Washington Oak Family News

Week of October 5, 2026

• We had our first pod meetings this week where we learned about what feeling is, different kinds of feelings and how we feel emotions in our brains and in our bodies. We also discussed how emotions can influence the way we think about and do things.
• We handed out attendance awards at the pod meetings today . Golden Wallaby awards will be given at our next October pod meetings. ( grades 4 & 5 did them today and I will add them to the newsletter after the next meeting) .
• We exceeded 25% of families that preregistered for the Fun Run. As promised we will have a school-wide pajama day on Monday October 5th. Please no slippers or robes.
• On October 19th, we will hold our annual Pink Out Day to support the RI Pink Heels. This organization supports all families who are going through a difficult time with cancer. We will be accepting any donations that you wish to send in on this day.
• The Candy Monster has returned and is officially opened for accepting donations for the PTO Trunk- or Treat event scheduled for October 23rd. All donations are welcome!
• Picture retake day is scheduled for Monday, October 26th. If you received a package and you are having your child's picture redone, please send that in with them on this day.
• If you have not returned your child's emergency card and dismissal form please do so as soon as possible. Please remember that it is important to have at least one emergency contact in case we can not get in touch with a parent/guardian in an emergency situation.
• This is the newest policy for personal electronic devices, Please take a few minutes to review it as it has changed a little.
• You all have access to ASPEN now to make changes to emergency contacts as needed. There are directions below in the newsletter if you need help.
• If you would like to reach out to your child's teacher or any of the itinerant or service providers, you may call and leave a message for them to call you back with the front office, or you may email them directly. All staff emails can be found on our web page under staff directory.

The PTO is once again organizing some after school opportunities for your children to attend. If interested please register. One you do, please complete this form for additional information that they need. Here are the direct links that you can use for each activity:

Dance: (K-5): https://forms.gle/MKxqFAyedV9GeFZ46

Martial Arts (K-2): https://forms.gle/7sb641on2hABcJLWA

**Please note that ceramics is full and there are only 5 spots left for martial arts.

🎉BIG NEWS! 🎉 Wallaby Fun Run kicked off this week! We’re attempting to raise $25,000 for a library upgrade and school spirit. We are already more than half way to our goal. Thank you for your continued support! Teachers are sharing fun videos daily to prepare the students for the event.

💻 Register online at MyBooster.com – 09/17/2026

🎉 Fundraiser Kickoff in school – 10/01/2026

👟 Event Day – 10/13/2026

We once again are reaching out for trunks to make our event possible. We need at least 25 trunks in order to run this event. If you are planning to decorate your trunk, or just attend this event please fill out this form.

Holidays can be difficult for many. We are here to help. If your family is in need this holiday season please complete the form below. This information will only be seen by Mrs. Jacquard and Mrs. Bogdon. They will reach out to gather more information and make arrangements.

Holiday Help Form

The Jovie shop has some Halloween gear for the season if you are interested. Here is the link directly to the site. Please order no later than October 25th to receive it in time for Halloween.

Once again this year you can purchase Washington Oak spirit merchandise for your children. New items will be added periodically to the spiritwear shop and others will go on sale. It is great seeing so much of it around the building ! Kindergarten Families you will receive a form to complete for your child to receive a t-shirt from the PTO. New families in the upper grades will be given an order form to complete to order a t-shirt free of charge from the PTO.

September was a busy month in the music room! Please visit Mr. Johnson's webpage to hear all about it in the new MONTHLY MUSIC MEMO for September!

tinyurl.com/MrJCoventry

Washington Oak School Chorus!

Dear Students and Parents:

It’s time for Washington Oak students to warm up their singing voices! Before School Chorus rehearsals are about to begin for interested students in grades 3, 4 and 5.

Singing is a central part of the music curriculum and offers a great opportunity for those who love to sing to get additional experience outside of regular music class. There are many benefits found in choral singing: improved singing voice, deeper understanding and appreciation of music, self-discipline and confidence.

Rehearsals will take place on Friday mornings, from 8:10 - 8:55 am. Chorus will happen every Friday, unless there’s a school delay or school cancellation. Our first practice will be Friday, October 2nd , 2026.

In addition to our weekly rehearsals, we will have several performances. Our first performance is tentatively scheduled for Friday, February 5th 2027, 6pm!

All school rules (responsible, respectful and safe) must be followed. Continued reminders about behavior may result in a student being asked to leave the chorus. It is also expected that students regularly attend rehearsals. Chorus is a team effort!

I am also searching for a few volunteers to help with arrival procedures and rehearsal support. If interested, please indicate so on the Google Form, (current BCI required).

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at school: 401-397-1976, or email me: johnsonstephen@coventryschools.net

I look forward to making music!

Steve Johnson

To sign up for Washington Oak Chorus, please fill out the google form before our first meeting, Friday, October 2nd:

https://tinyurl.com/WOchorus

Visit Mr. Johnson’s web page for info on music: https://tinyurl.com/MrJCoventry

Safety Patrol is off to a great start. All of of students are learning their jobs and taking it very seriously. Here are the dates for Safety Patrol for the remainder of the year. Please make every attempt to have your child arrive on time.

• Tuesday, October 6, 2026 - 8:30 am

• Tuesday, December 8, 2026- 8:30 am

• Tuesday, March 2, 2027 - 8:30 am

• Tuesday, May 25, 2027 - 8:00 am End of the Year Celebration

We have been invited to once again walk in the Homecoming Parade on Saturday, September 26th. A notice went home with your child this week. Please return it by the due date so that Mrs. Estrela and MRs Gallagher will know who will be joining them.

If you have not already done so, please complete the free and reduced lunch application for your child. Even if you did not qualify in the past you may now. Remember that we are not using the My School Bucks app at this time. Please send in cash or a check made out to Coventry Public Schools Lunch Program to put money on your child's account. Money that was there can still be used, you just can not add any more right now. We will be receiving balances on a regular basis and will call once your balance is over $10.00 so that we can stay ahead of balances getting too large this year. If you do not want your child to order breakfast or lunch please let us know and we will let the kitchen know. We acquired a great deal of lunch debt last year that I would like to avoid this year if possible. The breakfast and lunch menus are below for the end of August and September.

• We are proud to share that we will once again participate in the Feinstein Leadership School Program.
• • Winning school receives a $2,000 grant!
  • Winning student receives a $500 grant to donate to a non-profit of their choice!
  • Winning student also receives surprise gifts from The Feinstein Foundation
  • Every Monday, 5 new winning Golden Ticket numbers will be randomly selected and announced. It all starts October 6th, 2025!
• Once again each student will receive a Feinstein Jr. Scholar Card that offers them and an accompanying adult guest several benefits! Be sure to read the back of the card for more information. These have been sent to teaches who will be sending them home.
• The Golden Ticket will also return this year. Each child will receive a ticket that should be kept in a safe place. Numbers will be drawn each Monday by the Feinstein Foundation and sent to the Leadership Schools via email. They will then be posted on the Feinstein Website and social media @thefeinsteinfoundation.
• The virtual Jr. Scholar Journal will again be available on the website www.feinsteinfoundation.org . This is a great place for our Jr. Scholars to share with the Feinstein Foundations all of the good deeds that they are doing.
• Golden tickets and cards were sent home this week. Please keep them in a safe place. Once the drawings begin we will post the numbers here .

• If your child is sick please reach out to the nurse and let her know. We understand that each illness does not warrant a doctor visit.

• Teachers have been given a letter to share with you if your child's class has a severe nut allergy and must remain peanut and tree free. Please remember that they may have it in the lunchroom.

• Contact info for School Nurse:

• Nurse Peg

  Carrollmargaret@coventryschools.net

  401-397-1976

  
  

Email: jacquardpaula@coventryschools.net
Website: WWW.COVENTRYSCHOOLS.NET
Location: 801 Read School House Road, Coventry, RI, USA
Phone: 4013971976

School Hours: 9:10am - 3:40pm

Arrival Times: 8:55am -9:10 am

Dismissal Time: 3:40pm