Dear Norwood Families,

I hope everyone had a restful President's Day Break and got to enjoy thier time off! We have a busy March ahead at Norwood School! We had some great recognition prior to the break!

Norwood School was recognized at the Governor's Press Conference on the Attendance Matters initiative for having a 24% decrease in Chronic Absenteeism! We were honored to be recognized. Please read more about this below.

Our own Mrs. Pina was recognized at a Providence Bruins Game for being awarded The Educator in the Spotlight! Please see more about this award below. Congratulations Mrs. Pina!

March is Read Across America Month. We have many activities planned to support and grow students love of reading. We have a spirit week, a special performer, reading week activities and our annual Read-a-Thon. We also have a Math and Literacy Night planned. Please find all the details below!

Want want to thank everyone who was able to participate in all of our February events! Thank you for donating can goods to our food pantry that helps local families in need. Thank you to everyone who participated in our Penny Wars! And thank you to all the students that participated in the Jump Rope for Hearts put on by Mr. Pelletier! Please see the updates on this below.

Our local Warwick Police Officer may be seen at dismissal. He will be there whenever he is available to come to help with traffic and parking. We thank him for his support!

There have been some concerns around the drop off and pick up loop. With the colder weather and more families driving students to school there has been a bit of a back up. Please keep in mind that more students tend to be driven to school in colder and inclement weather and plan accordingly. To help alleviate this a bit we will be moving all buses in the morning to the bus turn around loop in the front. The loop in the back of the school is a drive thru loop. It is not intended for parking and or stopping and leaving your car. If you need to do this please park in one of the lots in the side or back of the school. Please do not park along the loop for the safety of our staff and students. Please see the picture below to help as a guide of where to go.

Norwood School hours are 9:00 am - 3:10 pm.

Drop off is 8:40 am for students having breakfast and 8:50am for everyone else. We are not staffed before that time for drop off.

Students are dismissed at 3:10pm. Students in grades K-2 are dismissed out of the back of the All Purpose Room. Students in grade 3-5 are dismissed out the back door in front of the playground.

Please consult our school handbook.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.

See everyone tomorrow!

The Providence Bruins and Sargent Rehabilitation Center have joined forces to honor local teachers who consistently demonstrate extraordinary dedication and commitment to their schools and students through the Educators in the Spotlight program.

I am delighted to let you know that Kristen Pina, a Special Educator at Norwood Elementary School, has been nominated for this esteemed recognition.

Kristen is truly exceptional in her role at Norwood Elementary. Her commitment, dedication, and natural leadership skills create an inclusive and supportive learning environment. Her innate ability to personalize learning experiences ensures that each student in her classroom thrives by receiving tailored instructional approaches that address their diverse needs.

Moreover, Kristen's tireless advocacy for inclusive education fosters academic growth and plays a pivotal role in cultivating social development, enriching the social landscape of the entire Norwood Elementary School community.

In Warwick, Norwood Elementary School, a shining example of attendance outreach, saw a nearly 24 percentage-point decrease in the number of students on track to be chronically absent compared to this time last year. Warwick is among the 38 public school districts that signed on to Governor Dan McKee’s Learn365RI compact, committing to shifting learning from the traditional 180 school days to 365 days of learning by leveraging partnerships between municipalities, local education agencies (LEAs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) to expand high-quality, extended learning experiences. The District was also awarded grant funding from RIDE in March 2023 to support extended learning opportunities to improve student outcomes across which is supporting ongoing programming.

“Norwood School has created a positive, fun, enriching and engaging learning environment for students with high interest extended day opportunities,” said Norwood Elementary School Principal Dr. Sabrina Antonelli. “Students feel safe, supported, warm and welcomed. It is a true community effort at Norwood School. Students love school and want to be here!”

To provide welcoming and engaging programming, Norwood has established community partnerships with the Boys & Girls Club of Warwick, Special Olympics, Playworks Recess Rocks in RI, and GAMM Theatre and has enlisted support of high school students and local community organization volunteers. Norwood has also appointed a Family Engagement Coordinator who plans fun and engaging activities for students and families, organizes parent workshops and provides assistance with outside support services. The school administrative assistant and support service providers lead outreach strategies, including calls to homes when a student is absent. The school is committed to working to meet all students’ social, emotional, and basic needs with supports, including a food pantry and clothing. Norwood was also a recipient of RIDE’s 21st Century Technology and Equipment Fund and Art Reengages Talent in all Students (ARTS) Initiative which has supported facility upgrades to its library and auditorium, offering students greater access to innovative, beautiful spaces.

https://www.attendancemattersri.org/

2/27/24 - Vision Screenings

2/27/24 - Family Yoga

3/4/24 - 3/8/24 - Read Across America Spirit Week

3/4/24 - Keith Munslow Performance Assembly

3/4/24 - 3/18/24 Read-a-Thon

3/4/24 - 3/8/24 - Read Across America Spirit Week

3/6/24 - Lymphedema Awareness Day

3/6/24 - PTA Meeting @ 6:30pm

3/7/24 - Math Night @ 6PM

3/10/24 - Daylight Savings

3/12/24 - Literacy Night @ 6pm

3/14/24 - Pi Day

3/18/24 - 3/22/24 - Reading Week

3/20/24 - Better Together @ 6pm

3/26/24 - Epilepsy Awareness Day Wear Purple

3/29/24 - Good Friday/No School

4/2/24 - Professional Development Day

4/3/24 - RICAS Testing begins

Warwick Schools District Calendar

On behalf of the American Heart Association, thank you very much for raising *$2,150.51 with your school's recent Kids Heart Challenge /American Heart Challenge program.

Families and schools are critical links in providing the foundation for cardiovascular wellness in our country. Your support and participation in the Kids Heart Challenge/American Heart Challenge makes a tremendous impact in helping millions of Americans through increased awareness of cardiovascular disease, lifesaving scientific research and critically needed education efforts.

The school met the schoolwide goal and the bonus goal! All students will be receiving extra recess and get to turn me into an ice cream sunday at a later date to be determined.

Our school Read-A-Thon begins on Monday March 4, 2024 and is sure to be a fun and exciting event.

We understand that your time is valuable. We also know that providing the best education for your child is important. That's why we are encouraging everyone to activate their student's Read-A-Thon account as soon as possible. The instructions are straightforward, making it quick and hassle-free, and it should take less than 5 minutes of your time.

This account will serve as a hub for recording and monitoring your child's progress as a Reader in the event, and for you to share their Read-A-Thon message with friends and family. Use the link below to activate your student's Reader account:
https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/r/323738363331/1

Thank you so much for your participation and support. Together, we can make this Read-A-Thon an amazing experience for our young readers! Thank you!

Watch a short video to see how to signup your reader:

The boys Let Me Run program is back for the Spring Season in grades 3 - 5. For more details and sign-up visit the link below.!

RI STATE POLICY 16-21-36. Outdoor recess

No elementary school or private preschool shall permit recess to be held outdoors when the local temperature falls below thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit (32oF)/ zero degrees Celsius (0oC).

See document on link above.

We should of course take the wind chill into consideration.

If the wind chill is 29 degrees or lower please use your discretion. Please make sure students

are dressed appropriately for the weather.

Lunch Aides & Bus Monitors - great hours for parents looking for a schedule to match their student's. Apply Today- https://www.warwickschools.org/page/job-openings

To access community flyers please utilize our existing website, with a new 'Community Updates' page.

Once a week, midweek, WPS will send a push notification to all school families regarding new flyers added to the Community Update page, along with a note to check frequently for up to date updates.

As the new school year approaches the Warwick Police Department and WPS would like to remind everyone that dogs are not allowed on school property or in schoolyards. This is for the safety of our students and also for the dogs. Any violation of Warwick City Ordinance Sec. 4 -9 can result in a $50 fine. https://www.warwickri.gov/city-council-legislative-department/pages/code-ordinances

If you have not downloaded the Warwick Public School mobile app, I highly recommend doing so. You must set up your push notification settings to receive important messages from your child's school(s). This 30-second video will show you how to do so.

Title I Family Engagement Policies

Warwick Cares Program

Could your family benefit from supplemental food items brought home at the end of each week to provide nutrition to your child over the weekend? Our backpack program ensures your child will be given a backpack with food items to bring home weekly throughout the school year. This program is only available to currently enrolled Norwood students. Please register your student for the Title I Backpack Food Assistance Program.

Norwood is proud to receive the 2022-2024 National PTA School of Excellence designation!

Congratulations on earning this prestigious designation, which recognizes your incredible work as national leaders in developing strong family-school partnerships

It’s never too late to join the PTA! Signing up for the PTA does not mean you are required to participate. It just means that you are supporting our PTA.

What is Chronic Absenteeism?

Chronic Absenteeism is a measure of how many students miss a defined number of school days for any reason. Rhode Island defines Chronic Absenteeism as the percentage of students who miss 10% or more school days during the year (or 2 days per month).

Research shows that chronic absenteeism is associated with a number of negative consequences for students, including lower achievement, disengagement from school, course failure, and increased risk of dropping out.

Missing 10% of school or more makes it harder to learn

Please refrain from requesting an early dismissal for your child after 2:45pm. The dismissal process begins at 3:05pm and it becomes very difficult for us to fill an early dismissal request once the process begins.

Students will be marked absent, no matter the reason, if they are not in school.

If the absence is COVID related it will be entered as an excused absence.

In accordance with Rhode Island State Law #16-19-10, Notification of Pupil Absence, the Warwick School Department requires that all parents/guardians call their child’s elementary school on the day that he/she will not be in attendance. We would like to receive all calls by 9:15 in the morning. If you are aware of a pending absence, feel free to call at any time prior to the day of the absence. In the event we do not hear from you, an automated call will be sent at 10:00 a.m. to inform you that your child did not arrive at school.

It is important that the Aspen Family Portal is updated with correct address and contact information. Students can only be released to emergency contacts listed in the Family Portal so please make sure this is updated. You can find more information about the Family Portal on the district website here. Using the WPS Family Portal (PDF) WPS Family Portal (direct link)

Healthy Snacks Letter

Personal Device Policy

Student Dress Code

Warwick Special Education Advisory Committee Brochure

Download the WPS App

Warwick is moving forward with implementing the WPS Vision of a Graduate for all students!

• Please make sure students are dressed appropriately for the weather. If you need help with this please reach out.
• There are no water fountains at school for health and sanitation reasons. Students are advised to bring in a refillable bottle to use at the water refill station.
• The parking lot for arrival and dismissal hours is a one way loop.
• Please be mindful of the buses, stop signs and the crosswalks.
• Outside toys are not allowed in school including Pokemon cards. We have enough for students to do and games to play!

Dr. Sabrina Antonelli

National Distinguished Principal

2023 RI Elementary Principal of the Year

Instagram account @principalantonelli

Cell: 401- 871-4350

Fax: 401-734-3528

Email: sabrina.antonelli@warwickschools.org
Website: https://norwood.warwickschools.org/o/nee/
Location: 266 Norwood Avenue, Warwick, RI, USA
Phone: 401-734-3525
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wpsnorwoodknights
Twitter: @principalant