Dear Norwood Families,

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend! The weather was beautiful! I hope everyone had a nice spring break and Easter with their family and loved ones for those who celebrate!

Thank you to everyone who supported the Dancing with the Stars of Mentoring and donated to Mentor RI! Mentor Ri does great work in our school and I was happy to be able to support them as well as represent Norwood and Warwick Public Schools!

We have just over a month of school left before summer break. This school year has flown by! We will be finishing up our RICAS testing this week with 3rd and 5th grade completing math. Next week 5th graders will be completing their science testing, the NGSA. This is done in 5th, 8th and 11th grade. You can find out more about the RI NGSA here.

Students in grades K-5 will be completing their iReady End of Year Diagnostic in Math and Reading. Please see below for more information on this. We do use this data to plan for next school year.

Besides the testing we have lots of fun and excitement planned. Several grades are going on or planning for field trips, both running programs are concluding with their 5k on May 10th, and we have our annual Family Dance on May 17th along with the annual Mental Health and Wellness Fair earlier on in the day.

Kids day for our incoming kindergarten families is planned for May 21st. You have a student coming next year and haven't registered yet please do so!

On May 22nd we welcome the Junior Achievement program to spend the day with us. Our end of year spring concerts are planned as well as having the All City Band and Chorus concerts on the 21st and the 22nd. Norwood School's production of the Disney Musical in Schools Aladdin Kids will be on May29th!

Our outdoor learning space is up and running! I am happy to be able to provide a space where students can bring learning outside and reap all the benefits outdoor exploration has to offer! Please help us preserve the space for many years to come!

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

Please consult our school handbook.

Diagnostic Purpose:

Our students will take both the Math and ELA diagnostic on the iReady platform to provide the best diagnostic data to inform instruction.

Diagnostic Information:

Testing Window: The window for the diagnostic will be from May 5 - May 30, with makeups happening from June 3 - June 13, 2024.

Diagnostic Length: The approximate length of the diagnostic by grade level:

• Grades K & 1: Two 20 to 30 minute sessions

• Grades 2-5: Two 40 to 50 minute sessions

May 5 - Cinco De Mayo and 4th Grade Save the Bay Field Trip

May 6-7 - 5th Grade RICAS

May 8-9 3rd Grade RICAS

May 10 - Girls on the Run and Let Me Run 5k 9:30am at URI

May 11 - Mother's Day

May 13 & 14 - 5th Gr NGSA - Science testing

May 14 - PTA

May 16 - 4th grade field trip Confreda Field and Rocky Point Park

May 17 -Mental Health Wellness Fair - Oakland Beach Boys and Girls Club 1-3

May 17 - Family Dance 5-8pm @ Pilgrim HIgh School

May 20- Grade 3 field trip - PPAC

May 21 - KIDS Day

May 21 - All City Band & Orchestra Concert @ Vets

May 22- JA in a Day

May 22 - All City Chorus Concert 7pm @ Vets

May 22 - Spring Rotary Party

May 26 - Memorial Day - no school

May 28 - Spring Concert for students 2:00- 2:45 family performance the following week

May 29 - Disney Aladdin Performance - student performance 1:45-2:45 / Families 5pm and 6:30pm

Warwick Schools District Calendar

1. Talking Tech Shouldn't Be Difficult. The Smart Talk helps parents have open and honest conversations with their kids about using technology. Learn more.
2. Supporting Healthy Minds. At National PTA, we are committed to developing the whole child for success in school and life. Part of this holistic approach involves focusing on mental health. Visit PTA.org/HealthyMinds for free resources and programming.

3. Make Fitness Fun!

   
   

   Family fitness doesn't have to be boring! Try a new activity together: go rock climbing, take a dance class or go for a bike ride. Making fitness fun encourages lifelong healthy habits. Get ideas!

4. Create a Healthy Digital Home. We know it's hard to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of technology. That's why the Ready, Tech, Go! program from National PTA and AT&T has tools for families to connect safely and develop healthy digital habits. Learn more.

5. 10 Reading Apps for Kids While there’s nothing like sitting down with an old-fashioned printed book for bedtime stories or summer vacation reads, e-books and app-based reading can play an important part in developing your child’s literacy skills. Learn more.

Meta recently introduced Instagram Teen Accounts, which place teens in automatic protections to limit inappropriate content, unwanted contact, bullying and more. To help further address teen safety, particularly in schools, Instagram is expanding a program for U.S. middle and high schools to prioritize their reporting of safety concerns, including instances of bullying. Schools that join will have their reports prioritized and receive updates on actions taken. Learn more.

Celebrating Earth Day: 9 Easy Bird Feeders To Make With Your Kids

Earth Day Craft: DIY Seed Bombs

Getting enough sleep and good sleep quality are essential for our health and emotional well-being. For children, it’s even more important. School aged kids (6-12 years) are recommended to get 9-12 hours of sleep per night. The CDC provides sleep recommendations for students of every age.

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 2:45pm. 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

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