Rocky's Weekly Roundup!
March 12, 2023
A Message from the Leadership Team
Dear RES Families,
Wow! This past Friday staff and students greatly enjoyed our special musical program funded by the RES PTA. American Roots Music did not disappoint and during the assembly students and staff could be found dancing and singing along to Country, Blues, Jazz, Rock, Soul, and Hip-Hop! Did you also know that March is Music in Our Schools Month? Our music teacher, Miss Baker shared, "The assembly was terrific timing to help support the musical arts both within and outside our Redding community!" Thank you, RES PTA!! 💚
Last week two communications were sent to families regarding parent/teacher conferences and OLSAT testing for students in grades 2 and 3. If you missed these important communications, details can be found below.
Remember to spring ahead this weekend. We are looking forward to some extra daylight!
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!
Mrs. Melissa Labrosciano, Principal
Mrs. Kim Roy, Assistant Principal
Parent/Teacher Conferences
A previous communication was shared that during the week of April 3rd, RES will be holding parent/teacher conferences on April 4th, 5th, and 6th. Students in grades K-4 will be dismissed at 12:50 p.m. (students in preschool will be dismissed at 12:00 p.m.) on those dates. April conferences are historically optional and for some students, a conference may not be necessary. For example, you may have met with your child’s teacher recently or there has been a great deal of ongoing communication. With that said, a parent or a teacher may make a request for a spring conference. Spring conferences will be scheduled for fifteen-minute sessions.
If a teacher is requesting a conference they will do so by March 20th. If you do not hear from your child’s teacher by March 20th and wish to request a conference, please do so by March 27th. Conference schedules are intended to be finalized by March 31st.
Our continued partnership with families is important to us and if a conference is not necessary, never hesitate to reach out to RES faculty with questions or concerns.
OLSAT - Grades 2 & 3
A previous communication was shared that in the month of March your child will take the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT). This school ability test is given each year to students in grades two and three. This standardized assessment provides the school and families with information on the student’s predicted school ability and actual achievement compared to local and national populations. Please view the assessment schedule below for specific details. Students arriving late will not be able to join their class if testing is already in session.
Grade 2 Testing Dates:
- 3/14/23 - Practice Test
- 3/15/23 - Part 1 & 2
- 3/16/23 - Part 3
Grade 3 Testing Dates:
- 3/21/23 - Practice Test
- 3/22/23 - Test
Students in Grade 2 will complete a paper/pencil assessment, while Grade 3 students will complete an online version.
Please make sure your children are well-rested, eat a good breakfast, and encourage them to do their best each day. Please avoid making any appointments for your children that would keep them out of school. Any students who are absent during testing will make up any part of the test they missed the following week.
Testing results will be shared with families when we receive them. Thank you for your cooperation.
Class Placements
Please be on the look out for a communication from us on April 3rd regarding how families can provide input to us regarding their child's class placement for the 2023-2024 school year.
A Message from Nurse Connolly and Nurse Carley...
Updates from the RES Health Office:
Happy Time Change! Good luck to everyone this week with the time adjustment...maybe an extra story to help the mind quiet and settle into sleep and as always good nutrition and hydration to help with a little extra tiredness.
We have had very low absences the past few weeks, which is great news. We have however had quite a few cases of STREP THROAT and they have not followed the typical symptom pattern. We have had more than a few students who have had little to no sore throat and not shown the typical bright red throat or white exudate (spots) in the throat. Some students have had only mildly elevated temperatures, stomachache or vomiting and mild facial rashes. If your child has a stomach bug that doesn't seem to fit the usual 24 hour stomach bug profile, just be aware and alert for any other symptoms and contact your medical provider as a precaution. The other good news with this is that strep throat is easily treated with antibiotics (penicillin or amoxicillin usually).
As always, reach out if you have any questions or concerns!
Be Well!
Nurse Jen Connolly & Nurse Deanna Carley
Questions or concerns that you want to discuss with the nurses? Email us or call us:
Jen Connolly - jconnolly@er9.org or (203)938-2519 ext 309
Deanna Carley - dcarley@er9.org or (203)938-2519 ext 342
Upcoming Spirit Days! 💚
Mark your calendars for future Friday school spirit days; March 31st, April 28th, and May 25th.
Important Dates and Reminders
Friday, March 17th: Early Release, Staff PD
Tuesday, April 4th-Thursday, April 6th: Early Release, Parent/Teacher Conferences
Friday, April 7th-Friday, April 14th: No School, Spring Recess
Friday, April 21st: Early Release, Staff PD
Bus Transportation Information
If you have any specific questions pertaining to your child's bus stop, please contact First Student directly, 475.470.0373. Unfortunately, we are not able to help you regarding bus information.
Morning Arrival Procedures
Students may be dropped off at school beginning at 7:55 a.m. - 8:05 a.m. There is no adult supervision at school prior to this time, so please be sure to listen for the morning bell before letting students out of your car to enter the school building. In the morning, all students arriving by parent vehicle, in Kindergarten through Grade 4 will be dropped off in the Big Gym parking lot and will enter school through the main entrance. Please see the RES Campus Map to view the drop-off route and location of drop-off. Staff members supervising morning drop-off will monitor students exiting cars. It is important that students are prepared with their backpacks on and all belongings are ready to go so they can exit the car quickly. Students will exit from the passenger side of the vehicle. Family members dropping children off must remain in vehicles during this time.
Afternoon Dismissal Procedures
We will begin dismissing students out to cars around 2:45 p.m. and this process will continue until 3:00 p.m. If students remain in the holding areas at 3:00 p.m., we will bring them down to the main office to be picked up.
Each family will be assigned a student pick up number. This number will be identified on a tag that attaches to the child’s backpack, and a separate tag that hangs from the rearview mirror of the vehicle being used for pick-up. Staff supporting the student pick-up process will help escort children out to cars, matching student pick up numbers on backpacks and vehicles.
For our returning families, please track down your student number tags and car tags you used last year. This includes both the rearview mirror tag and the smaller tags that attach to your child’s backpack. Please keep these car tags, until your last child enters JRMS.
For our new families, we will issue a student number tag & car tag to hang from your rearview mirror. This is needed if you are picking your child up at the end of the school day. There will be a corresponding number on your child’s backpack. New families will receive tags during Welcome Back to School meet and greet. If you are unable to attend the back to school orientation, please call the main office and make arrangements to pick up your car tags.
In the afternoon, all students being picked up by parent vehicle, in Kindergarten through Grade 4 will be picked up in the Big Gym parking lot. Please see the RES Campus Map to view the pick-up route and location.
Families must remain in vehicles throughout our pick-up process. Staff will monitor and assist students into vehicles, as needed.
Peanut and Tree Nut Free Classrooms
Due to the amount of students with life threatening peanut and tree nut allergies all classrooms at RES are designated as peanut and tree nut free areas. We are following the same practices as JRMS. Please do not pack classroom snacks that contain peanuts and/or tree nuts. Your child may still enjoy peanuts and/or tree nuts during his/her lunch period in the cafeteria. We only ask that snacks eaten in the classroom do not contain such products, as the cafeteria has additional procedures and special precautions to follow for children with food allergies. Students are encouraged to engage in safe practices in the cafeteria, which includes refraining from sharing or swapping meals and snacks. If food is being allowed at a classroom celebration, food products must be accompanied by the original packaging so that ingredients can be checked.
COVID-19 Information & Health Reminders
Please remember to keep your child home if they have a temperature above 100.0, any vomiting or diarrhea or if they are simply not feeling well enough to be at school. The symptom profile for covid is widely varied and oftentimes presents as mild cold symptoms, so please be mindful and test your child when they are sick or if they have been exposed to someone with covid.
The district is following the current CDC covid guidelines, which you can review here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html.
In summary:
**If positive, isolate at home for 5 days. Return on day 6 if no fever and symptoms are improved. Mask through day 10. (Test day or symptom start day are DAY 0).
**Report positive cases to the school nurse and enter absence into school dismissal manager.
**If exposed, wear a mask, test if symptoms develop. Or test 5 days after last exposure. If negative, continue with mask through day 10. If positive, isolate for 5 days.
We have test kits available at school. Contact Jen Connolly, school nurse, at 203-938-2519 ext. 309 or jconnolly@er9.org to pick up a test kit or have one sent home with your child.
Drop Off Table
Just in case your child forgot their homework, water bottle, lunch, instrument, library book, snack, sports equipment, etc. at home there is a drop off table located outside by the main office vestibule. You do not need to inform the main office when dropping off an item. We check the drop off table and make classroom deliveries twice per day.
- Items must be dropped off with your child's name and teacher's name on it by 10:00 a.m. for a 10:15 a.m. delivery time.
- Items must be dropped off with your child's name and teacher's name on it by 1:15 p.m. for a 1:30 p.m. delivery time.
The main office is a busy place and it is challenging to make multiple deliveries throughout the day. We truly appreciate your help in meeting our delivery times so that your child gets their needed item in a timely manner.
Visiting RES Reminders...
At RES we regularly discuss our safety protocols and procedures. The following protocols are implemented for visitors at RES:
In order to enter the vestibule at the main entrance, anyone wishing to do so MUST present a photo identification. Identification will be held up to the outside camera and checked by our office staff before you are allowed to enter the vestibule. This procedure includes dropping off your child, picking up your child, etc. Please do not take offense if you feel the office staff should know you. There will not be an exception made to this rule. Office staff will also be asking visitors the purpose of their visit.
Visitors will be allowed in the building by appointment only. Appointments could range from a specific meeting with a teacher, special education team, and/or administration. Appointments would also include any volunteer opportunities or visits in your child’s classroom. An appointment may also be a call from the nurse to pick up your child. All planned visits and appointments will be arranged for you by an RES staff member.
If you feel you need to enter the building and have not made previous arrangements. You must call RES to make arrangements prior to arriving. For example, access to our lost and found area.
A drop-off table will be placed outside of the vestibule. The table will be clearly marked. Please make sure items are properly labeled before you arrive (child’s name and teacher). You do not need to ring the bell to tell the office an item is being dropped off. The table will be checked twice daily at 10:30 a.m. and at the end of each school day.
Students are expected to be dropped off each morning by 8:05 a.m. If you are arriving at drop off after 8:05 a.m., please drop your child off by parking in the main parking lot, and have your child walk down the walkway to enter through the RES main entrance.
Reporting an Absence at RES
We want to make sure all families are aware about absences. Since our recent PTA meeting we gained additional details regarding if doctor notes are needed after being absent for 10 or more days. We had shared that all absences beyond 10 days needed to have a doctor's note to be excused. While this is certainly helpful and preferred, it is not a requirement in our district.
The requirement is that a medical professional can excuse an absence if warranted. Our school nurse is that medical professional. Therefore, all health related questions should be forwarded to the school nurse regardless of how many days your child has been absent. When your child does reach 10 or more absences there is a required discussion with the school nurse about the absence(s) and the school nurse will determine whether or not the absence is excused and if a doctor's note is needed.
A letter is created, sent, and shared with families when a child at RES has 6 or more absences regardless of the reason. The purpose of this letter is to inform families of the absences and for RES to have appropriate documentation.
It is very important that you report your child's absence into School Dismissal Manager by 8:30 a.m. on the day your child will be absent from school.
ER9 Incident Reporting Form
We wanted to share with the RES community that there is a district wide practice whenever there are concerns regarding mean spirited behavior and your child. Mrs. Kim Roy is not only the RES Assistant Principal, but also the Safe School Climate Specialist. If you ever have concerns regarding mean spirited behavior involving your child, you can access the ER9 Incident Reporting Form to address your concerns. Once the form is completed, Mrs. Roy receives an email and will be able to follow up with you if more information is needed.
The link to the ER9 Incident Report Form is on the Redding Elementary Website (scroll down to the bottom of the site and you will see it linked under Other Information). You can also access the form via this link below. You can choose to remain anonymous, however it is helpful if you add as much information as possible in case an investigation needs to take place.
Please call or email Mrs. Roy if you have any questions or concerns regarding the process, kroy@er9.org.
RES Job Opportunities - We Need Your Help!
We are hiring lunch and recess monitors! Please go to the ER9 website to apply for one of these positions. Our support positions for recess and lunch allow you to have a little bit of flexibility, where you still have time to get your child(ren) on and off the bus each day. Please log on to the ER9.org website; under human resources tab; employment opportunities.
We are also in need of substitute teachers. Individuals have the potential to work in many roles throughout the school year; Preschool-Grade 4 classroom teacher, work with students as a paraeducator, potentially be involved with our special education program, as well as helping out as a lunch monitor. Qualified applicants should have a 4-year college degree. NOT necessarily in education. Please call Bobbie in the main office 203-938-2519 Ex. 304, if you are interested.
Quote of the Week
--Irish Proverb
Redding Community Opportunities
Contact Us
Mrs. Kim Roy, Assistant Principal
Website: www.reddingelementaryps.org
Location: 33 Lonetown Road, Redding, CT, USA
Phone: (203)938-2519
Additional School Contacts
Office hours for Special Services is 7:30am - 3:00pm during the regular school year.
SPECIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Ms. Jennifer Del Conte, Director, Special Services
Mrs. Jennifer Hankla, Supervisor, Special Services
Mrs. Marilyn Caruso, Secretary, Special Services
mcaruso@er9.org Ext. 312
Ms. Yennifer Nunez, Administrative Assistant to Director of Special Services
ynunez@er9.org Ext. 313
Office hours for the main office is 7:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m. during the normal 10-month / 180 day school year.
SUPPORT STAFF:
Miss Bobbie Granskog, School Secretary
bgranskog@er9.org Ext. 304
Budgets, Payroll, & Information for Rocky's Weekly Roundup!
Mrs. Komal Kulkarni, School Secretary
kkulkarni@er9.org Ext. 302
Registrar & Enrollment
Mrs. Rachel Saluzzi, School Secretary
rsaluzzi@er9.org Ext. 301
Assistant to School Principals
School Dismissal Manager & Subs
OTHER FREQUENTLY CALLED NUMBERS:
Nurse Connolly — Ext. 309
Library— Ext. 343
Kitchen — Ext. 346
You will find a complete list of telephone extensions and email addresses for our staff on our website www.reddingelementaryps.org