Norwood News
2-5-24
Message from Dr. Antonelli
We are passed the halfway mark of the school year and will be celebrating the 100th day this coming Friday! We have a few things happening over the next few weeks prior to February break. We are still collecting can goods for our Food Pantry and will celebrate with a Souper Bowl Pep Rally if we meet our goal on Friday. Friday will also be a Spirit Day where everyone can where thier favorite football team gear. Friday night will be a Norwood Family Night at the Providence Bruins game. We will be celebrating our first grade teacher, Kristin Pina. She will be awarded a Teacher in the Spotlight Award! Congratulations! Valentine's Grams are up for order. Orders due Friday! We also still have some chocolate boxes up for grabs! Please let us know if you need another to sell!
Next week the PTA will start Coin Wars with all classes! See the information Below! Next Monday we have our parent performance of our Chorus Concert. We also have our monthly PTA meeting. Jump rope for Hearts will start in all PE and Health classes. Wednesday will be a Spirit day where everyone can wear Pink or Red. Valentine's Grams will be delivered. Thursday there is a Norwood Family Night at Launch! We will get a portion of the proceeds back to the 5th grade committee.
Our local Warwick Police Officer may be seen at dismissal. He will be there whenever he is available to come to help with traffic and parking. We thank him for his support!
There have been some concerns around the drop off and pick up loop. With the colder weather and more families driving students to school there has been a bit of a back up. Please keep in mind that more students tend to be driven to school in colder and inclement weather and plan accordingly. To help alleviate this a bit we will be moving all buses in the morning to the bus turn around loop in the front. The loop in the back of the school is a drive thru loop. It is not intended for parking and or stopping and leaving your car. If you need to do this please park in one of the lots in the side or back of the school. Please do not park along the loop for the safety of our staff and students. Please see the picture below to help as a guide of where to go.
Norwood School hours are 9:00 am - 3:10 pm.
Drop off is 8:40 am for students having breakfast and 8:50am for everyone else. We are not staffed before that time for drop off.
Students are dismissed at 3:10pm. Students in grades K-2 are dismissed out of the back of the All Purpose Room. Students in grade 3-5 are dismissed out the back door in front of the playground.
Please consult our school handbook.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.
See everyone tomorrow!
Dates to remember:
2/5/24 - Student Performance Chorus Concert
2/9/24 - 100th Day of School
2/9/24 - Souper Bowl Pep Rally
2/9/24 - Valentine's Gram Oder Forms Due
2/9/24 - Wear Your Favorite Football Team Gear Day
2/9/24 - Providence Bruins Game @ 7pm
2/12/24 - 2/16/24 - Coin Wars
2/12/24 - Family Performance Chorus Concert 2pm
2/12/24 - Jump Rope for Hearts in PE class
2/12/24 - PTA Meeting
2/14/24 - Wear Pink or Red Spirit Day
2/15/23 - Launch Family Fun Night Fundraiser
2/19/24 - 2/23/24 No School President's Day Break
2/27/24 - Vision Screenings
Coin Wars
SurveyWorks
Family Survey
The Rhode Island Department of Education is currently administering its annual SurveyWorks Family Survey, which is an opportunity for family members to provide feedback about our school community and our children’s opportunities to learn. The survey results are most useful when all families participate.
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 school community to make improvements. 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 between January 16 and March 31. You may use any electronic device that has access to the internet to complete the survey. Family surveys are available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Choose your school from the dropdown list, Norwood School (Warwick). If you don’t have access to the Internet, please contact Norwood Elementary School at 401-734-3525 to access the survey.
Every student's family that completes the form recognizing survey completion will be entered into a school-wide raffle for three different prizes including book bags, gift certificates and prize baskets. The first class to have 100% completion will receive a pizza party. Your participation and input is truly appreciated!
Student Survey
I am pleased to announce that children in grades 3-12 will have the opportunity to give feedback about your children’s school through SurveyWorks, a statewide survey that asks you questions about the learning environment of schools. In a time where testing is all around us, this is your chance to let the school know what you think – so that schools in turn can learn how to improve the learning environment for your children. This year, we have decided to focus on learning in the schools
Topics on the survey include:
School Safety
School Climate
Teacher-Student Relationships
Rigorous Expectations
College and Career Readiness
You can preview the survey content at this link: Elementary Student. As in previous years, all surveys are anonymous and taking the survey is voluntary.
Students will take the survey in class and be proctored by their classroom teacher. Students, parents and staff will be able to take the survey between January 16th and March 31st, 2023. We appreciate your participation and look forward to using the survey results as a guide to improving our school. All surveys are available in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Accommodations will be offered as necessary.
Thank you for helping to make our schools better for all students!
February PTA Calendar
Annoucements
Girls on the Run Sign-ups
Discover Girl Scouts
Parenting Partners
Norwood Parenting Opportunity!
We are starting another round of Parenting Partners at the end of this month. This group will meet on Mondays starting January 29th at Lippitt Elementary and is open to ALL Title I school community members. I highly encourage you to come connect with other parents and discover more ways to support your child's growth. As parents, we all want the best for our children and Parenting Partners is an incredible program designed to strengthen school communities. Mondays can be rough, but we guarantee they will become your [second] favorite day of the week! (we can’t compete with Friday) We’re providing FREE childcare & dinner for your family so that you, the adult(s), can laugh and have a wonderful experience with other parents. 100% of past participants in Warwick recommend this program to others. RSVP today!
Parent Group Opportunity
Indoor versus Outdoor Recess
RI STATE POLICY 16-21-36. Outdoor recess
No elementary school or private preschool shall permit recess to be held outdoors when the local temperature falls below thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit (32oF)/ zero degrees Celsius (0oC).
See document on link above.
We should of course take the wind chill into consideration.
If the wind chill is 29 degrees or lower please use your discretion. Please make sure students
are dressed appropriately for the weather.
We're Hiring!
Hiring Now!
Community Updates
Community Flyer Updates Now on our Website
To access community flyers please utilize our existing website, with a new 'Community Updates' page.
Once a week, midweek, WPS will send a push notification to all school families regarding new flyers added to the Community Update page, along with a note to check frequently for up to date updates.
City Ordinance
City Ordinance
Lunch
Warwick Public Schools Mobile App
Warwick Public Schools Mobile App
Norwood Title I Information
Backpack Food Assistance Program
Congratulations on earning this prestigious designation, which recognizes your incredible work as national leaders in developing strong family-school partnerships
Fundraising
Please Keep Our Ongoing Fundraisers in Mind
Norwood Spirit Wear
VOWS - Volunteers of Warwick Schools
From The Rhode Island Department of Education
What is Chronic Absenteeism?
Chronic Absenteeism is a measure of how many students miss a defined number of school days for any reason. Rhode Island defines Chronic Absenteeism as the percentage of students who miss 10% or more school days during the year (or 2 days per month).
Research shows that chronic absenteeism is associated with a number of negative consequences for students, including lower achievement, disengagement from school, course failure, and increased risk of dropping out.
Early Dismissals
Please refrain from requesting an early dismissal for your child after 2:45pm. The dismissal process begins at 3:05pm and it becomes very difficult for us to fill an early dismissal request once the process begins.
Student Absences
Students will be marked absent, no matter the reason, if they are not in school.
If the absence is COVID related it will be entered as an excused absence.
STUDENT ABSENCE CALL-IN PROCEDURE
In accordance with Rhode Island State Law #16-19-10, Notification of Pupil Absence, the Warwick School Department requires that all parents/guardians call their child’s elementary school on the day that he/she will not be in attendance. We would like to receive all calls by 9:15 in the morning. If you are aware of a pending absence, feel free to call at any time prior to the day of the absence. In the event we do not hear from you, an automated call will be sent at 10:00 a.m. to inform you that your child did not arrive at school.
ASPEN Family Portal
It is important that the Aspen Family Portal is updated with correct address and contact information. Students can only be released to emergency contacts listed in the Family Portal so please make sure this is updated. You can find more information about the Family Portal on the district website here. Using the WPS Family Portal (PDF) WPS Family Portal (direct link)
Updates
Warwick Public Schools
Warwick Special Education Advisory Committee Brochure
Warwick is moving forward with implementing the WPS Vision of a Graduate for all students!
Important Reminders
- Please make sure students are dressed appropriately for the weather. If you need help with this please reach out.
- There are no water fountains at school for health and sanitation reasons. Students are advised to bring in a refillable bottle to use at the water refill station.
- The parking lot for arrival and dismissal hours is a one way loop.
- Please be mindful of the buses, stop signs and the crosswalks.
- Outside toys are not allowed in school including Pokemon cards. We have enough for students to do and games to play!
Norwood Thought Corner
Norwood School
Dr. Sabrina Antonelli
National Distinguished Principal
2023 RI Elementary Principal of the Year
Instagram account @principalantonelli
Cell: 401- 871-4350
Fax: 401-734-3528
Email: sabrina.antonelli@warwickschools.org
Website: https://norwood.warwickschools.org/o/nee/
Location: 266 Norwood Avenue, Warwick, RI, USA
Phone: 401-734-3525
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wpsnorwoodknights
Twitter: @principalant