North Scituate Elementary School
May 2021 Newsletter
A note from Mrs. Soccio
Can you believe there are only two months left of school? While this year has been quite different, it has flown by as we persevered through many obstacles! I am very proud of our students, faculty & staff, and families who have worked hard all year to ensure success each day. Let's continue to keep the momentum going and finish the school year strong!
While students cannot embark on actual "field trips" this year, with the support of our PTO and families, we are able to bring "field trips" into the classroom. Teachers have coordinated with groups like the Audubon Society of Rhode Island to plan a virtual experience or have a member from their team come to our school to present a program. We are grateful students will be able to have these experiences as we celebrate the end of the school year.
A friendly reminder, there are two professional development days this month. On May 13th there is no school for students as Eid al-Fitr is observed. On Monday, May 17th, staff will have professional development and students will distance learn. Materials for the distance learning day will be sent home the week before. Please be sure your child hands in their work completed on May 18th so they can be marked present for the distance learning day on May 17th.
Thank you to our PTO, Central Nurseries (Mr. & Mrs. Pagliarini), Mr. Warner, and our parent and student volunteers who generously donated plants, trees, time, funds, and energy to make improvements to the front and side of our building. Our school looks welcoming and ready for spring. See pictures below.
We have a busy two months ahead, please view the important dates section at the end of this newsletter.
Help me thank our faculty and staff as we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week May 3rd-6th!
Please reach out with questions or concerns at any time.
Kaitlin M. Soccio, Principal
Reminders
- All pets must be leashed at drop off and dismissal. We have students will allergies and fears, so please be mindful and socially distance.
- As the warm weather approaches, please be sure to pack your child a refillable water bottle with his/her name on it. Students will be going outside more frequently for learning opportunities.
- Drop off is at 8:35am each morning. If you are driving your children up, they must exit the passenger side of the vehicle and require no assistance from a parent.
- Check out the May lunch menu as Chartwells is able to offer hot lunches this month.
- Our school playground is CLOSED between 8:35am- 3:00pm as school is in session.
Spring Book Fair 2021
Click here to visit our Book Fair link.
How to Use E-Wallet on Book Fair
*** Books shown online ARE NOT all available at the in-person book store. Please refer to this list, which includes all of the books that will be available for purchase at the in-person book store.*** Ms. Lowrey will be sending home pictures of books that will be available on Tuesday.
You can order books online as well and have them shipped to your home. Free shipping on orders of $25 or more.
In Person Shopping for Families After School:
Tuesday 5/25: Kindergarten 3-3:30pm, 1st Grade 3:30-4:00pm
Wednesday 5/26: 2nd Grade 3-3:30pm, 3rd Grade 3:30-4:00pm
Thursday 5/27: 4th Grade 3-3:30pm, 5th Grade 3:30-4:00pm
*You will enter through the outside gymnasium doors, wear a mask, and follow all social distancing protocols. Please be mindful of the time, there is a group waiting to shop after you. We will be strict with time during this shopping opportunity to remain fair to all. Students must remain with their parent the entire time or outside on the playground.
School Improvement Team Members Welcome
Please email me Kaitlin.Soccio@scituateschoolsri.net directly if you are interested in serving on this important committee. Meetings will take place no less than quarterly. Our first meeting with be the end of May/early June.
Seeking Members for District Technology Committee
The Scituate School Department is looking for members of the Community to participate on the Technology Committee. The Committee will focus on rewriting the District long range plan to utilize Technology to enhance the Teaching and Learning for all Scituate students across the District. In addition, the Committee will seek to explore ways to enhance communications between District Administration and community members.
Below is a quick overview of where the District is currently in terms of technology:
All Student grades K thru 12 are 1:1 with Chromebooks and using Google Workspace for Education plus
HS Students enrolled in specific CTE class have Windows laptops
All Staff (certified and non-certified) have devices Chromebooks or Windows laptops
The HS/MS has been completed upgraded with new Network and WiFi equipment
Plans are already in the works to upgrade the Elementary school's networks
The District Website is currently 2 years old and is due for a "refresh" this year. Superintendent Andries has asked us to look at some other possible solutions.
Just in case you are not familiar with our website please take a look Scituate Public Schools (scituateschoolsri.net)
Here is our current Technology Plan Scituate Technology Plan
Meetings will be virtual every other Thursday starting on 5/13/2021 from 3:30 - 5:00 via Zoom
If interesting please fill out this form and someone will contact you
If you have any questions please email Technology@scituateschoolsri.net
Pennies for Patients 2021
The North Scituate Student Council's Annual Pennies for Patients fundraiser will be accepting donations from May 3rd- 21st. Students can donate pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and dollar bills towards this fundraiser. Classes will be competing for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place!
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world’s largest non-profit health organization dedicated to finding cures for blood cancers. Our Pennies for Patients program is for elementary and middle schools that would like to support us in our mission to create a world without cancer by conducting a fundraising campaign. By participating in Pennies for Patients, teachers and administrators will have opportunities to incorporate a unique STEM curriculum into their classrooms that give students an insider's look into LLS-funded research, and where their money gets invested.
New Raised Beds for Spring
Gardening Continues
Positive Office Referrals
RICAS Success
School Staff and Chartwells teamed up to provide every student with extra recess in the morning and breakfast outside. Thankfully, the weather cooperated most days and students had a great time outdoors. We continue this week with RICAS testing for Distance Learning students and make-ups.
GRADE LEVEL HIGHLIGHTS
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Art with Ms.Davis
A Message from the School Psychologist
Keeping Children Safe on the Internet
Children have access to the internet on a daily basis and they are often better at using the internet than are their parents. While using the internet can be an important learning tool, it can also expose them to risks. Given the potential dangers of children’s internet usage, the following suggestions for addressing internet safety in the home are listed below.
Set up your child’s computer/device with parental restrictions. This will limit the access they have to age appropriate material.
Establish a list of rules that you expect your child to follow while using the internet. Post the rules near the computer as a reminder.
Children should be cautioned about the dangers of talking to people they don’t know online. Also not to give out any personal information such as full name, address, telephone number and photos. Never agree to meet another face to face with someone they have met online.
Supervise and monitor internet friends the same way you would monitor school friends.
Monitor the amount of time your child spends online and frequently check the computer’s web browsers, which provides information on the websites that they have been accessing.
Instruct your child on issues of cyberbullying and how to tell you about it.
Taking videos for placing them on the internet has become prevalent on YouTube. While some may be instructional or funny some may also be dangerous or illegal. Again, monitoring your child’s activity is essential for safe internet use.
Talk to your child about sending information to one person is like sending it to everyone. Children don’t realize that once they press send it is now out there and anyone can send their information to anyone else.
Talk to your child about not sending any inappropriate photos or using threatening language to others both can have serious consequences.
The internet can be a wonderful wealth of information if used correctly but can also be a dangerous tool if used inappropriately and unsupervised.
Mrs. Schiappa, MA, CAGS
School Psychologist
Scituate School Committee
Important Dates
- May 3rd-6th: RICAS Testing Distance Learning Students Gr. 3-5
- May 3rd-21st: Pennies for Patients
- May 11th & 12th: NGSA Science Testing
- May 13th: No School-Eid al-Fitr/ PD for Staff
- May 17th: Distance Learning Day Students/PD for Staff
- May 19th: PTO Meeting 7:30pm
- May 24th-28th: Scholastic Book Fair
- June 4th: Grade 3 Life Cycle of Frogs Program by ASRI
- June 4th: Ocean Animals On Site Program for Kindergarten
- June 11th: Ocean Animals On Site Program for Kindergarten
- June 11th: Grade 4 Owls Program by ASRI
- June 11th: Grade 5 Living Cycles On Sit by ASRI
- June 14th: Field Day (raindate 6/15)
- June 16th: Bike Stunt Show with Chris Poulos
- June 18th: Kona Ice
- June 18th: Grade 2 Insect Program by ZooMobile RWP
- June 22nd: Grade 5 Celebration *tentative*
- June 23rd: Kindergarten Celebration *tentative*
- June 24th: Grade 1 Plants & Garden Program by ASRI
- June 25th: Last Day of School
North Scituate Elementary School
Email: kaitlin.soccio@scituateschoolri.net
Website: https://nses.scituateschoolsri.net/
Location: 46 Institute Lane, Scituate, RI, USA
Phone: 401-647-4110
Twitter: @NScituateSchool