Silver Spring Elementary School

Runner's News

September 2, 2020 Edition

Welcome from Principal Fatima Avila

Dear Silver Spring Families,

I hope you and your family are well and you are enjoying the last days of summer vacation.

Please take a moment to read this newsletter to ensure you and your child is prepared for the start of school

If you have questions or concerns at any time, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at favila@epschoolsri.com.

Thursday, September 10th:

PTC Meeting at 6:00 p.m. ~ Virtual

Friday, September 11th:

Distribution of student technology and student materials for students who are engaging in distance learning from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Silver Spring School

Monday, September 14th:

Grade 1 In Person Students Only

Kindergarten Screenings by Appointment

Grades 2 - 5, and Therapeutic Program Distance Learning Students - Teachers will reach out to schedule Google Meet

Tuesday, September 15th:

Grades 2 and 4 In Person Students Only

Kindergarten Screenings by Appointment

Grades 1, 3, and 5, and Therapeutic Program Distance Learning Students - Teachers will reach out to schedule Google Meet

Wednesday, September 16th:

Grades 3 and 5 In Person Students Only

Kindergarten, Grades 1, 2, and 4, and Therapeutic Program Distance Learning Students - Teachers will reach out to schedule Google Meet

Thursday, September 17th:

Kindergarten and Therapeutic Program In Person Students Only

Grades 1 - 5 Distance Learning Students - Teachers will reach out to schedule Google Meet

Friday, September 18:

All Students Grades K - 5 In Person and Distance Learning

Monday, September 21:

Schools Are Open - In Person and Distance Learning

Thursday, September 24th:

Meet the Teacher Night at 6:00 p.m. - Virtual Meeting

Re-Opening Plans

All updated EP School District Re-Opening Information can be found here:

https://epschoolsri.org/return-to-learn/

Our Silver Spring Elementary School Plan is linked HERE

This plan will be updated and revised as new information is shared and released.

Governor Raimondo and Commissioner Infante Green recently announced a

two week delay for the start of school, which is reflected in the Important Dates section above.

Please see the Revised East Providence School Department Calendar.

We are expecting another annoucement about reopening Rhode Island schools

the week of Monday, August 31st from Governor Raimond.

Updated Parent and Guardian Contact Information and Email Addresses Needed

It is critical that we have updated phone numbers, email addresses, and emergency contact information throughout the school year. Parents and guardians will be asked to complete student information forms the first week of school and keep Mrs. Duarte (kduarte@epschoolsri.com) updated, if any of your information changes.

PTC Meeting

Our first PTC meeting of the year is scheduled for Thursday, September 10th at 6:00 p.m. This meeting will be held virtually (Google Meet). The meeting code for our PTC meeting is: Silver Spring PTC Meeting

Distance Learning Update

Many of our families have chosen distance learning for the first semester of this school year. The following is information regarding what to expect during this time:

Students will be provided a schedule to follow (teachers will share the schedule with parents/guardians/students).
Students will be expected to be logged in and ready to participate in Google Meets at the assigned times.
Student attendance will be taken based on the student attending classes during the day.
- Students will be marked tardy (if morning classes are missed), absent (if all classes are missed), and dismissed (if afternoon classes are missed).
Each student engaging in distance learning will be required to use East Providence School Department Chromebook, which will be distributed at Silver Spring on Friday, September 11th between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Math and ELA materials, earbuds, and other information will be distributed with Chromebooks.
Please refer to the Student Technology & Materials' Pick Up information below for additional information.

Student Technology & Materials' Pick Up

for

Distance Learning Students Only

Friday, September 11th from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

at Silver Spring Elementary School

One family member should report to the main entrance of the school (outside Door No. 1) to pick up student technology and materials for distance learning.

The family member must:

Show a picture ID

State the name of the student and grade

Wear a face covering

Practice social distancing

when picking up student technology and materials.

If it rains, student technology and materials pick up will take place in the gym. Please enter through Door No. 2 and exit through Door No. 3.

We appreciate our families' cooperation and patience, as we ensure all of our students have what they need to engage in distance learning.

Student Technology for the 2020-2021 School Year

Each student in the district will be required to use their assigned Chromebook for all computerized learning this school year.
1. In school or remote access to computer labs may be permitted for select subjects where required
For in school instruction, the Chromebook must be fully charged at night and brought into school each day. This is very important because access to charging and spare chromebooks will be extremely limited
Students must take extreme care when carrying their Chromebooks including:
1. Never traveling with the device screen open
2. No placing items on the keyboard as it can break the screen when closed
3. Never stack items on top of the device
4. Care must be taken not to drop backpacks/bags with the Chromebook in it
5. Eating and drinking near the device is never allowed
The use of personal devices for distance learning will not be supported, as teaching supports and tools are limited on non-district owned devices.
All incidents/damage/problems with Chromebooks must be reported to the teacher or school office immediately. This information will be relayed to the district’s technology support team with the Technology Ticket system to assist as quickly as possible.

The following items will be standard issue to all students in EPSD. Families are responsible to ensure the equipment is treated appropriately and returned to the district immediately if leaving the district.

HP 11” Chromebook
45 watt HP “Blue Tip” charger for Chromebook
Red and white earbud headphones
1. **headphones will belong to the student and cannot be returned or shared between students**
Student ID with barcode for lunch program (scanning)
Clever badge (sticker applied to the back of the student badge) for login to Chromebook and Clever.com

NOTE: Verizon Jetpacks (Internet Hotspots) issued to families must be returned to the school before the start of school. These devices are no longer active but are the property of EPSD.

Device issue plan for 20/21 school year start:

Lists of students for each school have been exported and delivered to the schools.
1. If students were issued a Chromebook in March-June 2020, it is noted in that sheet and that student may not pick up a Chromebook or charger from the issued devices.
2. The school will have one charging cart with exchange Chromebooks/chargers. Students must return the broken Chromebook or charger to receive a replacement.
3. Lost or Stolen Chromebooks Must Be Reported to Technology BEFORE a replacement is issued.
Enough chromebooks and chargers for the students, who do not currently have one at home, will be delivered to the schools prior to the scheduled pick up time
Headphones will be delivered to schools, enough for every student to get a set and some spares. These are to be kept with the student Chromebook and used for Google Meets.
Clever badges will be delivered to schools. Paper format for start of school and 2 x 2 labels will be available to stick on the back of student IDs when they are received.
All technical issues with Chromebooks must be reported in the Technology Ticket system, including exchanges made at the school with the repair cart. Therefore, parents/guardians and/or students must inform his/her teacher of any technical issue that may occur.

Wellness Check

~IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES WITH

STUDENTS RECEIVING IN PERSON INSTRUCTION~

Parents and Guardians will screen their child(ren) at home prior to arriving at school each day.

This will include taking students' temperatures and completing a secure form in Skyward.

The Skyward Wellness Check Instruction are below.

We will be sending out emails to parents/guardians of our students in Grades 1 - 5, on or about September 4th with the names of our students' class (homeroom) teacher for both in person and distance learning.

Kindergarten teachers will notify parents/guardians of their child(ren)'s teacher(s) after they have completed kindergarten screenings.

The following is a list of classroom teachers:

Kindergarten: Mrs. Lauren Kiendra & Mrs. Sarah McAloon

First Grade: Mrs. Lianne Correia & Mrs. Jessica Daly

Second Grade: Miss Gabriella Grilo & Mrs. Cindi Norton

Third Grade: Mrs. Lauren Eibel & Mrs. Mary Teixeira

Fourth Grade: Mrs. Karen Bernier & Mrs. Brenda Thibault

Fifth Grade: Mr. Daniel Lynch & Mrs. Lisa McAloon

Therapeutic Program - K-3: Ms. Abigail Jaffa & 4-5: Ms. Victoria Moore

Kindergarten Orientation September 2020

Kindergarten Orientation Slideshow

Kindergarten Screenings

We are reaching out to incoming kindergarten families the week of August 31st to schedule kindergarten screening appointments (September 14 and 15) for those who have selected In Person Learning this semester. Screenings will be held outdoors, weather permitted (and in the gym, if it rains). Additional information will be provided when appointments are scheduled.

For families who have opted for Distance Learning, kindergarten screenings will take place virtually. Screening appointments will be made (for September 14 - 16)

Kindergarten families should reach out to Mrs. Duarte at kduarte@epschoolsri.com to facilitate kindergarten screenings.

Grade Level School Supply Lists

School Supply Lists by grade level can be found at the Teacher Lists website.

Meet the Teacher Night

Meet the Teacher Night will be a Virtual Event this year.

Thursday, September 24, 2020 from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Links will be shared at a later date via email.

Before/After School Care Update

At this time, before and/or after school care will not be provided on school premises.

Free & Reduced Lunch Application

Apply for Free & Reduced Lunch Benefits Online

This year we are accepting online applications only. You can apply from the privacy of your home, or anywhere with an internet connection. If you do not have access to the internet, please contact the East Providence School Department at: 401-383-5382.

Click on this link to start the application process: https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application

Home School Communication

Thanks to parent and guardian feedback at the end of the last school year, we are using school wide ClassDojo as another way to communcate with our families.

Therefore, connect with us through the ClassDojo app at the start of the year. More information will follow from your child's teacher.

Face Covering is Required

Faculty, staff and students are required to wear face coverings when at school (which includes the bus). The purpose of wearing face coverings is to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

In order to help our students prepare for wearing face coverings in school, our students should practice wearing face coverings at home prior to the start of the school year.

More information regarding wearing face coverings is in our Re-Entry Plan.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation with this safety procedure.

In Closing....

We are fortunate to have a committed school community that focuses on our students', families', and staff's well-being. It is even more critical and necessary this year that we are patient with one another, kind, caring, and supportive.

Please know that we are committed to providing every student at Silver Spring Elementary School, whether in person or engaging in distance learning with an opportunity to meet his/her greatest success. With your help, this will be possible!

As always, thank you for your continued support. Please take care of yourselves and stay well. We will see you soon!

Principal Fatima Avila

Facebook Link

Please visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/silverspringep for updated events, photos, and information.

Page updated

Report abuse