Welcome back to the 2022-2023 school year! It is my honor and pleasure to serve as your superintendent of schools beginning this year. As a life-long resident of the city and an educator in the district for the last twenty-two years, I have had the pleasure of establishing many relationships with families throughout the city. I look forward to expanding upon those relationships in my current role.

For this coming school year the district focus will be on the following areas:

1. Strengthening the instructional core

2. Improving attendance

3. Expanding our focus on the social-emotional well-being of students

4. Aligning district and school-wide priorities for continuous improvement

We encourage you to get involved in your child’s education whether it’s serving on the strategic planning committee, volunteering in your child’s school, attending events or asking them about their day. Family involvement matters! I wish you and your children a safe, healthy and happy school year.

Sincerely,

Sandy Forand, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Dear East Providence School Department Families:

We would like to update you regarding school meals for the upcoming school year. Prior to the last two school years, school lunches were available at reduced or free pricing only for those families who qualified. Applications needed to be submitted each year in order for the child’s eligibility status to continue. During the pandemic, the Federal government allowed all students to receive free meals. That waiver ended June 30, 2022. Families must now fill out the Household Application for Free and Reduced-Price Meals in order to qualify for free or reduced breakfasts and lunches for the upcoming school year. This is very important and we encourage all families to complete and return the application to see if they qualify.

Applying is fast, easy, and confidential. Sign up for reduced or free breakfasts and lunches by visiting this website https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application

In addition, you may also consider applying for SNAP, the federal nutrition program that provides eligible residents with monthly financial assistance to purchase groceries. The application for SNAP is available now and more important information can found at https://healthyrhode.ri.gov/HIXWebI3/DisplayHomePage

If you have any questions, please contact Beverly Lefort, Administrative Assistant for Purchasing and School Lunch at blefort@epschoolsri.com.

East Providence school bus transportation will always center on providing safe, responsible and effective transportation for our students. We currently service eligible students to East Providence Public Schools, private and parochial schools, and outside special education placement schools in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Eligible Riding Distances:

• Early Learning Center at Oldham Special ed receive Door to Door

• Grades K-5 Students must live further than 1.0 mile from school

• Grades 6-8 Students must live further than 1.5 miles from school

• Grades 9-12 Students must live further than 2.0 miles from school

Bus Stops: A list of this year’s bus stops will be posted on-line and published in the Post newspaper by 8/26/2022.

Appeals: Appeals will be accepted this year.

APPEAL FORM LINKED HERE

NOTE: Before and after school organizations have the necessary paperwork. It must be

submitted through the provider.

First Day Information:

August 31st: PreK, grades1-5, 6 & 9 report

September 1st: Grades PreK-12, Kindergarten screenning by appt.

September 6th: Kindergarten starts

School start times:

High school:7:25 am - 1:45 pm
Middle: 7:55 am - 2:15 pm
Elementary: 8:40 am - 3:00 pm
PreK: 8:40 am - 9:00 am -2:40 pm -3:00 pm based on assigned class

Please find up to date Principal and Secretary contact information on our website: https://epschoolsri.org/page/

If you wish to contact school staff via email, please enter their first initial followed by last name and @epschoolsri.com

Back to School Fair
August 20, 2022
9 am - 12 pm
at Martin Middle School, East Providence

Students entering kindergarten through 5th grade in East Providence Public Schools are invited to attend.

Here’s what to expect:

• a new backpack & school supplies selected by the school department

• refreshments

• dental and vision screening

• after school resources

• outdoor fun & carnival games

Click Here to Register!

These guidelines include a new recommendation related to quarantine:

• Close contacts to a positive person no longer need to quarantine regardless of the close contact’s vaccination status. Test to Stay is no longer recommended; however close contacts are encouraged to wear a mask for 10 days and test on Day 5 from last contact; or sooner if symptoms develop.

The CDC continues to recommend a 5 day Isolation for an individual who tests positive.

As the CDC loosens COVID restrictions, it is of great importance to take personal responsibility to stay home when sick and test. This year, we will not be conducting school COVID testing. Therefore, it is important to maintain an adequate supply of home COVID test kits. Please visit this link covidtests.gov. to order free kits. In addition, most pharmacies and MD offices provide COVID testing; see more information at https://covid.ri.gov/testing

Please continue additional mitigation measures important to reduce transmission of all germs such as handwashing and sanitation, ventilation, optional masking, and staying up to date with vaccinations. By collectively following these safety measures we can help to keep each other safe and healthy!

Thank you for your time and attention. We will update you with additional COVID policy details as soon as they are determined.

Our goal in the East Providence School District is to ensure that multilingual learner families are partners in their child's academic success, advocacy, decision-making, and use of resources.

Please see the newly released MLL Family and Student Bill of Rights:

• Arabic - وثيقة حقوق الأسر والطلاب
• Chinese - 家庭和学生权利法案
• English - Family and Student Bill of Rights
• French - Charte des droits de la famille et de l'étudiant multilingues
• Khmer - កម្រងច្បាប់សិទ្ធិឯកជនរបស់សិស្ស និងគ្រួសារ
• Kriolu - Karta di Direitus di Familia y Alunu MLL
• Portuguese - Declaração de Direitos da Família e do Estudante
• Quiché - Uq’alajisaxik taq Ya’talil kech Ajupaja xuquje’ le Tijoxel
• Spanish - Declaración de derechos estudiantiles y familiares MLL
• Swahili - Mswada wa Haki za Familia na Wanafunzi
• Urdu- خاندان اور طالب علم کے حقوق کا بِل

The East Providence Local Advisory Committee For Special Education (EPLAC) is a committee comprised of parents of children with disabilities along with administrators, teachers and others with a concern for our children. We meet throughout the school year to share information and concerns of educational issues.

Please find the 22-23 SY meeting schedule linked below.

The East Providence School District is offering a Full Coverage insurance plan for student Chromebooks through The Trust. The plans for coverage are detailed in the flyers attached below and enrollment can be accessed through this link: https://www.worthavegroup.com/ristrust.

The East Providence Schools Acceptable Use Policy is also attached below for your review.

For any questions, please reach out to your school principal.