Hathaway Happenings - Home
November 22, 2023
Dear Hathaway Families,
We ended our short, but wonderful week with some amazing celebrations! Our second Surprise Attendance Day was a huge success! Students enjoyed music while eating and a ten minute all out dance party to end their lunch time. Our GSA's, Officer Dave, all of the staff that joined us and I had just as much fun as the students! In their happy words - "This was the best day ever!" A huge shout out to DJ and Tori Canario for volunteering their time to be our guest DJ's!
Our November Community Meeting was simply wonderful. Our Anchored4Life leaders, Cora, Shea, Jackson L, Kinsley V, Sebastian, Lucca, Anna Luisa, Cosette, lead the meeting perfectly! We heard from St. John's Food Bank and how our donations have helped them. We sang a song led by Mrs. Vanasse's class, heard book talks from Kinley and Annabelle, celebrated our Class Golden Apple winners, Mrs. Vieira's class, learned of the winners of our Fun Walk Fundraiser (stay tuned),and Orion knocked it out of the park with his drum performance! It was a heartwarming way to end the day and head into Thanksgiving break.
Thank you to all who attended our HPTA meeting last week. In addition to learning of all the wonderful events the group is supporting, we had great conversation around climate and culture. The next Climate and Culture Subcommittee meeting will take place on December 14th at 6:00 PM at Portsmouth Middle School. Our next HPTA meeting will take place on December 13th at 6:00 PM in the library.
Last week we were fortunate to have a visit from the PHS marching band. What a wonderful gathering of listening, singing along, dancing, and even some marching along with the band! Check out the photos below!
Join us as we celebrate our very own Mrs. Liz Gill! Liz was the recipient of the Fall Clements Teacher Appreciation Award! Liz was nominated by the community who had wonderful things to say about her - "Liz is an incredible teacher in the Hathaway community. Not only does she create a loving and supportive environment in her kindergarten classroom, but she values the importance of the connection between home and school and keeps families well connected with what their children are learning and experiencing. She is known to be involved in the HPTA, and does extra committee work, as well as orchestrated an incredible project for Blankets of Hope where children learned how to practice empathy and kindness in an impactful way and provided blankets to local unhoused people. Liz is a wonderful teacher and person and is such a valued member of her community." (See photos below!)
Our Abound word of the week is available. We hope there will be some time when you are available to have conversations with your child. Build vocabulary as you build relationships! In this newsletter you will also find a gratitude scavenger hunt for families. We hope you have some fun with it!
Don't forget to join us on December 4th for our annual Hullabaloo! It is sure to be a good time! In the meantime, check out our Hathaway Spirit Swag site below! They make great gifts for the holidays.
Be sure to check out information on our upcoming dental screening, Make Up Picture Day, and an opportunity to participate in PMS Scholastic Chess!
There is no school on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday in observance of Thanksgiving. We are wishing you all a safe and peaceful holiday weekend.
Reminders
Please note that changes to dismissal method (such as pickup instead of bus) must be requested via written note sent into the office only when absolutely necessary.
Early dismissal learning time adds up quickly! We encourage everyone to make every effort to maintain a consistent dismissal method throughout the year.
As always, thank you for being our partners in education!
Thanksgiving Story
In the anecdote, a father is trying to educate his son on what it means to be poor. The dad thinks his son shares his perspective on what life is all about. Instead, he is the one that takes away the lesson!
One day a very wealthy father took his son on a trip to the country for the sole purpose of showing his son how it was to be poor. They spent a few days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.
After their return from the trip, the father asked his son how he liked the trip. “It was great, Dad,” the son replied. “Did you see how poor people can be?” the father asked. “Oh Yeah,” said the son.
“So what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father. The son answered, “I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.
“We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.”
“We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.” The boy’s father was speechless. Then his son added, “It showed me just how poor we really are.”
Moral of the Story:
It’s not about money, or clothes, or gadgets, or cars, or a big house that matters….its simplicity, love, compassion,friendships, values, and family that makes our lives rich.
Too many times we forget what we have and concentrate on what we don’t have. What is one person’s worthless object is another’s prize possession. It is all based on one’s perspective.
Sometimes it takes the perspective of a child to remind us what’s important.
Hathaway Spirit Swag
Dental Screening
Dear Hathaway Parents,
On Tuesday, December 4th, Dentist Marian Royer will be conducting free oral health screenings for all students in accordance with the State of Rhode Island dental screening requirements.
Each screening will take about a minute, Dr. Royer will gently and quickly check your child’s teeth using disposable gloves, and we will send results home that week.
Dental health is important. Although largely preventable, untreated oral health problems can result in pain, impaired speech development, and reduced self-esteem. Students may have trouble concentrating and learning if they are distracted by pain. Regular dental care can prevent this.
If you do not want your child participating in the dental screening on Dec. 6th, please fill out the google form and submit by Friday, Dec.1 .
Picture Retake - December 6th, 9:15
Golden Apple Winners
STEAM Month
Dear Families,
In celebration of Rhode Island’s Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics (STEAM) month, Hathaway School has coordinated a series of classes and presentations that focus on STEAM in November and December. The following events will be taking place:
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics: Careers in STEAM
In library classes, students in grades 3 & 4 will research a variety of STEAM careers.
Engineering & Arts: Lego Building with FOX TV’s Lego Master: Christine (Tacos) Blandinos
Students in grades 1-4 will have Lego workshops with Lego Masters’ Christine (Tacos) Blandinos, to develop their engineering and creativity skills.
Thursday December 14, 2023 Grades 1 & 2 will have workshops in the library
Thursday December 21, 2023 Grades 3 & 4 will have workshops in the library
Science: POW Science Dinosaurs
POW Science will be visiting our school on December 13th, 2023 to run Dinosaur Science workshops for our kindergarten classes.
Technology & Engineering: Interview a Software Engineer
Grades 3 & 4 will have an opportunity to interview a software engineer about his career and his career path in the world of technology.
Arts, Mathematics, & Engineering: Sneaker Design & Tree House Architecture
Students will engage in sneaker design activities and look at careers in industrial design in their art classes. Some grade levels will also design treehouses with 3D modeling materials.
Technology, Mathematics, & Engineering: Hour of Code
Our entire school is joining in on the largest learning event in history: The Hour of Code, during Computer Science Education Week. More than 100 million students worldwide have already tried Hour of Code. Our Hour of Code is making a statement that Hathaway Elementary School is ready to teach foundational 21st-century skills. Students will be introduced to coding concepts beginning in November and throughout the month of December in their library class.
See http://hourofcode.com/us/en for details, and help spread the word.
Abound APP/Newsletter
If you have technical questions about the app please email "sue@aboundparenting.com" for troubleshooting on their end.
Save the Date
We are Hiring!
How to Connect with Unified Arts Teachers
Holiday Letter
Dear Families,
As we approach the holiday season, we recognize that this time of year creates added stress for many of our families. Portsmouth School District’s Caritas Fund, our parent groups, teachers and community organizations are able to offer some of the things needed to help make this a happy season for all.
If you need assistance with any of the items on the back of this letter and are not receiving assistance from another agency, please fill out this form and return it in a sealed envelope to Nicole Pascoe or Nelia Almeida . If you have children in multiple schools, please only complete 1 form and send it in to the school of your youngest child. Forms need to be returned NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 30, 2023. If you have any questions, please contact us at the number or email below.
We will be partnering with our local food banks again this year, who will be handling all requests for food. If you are in need, please contact them directly at the number provided on the back of this form. They will be handling all requests for holiday food baskets. We will also be providing gift cards only this year, with a $50 limit per child, to help with present buying. We appreciate your understanding of this. You only need to complete this form if you are requesting gifts.
The Caritas Fund not only supports our Portsmouth families during this time of the year but year round with necessities such as funds for clothing, food and other basic necessities. This fund is completely supported by the donations from our school department employees and the generosity of our community. Monetary donations and gift cards for this fund are always needed and greatly appreciated. If you would like to donate to help us continue our efforts, checks can be made payable to “The Town of Portsmouth Caritas Fund” and these along with gift cards can be sent into school with your children in an envelope addressed to Nelia Almeida or Nicole Pascoe.
Sincerely,
Nelia Almeida, School Counselor: 683-0500 ext. 4017
almeidan@portsmouthschoolsri.org
Nicole Pascoe, School Social Worker: 683-0500, ext. 4017
pascoen@portsmouthschoolsri.org
This form can be found in the hard copy that went home with students.
Person completing this form:______________________________________________________
Best way to contact you (phone number or email address). We will need to leave voicemails or emails with gift pick-up information.
________________________________________________________________
If you are in need of holiday food baskets, please contact:
St. John’s Lodge at 401-683-3674
If you are in need of holiday gifts for your children, please provide the information below.
Child’s name (first and last): ____________________________________ Age/Grade________
Gift card ideas: ________________________________________________________________
Child’s name (first and last): ____________________________________ Age/Grade________
Gift card ideas: ________________________________________________________________
Child’s name (first and last): ____________________________________ Age/Grade________
Gift card ideas: ________________________________________________________________
Child’s name (first and last): ____________________________________ Age/Grade________
Gift card ideas: ________________________________________________________________
Choose Love
Attendance Matters!
From the Behavior Interventionist
Hello from the Behavior Interventionist!
My role as the behavior interventionist at Hathaway is to collaborate with teachers and families to develop and implement intervention strategies (positive behavior supports) for the classroom and within the school environment that allow all students to feel included and participate in our school community.
I work directly with students in the classroom as well as out of the classroom in a small group setting to target social-emotional learning.
From time to time, I will be providing resources to families that focus on how to support social-emotional learning at home. Should you have any questions about resources or concerns about your child, please reach out to me: miezejeskis@portsmouthschoolsri.org or ext. 4009.
Love,
Mrs. Miezejeski
From the Nurse
STREP THROAT
There have been some cases of Streptococcal throat infection in the school. Here are some important signs and symptoms to look out for during this cold, flu and strep throat season!
Watch your child for signs of a sore throat and other signs of strep
(headache, fever, and stomach ache, swollen and tender neck glands).
Please see your health care provider if your child develops a sore throat
or any of these signs of strep infection. If strep is found, your child
will be treated with an antibiotic.
Strep throat is a sore throat caused by Streptococcus bacteria that are
passed around through nose and mouth droplets. It is very common in
children. Most sore throats are caused by viruses and are not treated
with antibiotics. Strep throat must be treated with antibiotics to
prevent spread to others and to prevent rare but serious complications.
Children who have been diagnosed with a strep infection may return to
school after taking medication for at least 24 hours and fever is gone.
LICE
We recently have had some cases of lice in the school. I wanted you all to be aware of this and wanted to clarify the policy on lice as many of you have had questions! While lice is a tremendous nuisance, the CDC does NOT require children to be removed from class for having lice, nor do they require head checks of students in classes that have been exposed to lice. It is also stated that notifying families of exposure is not necessary. At Hathaway, as a courtesy, I will notify classrooms who have been affected with a letter. It is strongly encouraged to check your child for lice as well. For more information please click on CDC regulations below. Thank you!
Free COVID Tests Available
Every U.S. household can again place an order to receive four more free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to their home. Before You Throw Out "Expired" Tests: Check FDA's website to see if your COVID-19 tests' expiration dates have been extended.
To order, use this link: www.covid.gov/tests
Very easy to order and absolutely free!
Progress Reports and Report Cards
Last year as we navigated a new ELA curriculum, and as the year progressed we recognized a need to revise our grading process. Through the work of our grade level teams, teacher leaders, administrators, and coaches, we revised the Report Card and developed Mid-Trimester Progress Reports to better communicate student progress with parents and caregivers.
All families have been invited to attend a parent teacher conference with their child's teacher over the past two weeks. At the conference teachers reviewed the Mid Trimester Progress Reports. These reports include data from the benchmarking assessments. Benchmarking assessments are assessments given to students three times a year to measure their progress towards achieving the end of year standard for their grade level. In addition, you should have received a parent STAR Assessment Report. If your child qualified for a Response to Intervention Plan, this was presented and discussed during the conference.
Report Cards are published three times a year and will be available on the ASPEN Platform. You will be able to access your child’s Trimester 1 Report Card on the ASPEN Family Portal on December 8th, 2023. We will send out reminders as we near that date.
Report Cards reflect your child's current mastery of end-of-grade level standards. The grades earned by your child, as reflected on the Report Card, are their current mastery of end-of-grade level standards. For example, if your child is in second grade they are being assessed on the standard that is expected of a student exiting second grade. If your child receives an S (secure), this means that they are secure and have reached the end of the year benchmark. Earning a D (developing) means your child is demonstrating growth towards meeting the end of grade level with support. If your child is beginning to progress towards meeting the end of year standard, then they will receive a B (beginning). It is common for most students to receive B’s and D’s during the first trimester now that we are switching to reporting out on end-of-year standards. An N/A means that this standard has not yet been taught. NP means that your child did not participate in the learning/activities related to this standard.
Nurse Updates
Hello Parents!
Below are the recently updated protocols for COVID, as well as when to keep your child home from school due to illness. If your child is ill, please complete the absence notification online. If you would like to provide more information you can email or call me directly at habershawk@portsmouthschoolsri.org or ext 4911. Thank you!
Stomach Bug - student can return after being vomit-free for 24 Hours.
Fever - Students can return after being fever free for 24 Hours WITHOUT the use of Tylenol or ibuprofen.
Strep Throat - Students can return once on antibiotics for 24 hours.
Pink eye - Student can return to school after 24 hours of antibiotic (topical or oral)
Lice - Students can come to school with lice however we STRONGLY recommend students be treated prior to returning to school.
COVID - we are following RI Department of Health and CDC regulations, please see info below for COVID recommendations:
In preparation for the 2023-24 school year, RIDOH expects increases in COVID-19 this fall and winter season. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control’s (CDC) COVID-19 guidance for schools remains largely the same. The goal remains to prevent students and staff from getting very sick from COVID-19 and to minimize disruptions to school and families.
RIDOH encourages you to review the following COVID-19 information and updates:
COVID-19 Key Recommendations
Students and staff should continue to take preventive actions to avoid getting very sick and/or spreading COVID-19 including:
• Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccine;
• Staying home when sick and getting tested when you have COVID-19 symptoms;
• If exposed to someone with COVID-19, monitoring symptoms; testing after day 5; and
wearing a mask through day 10;
• If you have COVID-19, isolating at home for 5 days and wearing a mask through day 10;
• If at higher risk of getting very sick, have a COVID-19 plan.
Krissy Habershaw, RN
Hathaway Elementary School Nurse
(401) 683-0500 ext 4911
Principal Read Aloud
Grades 1-4 have all heard about The Energy Bus for Kids! Please ask your child about the energy bus rules. They will help us have a wonderful year!
Kindergarten heard The Magical Yet. Please ask them what the magical yet is helping them with at this time!
1. Create a Positive Vision - Please consider having your child create a picture of a goal for the week, month, year, etc.
2. Fuel Your Ride with Positive Energy - I asked all students to think of a success from their days in school - one thing that made them smile and feel great - and share that with someone at home. Remind them that they have the power to turn negative thoughts into positive ones. Smiles, laughter, gratitude, faith and positive beliefs and thoughts are all it takes!
3. No Bullies Allowed - We continue to encourage our students to be kind and support one another. Ignore or confront bullies and ask for help when needed.
4. Love Your Passengers - We encourage the students to show kindness and love to others.
5. Enjoy the Ride - Need I say more?
Drill Information
Fire drills occur on a regular basis. State law requires each school to conduct eleven fire drills, two lockdown drills and two evacuation drills each year. Shelter in Place drills are conducted throughout the school year. Children are given instruction on all procedures. Children are expected to behave in a calm, orderly manner during these exercises. Please review the importance of such exercises with your child and emphasize the need for appropriate behavior.
A lockdown is an alert to a school community that students and staff should not leave the classroom and should gather in one area of the room until provided with further direction.
An evacuation requires all students and staff to exit the building and meet at a designated safe place.
A shelter in place is an alert to a school community that movement outside of classrooms is being restricted for a brief period of time. It is typically used when a student or staff member is requiring some sort of attention (sometimes medical) and the school is trying to keep that area clear and/or protect that person’s privacy. If there were a serious safety concern the school would not issue a shelter in place.
We will send notification of lockdowns, evacuations, and shelter in place drills and events via email.
Here is the presentation that was shared at a Parent Safety Forum that was hosted in conjunction with the Police and Fire Departments. The Run, Hide, Fight FBI philosophy guides our safety training.
The P3 Sandy Hook Promise Anonymous tip line is a resource that we encourage anyone to use if there is ever an immediate safety concern.
Hathaway Notification Form
Please complete the Hathaway Notification form to let us know!
Arrival and Dismissal Map
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Entrance System
During the school day, we are responsible for keeping all students safe as well as protecting their privacy. For this reason, we have limited guests in the building during school hours and we require anyone working directly with children to go through our Volunteers in School Process. This year we have a new security system.
Visitors who are entering the building for a meeting, volunteering, or an event etc...
When you arrive:
- Enter the vestibule.
- Approach the platform and tap the button on the screen that aligns with the purpose for your visit.
- Follow the cues on the screen. All visitors must have their license with them to enter the building.
- Once complete, then ring the buzzer.
- Our office staff will verify that you are ready to enter the building and will unlock the door for your entry.
*There is also a QR code on the screen that you can scan with your cell phone's camera and it will bring you through this same process.
If you are dropping something off for the school, class, or a particular child, then you do not need to sign yourself in on this system.
- Ring the buzzer and the office staff will respond.
- Notify the office staff of the purpose for your visit.
Thank you for your support in keeping our community safe.
School Meals Program
Breakfast, lunch, and milk are available to purchase for all Hathaway School students. Students order lunch each morning through their teacher that day. Breakfast can be picked up by students in the cafeteria as they arrive at school.
Full price Breakfast is $1.00 and Lunch is $2.60. If your family qualifies for reduced prices, breakfast is $ 0.30 and lunch is $0.40. Milk is offered for $0.55 as a stand alone item.
Please apply for free or reduced lunch online by visiting this site: https://www.myschoolapps.com. Or, paper applications will be sent home the first week of school.
Payment for breakfast, lunch and/or milk can be made online at www.myschoolbucks.com. A student LASID number will be needed to create and make payments online using your “My School Bucks” account.
Payment can also be made by sending cash or a check in an envelope to school labeled with your student’s name, teacher’s name, LASID number and amount included. If paying by check, please make it payable to Portsmouth School Department with your child’s LASID number noted on the memo line. Send a separate check for each child in your family as payments cannot be split between accounts. KEEPING YOUR BALANCE PAID IN FULL IS VERY IMPORTANT.
Please note per the PSD policy, "Elementary and middle school students may not purchase “a la carte” items ( i.e. milk) or snacks until all charges on the account have been satisfied."
Please refer to the family portal navigation below to access your child's LASID number.
Frequently Asked Questions About Free And Reduced Price School Meals
AlphaBEST
A Letter From the HPTA
Hello Hathaway Families,
The HPTA is busy working on some great events for the upcoming school year. Check out the flier below for upcoming events!
Monthly Meetings
We have meetings monthly in the school library, generally the third Wednesday of the month.
We encourage the Hathaway community to attend.
Becoming a Volunteer in School
Visit the district volunteer page for information if you would like to become VIS approved to volunteer in school.
VIS Authorization Form: A background check must be completed annually, by law in Rhode Island. You must fill out the authorization form for the background check and have it notarized. It also needs to include a copy of the front and back of your driver’s license, and a $5 check made out to ‘BCI.’ This form can be turned in at the school’s main office or at the school department building.
If you have any questions, please email us at Hathawaypta@gmail.com. And as always, we thank you for your continued support!!
Celebrations and Recognitions
Nut Free Facility
Thank you for your support in keeping all of our students safe in our Hathaway community.
Securly Home
Securly Home is an app that allows parents to monitor their child’s Chromebook activity at home and add rules for home use. Please take some time to review the slideshow and recording of the parent meeting that took place on 9/16.
We encourage you to sign up now for Securly Home!
Hathaway Notification Form
Please complete the Hathaway Notification Form.
Thank you in advance for helping us to keep things organized and safe in our Hathaway community.
Accessing Aspen
If you are having issues accessing Aspen, you will have to email familyportal@portsmouthschoolsri.org with your child's name, date of birth, grade level, and your name. The system administrators will be able to restore access to your account and make sure that you can login.
Where Can I Find Past Parent Newsletters?
Important Dates
Important Dates
2023-2024
November 22nd- 25th – Thanksgiving Recess (No School)
November 30th - End of Trimester One
December 2nd - 4th Chorus Concert, 10:00 AM
December 4th - Dental Screening
December 6th - Picture Retake, 9:15 AM
December 8th - Family Portal Open
December 22nd - 31st – Holiday Recess (No School)
January 7th - Hathaway P Bruins Game, 3:05
January 12th - Staff Professional Development Day (No School for Students)
January 15th – Martin Luther King Day (No School)
February 19th-23rd– Winter Recess (No School)
March 12th - End of Trimester 2
March 20th - Family Portal Open
March 29th– Good Friday (No school)
April 2nd– Staff PD Day (No School for Students)
April 15th-19th– Spring Recess (No School)
May 20th - KW Musical, 9:15 AM
May 21st - KM Musical, 9:15 AM
May 23rd - KS Musical, 9:15 AM
May 24th - Hearing Screening
May 24th - KG Musical, 9:15 AM
May 27th – Memorial Day (No School)
June 14th - Last Day of School
Howard Hathaway Elementary School
Email: littlel@portsmouthschoolsri.org
Website: https://www.portsmouthschoolsri.org/Domain/10
Location: 53 Tallman Avenue, Portsmouth, RI, USA
Phone: (401)683-0500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hathaway.principal/
Twitter: @HathawaySchool