Philip R. Smith Elementary School

February PTO News

Cook's Night Off

🎉 Exciting News from the PRS PTO! 🎉

Thanks to your amazing support, we raised $259.91 for the Math Mobile and Reading Vending Machine during our first Cook's Night Off event! 🙌💙

PTO Valentine Hearts: Send your children a Valentine that will be displayed outside their classroom! Each message costs $1 and will be attached to a heart and placed outside your child's classroom. All messages are due by Monday, February 3rd. Please see the attached link for more details and the form! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VX7is6mcRmlNWHNFPn4hil2B5yptekGF/view?usp=sharing

Movie Night

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ucfEyfgI739WE6MQ2akTqPa5lWIv2GpC/view?usp=sharing

Adventures with Avery

https://drive.google.com/file/d/10eiNN5zubopCxnz_ebaYnRFPGHHZ_W19/view?usp=sharing

Yard Goats Save the Date

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FGeEF3IKw6HCOXOJdUzkDR95slunpxGw/view?usp=sharing

Many classes will be offering time for students to exchange valentines and either do a craft/have a snack, etc, most often organized by our fantastic Room Parents!

Reminders...

Due to food allergies, Valentines should not include food items.

Parking is limited to the parking lot due to the snow/ice that is in the front field. I do recommend for the Valentine's Day parties that we limit the number of parents, I recommend carpooling if possible and we cannot park illegally in the parking lot so if there are no spaces, the closest road to park on would be Cornerstone.

Back by popular demand...the PRS Readathon! Starting on 2/18 and running through 3/7 we will have students record their reading minutes on special recording sheets. We have some very fun prizes to offer individuals and classes who do the most reading!

On Thursday, February 27th from 6:00-7:00 p.m., we invite families to put on your comfiest PJ's, grab your favorite stuffie, and come listen to some wonderful stories read by PRS staff!

We want to learn more about the wonderful traditions, holidays, and cultures that are relevant to our school community. Our goal is to celebrate and appreciate the diverse backgrounds of our students, and integrate them into our school community.

Please take a few moments to complete this survey. Your responses will help us create a richer, more inclusive learning environment for all students.

https://forms.gle/zNpJdgZzSv3wCARXA

We are always looking to build our daily substitute list! If you are interested in being a daily substitute at PRS or any other school in district, please call Christina or myself and we can guide you to the online application process.

Please see the link below for more information about the Patriotic Commission Essay Contest.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bwMrEKWIF_R6pBL4Ln4bcp9tWySnaL68/view?usp=sharing

Greetings Grade 5 Families-

Though it may be hard to believe, we are already busy planning to welcome your rising sixth grader to Timothy Edwards Middle School (TEMS) in August. Fifth graders will learn more about our courses, programs, and extracurricular opportunities when our school counselors visit elementary schools this spring. In addition to the visits in each of our elementary schools, all fifth graders take a field trip to TEMS to tour the building and to meet administrators, counselors, teachers, and students.

We'd like to invite parents and guardians to a family information evening on Wednesday, February 12th from 6:30-7:30. We aim to share an overview of TEMS courses, athletics, clubs and activities, and general information about managing this important time in your child's adolescence. Though the format of this presentation is targeted towards adult audiences, children can attend with their guardians. Please see the flier below for more information.

This is an exciting time as your child prepares for this important next step in their educational and social journey. We are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible for both students and families, and are happy to begin partnering with you to ensure a successful middle school experience for your child.

We hope to see you at the meeting and look forward to the exciting journey ahead!

Candice Irwin, TEMS Principal

The Student Leadership Team is sponsoring a Red, White, and Pink Spirit Day on Thursday, February 13. Please consider a donation of $1 or more to help those impacted by the California wildfires. We will donate the money we collect to the American Red Cross. Please see our attached flyer for information. Thank you for your support.

Can you please share on your newsletters and on digital displays in your buildings that the our Preschool Outreach Program is now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year? This can be found on our district website and the link for the application is here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScrU9FT-f2f1h_UdwHnwOuWgKKJOorVz9CvYfiAblI0nfKDUg/viewform

Do you know someone who deserves an award for their volunteer service?

The South Windsor Board of Education invites residents, or employees of a South Windsor business, to nominate someone who has volunteered their time for the betterment of the South Windsor community.

The Eugene Policelli Service Awards were established by the Board of Education to recognize and honor Dr. Eugene Policelli’s service to the town of South Windsor.

The nominee must:

1) be a resident of South Windsor for the past three years, or have worked and/or volunteered in South Windsor for at least three years, or

2) be a South Windsor High School Grade 12 student, and

3) be an example of outstanding citizenship and have made a significant contribution to enhancing the quality of life in South Windsor.

Nominees may be nominated by an organization where an individual has volunteered, an employer, a school employee, or a community member.

A family member cannot initiate a nomination.

Prior to making a nomination, please read the service/leadership criteria below:

Impact on the Community: Was the nominee’s contribution substantive enough to make a difference in the organization and the community?
Amount/Depth of Service: Does the nominee appear to have demonstrated a long-term commitment to one or more community service activities?
Leadership: Has the nominee assumed a leadership role in the community service activity?

After completing this Google nomination form, the award selection committee will reach out to the nominee to inform them of the nomination, explain the award program, ask the nominee if they would like to formally apply for the award, and provide them with the application (if needed).

The nomination deadline is February 24, 2025.

Please reach out to Benjamin Wry, South Windsor Public Schools School Counseling Curriculum Specialist, at 860-648-5033, or bwry@swindsor.k12.ct.us, with any questions or concerns. Thank you!

2/14-2/17 Winter Break

2/27 PJ and Read Aloud Evening 6:00-7:00

3/5 Spring Photo

3/19 5th gr Concert -more info below

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1l8evLzRMl__29o0F3P0wqC9YWQKLqgR-/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110836657515323275564&rtpof=true&sd=true

State Testing Window

SBAC: 4-28 through 5-9

NGSS: 5/15

Adding Someone to School Messenger https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h2vqldyvZFOK_jumwjaGUbHMP2H4GSLs/edit#heading=h.gjdgxs

Yearlong Calendar

https://cdnsm5-ss13.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_239916/File/Calendars/2024-2025%20School%20Calendar%20SWHS%20Principal%20Update.pdf

Attendance https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-0idrvt_FgrUNOSYEH85cJwtMIoiBsEj/view?usp=sharing

Open House Informational Links https://secure.smore.com/n/8y39c

Nurse's Blog

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QoYcCkcavl8PlOhe7qdj66idT1cmvLoV9IW4z_DOjl8/edit?usp=sharing

Universal Stories https://sites.google.com/apps.southwindsorschools.org/prs-universal-stories/home

Volunteer Registration: This is the newly revised Volunteer Registration form-In order to volunteer you must complete this form. If you have already completed it in the past and have been approved to volunteer, you do not need to complete it again.

https://www.southwindsorschools.org/cms/one.aspx?portalId=240000&pageId=28297053

Peace at Home Parenting

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1C00qmGlz3_1TmvZSGzPi70yvvK00PaGm/view?usp=sharing

Jersey Mike SW Project Graduation Fundraiser

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wF-8UhHDSisaxt6R04MUzmBbJ_AYKPQ-/view?usp=sharing

Spring Soccer Registration https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MkKVjAG-Dp7cVU4ztecIzQudaww17seO/view?usp=sharing

Girls Lacrosse https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Jg6GSBe1vxhbl2-NYOvtxw6PqHFq8vV_/view?usp=sharing

Little League https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZU20iiDpZUCTZixYK4e0qtd6qDiYGmeS/view?usp=sharing

Travel Soccer https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PMAzaavGMHOTpMP8ROBhnu0yaLh1b7wS/view?usp=sharing