From the Principal: 10/30/23

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday! As I said in my staff newsletter, “Halloween Month” is almost over! Tuesday will be a day full of energy and excitement at Greenwood, and we’re looking forward to balancing schoolwork with some other fun fall activities for all to enjoy. Fingers crossed that the weather will cooperate for the K-2 costume parade starting at 2:30 pm, as well as for those of you who might be venturing out on a candy-seeking mission Tuesday evening!! (FYI - our Greenwood staff loves candy, in case you’re looking for creative ways to dispose of excess goods. Personally, I’m a Kit Kat or Twix fan.)

DIBELS Family Reports

Families should have received a School Messenger on Friday afternoon regarding the WPS Early Literacy Screening and information about DIBELS reports. Please look for an envelope in your child’s folder on Monday afternoon with your child’s family report.

“Terrific Tuesday”

In case you missed it last week…let’s have some Greenwood fun to wrap up the month of October! On Tuesday, October 31st, students can celebrate a fun day together here at Greenwood by dressing up in some wacky way, which could involve wearing their costume, or simply just sporting some seasonal fall gear, crazy hair, mismatched clothes, or a fun hat.

Dress-up guidelines for the day:

● Must be school-appropriate (both for costume theme and ability to do schoolwork in it)

● No props or accessories

● No full-face masks

And we will once again bring our day to a close with the K-2 costume parade! The parade will begin at 2:30pm, and students will follow a route out the back door, around one big loop of the blacktop, walk around the Kindergarten side of the building, and go back in the front door to pick up backpacks, etc. before being dismissed. Families are welcome to come and spectate - please arrange yourself outside the cones. Our 3rd and 4th graders will join everyone outside to help cheer on our younger students. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather - we will not hold the parade if it is raining.

Upcoming Early Release Days - Change in Lunch Routines

During the month of November, we have three early release days in a row (11/8, 11/15, 11/22) and some additional adjustments to our instructional schedules on those particular days. Due to this, we will NOT have a scheduled lunch block during the morning on those days. However, we WILL be offering the opportunity for children to pick up a “Grab & Go” lunch before they leave the building or go to Wakefield Academy. While still free to access, families will have to sign up in order for their child to take a lunch on any of these three days. I will be sending out a School Messenger with the sign-up link no later than the Monday before each of these days. Thank you for your cooperation and flexibility with this!

5th Annual Pumpkin Collection

The Wakefield Environmental Sustainability Committee is once again providing an opportunity for post-Halloween pumpkin recycling! On Wednesday, November 8th, there will be a tarp out back where pumpkins can be dropped off as families arrive at school or at the early-release dismissal. Pickup by Black Earth Compost will begin shortly after 12:30 p.m. Please see the flyer for more information!

Lunchroom Volunteers

Thank you to all of the fantastically-dedicated volunteers who have been making lunchtime a little brighter! You are so greatly appreciated!!

Do you have any free time between 12:00-1:10 pm on school days? Or 10:30-11:50 am on early release days? Looking for a way to help out at Greenwood? Then join us for our 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 December. 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

Race for All Ages 5k

Lace up for the 5K Run for All Ages on Nov 4, 2023 to benefit the Wakefield Educational Foundation! Sponsored by the New England 65 Plus Runners Club, pre-registration is open now or you can register at the event. Race starts at 10 am. Click on this link to register:

https://raceroster.com/events/2023/73577/21st-jerrys-run-for-all-ages-5k

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

From the Principal: 10/23/23

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday! It seems hard to believe that we still have another full week before trick or treating will be in full swing, but that’s how October always plays out in any elementary school. I know a lot of kids are really looking forward to the Greenwood Halloween Party on Friday night - check out the information in Gator Tales if you haven’t bought your ticket yet!

“Terrific Tuesday”

Let’s have some Greenwood fun to wrap up the month of October! On Tuesday, October 31st, students can celebrate a fun day together here at Greenwood by dressing up in some wacky way, which could involve wearing their costume, or simply just sporting some seasonal fall gear, crazy hair, mismatched clothes, or a fun hat.

Dress-up guidelines for the day:

● Must be school-appropriate (both for costume theme and ability to do schoolwork in it)

● No props or accessories

● No full-face masks

And we will once again bring our day to a close with the K-2 costume parade! The parade will begin at 2:30 pm, and students will follow a route out the back door, around one big loop of the blacktop, walk around the Kindergarten side of the building, and go back in the front door to pick up backpacks, etc. before being dismissed. Families are welcome to come and spectate - please arrange yourself outside the cones. Our 3rd and 4th graders will join everyone outside to help cheer on our younger students. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather - we will not hold the parade if it is raining.

Conferences - November 8th & 15th

I’m sure everyone is looking forward to connecting with teachers and talking about how the school year is going so far! Our first date for conferences is on Wednesday, November 8th, which is an early release day for students. There will be time slots for both afternoon and evening conferences on that day. Our second conference day is Wednesday, November 15th, another early release day, and time slots for afternoon conferences will be available. The format of conferences is up to family preference. Both in-person and Zoom conferences are options for any given time - please let your child’s teacher know which you would like to have. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions about this!

Safety Drill Practice

Like all school districts across the nation, WPS has been having conversations at the district and school levels about school safety. We continue to examine our current practices, procedures, and current needs for areas of improvement. During the month of September, each classroom teacher shared information and held a discussion with their class about safety practices and procedures that are currently in place, including the following:

● Drills help us practice how to stay safe in case of an emergency. A fire drill is an example.

● The outside doors of our school are locked at all times.

● During the school day visitors can only enter through the main office entrance. Before they come in, they must identify themselves to Ms. Paiva and tell us why they are visiting the school.

● If we see someone outside a school door, we should never let them in.

● If we hear an announcement, it is important to listen to the teacher and follow directions.

We have done three fire drills already, so this week we will be doing a schoolwide drill on Thursday to practice staying safe within the school building. This will include a drill for shelter-in-place and for lockdown. Again, our priority is always to make sure students feel safe and supported in school. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Wakefield Parent University Session - Dr. Nadine Gaab

While I haven’t watched the recording yet, this session by Dr. Nadine Gaab offered through WPS Parent University got rave reviews. The recording is available for 30 days and can be accessed here (Passcode: ##JF90hM) Below is the description for the session.

Dr. Nadine Gaab, an associate professor of Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, will review typical and atypical reading development and the brain’s role in creating these outcomes. She will explore the screening process, the response to screening, and the need for evidence-based reading curricula.

WPS Biweekly Community Zoom Meeting

WPS district administration will continue to host weekly community Zoom meetings as an opportunity to provide updates, highlight the good work that is happening in the district, and also hear questions and feedback from families. The next Zoom call will be on Thursday, October 26th from 4:00-5:00 pm. Here is

the Zoom link to join: Meeting ID: 898 1730 7278 Passcode: 976262

Lunchroom Volunteers

Thank you to all of the fantastically dedicated volunteers who have been making lunchtime a little brighter! You are so greatly appreciated!!

Do you have any free time between 12:00-1:10 pm on school days? Or 10:30-11:50am on early release days? Looking for a way to help out at Greenwood? Then join us for our 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 beginning of November. 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.

Race for All Ages 5K

Lace up for the 5K Run for All Ages on Nov 4, 2023, to benefit the Wakefield Educational Foundation! Sponsored by the New England 65 Plus Runners Club, pre-registration is open now or you can register at the event. Race starts at 10 am. Click on this link to register: https://raceroster.com/events/2023/73577/21st-jerrys-run-for-all-ages-5k

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