Hello OCRS families,
Even though we STILL don't have a full five day school week this week, we are looking forward to having our first Monday of this school year! Students that have music scheduled as their special on Mondays will get to have it for the very first time this week. We're also looking forward to welcoming families to school this Thursday evening for Open House and a chance to meet new families and reconnect with families that have been part of our school community.
NO SCHOOL, Tuesday 9/13 Primary Election Day
Reminder, there is no school in Smithfield this Tuesday, 9/13 due to the Primary Election Day. Old County Road School will be used as a polling place for the election.
Open House, Thursday 9/15
The OCRS Open House is scheduled for Thursday, 9/15 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Drop-in any time between 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM to meet your child's teachers, visit our classrooms, and see the great things happening at OCRS! There is no set schedule, so families can attend the Open House at any time during the two hours.
Students are welcome to come with their family to the Open House, but all students must stay with and be supervised by their family at all times. Also, please be aware that, while the Open House is a terrific opportunity for families to meet their child's teachers, it is not intended to be an in-depth parent/teacher conference or a discussion about specific issues and concerns. Parent/teacher conferences are scheduled to take place on December 15th and are a more appropriate time for comprehensive discussions about individual students.
We are looking forward to seeing you the evening of Thursday, 9/15!
Parent Volunteers at School
Now that we have begun a new school year we would like to encourage new parents to consider serving as a school volunteer. Of course, we would also like to welcome back past parent volunteers! We are looking for parents to volunteer to assist when students are outside during morning arrival and recess and for additional opportunities as they become available (e.g. field trips, PTA events, special classroom events, etc.). Teachers will reach out to the families of their students individually about opportunities to volunteer; not all teachers use volunteers in the classrooms in the same way.
There are two requirements for any parents that would like to volunteer:
- You will need to attend one training session in order to volunteer in the school. Once you attend one training session to review the Volunteer Handbook, even during a previous year, you will not need to attend again. To make things as convenient as possible for busy working parents, the training session can be held virtually.
- You will need to have a BCI check completed at the Smithfield Police Department. The Smithfield Police Department will communicate the results of the BCI to the school department, so you do not need to bring a copy to the school. Your BCI check will need to be renewed each year.
If you think that you may be interested in volunteering, please review the most current Volunteer Handbook and email Mr. Barrette at pbarrette@smithfield-ps.org.
Science Saturday on 9/24
The URI Department of Oceanography invites students and families to join them at URI’s Bay Campus for a free, family-friendly "Science Saturday" to spend at the shore of Narragansett Bay, taking in the latest in coastal and ocean exploration, discovery, and science. Science Saturday will be held on Saturday, 9/24 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (rain or shine).
This is your opportunity to be part of behind-the-scenes tours, interactive experiences and conversations with a wide variety of ocean experts! Dozens of exhibits and tours will introduce you to many examples of the fascinating work taking place at the Narragansett Bay Campus.
Take a moment to preregister for Science Saturday and any special tours.
For more information and the most up-to-date details, visit the Science Saturday webpage and see the linked flyer.
PTA Information
PTA General Membership Meeting
The PTA general membership meeting has been scheduled for Monday, September 12th at 6:00 PM in the OCRS Media Center. All parents/guardians of OCRS students are welcome to attend, and we would like to extend a special invitation to parents/guardians of new students. We would really like to get your thoughts and ideas about PTA events and involvement for the upcoming school year.
It's a new school year and we encourage parents/guardians to attend PTA meetings in-person. However, we also understand that family schedules can be very busy and challenging to manage, so here is a link to join the meeting remotely via Google Meet:
Monday, September 12 · 6:00 – 7:00pm
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/gpz-kubt-sno
Or dial: (US) +1 513-816-0536 PIN: 577 004 972#
We're looking forward to seeing parents/guardians this upcoming Monday night!
PTA 5th Grade Bake Sale during Primary Election
The PTA 5th grade committee will be holding a Bake Sale during the Primary Election Day on Tuesday, September 13th. If you are voting at OCRS this Tuesday, please check out the Bake Sale!
Scholastic Book Fair
The first Scholastic Book Fair of the year will take place during the Open House on the evening of Thursday, September 15th.
Savers Fun Drive for 5th Grade Committee
OCRS PTA's 5th Grade Committee wants your stuff! The 5th Grade Committee is hosting a FunDrive to support special programming for our 5th graders as they begin their last year at OCRS. As you get ready for the new school year and realize you have drawers and closets full of stuff your kid (or you) outgrew, donate them to us. We have a goal of 200 kitchen garbage bags of soft goods. You can donate any soft goods such as: clothes, coats, sheets, towels, blankets, shoes, bags etc...
See linked flyer for more information! Donations accepted through 9/25.
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.
NO SCHOOL (Labor Day), Monday September 5th
Scholastic Book Fair, Week of September 12th
NO SCHOOL (Primary Elections), Tuesday September 13th
Open House, Thursday September 15th, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Thank you,
Mr. Barrette
5th grade exploring and looking for amphibians
1st grade working in Art
