Smith STEM School
October 24, 2022
Smith Calendar of Events
Monday, October 24, 2022
Diwali/Divali (Hindu)
Friday, October 28, 2022
Pre-K Auer Farm 8:45 - 12:00 pm
Thursday, November 3, 2022
Paul Cryan Photography
Family STEM Night 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Friday, November 4, 2022
Picture Day
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
Election Day (No School)
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Grade 2 Roaring Brook Field Trip 9:00 - 1:45 pm
Grade 5 Westmoor Park 9:00 - 1:45 pm
Monday, November 14, 2022 - Friday, November 18, 2022
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Thursday, November 24, 2022
Thanksgiving
Friday, November 26, 2022
Thanksgiving Recess
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Tuesdays
5th Grade Band Practice at 7:45 am
4th Grade Choir Practice at 7:45 am
Wednesdays
5th Grade Choir Practice at 7:45 am
Fridays
5th Grade Instrumental Music Practice at 7:45 am
Picture Day
Parent /Guardian-Teacher Conferences
Conference week is November 14 - November 18.
Monday 11/14 - 1:30 dismissal
Tuesday 11/15 - 1:30 dismissal
Wednesday 11/16 - 2:00 dismissal
Thursday 11/17 - 1:30 dismissal
Friday 11/18 - 1:30 dismissal
InView Test of Cognitive Skills
As part of our town wide testing program, all third-grade students will participate in the InView Test of Cognitive Skills during the week of October 25 – 28. InView comprises five tests that measure skills and abilities. The test results are useful for instructional planning, identifying strengths and challenges, providing information for placement into special programs, and gathering age- and grade-appropriate normative data.
Aperture
Along with our academic fall benchmark assessments, Smith will also be administering a tool called the DESSA (Devereux Student Strengths Assessment) to measure the implementation and effectiveness of our Social-Emotional Learning curriculum. This screener will be completed by your child's teacher three times a year to guide and inform our SEL instruction. This tool is aligned to the CASEL standards including self-awareness and relationship skills, which our WHPS SEL curriculum is based on. We know social-emotional wellbeing is critical to the academic success of our students, so we are excited to enhance the effectiveness of our SEL work with this monitoring tool. For additional parent information on the DESSA assessment, please see the PDF attached here.
Safety and Security
As you know the safety and security of our students and staff is our main priority. I wanted to remind all parents and caregivers that visitors are NOT allowed outside on our school property while school is in session. This includes our playground, picnic tables, and all outdoor spaces. School hours are from 8:30-3:20 every day except on Wednesday. Wednesday our students are dismissed at 2:00. If you arrive to pick up your child before school is dismissed, kindly wait outside our school fence until dismissal time. It is our collective responsibility to keep our students safe while they are in school. Let's all do our part!
Thank you, Teresa Giolito, Principal
Smith School Before School Activites
5th Grade Band, 4th and 5th Grade Choir and 5th Grade Instrumental Music Practice
Please encourage your child to attend every rehearsal and to be on time.
- Practices begin promptly at 7:45 am
- Students enter at the St. James Street door from 7:25 - 8:00 am
- Students who arrive at 8:00 am or later must buzz in at the door located at the bus driveway
- Students who eat breakfast at Smith are dismissed from rehearsal a few minutes early so that they can get a "grab and go" breakfast in the cafeteria
Lyman Orchard Pie and Classic Cookie Dough Fundraiser
If you have any questions, please contact Alicia Macfarland at pormac77@gmail.com.
Paul Cryan Photography
Revised Addendum C: Information on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The CSDE has revised Addendum C: Information on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to include the updated income guidelines for SNAP.
Grade Level Elementary Curriculum in a Nutshell Overviews
It is a pleasure to share a brief overview of all areas of the Kindergarten through Grade 5 West Hartford Curriculum. West Hartford’s comprehensive program is based on the Connecticut Core Standards. Teachers provide instruction on essential literacy and mathematics skills and understandings necessary for success on both district and state assessments establishing the foundation for continued study. The West Hartford curriculum also includes integration of visual and performing arts, science, social studies, physical education, world language (grades 3-5) and library media services.
This curriculum comes alive in the hands of our talented teachers who are committed to ensuring that our students reach their highest potential. We are dedicated to accommodating children’s diverse needs, the way they learn, their experiences and interests, and to facilitating continuous educational growth. If you should have any questions about your child’s curriculum, your classroom teacher is the best source of information.
No single document can fully explain the rich and complex nature of the school curriculum and instructional goals. We know that learning is optimized in a partnership with families, teachers, and schools. Working together, we can use your experiences as a family and our work in the classroom to create a respectful climate of academic success and joy for lifelong learning.
Sincerely,
Paul W. Vicinus, Jr.
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
Each grade level overview as well as information on Early Childhood Programs (PreK/ELC) are also accessible on the WHPS website at
Smith's Little Free Library
Smith STEM School is fortunate to have a Little Free Library on our grounds. The purpose of the library is to make books accessible to anyone who is looking for a good book. The books are free to borrow. When you are done with the book you may keep it, pass it along to another friend or family member, or bring it back to the Little Free Library. You may also donate books to the library. We accept books for all ages. Just open up the door and place them inside. Please keep in mind that the Little Free Library is for used books only. It is not for books from our school library. I hope that you and your children will get a chance to check out the Little Free Library in the future.
Happy Reading!!
Mrs. May
Curriculum Specialist
West Hartford Public Schools
Free Breakfast & Lunch
Due to an extension of regulations by the State of CT, all meals, breakfast and lunch, are free for all students for the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year. Free meals are not expected to last the entire year. The duration of the free meals will depend on the funding we receive from the State. We are estimating that this will last for the first 45-60 school days. It is imperative that families fill out free and reduced meal applications ASAP so that they are set to receive benefits when the free for all period is over. This information is also used for other programs.
Ala carte items (snacks), are not free and will have to be paid for. We do not allow students to go negative on their account with ala carte (snack) items. Your student can pay for snack items with cash or their Paypams account. Please click one of the buttons below for instructions on how to add money to your student's Paypams account.
Covid Protocols
Throughout the year, WHPS will closely monitor the situation and respond appropriately with flexible prevention strategies. To support these efforts, please read the following information carefully.
Vaccination
Increasing vaccination rates in our students, staff, and community is our greatest strategy for keeping students learning in-person. The CDC recommends COVID-19 primary series vaccines for everyone ages 6 months and older, and COVID-19 boosters for everyone ages 5 years and older, if eligible. Everyone 6 months of age or older can also receive a seasonal vaccine for influenza.
Tests
Students and staff should test if they develop COVID-19 like symptoms. All WHPS schools have been supplied with COVID-19 test kits which are available to students and staff at no cost. Please contact your school if you need a COVID-19 test kit.
Isolation
If your child tests positive for COVID-19, please contact your school nurse. Those who test positive should isolate for 5 days with the day of the positive test being Day 0. After the 5 day isolation period, students and staff are allowed to return to school if they have been fever free for 24 hours. It is still mandatory to wear a mask from day 6-10 when returning to school after a positive Covid case.
For those who have had a known exposure, the CDC recommends that instead of quarantining, exposed persons should wear a high quality mask for 10 days and get tested on day 2 or 3 and again on day 5 from the last exposure. Home tests are sufficient.
Mask Use
Masks will continue to be optional in West Hartford Public Schools. People may choose to wear masks as an additional layer of protection. Masks will be available in schools. While masks on public transportation are no longer mandated, masks are still encouraged on school buses as a layered protection strategy.
The CSDE and DPH recommend the TEST-MASK-GO strategy to maximize time in school. This strategy allows students with mild respiratory symptoms to attend school under the following conditions:
they are fever-free (< 100°F) and feel well enough to participate,
they do not live with anyone who has had COVID-19 in the past 2 weeks,
they test negative for COVID-19 prior to reporting in-person on every day they have symptoms, as well as one final test on the morning their symptoms have completely resolved.
Individuals who have any respiratory disease symptoms should not use the Test-Mask-Go strategy if:
• they have a fever (≥ 100°F) or feel feverish (they should not report in-person until their fever has resolved for at least 24 hours without the use of medication)
• they live with a person who recently tested positive for COVID-19 (within the past 2 weeks)
COVID-19 Dashboard and Tracking
WHPS will report student and staff cases weekly and maintain the COVID-19 dashboard starting at the beginning of the school year.
WHPS will continue to emphasize frequent hand washing and run the ventilation systems in each building at full capacity as directed by DPH guidance as mitigation strategies. WHPS encourages the use of outdoor learning spaces whenever possible. School events, before and after school programming, sports and all activities will proceed as planned.
Thank you for your partnership.
Anne McKernan
Assistant Superintendent for Administration
Information From The PTO
Teresa Giolito, Principal
Location: 64 St James St, West Hartford, CT, USA
Phone: 860-236-3315