Back to School Report #29
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/700896.
RICAS Testing Begins This Week for 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Students
Our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers have been working hard to help our students “show what they know” on this year’s RICAS testing. Old County Road’s RICAS ELA testing will take place on Tuesday, April 5th and Wednesday, April 6th. This means that the daily schedule for all of the grade levels will be adjusted on these days in order to provide a quiet and uninterrupted testing environment for our older students. Typically the times for "specials" will need to be shifted, along with the schedules of some small groups. We know that schedule changes or "zig zags" can be challenging for some students, so we wanted to share this with all families ahead of time.
Please know that OCRS works to maintain a very positive, low-key environment for the entire RICAS process. While the children know that we want them to take the assessment seriously and do their best, we focus on the fact that they are simply continuing to work on what they have been doing during their regular class time. This is their opportunity to "shine" and “show what they know.”
Be Your Best at OCRS, Be Kind!
Our School Improvement Team and a committee of teachers and staff met to discuss ways for our school community to reintroduce and celebrate the school motto of "Be Your Best at OCRS" and the school rules, "Be Kind, Be Respectful, Be Responsible". Over the next few weeks we will be engaging in some "Be Kind" activities in our classrooms and around the school as our focus. We will be sure to share some pictures with families!
Online Safety and Privacy for Children
Families reach out to us regularly to ask questions about online safety and privacy, particularly about some apps, services, and devices that many kids use at home. While it isn't the school's role to make decisions for families about home technology use, we can share some resources that families have found to be helpful in keeping their kids as safe as possible while online.
Common Sense Media is an organization that has many different resources for families on all kinds of media, including online safety and privacy. Some of their most helpful resources show how to set up parental controls on various devices. including game consoles, phones, and tablets. They also share information about popular online services and games like Minecraft, Roblox, Fortnight, Apex Legends, as well as social media. The Common Sense Media "Online Privacy and Safety" pages are a great place to start, https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/privacy-and-internet-safety.
Also, a gentle reminder that phones, tablets, video games, or digital devices should not be brought to school.
Update to the School Calendar and Publication of Next Year's School Calendar
The School Committee has updated this year's school calendar; the last day of school for students will be June 24th and the last day of school for teachers will be June 27th. The most up to date version of the school calendar is available on the school website and at https://5il.co/wl2n.
The school committee has also approved the calendar for the 2022-23 school year. You can find it at https://5il.co/17pvs.
PTA Information
PTA BINGO Night Thursday, April 14th
The PTA 5th grade committee is hosting a BINGO Night on Thursday, April 14th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The event will be held in the OCRS cafeteria and seating is limited, so check out all of the information in the attached flyer and send in your completed form to reserve your seats. It looks to be a really fun event!
Tentative Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 16th
Easter Egg Hunt for families on Saturday, April 16th at 9:00 AM (rain or shine). Save this date on your calendar and we will share additional details as we get closer.
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.
RICAS ELA Testing for 3rd, 4th & 5th grades, Tuesday April 5th and Wednesday April 6th
Annual Student Hearing Screening, Thursday April 7th
Teaching & Learning Night, Wednesday April 13th, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
PTA 5th grade committee BINGO night, Thursday April 14th, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
NO SCHOOL, Good Friday, Friday April 15th
PTA Egg Hunt, Saturday April 16th, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
NO SCHOOL, Spring Recess, April 18th through April 22nd
Thank you,
Mr. Barrette
Rain couldn't stop 5th grade P.E.!
2nd grade math games
