Dear Greenwood Families,
We’ve rounded the corner past Labor Day...now the countdown is really and truly on! This is the first of my weekly principal messages to all families, which is how the school keeps you informed about current events, upcoming events, and all-around important information. Normally this will be featured in Gator Tales, the PTO newsletter that comes out each Monday morning, so be sure to watch for that email!
First Days of School Reminders
Please know that we are watching Thursday’s weather carefully (and giving it the stink-eye at the moment). We’re going to do everything we can to be outside on Thursday morning, but we will modify this plan and have kids go directly to classrooms if the rain is significant.
The first day of school is Thursday, September 9th for all students, K-4. On both Thursday and Friday, classroom teachers will be outside behind the school building at 8:30am holding a sign with their name. Grades 1-4 will line up with their classes and walk inside together on both days.
For the first day only, Kindergarten students will have a delayed start. At 10:00am on Thursday, September 9th, Kindergarten teachers will be outside behind the school with their signs. The PTO is planning to host a small reception for Kindergarten families after the children enter the building with the teachers, again, depending upon weather.
On Friday, all students K-4 will arrive starting at 8:30am and meet their teachers outside.
The school day ends at 2:45pm, with Kindergarten beginning dismissal about five minutes early.
Masks
Per school committee policy and state mandate, all students and staff will be required to wear a mask inside school buildings. Masks may be removed while eating or drinking but otherwise must be worn while indoors. Masks are not required on school property outdoors both during and outside school hours. We encourage parents to send an extra mask with your child each day. We also have extra masks here in the office, just in case. Here is the link to the official school committee policy on masks and face coverings. If you have questions or concerns about this policy, please feel free to contact me or Mary Doherty, our Greenwood school nurse.
Greenwood Back to School Night
Since it’s never too early to put dates on our busy calendars, please note that Greenwood’s Back-to-School Night will be held virtually on Tuesday, September 21st. More details about the evening time frame will be sent out in an upcoming issue of Gator Tales.
September School Lunch Survey - 2nd Notice (first sent Friday, 9/3)
Last year, we had many families that were able to enjoy the Grab & Go lunches that were free to all students because of a federal grant. Good news - the grant was extended to include the 2021-2022 school year, so school lunches will once again be available at no cost to families! Even better news - WPS Food Services is bringing back hot lunch options for students, so there will be a greater variety of choices during each month.
In order for us to have enough food on hand for lunches each day, we need to submit a count to WPS Food Services in advance. If your child will be taking a school lunch at any time during the month of September, please fill out this survey. You can select every day, a couple of times per week, or a few times per month for how often your child gets a school lunch - it's totally up to you! All we ask is that you fill out the survey so we can be prepared. If the survey is closed and you want your child to get a lunch, please email Ms. Paiva at least a day in advance (the more notice, the better!).
The September menu has been included so you can check out what's being served each day. Please know that there are occasionally substitutions due to supply issues, but WPS Food Services tries their best to stick to what's printed on the menus!
If you'd like to learn more about WPS Food Services, please visit their website.
Free/Reduced Lunch Applications
Although school lunches are free this year for all, there are other programs that may require families to complete and submit a Free/Reduced Lunch Application to be eligible and/or receive a reduction in cost. This includes, but is not limited to P-EBT, athletics, transportation, and Wakefield Academy. Families only need to submit the application and the share form if they would like to benefit from the other programs. Again, meals will be free regardless of qualification.
K9 Samy
If you haven’t heard, the Wakefield Police Department has a new recruit! Office Kelley Tobyne, one of our WPS School Resource Officers, will be the handler for Comfort/Therapy dog, K9 Sampson or “Samy.” Please take a moment to read Officer Kelley’s letter to learn more about what Samy will be doing this year. Part of Samy’s role will be visiting schools, so we are asking families to let us know if your child has an allergy or if you have any objection to your child being around K9 Samy by completing this form and returning it to school. (If you need us to send a blank hard copy home, please let us know.) Additionally, there is an updated Wakefield School Committee Policy about “Animals in School.”
WEF Calendars
The 2021-22 WEF Calendars are here—order yours now!! Starting August 13th, you can buy them at the following WEF Partner locations: Hart’s Hardware, Honey Dew by the Lake (Lowell Street), The Wakefield Savings Bank (Wakefield or Greenwood branch), The Wakefield Cooperative Bank, and your local school main office. Calendars cost $20 and can be purchased with cash or check (Wakefield Educational Foundation). Calendars can also be pre-ordered at http://www.wef01880.org/calendar and picked up at your local school main office starting August 13th . You must provide printed or email proof of your order. Thank you for supporting WEF and the Wakefield Public Schools!
Health Reminder - Stay Vigilant!
Thank you for supporting us in our efforts to keep everyone safe by practicing and promoting safety precautions, which include hand hygiene and mask-wearing according to current guidelines. We continue to ask you to keep children home if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
Fever of 100.0 or higher, chills, or shaking chills
Cough (not due to other known cause such as chronic cough, asthma, allergies)
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
New loss of taste or smell
Muscle aches or body aches
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
Our school nurse, Mrs. Doherty, is always happy to answer any questions you may have or provide clarification.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with questions. Thank you for everything you do to support your children and their learning!
Tiffany Back