Norwood News

Dear Norwood Families,

I hope everyone had a great weekend and stayed safe and dry! Thank you to those who were able to attend our popsicles on the playground Friday. It was great to see families!

Please be sure to attend our Back-to-School Night on September 12th organized by the Norwood PTA. Just as a reminder, every Friday there will be a school store during all three lunches where everything is $1. Student leadership forms for students in grades 4 and 5 are going home. Please return to the office if students are interested. Afterschool programming is starting. Please sign-up below. Our school Open House Night will be September 25th. where you’ll have the chance to meet your child’s teacher, hear about classroom expectations, and learn how you can help support learning at home.

Please see below for more information on all activities and events.

Please consult our school handbook.

Wednesday will be my last day as principal of Norwood School. I will be taking on the role of Director of Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment and MTSS for Warwick Public Schools. I will be close by and will be working with principals, teachers and teacher teams Kindergarten through 12th grade. I look forward to being at Norwood School for meetings once in a while and plan to come to events when I am able! Dawn Manchester will be taking over for me as principal of Norwood School. Having worked together in the past we have a strong working relationship and will be in contact for any questions that may come up.

I have been completely humbled by the outpouring of support for my tenure at Norwood School. Leaving the Norwood School community has been one of the hardest career decisions. In this job the days can be tough, long and at times thankless. Every day I came in, showed up, worked hard and did what I thought was best for Norwood students and the community. I myself know the value of education and how it can change lives. You never know just when what you do or what you say will leave a profound impact which is why it is important to always put your best foot forward. I strived to make Norwood School a little better each day. I hope your students leave their elementary school years with found memories, fun times and a love of learning.

"Leave everything you do, every place you go, everything you touch a little better for your having been there" ~ Julie Andrews

2018 October What’s Up Newport Newport Jazz Assembly brings music to schools in Warwick, Newport, Lincoln, West Greenwich, and Providence

2019 Rhody Beat PC’s Cooley visits Norwood Elementary

2022 November Warwick Beacon Building confidence on the run

2022 December Cranston Herald Third Person Therapy, Coffee Milk Opera among 93 RISCA grant recipients

2023 April Warwick Post Antonelli Named RI Elementary Principal of the Year

2023 April Warwick Beacon Her principal accomplishment

2023 September Providence Business News These Classrooms will turn lessons inside out

2023 March Cranston Herald $350,000 in grants to extend learning at Oakland Beach, Norwood Schools

2024 January Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition eNewsletter – Norwood Elementary is ready to ROCK Indoor Recess

2024 February Rhode Island Department of Education and the Rhode Island State Department Attendance Matters Press Release

2024 Rhode Island Department of Education RICAS Rockstars: Norwood Elementary School’s Notable Growth

2024 Rhode Island PBS RI Chronic Absenteeism

2024 May What’s Up Newport – Rhode Island Students will take the stage at PPAC

2024 December Warwick Beacon Apponaug Winter Festival draws crowd, delivers cheer

2025 April Thousands flock to Hendricken to support unified hoops tourney

2025 May Warwick Beacon Stepping up to help kids who need support

2025 June Warwick Beacon Aladdin’s magic lights up Norwood School stage

September 9th - School Commmittee

September 10 - Dr. Antonelli's Last Day

September 11th - PTA Meeting

September 12 - Back to School Bash @ 5pm

September 23 - No School/Rosh Hashanah

September 25 - Open House @ 6pm

September 26 - Student Council, Saftey Patrol and Junior Coach Paper work due for grades 4 - 5

October 2 - No School/Yom Kippur

October 5 - Spooky Color Run

October 13 - No School/Columbus Day

October 19 - Spooky Color Run Rain Date

Warwick Schools District Calendar

1. Anxiety Tool Kit

2. 10 Tips to Help Your Your Child Get a Great Start in School This Fall

3. BTS QR Code

1. Nominate a Teacher for the Honored National Teaching Award. This back-to-school season show appreciation for teachers who have changed your child’s life by nominating them for the Honored National Teaching Award. Every nominated teacher will receive a “You’ve Been Honored!” email containing their nomination story.

The Top 5 Trending Back-to-School Fits

5 Tips to Find Back-to-School Clothes For Less

6 Tips for Raising Readers When Your Kids Don’t Like to Read

Families, with the start of the 24-25 school year, we ask that you please submit a new meal application form for this year. You may do so through the LINQ Connect portal. Printable applications can be found on the School Meals webpage and will be made available at your child's school. On the School Meals webpage, you can find our meal prices, as well as helpful links with a video how-to and meal application FAQs. https://www.warwickschools.org/page/school-meals

Meal Application English (Printable)

Meal Application Spanish (Printable)

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.

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

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 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.

Shop Elite for spirit wear!

Attendance Matters

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 2:45 pm. The dismissal process begins at 3:05 pm 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 due to illness please supply a doctor's note to have the absence labeled 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

Only items under this policy are allowed to be brought to class. Sorry for the inconvience.

Electronic Devices In School

Devices must be turned off and put away during the school day. After the first warning the device will be confiscated and returned at the end of the day. Families will be notified.

Student Dress Code

Please review the attached elementary dress code policy. This policy is a part of the Code of Ethics as well. Any student whose attire does not meet the requirements of this policy may be asked to remedy the matter by covering, changing, or removing the non-complying clothing, jewelry, or personal item where appropriate. Please note repeat infractions to this policy will be noted and parents may receive calls to bring alternate clothing to school if needed. Thank you for your time and attention to Warwick Public Schools' Dress Code.

Warwick keeps the focus on 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.
• 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

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/norwood.knight/