Smith News

November 2, 2020

Achieving Excellence One Student at a Time

A Message from Our Principal

As we continue to move forward with Smith School Hybrid and All-Remote learning model I want to share a few quick tips to help your student succeed:

Quick tips to help your student(s) succeed...

  1. Allow students to take the lead -​ While parent communication is always welcomed, students should be encouraged to take the lead on ongoing communication regarding classroom issues. Allowing students be the primary contact will help them develop valuable skills in self advocacy.

  2. Allow students to learn from adversity - Failure is a critical component of future success. A low assessment score, or a low score on an assignment or project, are opportunities for students to reflect honestly and seriously about how they prepared, how they managed their time, and how they followed instruction.

  3. Check Schoology/RealTime Portal regularly - Schoology will help your student stay in tune with what they are learning during class time. Students should access the master calendar that will put all due dates in one convenient place. Students should respect due dates and complete assignments when the schedule time in their schedule allows. No procrastination!!

  4. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns - The entire Smith staff believes that teaching students is a collaborative effort, and that parents and guardians are the primary stewards of their students education (but please remember tip #1!)

The Smith School staff is always thinking of you and your family. We are all very proud of our hard working staff, students, and parents!

Please continue to stay strong, stay healthy and stay safe.

Mrs. Christine Davis

Supervisor of K-8 Education and Student Welfare

As we approach the end of the first marking period, we’ve settled into our new “normal.” Whether your child has a hybrid schedule or one that is fully remote, school is different than anything we have experienced before. Helping students stay motivated during this time for online instruction can be a challenge. This article from Common Sense Media describes some tips for parents and caregivers to help their kids stay motivated during online learning.

From the Desk of the Instructional Coaches

Mr. Scott Sirota, Mathematics Instructional Coach

There has never been a more important time to focus on the big picture of mathematics. Sure, content is important, but the mathematical practices are really where students are going to be able to take their knowledge to the next level. Here are the eight mathematical practices:

  1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them

  2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively

  3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others

  4. Model with mathematics

  5. Use appropriate tools strategically

  6. Attend to precision

  7. Look for and make use of structure

  8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning

Most adults don't remember the unit circle or how to factor a quadratic expression, and that's ok. What we do hope our students take with them into adulthood is a general focus of how to think of a problem, mathematical or otherwise, in a logical matter. We want students to be comfortable using math content and concepts as a tool to understand the world around them.

Consider finding ways to integrate these ideas into your and your child's every day life. Think about how you use patterns to make choices and why you choose the tools you do. With these options available, our students will become lifelong thinkers!

Smith School's Got Spirit!

Students Alyssa Salmon (top left), Angelina Barone (above), and Harrison Consor (right) demonstrate their commitment to trustworthiness and respect both in school and at home!

Barbara Ung (Left) showing off her school spirit for our Breast Cancer Awareness day and our #NoFilterChallenge during digital citizenship week!



Madison Francis (Right) created a unique button four Smith's Digital Citizneship week with the phrase "Choose Kind Online" to promote positivity and empathy in the digital landscape!

Smith teachers are dedicated to "equality Wednesday" for the Week of Respect and World Unity Day at home! Ms. Millitelo and her trusty co-teacher (top right) taking on a virtual class together. Ms. Kelly (bottom right) organizing Fall book clubs for parents and students alike. And Ms. Myers (above) getting into the Halloween spirit early for her day of remote teaching!

#LearningLooksDifferentHere

Mr. Ricigliano (Left) leads a talented chorus of singers and Ms. Barbagello (Right) walks students through film techniques in her multimedia exploratory.

IMG_1219.MOV

Students in technology class begin to test out their cars (above) and put final touches on the design with the help of Mr. Truppi (bottom right). Ms. Mugno's class works to make Smith school more aesthetically pleasing by showcasing their artwork in the hallways (top right).

What's cooking at Smith School?! Ms. Smith leads her culinary arts class in a demonstration (left). Mr. Kalman guides a student through their own video game creation centered around digital citizenship (bottom left). Ms. Hanratty shows students a virtual practice guide they can use at home to improve on their trumpet skills (bottom right).

Smith School's Quarantine Halloween 2020

Spooky, scary Smith students and staff celebrate 2020's "Quarantine Halloween"! Thank you to Ms. Dillon and Mr. St. Thomas for organizing- it was certainly a treat! Check out some frightfully great costumes from our blue, gold, and all-remote students:

OUR SMITH STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE SPOOKTACULAR!


Hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween!

Health Updates From Our Nurse

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

Consider supporting the cause!!

https://www.jdrf.org

COVID-19 Resources recommended by the NJ Department of Health

  • 1-800-962-1253: For health-related and clinical issues, such as when to seek medical attention and proper steps to take if exposed

  • 211: For information about how to stay safe, financial assistance, unemployment, donations, food, and other non-medical needs

  • COVID19.nj.gov website: Testing sites, case counts by county, and other resources



Simple daily reminders to help remain COVID safe:

😷wear a mask

📏social distance

🧼wash your hands


Wellness and Technology Highlight: 3 Ways to Prevent Earbuds and Headphones From Damaging Your Child’s Hearing This School Year

Click here for an article by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association with their recommendations for families on how to avoid hearing damage or loss as schools shift to more technology-based learning.

Information on the health questionnaire, hybrid schedule, basic guidelines, information from the school nurse, and more.

Need Technology Support for School-Issued Devices? Click Here to Complete a Student Help Desk Ticket

After School Academic Support is Back!

Smith school will once again be having our after-school academic support program for all students. Please see below for more information.

After School Academic Support

Beginning Monday, October 26th, Smith School will offer an after school Academic Support period. The program is offered to all Smith students (6th - 8th grade).

  • Dates:

    • Monday/Thursday (Blue only)

    • Tuesday/Friday (Gold only)

  • Time: 12:45pm - 1:30pm

  • Location: Smith School Media Center

What after school Academic Support IS: This period will be dedicated to students who would like an environment to complete homework assignments, study for upcoming assessments, collaborate on group projects/activities (in a socially distancing manner), complete research, or receive assistance with assignments.

What after school Academic Support IS NOT: This period will not be “aftercare”. Students are required to be on task through their time in the media center. Students will be dismissed from the period if necessary.

This period will end promptly at 1:30pm. Students may leave the media center at any time if they finish early or are done for the day. Transportation home after the academic support period is the sole responsibility of the parent/guardian; there will be no late bus option.

For our Hybrid Learning students: Pre-registration is NOT required. Students can use this time at their own discretion. However, students must sign-in with the teacher on duty in the media center and the program will be capped at 25 students per session.

For our All-remote Learning students: For our all-remote students who would like to join the after school academic support program, a link for a google meet will be provided for students to interact with the teacher on duty. This link will be emailed directly to students.

2020 Ramsey Responds Thanksgiving Food Drive

Ramsey Responds will be holding its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive on Friday, November 20th from 3:00 - 6:00 pm at the garage behind St. Paul Church. (Delivery of food to families on Saturday, November 21st.)

Smith School´s student council will be hosting a collection of food at the school starting November 16th-November 20th. Check your emails and follow @RSDsmithschool for more updates!

Because of the overwhelming need, and with the Covid situation, Ramsey Responds have had to tailor the Drive this year so that they can serve the 100+ families they have been helping over the last 7 months.

Smith School Parent Book Club 2020-2021

Thank you to all who participated in our first virtual parent book club! It was a pleasure discussing some wonderful YA books with all of you.

Our next Parent Book club theme will be: Family Relationships. To stay up to date on our meetings and discussions, please "like" our Facebook page, Smith School Parent Book Club 2020-2021.

Meeting Dates:

For this next round of book club, I have received permission from Mr. Herre to conduct socially-distanced meetings in the school library space during the school day. There will still be a Zoom option and an after-school option for those who are unable to attend the in-person meetings.

To read the descriptions of these titles, click here


One for The Murphys: Tuesday, December 1st at 10:00 AM in the Smith Library Media Center

* If you are planning to attend this in-person meeting, you must RSVP to me no later than November 30th. There will be a Zoom running simultaneously for anyone who would prefer to join virtually. A link will be sent out closer to the day*


The Crossover: Wednesday, December 2nd at 4:00 PM via Zoom (a link will be sent out closer to the day)


Dumplin': Thursday, December 3rd at 10:00 AM in the Smith Library Media Center

*If you are planning to attend this in-person meeting, you must RSVP to me no later than November 30th. There will be a Zoom running simultaneously for anyone who would prefer to join virtually. A link will be sent out closer to the day*

If you have any questions, want to RSVP for one of the in-person meetings, or need a copy of any of the books: email our library media specialist Ms. Kelly at kkelly@ramsey.k12.nj.us

Smith School Supply List 2020-2021

View the 2020-2021 Supply List

Supply Lists for the 2020-21 school year are now posted. Please remember that all personal belongings should be labeled, such as pencil cases, binders, and backpacks.

iPad/Chromebook Insurance

iPad/Chromebook Insurance is Due Now....Register

FamilyID is now open to parents to agree to policies and pay for iPad insurance for the new academic year. Please click on the headline for more information, including instructions for payment and account information.

Smith Staff Directory

Let's Talk Mental Health- October, 2020 Edition

October was Emotional Wellness Month! This month the special guest was Catherine Krame - co-founder of The Krame Center for Mindful Living. Mrs. Krame shared very specific tips for parents!

Upcoming Dates

End of Marking Period One (November 4th)

Teachers Convention- No School (November 5th and 6th)

Start of Marking Period Two (November 9th)

Board of Education Meeting (November 24th)

Half Day (November 25th)

Thanksgiving Break- No School (November 26th and 27th)

Click Here for Smith School Calendar of Events

Helping Kids Stay Motivated During Online