Hello OCRS families,
I hope that you had a wonderful, restful, and safe Thanksgiving weekend. Personally, my wife and I enjoyed having both of our own children home from college, even if only for a few days. Now, it's important for all of us to refocus and work hard during the next four weeks prior to the beginning of the Holiday Break!
Continued Focus on Student Attendance
Now that the holiday season has begun, we are continuing our year-long priority on monitoring and improving student attendance. While we are ending the month of November almost 30% better as a school community in terms of chronic absences as compared to last year (and that's terrific), the overall percentage of students that are currently chronically absent has increased to 12% (29 students). As an elementary school, our goal as a school community should be to keep the percentage of students who are chronically absent be 10% or lower. Let's increase our efforts to make sure that students are at school on time, every day (unless they are ill).
Consistent attendance is crucially important to our students' academic and social success at school. If your child is showing that they are hesitant to come to school or are late to school each day, please reach out to your child's teacher so that we can work together as a team to help.
OCRS Snowflake Bazaar
The PTA is hosting the annual OCRS Snowflake Bazaar this Saturday, December 2nd from 9:00 AM. The PTA REALLY needs OCRS parents to help volunteer at the event. Please click the link below to sign-up to serve as a volunteer, even if it's just for an hour or two!
Congratulations to Mrs. Corbeille!
Mrs. Corbeille, one of our 3rd grade teachers, was recognized by the Smithfield Special Education Local Advisory Committee this past Wednesday as the November recipient of the Positivity Showcase! Mrs. Corbeille was anonymously nominated twice for this recognition because of the good work she does to support all of her students! We are very fortunate that she is part of the OCRS community.
Picture Retake Information
Lifetouch is scheduled to be at OCRS for picture retakes on Wednesday, December 6th. Any family that is interested in getting their child's school picture retaken OR your child was not at school when the original pictures were taken is welcome to take advantage of this opportunity.
Lifetouch is not sending home paper flyers, so please see the linked flyer for all of the details. Families can order student pictures online at https://my.lifetouch.com/ using the Picture Day ID EVTWB66PX
SSELAC Meeting on Wednesday, November 29th at 6:30 PM
The next Smithfield Special Education Local Advisory Committee meeting is being held on Wednesday, November 29th at 6:30 PM at Pleasant View Elementary School in the Media Center. The guest speaker is Tarzwell and Trubiano Law. Enter Door 4 when you arrive at Pleasant View Elementary School.
SSELAC Sensory Friendly Holiday Event
The Smithfield Special Education Local Advisory Committee is hosting a sensory friendly holiday event this Saturday, December 2nd from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM in the Smithfield High School cafeteria. Stop by the OCRS Snowflake Bazaar this Saturday and then head over to the SSELAC event at SHS!
PTA Information
PTA Snowflake Bazaar
The PTA is hosting their annual Snowflake Bazaar on Saturday, December 2nd from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Old County Road School. We invite and encourage all OCRS students and families to stop by and enjoy the bazaar!
Penguin Patch Holiday Shop
The PTA Penguin Patch Holiday Store is a fun way for students to shop for family members and experience the spirit of giving while learning to earn, budget and save! This event will be going on December 11th through 15th and will take place during the school day. If anyone would like to volunteer, please reach out to JessRDHNYC@gmail.com. Any volunteer will have needed to complete Mr. Barrette's Volunteer Training and have an up to date BCI on file.
Upcoming Dates and Events
View and subscribe to the OCRS Public Events Calendar at https://oldcounty.smithfield-ps.org/o/old-county-road-elementary/page/monthly-calendar. Click on the "Add to Google Calendar" button to subscribe to the calendar using your own calendar app.
SSELAC Meeting, Wednesday November 29th at 6:30 PM at Pleasant View Elementary School
PTA Snowflake Bazaar, Saturday December 2nd from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Picture Retakes, Wednesday December 6th
PTA General Meeting, Thursday December 7th at 6:00 PM
NO SCHOOL, Parent-Teacher Conferences, Wednesday December 13th
Kindergarten Gingerbread Houses, Friday December 15th at 1:30 PM
NO SCHOOL, Holiday Break, Monday December 25th through Monday January 1st
Thank you,
Mr. Barrette
Schoolwide Turkey Trot
