The Smithfield Town Council Invites the Community to a Virtual Town Forum on Race and Equality in Smithfield
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:00 PM
Including leaders from Rhode Island and New England
§ Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice and Bias
§ YMCA of Greater Providence
§ YWCA Rhode Island
§ Anti-Defamation League of New England
Join Virtual Forum
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86072620568?pwd=cVdjOXZBbndkcWIvNUJSVVhkY3Zmdz09
Meeting ID: 860 7262 0568
Passcode: 887398
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Congratulations to Emma Casazza, student at Winsor Elementary School, winner of the snow plow naming contest. Keep an eye out for the Greenville General this Sunday! https://www.valleybreeze.com/2021-02-10/observer-smithfield-west/essay-s-winner-names-plow-greenville-general
Kindergarten registration for the 2021-22 school year is now open for children who will be 5 on or before September 1, 2021! Visit https://www.smithfield-ps.org/o/smithfield-public-schools/page/registering-a-new-student for more information.
Elementary students were sent home with their Chromebooks in case updated weather forecasts predict a significant storm. As of 3:30pm on Monday, no decisions have been made regarding school on Tuesday. As always, official word will be made through our automated calling system.
The Smithfield Town Council Invites the Community to a Virtual Town Forum on Race and Equality in Smithfield on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:00 PM. The forum includes leaders from RI & New England
* YMCA of Greater Providence
* YWCA Rhode Island
* Anti-Defamation League of New England
Forum link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86072620568?pwd=cVdjOXZBbndkcWIvNUJSVVhkY3Zmdz09
Meeting ID: 860 7262 0568
Supporting LGBTQ+ Kids: A Discussion on How to Have Meaningful Conversations - February 24th at 6pm via Zoom. To register: http://bit.ly/2YVBG7f
Congratulations to Kathryn Mueller (Class of 1997), our 2020 Recipient of the SHS Music Legion of Honor. Kathryn's upcoming virtual benefit concert will feature repertoire by women and people of color.
https://www.kathrynmueller.com/
I'm attending DMGroup's leadership conference, "Strengthening Equity in Education: Making it Core" and am so excited to learn more about what I can do as a district leader to keep equity at Smithfield's core. #dmgroup #equity #SmithfieldRI
New blog post: Feedback - how does feedback benefit students, teachers, and schools in their quest for continual improvement? https://judypaolucci.edublogs.org/
There will be a distance learning day on Tuesday, February 2nd. Stay safe and warm!
School counselors help students in more ways than you realize. This week we celebrate our counselors at the middle and high schools as a part of National School Counseling Week 2021!
A message mistakenly was intended for high school families only but went to others as well. Please disregard such messages if they do not pertain to your child.
The Smithfield High School ice hockey game with East Greenwich will be LIVE on the NFHS Network today at 7pm. Here is the link: http://bit.ly/36nntUH
The February district newsletter is hot off the press! Keep up with the news in Smithfield through this link: http://bit.ly/2MuDBN5
Attention all high school juniors, seniors and families: Come learn about the college financial aid process on January 28th at 4:00 p.m. Discover the different types of financial aid available, what the FAFSA is, and why you need to complete it.
Please RSVP for the Zoom sessions sponsored by the College Planning Center here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_RCYK_ISeSaAfwXUJf64cWgEJJgHZKuB4xfXaNWRtTSjGTQ/viewform
On Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, I hope everyone takes time to reflect on racism and community. Read my newest blog post, "On Racism and Community." http://bit.ly/2LX2IYV
The USDA has extended the free school meals program for ALL children throughout the US for the entire 2020-2021 school year. This includes breakfast and lunch for in-person and virtual option students. Meal pick up is at Smithfield High School door#2 Monday-Friday from 11-noon. Weekend meals are served on Fridays. Meals for Monday, January 25 (Flex Day) will be available for pick up on Friday, January 22.
Registration is now open for the All Course Network (ACN) courses! ACN is a RIDE initiative that allows students to take advantage of supplemental coursework outside of the traditional school day at no cost to a district or student. Students can take enrichment, work-based learning, dual enrollment, Advanced Placement, and career credential courses. Visit https://www.ride.ri.gov/StudentsFamilies/EducationPrograms/AdvancedCoursework.aspx for more information.
Students and parents who missed the orientation session for BiNaxNOW rapid testing for athletes can view the recording, available on this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1y8SOxMrWoXtppMhwImJIRnK-07aKNb7f?usp=sharing
If you missed the School-Based Asymptomatic Testing Orientation for SHS Athletes, you can view the slides with this link: http://bit.ly/38aF1Fe
The January District Newsletter includes information on rapid, school-based COVID testing being planned for our schools at the start of January. The link to the consent form and information about orientation meetings are also provided. The newsletter is available on this link: http://bit.ly/3hssGiB
Keep Smithfield Safe - Get Tested!
We are working this week to develop a school-based, asymptomatic COVID testing program in Smithfield so that we can better identify members of our school community who may have the virus but not know it. Every time an infected person is identified and isolated, we limit the spread of the virus to others. Rhode Island is offering FREE testing to anyone in the community ahead of the start of school in January. Everyone who can get tested this week should do so. The more people who get tested over the next few days, the more we’ll know about how the virus spread over the holiday, and the better we’ll be able to limit the spread of the virus to others. You can sign up for a free test at portal.ri.gov. Please consider getting tested. It doesn’t matter if you have symptoms or not — get tested!
Enjoy the SHS Virtual Winter Concert on this beautiful December evening! https://youtu.be/Lei2WHNS9cA
As the community reflects on and debates the value of the first-time we applied a distance learning day instead of the traditional, snow day, I have reflected on the complexity of decision-making this year. Read my new blog post, "It's Complicated - The Snow Day / Distance-Learning Day Debate." https://judypaolucci.edublogs.org
Help is Available! Parents can visit https://bit.ly/SPSonlineFAQ and review the steps about Google MEETS. This page also provides the technosps@smithfield-ps.org email that all users, parents, students and staff, should be using to make requests while virtual.
There will be no in-person learning tomorrow (Thursday, December 17th) in Smithfield. Middle and high school students will continue with distance learning and elementary students will bring their Chromebooks and materials home today so that they, too, can participate in distance-learning. Stay safe and healthy!
Due to the anticipated snow, Smithfield's School Lunch Program will not be operating the free meal pick-up on Thursday. Meals for Thursday will be handed out on Wednesday, December 16, and will consist of 2 breakfasts and 2 lunches per child. Meals can be picked up at Smithfield High School between 11-noon at door #2. Daily service will return to its regular pick up schedule starting on Friday, December 18.
Seasons Greetings from Smithfield Public Schools! Enjoy this video of Smithfield in the Snow by Jayna Barrette, a SHS student and daughter of Paul Barrette (OCRS principal) and Sandy Barrette (elementary music teacher) https://youtu.be/1xnS5SuvHQk
For three nights - December 19-21 - Santa will be making his way through town on top of a Smithfield fire truck. Follow this link to learn where Santa will be each night: https://bit.ly/2Km0ZLX
At the December 7th School Committee meeting, a decision was made to move to distance learning in Smithfield. Tomorrow (12/9), GMS students will begin distance learning. SHS students will begin next week (Monday is a Flex Day) and elementary students will begin the week following (12/21). Additional details will be forthcoming.
SHS student artwork includes important message to everyone in our school community....
Wood Truss Topping off Ceremony at McCabe marks a milestone in the progress of the building project. Students enjoyed seeing the crane hoist the wood truss to it's spot on the addition roof.
Congratulations Caitlin Moroni, selected to the Junior Treble Choir representing Gallagher Middle School!
The USDA extends free school meals to ALL students for the rest of this school year. Both breakfast and lunch are available to all students at no cost in each of the district's schools. Take advantage of this opportunity!
https://bit.ly/3lqdXVO
Congratulations to SHS music students who were accepted into RI All State ensembles! These students auditioned virtually and will participate in a virtual music festival this spring.
Caroline Bosco - Junior All State Treble Chorus
Alexander Brenner - All State Jazz Ensemble a& Senior All State Band Annemarie Dancause - Senior All State Mixed Chorus
Claire Dancause - Senior All State Treble Chorus
Rosemary Fochler - Junior All State Mixed Chorus
Ava Williams - Senior All State Mixed Chorus
Additionally, the following students were accepted into the RI Virtual Jazz Honor Choir: Grace Barden and Rosemary Fochler
The SHS National Honor Society will be celebrating the joy of the holidays with our elementary students of Smithfield! Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 6:00pm, they, along with special guests, will be reading stories to elementary school students, Story times will run for 30 minutes, starting on December 2nd end ending December 30th with the exception of Christmas day. Children will be able to join easily with their student Google account.
Happy Holidays! Smithfield High National Honor Society
December Reading Schedule: https://bit.ly/3qfMjhW
Classroom Code: 6t3b36u
Live Google Meet: https://bit.ly/2VkjORQ
Link to a Live Stream: https://bit.ly/3mnqWIY
The district's December newsletter is available on this link: https://bit.ly/2UZa5Am There is no school on Wednesday-Friday this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Best wishes for an enjoyable Thanksgiving. Weekly Return to School reports will resume on December 4th.
Have you noticed the scarecrows throughout Smithfield? Smithfield High School's National Honor Society's fundraising effort for the month of November is the Sentinel Scarecrow Army. There are 90 scarecrows stationed around the town of Smithfield at our schools and municipal buildings. Scarecrows have QR codes that bring you to different non-profit websites where you can make a donation or join these non-profits. A handful of locations (Town Hall, Smithfield High School, Old County Elementary School, the School Administration Building, and the police department) are accepting canned food donations that will be donated to various food banks in Smithfield. Food donations will be accepted until November 22nd. The goal of the National Honor Society is to help the less fortunate families in Smithfield celebrate Thanksgiving. Please help them achieve this goal!
OCRS Building Project Progress: Footings for the new elevator are in place & work to the front of the building includes new sewer pipes. Next week, compaction of the fill in the front, along with excavation for the foundation & perimeter walls of the addition will be completed.
New blog post: ongoing work to keep our school environments safe:
Prepare * Prevent * Respond * Recover
https://judypaolucci.edublogs.org
ELEMENTARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS UPDATE: At McCabe, foundations and slabs for the new addition have been poured, structural steel has been completed, and exterior light gauge metal framing work for the new gym is 90% complete. Crews are now beginning to work on the exterior, cold-rolled steel framing on the Northern side of the addition and on installing interior sheathing in the gym. Landscaping for this phase is completed and site improvements to the new bus loop have been finalized ahead of schedule. Work that will continue into November includes roofing and MEP enabling work for the new gym. The RI COVID task force recently performed an unannounced inspection and gave the jobsite top marks.
October was a milestone month at LaPerche with structural steel being completed only 7 working days after it began. Students and staff celebrated with a “topping off” ceremony. All other steel work, including installation of the metal roof deck, was also completed this month. The completion of the steel work allowed the team to pour the slabs for the interior footprint of the building on schedule. In the existing building, the work in the gym was completed and the kids were able to use this beautiful new space starting the last week of October. Work for the month of November will focus on constructing the building envelope and getting the building weather tight.
Work at Old County is primarily focused on sitework, preparing for the pouring of foundations and piers. We expect that work to take place within the new few weeks, in tandem with the structural steel work.
RIDOH is hiring temporary employees to do case investigations.
Apply here: https://success.knowledgeservices.com/ri
As part of the emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) has retained Knowledge Services to provide temporary staff members to assist with case investigation and contact tracing. Chosen candidates will conduct interviews of patients with confirmed or probable COVID-19, as well as any primary contacts of individuals who have tested positive, focusing on motivational interviewing and cultural competency. Clinical experience is not required and all information necessary to conduct the interviews will be provided during the training period.
Interviews Guided by the Following Standard Protocols:
Providing disease-specific information
Assessing signs and symptoms of COVID-19, as well as underlying health conditions
Discussing symptom onset to determine time/dates for contact elicitation and exposure risk for close contacts
Discussing work, social, recreational, and community activities to identify who may have been exposed
Eliciting information of close contacts, including names, exposure dates and locating information
Providing recommendations for isolation or quarantine based on State and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and reviewing of daily monitoring procedures
Assessing support needs to maintain health and compliance during isolation or quarantine
Communicating with contacts to notify them of exposure, providing disease and transmission information, gathering data on demographics, living arrangements, and daily activities
Providing referrals for testing (if appropriate) and arranging for testing, if needed
Soft Skills Requirements:
Strong attention to detail
Good phone etiquette when speaking to individuals from all demographics and life situations
Empathetic/customer service centered attitude, even when dealing with abrasive individuals
Dependable and flexible to changes as we work our way through this pandemic
Inquisitive nature/ability to think outside the box to collect as much relevant information as possible
Ability to multitask as you will have to speak with individuals, enter data, and relay information to the appropriate team/team leader as needed
Additional Information:
These new positions will be contracted for an emergency short-term basis, which is currently planned to be 6-12 months.
The roles will be on-site at RIDOH, remote work may be available after a 4-6-week training period and a competency assessment.
Priority will be given to applicants with the following qualifications:
Applicants who are bilingual or multilingual
Applicants available for full-time work (35 hours/week), including weekends
Applicants who can work through at least the end of the year if needed
Applicants who have experience with data entry while taking information from patients
Applicants who have experience with customer service with patients, healthcare providers and the general public
Applicants who work well in a team environment
Read the news from Smithfield Schools! The November district newsletter is now available on this link: https://bit.ly/3kEguMf
RIDE created a “Fall Learning Opportunities Directory,” listing learning opportunities open to all students statewide. See this link: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59a81489579fb39e3ef2232f/t/5f90554436ebbd41ce1d0236/1603294533942/Fall+Learning+Opportunities+Directory.pdf
Please ensure that everyone enjoys a SAFE Halloween this year.
Consider the Trunk or Treat Spooktacular at No Risk Crossfit.
Outside and with social distancing rules in place. Register at info!noriskcrossfit.com.
Looking for a safe family activity? Join families across the country who are carrying lights of hope forward into winter and 2021. This tradition is designed to teach kids to embrace change, connect with nature and community. 4pm-5pm on November 1st at Mowry Commons (374 Farnum Pike in Smithfield). Registration required - www.revivetheroots.org or call 305-0539
Looking for a safe activity for Halloween? Check out the Halloween Story Walk! 11am-3pm on October 31st at Mowry Commons (374 Farnum Pike in Smithfield). Enjoy a trail adventure as you read a story posted along the path. Families will enjoy decorated trails, a scavenger hunt, visits with the animals, and free, gently-used books. Wear your costumes! Registration required - www.revivetheroots.org or call 305-0539
Parents are invited to check out this virtual, interactive display showing signs of risky behavior and possible drug use and the tools needed to have constructive conversations: http://spc-hips.com
LaPerche was featured in the RI Healthy School Coalition's October newsletter! Take a look at https://mailchi.mp/rihsc/oct2020.
In partnership with RIDE, Smithfield is conducting Child Outreach Screening online! Do you have a child who is 3, 4, or 5 years old? Contact us at childoutreach@smithfield-ps.org to begin this process or to ask questions. We can also be reached by calling 401-231-6608.
Students at LaPerche and Winsor tasted a delicious kale salad on Kale Day 2020! This is part of our farm-to-school initiative with the goal of encouraging a healthy lifestyle by increasing access to locally grown fruits and veggies. Thank you to our partner Chartwells!
Smithfield's LaPerche Elementary School made the New York Times! It's not just about opening in a pandemic but about providing great instruction by great teachers to great students under great leadership. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/09/us/how-rhode-island-reopened-schools.html
LaPerche's steel-topping-off ceremony acknowledged a milestone in the school's building project. Steel has been erected and work will soon be underway to enclose the addition so that construction can continue through the winter months. Students gave speeches and, along with members of the school committee, signed the last piece of steel before the crane hoisted the steel into place.
The free and reduced meal application is now available online! You can access it at www.myschoolapps.com. This service will eliminate the need for a paper application and will streamline the process of applying. Apply today!
The District's October newsletter is now available on this link, as well as on the district's website. There's plenty of good news to share in Smithfield! https://bit.ly/2S5eq3u
Thank you for your patience as we work on new routines for drop off and pick up. Here's how everyone can help:
* If you know that drop off occurs along the driver's side, have your child sit on that side so that they can open the door and pop out.
* Have your child put on their mask and grab their backpack prior to getting to the front of the line.
* Have tickets ready... photocopy extra tickets for the glove compartment
* Shower your child with kisses BEFORE getting to the front of the line!
* If your child has a spot on the bus, let them take the bus. If you have a spot but don't plan to use it, give it up so that we can put other children on that bus. The first bus at OCRS today had only one child on it!
We are looking for a couple of parents and staff members to join Smithfield's District Improvement Team. The first meeting of the team will take place on September 28, 2020 at 4:30pm in the PD Room at 49 Farnum Pike (administration building). The team's mission is to monitor the progress of the district toward the goals in our strategic plan. We meet 3 times per year - September, January, and May. Please contact the superintendent if interested.
BUS ROUTES ARE POSTED! Transportation is available for students who are NOT in a walk zone and did NOT opt out of transportation this year. See this site for information on times and stops: https://www.smithfield-ps.org/o/smithfield-public-schools/page/transportation--244
We are a little over a week away from the start of school. Now is the time to set healthy sleep routines. See this article for helpful tips. https://www.screenagersmovie.com/tech-talk-tuesdays/setting-a-sleep-routine-for-back-to-school?mc_cid=0ffd0a8b8c&mc_eid=27023241c4
The access road to the high school may be closed for some of the day tomorrow, Saturday, September 5th, to accommodate construction crews.
Ironworkers began setting steel in place on Monday and will be working their way from Area A to Area D over the next several weeks. Over the next few days the public will be able to have a better picture of the real height and overall size of the building addition at McCabe!
Grab and Go Meals have been extended to September 11th! Meals will be available for pick-up on TUESDAYS and FRIDAYS from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Smithfield High School, 90 Pleasant View Ave. EVERYONE age 18 and younger is eligible to receive a free lunch and breakfast.
Congratulations to our staff members celebrating 5-year anniversaries in Smithfield who were recognized on Wednesday! A special shout out to Kevin Cullen, Diane Damle, Lora DiMuccio, Lynn Farren, Maureen Nangle, and Barbara Smith-White who have completed 30 years in Smithfield!
The September District Newsletter is ready! Check out all the great news from Smithfield schools... https://bit.ly/2CZXXcK
Smithfield's September District Newsletter is available on this link (https://bit.ly/2CZXXcK). Keep up with all the news from Smithfield Public Schools!
Shout out to out SHS artists who continue to make SHS a welcoming place
New Super Scoop blog post - "Respectful Political Discourse" https://judypaolucci.edublogs.org
Who's that under the mask? Join in the fun as our principals share staff pics in advance of the school year. In a mask AND a hard hat, who's this that assessed the progress of school construction today?
Smithfield's summer GRAB AND GO MEALS have been extended until August 31st! Meals can be picked up at the Smithfield Sr. High School (door #2) between 11:00-noon Monday through Friday.
Come one, come all! The Smithfield School Committee will be touring Winsor Elementary School and Gallagher Middle School and will be discussing COVID-related protocols at their School Committee workshop on THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2020 at 7:30 AM
The public is invited to attend through a GotoMeeting link. Additionally, videos of the tours will be posted by principals after the event.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/439023725
1 866 899 4679 Access Code: 439-023-725
This fall, it will be important for parents to have a variety of options for daycare. We are working with all daycare facilities to make things as easy as possible for our families. Cadence Academy has put together an interesting option and has opened communication channels with our district. See attached flyer for more information. While we do not promote any one particular option, we hope to share ideas over the upcoming weeks. See link: https://bit.ly/3kKVAvx
Just complete - McCabe North Lot!
A new email account has been set up to answer questions about Smithfield's Return to School plan: safeandsuccessful@smithfield-ps.org There will be three administrators answering questions from this email account so you can be assured of a timely response.
If you missed last night's Smithfield Parent Forum, listen to our conversation through this video link: https://bit.ly/forum-8-6
The forum (starting at 7pm) link sent through email was not working. Here is the updated link:
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/673071381
You can also dial in using your phone.
1 866 899 4679 Access Code: 673-071-381
We started a FAQ document for Smithfield's Virtual Learning Option. This will be expanded after tonight's parent forum. See this link: https://bit.ly/3ie0P4L
The RI Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness is offering a free 8-session Family-to-Family program for family, friends, and significant others of people living with mental health concerns. Visit https://namirhodeisland.org/meetings-schedules/classes/ for more info.
A Parent Forum is scheduled for this Thursday, August 6th, at 7pm to discuss the virtual option and answer any questions parents may have. From these questions, a FAQ document will be created and posted. The deadline for registering for the virtual option will be August 12th. Good plans cannot be accomplished last minute and we want the BEST for our students! Here's the link to the forum:
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/673071381
You can also dial in using your phone.
1 866 899 4679 Access Code: 673-071-381
Smithfield's Return to School plan is posted on the red tab on our website as well as here: https://bit.ly/39KyArz
Smithfield's August Newsletter includes news about summer facility projects. The Return to School Report #7 will be distributed tomorrow & will include information about our response to the governor's decision to allow a virtual choice option for the fall. https://bit.ly/394aWpD
New blog post: A Vision for Technology Use in Smithfield https://judypaolucci.edublogs.org/
Help Wanted! Are you a SHS student who can work as a Technology Assistant during the month of August.? If interested, complete this application, which can only be accessed by Smithfield emails: https://forms.gle/dpsiiPXP1439ibYx8
Ready for Anything!!! This morning, we toured all 6 Smithfield schools to assess the progress on construction of new entrances at SHS and GMS and renovation work at the elementary schools. We also looked at how classrooms were being rearranged for the fall for maximum distance between desks. In the meantime, we are working on a best practices document, templates, and tools for distance learning. If a return to school buildings is ordered, we will be ready. If a hybrid plan is ordered, we will be ready. If full distance learning is ordered, we will be ready. #safeandsuccessful
Are you new to Smithfield? Online registration is available for students at all grade levels. Visit our registration site for more information. https://www.smithfield-ps.org/o/smithfield-public-schools/page/registering-a-new-student
FREE online program for 11th and 12th graders!
Do you know any 11th or 12th graders who have something to say? Today's youth are our future. Help them learn how to communicate in a way that they will be heard, and respected.
July 27 - August 13, 2020
M,T,W,Th - 1:30 to 3:45 pm
REGISTER HERE https://ride.gosignmeup.com/public/Course/browse?courseid=17151
Smithfield's Return to School plan includes plans for 3 scenarios: full return to buildings, partial return, and limited return (mostly distance learning) so that we will be ready for whatever the governor decides. #safeandsuccessful
See our plan here: https://bit.ly/394aWpD
Return to School Survey!
It is critical that we know how many families are interested in a distance-learning option if it becomes possible. Complete one form per student by July 18th.
https://forms.gle/UxFxYGYhsXwSKx4q9
If you missed last night's parent forum on Smithfield's Return to School Plan, see the video through this link: https://bit.ly/3j9cWkP The three sets of questions and answers can be found on these three links: TRANSPORTATION (https://bit.ly/32kKMNV), SET UP OF CLASSROOMS (https://bit.ly/2OtKmfS), DISTANCE LEARNING (https://bit.ly/2Cz9AXN). If links do not work, please cut and paste into your browser.
The slide deck for the Smithfield Return to School plan, presented at the July 13th School Committee Meeting, is available on this link: https://bit.ly/2OkTweI
There is still time to sign up for the summer distance learning opportunities offered by the state including art, music, theater, and more! Register TODAY. https://ride.gosignmeup.com/Public/Course/Browse
Smithfield's Blais family has a learning-cation this summer that has brought statewide attention! Learn how they are visiting our state's towns and writing about their journey and learnings. Their blog address is http://blaisingjourneys.com and here's the segment that Channel 10 did on their summer goal to visit RI towns: https://turnto10.com/news/local/rhode-island-family-turns-canceled-vacation-into-statewide-mission
Smithfield Families - You're invited to a Return to School Parent Forum on Tuesday, July 14th at 7pm. The forum will focus on three challenges - transportation, physical distancing in classrooms, and transportation. Join us using this link:
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/813375837
You can also dial in using your phone: 1 877 568 4106, Access Code: 813-375-837
To help us make this forum most beneficial, please ask questions, in advance, on this form: https://forms.gle/x14o2Sw94RTgQLNT8
HopeHealth hosts a summer camp, Camp BraveHeart, for grieving children and teens. This year, the program will run virtually on August 17th – 20th between 9am and 2pm. Activities include art and music therapy, yoga, peer support, interactive animal programs, and more!
Thank you to Bobby Caine and the Smithfield DPW, as well as to our maintenance staff, Joe Petrone and Doug Anderson, who worked on the gardens in front of SHS. They look fabulous!
FREE Summer Classes for RI High School Students!
The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) is offering a Summer Academy for Interactive Learning (SAIL). This means that you can sign up for Roger Williams University|University College courses for FREE! They are offering 17 classes this summer. Four of these courses are offered for college credit. ALL classes are offered ONLINE synchronously (live) on the days and times listed on the RIDE website.
Go to the following link and search for Roger Williams to see all summer offerings: SAIL Summer Courses. https://bit.ly/3gcqBVZ
In addition to planning for our return to school and following guidance from the RIDOH and RIDE, our Smithfield Return to School team is staying informed with new research about COVID-19 so that our plan relies on scientific evidence, rather than fear and rumor. Stay informed as well with the newest from the American Academy of Pediatrics: https://bit.ly/2NKJzGY
The 2nd report from the Return to School Committee is available on this link: https://bit.ly/387voFn
Keep up with news from Smithfield schools! Our July newsletter is available on this link: https://bit.ly/3eDugfl
Did you find yourself cleaning out medicine cabinets during quarantine? Keep unused or expired medications out of the hands of others. Dispose of your medication safely! Click on the link below and fill out the information and you will be sent DisposeRx packets free of charge! https://tricountyri.org/spcr
We had a big day at McCabe – 6 concrete trucks and two separate pours now bring us up to 50% complete for the addition footings and about 20% complete for the foundation walls.
Work for Smithfield Schools! Opening for a high school secretary is posted on SchoolSpring:
http://www.schoolspring.com/job?3301137
Check out all of the wonderful opportunities at our local libraries this summer on the SPS Summer Learning site!
https://summer.smithfield-ps.org/smithfield-libraries
Parent Forum participants were asked to list 1-3 words describing their feelings about the goal to bring back all students to school buildings in the fall. Here's what they had to say.
Summer Work Experiences for Students: Dear Families,
Attached are flyers for PAID SUMMER Career Exploration & Work Preparation programs for students. Our community partner, Tri-County, is excited to offer new "Virtual Career Exploration" programs to students across Rhode Island. All program candidates must complete an application in order to be considered for any of these summer programs. For your safety and convenience, the application process is now available online through their website as well (see link on flyers). Once the online application has been completed and submitted, someone will be in touch with you to answer any questions you might have and to find out which program is most appropriate for your daughter or son based on their age, availability & interests. All program candidates must be entering 6th grade + in the fall to be eligible for consideration. SPACE IS LIMITED IN ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS, SO PLEASE DON'T DELAY IN COMPLETING THE APPLICATION!
Judy Paolucci
Flyer 1 - https://bit.ly/3di4Pi0
Flyer 2 - https://bit.ly/2BfhJQk
Flyer 3 - https://bit.ly/3hF7wNK
Thanks to everyone who participated in tonight's parent forum! We'll summarize the data and report back to you. Sorry my Internet was flickering on and off! I have such a great administrative team so we didn't miss a beat! Thanks Paul Barrette and Sara Monaco!
The change in the location for the grab and go lunches in Smithfield will take place on Monday!
If you are going to be in 9th or 12th grade in September, or if you have just graduated from high school (Class of 2020!) sign up to take a fully online Math or ELA class for eight weeks from June 29 - August 21 and get paid up to $750 ($250 for 9th graders and $750 for 12th graders) for completing assignments! https://ride.gosignmeup.com/Public/Course/Browse
The Rhode Island Department of Education is offering distance learning opportunities for public school students enrolled in grades PreK - 12 from June 22 through August 28,2020. https://ride.gosignmeup.com/Public/Course/Browse
Reach out to summer@ride.ri.gov with questions.
Progress being made on addition to McCabe!
Enjoy this message from the teachers at Old County Road School. Have a wonderful summer! https://youtu.be/LHj3FeZlvbQ
Grab and go lunches will continue this summer in Smithfield! We continue to distribute meals outside of the administration building but will move to the high school beginning on June 22nd. Spread the word!
The June Smithfield District newsletter is full of important information for ending the school year. Here's the link: https://bit.ly/3dUgbtz
We invite our families to participate in a focus group that will meet regularly this summer (virtually) to provide feedback on plans being made for returning to school in the fall. The first meeting of the focus group will be on June 16th at 7:00 p.m. through this link: https://meet.google.com/rpi-fvyt-ysk
Whether or not you are available for this first meeting, if you are interested in participating in this focus group, please provide your contact information on this form: https://forms.gle/GQWrRe91cTnc7sBH8
Today, RIDE and the governor announced a statewide school calendar for 2020-2021. Guidelines for reopening will not be out until June 19th and districts will have until July 17th to submit a plan for 3 different scenarios. See the school calendar: https://bit.ly/3hgh3L6
Dear families and staff,
Smithfield's Return to School committee began its work to plan for schooling for the 2020-2021 school year. An important part of that work is to reach out to parents and staff to better understand your concerns and expectations for the fall. Please watch for an invitation to join a focus group and for surveys that will be sent over the next week or so.
Today, at 1pm, the governor and commissioner will be outlining their expectations for the fall and the parameters that districts will need to follow as plans are established. I hope you will be able to watch the press conference so that you can later share with us your thoughts on this plan and, in general, on what should be in place to give you confidence for students returning to school buildings in the fall. Our goal is to develop a plan that best meets the needs of our families and staff here in Smithfield.
Judy Paolucci, Superintendent
More exceptional work from our budding artists! Check out this video with illustrations by our middle school students in collaboration with 2nd graders from McCabe and LaPerche! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1euKDsmiysOTBteRWVgFigFR_vaA6oTop/view?usp=sharing_eil&ts=5ede1ed8
McCabe's Joy Matteson, Ella Fafard, and Kaya Hayden & LaPerche's Cameron Caisse and Uchenna Exeama were recognized by Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea through the Extraordinary Women Poster Contest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aFf4FOY9mc
#BeKindRI June 1-20, 2020: 1) Do a random act of kindness; 2) Share the act on social media; 3) Nominate 3 people to do the challenge; 4) Sit back knowing you've made RI a little better.
Every American can contribute toward addressing our nation's civil unrest. Our school district has taken steps to address bias and racism. The superintendent's new blog post provides a perspective on this work. https://judypaolucci.edublogs.org/
GMS artwork will really make your day!
https://bit.ly/2zbUNks
A note on graduation: When we received guidance on graduation, the high school leadership was charged with developing a plan to honor our graduates while also ensuring the safety of all participating. High school administrators and staff worked with students to devise this plan and student leadership, as well as our staff, are proud of what is being put together. On June 9th, I am confident that you will find the virtual event to be classy and filled with pride. Other added touches, including the banners at the Boyle Complex, the ringing of church bells, the distribution of care packages, and the numerous video messages contribute toward a celebration of the students' accomplishments that will be one to be remembered.
SHS AP artwork is phenomenal! Check out the work by our high school artists: https://bit.ly/3eMHc27
The 4 baby Killdeer birds have hatched! Federally protected Killdeers, a member of the plover family, nested on McCabe property and construction crews set up protective borders so that nests would not be accidentally disturbed. We are happy to announce their birth!
Bells will be ringing! Georgiaville Baptist Church, St. Philip Church, and St. Thomas Episcopal Church will be ringing their bells in honor of the 2020 graduates at 6:50pm on June 9th to remind the community that the graduation ceremony will be airing at 7pm.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! The OCRS PTA worked with a local business, J&R Marketing, to print this banner for our 5th graders and display it on the fence of the OCRS playground. We value our community partners!
The SuperScoop blog post was featured on the AASA "Best of the Blogs" page on their School Administrator magazine. Read the newest post, "The Power of Suggestion," https://judypaolucci.edublogs.org/2020/05/26/the-power-of-suggestion/
Virtual signing ceremony highlights outstanding Smithfield athletes heading to play college sports! 2020 Virtual College Signing Ceremony video: https://youtu.be/NvfmTAL17ow
GMS Art Show - GMS art teachers, Mrs. Jessica DeRemer and Mr. William Plante, have compiled a virtual art show to showcase the GMS student art work from this year. It is now posted on the GMS website (news item).
Construction of new Sallyport entrances for SHS and GMS has started and is expected to be completed early this summer.
Thanks to district funding, donations from the baseball boosters and others, DPW workers, and volunteers engaged by Representative Bernie Hawkins, the SHS baseball dugouts, backstop fencing, and fields were ready for play in advance of the 2020 season. The cancellation of spring sports, unfortunately, postpones the inaugural use of these facilities. A formal "thank you" to all contributors will be included in the June district newsletter.
Smithfield Job Posting: Elementary Assistant Principal - While we already have nearly 30 applicants, we want the best applicants to apply! Share this posting with those educators you know who might be interested: https://bit.ly/3c0qg6u
The location of the district's free breakfast and lunch program for children under 18 is changing due to construction taking place at OCRS. Beginning Wednesday, May 20th, the distribution site will be the District Administration Building at 49 Farnum Pike across from Town Hall.
PARENTS - Join us for a live program with a clinical psychologist and stand-up comedian, Dr. Matt Bellace, “Supporting Teens in Reducing Their Stress (and Ours)” Dr. Bellace uses humor to convey his very powerful message – we need to support young people in both words and actions if we want them to make healthy choices for themselves.
WHEN: Tuesday, June 2nd at 6:30pm or
Wednesday, June 3rd at 6:30pm
COST: FREE!
REGISTRATION LINK: https://bit.ly/2WOW0Hv
Keep up with all that's happening in Smithfield! The mid-May Smithfield District Newsletter is available on this link: https://bit.ly/2WAW4dD
This little lady decided to lay an egg right in the middle of our construction zone. Luckily, our construction workers believe in safety first & put a circle of protection around her! But seriously, if anyone knows a safe way to remove bird and nest, contact the superintendent!
The Providence Journal is changing its annual Rhode Island All-State High School Sports Awards Show from a physical event to a star-studded On Demand Awards show and you’re invited! The awards celebrate the accomplishments of All-State athletes with this year’s honors being presented by celebrity athletes including Drew Brees, Venus Williams, Michael Phelps and many more! Plus, there will be a special tribute to spring athletes and seniors!
The On Demand awards show that will be available at no charge at 6 p.m. EST on Thursday, June 18.
Learn more here https://bit.ly/2VB101F
#JOURNALALLSTATE
District Improvement Team - The District Improvement team includes parents, teachers, administrators, and community members and meets 3x/year to review action steps, school data, and progress on district improvement efforts. The next meeting is May 18th at 3pm-5pm. If you are interested in joining the team, please contact Judy Paolucci at jpaolucci@smithfield-ps.org.
Thank you to the students in the Teacher Preparation Education Pathway at SHS who prepared Dr. Seuss activities for elementary students in Smithfield!
Smithfield High School has progressed to the National Championship for Girls Go CyberStart (NCGGCS) 2020! Four of our students will compete in the team event on May 20. Top scoring teams nationally will be playing for $400 per team member and $250 for their school! Advised by Michael Deslauriers, these four students will be: Katie Chan- Class of 2020, Bailey Gaffney- Class of 2021, Abigail Marsella- Class of 2023, and Elizabeth Blanchette- Class of 2023 https://bit.ly/3ccOzPg
Having trouble paying your heating bills? LIHEAP can help. Contact the North Providence Tri-County Community Action Agency, which serves Smithfield. 11 Emanuel Street, North Providence 401-351-2750
Smithfield Teachers... We hope your ears have been ringing! Here's what parents, students, and community members have to say about you!
Special thanks go to Eric Covino of Creative Signals, LLC, a Smithfield company, who made a generous gift to the Smithfield school lunch program. Through his donation we were able to clear all negative balances in the program for 228 students. Some students do not qualify for free or reduced meals as the USDA eligibility guidelines have an extremely low threshold for annual income. For some families who are struggling financially due to COVID-19, the kindness and generosity of others makes all the difference.
Goodby asphalt, hello future courtyard.
The May district newsletter is out a little early so you can expect the next newsletter by mid-May. Lots of news in Smithfield! https://bit.ly/SPSMay2020
Rhapsody - a Smithfield High School publication, highlights the writing skills and creativity of our students. https://bit.ly/RhapsodySHS
Thank you to all of our administrative professionals! We are incredibly grateful for all you do on a daily basis!
OCRS teachers and staff worked together to put together a video for families. Thank you to Kaitlynn Farrell who organized and assembled the video! https://youtu.be/wfXJJ1GHrAs
Nationwide, kennels are empty & puppies have found new homes. Smithfield teachers & families have joined the craze, bringing joy during uncertain times. We are including pics of new pups in the May newsletter. Send yours to jpaolucci@smithfield-ps.org w/pup's name & family name.
Help us celebrate our seniors and their aspirations! Check out their Instagram page: https://instagram.com/shs2020_futures?igshid=1or51zbyakgzc
Construction trailer in place... ready for the start of renovations and additions to McCabe Elementary School
The #DoGoodFromHome Challenge asks kids to do kind acts.
*Help people in need of kindness.
*Take pictures/videos & share on social media with #DoGoodFromHome.
*Tag 5 others in the post.
For each #DoGoodFromHome, Hasbro will donate a toy to children of essential workers.
Kindergarten registration is still available through our online system! Please see our website for more details. https://www.smithfield-ps.org/o/smithfield-public-schools/page/registering-a-new-student
Do you know an educator who embodies the values of our school community? Consider nominating a teacher for this year’s Teacher of the Year. To nominate a Smithfield educator, provide their name and school as well as an explanation for what makes them worthy of this year’s award (300 words or less) in an email or through the mail to Judy Paolucci by April 28th. Nominations will be reviewed by a committee and an awardee will be announced in May. If there's a year when educators deserve as much recognition as possible, it's this one!
Mrs. Preston's lesson made a wonderful impact on her students at Old County and Winsor. We hope you enjoy it too! https://safeyoutube.net/w/uE73
TONIGHT: FREE virtual viewing of Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER on April 15th at 6:30 PM. This film examines what can be done in our schools and homes to help teens navigate our digital age. TY Kent & SC Coalitions! https://www.bigmarker.com/screenagers-starhouse/SCREENAGERS-NC-RISAS
The E. Smithfield Public Library will offer contactless book pick up on Mondays starting April 13th. Parents may call the library, w/ a library barcode number, on Mondays, 10:30-11:30 am to request up to 10 books & will be given a time for pick up inside the library’s front door.
UPDATE: Grab & Go Lunches will be available beginning Tuesday, April 14th. from 11:30am to 12:30pm at Old County Road School. Those coming to pick-up meals should wear a face mask, pull up in front of the school & pop their truck so meals can be placed in the back of the vehicle.
Pure Edge Family Session
Breathe, Move, Rest for Family Well-being
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
6-6:30 p.m.
Parents, we will share a few simple strategies that you can do with the whole family.
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_meBLdLPqQSerazYagrLQ7Q
Learn about innovative lessons provided by Smithfield teachers through virtual lessons in the new Super Scoop blog post, "Difficult Times Nurture Innovation" https://judypaolucci.edublogs.org/
WE ARE HERE, AND WE CARE!
We know things are tough right now but we still want to celebrate the day you were born! We would like to send a fire truck, rescue, and police cruiser to you on your special day to wish you a Happy Birthday. Of course, we will be using our social distancing procedures!
Submit address and contact information and we will drive to your home, turn on our lights and sirens, and give you Happy, Happy Birthday wishes!
Email jpotenza@smithfieldfire.com or log onto www.Smithfieldfire.com and go under Fire Prevention.
All ages are welcome!!!!
Some positive messages from Mrs. DeRemer's art students at Gallagher Middle School
A message to students from teachers across the state put together by our own Liz Russillo... https://youtu.be/GQJ8FBg5uco
Akim's Tailoring and Dry Cleaning in Greenville (behind the A&W) is a great community partner. We dropped off fabric and picked up 60 cloth masks 2 days later for school and town employees! Shop locally!
The offer from the Thirsty Beaver for free meals for needy families is one example of the many ways this community works together for the benefit of all. Those interested in the offer can pick up meals from 12-8 tomorrow. They have about 80 more meals left. Check the school department website for details
Families in Need- please connect with one of our principals or social workers. We are getting offers from a variety of sources and want you to secure any resources you may need to get through this crisis. Here is our latest offer from the Thirsty Beaver:
Marco Conti of North American Restaurant Co. in Smithfield, RI is DONATING 100 FREE MEALS to families in need! ♥️
⠀⠀⠀⠀
To RESERVE your family-sized pasta supper & sides, CALL the SMITHFIELD LOCATION NOW!• 401-349-4790
-𝘖𝘙- DIRECT MESSAGE Them to be added to the list!
⠀⠀⠀⠀
MEALS CAN BE PICKED UP AT . . .
📍 • 45 Cedar Swamp Rd • Smithfield, RI
⏰ • Monday - Saturday • 12:00pm - 8:00pm WHILE SUPPLIES LAST‼️ CALL NOW‼️
New Superintendent Blog Post: "Our Learning Organization," available at: https://judypaolucci.edublogs.org/2020/03/30/our-learning-organization/
The Smithfield April newsletter includes updates regarding virtual learning and our response to COVID-19. See: https://bit.ly/3dCGTat
Instructional materials pick ups at the elementary schools are running very smoothly. No lines. Thanks staff!
We're so proud of teachers and students with day 2 of virtual learning under our belts and plans for continued learning underway. Let's stay positive and continue to work as a team - educators, parents and students. For my reflections on state and national medical professionals working on this crisis, see my blog at https://bit.ly/2UxbcGO
Smithfield's Virtual Instruction Plan, FAQs, and resources can be found on our website under Online Tools & Resources and through this link https://www.smithfield-ps.org/o/smithfield-public-schools/page/virtual-instruction--4. Thank you in advance for your patience and support.
Social distancing is essential for getting through this public health crisis. Children gathering at the basketball courts and other athletic fields defeats the purpose for closing schools. To protect citizens against COVID-19, the Town Manager has closed all playgrounds, courts and fields until further notice.
Hello Smithfield! We have been busy with virtual learning and continuity of operations plans but the bottom line is this: WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. Please connect if you need support with learning, mental health, nutrition, or any other needs you may have. And, by the way, I used to teach chemistry; if there's any chem students out there who need some extra support, I AM HERE FOR YOU.
Important Notice: The Governor, RIDE, and RIDOH are moving the April vacation from April 13-17 to this coming week, March 16 -- 20. This is to give school and central office staff time to finalize long-distance learning plans and prepare for potential virtual learning weeks. We have asked teachers to distribute any packets they have developed for virtual learning as well as Chromebooks for students in grades 3-5 in preparation for potential virtual weeks.
Our custodians will also be giving our classrooms a deep cleaning next week.
Until further notice, all extra-curricular activities are suspended, including interscholastic athletics.
The Commissioner & the Director of DOH indicated that the decision to close schools will be made on a week-to-week basis. We will let you know everything we know as we know it.
Please enjoy your week as much as you can and attend to your own mental health. This is a stressful time for all of us.
Thank you for your partnership in the important work that we do. Our ability to serve our students to the greatest degree, despite the situation, is due the support we have from our families and community.
Please see the news article on the Coronavirus Update (3-11-2020) on our district website. This update was also sent to staff and families by email. www.smithfield-ps.org
Parents may wish to view this video from the Child Mind Institute, "How to Talk to Kids About the Coronavirus." The video supports parents who wish to provide information to their child in a way that is supportive and comforthing. https://youtu.be/WhVad8ToCiU
Coronavirus Reporting - If there is a case of the coronavirus in Smithfield - students, staff or families - we appreciate that this be reported to the Superintendent's office so that the district can take appropriate preventative measures. There is information floating around on social media that may not be based on fact. Please help us keep everyone healthy by stopping the spread of viruses and of gossip! As always, email the superintendent (jpaolucci@smithfield-ps.org) for any news or concerns.
Child Outreach screening is scheduled for March 23, 24, and 25 at the School Administration Building. Call the Child Outreach Office at 231-6608 to make an appointment. Our goal is to screen all 3, 4, and 5 year olds prior to starting kindergarten every year!
The Smithfield Special Education Local Advisory Committee (SSELAC) will hold their next meeting on March 12, 2020 from 6:30-7:30pm at LaPerche Elementary School. Please join us to discuss community opportunities for inclusion of all students.
Join us for this informational session on personal safety and human trafficking on March 11th 7:00 PM in the SHS Media Center.
Gallagher Middle School students' artwork is on display at the Greenville Public Library through the end of March in celebration of Youth Art Month.
Tim Ferron, president of SHS’s Interact Club, spoke to the Rotary this morning about the initiatives of the students - service above self!
I'm currently on a conference call with Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, the Director of the R.I. Department of Health. Her leadership and intelligence provides me confidence in RI's response to coronavirus. Let's hope that the efforts of the RIDOH result in containment. #stayhealthy
This video that explains the Coronavirus in clear language. It is from CBC News (Canada) and is presented by Dr. Peter Lin.
http://bit.ly/2uOtj28
New blog post: FY21 Budget Narrative for Smithfield Schools - On March 2nd, the School Committee will vote on a budget to forward to the Town Council. This narrative provides information that helps one to better understand the budget process and contents. http://bit.ly/3alw3Dh
Students in 8th grade visited the high school today for the course selection fair.
Casey Miller's second graders wrote descriptions of imaginative animals while Jessica DeRemer's eighth graders brought the mythical creatures to life through drawings. A great example of collaboration in our schools!
The March Smithfield District Monthly Newsletter is available at http://bit.ly/2T7Q9v0
SHS Parent Council's 3rd Annual Trivia Night! Saturday, May 30th at the Portuguese American Club, 32 Fenwood Avenue, Smithfield - Come test your knowledge!
Teachers at all of our schools will be engaged in Collins Writing professional learning this week. The Collins program provides a unified approach to writing instruction across subject areas.
Communities are stronger and schools are
better when we all work together to support
public education. Join us for Public Schools
Week, Feb. 24-28, 2020.
#PublicSchoolProud #PSW20
www.publicschoolproud.org
Liliana Zapata of Smithfield High School is the first place winner of the 2020 Scholarship Program: Competition, Exhibit and Award, from the Wickford Art Association. Liliana's work will be on exhibit at the Wickford Art Association Gallery: 32 Beach Street, North Kingstown from February 18 through February.
School officials, teachers, friends and family of the scholarship recipients are invited to attend this event, starting at 6:30pm.
The wisdom of Mr Cabral
Become a paraprofessional or para substitute! The No. RI Collaborative Teacher Assistant Training program will take place on April 21-23 & 27-30, 4:00 - 6:30 pm at 640 George Washington Hwy, Bldg. B, Suite 200, Lincoln, RI. For info & to register visit https://www.nric-ri.org/
Missing OCRS Student is Found. Thanks to the work of the Smithfield police and fire departments, our missing student has been found and is safe.
child found
At about 1pm today, a 4th grade, female, Old County Road student with long brown hair in a black coat left school grounds. As of this time she has not yet been found. Smithfield police and fire are searching the neighborhood and parents are on site. We will keep you informed when this student is found. If you have any information about her whereabouts, please contact Smithfield police.
The 2nd school budget workshop was held on February 3rd and updated budget information was shared and discussed. The slides from the workshop are available on this link: http://bit.ly/3939Vg1
National School Counseling Week is February 3-7. School counselors have a tremendous impact in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. Thank your local school counselors and learn more about their work. #NSCW2020
A new Super Scoop blog post focuses on "Managing Change." To access this blog, go to: judypaolucci.edublogs.org
Congratulations, McCabe Elementary School, for being named a National Unified Champion School!
Important steps are now being made to complete the elementary renovations and additions on time and on budget. Read all about it. http://bit.ly/2GzLTgz
Congratulations to the American Heart Association postcard contest winners for Smithfield 2020!
Great food, great fun, and great people at the wellness celebration tonight! Thank you to our food service provider, Chartwells, for the delicious and nutritious foods!
Smithfield's February district newsletter is now available on our website as well as through this link: http://bit.ly/2RurEXT
Kindergarten registration opens on February 6th! Please see our website for more details. https://www.smithfield-ps.org/o/smithfield-public-schools/page/registering-a-new-student
Smithfield students design community change! Principal Kelley presents the high school's plan at the XQ+RI celebration today. #XQRI
If you see establishments selling flavored vaping products to minors or to anyone in general, call the complaint line
at 401-462-3441 to report the incidents.
Five Smithfield Public Schools administrators are spending their Saturday taking a FEMA (emergency management) course at the police department's training room.
Our "Cyber Sentinels" team competing in the semifinals for CyberPatriot XXII Silver Tier Division. Go Sentinels!
The FY21 budget process is underway. Keep abreast of how this budget evolves by going to our finance webpage (http://bit.ly/30IeXfc). For the slides from the first budget workshop, see this link: http://bit.ly/2RNcMTE
We are ready to go to RIDE for approval and then out to bid for construction services for elementary school renovations and additions. This link provides detailed drawings and information about what will be in the base bid and what will be in bid alternates. http://bit.ly/2RAhrYE
Join us on January 29th for a Family Wellness Celebration! Stop in to the SHS cafeteria anytime from 5:30-7:30 PM to sample nutritious foods, take part in activities, and celebrate our student postcard winners!
We have parents and community members who are essential for getting us to where we need to be. Support the music boosters to help us renovate the high school auditorium. Read all about it: http://bit.ly/30qbLoe
The District Improvement Team met last week & updated our progress percentages on our district strategic dashboard, which is available on a link on our website. Look through our indicators & strategies to understand what we're doing and where we need to go. http://bit.ly/2u6TiB2
Listening to Michael Horn, author of Choosing College, and excited to learn more about how to support our students as they make the decision about steps they plan to take after graduating high school. This is a great book for parents of SHS students!
New Blog Post: Why Curriculum Matters: http://judypaolucci.edublogs.org
Parents and educators of Winsor and McCabe students gathered last night at the first unification meeting. What a awesome (and large) group of caring individuals! Our mission is to build a cohesive school culture that unites the students and staff of McCabe ES and Winsor ES through events, communication, and other means. Meeting minutes will be distributed by PTOs, principals, and by posting on the building project webpage.
Congratulations! Liliana Zapata and Eva Chaput have been awarded silver keys for artwork submitted to the Scholastic Art Competition. There is an opening reception and ceremony for the public on Sunday, January 19th at The Chazen Family Gallery at RIC's Alex and Ani Hall at 2:00pm. This show will remain on display through February 2nd. The house painting is titled "Home" and is by Eva Chaput, and the screaming face, titled "Bitter Frustrations" is by Liliana Zapata.
Smithfield Special Education Parent Advisory Committee, parents and teachers working together to plan community events.
12 RI and Mass high schools, including SMITHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL, were awarded an Office of Naval Research STEM Resources and Professional Development grant worth over $10,000. STEM and special educator teachers are attending this Thursday's workshop on Jan. 9th at The East Bay Educational Collaborative.
A World of Difference peer leaders kicked off their first session at Gallagher by presenting a lesson on respect to 6th-grade advisory groups.
Isabella, Simon, and Abby, graduates of SHS, came to Rotary today to report on their college progress. The overwhelming message is that we serve our students well but there’s also places where we can do better. #continuousimprovement.
Happy New Year! New blog post: 2019: The Year in Review in Smithfield https://judypaolucci.edublogs.org/
January District Newsletter is available at: http://bit.ly/2rl7LIG
NO SCHOOL - Tuesday, December 17th. Road conditions are expected to be most intense through the morning and icy conditions are predicted for the afternoon.
Another great family event...Kindergarten students at Old County making gingerbread houses with the help of their families
SHS Winter Concert and Holiday Cookie Tray Sale
Wednesday, 12/11/19 at 7pm
All proceeds benefit music programs and activities
Smithfield teachers have super powers! Still at the early stages of our writing initiative, writing instruction has put Smithfield students at the top. Ranking RICAS writing item scores against other state public schools, 4 of the 7 grades tested ranked 1st-4th in the state.
Dr. Paolucci participated in SUPERS Read at Cadence Academy. The goal for this event sponsored by United Way of RI, RI Kids Count, and RIAEYC was to highlight the importance of reading to children.
New blog post: Is it Common Core or is it good math sense? http://judypaolucci.edublogs.org
Smithfield singers spreading holiday cheer at the RI State House
Middle and high school teachers engaged in professional development focused on recognizing and reacting to implicit bias. This is a continuation of our work with the Anti-Defamation League which was made possible by a grant through Tri-County Community Action and BHDDH.
SHS Open House featured showcases of CTE programs and departments, as well as students sharing their Rube Goldberg devices and knowledge of energy transfers.
2-Hour Delay on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 for Smithfield Public Schools - Stay safe, everyone!
We wish Smithfield families & staff a wonderful Thanksgiving and a restful long weekend. Hopefully, you'll have some time for catching up on district news. The December newsletter is available at http://bit.ly/2QP9KiH
SAVE THE DATE! The Illuminate Gala is planned for Saturday, April 4, 2020 at 6pm at Kirkbrae Country Club in Lincoln. Proceeds will support sound, lights, and other improvements at the SHS auditorium. Enjoy a night out while supporting the arts in Smithfield!
Thanksgiving feast at LaPerche was fun and delicious
Keep up with all that's happening in Smithfield schools!
The December district newsletter is available on this link: http://bit.ly/35FKAHr
New blog post: Changing the Engagement Culture in Your Classroom: http://bit.ly/2ORekKy
Thank you to all of our dedicated and caring Education Support Professionals!
Using Venn diagrams for analyzing setting differences in a story in kindergarten. This is rigor and kindergarteners showed that they are up for the challenge!
The Super Scoop blog post for November is titled, “Human Capital ” and provides an overview of a 2-day leadership meeting attended by 4 Smithfield administrators. See: www.judypaolucci.edublogs.org
A recent RI Kids Count publication on advisory systems and individual learning plans indicated that Smithfield is one of only 2 districts with 60% or more of students responding Yes to having an individual learning plan. Kuddos to our guidance staff!
Smithfield elementary teachers spent the day engaged in professional learning. Topics included Responsive Classroom, math, writing, science, special education practices and more!
Vaping: What Parents Need to Know - Join us at Smithfield High School on November 13th at 7 PM for an interactive discussion
I enjoyed participating in the 2019 Supers Read to Young Children event! The goal is to encourage infants and toddlers build a lifelong love of learning. This year's reading was done at Cadence Academy Preschool in Smithfield.
Thank you to Farm Fresh RI and Chartwells for providing our OCRS first graders the opportunity to visit Jaswell's Farm for a pumpkin picking adventure!!! Students in the first grade learn about seeds and how they produce new plants.
Winsor Ornaments on sale! The 5th grade class is selling ornaments as a fundraiser. Since Winsor ES will be closing, everyone may want these commemorative ornaments! Send the attached form (or get a form from Winsor), along with a check for $10 to Winsor >S before they sell out!
November 1st: Due to debris in the road from last night's storm, buses may be running late this morning.
Valley Breeze article on RICAS test scores describes improvements made on state testing in Smithfield. http://bit.ly/2N1MYSj
Join the Smithfield Prevention Coalition, Tobacco Free Rhode Island, and the Parent Advisory Council on November 13th at 7pm at SHS for an interactive discussion on vaping trends, risks, and strategies for talking to your teen.
Architects are completing detailed drawings for the elementary building projects. For plans presented on October 28th, see http://bit.ly/2pqHqI1 Also, concerns about the potential traffic at McCabe was discussed. Principals are investigating procedures to alleviate concerns.
SHS Parent Council Vendor Fair planned for Wednesday, November 13th at 7pm at the SHS media center.
From the RIDE field memo:
Shout-out to Kristine Straus, innovative art educator at Smithfield High School. Kristine consistently moderates the Art Education Twitter Chats. Join her on Sunday evenings at 8 p.m. for a virtual art studio using #artedrichat. Make some work, share some work, critique some work, learn and collaborate with one another. Amazing job, Kristine Straus! .
First Gentleman Andy Moffit led GMS students in a loud apple CRUNCH to celebrate healthy snacking and locally grown foods. Thank you to Steere Orchard, Jaswell's Farm, Farm Fresh RI, Shri Bark, Mr. Moffit and Chartwells for making this event possible!
New Blog Post: Leadership Beyond Compliance - Why is leadership at all levels - students, teachers, and administrators - important for our schools? http://judypaolucci.edublogs.org
COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS: Join us for a community meeting on Tuesday, October 22nd from 6:30 - 8:00 PM in the Smithfield High School Auditorium for a presentation from the Anti-Defamation League’s A World of Difference® Institute.
The Smithfield High School World Language Department invites you to "A Night at the Museum".
Wednesday, October 23rd; 6:00-8:00 PM
Smithfield High School
American Legion volunteers visit with OCRS 5th graders to teach care and respect for the American flag.
The Vaping Workshop originally scheduled for Wednesday, October 17th, at 7:00 PM at SHS is being postponed. We will send out the updated date as soon as it is available.
Families: Like the SPC Regional Coalition Facebook page to see updates on teen health topics. https://www.facebook.com/SPC-Regional-Prevention-Coalition-721871718159831/
Our Athletic Facilities Capital Committee is one of many good examples of strong town-school collaboration. If anyone can find a solution to our athletic capital needs, we can! http://bit.ly/322XfTz
SHS National Honor Society Society induction ceremony celebrates service, character, scholarship, and leadership. So proud of our hard-working students!
New blog post, Why Teach Summarizing? explains a tool being used in schools to improve comprehension and writing: http://judypaolucci.edublogs.org/2019/10/09/why-teach-summarizing/
BUILDING UNITY IN OUR COMMUNITY
Join us for a community meeting on Tuesday, October 22nd from 6:30 - 8:00 PM in the Smithfield High School Auditorium for a presentation from the Anti-Defamation League’s A World of Difference® Institute.
Forecasted temperatures during early Saturday morning hours will not reach low enough or for a duration long enough to eliminate the EEE and WNV threat from mosquitoes. Avoid outdoor activity at dusk, wear insect repellent and cover exposed skin to prevent a mosquito bite.
McCabe and OCRS have been accepted into the “Recess Rocks in RI” training program! The goal of the program is to engage all students in active play during recess. Each school will receive training, on-site support and a recess equipment pack valued at approximately $500.
Upcoming Smithfield Flu Clinics
Thank you Smithfield Police Department for a beautiful space for our World of Difference training.
Smithfield's October District Newsletter is available on this link: http://bit.ly/2og2v79 Also, the new blog post, Don't Stop Talking! can be found here: http://judypaolucci.edublogs.org
Join us on October 5th for the annual Pink Out soccer games!
Congratulations Liz Russillo - RI’s teacher of the year for 2019, a SHS science teacher recognized at tonight’s Waterfire
Congratulations GMS teacher and Smithfield Teacher of the Year Victoria Carruba - recognized at Waterfire tonight
Smithfield High School, in conjunction with the Smithfield Prevention Coalition, hosted a Change Direction presentation encouraging students to pay attention to their emotional well-being. Students were introduced to the 5 signs of emotional pain. #changementalhealth
This week, elementary classroom teachers observed engaging and interactive model lessons by Collins Writing Consultant, Bill Atwood.
New Blog Post: Don't stop talking! available at: judypaolucci.edublogs.org
McCabe students were featured on NBC 10's Sunrise shout-out on Friday morning, September 20, 2019/ Here's a link to see the video: https://tinyurl.com/yysjhv5x
Families filled our elementary schools at the open houses tonight. Thank you for your support!
Begging the conversations about furniture needs at renovated elementary schools. Students will love this! We can’t wait to meet with teachers about options to be considered.
LaPerche students start each day as a community.
Smithfield Elementary Families: Join us on October 8th at 6:30 in the SHS Library to learn helpful tips for building resiliency, promoting mental health, navigating social media, and starting the conversation about substance use. Register: https://forms.gle/NW5q1qXJZV3V2iSp6
DBVW Architects are refining plans for the additions and renovations to our elementary schools.Plans will continue to be refined under the direction of the school building committee. For updates, visit: http://bit.ly/2mff0yT
Seniors were winners again this year in the 2nd Annual Big Wigs Bocce Tournament!
The District Emergency Operations Team, a collaboration between Smithfield police, fire, and SPS administrators, meets regularly to maintain safety throughout our schools.
Both the Smithfield Educational Foundation and the Smithfield Rotary provide resources to teachers and to families of Smithfield. Consider supporting their upcoming fundraisers:
SEF RUBBER DUCKY REGATTA - adopt a duck to race down the Woonasquatucket River Saturday, 9/21, 2019 at 11:00 am. To ‘Adopt’ a duck online using a credit card: https://rubberduckregatta.cheddarup.com/
SEF FIVE GUYS DINNER - Help SEF earn 15% of proceeds of meals served to SEF supporters on 9/16 from 5-8pm.
ROTARY SAVOR THE FLAVOR EVENT - Buy tickets on Eventbrite to the September 24th event at Bryant. Enjoy food from local restaurants and support our Rotary! Buy tickets here: http://bit.ly/2kbLuJC
Assistant Superintendent, Sara Monaco, joined the Learning Forward team at a convening of educational organizations in NYC. The 3-day event focused on Curriculum-Based Professional Learning. Thank you to @CarnegieCorp for sponsoring this event. @LearningForward #MaterialsMatter
Here is a timely news story for parents inquiring about bullet-proof backpacks. https://www.wpri.com/…/analyst-bulletproof-backpacks-provi…/
EEE/Mosquito Update - Town and School Departments are working together to monitor the EEE risk and decrease mosquito populations in Smithfield.
Thank you to the Veterans of Foreign Wars for their generous donation of $5,000 to the Smithfield School Department which will fund $1,000 scholarships to SHS seniors with a familial connection to the armed services.
Dear Members of our School Community (and those from throughout the state!),
Unfortunately a sentence I included in an email was misinterpreted from its intended meeting. I had stated, "I hope all the news about Providence schools doesn't let people think that poor attendance is a characteristic of all teachers!" My meaning was that all the negative statements from the press should not be applied to all teachers. Unfortunately, social media has altered the meaning of the sentence. Again, the sentence was not meant to be disrespectful but, instead, was meant to indicate that the press's comments about the attendance rates should not be applied to all teachers and I meant ALL teachers - both in Providence and Smithfield. I am sorry for any bad feelings this misinterpretation has caused. I was a former Providence teacher myself!
School lunch menus are now posted on our website and will be updated the 23rd of each month. https://smithfieldps.nutrislice.com/
The telephone provider for several RI schools is experiencing technical issues & our phones at the schools have been periodically affected. Please email your school if you have to contact them about an issue today & we will update you when Cox Communications resolves the issue.
Three of the four RI schools named by the Special Olympics as Nationally Recognized Unified Champion Schools are right here in Smithfield. Congratulations McCabe Elementary, LaPerche Elementary, and Smithfield High School. http://bit.ly/2lt3krU
Congratulations to Lindsay Burrows on being selected as the 2020 RIAEA Outstanding New Art Educator of the Year! Your dedication and service to art education have been recognized by your peers. Thank you for implementing a model art education program in Smithfield!
Smithfield's September District Newsletter now available at http://bit.ly/30MLzn0 and on our website
WPRI School Survey for Smithfield available here: https://www.wpri.com/superintendent-survey/2019-superintendent-surveys-smithfield/
New blog post - 8 Tips for a Successful School Year - judypaolucci.edublogs.org
BUS ROUTES POSTED
Please see the 2019-2020 bus routes which have been posted on our website under Family Resources (https://www.smithfield-ps.org/o/smithfield-public-schools/page/transportation--244). Most routes have been updated in an effort to improve efficiency and equity.
The Smithfield Educational Foundation provides grants for innovative projects in Smithfield Schools. Support their efforts by stopping by A&W on Wednesday! A portion of the proceeds from food sales go to SEF.
What are Smithfield teachers doing a week before school starts? Attending a 4-day Responsive Classroom course focused on cultivating a positive school environment and classroom culture!
Day 1 of XQ+RI Design Camp. The Core Design Team had a great day thinking big about the future of Smithfield High School!
The school year is almost here! Get connected to news in Smithfield Schools. The August/September District Newsletter is available at http://bit.ly/2Z8lddT
New blot post, "Grit" available at http://judypaolucci.edublogs.org/2019/07/16/grit/
July/August District Newsletter is now available at http://bit.ly/2Xpjsrx
Latest designs address space in elementary schools
(Valley Breeze) http://bit.ly/2RTBQrB
New blog post - Feed the Teachers! http://judypaolucci.edublogs.org/2019/06/30/feed-the-teachers/
Happy to share our friends at the East Smithfield Public Library's Summer meal schedule for July - visit https://5il.co/8ho0
Congratulations to GMS that was awarded a Career Exploration Grant from the RI Department of Education!
http://www.ride.ri.gov/InsideRIDE/AdditionalInformation/News/ViewArticle/tabid/408/ArticleId/585/RIDE-Awards-Career-Exploration-Grants-to-18-R-I-Middle-Schools.aspx
Basketball Courts Opening Day was a huge success. Thanks for the extra touches, Al, for garnering community support, Dave, and for all other members of the committee for pulling all this together. Even at 8:45 p.m., the courts were bustling
School is officially out but our teachers are still hard at work writing the elementary math curriculum and learning about our new secondary math program that will be implemented in the fall.
The Northern RI Relay for Life takes place tomorrow, June 15th, at the SHS track.
SHS Interact students were recognized at the Smithfield Rotary Installation dinner.
Congratulations Smithfield Graduates!!! New Blog Post: Address to the Class of 2019 http://judypaolucci.edublogs.org/2019/06/12/address-to-the-class-of-2019/
Pre-kindergarten celebration - a great way to end a great school year.
The DARE Achievement Ceremony and Moving Up Ceremony for Winsor Elementary School’s fifth graders - It’s all about making good choices
Bullying Policy - The Smithfield Public Schools' bullying policy is easily found on our webpage by clicking "explore." You can also find it through this link: http://bit.ly/2I1MxF2
Smithfield High School is one of 20 RI high school teams to receive a $25,000 XQ+RI Planning Grant!!! From now until December, a Smithfield Design Team will work together to rethink high schools and create a school redesign proposal. "Let's build a super school!" #XQRI http://ride.ri.gov/InsideRIDE/AdditionalInformation/News/ViewArticle/tabid/408/ArticleId/581/20-RI-High-School-Teams-to-Receive-XQ-RI-Planning-Grants.aspx
Town of Smithfield Paw Sox Scholarship, one of the many scholarships awarded to SHS seniors tonight
SHS Honor Night begins! Congrats to all!
Mrs. Martel's Readers' Theater gave LaPerche first graders a chance to show off their reading skills!
Join us on June 6th at 6:30 in the high school media center to learn more about the Academic Honors Proposal and provide input. The full proposal can be found at http://bit.ly/shsacademichonors.
The June District newsletter is now available on the district website as well as through this link: http://bit.ly/2XeQ2gI. The next newsletter will probably be put out in mid-July, followed by one in mid/late-August, then back to the first of the month in October.
GMS National Junior Honor Society inducts 57 new members who show scholarship,citizenship, leadership, service, and character
The SHS students and staff evacuated the building this morning for a short time due to an odor observed. The fire and school departments worked together to determine the source of the odor, an exhaust fan with a faulty belt, and remedy the situation. Thanks @SmithfieldFire !
SHS Teacher Preparation CTE Pathway includes real teaching experiences for students. Preschool students participating in the playschool program "graduated" to the delight of their parents and aspiring teachers alike.
Budget update slides from last night's Smithfield School Committee meeting is available on the district website. Explore --> Departments --> Business Office --> Budget Info --> Budget Update Slides & through this link: http://bit.ly/2HUl6vV
Mrs. Friel's Class
The SHS Evening of the Arts featured beautiful artwork and live performances!
Great instruction takes planning, good routines, a repertoire of strategies, and hard work! Mrs. Friel has it all and does it all!
The District Improvement team meeting is scheduled for May 20th at 4:30pm at the PD Training Room. Our goals for this meeting will be to assess the progress on each of the action steps for our DIT, review data, and set action steps for next year.
This year, we have a new tool at our disposal - the District Dashboard. For each of the "strategies" listed, we can determine the percent completion (I did estimates a month or so ago just as a start) and we can also look at the data on the indicators tab and discuss what other data should be included. Please checkout this dashboard (go to district webpage then to explore then to District Dashboard).
There's much to celebrate and much to do. Please send an email to jpaolucci@smithfield-ps.org if you are interested in joining this team.
Please join us at the annual Evening of the Arts at Smithfield High School on May 16th from 6-8 pm. This event features the breathtaking artwork of the Fine Arts Department, two comical performances by the World Language Department, the exciting Playschool Open House, student work displays from the Family and Consumer Science Department and much much more!
There will be a silent auction sponsored by the Class of 2021 during the event. Gift baskets and gift cards will be auctioned off to the highest bidder.
Relay for Life of Northern RI - June 15th at SHS
For more information go to www.relayforlife.org or contact
northernrirelay@yahoo.com.
New Smithfield superintendent blog post: Technology Learning; Technology for Learning https://judypaolucci.edublogs.org
Members of SHS Rotary Interact participated in the Earth Day 2019 Community Clean-Up event this past Saturday at Deerfield Park. Thank you for serving our community!
Do you know a family with a child ready to go to kindergarten next year in Smithfield? Remind them to register. As of this date, 123 students are registered to attend kindergarten next year. Last minute registrations may result in last minute hirings and revised class lists!
Smithfield's May District Newsletter is now available on this link: http://bit.ly/2Vz1mqf
Annual Alumni Golf Tournament to benfit the Smithfield Baseball Boosters. Contact Amy Antunes 401.261.1826 or amy.antunes@gmail.com to register or sponsor.
RSVP by May 31st 2019.
Families and educators are invited to the State House on Saturday, May 4 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. to meet Molly Brooks, author of the 2019 Reading Across RI selection Sanity & Tallulah. Each family will receive a free copy of the book that they can have signed by the author.
Students at Gallagher Middle School sampled healthy yogurt parfaits today with Food Service Director, Shana DiPetrillo. This is just one of the healthy and delicious offerings from Chartwells!
Smithfield Public School invites bids for School Photography Services. Please visit http://smithfieldri.apptegy.us/o/smithfield-public-schools/page/doing-business-with-sps for documentation and further information.
Kids Reading Across RI encourages students in grades 4 - 6 to read the same book. You are invited to the kickoff event at the State House on May 4, 2-4 p.m. to meet Molly Brooks, author of the 2019 selection Sanity & Tallulah & receive a free copy of the book.
New blog post - For the Love of Libraries! Go to: https://judypaolucci.edublogs.org
See the documentary, "Chronic State" about how marijuana impacts communities.The screening will be held on Wednesday, April 24th at 5:30PM at the East Smithfield Library in the conference room.
Students and teachers at Winsor dressed up as their favorite vocabulary word today as a part of Reading Week 2019. This is just one of the many activities this week! Celebrate at home by reading to your child.
PARENTS DO YOU KNOW WHAT’S HIDDEN IN
PLAIN SIGHT? Join us at Smithfield High School on April 10th at 7:00 PM for an interactive exhibit that allows adults to explore a teenager’s mock bedroom. Prevention specialists will guide attendees to be able to recognize & identify signs & symptoms that may indicate alcohol or drug use and other risky behaviors.
Science Olympiad Champions! The GMS Science Olympiad team placed first at this weekend's RI competition and will be headed to Cornell in May for nationals. The SHS team placed 2nd out of 25 teams, earning a total of 13 medals overall out of 24 events, their highest number yet.
SHS students earn career credentials! Twenty-seven students achieved RIDE certification. Fifteen students took and passed the para pro test at CCRI, certifying them as paraprofessionals once classwork is completed.
The Gallagher Dance Team performed for families under the guidance of Barbara Smith-White and Jessica DeRemer. Great job!
The April district newsletter for Smithfield Schools is available online at http://bit.ly/2Oskoc2
As part of Youth Art Month, Smithfield students have art work on display at the Greenville Public Library
Hold the Date! Opioid Town Hall Meeting for Smithfield residents. April 30th at 6:30 pm at the Town Hall. Dr. Matt Malek will speak on opioid use disorder and medication assistance treatment. Come hear from a recovery support specialist.
27 SHS students have been trained in the RI Early Learning development Standards and were awarded certificates from the RI Dept. of Education at the March 18th School Committee meeting. Congratulations!
New blog post: Mathematics and Civic Engagement. Understanding the math behind the budget... https://judypaolucci.edublogs.org
"5 Tips to Encourage Reading at Home" This ED.gov blog post focuses on five ways to encourage reading in children by making the experience engaging and fun. https://blog.ed.gov/2019/03/5-tips-to-encourage-reading-at-home/
Gallagher Middle School students, Lillie McCormick and Valerie Capalbo, led by teacher Karen Guarino, won a $1,000 prize at the ADVenture Innovation Challenge. Their winning idea was to dedicate the first 15 minutes of a free period to a randomly drawn fitness activity.
The Substance Use and Mental Health Leadership Council aims to increase public awareness about available resources for individuals and families struggling with an addiction. Please complete this short survey on the effort's effectiveness. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2DDPD9L
Congratulations to Abby Trainer and Hallie Brown, winners of the Write Rhode Island short story contest!
New blog post details the Superintendent's shadowing experience at Gallagher Middle School https://judypaolucci.edublogs.org/
A meeting for the Smithfield Education Foundation will be held on Monday, 3/11 at 7pm at the SHS media center. This is a great opportunity for involvement in Smithfield Schools! http://smithfieldtimesri.net/2019/03/smithfield-education-foundation-seeks-members/
Dick Lynch, who served as Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent in Smithfield and had strong connections with athletics across RI and New England, passed away. We are grateful for his service to our community. Funeral information may be found here: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/providence/obituary.aspx?n=richard-b-lynch-dick&pid=191752545&fhid=6907
The annual 5th-grade FLAVA event took place at Winsor this afternoon. This performance is the culmination of a 12-week project integrating physical education, music, and art. This year's theme is POSITIVITY and the importance of positive messaging. Thank you to Mr. Marino, Ms. Burrows, and Mrs. Preston for their collaborative effort on this project!
Tonight's School Committee Meeting has been cancelled. The next meeting will be held on March 18th at 7:00 PM at Smithfield High School.
There will be NO SCHOOL tomorrow, March 4th, due to the anticipated snow storm. All after-school activities are also cancelled. Stay safe!
The Smithfield School District newsletter for March is available on this link: http://bit.ly/2SrJPuu
There will be a 1 hour delay tomorrow, Thursday, 2/28/19, due to the impending weather conditions. Travel safely everyone!
A good reminder - It is so important to #SaySomething to a trusted adult if you see, hear, or read a threat of violence. Please watch and RT: http://bit.ly/1G2r2cW
There are three road closures in Smithfield that may affect bus dropoff today (2/25). One is on Woodland Avenue at Waterman Avenue. The second is on Mann School Road between the 2 Conners Farm entrances. The third is at #24 Colwell Road.
Each year there are 2 million acts of violence in
schools. Even though Smithfield is a relatively safe community, everyone should know, when you #SaySomething, you can help
prevent acts of violence. http://bit.ly/2vMArHM
The Smithfield School Committee will be considering the FY20 budget at its February 25th meeting - 7pm at SHS Media Center.
New blog post focuses on rigor: http://judypaolucci.edublogs.org/2019/02/15/rigor/
The Smithfield Art Department invites you to an exhibition of student art work. February 27th, 3pm- 5:30pm. RI State House, 2nd Fl. Featuring: Eva Chaput, SHS; Kileigh Hodgkins, GMS; Eli Thimas, OCRS; Alana Roman, LaPerche ES; Isabella Ramieri, Winsor ES. Kaya Gaffney, McCabe ES.
There will be a 2 hour early dismissal tomorrow, Tuesday, February 12th, due to the impending storm. There will be no after school activities.
Mrs. Friel's kindergarten class at LaPerche is singing a science song led by the music teacher, Mrs. Barrette. Right now our budding scientists are investigating the properties of wood. Integrating subject areas maximizes learning.
The artwork of SHS student, Eva Chaput, was selected to appear in a RI State House exhibition. The mixed media work is a beautiful rendering of her family vacation home with figure drawings of herself as a baby, toddler, child, and teenager.
Join us on on Wednesday, February 13th, at 7 PM in the SHS Media Center for this no-cost prevention program about prescription drug misuse and abuse. Thank you to CVS for sponsoring this event.
Fidelity and the RI Center for the Book donated copies of What the Eyes Don’t See for the entire SHS Freshman class. Thanks to community partners, we are able to provide enriching experiences for our students.
Congratulations to our four-time district spelling bee champion Anna Costello (gr. 7) and runner-up Emma Ferraro (gr. 8)! Anna will now represent Smithfield at the RI Spelling Bee at Lincoln Middle School on March 16th, 2019 at 10:00 AM. Come and cheer on this amazing speller!
Thank you to our amazing school counselors for the tremendous impact they have in helping our students achieve success. Take a minute to thank your counselor today!
Tonight's budget workshop included information about a variety of District needs and updated the School Committee on the draft FY20 budget. To view the workshop slides, go to: http://bit.ly/2WJV7xx
Keep up with district work by reading our newsletter each month. The February newsletter is available at http://bit.ly/2SgVy2W
The Northern RI Relay For Life--an annual event in June held at the Smithfield High School track involving all Northern RI towns, raises money in the united fight against cancer. A Kickoff event is organized to invite new teams to join in this endeavor.
Extremely cold weather tomorrow morning will necessitate that parents carefully supervise students at bus stops. We are planning to start school on time unless issues with buses arise due to the cold weather. Please stay tuned!
The RFQs for OMP services and designer services (architect) for the elementary reconfiguration project in Smithfield are posted! See https://www.smithfieldri.com/bids/#pm and https://www.smithfieldri.com/bids/#design
Congratulations to the 49 seniors inducted into the National Honor Society this evening! How fortunate they were to hear such an inspirational speech delivered by Smithfield High School alum, Erik Deneault '97, centered around the importance of service.
The budget process is especially difficult this year in Smithfield. Keep up with our progress by visiting the finance page of the district website. For the slides presented at the January 22nd budget workshop, click on this link: http://bit.ly/2T9VwY9
Thank you to Chartwells, Farm Fresh RI, and RIHSC for bringing the Local Food Ambassador Program to Smithfield! Parents & community members were trained to host cafeteria taste-tests featuring locally-grown produce in the hopes of exposing our students to more fruits & veggies!
Smithfield Public Schools will be on a one hour delay for Tuesday, January 22, 2018 to prepare for icy conditions around our schools. 12 month employees should report on time.
Even with a one hour delay tomorrow, it's important to bundle up and watch for children at bus stops. Drive safe everyone!
Lisa Cournoyer, SPS Finance Director, and I are learning about best practices in school budgeting - Presented by RIASBO and RISSA.
The Rhode Island Department of Human Services asked us to share information with SNAP recipients. See this link: http://bit.ly/2FwMIs8
Today's blog post is a letter to Governor Raimondo in response to her State of the State address. It's vitally important to our community and our state for everyone to understand the issue being faced by SPS for FY20. http://judypaolucci.edublogs.org
Kuddos to our facilities director, Angelo Mencucci, our middle school principal & assistant principal, Laurie Beauvais & John Burns, & our custodial & maintenance staff for safely & efficiently installing furniture for GMS's 2nd floor. What a difference this makes for students!
“Why Veteran Teachers Need an Instructional Coach”
Liz Russillo, 2019 Smithfield Teacher of the Year, shares about how two veteran teachers have spent the year working with instructional coaches and have been inspired by the best professional development of their career. Read her full post. (Source: RIDE)
http://bit.ly/2AFU8oK
Smithfield Rotary’s celebrations program puts birthday party supplies in the hands of local families
The School Committee met w/ the Town Council to share concerns about reductions in state aid and progress on budgeting for FY20. All budget documents, including slides, will be posted on the district website. Slides used at this meeting can be found here. http://bit.ly/2HgVKLF
On December 18, 2018, the U.S. Surgeon General declares use of e-cigarettes among youth an epidemic. E-cigarettes contain nicotine, which can lead to addiction and can cause harm to developing adolescent brains.
Kindergarten registration for 2019-20 begins January 28th! Call to set up your appointment today. For more information and registration forms see https://bit.ly/2TBE7av.
Children should participate in Child Outreach screening annually, at 3, 4, and 5 years old prior to starting kindergarten.
If your preschool child has not yet been screened this school year by Child Outreach, please contact our office for an appointment (231-6608 or cpoyton@smithfield-ps.org).
Screening is scheduled to take place January 22-25, 2019 at the School Administration Building on Farnum Pike.
When it comes to Smithfield preschoolers, our goal is to screen Every Child, Every Year!
Did you know? While 82% of GMS students reported believing that their friends would think negatively about their use of vaping products, this reduces to 38% for SHS students. Let's work together to make vaping history.
Come to an ‘Open House’ for the Smithfield Education Foundation - January 14 at 4pm in the SHS Media Center. The Smithfield Education Foundation is looking for new volunteers. If you are interested but cannot attend, please contact them at smithfieldedfoundation@gmail.com.
Most (>90%) SHS students report that their peers do NOT use illegal drugs, nor consume alcohol, but almost half report that at least one peer uses marijuana. Let's not be complacent nor turn a blind eye. Let's work together to make sure our youth know the danger of marijuana use.
Monday night's School Committee meeting is posted on the SC webpage on the district site. On Tuesday of this week we'll also be meeting with the Town Council for a joint meeting (5:30pm at town hall) to enhance understanding of school department budgeting, goals, and operations.
New district newsletter for January, 2019 is available on the superintendent page of the district website as well as through this link: http://bit.ly/2GCdNLT Keep up with all the news in Smithfield schools!
New blog post, New Year's Resolutions, provides resolutions for the school district and a New Year's greeting to our school community - go to: judypaolucci.edublogs.org
We wish you a safe and enjoyable school vacation, a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
The Smithfield High School Academy of Finance held its Annual Holiday Breakfast on Wednesday, December 19th. Approximately 90 students, alumni, educators, school administrators, business partners, and members of the school committee gathered to network, reflect and celebrate the past year’s accomplishments.
Here's what NOT to put in teenagers' stockings this year... vaping is addictive. Let's work together to eliminate vaping by Smithfield youth.
Can’t wait to replace these 45+ year old desks at GMS! 2019 will bring new furniture to the 2nd floor
SAVE THE DATE! Join us on January 24th, 2019 at 6:30 PM at Smithfield High School for SCREENAGERS: Growing Up in the Digital Age. This award-winning documentary and the moderated discussion that follows address the struggles over tech time and social media while offering solutions on how we can help our children navigate the digital world. Sign up today! https://bit.ly/2r4LX0d
New blog post - "A Formula for Disaster" explains the state aid formula in Rhode Island. There's still more investigation to do to determine why Smithfield is predicted to receive about a 20% decrease in state aid for FY20. https://judypaolucci.edublogs.org
Sentinel Singers add joyous music to our School Committee meeting.
Rhode Island Reads partner meeting - important work for all our state’s children. Children who do not read proficiently by the end of 3rd grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school than their peers.
Power Restored! Power has been restored at LaPerche Elementary School. Thank you National Grid! Thanks as well to our facilities director, fire department, and school staff for developing contingency plans and for keeping students safe and comfortable during the outage.
Richard Iannitelli was elected to the position of vice-chairperson and Jean Harnois was elected as secretary at the December 3rd meeting of the Smithfield School Committee.
Rosemarie Cipriano was elected to the role of chairperson of the Smithfield School Committee at its December 3rd meeting.
No School for Students - Thursday, December 6th - Parent-teacher conferences for elementary schools and professional development day for middle and high schols
School Committee meets tonight at 7pm at the SHS media center.
December district newsletter now available online at http://bit.ly/2DRSe6T
SHS is hosting a showcase on December 5 from 6-8 pm. The showcase provides information to students & families about programs at the high school. Both Smithfield residents and nonresidents are invited. Non resident students may be accepted into specialized, CTE programs at SHS.
New blog post: Writing, a Key to Academic Success http://judypaolucci.edublogs.org
2017-18 Annual Report Available...visit https://5il.co/5jig to see how Smithfield Public Schools continues to work to help all Smithfield's students to succeed!