The Blackrock Buzz

Dear Blackrock Families,

Can you believe it is August already? From my family to yours, I hope you are all enjoying your summer and making memories. This is my mid-summer newsletter to keep you in the loop about all things Blackrock. I hope that this information helps to provide clear information and answer questions that you may have in preparation for our exceptional year to come!

For those of you who are new to our Blackrock family, welcome to our hive and I hope to see you at New Family Orientation (see below for details)! As a reminder to everyone, during the school year, this weekly newsletter will be your #1 source of information, and you should expect to see this in your email inbox every weekend. In most cases, I send out an updated newsletter each Sunday.

I can be reached by email (gesualdidavid@coventryschools.net) if you have any questions about the new school year. Please review this information carefully and I look forward to seeing you all at the Back-to-School Celebration on 8/26 from 6:00 - 7:30pm!

In service,

Dr. David Gesualdi

Blackrock Principal

We know that you are eager to prepare for the upcoming school year. We will provide most of what your child will need at school. Please take a look at the lists below. Rising 1st graders through rising 5th graders received these lists in June 2024. Apart from these lists, it’s recommended for students to have some basic supplies to keep at home for homework. If you’d like to pick up some supplies to support classrooms, please see the supply lists below:

Kindergarten:

• A water bottle with your child's name on it

• A snack for 2nd recess

• Over-the-Ear Headphones (wired only, no Bluetooth, no earbuds)

• Supplies including:

• A small hard plastic pencil box
• A few boxes of crayons (16 count)
• A box of sharpened # 2 pencils
• A pair of children's safety scissors
• A few rectangular erasers
• Some glue sticks

• Communal supplies include paper towels, tissues, Clorox or baby wipes are always welcome!

Grade 1:

• A water bottle with your child's name on it

• Headphones (wired only, no Bluetooth, no earbuds)

• Labeled backpack and lunch box

• A snack for 2nd recess

• Supplies including:

• A small hard plastic pencil box
• A few boxes of crayons (16 count)
• A box of sharpened # 2 pencils
• A pair of children's safety scissors
• A few rectangular erasers
• Some glue sticks
• Communal supplies include paper towels, tissues, Clorox or baby wipes are always welcome!

Grade 2:

• A water bottle with your child's name on it

• Headphones (wired only, no Bluetooth, no earbuds)

• Labeled backpack and lunch box

• A snack for 2nd recess

• Supplies including:

• A small soft plastic pencil box
• A few boxes of crayons (16 count)
• A few boxes of sharpened # 2 pencils
• A handheld pencil sharpener with shavings catcher
• A pair of children's safety scissors
• A few rectangular erasers
• Some glue sticks
• A composition notebook
• Note: Please do not bring binders, spiral bound notebooks nor trapper keepers.
  

• A water bottle with your child's name on it

• Headphones (wired only, no Bluetooth, no earbuds)

• A snack for 2nd recess

• Soft, zippered pencil case (Please avoid bringing plastic pencil boxes)

• A few marble notebooks (wide-ruled)

• 2 Laminated 2-pocket folders (any color, any design)

• A few boxes of pencils

• A box of erasers

• A small box of crayons

• A small box of colored pencils

• A box of glue sticks

• Communal supplies include tissues, Clorox disinfecting wipes and wide-ruled filler paper are always welcome!

Grade 4:

• A water bottle with your child's name on it

• Headphones (wired only, no Bluetooth, no earbuds)

• A snack for 2nd recess

• A one- subject notebook

• A few boxes of pencils

• A handheld pencil sharpener with shavings catcher

• Large, zippered soft pencil case

• Communal supplies include paper towels, tissues, Clorox or baby wipes are always welcome!

Grade 5:

• A water bottle with your child's name on it

• Headphones (wired only, no Bluetooth, no earbuds)

• A snack for 2nd recess

• A few boxes of sharpened pencils

• A package of multi-colored highlighters

• A red two-pocket folder

• A blue two-pocket folder

• A yellow two-pocket folder

• A green two-pocket folder

• A package of 3X3 post-it notes

• A soft, zippered pencil case
  

• A personal pencil sharpener with shavings catcher

• A few eraser caps or erasers

• 1 one- subject notebook

• A binder with loose leaf paper

• Communal supplies include paper towels, tissues, Clorox or baby wipes are always welcome!

Returning Back to School: What to Expect

School Hours: 8:30am - 3:00pm (Doors open at 8:15am)

First Day of School:

Start Date for Grades 1-5: Wednesday, August 28th

Start Date for Kindergarten: Tuesday, September 3rd

Start Date for State PreK: Wednesday, August 28th

On the first day of school, your child will receive a yellow folder. Inside that folder, are a few key Blackrock forms that each parent/guardian must review and return including:

• Independent Dismissal Decision Sign-Up (for independent walkers)
• Dismissal Decision Sign-Up* (for a child who does not take the bus home)
• Photo Release Form for Minors (to share your approval/disapproval of usage of photos/videos)
• Digital Technology Acceptable Use and Safety Policy (signatures needed)
• Food Allergy Form (to identify student allergies)

*Note: Your Dismissal decision will stay on file. If you have a change in dismissal, you must send in a written note with your child.

Bus Dismissal: Bus Runs will be posted very soon on the Coventry Website. Check back closer to the start of school

Parent Pick Up: Pick up will be at the side gymnasium door as we have done in past years. All families that are picking students up at the end of the school day will need to park their car in the upper parking lot and walk to the parent pick-up line. Parent/guardians will be asked to show identification.

After Care YMCA Program: As in the past, the YMCA has offered an after school program unaffiliated with the school. If you are interested in this opportunity, you can find registration forms here and/or reach out directly to Stephanie Girard at 401-397-7779 ex 304 or sgirard@ymcapawt.org

Pick Up Policy: Students may ONLY go home with those listed on their emergency form. This is a strict policy.

When will I know my child's teacher?

Information about your child's class placement for the upcoming school year will be available on Aspen during the week ending 8/23.

What are the daily Blackrock School hours?

School drop-off begins at 8:15am when the front doors open, and instruction starts promptly at 8:30am. School Dismissal begins at 3:00pm.

At what time are students marked "late"?

Students are marked late if they arrive after 8:30am.

How can I find bus stop information?

Bus information will be available on the Coventry Schools Website the week before school begins.

Where do I find information about school lunches?

Food service information can be found here.

If you would like your child to order breakfast or lunch at school, you can set up an account at https://www.myschoolbucks.com/. You can add funds to the student account and monitor their daily activities and balances.

How can I apply for free/reduced priced lunch?

You can apply online here for the updated free/reduced lunch application. Applying online is much quicker and completely confidential. It is important to know that if you have a current free or reduced status, it will expire in mid-October and if you have not filed a new application the children's accounts will automatically revert to paid lunch.

Please take a peek at the Blackrock PTO information below. I encourage you to get involved and add to our vibrant school community. We are proud of the changes that we have made this summer and look forward to continuing to work together to continue to make Blackrock a special place to learn and make memories.

• David Gesualdi, Ed.D, Principal, gesualdidavid@coventryschools.net
• Connie Hargreaves, Administrative Clerk, hargreavesconstance@coventryschools.net
• Melissa Thibodeau, School Nurse, thibodeaumelissa@coventryschools.net