The website is in addition to this newsletter, and our current website, which includes posting from our Facebook page and our school calendar. The hope is that you will find information that you are looking for in any and/or all of these sources.

New website address:

https://sites.google.com/epschoolsri.com/silver-spring-elementary-sch/home

We will be celebrating Spirit Week from February 14th to 18th as follows:

• • Monday 2/14:

    • Happy Valentine’s Day ~ Wear Red and White

  • Tuesday 2/15:

    • Show Your Love for your favorite sports team

  • Wednesday 2/16:

    • Show your love for your school ~ Wear purple and white)

  • Thursday 2/17:

    • Free-Spirit Day- Be creative! Dress in the style of crazy hair, crazy hat, silly socks, or dress up fancy. (Whatever is chosen must be school appropriate.)

    • Random Act of Kindness Day ~ Perform acts of kindness.

  • Friday 2/18:

    • Show your love for comfort ~ Wear sweatpants or PJs

The Rhode Island Department of Education will be holding a lottery in early May 2022 for the East Providence Pre-Kindergarten Program. The link below is NOT FOR REGISTRATION, but to receive notification when the lottery opens for registration. Interested families should fill out the survey to receive such notification. If you have any further questions, please call 401-270-7571 or email eperez@epschoolsri.com.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdn-Y5IUKy5upPnh5OkLSheNe_GrArRR1-EyIS7f44OgetvQQ/viewform

East Providence Pre-Kindergarten locations:

Oldham Elementary School Martin Middle School

60 Bart Drive 111 Brown Street

School wide expectations are shared with our school community on a daily and weekly basis. This ensures that all members of our school community know what to expect when he/she is at school.

Star Students are selected based on how they model Attendance, Achievement, Participation, or Kindness, and their names are announced on a weekly basis in our Monday Morning Announcements. This is a great way to celebrate our role models!

The following is a link to the updated Outbreak Response Protocols: Pre K-12 Playbook:

https://health.ri.gov/publications/guidance/Outbreak-Response-Protocols-Pre-K-12.pdf

East Providence School Department 2021-2022 Covid Protocols

Updated: 1.21.2022

Playbook

Notification Process

When a school staff is notified of a Covid case, report it to Diane Wallace/Sandy Forand.

1. Review class lists for all classes including specials, bus lists, cafeteria, sports teams/after school programs/activities are reviewed

• Students that sit within 3 ft in the cafeteria are considered close contacts but are exempt from quarantine under MTS (unless exempt from quarantine due to vaccination or 90 day window).

• Students on the bus in the same seat are are considered close contacts but are exempt from quarantine under MTS (unless exempt from quarantine due to vaccination or 90 day window)

• Students that are less than 3ft are considered close contacts but do not need to quarantine if they meet the PreK-12 Quarantine Exemption.

• Staff close contacts would not need to quarantine if the staff member is considered fully vaccinated. If a staff member is not fully vaccinated, staff members will follow MTS guidelines.

• RODOH Close Contact sheets no longer need to be completed.RIDOH K12 Direct Contact Template V8 Updated 8 9 2021 (3).xlsx

2. Parents should be notified by the school nurse (Dojo, letter, phone) to inform them of their close contact status.

3. A letter is no longer being sent to the whole class. Only close contacts are being notified using the updated letter below.

Covid Classroom Letter (Not currently being used)

Close Contact Letter

4. A positive student case must be entered into the 2021-2022 Student Covid Form: Each school has their own link. Enter positive staff using the COVID Staff Quarantine Report.

5. Email notification to staff about the positive case.

Quarantine Procedures

General Guidance

• The last day of contact should be counted as day 0.

• Infectious Period for Symptomatic Cases: Two calendar days prior to symptom onset until 5 days after symptom onset

• Infectious Period for Asymptomatic Cases:Two calendar days prior to testing (the date the swabbing was conducted) until 5 days after the date of testing

• Definition of VACCINATED being 14 days past the second shot (first shot for J&J) AND have received the booster if more than 6 months from the final shot. Vaccination card must be provided to the school nurse to be exempt from quarantine (staff should provide vaccination card to HR).

K-12 Exemption

• A K-12 student exposed to another K-12 student infected with COVID-19 does not need to quarantine if all of the following apply:

  • Both the infected person and exposed close contact are K-12 students;

  • The exposure occurred in an indoor K-12 classroom;

  • Both the exposed (close contact) student and the infected student wore face masks at all times during the close contact exposure; and At least three feet of physical distance was maintained at all times during the exposure.

  • This exception does not apply to teachers, staff, or other adults in the indoor classroom setting.

Monitor to Stay

Monitor to Stay allows students and staff identified as close contacts to a known COVID-19 case, who are UNVACCINATED to be able to remain in school as long as they:

• consistently and correctly wear a mask for 10 days

• Remain with no symptoms.

• Quarantine outside of school

They are eligible to participate in Monitor to Stay if the close contact with a COVID-19 case occurred under all of the following conditions:

● The contact occurred outside of their household

● Both the contact and the COVID-19 case were consistently masked during the

exposure even if brief unmasked periods (e.g., snack time, cafeteria) occurred, and

as long as three feet or more of space was consistently maintained;

● If outdoors at school, both individuals were masked or supervised if unmasked (e.g.,

mask breaks, physical education, recess);

● The close contact remains asymptomatic (if they develop any symptoms they must

revert to regular isolation/quarantine requirements).

Ill Students

• A student currently identified as a close contact who has developed symptoms (even one symptom) should quarantine for 5 days at home or may return with a negative PCR result. Nurses can use professional judgment for students with frequent symptoms (i.e. frequently complains of headaches).

• In the absence of a more likely diagnosis by a healthcare provider, the chart below should be used to determine a probable case.

• A probable case that is sent home will require the student to have a PCR or antigen test before returning to the classroom or they may stay home for the 5 day quarantine. Students should remain home if they are still sick. If the symptoms resolve prior to staying home for 5 day or a negative test result, an antigen can be given in school.

• A probable person must get tested for COVID-19 with a PCR or antigen test before returning to school unless they have provided documentation from a healthcare provider that symptom(s) are due to another health condition.

• A student may return without a negative test if all symptoms have resolved. The students will be tested for the remainder of the 5 day “isolation” period. If the parents declines testing, the student would remain in quarantine for 5 days or until a negative test result is available.

• School nurses may assess students who report or show symptoms using the documented medical history to determine if testing and isolation are necessary.

• If a healthcare provider, such as pediatrician/Medical Doctor (MD)/Nurse Practitioner (NP)/Physician’s Assistant (PA), provides documentation of an alternate diagnosis, isolation and testing may not be recommended.

• Unvaccinated family members of the symptomatic student/staff member may remain in school pending the test results. A Binex test on site is strongly recommended.

Quarantine for In-school Close Contacts

Students who meet the K-12 exemption will not be required to quarantine. These students should:

• Monitor for symptoms

• No test required

UNVACCINATED students who do not meet the K-12 exemption

• Follow the Monitor to Stay guidelines

VACCINATED students should:

• Monitor for symptoms

• No quarantine or test required

Quarantine for Out-of-school Close Contacts

UNVACCINATED students will

• Follow Monitor to Stay guidelines for all close contacts outside of the household

VACCINATED students (or within 90 day window) should:

• No quarantine or test required

• Wear a mask for 10 days

• Monitor for symptoms

Quarantine for Household Contacts - CAN ISOLATE

UNVACCINATED students/staff will

• Quarantine for the 5 day from the date of last exposure

• The student/staff can return on Day 6.

• The student / staff MUST test in school from Day 6-10. A negative test must be obtained each morning before the student reports to class.

• If the student does not agree to test on day 6-10, 5 additional days of quarantine are required.

VACCINATED students/staff:

• Not required to quarantine

• Daily testing at school for 5 days is required (Binax)

• If testing is declined, the student will quarantine for an additional 5 days.

• Monitor for symptoms

Quarantine for Household Contacts - CANNOT ISOLATE

UNVACCINATED students/staff will

• Quarantine for the 5 day isolation of the positive household member

• Quarantine for an additional 5 days at home

• The student/staff can return on Day 11.

• Testing in school from Day 11-15 is highly recommended.

VACCINATED students/staff:

• Not required to quarantine

• Daily testing at school for 5 days is required (Binax)

• If testing is declined, the student will quarantine for an additional 5 days.

• Monitor for symptoms

Isolation for Positive Student / Staff

• 5 day isolation required from the date of positive test or date of symptom onset (whichever is first).

• Student / staff may return on Day 6 if symptoms are improving and the person has been fever free for at least 24 hours without medication.

Travel Procedures

Domestic Travel & International Travel:

There are currently no testing or quarantine requirements when returning from travel.

CDC Guidance: https://covid.ri.gov/covid-19-prevention/travel-tofrom-ri

Updated 1/21/22

---------------------------------------------------

https://www.back2schoolri.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Pre-K-12-Quarantine-8.23.2021.pdf

Please keep in mind that in order to administer the BinaxNOW COVID-19 test at school, we need the consent form completed and submitted. Thank you for parents/guardians who have already sent in a form for his/her child.

Thank you for your cooperation, as we are doing our best to keep everyone safe and our students learning.

K-12 Testing Online Appointment: https://covid.ri.gov/testing

Contact Nurse Maria via Dojo, phone or email, if your child is ill/meets testing criteria.

Phone: 383-0908

Email: mfazioli@epschoolsri.com

The recordings from our Parenting in a Pandemic Workshop Series with Dr. Ellen Flannery-Schroeder are available to view on the EPSD YouTube channel. If you were not able to attend the sessions or would simply like to revisit them, you can access the recordings through the links below or by visiting the district's YouTube channel.

Our last session with Dr. Flannery-Schroeder, titled: Avoiding the Trap of Overparenting in Unprecedented Times will be held on March 2, 2022. See the flier below for details.

When Back to School Isn't Back to Normal

Recognizing Anxiety and Depression in Your Child or Adolescent

Building Your Child's Coping Skills

Our PTC meeting is scheduled for

Thursday, February 3rd at 6:00 p.m.

This month's PTC meeting will be held virtually.

Please type in the following information in the address bar or click on the link to join the virtual meeting:

meet.google.com/bpe-uppn-yxt

We are looking forward to seeing you!

Reach out to our PTC Preseident, Aly Laughlin, if you would like to help with events and/or if you have any questions regarding the PTC.

Aly's email address is: alytheia16@gmail.com

This year's winter break is February 21 - 25, 2022

Amended 2021-2022 District School Calendar

What is the i-Ready Diagnostic test?

The  i-Ready Diagnostic  is  a test  designed  to  help teachers support each student and create a path of personalized  instruction  for every learner.  The  adaptive  test adjusts its questions to suit each student’s needs. Each item a student sees is individualized based on their answer to the previous question.  For example, a series of correct answers will result in slightly harder questions, while a series of incorrect answers will yield slightly easier questions.  Students  will find the test difficult, but that is OK. Think of it like a vision test:  the blurry letters and incorrect answers help the eye doctor find the correct glasses for you.  The i-Ready Diagnostic gets harder until a student answers an item incorrectly and then narrows in on exactly where a student needs support.

On February 2nd, students will bring home an i-Ready Student Monitoring Report that compares the beginning and middle of the year i-Ready Diagnostics' results. The following video, Understanding i-Ready Diagnostic for Families will help you better understand student i-Ready Diagnostic results.

How to Check Your Child's i-Ready Performance

You may also want to check your child's performance and how he/she is doing on their reading and math lessons in i-Ready when your child signs onto i-Ready.

1) Choose a subject reading or math.

2) Scroll over the arrow at the bottom of the screen, which is the My Progress button. When you click on My Progress, it will show you Reading Lesson Stats: Time-On-Task (how man minutes your child worked on lessons during the week) and Lessons Passed (shows the lessons passed since the beginning of the school year).

The goal is to spend at least 45 minutes each week on reading and 45 minutes each week on math, as well as passing at least two lessons each week in order to show growth.

3) Click on Completed Work to see which lessons your child completed and how your child scored. A score higher than 70% is passing. When your child doesn't pass a lesson, your child will be given the lesson again and provided an opportunity to pass the lesson. At the bottom of Completed Work, you will see your child's Diagnostic score (Students take three diagnostics a year. In the fall, winter, and spring.)

If you have any questions regarding your child's i-Ready Diagnostics results or how to check your child's progress in i-Ready, please reach out to your child's teacher.

Students who pass four (4) i-Ready lessons per week, two (2) reading and two (2) math, are entered in a raffle.

Please reach out to your child's teacher or Mrs. Francescon for more information regarding this initiative.

Show your school spirit by participating in Spirit Days!

It is easy and fun. Follow the schedule below and come to school dressed to reflect the Spirit Day theme.

In February we are on # 5 of 7 Habits for Successful Silver Spring Stars

5. Hydration

When we are tired, cranky, or have brain fog, the solution may be as simple as a glass of water.

• The human brain is composed of 95% water

• Lungs are 90%water

• Muscles are 76% water

• Proper hydration helps improve mental and physical health (waterlogic.com)

• Please encourage students to drink water throughout the day- it is especially effective to help get bodies moving in the morning.

The Water Song

Attendance

The Seven Habits for Successful Silver Spring Stars were created to help improve attendance. One of the best attributes about Silver Spring is the strong teachers who LOVE teaching and students who LOVE learning... If they are not here we cannot teach them.

Students must be present 90% of the time in order to be in good standing by the Rhode Island Department of Education. Currently, we've been in school 75 days. If a student has been absent 6+ days, they are considered chronically absent by the RIDE. (Quarantine absences are not factored into this number.)

Families should make every effort to get students to school every single day. If a student takes days off for vacations or birthdays, and later needs to be quarantined, the absences add up quickly. If there is an appointment, please attend school before and/or after.

We are here for you. Feel free to reach out to Mrs. Francescon

on Class Dojo or email DFrancescon@epschoolsri.com

Each student is assigned a Chromebook once the student has returned the signed Acceptable Use Policy: Computer, Technology, Internet and google for Faculty, Staff and Students Instruction - Instructional Resources and Materials page and the Chromebook Loan Agreement page.

These and other documents can be found at the District's website: https://epschoolsri.org/parents/

To honor and observe Black History Month, here is a link for some important

Black History children’s books!

https://www.beyondthebookends.com/18-kids-books-for-black-history-month/

Happy Birthday to Our Amazing School Community Members!

February Birthdays

Mya Almeida (2/1)

Ryleigh Sousa (2/1)

Esaias Henderson (2/3)

Adilson Rosario Brito (2/4)

Brayden Grilo (2/7)

Ella Teare-Silvia (2/8)

William Brown (2/14)

Aiden Raposo (2/14)

Siena Raposo (2/14)

A'Mia Spano (2/14)

Lianah Lopes (2/15)

Roman Isom (2/16)

Kayla Costa (2/17)

Everett Geisser (2/18)

Brian Andrade (2/19)

Roberto Meran (2/20)

Samuel Felix MacKinnon (2/22)

Ali Lashari (2/22)

Suleiman Lashari (2/22)

Anna Chang (2/24)

Mr. Flamand (2/3)

Susan Tavares (2/17)

To complete a free/reduced lunch application, please click here.

https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application

https://epschoolsri.org/parents/

This school year we will be using My School Apps for the Free/Reduced School Lunch Application program. No more paper applications to complete and return to the school office. Apply for meal benefits online from the privacy of your home, or anywhere with an internet connection.

While everyone will be receiving free breakfast/lunch this school year, we are still encouraging parents/guardians to fill this application out. In particular, it will help parents/guardians for the first month of school in September 2022. If students qualify for free/reduced lunch now - that will continue on through until for the first 30 days of school - roughly the second week of October.

Because of the great response to the Feinstein Jr. Scholar Golden Ticket promotion, Mr. Feinstein has decided to continue drawing winning numbers through summertime school vacation!

Winning numbers will continue to be announced every Monday on WPRI Channel 12 during their prime time 4:30 p.m. news program and repeated the following day on our Facebook and Virtual Club right up until the end of August.

So, check your ticket each week to see if you and our school are winners! If you have a winning ticket, hold onto it until the start of school in the fall and present it to Mrs. Avila then. What an exciting moment that would be!

If you are wondering which educational and fun books, games, and/or manipulatives will help your child develop academic and social emotional skills, the list below may help you thanks to our staff's suggestions. Happy Holidays!

Social Charades and other SEL games (https://www.thepathway2success.com/using-games-to-teach-social-emotional-skills/)