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.

School website address:

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

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!

at Martin Middle School

from 2:30-5:30 p.m.

Clinic link is: https://www.vaccinateri.org/appointment/en/reg/1752992600

The statewide mask requirement for public K-12 schools [Executive Order 21-87] is due to expire after 5 p.m. on March 4, 2022. Beginning on Monday, March 7, 2022 the East Providence School Department will no longer require that masks be worn in school buildings or buses. This decision coincides with the school department mask policy that was passed on September 14, 2021 (EPSD Mask Policy) and the latest CDC guidelines. Students and staff have the option to continue to wear a mask at school and on the bus.

In addition, the RIDOH is recommending that schools no longer conduct contact tracing. As a reminder please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep them home when they are sick. We will continue to keep other mitigation factors in place, such as increased cleaning and promoting good hygiene practices. The COVID 19 quarantine timelines will remain the same, please see this post for details: (Quarantine timelines Diagram).

Vaccination remains the most powerful strategy to keep children and families healthy and students learning and involved in extracurricular activities in person. In collaboration with the East Providence Fire Department we will be offering a vaccination clinic at Martin Middle School on March 2, 2022 12:30 pm-2:30 pm for Martin Middle students and from 2:30 pm-5:30 pm for the East Providence community. See registration link below:

Martin Middle Students: https://www.vaccinateri.org/appointment/en/reg/0519162097

Public Clinic: https://www.vaccinateri.org/appointment/en/reg/1752992600

Keeping students and staff healthy, safe and in school remains the priority of the East Providence Administration and School Committee. We will continue to monitor current data and CDC/RIDOH recommendations and make adjustments as needed.

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: 3.14.2022

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.

6. Staff that test positive must have either an antigen or a PCR test and must send the results to Karen Underwood.

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). 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 isolate for 5 days at home or may return with a negative test 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 student will require the student to have a negative test before returning to the classroom.

• If a parent provides negative at home test results, we will retest the child in school.

• If a negative antigen is obtained, a daily Binax test can be offered to the family for the duration of the 5 day “isolation” period (but not required)

• The student may stay home for the 5 day isolation if no test result is obtained.

• Students should remain home if they are still sick. If the symptoms resolve prior to staying home for 5 days or a negative test result, an antigen can be given in school.

• Nurses can use judgment when it comes to sick students, particularly students who are frequently symptomatic. Nurses can choose to offer to test the student at school and have that student remain in school.

• Sick students should return to school once symptoms have improved.

• 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.

Probable Students within a 90 Window

• Students / Staff with probable symptoms within a 90 day window should be seen by a doctor for an alternative diagnosis or obtain a negative Covid test to return to school.

At Home Positive Results

• Staff need a confirmatory test for an at-home positive result

• Students with at home positive results can be taken as a positive case

  • Schools can use judgment regarding students with chronic absenteeism and can require a confirmatory test in these cases.

Quarantine for In-school Close Contacts

• We are not currently quarantining any school close contacts

• A letter should be sent home to the class of the positive student.

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

• Recommend a mask for 5 days

• Monitor for symptoms

• Recommend and offer an in school test

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

• Mask is highly recommended

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.

• Student/Staff MUST wear a mask on Day 6-10 to return.

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

• An in-school Binax test can be offered to the family after International travel.

Mask Procedures

• Masks will become optional as of March 4th

• Masks are still required on the bus. (Federal mandate)

• Contact tracing will remain the same. We will not track who is wearing and mask and where.

• Positive students will need to wear a mask for 5 days following the 5 day isolation or not return to school for an additional 5 days.

• This guidance may be changed if executive order or DOH guidelines change.

Cafeteria

• Students should start returning to the cafeteria with or without the 3 feet of distance.

• Recommended to start after March 4th.

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, March 3rd at 6:00 p.m.

This month's PTC meeting will be virtual.

Please use the following code to join the meeting: meet.google.com/kiq-kvuc-oee

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

Amended 2021-2022 District School Calendar

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.

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!

March Birthdays

Jessie Teare-Silvia (3/6)

Kyle Diaz (3/8)

Jaasritha Guttapalem (3/10)

Derek Collado (3/14)

Jazlynn Harard (3/14)

Leonardo Rodrigues (3/17)

Cora Riley (3/20)

Emily Alexander (3/21)

Jacob Stephen (3/21)

Scarlett Boillard (3/24)

Denym Williams (3/24)

Aashritha Davala (3/25)

Jacob Medeiros (3/25)

Stella Santiago (3/27)

Jayce terceira (3/29)

Jielany Garedo (3/30)

Kayla Bartis (3/31)

Mrs. Markham (3/4)

Mr. Aguiar (3/4)

Mrs. Davey (3/7)

Mrs. Collins (3/17)

Mrs. Laffey (3/18)

Mrs. Norton (3/22)

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/)