Hathaway Happenings - Home
December 9, 2022
Legos, Legos, Legos!
Thank you for the checkers, Mr. Carruba!
Thank you Officer Maddie and Staples!
Help Your Children Become Stronger Readers!
In case you missed this exciting information about an incredible resource to strengthen literacy at home, check out this inspiring presentation. Did we mention it is free this year to all Hathaway families? Easy to download, fun to use!
Report Card Information
This week you will be receiving your child’s first trimester report card via the ASPEN portal. We want to make you aware of changes in regards to how your child is being assessed on their report card. Due to the district’s recent adoption of Wonders, our new comprehensive literacy curriculum, it is important that our report card match the work that is currently being done in classrooms.
The grades earned by your child reflect their current mastery of end-of-grade level standards. For example, if your child is in second grade they are being assessed on the standard that is expected of a student exiting second grade. If your child receives a 4, this means that they are currently performing above grade level for that particular end-of-grade level standard. Earning a 3 indicates that your child is currently meeting the end-of-grade level standard. If your child is working towards meeting the standard, then they will receive a 2. It is common for most students to receive 2’s during the first trimester now that we are switching to reporting out on end-of-year standards. Receiving a 1 means that your child is a year or more behind the standard. An N/A means that this standard has not yet been taught.
For our Kindergarten students if your child receives a B (beginning) this means they are beginning to show progress toward the end of year standard. Receiving a D (developing) means they are developing the end of year standard. If they receive an S (secure) they are secure in the end of year standard. An N/A means that this standard has not yet been taught.
Please reach out to your child’s teacher if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s report card.
From the Nurse
Is it COVID-19, the flu, RSV or a common cold?
Let's look at the viruses that cause four common childhood illnesses—COVID-19, flu, the common cold and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
All of them share some similar symptoms. This can make it hard to tell them apart. Here are some clues that help your pediatrician figure out what kind of respiratory illness is making your child sick.
COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, congestion, shortness of breath, sore throat, headache, sneezing, vomiting/diarrhea, or loss of taste/smell. COVID-19 symptoms can appear 2 to 14 days after infection.
Flu symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, stuffy nose, shortness of breath, sore throat, headache. Symptoms show up about 1 to 4 days after being exposed to a sick person. The infection can cause pneumonia.
RSV can cause a fever, cough, fatigue, stuffy nose, shortness of breath, sneezing, fast/short breaths, flaring nostrils, wheezing and grunting, poor feeding/no appetite, and head bobbing or chest caving in between and under ribs with each breath. Symptoms of RSV usually are worst on days 3 through 5 and last about 5 to 7 days. The infection causes a cold, which may be followed by bronchiolitis or pneumonia. RSV is common in late fall through early spring. In 2021, however, the pandemic caused a strange thing to happen. The number of RSV infections and hospital rates went up in summer 2021 instead. Nearly all children get RSV by their second birthday.
Common cold symptoms may include fever, cough, fatigue, stuffy nose, sore throat, sneezing. Colds are upper respiratory infections that can be caused by many viruses. A few common cold viruses are rhinovirus, adenovirus, human coronavirus, human parainfluenza virus, human metapneumovirus and RSV. Healthy children get about 6 colds a year.
More From the Nurse
With the cold comes winter hats and coats and also something we all dread…. LICE!
Hathaway has not been excluded from these awful pests and we have had several cases this year. I wanted to clarify the policy on lice as many of you have had questions! While lice is a tremendous nuisance, the CDC does NOT require children to be removed from class for having lice, nor do they require head checks of students in classes that have been exposed to lice. It is also stated that notifying families of exposure is not necessary. At Hathaway, as a courtesy, I will notify classrooms who have been affected with a letter. It is strongly encouraged to check your child for lice as well.
For more information please click on CDC regulations below. Thank you!
Parent Safety Forum
Dear PSD Parents & Guardians,
On behalf of Portsmouth Police Chief Brian Peters and Fire Chief Paul Ford, I would like to invite you to a PSD Parent Safety Forum on December 14th. Portsmouth public safety representatives and school and district leaders will be on hand for an overview of district safety procedures to be followed by a question and answer period. I hope you can join us for this conversation on these important topics.
Tom Kenworthy
Thomas W. Kenworthy, Ed.D.
Save the Date - Wednesday, December 14, 2022
Portsmouth High School Auditorium
7:00-8:30pm
Food Pantry
Reminder
Thank you in advance for your support in helping to keep our bus ride a safe one.
Dressing for Recess
Lost and Found
Interesting in Scouting?
Do you like hiking, camping, learning new skills and knowledge, or doing fun activities with kids your own age? If you answered YES, then scouting may be for you!
Portsmouth’s Cub Scout Pack 1 and Scouts BSA Troop 1 are always looking for new boys and girls that are interested in Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts. Students entering grades K thru 5th in the fall are eligible to join cub scouting, while those who are 11 years or older are eligible to join boy scouting. Currently Cub Scouts meet at the church hall at St. Barnabas on Thursday evenings at 6 pm, while the boy scouts meet at The Portuguese American Citizens Club on Power St, on Tuesdays at 6:30pm. You do not need to live in Portsmouth to join, but you are welcome. There may be a pack or troop closer to you that is more convenient.
HPTA News
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our November meeting! Nurse Krissy was an awesome Featured Speaker! In lieu of a December meeting, we ask that you please consider attending the safety forum hosted by the district on the evening of December 14th at 7:00 in the PHS auditorium. Our next meeting is January 18th, at 6:00 PM in the library.
The HPTA needs your help to run the many events we arrange
throughout the year. All volunteers DO need to be VIS
approved. The VIS application form can be found on the
Hathaway website.
The HPTA is once again collecting Clement’s Market receipts.
The receipts can be placed in your child’s folder. We recently received a check for nearly $1,300.00! Thank you to all who turned in their receipts!
HPTA Board
HPTA - Hathaway School Volunteering
Welcome to a new year at Hathaway School! Volunteers in Schools (VIS) is the volunteer program in the Portsmouth schools. We hope that the VIS program will provide you an opportunity to become involved in our schools’ activities. In order to participate in any school activity with children including being a room parent, attending class parties, field trips, volunteering at HPTA events, and in the classroom, the following two steps must be completed and completed EVERY year:
Online Application - Step One:
Found here or online at www.portsmouthschoolsri.org under the ‘For Parents’ tab. Then select ‘Volunteers’ and ‘Volunteers Home Page’ from the drop down menu. On the left, click the link for ‘Google Form.’ This must be completed at the start of each new school year. It will put your name on Hathaway’s Volunteer Master List, alerting the VIS Coordinator that you plan to become a volunteer.
* EVERYONE who wants to volunteer must complete this step, even if you received a Volunteer Authorization Form at orientation or have submitted it already
Volunteer Authorization Form - Step Two:
A background check must be completed annually, by law in Rhode Island. You must fill out the authorization form for the background check and have it notarized. It also needs to include a copy of the front and back of your driver’s license, and a $5 check made out to ‘BCI’. Please use a paper clip to secure all documents together, no staples, and return to any Portsmouth School Department Office. The form can be found here as well as in the school office and online at www.portsmouthschoolsri.org under the ‘For Parents’ tab. Then select ‘Volunteers’ and ‘Volunteers Home Page’ from the drop down menu. On the left, click the link for ‘VIS Authorization Form’. It can take up to 2-3 weeks to process once you submit the form.
THESE TWO STEPS MUST BE COMPLETED AND APPROVED BEFORE YOU ARE ABLE TO VOLUNTEER IN THE SCHOOL.
Your school VIS & Room Parent coordinator, Marie Stefanowicz, is your liaison with the school. If you have any questions, or any problems as a volunteer, the coordinator is your first point of contact and can be reached at hathawayvis@gmail.com.School Meals Program
School meals are no longer free to all students for the 2022-2023 school year. Breakfast, lunch, and milk are available to purchase for all Hathaway School students. Students order lunch each morning through their teacher that day. Breakfast can be picked up by students in the cafeteria as they arrive at school.
Full price Breakfast is $1.00 and Lunch is $2.60. If your family qualifies for reduced prices, breakfast is $ 0.30 and lunch is $0.40. Milk is offered for $0.55 as a stand alone item.
Please apply for free or reduced lunch online by visiting this site: https://www.myschoolapps.com. Or, paper applications will be sent home the first week of school.
Payment for breakfast, lunch and/or milk can be made online at www.myschoolbucks.com. A student LASID number will be needed to create and make payments online using your “My School Bucks” account. Here is how you can access your student’s LASID number in ASPEN:
Payment can also be made by sending cash or a check in an envelope to school labeled with your student’s name, teacher’s name, LASID number and amount included. If paying by check, please make it payable to Portsmouth School Department with your child’s LASID number noted on the memo line. Send a separate check for each child in your family as payments cannot be split between accounts. KEEPING YOUR BALANCE PAID IN FULL IS VERY IMPORTANT.
Please refer to the family portal navigation below to access your child's LASID number.
Abound Parenting Newsletter
Hathaway Notification Form
Please complete the Hathaway Notification Form.
Thank you in advance for helping us to keep things organized and safe in our Hathaway community.
Nut Free Facility
Thank you for your support in keeping all of our students safe in our Hathaway community.
Securly Home
Securly Home is an app that allows parents to monitor their child’s Chromebook activity at home and add rules for home use. Please take some time to review the slideshow and recording of the parent meeting that took place on 9/16.
We encourage you to sign up now for Securly Home!
Accessing Aspen
If you are having issues accessing Aspen, you will have to email familyportal@portsmouthschoolsri.org with your child's name, date of birth, grade level, and your name. The system administrators will be able to restore access to your account and make sure that you can login.
Where Can I Find Past Parent Newsletters?
Important Dates
Important Dates
2022-2023
December 14th - Early Release for Students/PD for Staff
December 14th - Safety Forum for Parents, 7:00 PM, PHS Auditorium
December 23rd - December 31st - Holiday Recess/No School
January 18th - HPTA Meeting, 6:00 PM, Library
January 27th - Bruins Night, Chorus Sings
February 15th - HPTA Meeting, 6:00 PM, Library
March 15th - HPTA Meeting, 6:00 PM, Library
April 19th - HPTA Meeting, 6:00 PM, Library
April 26th - Grade 3 Chorus Concert, Cafeteria, 3:30 PM
May 17th - HPTA Meeting, 6:00 PM, Library
June 14th - HPTA Meeting, 6:00 PM, Library
Howard Hathaway Elementary School
Email: littlel@portsmouthschoolsri.org
Website: https://www.portsmouthschoolsri.org/Domain/10
Location: 53 Tallman Avenue, Portsmouth, RI, USA
Phone: (401)683-0500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hathaway.principal/
Twitter: @HathawaySchool