The Dolphin Digest
September 29, 2020
Upcoming Events
October 1st- Jersey Mike Smithfield Night
October 7th- CMS Early Release Day (Instructional Day ends at 11:30am)
October 12th- CMS PreK returns to in-person instruction
October 19th- No School -Teacher Workday
October 22nd- Hungry Howie's Smithfield Spirit Night
November 2nd- CMS In-Person Phases begin (Rotation A)
Parent To Do's:
- Consider joining the Smithfield PTA!
- If you, or someone you know, wants to sign up to receive the Dolphin Digest, email: smithfielddolphinnews@gmail.com
"Looking for a fun activity for your family? We have just the thing for you!"
October Fun with Mrs. Solar : A Pumpkin Book Report!
Choose one of your favorite children’s book characters and decorate a pumpkin to look like that character!
How creative can your family get?
Snap a picture of your finished pumpkin and send it to Mrs. Solar by October 25th: sara1.solar@cms.k12.nc.us
All pictures will be published in the Dolphin Digest and on Smithfield’s FaceBook and Instagram!
Some examples for inspiration:
Plan B Smithfield Family Communication Plan
Week of October 5: Understanding the Smithfield Plan B Instructional Plan
Week of October 12: Procedures, Logistics, Health and Safety at Smithfield
Week of October 19: Preparing our Dolphins
Week of October 28: Responding to Lingering Questions or Concerns
We will use a variety of formats (video messages, email communication, surveys, FAQ updates, and live virtual sessions) to communicate with you during the month of October. We are committed to providing families with multiple opportunities to learn what to expect and have your questions answered prior to the transition in November!
Early Release Day 10/7
Smithfield Annual Notices
Military Reporting 20-21
In an effort to ensure that the unique needs of military-connected students are met, Session Law 2014-15 requires the North Carolina State Board of Education/North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to collect information on military-connected students. The goal is to help accommodate these students by providing them with support and consistency when their parents are deployed, when they are transitioning between schools, and at other pivotal times during their academic career.
Please complete this link if the content applies to you.
Thank you!
Jersey Mike Night- THURSDAY, October 1st
On Thursday, October 1st from 4-8pm Jersey Mike's will donate 20% of sales to Smithfield Elementary! Includes call in, online and orders placed through the app.
CMS Remote Learning Daily Instructional Minutes
In response to feedback, CMS is providing a community-friendly document to support parent, student and caregiver understanding about the district expected designations for instructional minutes across content areas and grade levels. The minutes represented on this document are guidelines for “Live” and “On Your Own” remote instruction.
These resources entitled Remote Learning Daily Minutes are located on the CMS website (www.cms.k12.nc.us). Click on Health and Wellness and then on the Remote Learning Daily Minutes link.
CMS Student Code of Conduct- Action Required
Once the document has been reviewed, students and families will need to COMPLETE the Student and Parent Acknowledgement and Pledge by completing this FORM. (Due 9/24).
Parent Corner
Has the CMS reopening plan increased you or your child’s worries? Have the past 6 months increased anxieties that were already there? Have you been worried about your child’s worries, even before covid? Kay Carreira, our school psychologist, is gauging the interest of a parent book study. If you would be interested in studying the book Anxious Kids Anxious Parents: 7 Ways to Stop the Worry Cycle and Raise Courageous & Independent Children, please email kays.carreira@cms.k12.nc.us for more information.
Join the Smithfield PTA!
The Way to a Teacher's Heart... Snacks!
If you are able, families can drop off canned drinks and individual packaged snacks and fruit. Please pull to the front of the school and call the front office (980-343-6550). We will come right out to get the donations from your car.
Thank you in advance for your support!
Dolphin Mental Health Support
Hello Dolphin Families!
We are over a month into virtual learning and some of us are still settling into our routines. As I have talked to different parents across NC and in other areas. I have noticed many common threads among families from all over:
- Online learning presents a challenge for families to manage unwanted feelings and conflict, let's face it we are around each other WAY too much! (Or students and families find themselves feeling frustrated with learning online.)
- Routine, structure, and rules of the "schoolhouse"
One way to tackle this challenge is by setting the stage by establishing agreed-upon expectations for how things will go, including how family members will treat one another. Here are some examples of how families are doing this:
- Establish a “charter,” describing how families members want to feel at home and how they will act and treat one another to support those feelings, along with how family members will manage unwanted feelings and conflict. Every family member should have a say and commit to their charter to writing.
- Drafted a “constitution” establishing the rules of the road, including who is responsible for what, how spaces in the house are to be used, and even who the mascot is (spoiler: the dog).
- Another family decided that they would treat home life as if they were on a spaceship that had embarked on an interstellar voyage. With that as the backdrop, they hammered out daily routines and ways to treat one another that would help in the days and weeks ahead.
Although school has been virtual for quite some time, it is never too late to make necessary changes, if you find that your family is struggling in certain areas.
Whether it’s in the context of a charter, a constitution, or an interstellar voyage, the common theme here is to take steps to decide intentionally how your family wants to behave, to treat one another, and ultimately, to support one another through an unusual and upsetting time. In a time that feels out of our control, this is a small way of taking matters constructively in our own hands. This can set families up for success, and most importantly, a family platform that promotes kindness and support! Even as we navigate close quarters and, sometimes, with frayed nerves. When our feelings and emotions are in check it sets positive conditions for learning in what has become an unplanned schoolhouse.
CMS Meal Bundles
CMS Eats at Home
This week, CMS Eats at Home had a total of 20,426 meal bundles ordered for pick-up and delivery. For next week, 22,402 bundles have been ordered. As students return to school, they will receive breakfast and lunch daily in school. The meal bundles will still be available to them during weeks they have remote learning.
How to sign up
You can pre-order meal bundles through a new or existing PayPAMS account.
Click here to log in to PayPAMS
Learn more about PayPAMS
Delivery by Transportation to your designated bus stop during the assigned timeframe.
Pick up at one of 40 CMS school locations between 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
View locations.
Students do not need to be present for pick up or delivery. Name must be provided to receive the meal bundle. Meal bundles must be pre-ordered. You will receive a confirmation email when you have completed the order process.
CMS Meal Benefits
https://mealapps.cms.k12.nc.us/lfserver/CMS_FRA_APP_ENG-20-21
Meal prices will remain the same next year. All students will receive breakfast at no charge. Lunch prices are $2.50, pre-kindergarten; $2.75, kindergarten to eighth grade; and $3, ninth to 12th grade.
Stay Connected!
Each child will have an Agenda that will go between home and school every day.
Weekly ConnectEd email newsletters
Facebook (Smithfield):
www.facebook.com/smithfieldelem
Facebook (Smithfield PTA):
www.facebook.com/SmithfieldElementaryPTA
Twitter:@SmithfieldES
Instagram: smithfieldelementary
School Website: http://schools.cms.k12.nc.us/smithfieldES