Smithfield Public Schools -

Attention all high school juniors, seniors and families: Come learn about the college financial aid process on January 28th at 4:00 p.m. Discover the different types of financial aid available, what the FAFSA is, and why you need to complete it. Please RSVP for the Zoom sessions sponsored by the College Planning Center here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_RCYK_ISeSaAfwXUJf64cWgEJJgHZKuB4xfXaNWRtTSjGTQ/viewform

On Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, I hope everyone takes time to reflect on racism and community. Read my newest blog post, "On Racism and Community." http://bit.ly/2LX2IYV

The USDA has extended the free school meals program for ALL children throughout the US for the entire 2020-2021 school year. This includes breakfast and lunch for in-person and virtual option students. Meal pick up is at Smithfield High School door#2 Monday-Friday from 11-noon. Weekend meals are served on Fridays. Meals for Monday, January 25 (Flex Day) will be available for pick up on Friday, January 22.

Registration is now open for the All Course Network (ACN) courses! ACN is a RIDE initiative that allows students to take advantage of supplemental coursework outside of the traditional school day at no cost to a district or student. Students can take enrichment, work-based learning, dual enrollment, Advanced Placement, and career credential courses. Visit https://www.ride.ri.gov/StudentsFamilies/EducationPrograms/AdvancedCoursework.aspx for more information.

Students and parents who missed the orientation session for BiNaxNOW rapid testing for athletes can view the recording, available on this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1y8SOxMrWoXtppMhwImJIRnK-07aKNb7f?usp=sharing

If you missed the School-Based Asymptomatic Testing Orientation for SHS Athletes, you can view the slides with this link: http://bit.ly/38aF1Fe

The January District Newsletter includes information on rapid, school-based COVID testing being planned for our schools at the start of January. The link to the consent form and information about orientation meetings are also provided. The newsletter is available on this link: http://bit.ly/3hssGiB

Keep Smithfield Safe - Get Tested! We are working this week to develop a school-based, asymptomatic COVID testing program in Smithfield so that we can better identify members of our school community who may have the virus but not know it. Every time an infected person is identified and isolated, we limit the spread of the virus to others. Rhode Island is offering FREE testing to anyone in the community ahead of the start of school in January. Everyone who can get tested this week should do so. The more people who get tested over the next few days, the more we’ll know about how the virus spread over the holiday, and the better we’ll be able to limit the spread of the virus to others. You can sign up for a free test at portal.ri.gov. Please consider getting tested. It doesn’t matter if you have symptoms or not — get tested!

Enjoy the SHS Virtual Winter Concert on this beautiful December evening! https://youtu.be/Lei2WHNS9cA

As the community reflects on and debates the value of the first-time we applied a distance learning day instead of the traditional, snow day, I have reflected on the complexity of decision-making this year. Read my new blog post, "It's Complicated - The Snow Day / Distance-Learning Day Debate." https://judypaolucci.edublogs.org

Help is Available! Parents can visit https://bit.ly/SPSonlineFAQ and review the steps about Google MEETS. This page also provides the technosps@smithfield-ps.org email that all users, parents, students and staff, should be using to make requests while virtual.

There will be no in-person learning tomorrow (Thursday, December 17th) in Smithfield. Middle and high school students will continue with distance learning and elementary students will bring their Chromebooks and materials home today so that they, too, can participate in distance-learning. Stay safe and healthy!

Due to the anticipated snow, Smithfield's School Lunch Program will not be operating the free meal pick-up on Thursday. Meals for Thursday will be handed out on Wednesday, December 16, and will consist of 2 breakfasts and 2 lunches per child. Meals can be picked up at Smithfield High School between 11-noon at door #2. Daily service will return to its regular pick up schedule starting on Friday, December 18.

Seasons Greetings from Smithfield Public Schools! Enjoy this video of Smithfield in the Snow by Jayna Barrette, a SHS student and daughter of Paul Barrette (OCRS principal) and Sandy Barrette (elementary music teacher) https://youtu.be/1xnS5SuvHQk

For three nights - December 19-21 - Santa will be making his way through town on top of a Smithfield fire truck. Follow this link to learn where Santa will be each night: https://bit.ly/2Km0ZLX

At the December 7th School Committee meeting, a decision was made to move to distance learning in Smithfield. Tomorrow (12/9), GMS students will begin distance learning. SHS students will begin next week (Monday is a Flex Day) and elementary students will begin the week following (12/21). Additional details will be forthcoming.

SHS student artwork includes important message to everyone in our school community....

Wood Truss Topping off Ceremony at McCabe marks a milestone in the progress of the building project. Students enjoyed seeing the crane hoist the wood truss to it's spot on the addition roof.

Congratulations Caitlin Moroni, selected to the Junior Treble Choir representing Gallagher Middle School!

The USDA extends free school meals to ALL students for the rest of this school year. Both breakfast and lunch are available to all students at no cost in each of the district's schools. Take advantage of this opportunity! https://bit.ly/3lqdXVO