Hathaway Happenings - Home
May 27, 2022
Dear Hathaway Families,
We are all heartbroken over the tragic event that occurred this week in Texas. Our thoughts and prayers are with the students, teachers and families as they go through the agonizing pain and suffering. We want you to know that we continue to be vigilant with our safety procedures and protocols. As we enter these doors, there is nothing more precious to us than our students and the faculty and staff that work with them every day. The process of teaching and learning in a school should be full of life, fun and curiosity. Our students and teachers continue to do all these things well and with great love on a daily basis and for that we are so grateful. Included in the nurse's section are resources should you find a need for them.
This weekend as you spend time with family and friends, hug a little longer, smile a little wider, and enjoy the simple pleasures all around you. Please know that we are always here for you.
PSD Safety School Updates - 5.25.22
Dear Members of the PSD Community,
The tragic news from Uvalde, Texas, on the heels of the last week’s terrible incident in Buffalo, has been difficult to absorb. Our thoughts are with all those who are dealing with the consequences of these latest events.
I wanted to provide some reminders and updates related to school safety and security here in Portsmouth. Members of the Portsmouth Police Department will be increasing their presence in and around all of our schools for the foreseeable future. In addition, we have a School Resource Officer on duty at both our middle and high schools and a district-employed school safety officer in place at both of our elementary schools (both of these individuals are retired police officers). In addition to the regular contact that I maintain with Cheif Peters from the PPD, we have a District Safety Committee made up of school and district personnel as well as town safety representatives from police and fire. This committee meets regularly to review school safety and security topics. We follow Threat Assessment Guidelines issued by the Rhode Island Department of Education. Our district mental health staff plays a critical role in these procedures. The PPD has certified school safety experts who oversee our response efforts to prepare for incidents related to school violence and help us to coordinate required drills for these purposes.
Prior to the start of the pandemic, PSD had launched the P3 Sandy Hook Promise Say Something Anonymous Reporting System. Recently, we relaunched this anonymous reporting tool for safety or security concerns. The link is available on our district website home page in the top right-hand corner. If a threat is deemed credible by P3 officials, the Portsmouth Police Department and PSD officials are immediately notified.
Each school will be reemphasizing the importance of following all protocols and procedures we have in place to ensure the safety of all students and staff. Please reach out to your child’s principal or myself with any questions.
With a heavy heart,
Tom Kenworthy
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Thomas W. Kenworthy, Ed.D.
Abound Parenting Newsletter (Kindergarten)
Abound Parenting- Hathaway News
After the distressing, heartbreaking news out of Texas, this week’s word is essential for children to hear, use, and feel. Hug them all.
- This week’s academic vocabulary word is SECURE.
Here are 2 ways to give your child extra opportunities to hear and use the word SECURE
- Holding a baby close makes a baby feel SECURE. Another way to make a baby feel SECURE is to swaddle him, which means wrap him in a blanket. Babies need help to feel SECURE.
What do you think animals do to feel SECURE?
Is there a person who makes you feel SECURE?
- When people we love give us a hug, it can make us feel SECURE. Sitting on someone’s lap or next to them while reading a book or watching a movie together can also make us feel SECURE.
What if you are worried and need to feel SECURE, but there is no one there to give you a hug or hold you close. What can you do to help yourself feel less nervous and more SECURE?
- To SECURE also means to tie something firmly so it doesn’t go anywhere. If an astronaut is on a spacewalk, she needs to be SECURED to the space craft, so she won’t fly off into space.
Let’s talk about how the word SECURE meaning “tie firmly to something so it doesn’t fly or float away,” is like the word SECURE meaning to “feel safe and protected.”
Remind your child that the word SECURE means safe, protected. SECURE can also mean tie or attach firmly to something.
How else can you build your child’s reading skills through TALK?
Try these questions taken from different TalkOn age groups this week
- In our solar system there are eight planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. Let's clap out each word and see which planets have two syllables? (Venus, Saturn, Neptune)
- Astronomers use telescopes to see far-away stars up close. Scientists use microscopes to make really, really small things look much bigger. Which would you prefer to use? How do those words sound alike? (Note: scope means see)
- On Earth there are lots of separate countries, each in charge of its own land. Who is in charge of space? Who's in charge of where you live?
If you haven’t yet signed up, go to https:// partners.aboundparenting.com/ Use the code given to you by your Hathaway teacher or staff member, & follow instructions to download the app.
From Dr. Kenworthy
Dear Members of the PSD Community,
As we get ready to head into the holiday weekend I wanted to be sure that you are aware that Newport County has been moved into the high transmission category for COVID-19 under the new CDC guidelines. With cases rising in our region, RIDOH has asked all school districts to share the following information with families:
Tools for Protection Against COVID-19
Our school nurses remain the best point of contact for any questions or concerns regarding COVID-19.
My continued best wishes to all in the PSD community.
Tom Kenworthy
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Thomas W. Kenworthy, Ed.D.
From the School Nurse
COVID-19 Boosters for 5-11 Year Olds!
On Thursday, May 19th, the CDC endorsed the expansion of eligibility for COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to include children ages 5-11. As your child’s school nurse, I urge you to consider booster doses or the primary vaccine series for your child if you have not already done so.
The CDC director stated “Children 5 through 11 should receive a booster dose at least 5 months after their primary series. Vaccination with a primary series among this age group has lagged behind other age groups leaving them vulnerable to serious illness. With over 18 million doses administered in this age group, we know that these vaccines are safe, and we must continue to increase the number of children who are protected. I encourage parents to keep their children up to date with CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine recommendations.”
10 REASONS Why It’s Important for Kids Age 5 through 11 to Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19
If you are science-minded and want to understand more about why your child should be vaccinated or boosted or are wondering if they still need to do so after having had COVID-19 themselves, I encourage you to read this.
To find a vaccine clinic near you, click here. Make sure to click on the Pfizer 5-11 year link to pre-register.
Resources for parents for talking about hard things with children
As a parent myself and a former pediatric mental health nurse, I wanted to share some resources with our families with some tips or guidance for talking with your children about the tragic events that took place on Tuesday in Uvalde, TX. Gun-related deaths became the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the US in 2020. I hope our lawmakers can work together to address this as the public health emergency that it is.
Talking to Students when Violence Happens from the Center for Resilience and Well-Being in School
Talking to Children about the Shooting from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network
How to Talk to Children about Difficult News by the American Psychological Association
Talking with Children about Tragedies & Other News Events from the American Academy of Pediatrics
For those of you on social media, some accounts that may be helpful for educating yourself on this topic (and others!) include:
Dr. Becky Kennedy on Instagram @drbeckyatgoodinside or Facebook.com/drbeckyatgoodinside
Dr. Aliza Pressman on Instagram @raisinggoodhumanspodcast or Facebook.com/raisinggoodhumanspodcast
Health and Safety Updates
Vaccination Rates
For information about Pre K-12 School Cases and Vaccination rates please visit this site.
Case Numbers (SY 2021-2022)
3/25 - 183
4/1 - 188
4/8 - 194
4/14 - 197
4/29 - 200
5/6 - 204
5/13 - 214
5/20 - 223
5/27 - 232
HPTA News
HPTA Meeting
Our next HPTA meeting will be Wednesday, June 8th at 6:30pm in the library. Check out the minutes from our April meeting. Please join us as we finish planning this year's events, approve a board for next year, and start some early brainstorming for events that will happen during the next school year.
Volunteer Opportunities
In order for our upcoming events to be successful we need VOLUNTEERS. Please check out the opportunities! We cannot do it without your support. All volunteers must be VIS approved for field days and any field trips.
First Grade Instrument Design Volunteers from 1:45-2:45pm in the Cafeteria on the following dates. Sign up by emailing Hathawayvis@gmail.com.
Mrs. Grinnell May 31 (need 1 volunteer)
Ms. Vanasse June 2 (need 2 volunteers)
Mrs. Raposo: June 6 (need 1 volunteers)
K-3 Field Day Volunteer Sign up for Thursday June 2nd.
4th Grade Field Day/Picnic Volunteer Sign up for Friday June 3rd.
Becoming a Volunteer in School
Visit the district volunteer page for information if you would like to become VIS approved to volunteer in school. At this point background checks will likely not be back in time for upcoming events. If anyone needs a BCI quickly they can go directly to the Attorney General's office in Cranston and send a copy of the background check to hathawayvis@gmail.com. Here is the information. They are good for 1 year!
Google Form to register. It will put your name on Hathaway’s Volunteer Master List, alerting the VIS Coordinator that you plan to become a volunteer.
VIS Authorization Form: 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.’ This form can be turned in at the school’s main office or at the school department building.
HPTA Board
Nut Free Facility
Thank you for your support in keeping all of our students safe in our Hathaway community.
Interested in Serving on A Committee?
***If we have a high number of volunteers for a committee, then we will randomly select parent representation.
Choose Love Calendar - May
Pre K Registration
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!
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.
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
2021-2022
June 1st - Early Release, 2:15 PM
June 2nd - Field Day, K-3
June 2nd - Grade 4 Fort Adams Field Trip
June 3rd - Grade 4 Field Day
June 3rd - Grade 1 Casey Farm Field Trip
June 6th - Rain Date K-3 Field Day
June 6th - Bill Harley Presentation, 9:15
June 6th - June 10th - Week of the Young Child
June 7th - Grade 3 Aquidneck Island Tour Field Trip (3AT/HA)
June 8th - Grade 2 Field Trip, Buttonwood Zoo
June 8th - Grade 4 State House Field Trip (G/H)
June 8th - Grade 3 Aquidneck Island Tour Field Trip (3C/3H)
June 8th - HPTA Meeting, 6:30 PM, Library
June 9th - Grade 4 Fort Adams Field Trip
June 9th - Bill Harley Presentation (Rain Date), 915
June 10th - Community Meeting, 9:30 AM
June 14th - Grade 4 State House Field Trip (TH/P)
June 17th - Rain Date Grade 4 Field Day
June 17th - Report Cards visible in Aspen
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