Hope Valley School News
September 4, 2015
Calender of Events
9/8 - School Committee Meeting (CHS Library 7:00)
9/14 - PTO Meeting > 6:30 in Library
9/17 - Early Release (AM Pre-K only 8:45-1:45)
9/22 - School Committee Meeting (Mrs. Foggo will be presented with the 2014-2015 RI History Teacher of the Year Award at 7:00 in the CHS Library - All are welcome!)
9/23 - School Pictures (More information to come)
9/30 - Open House > Grades PK, K, 1 > 6-7:30
10/1 - Open House > Grades 2, 3, 4 > 6-7:30
Playground News
On the first day of school this year, I took the children and staff outside to see the updated playground. Home Depot personnel devoted their free time to make this possible for us. As you recall, it all started as we cheered on Matt Lauer as he rode his bike for the Red Nose Challenge. We raised some money and wallah: Matt Lauer returns to our school and giving back to us an updated playground. You can watch the clip down below if you'd like to revisit it. So, after a long and busy summer redoing the playground, I brought the children out to have a small ribbon cutting event. Home Depot associates greeted the children as they entered the newly updated playground. After talking with all the children and explaining the entire process, I gave the children some time to enjoy the equipment. See pictures below. There were multiple donations from local vendors who helped make this a reality. There was a budget of $40,000 to complete this project. Without the donations we would not have even come close to making this happen. Couldn't have done it with Home Depot Project Manager Al Seifert, Store Manager Scarlett Driscoll, and Home Depot Associate, Rick Diaz. A very big thank you to Scott Sunderland of S&S Landscaping. The biggest piece of the project is what lies beneath the wood chips. Mr. Sunderland spent numerous days digging up the playground to install and repair the drainage issues. Can't thank Mr. Sunderland enough for his devotion and dedication. There were many other companies as well that helped out like:
OLD CASTLE – Donation and transportation of wood chips
THE GRANITE GROUP, WESTERLY – Felt for drainage
ASHAWAY CEMENT PRODUCTS - 5 Cement Culverts
TURF INC. - Transportation of new equipment from staging site to Hope Valley School
Bob and Anna Caruolo – Supplied staging site for new equipment until site at school was ready to receive it. Donated one roll of felt for drainage system.
RICHMOND SAND AND GRAVEL – Gravel for drainage and walkway
TOWN OF HOPKINTON HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT. – Removal of debris from site, removal of dead branches from trees overhanging playground area, sweeping parking lot
JM EAGLE – Drainage pipe as well as took care of the freight costs
STATEWIDE FENCING – Installation of new fence as well as installing new posts and fencing along the back parking lot so it is now fully enclosed.
ED FRENCH AND SON - Helping to install the cement culverts and digging trenches.
THANK YOU TO ALL INVOLVED FOR MAKING THIS SUCH A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY PROJECT! WE LOVE OUR PLAYGROUND!!!!
Other Important Information
Key Information
Please contact me at ggen@chariho.k12.ri.us if you have any questions or concerns. To receive weekly email updates I encourage you to sign-up for the Hope Valley list- serve. Follow the steps on the district webpage at www.chariho.k12.ri.us. (Click on the newsletters link on the far right and then follow the steps.)
Twitter and Webpage
Please follow me on Twitter for school updates and events @JoeGencarelli1. Please do not forget the number 1. Also, you will be able to find a ton of information on the Hope Valley webpage at www.chariho.k12.ri.us/hv.
Dismissal/Pick-Up Notes
We are going to try a new routine this year. Please use the dismissal/pick-up note that came home with your student this week. Keep the extras around for future use. Fill it out accordingly and return it to school. You can find the dismissal note on the Hope Valley webpage if you need to make additional copies. You can find this at: www.chariho.k12.ri.us/sites/default/files/hv_student_dismissal_note_3_per_page.pdf
School Hours for the 2015-2016 School Year
School hours are from 8:35 until 3:25. Office hours are from 7:30-3:30.
Emergency Release Forms
Attached is your child’s Emergency/Consent to Release Form. This is the single most important form you will get this year. This is our LIFELINE to you. Please make any necessary changes and additions. It is imperative that we receive this form back, completed, and signed by 9/11/15, even if there are no changes. If at any time during the school year any information needs to be updated, please contact the office ASAP. I cannot stress this enough. Please list all authorized persons you designate to pick up your child(ren) from school. Remember that your child(ren) will NOT be released to anyone not on the list on this form.
Peanut Free Classrooms
ALL classrooms are designated as nut & peanut-free. We have multiple students at varying grade levels with severe allergies to peanuts. Foods that “contain,” “may contain,” or are “manufactured on shared equipment” will not be permitted as snacks. However, students may bring in a lunch that contains peanuts or nuts.
Background Check
All volunteers in the Chariho School District must have an annual background check prior to volunteering. There is no cost for this. Please go to the Central Office with a picture ID and fill out a volunteer form. It takes a few weeks to return. Or you can go to the Attorney General’s Office in Providence and get it done right there and then.
Lunch
There are 2 options to pay for lunch:
- There is a website where you can pay for and keep track of your child's lunch account. The site is www.myschoolbucks.com. You will need your child's school code, which you can get by contacting Fran Sayer at sayer-frances@aramark.com or (401) 552-7078. Please visit http://www.chariho.k12.ri.us/MyNutriKidsInfo for more information. There is also an app for your smartphone or tablet. You can pay for meals, check balances, and view purchases from anywhere. It is safe and secure.
- If the student is paying with cash or check when buying hot lunch, please send lunch money to school in an envelope or Ziploc bag with the student’s name, teachers name (i.e. KA, 1H, 2D, 3F, 4R). This will be placed in a classroom bucket and brought to the office. Checks can be made out to the “Chariho Regional School District.”
IMPORTANT: The Chariho District will be strictly enforcing policy if your child (children) has exceeded the allotted amounts. Per the policy, once a child has charged 3 unpaid lunches (or $6.45), children will not be allowed to order a hot lunch choice. Children will be served a sunnybutter & jelly sandwich, choice of ½ cup fruit and/or ½ cup vegetable plus one more component such as milk or an additional fruit or vegetable. The meal meets USDA standards and will be charged at full price to the student’s account. To avoid your child only getting sunnybutter & jelly, please be sure that you child (children) has money in their lunch accounts. Checks can be made payable to “Chariho Regional School District.” Once an account is outstanding, you will receive a letter from the school stating what you owe.
If you need further information, please contact Fran Sayer at sayer-frances@aramark.com or (401) 552-7078. Chariho is keeping accounts accurately updated and I wanted to send a courtesy memo to keep you informed.
Attendance Matters!
Our goal this year is to ensure that every student attends school regularly and on-time. I cannot stress this enough. Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and on-time. Attendance is so important for success in school and in life.
We realize some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. But, we also know that when students miss too much school or are tardy often (regardless of the reason) can cause them to fall behind academically. Your child is less likely to succeed if he or she is chronically absent or tardy—which means missing 18 or more days over the course of an entire school year. Chariho policy states that tardies and early dismissals count towards your child’s attendance. Research shows:
- Children chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade.
- By 6th grade, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students at risk for dropping out of school.
- By 9th grade good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8th grade test scores.
Absences and tardies can add up quickly. A child is chronically absent if he or she misses just two days every month!!
Spanish Update
We are excited for our second year of the elementary World Language program. Every
student in kindergarten through fourth grade will have two 35-minute blocks of Spanish per week. The first block will be direct instruction of Spanish, and the second block will be a bilingual morning meeting that we are calling a Tertulia, which is a social gathering for discussion. Our curriculum, lessons, and materials are designed to be rigorous, engaging, and developmentally appropriate. Students will be immersed in a Spanish-rich environment focused on listening, speaking, reading, and writing using literature, music and poetry connected to each grade level’s curriculum. Please visit our website at
www.CharihoElementarySpanish.weebly.com, to find out what we are doing in class and to access some activities and websites. Feel free to contact me directly via email or by phone with any questions.
Sincerely,
Señora Carpenter
Interesting image that I wanted to share!
PLAYGROUND PICTURES
Mrs. Abbott couldn't resist jumping on the new equipment! I think she may have been sick afterwards. :-)
Today Show Details
About Hope Valley Elementary School...visit our website below
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: www.chariho.k12.ri.us/hv
Location: 15 Thelma Drive, Hope Valley, RI, United States
Phone: 401-539-2321
Twitter: @JoeGencarelli1