October Newsletter

Did you know that Frenchtown is a Targeted Assistance Title I school? The overarching purpose of Title I is to support improvements in teaching and learning in eligible schools (based on poverty levels present), to ensure that academically and economically needy children in meeting challenging academic standards.

One of the requirements of compliance with this grant is to maintain a current parental involvement policy, called a Home-School Compact. This compact is to be reviewed and revised each year through the Title I program. Review and revision will take place early this school year.

If you would like to provide feedback, please email Mary Anderson at manderson@egsd.net.

Frenchtown School is proud to announce that each of our teachers is considered Highly Qualified by the state of Rhode Island.

This month’s Morning Messages: Honoring Elders, Each One Matters, Overcoming Obstacles and In Pursuit of Integrity.

Parents can extend learning at home through these titles to share:

Honoring Elders

Important note: These books should be previewed before reading with young children since they may deal

with the loss of a grandparent or lead to questions on aging and loss.

K-5

• My Great-Aunt Arizona, G. Houston

• Thunder Cake, P. Polacco

• I Know a Lady, C. Zolotow

• Miss Rumphius, B. Cooney

• Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, M. Fox

• When I am Old With You, A. Johnson

• Mr. George Baker, A. Hest

• My Friend, the Starfinder, G. Ella Lyon

• Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs, T. DePaola

K-2

• Now One Foot, Now the Other, T. DePaola

• Hooray for Grandparents Day, N. Carlson

• What Grandmas Do Best What Grandpas Do Best, L. Numeroff

Each One Matters

K-5

• The Greatest Table: A Banquet to Fight Against Hunger, M. J. Rosen

• A Kids' Guide to Hunger and Homelessness: How to Take Action, C. B. Kaye

• Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen, D. Disalvo-Ryan

• The Goat Lady, J. Bregoli

• Give a Goat, J. W. Schrock

Overcoming Obstacles

K-1

• We Can do It, L. Dwight

• Knots on a Counting Rope, M. Archambault

• Using a Wheelchair, A. Royston

• I Have a Sister, My Sister Is Deaf, J. W. Peterson

• Through Grandpa’s Eyes, P. MacLachlan

• What’s Wrong with Timmy? M. Shriver

• Don’t Call Me Special, P. Thomas

• Athletes with Disabilities, D. Kent

• Seeing Things My Way, W. A. Carter

In Pursuit of Integrity

K-5

• Know and Follow Rules , C.J. Meiners

K-2

• The Emperor’s New Clothes, H.C. Anderson

• The Honest-to-Goodness Truth, P.C. McKissack

• Martin’s Big Words…, D. Rappaport

• Stone Soup, A. McGovern

• Strega Nona, T. dePola

• The Story of Abraham Lincoln, P.A. Pingry

Last week we had our first official fire drill, which went very smoothly. Overall I was proud of the students and their abilities to follow directions and remain quiet. You might want to discuss these points and the routine nature of these drills with your child.

In the past, parents have requested specifics on our school safety plan, especially the lockdown drill component. As a parent, I can understand the desire to know more. For reasons of security we cannot release or publish all the specifics, nor can we maintain compliance by telling parents exactly when drills are to occur. You may find the following helpful:

1. Frenchtown's school safety plan and drill schedule is compliant with all state and federal guidelines.

2. Frenchtown's safety plan has been reviewed by the EGPD. The police department has verified that the plan is sound and has sent representatives to our building in the past to observe a lockdown drill and provide feedback. Overall they have been pleased with what they have seen.

3. During a lockdown a coded phrase will be announced over the PA system and sent to staff via Walkie Talkie as well. Students will be asked to sit quietly in a darkened and locked classroom with their teacher(s) for 2-3 minutes until another code phrase signaling the end of the lockdown drill is transmitted.

4. During the lockdown the principal and/or designee(s) may check doors to determine if they are locked and properly shaded. Every effort is made to complete this quickly and quietly.

5. After the drill teachers are asked to briefly discuss the situation positively and calmly with their respective classes.

6. In the event of an evacuation drill an announcement is made followed by a quick and orderly exit of the building meeting in a predetermined location. This is quite similar to a fire drill, except we travel a bit further once outside the building.

All that being said, I do understand that some parents and students have significant anxiety about these drills. From a grandparent's perspective, I have had my concerns as well. Being a member of the RI Principal association, I hear my colleagues collaborate and share best practice and find comfort that we all work together to make a sound and active effort to maintain and improve safety.

If your child has any concerns about drills that you feel may be out of the ordinary, please feel free to contact me or school staff. In extreme situations we may be able to make some accommodations to moderate the process for students.

Due to changes in Itinerant scheduling, FUN FRIDAY will now be TERRIFIC TUESDAY!

We will host quarterly events, beginning in December.

Thank you to our Grade Level Liaisons:

Kindergarten:

Mrs. Elson's class: Chad Kavanaugh and Meg Maurice

Mrs. Rakovic's class: HELP WANTED!

Grade 1: Ericka Owens, Nikki Berte, Jill Spitzer and Laura Santilli

Grade 2: Linda Settipane and Howard Faunce

For more information, please reach out to Mrs. Vaughn