterday chipping ice off of our family's cars. I hope that everyone made it through Friday's ice storm safely and that our recent run of winter weather will begin to ease soon. Thank you to all OCRS families that braved the cold last night to participate in the PTA's "Do Good with Chipotle" fundraiser!
Back to School Report #22
Like last year, Dr. Paolucci will share 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/648573.
"Favorite Sports Team" Spirit Day, Friday 2/11
Because the Super Bowl is coming up, we are going to celebrate a "Favorite Sports Team" Spirit Day this Friday, February 11th. We invite all students and staff to wear gear showing off their favorite sports team! Students can wear gear showing a professional team or gear showing off a team that students themselves participate on.
Jump Rope for Heart
Please see below a message from Mr. Gruczka about Jump Rope for Heart and see the linked letter.
We have had a wonderful Week one of the Kids Heart Challenge/Jump Rope For Heart. As of this moment, we have raised $774.10!! Well done and thank you to all families who are supporting this fundraiser. Families should check out the Kids Heart Challenge page, specifically Finn’s Mission, as there are lessons and challenges that can be completed without any requirement to fundraise. Click the signs for Hands Only CPR, Move More, and FAST (information about strokes).
All classes learned of the message of Amor and Max, two of the Heart Heroes who share a message of Kindness. Students brainstormed what it looks and sounds like to be kind. To give you a rundown of the week:
Kindergarten learned how to independently swing and jump a single rope. In their second class of the week Miss. McCaffrey instructed them to roll a dice to generate a number, jump a corresponding number of times and troubleshoot any issues with their rope swing.
Grade 1 was reminded how to independently swing and jump a single rope. In the second class of the week, Miss. McCaffrey partnered students and gave each a die to roll. Students would add their digits together and jump the sum number of times.
Grade 2 was reminded how to independently swing and jump a single rope. In the second class of the week, Miss. McCaffrey partnered students and gave them 3 dice. Students were instructed to roll their dice, choose a number from the Ones, Tens, or Hundreds place and jump the corresponding number of times. In a Choose Your Challenge option, students were able to use pencil and paper to add a pair of 3 digit numbers together and THEN choose a number from the Ones, Tens, or Hundreds place and jump the corresponding number of times.
Grade 3 was reminded how to independently swing a single rope and given time and space to practice or learn tricks like the Cross, Side-swing, Backwards, or Double Under. In the second class of the week, Miss. McCaffrey partnered students and gave each a pair of dice. Students were instructed to multiply two digits and jump the sum number of times.
Grade 4 learned about the chambers of the heart and how it pumps blood around the body. In a previous week students transported red and blue balls from a set of lungs, through the heart and out to hula hoop “body cells” to follow the path Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide take in the body. Check out the lesson here. In Physical Education, Miss. McCaffrey challenged students to jump their rope while spelling words from the Spelling Bee students participated in previously. I observed several students asking for additional words to attempt when they completed their first stack.
Grade 5 learned about the chambers of the heart and how it pumps blood around the body. In a previous week students transported red and blue balls from a set of lungs, through the heart and out to hula hoop “body cells” to follow the path Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide take in the body. Check out the lesson here. In Physical Education, Miss. McCaffrey created a page students could use to watch videos of Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced jump rope skills. Students enjoyed the choice offered to them and many learned new skills.
Affordable Connectivity Program
The FCC has launched a new long-term benefit program that will help to lower the cost of broadband service for eligible households struggling to afford internet service. Families who may have already signed up to the temporary FCC program (Emergency Broadband Program: https://getemergencybroadband.org/ Expires March 30th, 2022) will need to apply to the new long term program in order to continue receiving benefits.
Here is how someone can apply: https://acpbenefit.org/how-to-apply/
The FCC also offers this information already translated in Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, and others: https://www.fcc.gov/acp-consumer-outreach-toolkit.
Please see the linked flyer and fact sheet for additional information.
PTA Information
PTA General Meeting
There is a PTA General Membership Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 2/9, at 7:00 p.m. We had originally scheduled this meeting for Wednesday, 2/2, but we needed to shift it to this week.
This meeting will be held completely online/virtual; there will not be an in-person portion of the meeting held at school this month.
For families that would like to attend the meeting, the Google Meet link and joining information is below.
Google Meet joining info:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/rne-hpmu-uca
Or dial: (US) +1 760-512-3075 PIN: 924 687 866#
We're hoping to see you there online!
Upcoming "Make your Own" Pizza Kits
Stay tuned for the opportunity for OCRS families to order home "Make your Own" Pizza Kits from Little Caesars. Pizza making fun as a family that also supports the OCRS PTA!
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.
PTA General Meeting, Wednesday February 9th at 7:00 PM
"Favorite Sports Team" Spirit Day, Friday Friday 11th
"Red & Pink" Spirit Day, Monday February 14th
NO SCHOOL, Winter Recess, February 21st through February 25th
Thank you,
Mr. Barrette
4th and 5th graders working with URI Coordinator of Computer Science as part of the "Hour of Code"
