The Dolphin Dispatch
Agnes E. Little Elementary School Newsletter
September 2021
Welcome Back
Hello Agnes Little Families,
We are excited to welcome back our students and families. We look forward to a wonderful year where we finally get to have our entire student body back to an in-person learning model.
Agnes Little's school hours are 8:30-2:40. Student drop off (8:20am) and pick-up (2:40pm) procedures are as follows:
Kindergarten – Door #2, 3 or 4
- For safety reasons, Kindergarten parents are NOT permitted to drop off in the front parking lot. The front parking lot is for buses only. All parents are to use the back parking lot and bring your child to their respective door.
Grade 1 – Door # 5
Grade 2 – Door # 11
Grades 3, 4 and 5 – Door # 6
Please observe social distancing during all times. At this time, the no visitor policy is still in effect. Parents are asked to say your good-byes outside before your child enters the building. Please make every effort to be on time so your child enters the building with their class.
You should be screening your child each morning before school. If your child shows any symptom related to COVID keep him/her at home. This will help to avoid the entire class being quarantined. By sending your child to school you are attesting that your child is healthy and symptom free. Students who become sick at school, will be assessed by the nurse and sent home should the illness require it. We will need someone to pick up your child quickly. Please be sure to have updated contact information on file at all times.
Your child's class will be a stable pod whenever feasible. This means each classroom will be together all day and the staff will greatly limit the mixing with other classes. Breakfast will be eaten in the classroom. Desks will be cleaned before and after students eat at them. Students will wash hands frequently, and always before eating. Hand sanitizing stations will be placed around the room as well.
Face masks must be worn at all times, except while eating. Students will be encouraged to stay in their seats and talk minimally when not wearing their mask. The custodians will follow cleaning protocols for high touch surfaces around the building. This includes the building being misted on a regular basis after dismissal.
Classes of students may be quarantined as per the RIDOH guidance if there is exposure or suspected exposure to COVID 19 - we will notify families as soon as possible when this happens so arrangements can be made
Hopefully this letter provides you with some helpful information. Feel free to contact the Agnes Little Main Office if you have any additional questions at 401-729-6256
My staff and I are truly excited to welcome your children back to Agnes Little! They have been missed greatly!
Best regards,
Mr. Gilmore
School Information
(401) 729-6256
Website: http://pawtucket.little.schooldesk.net/
COVID-19 Resources
Important COVID Update
Pawtucket School Department
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM YOUR SCHOOL NURSES:
Please be sure to update your PARENT/GUARDIAN EMERGENCY CONTACT LIST!
Every parent/guardian needs to ensure there is a contact person on their pick up list that is immediately available to pick up their student if the parent/guardian cannot pick up their child.
To minimize the risk of exposure to others in the school population, immediate pick up within one hour is required should your child exhibit any symptom of COVID-19.
Healthy Students & Healthy School Environment
Please check your child every morning for symptoms of COVID-19.
If they feel sick or exhibit symptoms of illness, students need to stay home.
If a student has even one (1) symptom that is on the symptom list below, they cannot come to school and should be tested (PCR test needed) and isolate while they await their results. Contact your child’s doctor or your school nurse for guidance if unsure. If you choose not to have your child tested, your child must stay home for 10 days from symptom onset.
Pre-K to 12 Covid-19 tests can be scheduled online at portal.ri.gov or call 844-857-1814. Hours are weekdays 9am-5pm, weekends 9am-1pm.
If your child develops any symptom of Covid-19 at school, based on CDC and RIDOH guidance, you will be called to pick them up within one hour. The child will be sent home with the “After-Illness Return Attestation” form which needs to be returned to the school nurse-teacher when your child returns to normal health.
Guidance from the RI Department of Health is to err on the side of caution with any symptom below. Therefore, we urge you to consult with your child’s doctor to discuss preventative maintenance medications for allergies and asthma to prevent symptoms of runny nose, cough and wheezing.
If your child has any of the below symptoms, they cannot attend school and will be sent home. A PCR test result is recommended before your child may return to school. If you choose not to have your child tested, your child must stay home for 10 days from symptom onset.
COZ is Back for IN PERSON After School Programming!
Starting October 12 !
Session Dates:
Fall Session, October 12- December 9;
Winter Session, January 18 - March 24;
Spring Session, April 4-June 9.
Within each session there are 3-5 club choices for students of different ages and interests. Snacks, physical activity, homework help and clubs are all part of the program, which starts directly after school and ends at 5:00 or 5:30 depending on the school.
For questions, contact: Jane Blanchette at 401-305-7715 – blanchettej@psdri.net
Register your child for COZ After School Program CLICK HERE
Back to School Bash & Open House 2021
A huge THANK YOU to the following community partners for their contributions:
AMGEN - donated 200 backpacks filled with school supplies
Palagis Ice Cream- Donated lemonade and staff/truck resources
Pawtucket and Central Falls Police- volunteered to distribute supplies
Books Are Wings- provided children's books
Pawtucket Food Service Program- provided meals and staff
Blackstone Valley Community Health Care- Dental team resource table
Farm Fresh RI- resource table
Childhood Lead Action Program- resource table
COZ and Friends of Little - resource tables
RI Philharmonic & Music School - resource table
Staff reflections can be found in the September 1st issue of the Pawtucket Times!
First Day Celebration
We had a great turnout for our First Day Celebration and student parade! Thank you to all the families who attended our ceremony to commemorate day one of the school year!
Photos and quotes form staff, parents and students!
Feinstein Jr. Scholar Kindness Tree
Our students are recognized for their good deeds and kindness throughout the year.
We kicked off the year by recapping all the good deeds our students did over the summer and filling up our Kindness Tree. This tree will be on display in our school and added to throughout the year!
Keep up the good work!
Little Dolphins are Respectful, Responsible and Problem Solvers!
Parent/Guardian Bulletin
iReady Information
i-Ready is an online program for reading and/or mathematics that will help your student’s teacher(s) determine your student’s needs, personalize their learning, and monitor progress throughout the school year.
It includes diagnostic assessment that places students within a personalized instructional pathway for academic support!
Pawtucket students are expected to spend 45+ minute of reading and 45+ minutes of math per week in iReady.
Agnes Little has developed an i-Ready Incentive Program with bi-weekly, monthly and semester rewards for students who meet their goals!
Assessment Schedule:
Fall Grade 1-5 Sept 7 - Sept 17 Fall K Oct 4 - Oct 11
Winter K-5 Feb 1- Feb 11
Spring K-5 May 16 - June 3
iReady Family Guide Portuguese
iready Family Guide Haitian Creole
Learn more about iReady and how to support your child on the iReady Family Engagement site!
or watch this video.
Local Food Ambassadors
September 23
October 21
November 12
January 27
February 17
March 24
April 14
May 19
Lunch Times: 11:45 am - 1:10 pm
Training provided and it's easy and fun! Students love seeing their parents at lunch time!
*BCI required
Email Emily to sign up!
New Family Communication Platform- KiNVO!
Most notably, the system allows two way text messaging in over 80 languages between teachers and parents/guardians!
Teachers are still learning the new software, but look out for SMS messages soon!
Also, make sure the main office has your most up to date cell phone number and email address so you don't miss any school updates or student feedback!
To update, call the main office at (401) 729-6256 or fill out this google form!
COZ Adult Education and Support Services
COZ Adult Education – English, Pre-GED and Job Training classes: Multiple levels of English, Pre-GED/GED, and career training classes are held during both the daytime and evening hours. The start dates are: September 20 for the daytime and September 27 for the evening program.
Daytime classes are Monday through Thursday 9
to 1:00 and evening will be held two nights per week from 6:00 to 8:45. A center based pre school program is available during the day for children ages 2 to 5. Registration dates:
September 8, 9, 13, 14 from 10:00-12:00 and September 13, 14, 20, 22 from 5:30-7:00 pm. Classes and Registration will be held at St. Paul’s Church, 50 Park Place.
Call Melinda or Norma at 401-725-4307 for additional information (both are bilingual).
There is no charge for the classes.
Community Corner
Palagis Free Lemonade After School
Stop by and say your from Agnes Little to show our school support!
The Rhode Island Student Assistance Services' (RISAS) Youth Mental Health Webinar Series, sponsored by the Rhode Island Department of Health, features local and national experts discussing issues related to youth mental health, trauma, and resilience. The free webinars are designed for educators, parents, and the general public.
Below are registration links for Sept/Oct webinars in the series. And if you scroll to the end of the webinar series home page, there are links to pre-recorded webinars to watch on YouTube or to listen to as a podcast.
September 9th, 2021 @ 6:30 PM
“Over the Counter” does not mean “On the Counter” Suicide Prevention is Everyone’s Business
Register Here
September 15th, 2021 @ 12:00 PM
Supporting Your LGBTQIA+ Student’s or Child’s Coming Out
Register Here
September 22nd, 2021 @ 6:30 PM
Life After the Pandemic with Dr. Heather Pelletier
Register Here
October 7th, 2021 @ 2:00 PM
Adolescent Substance Use: How to look, talk and listen to teens
Register Here
October 13th, 2021 @ 6:30 PM
“Because I Said So…”: Positive Parenting Strategies to Promote Healthy Lifestyles” for the Latinx communities (“Porque Yo Lo Dije…” : Estrategias de Crianza Positiva Para Promover Estilos de Vida Saludables Para Las comunidades Latinx) with Mayra Peguero-Bueno
In Spanish!
Register Here
October 20th, 2021 @1:45 PM
Strategies to Support Trauma-Impacted Students in The Classroom
Register Here
Agnes E. Little Elementary School
Email: mallozzie@psdri.net
Website: http://pawtucket.little.schooldesk.net/
Location: 60 South Bend Street, Pawtucket, RI, USA
Phone: (401)729-6256
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgnesLittleElementary