In the Commissioner of Education's State of Education Address on May 1, she particularly acknowledged the impressive systemic achievement in student writing in North Smithfield Schools.  Our Grade 5 students were 97% proficient in writing and top in the State as a grade level!

It is Teacher Appreciation Week, May 7-11.

Thank you to all our teachers and staff for their professionalism, reflection on practice and putting the needs of our students first!

Thank you also to our wonderful, supportive PTO and for their many expressions of appreciation this week!

All Grade 4 students will participate in Science NECAP Testing on May 8 and 9.  There are two testing sessions each day.  The morning session is 8:45 to 10:25 and the afternoon session is 12:30 to 2:05.  The testing incorporates multiple choice, written response and performance task components.  This testing is done yearly in Grade 4 during the Spring term.

Once again the Halliwell Memorial School Family Math Night (Mathmania!) was a big success.  Dozens of families came out for the fun event on the evening of March 29.  There were a wide variety of math games, including the fan favorite, our Estimation Jars.  The person with the closest estimate of amounts of the contents of each jar, won the jar.  Thank you to the NSPTO for donating this year's estimation jars.  Thank you also to our family volunteers, students, faculty and staff leaders for organizing and facilitating the event, including: Diane Kohler, Marjory Brenner, Claire O'Hara, Monica Maroney, Carla Giarrusso, Clarissa Russell, Amanda Zifcak and Kathy Sylvia, who ran the activities.

May 19: Fit Kids Fun Run in City Park, Warwick to raise awareness and community support for RI's new PE mandate: a high quality, standards-based PE curriculum focused on developing a foundation for lifelong health and fitness

April 26: Healthy Kids Learn Better Breakfast at the Crowne Plaza hotel, Warwick sponsored by the Greater Providence yMCA featuring Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist, Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts and a panel of educators and community health professions

Both events are free

kwetherill [at] cox [dot] net

(401)339-2524

toselli [at] cox [dot] net

(401)330-8401

Information went home with all grade 5 students on Friday, March 30, explaining how to select their elective classes for next year at the Middle School.  The deadline to select electives is Thursday, April 5.  Selection is done electronically.  Mr. Lahar presented this information to grade 5 student on March 30.  Contact either John Lahar, Middle School Principal, or William Pepin, Head of Guidance at the Middle School, with any questions about this process.

Our Spring Book Fair is happening all this week, Monday, April 2, through Thursday, April 5, in our Library.

On Monday, April 2, 2012, the global autism community will celebrate the historic fifth annual United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day.  At Dr. Harry L. Halliwell Memorial School we will Light It Up Blue by providing announcements to the school on April 2 with facts about autism.  Students, faculty and staff will wear blue on April 2 in support of this awareness campaign.  Check out the information about Light It Up Blue and autism at www.LightItUpblue.org.

Winter Bus Routes will officially end on Friday, March 16 and Regular Routes begin on Monday, March 19, 2012.

Fall 2011 NECAP results will be sent home with students to their parents on Thursday, February 16, 2012.  We are very pleased with our students' performance.  Our student achievement continues to rise in Reading, Math and Writing.  A joint effort combining curriculum-based instruction, research-based strategies, strong home/school connection and differentiation of instruction is keeping our focus on increased student proficiency.  Please refer to Mrs. Arnold's Curriculum website for more detailed information, districtwide.