back to school

From the Principal: 09/14/2025

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday!  We have had a busy week for our first full week of the school year!  Everyone is settling into their routines and starting to learn about new topics, and it is fantastic to see (and hear) students excited about what they’re learning.  We’re ready for the new week!    


Greenwood Back-to-School Night Details

Greenwood’s Back-to-School Night is on Thursday, September 18th.   Classroom presentations will be staggered so that families with students in both lower (K, 1, 2) and upper (3, 4) grades can attend both.  (I know it’s trickier if you have multiple students in grade levels near each other - sorry about that!)  

Greenwood Back-to-School Night Format

  • 6:00-6:40pm   3rd & 4th grade classroom presentations

  • 6:15-6:55pm   Specialist teachers, related service providers, the Greenwood PTO, and the Wakefield Educational Foundation (WEF) available to meet/chat (location will be sent out)

  • 6:45-7:25pm   Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade classroom presentations

If your child is in 3rd or 4th grade:  

When you arrive at Greenwood, you will go directly to your child’s classroom on the 2nd floor.  We will have staff members helping to send families in the right direction.  Classroom presentations will begin promptly at 6:00pm and end by 6:40pm. After the classroom portion of the evening, families can visit specialist teachers and related service providers (location will be sent out prior to the event).  Representatives from the Greenwood PTO and a representative from the Wakefield Educational Foundation (WEF) will have information tables set up in the 1st floor hallway.

If your child is in Kindergarten, 1st grade, or 2nd grade: 

Before the classroom portion of the evening, families can visit specialist teachers and related service providers (location will be sent out prior to the event).  Representatives from the Greenwood PTO and a representative from the Wakefield Educational Foundation (WEF) will have information tables set up in the 1st floor hallway.  Classroom presentations will take place in your child’s classroom on the 1st floor from 6:45-7:25pm. 

**Just a reminder - this is an event for adult family members only.  A reminder with additional information will be sent out via School Messenger midweek.  We look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday night!


Absences - Student Safety Line

If your child is going to be absent from school or tardy due to an appointment, it is important to leave a message on the Greenwood Child Safety Line so that we can reconcile our daily attendance appropriately.  Sending a message to the teacher is always appreciated, but the office must be notified as well.  The phone number is 781-245-6646.  Thank you so much for your help with this!



School Pictures - Save the Date

A couple of folks have asked - O’Connor Studios will be at Greenwood to take individual student photos and class photos on Monday, October 6th.  Information about photo packages available for purchase will be emailed to families directly by O’Connor prior to that date.  



Science Letter Regarding Allergies

In order to keep families informed about organic materials being used in science classes, the linked letter was sent out via School Messenger on Friday morning.  Any questions can be directed to me or your child’s science teacher (Laurel Laroche - Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd; Jennifer Holder - 3rd, 4th).




Dogs on School Grounds

Since Greenwood is a community where many families walk to and from school regularly, we do have a number of folks who naturally take that opportunity to bring their dogs along for the walk.  However, I’d like to remind folks that if you have a dog with you, you should keep them away from the building and monitor them closely while you drop off or wait for pickup.  We want everyone to be safe and feel comfortable while arriving and leaving!



From the Wakefield Educational Foundation (WEF) - Calendar Sales

Dear Wakefield Families, 

WEF welcomes everyone back for another great school year!  Start the year off right with your handy WEF Calendar, celebrating more than 80 WPS student artists and reminding you of important dates throughout the school year!  You may purchase here



Lunchroom Volunteers

It’s a new year, and we are once again looking for adults to support students during lunchtime!

Do you have any free time between 12:00-1:15pm on school days?  Looking for a way to help out at Greenwood?  We are finally bringing back lunchroom volunteer opportunities!  If you’d like to come in and help support students while they’re eating lunch, please see the linked Sign-Up Genius to select time slots through the end of September.  Single days, multiple days, one time slot, the whole lunch block…we welcome any and all helpers!

Lunchroom volunteers will help students with those tricky thermoses, hand out napkins and utensils, support students while they sort items into composting/food rescue/trash, and help clean tables at the end of each lunch.  Oh, and the most important thing - bring smiles and laughter!

NOTE: You will need to have a CORI form completed before coming in for any lunch shifts - please contact Ms. Paiva about the process or to check if you have a current one on file

Greenwood School Social Media

We are on Facebook and Instagram, and one of my personal goals this year is to show off the fun we’re having throughout Greenwood!  Check us out - @wpsgreenwood on both Instagram and Facebook!


As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with questions.  


Thank you for everything you do to support your children and their learning!  Let’s have a great week!


Tiffany Back

Principal, Greenwood School

From the Principal: 09/07/2025

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Sunday!  We had a busy first (almost full) week at Greenwood, and everyone is excited about all of the adventures that lie ahead of us this school year.  While we’re still learning and practicing school and classroom routines, we definitely feel like we’re getting into the swing of things!      


Beginning of the Year Paperwork

Families will receive an email from Ms. Paiva on Monday with a letter linking to the “paperwork” that is required at the start of the school year.  Please be sure to complete the required items in a timely manner, and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.


First Fire Drill

Greenwood had our first fire drill of the year on Thursday, and everything went very smoothly!  Kids moved with their classes quickly and quietly to exit the building and waited patiently until we got the “all clear” signal from the Wakefield Fire Department to reenter the building and continue on with our learning.  Practicing safety routines is important!  


PE Classes - Appropriate Footwear

In order to ensure that students are able to participate safely and fully during PE classes, we are asking that students either wear or bring sneakers on the day that their class has gym.  We’ve seen a lot of twisted ankles and tripping/falling when kids are wearing Crocs or slides, and we’d like to avoid this moving forward.  Nurse Alicia and Mr. Kelleher thank you in advance for your help with this!

In case you’re wondering which days your child has PE…

Tuesday

Doherty, Swift, Braham, McCann

Wednesday

Morse, Ricupero, Wallace, Campbell

Thursday

Frazier, Doherty, Ricupero, Braham, Wallace, Campbell

Friday

DiVasta, Morse, Swift, McCann



Save the Date Reminder - Back to School Night

Next week’s issue of Gator Tales will have more details, but please be sure that Thursday, September 18th from 6:00-7:30pm is blocked off on your calendar for Greenwood’s Back to School Night!  



WPS Student Support Services Website

Looking for information and/or resources to help support your child’s social-emotional health?  Want to find out more about ways to look into counseling and family support?  Please check out the Student Support Services website for the Wakefield Public Schools.  There is a lot of helpful information to be found there. 



Afterschool Playground Use

Once the school day is over, many students enjoy spending outdoor time at the Greenwood playground and blacktop areas.  And we love to see it!  However, just a gentle reminder that Wakefield Academy often uses the same areas for the afterschool program and our “school rules” are still in effect.  The expectation is that all students are respectful of themselves, of others, and of school property.  This includes following any directives from the adults who are supervising students at Wakefield Academy, regardless of whether your child is enrolled.  We want everyone to be safe and have fun after school!

From the Wakefield Educational Foundation (WEF) - Calendar Sales

Dear Wakefield Families, 

WEF welcomes everyone back for another great school year!

WEF Calendar:  Start the year off right with your handy WEF Calendar, celebrating more than 80 WPS student artists and reminding you of important dates throughout the school year!  You may purchase here

Lunchroom Volunteers

It’s a new year, and we are once again looking for adults to support students during lunchtime!

Do you have any free time between 12:00-1:15pm on school days?  Looking for a way to help out at Greenwood?  We are finally bringing back lunchroom volunteer opportunities!  If you’d like to come in and help support students while they’re eating lunch, please see the linked Sign-Up Genius to select time slots through the end of September.  Single days, multiple days, one time slot, the whole lunch block…we welcome any and all helpers!

Lunchroom volunteers will help students with those tricky thermoses, hand out napkins and utensils, support students while they sort items into composting/food rescue/trash, and help clean tables at the end of each lunch.  Oh, and the most important thing - bring smiles and laughter!

NOTE: You will need to have a CORI form completed before coming in for any lunch shifts - please contact Ms. Paiva about the process or to check if you have a current one on file

Greenwood School Social Media

We are on Facebook and Instagram, and one of my personal goals this year is to show off the fun we’re having throughout Greenwood!  Check us out - @wpsgreenwood on both Instagram and Facebook!


As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with questions.  


Thank you for everything you do to support your children and their learning!  Let’s have a great start to the school year!


Tiffany Back

Principal, Greenwood School