Dear Norwood Families,

Welcome back to Norwood School! I hope everyone had a great summer! I hope you had a chance to enjoy yourself, spend some time with loves and get some of that summer work completed! At the end of the school year I was happy to be elected to the board for the Rhode Island Association of School Principals. I was greatful to be able to attend the National Conference for School Leadership with over 4,000 school leaders from across the country and a great group of Rhode Island leaders. I attended and assited at the Rhode Island Princiapls Conference with over 300 school leaders from across the state. I am excited to share and grow in all the great learning opportunities I was able to engage in. Norwood School had an incredible year last year and we are looking forward to continue moving forward.

We had another amazing year last year. We had double digit growth in Mathematics, earning us a state spotlight, a huge decrease in chronic absenteeism also earning us some spotlight time. We came back up to a three star school and dropped all of our achievement gap ratings. iReady End of Year scores were some of the top in the district. Students performed their first Disney Musical and the halls were filled with play and cheer at the end of the day for afterschool programs. We have an outstanding staff and amazing students. I am proud to be the leader of such an outstanding community. We are looking forward to breaking ground in the back to build an outdoor classroom from the Learning Inside Out grant we recieved.

We will be offering after school programs again! So far we have Girls on the Run, Boys Let Me Run, Legos, African Drumming, and Zoomobile starting back. Please be on the lookout for sign-ups! Girls on the Run is open for sign-ups now!

We have some excitement starting off right away at Norwood School. Recess Rocks and Blue Cross Blue Shield have chosen Norwood School for their annual playground paint takeover day. This is scheduled to take place on September 13th. We will have indoor recess that day. I am told that it will be dry by the end of the day. Just in time for our first PTA event, Back to School Bash, from 5:30 - 7:30pm. Our first PTA meeting will be September 11th at 6pm. Norwood’s Open House is scheduled for September 23rd from 6 - 7pm.

There is now a stop light at the end of Norwood Ave and Post Rd. Hopefully that will help the traffic flow at the end of the street. Drop off and pick-up is in the back and is a one way loop. There are signs and arrows to help you. If you choose to park please use the lot in the back of the school next to the playground. The lot on the side is used for teachers and staff. Thank you!

School starts on Thursday August 29th. 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. We will be outside during dropoff this week on Thursday and Friday.

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. 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. If you haven't had a chance to see it check out the suggested school supply list here. Please be sure to fill out a new Lunch Application for this year. It is important that everyone regarless of wanting to recieve school lunch or not fill out the application. This information helps us to continue to recieve support, discounts and funding. Please see the information below.

Here is a resource you may want to look over. Preparing for a new school year - Suggested strategies for parents. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. Welcome back Norwood Knights'!

8/27/24 - Kindergarten Teacher Meet and Greet @ 9:30am

8/27/24 - Kindergarten meet up group @ 5:30pm

8/29/24 - First Day of School

9/2/24 - No School Labor Day

9/10/24 - No School Primary Day

9/11/24 - PTA Meeting @ 6pm

9/12/24 - Afterschool Programs Begin

9/13/24 - Back to School Family Event @ 5:30pm

9/17/24 - Scouts Talk at Lunches

9/23/24 - Open House @ 6pm

10/3/24 - No School Rosh Hashanah

10/14/24 - No School Columbus Day

10/22/24 - No School Professional Development Day

Warwick Schools District Calendar

due to weather advisory

Bus routes have been posted to the district website here: https://www.warwickschools.org/page/bus-schedules Please reach out directly to the transportation department with any questions. Phone: 401-734-3212 Email: transportation@warwickschools.org

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)

Menu for Thursday August 29

1. French Toast Sticks w/ Sausage

3. Sun Butter & Jelly Sandwich

4. Popcorn Chicken Salad w/ Roll

5. FB Pizza Fun Lunch

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

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

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 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 2:45pm. 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

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.

Download the WPS App

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