Dear Greenwood Families,
Happy Monday, and here we are at my final Gator Tales letter for the 2021-2022 school year! As we’ve continued to navigate the twists and turns of COVID, I am so appreciative of our Greenwood community. Your support, flexibility, and willingness to “do what it takes” to keep kids in school safely has been wonderful. Each “normal” event we’ve been able to bring back this year seems just that much sweeter after the restrictions we’ve come through. Our goal is always to make school a place that everyone loves coming to, and it takes all of us together to make that happen. I wish each and every one of you a wonderful summer break - for those “graduating” 4th grade families, I’ve enjoyed our time together! And for those families who will be returning to Greenwood in the fall - I can’t wait to see what’s next!
Grade 4 Moving On Celebration
There was a *lot* of decorating happening on Friday afternoon when I left the building, so I’m sure everyone is ready for the Grade 4 Moving On Celebration on Tuesday, June 21st! The festivities begin at 9:30am, and we are thrilled to be able to invite all students and staff, along with invited 4th grade guests, to watch our Gators commemorate their time at Greenwood. 4th graders will also enjoy a picnic lunch, receive their yearbooks, and spend the afternoon doing some fun outside activities. It’s going to be a great day!
Last Day of School for Kindergarten
The last day of school for our Kindergarten students is Wednesday, June 22nd and is an early release day. All Kindergarten students will be dismissed at 11:55am, and lunch is not served for Kindergarten on that day. Please note: Wakefield Academy is not available for Kindergarten students on this day - all students must be picked up at dismissal.
Incoming Kindergarten Screening
On Thursday, June 23rd our newest Gators will be visiting Greenwood for Kindergarten Screening. We can’t wait to meet them all! More details are being sent out to families who are registered for this.
Last Day of School for Students - Grades 1-4
The last day of school for Grades 1 - 4 is Friday, June 24th, which will be an early release day with students dismissed at 11:55am. No lunch will be served on the final day of school.
4th Grade Walk of Fame
On Friday, June 24th, we will hold our 4th Grade Walk of Fame starting at 11:50am. 4th graders will take their final (official) walk through the halls of the Greenwood School to the rousing cheers of their fellow Gators. 4th grade families are asked to create a “cheer tunnel” outside the back door to greet the kids as they exit the building. It’s going to be exciting!
Report Cards
Report cards will be available online for you on June 24th after 2:45pm. Please let the office know if you have any problems accessing them.
Staffing Updates
Greenwood is not a place that sees a lot of change when it comes to our amazing staff, but we do have a few “farewells” and “welcomes” to share with you for the upcoming school year.
Farewells:
Mary Doherty, our amazing school nurse, and Jeanne Buckley, our dedicated library/media specialist will both be well into enjoying their retirements when the next school year rolls around.
Kristen Harper, our 1st grade teacher who we can hardly imagine Greenwood without, is off to California with her family for new adventures.
Kayla Leonard (Haas), our speech & language pathologist, will also be moving with her family to a far-flung (from Wakefield standards) part of Massachusetts.
We will miss them all dearly and wish them the best!
Welcomes:
Alicia Warner, who has been a COVID float nurse in the district this year, will be joining us as our new Greenwood school nurse. (She’s already subbed for Mary a couple of times, so some of you have met her!)
Jen Bayer will be stepping into the role of library/media specialist at Greenwood and Walton. She has been working with Jeanne already for a smooth transition!
Sydney Doherty will join us as a 1st grade teacher this fall. Sydney is currently a 1st grade teacher in Tewskbury and can’t wait to join the Greenwood staff!
Interviews are currently underway for our speech & language pathologist role. We are also finalizing the hire of a new role - a 0.5 special education teacher.
We are lucky to have these talented individuals joining us!
Classroom Assignments
Over the next week, teachers will be going into classrooms to meet students who will be moving into their grade level. (1st grade teachers will meet Kindergarten students, 2nd grade teachers will meet 1st grade students, etc.) This will be an opportunity for the kids to hear a little bit about what they can look forward to for the next school year and meet the teachers. As we have done for the past couple of years, we will be sending teacher assignments/class placement out to families mid-August. This allows us the flexibility to rebalance classrooms over the summer as we receive new enrollments and/or families move out of the district.
Health Reminder
We are still seeing an uptick in COVID cases throughout the district, and while most people seem to be experiencing mild symptoms, it is so important for everyone to maintain vigilance in order to keep school operating as smoothly as possible. While masking remains optional, we have noticed an increase in families choosing to do so during the school day. Please know that masking is always encouraged and supported as a mitigation strategy. As always, you should keep children home if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
Fever of 100.0 or higher, chills, or shaking chills
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
New loss of taste or smell
Muscle aches or body aches
Cough (not due to other known cause such as chronic cough, asthma, allergies)
Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
Headache, when in combination with other symptoms
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, when in combination with other symptoms
Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms
If a positive case of COVID is identified in your child’s classroom, you will receive a letter via School Messenger to let you know. Our school nurse, Mrs. Doherty is always happy to answer any questions you may have or provide clarification.
Greenwood School Social Media
We are on Facebook and Instagram! 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