Hope Valley School Weekly Update
Friday, January 24, 2020
Calendar of Events
February 2020
10 - PTO Metting at 6:30
13 - Early Release Day (No PM preschool)
14-17 - Winter Recess
School Calendar for 2020-2021
Green Screen Video Productions
Hello Hope Valley! Check out what the green screen team will be doing the rest of the year. Watch this 37 second video first on what to expect going forward: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PlqQtYBcJM&feature=youtu.be
Breakfast and Lunch Information
This week, a small team of people (principal, parent, lunch staff) met with Cindy Buxton who is part of the Health and Wellness committee for Chariho. I learned some rather interesting facts about food nutrition during our time together. Most notably, did you know that children should not consume more than 25 grams of added sugars per day. Added sugars are sugars or caloric sweeteners that manufacturers put in foods or drinks. Food packages are now including this information on the labels. See the information below according to AHA guidelines which differs for men, women, and children regarding added sugars.
- Men - Men should consume no more than 38 g or 9 teaspoons (tsp) of sugar.
- Women - Women should consume nor more than 25 g or 6 tsp of sugar.
- Children - Children between the ages of 2 and 18 should consume no more than 25 g, or 6 tsp, of added sugar daily.
Other facts I learned:
- Our school lunch program follows the RI Department of Education (RIDE) lunch program guidelines which is actually more strict than the National School Lunch Program guidelines.
- Chocolate Milk vs White Milk - At HVES, the majority of children will take chocolate milk over white milk. While watching students have breakfast the other day, most children were using chocolate milk for their cereal which was very surprising for me. I always assumed everyone used white milk for cereal. I'd like to state that chocolate milk contains 7 grams of added sugars while white milk contains no added sugars. So, if a child has chocolate milk for breakfast and chocolate milk for lunch, that is already 14 grams out of the 25 grams recommended of added sugars for the day and that is just from chocolate milk.
- NEW RECOMMENDATIONS! Research shows that what children drink from birth through age five has a big impact on their health – both now and for years to come. The nation’s leading health organizations agree that for most kids, the recommendations can help to set children on a path for healthy growth and development. As always, consult with your health care provider about your child’s individual needs. information comes from https://healthydrinkshealthykids.org/
Information of what is offered to students for both breakfast and lunch:
To create a meal, students must take at least 3 food items. (See "Create a Meal" attachment below). For best nutrition, children are encouraged to choose all 5 food groups: Grains, Meat, Milk, Fruits, Veggies. Students must:
- Select a 1/2 cup of fruit or vegetable (or both)
- Pick a second serving of fruit or some other foods like: Whole Grains, Lean Protein, or a serving of Milk
- Take a minimum of 3 food items
This is a link for the breakfast and lunch menus:
https://chariho.nutrislice.com/menu/hope-valley-elementary?mode=browse
Breakfast costs: $1.25 and Lunch costs $2.70
RICAS Testing Information
Dear Parents and Guardians of Students in Grades 3 and 4:
State assessments are an important component of Chariho’s Comprehensive Assessment System. These assessments provide us with information to measure the effectiveness of our curriculum and programs, and identify areas where students may need extra support. Your child’s results provide information about his/her progress towards being on the road to college and career readiness.
This year, your child will participate in the online RICAS (Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System) assessments in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics.
RICAS assessments will be administered on the following dates:
Grade 3 & 4 ELA - Tuesday, April 7 and Wednesday, April 8
Grade 3 & 4 Math - Tuesday, April 28 and Wednesday, April 29
The school will provide a complimentary breakfast to students before tests are administered. We appreciate your support in making sure your child:
Has a good night’s sleep;
Attends school; and
Arrives to school on time.
Thank you for your continued involvement in and support of your child’s education. Please contact your child’s teacher or myself if you wish to learn more.
Parent Pickup Issues
Every year we tend to go through safety issues at the K-4 parent pickup and every year I end up calling for the police to come and monitor the parking lot. If there are no open spots in the visitor spots, DO NOT PARK in a numbered spot as these are staff parking spots. DO NOT PARK in the stacking lane along the outside of the parking lot where buses enter and exit because this causes congestion. Lastly, DO NOT BLOCK the one-way circle or double park near the Kindergarten room. This area needs to always remain passable for emergency vehicles. I understand it is just a few minutes but I have been told numerous times that this needs to be clear at ALL TIMES.
In the end, it is not worth it when the congestion ends up causing an accident or god forbid worse. There are children and parents walking through the parking lot. Hate to be so blunt but it's a disaster waiting to happen. SAFETY IS MY TOP PRIORITY! There is nothing more I can do about the parking. I'd appreciate it if we can all be mindful of this policy.
1. Park on Locustville Road (in front of the school) and walk up the stairs to pick up your child.
2. Park at Woodriver Pre-school and walk up Thelma Drive (between 3:00-3:30 only). I called today and asked for permission if parents can use their parking lot. They know how important safety is and instantly approved.
3. Parents always have the option of utilizing the bus. If you need a new bus transportation form, you can get it on the Chariho website under the parent/student tab or contact Donna in the office at 401-539-2321 or by clicking here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfvF_vp87I9kbeUzt-jvOIbI3UgN_hNaegjRO1KCN2xO5VBCw/viewform
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY CONCERN!
URI Family Night
Kindergarten Registration
I know this is early to start thinking about but I wanted to get the information out sooner rather than later. Included on Kindergarten Registration Day will be school tours, play centers, light refreshments, and a special gift for our newest students. Parents will have an opportunity to speak to the principal and a kindergarten teacher. No appointment will be necessary on March 17 or March 18.
What should I bring with me? It'll be important for parents to bring immunization records, birth certificate, and a locator card. These three things are a must to complete your registration packet. There will be a flyer coming home out soon. Stay tuned and please pass along news to those who have an incoming Kindergarten student. Much appreciated.
Survey Time...Need your Help!
The Rhode Island Department of Education is currently administering its yearly SurveyWorks Parent Survey, which is an opportunity for parents to provide feedback about our school and our children’s opportunities to learn. The survey results are most useful when all parents participate, so I am writing to ask you to participate in this survey.
Your views on matters like the safety of your child at school, the way students are taught, the condition of the school, and how connected you feel to this school are important. By taking this short survey you can help our school leadership and our parent-teacher organization to make improvements to our school. Responses are anonymous and cannot be linked to any individual; no one can tie your responses back to you.
You can take the short survey online anytime between now and March 31st. To take the survey, visit: surveys.panoramaed.com/ride and enter one of the access codes below:
- For students in grades Kindergarten through 4th grade, enter 98107family
- For students in pre-school, enter 98109family
HVES Blogs
There are tabs you can click on on the home page:
- Home tab - for a variety of games, coding, resources, etc.
- Kicking it with the Arts Blog tab - It's an Arts Spotlight which ties into our school specialty.
- Mrs. Ward's Blog tab - on what's going on in the library
- More tab - to access blogs written by some talented students
Pennies for Patients
Each year Chariho Middle School participates in Pennies for Patients raising money for research to fight leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood cancers. This year we are asking all Chariho schools to help us reach our goal. Within our district we have several students and staff members who have survived because of the money raised for research. A donation box will be in the office for collecting donations. Online donations can be made as well. Just pick up a slip at the donation box for directions on how to donate online. We want to thank you ahead for all your support. Let's be the change!
To donate on-line just click on the following link: https://events.lls.org/pages/neri/Chariho-Middle-School-2020
Thank you for your time and support,
Chariho Middle School
Supporting Children in the Age of Anxiety: Facts, Strategies, and Hope
Description: This presentation will discuss strategies for helping today's youth cope in a stress-filled world. Discussion will include historical policies and societal practices which, combined with changes in parenting, have resulted in an increase in anxiety disorder diagnoses among this age group. The presentation will offer six evidence-based strategies to support strong mental health and coping skills and reduce anxiety and other mental health concerns among children and adolescents.
About the Presenter: Ellen Flannery-Schroeder, Ph.D., ABPP is a Professor of Psychology and Director of the Clinical Psychology Program at the University of Rhode Island (URI). Dr. Flannery-Schroeder graduated from Franklin and Marshall College, received her M.A. from Connecticut College and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Temple University. Dr. Flannery-Schroeder’s areas of research and clinical expertise include anxiety disorders in children; efficacy of cognitive-behavioral treatment and prevention programs for children at risk for anxiety; as well as the role of family factors in the onset and maintenance of childhood anxiety. Dr. Flannery-Schroeder also directs the outpatient Child Anxiety Program in the Psychological Consultation Center at URI and serves as Co-Director of the New England Center for Anxiety in Westerly and North Kingstown, RI.
When: Thursday, February 6, 2020
Where: Warwick Veterans Middle School (Auditorium), 2401 West Shore Road, Warwick, RI 02889
Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
To register: please email Jessica Schad at wseac@warwickschools.org (preferred method) or text 401-474-3744
Please Note: This workshop is FREE and open to Parents, Students, Family members, Guardians, General and Special Educators, Teacher Assistants, School Administrators, OT's, PT's, SLP's, other related service providers, and all community members.
* The WSEAC has a new Facebook page. Please follow us at www.facebook.com/WarwickSEAC/
Flu News
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is announcing that the flu is now “widespread” in Rhode Island. RIDOH is also reminding Rhode Islanders about seeking medical care if you or your child are experiencing flu like symptoms. RIDOH has information online for guidance on what to do if you are having symptoms of shortness of breath, fevers’ or persistent cough.
Per the Flu Information for Parents with Young Children | CDC, everyone older than 6 months of age should be vaccinated against the flu every year. Flu shots are available at doctors' offices and pharmacies throughout Rhode Island at no cost.
If your child is experiencing flu-like symptoms and/or has a temperature of 100.5 or higher, please do not send them to school and follow up with your healthcare provider. If your child has the flu or flu-like symptoms, please follow up with their doctor before they return to school.
Remember, the best way to prevent the spread of illness is hand washing!!
Per District Policy, students should not be in school if they are actively vomiting, have a temperature of 100.5 or greater, have frequent diarrhea or have severe cold symptoms.
As always, please feel free to contact Mrs. Larned with any questions!
Lynn Larned, RN CSNT
401-315-2826
Reminders
- Payment for the Morning Program is due at the beginning of each month. If you need a form, stop or call the office.
- Also, the Morning Program STARTS at 7:30. Technically it starts at 7:35 because everything is programmed through our time clock. Staff punch in at 7:30 so they need time to get to the gym to set up. At Hope Valley, we have always allowed students to come for 7:30 but we cannot let children in before 7:30 because no one will be in the gym.
- We have many students with negative lunch balances. Please be sure parents are taking care of any balances ASAP. Checks can be made out to Chariho Regional School District
- If your child comes in at 8:00 for Dreambox with Mr. Mulvey or reading support with Mrs. Pastore or Maker Morning/Green Screen with Mrs. Ward, students must not be coming before 7:55 or they will be charged $3.50 per day.
Differences between being RUDE, MEAN, or a BULLY
This was shared with teachers and staff and wanted to share it with all of you to help children understand the differences between someone being mean, someone being rude, and someone being a bully. From the article “Rude, Mean, or Bullying? A Child Therapist Defines the Differences” https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=20215&https=true
RUDE is “inadvertently saying or doing something that hurts someone else.” In children this takes the form of social errors like “burping in someone's face, jumping ahead in line, bragging about achieving the highest grade or even throwing a crushed up pile of leaves in someone's face.” The critical factor? “Incidents of rudeness are usually spontaneous, unplanned inconsideration, based on thoughtlessness, poor manners or narcissism, but not meant to actually hurt someone.”
Being MEAN involves “purposefully saying or doing something to hurt someone once (or maybe twice).” Mean behavior very much aims to hurt or depreciate someone.... Very often, mean behavior in kids is motivated by angry feelings and/or the misguided goal of propping themselves up in comparison to the person they are putting down.” And while Whitson agrees that both rudeness and mean behavior require correction, they are “different from bullying in important ways that should be understood and differentiated when it comes to intervention.”
BULLYING is “intentionally aggressive behavior, repeated over time, that involves an imbalance of power.... Kids who bully say or do something intentionally hurtful to others and they keep doing it, with no sense of regret or remorse — even when targets of bullying show or express their hurt or tell the aggressors to stop.” Whitson gives examples of multiple kinds of bullying, including physical and verbal aggression, relational aggression (like social exclusion, hazing, or rumor spreading), and cyberbullying. The key aspect to all of them is the ongoing nature of the behavior, which leaves the victims feeling powerless and fearful.
Social Media Outlets
@CharihoRegional
use #HopeValleyHawks
The PTO Corner
Next meeting February 10, 2020 at 6:30 pm in the Hope Valley School Library
PTO Board Members:
- PTO President: Becky Champlin
- PTO Vice President: Leah Sousa
- PTO Treasurer: Stephanie DaPonte
- PTO Secretary: Chloe Morgan and Kristen Clarke
- PTO Communication: Chelsea Baker
- PTO Contact Email: hopepto15@gmail.com
- School Principal: Giuseppe Gencarelli – Giuseppe.Gencarelli@chariho.k12.ri.us
- School Secretary: Donna Sunderland– Donna.Sunderland@chariho.k12.ri.us
PTO meetings are typically the second working Monday each month. If you’re not able to make the meeting but still want to be involved please send an email to our PTO to make sure you receive a copy of the meeting minutes hopepto15@gmail.com.
Meeting dates for the year are as follows:
- Feb 10, 2019 @ 6:30
- March 9, 2019 @ 6:30
- April 13, 2019 @ 6:30
- May 11, 2019 @ 6:30
About Hope Valley Elementary School
The mission of the Hope Valley Elementary School is to work in partnership with our colleagues, students and families. We are committed to creating a learning environment where children are expected to achieve their full potential.
Email: ggen@chariho.k12.ri.us
Website: hopevalley.chariho.k12.ri.us
Location: 15 Thelma Drive, Hope Valley, RI, United States
Phone: 401-539-2321
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mr.Gencarelli/?ref=br_rs
Twitter: @JoeGencarelli1