Dear Greenwood Families,
Happy Sunday! Although we have a short week ahead of us, there will be, as always, a lot happening in classrooms and around the building before we all take a short pause to enjoy time off with family and friends. Whether you’re hosting a dinner, traveling to other locales, or just spending some time relaxing, I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving break!
Greenwood All-School Meeting - Grade 4 Hosting
For many of our upcoming All-School Meetings, each grade level will be responsible for hosting an assembly to share about a positive attribute that we want our Greenwood community to embrace and embody. Our 4th graders will lead us off to talk about “cooperation” on Monday, November 25th at 9:45am, and we would like to invite 4th grade parents/guardians to attend if you are able to do so. (Seating will be up in the balcony.) We look forward to seeing you!
Early Release - Wednesday, November 27th
Our next early release day for students is on Wednesday, November 27th. All students will be dismissed at 11:55am to begin Thanksgiving break. There will NOT be a lunch block during the school day, but Grab & Go Lunches will be available for those who sign up. There is NO after-school program for Wakefield Academy on this day.
Grab & Go Lunches - Wednesday, November 27th
Due to the necessary adjustments to our instructional schedules on shortened school days, we will NOT have a scheduled lunch block during the morning on early release days (kids will still have snack!). However, we WILL be offering the opportunity for children to pick up a “Grab & Go” lunch before they leave the building. While still free to access, families will have to sign up in order for their child to take a lunch on any early release day. I will be sending out a separate School Messenger with the sign-up link early on Monday, November 25th. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions about this!
No Afternoon Wakefield Academy - Wednesday, November 27th
The Wakefield Academy after-school program will be closed on Wednesday, November 27th for Thanksgiving break. The Wakefield Academy before-school program will be open as usual on this day.
No School - Thursday, November 28th and Friday, November 29th
All Wakefield Public Schools offices and school buildings will be closed on Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving break.
Looking Ahead - Early Release Days
There are two early release days for students during the week we come back from Thanksgiving break in order for teachers to hold conferences with families. Thursday, December 5th and Friday, December 6th will be early release days with dismissal at 11:55am. Grab & Go Lunches will be available via signup as usual. There is NO after-school program for Wakefield Academy on either of these days.
Conferences - December 5th & 6th
Just a reminder that our first date for conferences is on Thursday, December 5th, 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 Friday, December 6th, another early release day, and time slots for afternoon conferences will be available. Teachers have reached out with the sign-up times options, so please make sure you sign up NOTE: 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!
From the Wakefield Human Rights Commission - Student Participation Opportunity
The Wakefield Human Rights Commission invites all Wakefield students to creatively participate in the 2025 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CORETTA SCOTT KING DAY EVENT at the Galvin Middle School, on Monday, January 20th, beginning at 10 a.m.
How can you participate? Submit (WHRC@Wakefield.ma.us) poetry and photos of drawings, paintings and sculptures that illustrate the work, philosophy and vision of MLK and CSK that promote non-violence, peace and justice in the world. We would appreciate receiving these creative works by January 5th but no later than the morning of January 11th.
Participating students will receive recognition and prizes. Artwork will be exhibited at the event, on the WHRC website and all will receive WHRC certificates of appreciation. $25 gift cards will be awarded for Best in Show to an elementary school student and to a middle/high school student. Runner-ups will receive Cravings gift certificates. And, we are offering a special prize for a class project so get your crayons and paint ready.
Not an artist? Would you or your classmates like to present a reading or musical interlude at the event? Please contact sherrioken@gmail.com with your ideas and proposals and to volunteer.
All are invited to participate in this very special, annual event.
Contacting the Main Office
Ms. Paiva is BACK!! We are so happy to have her rejoin us, and we are also so grateful to Majed Chankhour for filling in for her over the past few weeks!
Lunchroom Volunteers
Keep the volunteers coming! Kids love to see everyone at lunchtime!
Do you have any free time between 12:00-1:10pm 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 month 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
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