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Philip R. Smith School

Dream. Achieve. Inspire.

Weekly Update January 9, 2026

Posted Date: 01/09/26 (04:30 PM)


Philip R. Smith Elementary School-Weekly News

January 9, 2026

The U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School seal, featuring an eagle and stars.

PTO News

Check out the attached flyer for information on the 2026 PRS Night at the Hartford Yard Goats!

Cook’s Night Off is Back — With Old Favorites & New Flavors!
No need to cook—just dine out and help our school! This year’s Cook’s Night Off lineup is filled with exciting stops like Dave & Buster’s, Friendly’s, Panera, Red Robin, Bears BBQ, Craft Pizza, Hot Table, and even a sweet night at Ben & Jerry’s.
Each month, you’ll have a chance to enjoy a meal with family and friends while supporting the PTO’s efforts to fund the popular  Math Mobile and Book Vending Machine.

Mark your calendars now for the whole school year, and keep an eye out for flyers at the beginning of each month with details. Every bite makes a difference—thank you for helping our students grow and learn!

Cultural Celebration

We hope you can join us for our Annual Cultural Celebration which is scheduled for Thursday, March 5th. Look here for more information!

Car Rider Drop Off

Just a friendly reminder...

If you want to walk your child to the door or assist with their backpack/materials, please park in a parking spot.

This allows the flow of traffic to keep moving!

School Attendance Guidance

An unverified absence is when we do not hear from parents about the reason for a student's absence. Per the district policy and state guidelines, if a student has four unverified absences in a month or ten unverified absences in a school year, a student is considered truant. Please make sure you are communicating with the office through an email, phone call or through the parent portal if your child will be absent from school.

Student attendance at school is so important for many reasons. We meet monthly to look at attendance. Here are a few tools to help you understand the importance of attendance and when to send your kiddos to school.

Student Leadership

Please see our flyer for our January projects. Flyer

5th Grade Family Information Night

Please see the Gr. 5 Transition to TE Information Night Flyer here.

Feedback Form

PRS Feedback Form A new method for our families and staff to provide feedback throughout the school year!

Important Dates

January
January 19 MLK-no school
January 20 PTO Meeting
January 23 Bingo Night

Dates for Gr. 5 Starbase
Rempel: Jan 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
Fujioka and Banville: Jan 20, 21, 22, 23

State Testing Dates
SBAC: May 4-15 (Gr. 3-5 only)
NGSS: May 21 (Gr. 5 only))

Helpful Links