Dear Greenwood Families,
Happy Tuesday! I hope that everyone enjoyed the long weekend and since I’m writing this ahead of time, I hope either (A) Everyone enjoyed the snow that showed up or (B) Everyone enjoyed missing out on the snow that didn’t happen. You just never know how it’s all going to play out around here anymore!
Winter Temperatures, Snow, and Outdoor Recess
Just my periodic reminder…our goal here at Greenwood is to get the kids outside for recess as much as possible even when the temperatures drop. Kids will be outdoors at long as the “feels like” temperature is above 20 degrees Fahrenheit. When the fenced-in playground area is snow-covered, students are only allowed on the snow if they are wearing boots. All this is to say, please make sure students come to school with the appropriate outerwear for enjoying their time outdoors!
Greenwood All-School Meeting - Grade 2 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 2nd graders will be ready to talk about “responsibility” on Monday, January 27th at 10:15am, and we would like to invite 2nd 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!
Grades 3 & 4 - MCAS Dates
While we’re still a couple of months away from the testing windows, planning and scheduling for this year’s MCAS tests is underway! Students in Grades 3 & 4 will complete computer-based testing in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Math. There are two sessions for each subject area, and tests must be scheduled within the window provided by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. We are sharing these dates now in the effort to avoid scheduling appointments that would remove your child from school on the MCAS testing days.
ELA - Tuesday, 4/8 & Wednesday, 4/9
Math - Monday, 5/12 & Tuesday, 5/13
If you already have a known conflict with these dates, please let me know ASAP. We do have some leeway for makeup dates as long as we stay within the mandated testing window.
Fall 2025 Kindergarten Registration
Do you have a child who will be entering Kindergarten in the fall of 2025? Do you know someone else who does? It’s just about time for us to start looking ahead and thinking about welcoming next year’s crew! Here is the general plan - more information to come!
In early January, WPS will send a mailing to all families of kindergarten-age children in Wakefield. Information will also be posted on the WPS website, WPS social media and in the Wakefield Daily Item. Families will be asked to complete the online registration between January 16th and February 3rd. There will be a virtual WPS District Kindergarten Information Meeting with elementary principals for families - this is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, March 27th at 7:00pm. Kindergarten screening dates will be in June - exact dates will be finalized and shared once we know the date for the last day of school.
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 all the way up until February break!. 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