END OF SUMMER UPDATE
Hope Valley School - August 30, 2021
Calendar of Events
9/6-9/7 - No School
9/22 - Early Release Day (No PM PreK)
9/23 - School Picture Day
9/29 - State PD Day for Staff (no in-person learning for students)
9/29 - Open House (Grades PreK-1) 6:00-7:30 pm
9/30 - Open House (Grades 2-4) 6:00-7:30 pm
PTO is planning an ice cream social in September - more details to come
Masks now Required in Schools per Governor's Executive Order
Masks will need to be worn inside the school. Teachers will be providing students with regular mask breaks and will be taking classes outside as much as possible. Masks are not required outside, such as at recess or when learning outside. Students can remove their masks for eating or drinking throughout the day. We suggest students bring extra masks. The school will also have some in the office is students need one. ALL OF OUR CLASSROOMS HAVE HEPA FILTERS!
School Re-Opening for 21-22
Masks - NOW REQUIRED FOR EVERYONE IN SCHOOLS PER EXECUTIVE ORDER!
Distancing - There is a 3' foot distancing requirement within stable elementary pods. There is a 3-6' requirement between classes.
Bussing - Increased to Full capacity. Masks are required on buses by Federal Order.
Contact Tracing - Remains some being within 6' for 15 or more minutes in a 24 hour period. This includes time spent outside. The contact tracing practice used last year will be continued. As long as students are wearing masks and are maintaining the 3' distancing, it will be unlikely that a child will have to quarantine. A child may still be considered a close contact but it does not necessarily mean they will need to quarantine.
My thinking regarding re-opening is to safely transition to some of our previous approaches:
- Students remain in their stable homeroom pod groups for subjects, specials, and recess.
- At this time I am going to have lunch in the classrooms like we did last year. My plan is to move to the cafeteria at some point but for the time being students will eat in their rooms.
- Students will travel to the gym for PE, Library, Art Room and Music Room for specials. (students will enjoy leaving their homerooms).
We will have the following sections and teachers
- Kindergarten - Mrs. Abbott & Mrs. Scheer
- 1st Grade - Mrs. Lilly & Mrs. Carmack (Hopfer)
- 2nd Grade - Mrs. Mello & Ms. D'Agostino
- 3rd Grade - Mr. Fanning & Mrs. Zonfrilli
- 4th Grade - Mrs. Ricci & Mrs. St Clair
Districts are no longer required to offer a Distance Learning choice to families.
Covid Protocols Continue
We will continue to follow the Rhode Island Department of Health Guidelines and the updated Playbook. Click the link to see the updated Playbook that we will be following.
https://www.back2schoolri.com/outbreak-response-protocols/
Students should not attend school if they have possible covid symptoms, this includes on the first day of school. If you believe your child is suffering from seasonal allergies, please work with your child's doctor to address these symptoms before school begins.
School Updates
Please REGISTER FOR Bussing ASAP for 21-22 AND/OR email Ms Donna if you are a Parent Pick Up!
WE NEED TO KNOW YOUR PLANS FOR TRANSPORTATION. PLEASE REGISTER FOR BUSSING USING YOUR CHIL'DS POWERSCHOOL ACCOUNT AND/OR EMAIL MS. DONNA IF YOU ARE A PARENT PICKUP!!!
Students can not have different BUS stops. This avoids more challenges with potential close contacts.
All parents are asked to log onto your child's powerschool account (same account you used to complete the daily Covid Health Check). I believe you must use a desktop or laptop and can not fill out the form using a cellphone.
Website for bussing: https://www.chariho.k12.ri.us/news/what_s_new/transportation_registration
Please refer to the directions linked here to submit your online bus transportation form. Please contact 401-364-1163 if you need further assistance.
Kindergarten Orientation
Parent Drop Off, Parent Pick Up, and other Routines
Below are important procedures and routines at Hope Valley School. Visitors and volunteers will be restricted in the school as much as possible. If you need to pick up your child early from school or need to drop off your child late to school, please park on Locustville Road and proceed up the stairs to the main front door. PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN A NUMBERED SPOT. All spaces in the parking lot have been assigned to staff and we have staff in and out during the day.
BEFORE SCHOOL EARLY MORNING CARE (K-4)
The district offers families before school care. Early morning care will be available. The morning program cannot exceed 25 students due to space and social distancing guidelines. Families can utilize the program for a specific number of days each week. If you will be using the morning program, please contact Ms. Donna at 401-539-2321. The program begins at 7:35 AM. If you sign up for this service, the cost is $3.50 a day. Drop off will be on the back playground at the gym door.
ARRIVING TO SCHOOL PROCEDURES
Parent Drop-off Routine
Stop, Drop, & Go (K-4): If you do drive your child to school, please arrive between 8:25-8:35. A staff member will be at the Kindergarten door to let your children in (around the island). Please keep the traffic moving so that traffic does not get congested and so buses may get through.
Bus Arrival Routine
We strongly encourage families to use bus transportation provided by the school district. This will ensure your child arrives at school on time and gives your child some social interaction with peers.
Buses will drop off students in the back of the school.
Breakfast students will get off the bus at 8:25 AM to get a "grab and go" breakfast.
At approximately 8:30, all bus students will exit the buses and will enter through the back office door staggered by bus pods. School staff members will be outside monitoring students. Other staff members will be located throughout the building to greet students and adhere to the guidelines.
Masks are mandatory while on the bus due to a federal order.
DISMISSING FROM SCHOOL PROCEDURES
Bus Dismissal Routine
After parent pick-ups exit, buses will roll up to the back of the school for students. School staff members will monitor the routes to the buses to ensure safety of students. All students and staff are strongly recommended to wear a face mask while walking to the bus. Again, while on the bus masks are mandatory. Students will be dismissed by their classroom pod.
Parent Pick-up Routine
Please notify the school if your child will be a parent pick-up at dismissal time (3:20). These regular parent pick-up families will be issued name cards to hang in their vehicles. At the end of the school day, students will be dismissed to the gym by PODS. Students must wear a mask. Parents will loop around the back parking lot and stop at the gym door to retrieve your child. PLEASE always have your ID on you.
If a parent is requesting to pick up their child on occasion or in an emergency situation, please be sure to complete a parent pick-up slip. A note is required, but in an emergency situation, you can call the office. Be prepared to answer some questions about your child to ensure we are talking to a family member listed on your emergency release form.
PRESCHOOL DROP-OFF & PICK-UP INFORMATION
A detailed preschool procedure informational sheet will be coming home with preschool students.
PTO & School Information
PTO Information: The first PTO meeting will be Monday, October 4, 2021 at 6:30 PM. All parents are welcome to attend any of the PTO meetings. Hope to see you there!
October 4th at 6:30pm
November 8th at 6:30pm
December 6th at 6:30pm
January 10th at 6:30pm
February 7th at 6:30pm
March 7th at 6:30pm
April 4th at 6:30pm
May 9th at 6:30pm
PTO Members
Co-President: Kristin Clarke > kristinc49@aol.com
Co-President: Leah Sousa > leah.sousa@hotmail.com
Treasurer: Stephanie DaPonte > sdaponte14@gmail.com
Secretary: Chloe Morgan > cmako28@yahoo.com
Communication: Chelsea Baker > chelseabaker101@yahoo.com
School Contact Information
School Principal: Giuseppe Gencarelli – Giuseppe.Gencarelli@chariho.k12.ri.us
School Secretary: Donna Sunderland – Donna.Sunderland@chariho.k12.ri.us
School Webpage: https://hopevalley.chariho.k12.ri.us/
School Contact Info: Phone - 401-539-2321 Fax - 401-633-7099
Peanut and Tree Nut Free Classrooms
ALL classrooms are designated as peanut free and tree nut free this school year! There are multiple students in various grade levels with severe allergies.
Designated peanut free means no food products containing peanuts or peanut by-products (oils, etc.) will be permitted in the classrooms. This includes snacks within the classroom but excludes lunches (see next bullet point).
Children may bring peanut and tree nut foods and foods containing peanut by-products for lunch, but they will remain in their lunch box/bag until lunch since classrooms must be peanut free/tree nut free.
A peanut free table will be set-aside for lunch. Peanut allergic children will not sit alone. Only children who purchase a school lunch and/or children with an allergy to peanuts/tree nuts will sit at this table.
No cafeteria foods will be sold or prepared by the school that contains peanuts or peanut by-products.
Parents/guardians/volunteers visiting any classroom must engage in dental hygiene that removes peanut smell from their breath/teeth and wash hands before working in a classroom.
Background Information: There is a difference between peanuts and tree nuts that causes them to be separately labeled. In the case of a tree nut, they are known as "true nuts" growing from trees. This includes a variety of nuts, all of which but not limited to: hazelnuts, cashews, almonds, pecans, walnuts, hickory nuts, and so on. What are peanuts then? Just like the tomato, a vegetable that is really a fruit, a peanut is not actually a nut because it does not grow on trees, plus the composition is different. It actually belongs to the legume family because it grows in the ground.
Thank you for respecting this policy and helping to maintain a safe school environment for all the children.
Breakfast and Lunch Information
Due to the limited time we anticipate funding may be available, it is important that families continue to submit updated free/reduced meal applications if there are any changes in household size or income. Confidential applications are accepted throughout the school year and, if approved, are effective through the last day of the 2021-2022 school year. Applications and instructions for applying can be found here:
https://www.chariho.k12.ri.us – Parent/Student Resources section; Lunch Program
Please note we are only able to provide free meals to children 18 and under and will only be provided as a complete meal per program guidelines. All extra items, including milk to accompany a lunch brought from home or ala carte, are not included in this program. Students must have sufficient funds available in their food service accounts in order to purchase extra items.
School Calendar Information
Early Release Days will continue, but the release time will be at 1:55 pm.
Early Release Days will be held on Wednesdays and occur about once per month. (see calendar below) There are no ERD Wednesdays in April or June.
3 Professional Learning Days are scheduled in September, March, and May. These will be distance learning/asynchronous days for all students and will count towards the 180 day state requirement.
Social Media Outlets
@CharihoRegional
use #HopeValleyHawks
Tik Tok
Social Media
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: @MrG_HVES