From the Principal: 6/10/24

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday! This is the time of year when “special events” seem to happen more days than not at school. Classrooms are starting their “countdown” activities, the entire Greenwood community thoroughly enjoyed every last minute of Field Day, and our 4th graders ventured out to the Museum of Science and Duck Boat Tours for a special field trip. As you can see below, this week will be even busier (and still fun)!

Monday’s Greenwood All-School Meeting - Grade 1 Hosting

The June All-School Meeting hosted by 1st Grade will be on Monday, June 10th at 9:00am. Each grade level is responsible for sharing about a positive attribute that we want our Greenwood community to embrace and embody. We would like to invite 1st grade parents/guardians to attend if you are able to do so. (Seating will be up in the balcony.)

Grade 4 Moving On Celebration

There has been a LOT of planning going on behind the scenes, and it’s safe to say that everyone is ready for the Grade 4 Moving On Celebration on Tuesday, June 11th! 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!

“Lifting Spirits” Equine Program

From 9:00-10:00 am on Thursday, June 13th, we will have some special visitors here at Greenwood School! Last fall, Mrs. Beardslee submitted and was awarded a WEF grant for “Lifting Spirits,” an organization that brings miniature therapy horses to different types of sites (including schools!) for visits.

Classes will rotate through to have a chance to visit with one of their horses. We’re very excited for this event!

Last Day of School for Kindergarten

The last day of school for our Greenwood Kindergarten students is Friday, June 14th and is an early release day for Kindergarten only. Kindergarten students will be dismissed at 11:55 am, and while we will not be serving lunch to our Kindergarteners, there will be an option for a grab & go lunch for those who sign up for one. (A survey will be sent out to Kindergarten families on Monday, June 10th.)

Please note: Wakefield Academy is not available for Kindergarten students on this day - all Kindergarten students must be picked up at dismissal.

DIBELS & iReady Reports

On Friday, June 14th we will be sending home paper copies of your child’s DIBELS and iReady reports in their folders. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about the information!

Lost & Found

Is your child missing a coat? A sweatshirt? Or maybe even three of them? Our Greenwood lost & found is once again overflowing with unclaimed clothing, and we really want to reunite as many items as possible with their rightful owners before the end of the school year. If you’d like to come and take a peek, please contact Ms. Paiva to arrange a time. Once school is out for the summer, all remaining items will be donated.

JiJi’s Summer of Math

This summer, we are excited to participate in Jiji’s Summer of Math! ST Math is a PreK-8 visual instructional program that leverages the brain’s innate spatial-temporal reasoning ability to solve mathematical problems. Many of our students love ST Math because it is a fun way to learn, and they love Jiji, the program’s penguin mascot, because Jiji helps them solve problems. As educators, we think

ST Math is great because it is based on neuroscience and can help change the way your student feels about math. The ST Math team created some resources for continued summer math learning; we are excited to share them with you - there are two options here to meet different needs and preferences

Our goal this summer is to have students keep learning math - whether that be by playing math games, continuing with ST Math, or both! The “unplugged” option has weekly games that can be played with just playing cards. Alternatively, students can opt to continue playing ST Math, with a goal of 75 minutes per week. Students can play ST Math fairly independently - whenever it works best for your schedule - and we’ve included helpful prompts as well as the phone number for ST Math’s support line! We hope you will pick one of the two options in the attached document for your student(s) this summer. They can return the tracker for either option to their teacher in the fall to earn a penguin prize!

Here is the information on both options in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. All necessary materials are linked in that document, and we’ll be sending home a hard copy as well. Have fun with it!

End of the Year Dates

I’m just going to keep including this and adding to it where necessary…here is a list of a few key dates for your June calendars:

● Monday, 6/10 - All-School Meeting, 1st Grade Hosting (9:00am)

● Tuesday, 6/11 - Grade 4 Moving On Ceremony (9:30am)

● Friday, 6/14 - Last day for Greenwood Kindergarten (11:55am dismissal for K only)

Grade 1 Field Trip

DIBELS and iReady reports sent home to families

● Monday, 6/17 - Greenwood Incoming Kindergarten Screening

● Tuesday, 6/18 - Last day for Greenwood 1st-4th Grades (11:55am dismissal)

Report Cards shared with families

Lunchroom Volunteers

Last call for the 2023-2024 school year!! Our lunchroom volunteers have been amazing resources for us this year - we can’t even begin to say how much their help has been appreciated!!

Do you have any free time between 12:00-1:10 pm on school days? Or 10:30-11:50 am on regular 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 THE SCHOOL YEAR. 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

From the Principal: 4/22/24

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday! I hope everyone was able to enjoy some (if not all!) of the April vacation week. Even though there’s still a good chunk of time left in the 2023-2024 school year, coming back from April break definitely has that “home stretch” feeling to it. Case in point - my letter next week will have items addressing the wrap up of THIS year and some that look toward NEXT year. However - we still have a lot of great things to accomplish before this year is over, so let’s go!

Grades 3 & 4 - MCAS Makeup Testing This Week

While the majority of our 3rd and 4th graders have finished up with their ELA testing, we do have a few students who need to make up one or both MCAS sessions this week. In order to ensure that we are done before the testing window closes on Friday, April 26th, we will be pulling students for makeup testing on Tuesday, April 23rd and, if necessary, Wednesday, April 24th. Please feel free to reach out tome with any questions about this.

Grade 4 Ukulele Concert - Monday, April 22nd

4th grade families should have already received information from Mrs. Brighenti about the upcoming ukulele concert on Monday, April 22nd at 9:00am. We invite 4th grade families to join us for this much-anticipated performance! Your balcony seating awaits!

Greenwood Science Fair

The Greenwood Science Fair will take place on Saturday, April 27th from 9:00-10:30am in the Greenwood Gym. Everyone is invited to attend the Science Fair--drop by to view the presentations from our Greenwood School Scientists--ask questions, fill out comment cards, and learn something new!

May Kindergarten All-School Meeting

It will be here before we know it, so a heads up that the May All-School Meeting hosted by Kindergarten will be on Monday, May 6th at 9:00 am. Each grade level is responsible for sharing about a positive attribute that we want our Greenwood community to embrace and embody. We would like to invite Kindergarten parents/guardians to attend if you are able to do so. (Seating will be up in the balcony.)

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 regular 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 THE SCHOOL YEAR. 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

From the Principal: 4/8/24

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday! Last week was a bit of a whirlwind around these parts, and it doesn’t look to be any less so this week! (Although it will help to not have snow and sleet!) Greenwood kids and staff had a wonderful time at the Visual & Performing Arts Day on Tuesday, the Greenwood Family Folk Dance Night on Thursday, and the Gator Gallop on Saturday. So many fun activities to be had - hopefully everyone got a chance to rest up before this new week kicks in!

April 8th Solar Eclipse Information

WPS - Solar Eclipse Resources - April 8, 2024

Art Show Open House - Monday, April 8th

Last Tuesday, we celebrated Visual and Performing Arts Day. All elementary students were transported to the Galvin Middle School to view art from students in grades K-12, followed by performances from various WMHS music ensembles. It was a great day! Families are invited to an Art Show Open House on Monday, April 8th, from 6 -7:30pm at GMS. You are welcome to stay and enjoy a jazz concert performed by students in grades 5-12 which will follow the show at 7:30pm. Hope to see you there!

Grades 3 & 4 - MCAS Testing This Week

The wait is over! MCAS testing for English Language Arts in grades 3 & 4 will take place on Tuesday, April 9th and Wednesday, April 10th. Testing begins at the start of the school day. Children who are absent or significantly tardy on the day of testing will take that day’s session during a makeup time on a different day after we return from break. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions!

WEF Celebration of Learning

Congratulations to our 4th grade students, parent volunteers, and staff members who will be honored at the Celebration of Learning on Wednesday, April 10th at the Galvin! This wonderful celebration highlighting excellence in education is sponsored by the Wakefield Education Foundation, with a theme this year of Community Engagement. The following students were nominated by their peers as students that best represent our school’s core values: Lily Capozzi, Duke DePaolo, Quinn McCarthy, and Finn Mulderrig. Parent volunteers to be recognized as having made significant contributions to the Greenwood School Community are Heather McCarthy and Marlene Maier. The staff member nominated by multiple colleagues to be honored this year is 4th grade teacher Jeanine Campbell. What an amazing group!

April Break - No School

No reminder needed, I’m sure! However, just so we’re all on the same page…there is no school Monday, April 15th through Friday, April 19th for April break.

Grade 4 Ukulele Concert - Monday, April 22nd

4th grade families should have already received information from Mrs. Brighenti about the upcoming ukulele concert on Monday, April 22nd at 9:00am. We invite 4th grade families to join us for this much-anticipated performance! Your balcony seating awaits!

Greenwood Science Fair

The Greenwood Science Fair will take place on Saturday, April 27th from 9:00-10:30am in the Greenwood Gym. If your child would like to participate, please visit the website to register by April 9th. Everyone is invited to attend the Science Fair--drop by to view the presentations from our Greenwood School Scientists--ask questions, fill out comment cards, and learn something new!

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 12:00-1:10pm on school days? Or 10:30-11:50am on regular 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 April. 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

From the Principal: 2/5/24

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday! The groundhog was a hot topic of conversation around here on Friday, but despite what it “said,” I don’t know that anyone is really convinced of the accuracy! (I also think there are a few people still really hoping for a good old-fashioned snowstorm or two before all is said and done this winter.) We have lots to do between now and February break, so we appreciate uninterrupted stretches of time for learning!

100th Day of School

Unless something unexpected happens between now and then, the 100th day of school will be on Thursday, February 8th. (This date has been Kindergarten-approved!) Nice to have a little space between that and Valentine’s Day - it gets a little hectic around here when those dates line up! Classroom teachers will be in touch if there’s anything they need family support for regarding that day.

Food Rescue Program Support Needed

Greenwood has been doing such a great job reducing food waste through our volunteer-run food rescue program, and they could use more help! If you’re able to help out by signing up to pick up food from school and/or drop off food at designated locations, that would be great! Please use the WPS Food Rescue 2024:Sign Up Genius form to select the day(s) you’re able to support. Thanks in advance!

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 regular 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 February. Single days, multiple days, one-time slot, the whole lunch block…we welcome any 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

From the Principal: 1/16/24

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone had a lovely three-day weekend. Once again I am left wondering about a snow “event” as I’m writing my letter. You think I’d be used to this by now, but somehow it’s always a surprise!

From Wakefield Academy - Summer Camps

WoW Summer is back! We have a wonderful summer planned for your children. We’ll start with our amazing themed weeks, special programs, and many other adventures and activities! Your child will enjoy seeing their school friends, making new friends, and being surrounded by the friendly and caring Wakefield Academy staff they see at school every day. Our WoW Summer programs include WoW

Summer Camp, WoW Summer Academic Camp, and our WoW Summer PreK Program.

Do you want your child to retain, boost, or accelerate their academic skills in preparation for their upcoming grade? Join our WoW Rising 1st-6th Academic program! You can choose one or all five weeks for academic engagement, acceleration, and fun. WoW Academic Camp is geared around one-week curriculum blocks so your child gets the best educational experience. Our science curriculum will again be provided by our amazing WA enrichment vendor Wicked Cool Science. They have created comprehensive Massachusetts DESE Science Standards-based lessons to engage your child in a hands-on learning experience as they explore the scientific world around them. Our WoW Academic program starts July 8th and ends August 8th.

Does your child want the true “camp” experience without having to go away to camp? Join our WoW K-4 Summer Camp! We have our unique pick-a-day (morning or afternoon), or week-long (Monday-Thursday) options. This six-week program has been designed to engage your child in themed weeks of camp-styled activities, games, crafts, and programs. Your child will never be bored and you’ll have the joy of hearing “WoW what a fun day!” WoW K-4 Camp program runs from July 1st through August 8th.

We haven’t forgotten our littlest ones! Do you have a Pre-Schooler? Want them to have a classroom experience as well as a camp experience? Join our WoW PreK Summer Camp which is held in collaboration with our WPS Extended School Year (ESY) program. Your little one will enjoy a morning classroom experience working on their age-based social skills and learning. Want a full-day experience?

Join the WoW PreK afternoon program for your little ones to continue their camp experience and have fun playing with their friends, making new ones, and enjoying age-appropriate activities and fun! They will enjoy our PreK-themed weeks, programming, and engaging activities! All under the care of our amazing WA PreK staff! WoW PreK Camp runs from July 8th through August 8th.

We also offer extended day options to meet your scheduling needs, ensuring your family has coverage from 7:30 am to 5 pm! Please note that you do not need to create a new account if you already have a childcare contract in place. Enrichment programming will be released in February which will include programming for our K-8 population. Go to our website and click on “Camps” or use the link here to check out all that Wakefield Academy WoW Summer Camp programs have to offer your Rising K-6 or PreSchool child! WoW!

MPY Parenting Solutions Library

Just sharing this in case anyone is interested! Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is pleased to announce its new MPY Parenting Solutions Library. The MPY Parenting Solutions Library is offered at no charge (no login or password required), in partnership with Peace At Home Parenting Solutions, non-profit located in Mansfield, Connecticut. Peace At Home Parenting Solutions is a dynamic hub of trusted knowledge and compassionate support that inspires parents to create positive change for their children, their families and themselves. Through this new partnership, MPY is pleased to offer proven resources to help students’ families thrive.

Peace At Home Parenting Solutions specializes in empowering parents with evidence-based strategies to foster nurturing connections that safeguard their children's mental well-being. The trainings are presented by experts with advanced degrees and the trainings focus on child and adolescent development, including difficulties in school, mental health challenges, neurodiversity, LGBTQ+ identity formation, racism, and grief. These trainings present easy-to-use strategies for long-lasting change.

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 12:00-1:10pm on school days? Or 10:30-11:50am on regular 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 February. 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!

From the Principal: 1/2/24

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy New Year! I hope that everyone had a happy and healthy (especially after all the *things* going around throughout December) winter break. I’m looking forward to seeing many eager, excited eyes (and probably a few sleepy ones too) on Tuesday morning as we return to school. While it’s always nice to turn off the alarm and be on a more relaxed schedule for a bit, it does feel good to get back into a routine and see all of the exciting things happening around Greenwood each day!

Greenwood All-School Meeting - Grade 4 Hosting

For our upcoming All-School Meetings through the rest of the year, 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, January 8th at 9:00 am, 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!

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 to enjoy their time outdoors!

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 regular 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 February. 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

From the Principal: 12/18/23

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday! With just five school days left until the December break, classrooms are swinging into super-high gear to wrap up lessons, units, and many other loose ends before we head out the door for a little time off. Of course, there will be some fun activities as well! My hope for all of our Greenwood community over the break is simply that everyone gets to spend time relaxing and doing things that make them happy. Let’s wrap up 2023 with a positive attitude and welcome 2024 with big smiles, full hearts, and open arms!

Greenwood Spirit Days

Just another reminder about our theme days for the entire Greenwood community!

Monday, 12/18 - Greenwood/Wakefield spirit day Tuesday, 12/19 - Hat Day Wednesday, 12/20 - Cozy Flannel Day Thursday, 12/21 - Winter Wonderland (all things winter themed) Friday, 12/22 - Pajama Day

Lost & Found

Come and check out all the missing items - they’ve been nicely laid out on tables in the hallway for easier viewing. Anything left in the lost & found when we head into December break will be donated.

Thinking Ahead - 2024 Return

Not that anyone would wish away the December break (especially before it has even started!), but I wanted to make sure everyone is up-to-date on when we will get back to the business of learning in the new year. Students and staff will return to school on Tuesday, January 2nd after the observed holiday on the 1st.

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 regular 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. (I’ll be updating dates through January/February soon!) 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

From the Principal: 12/4/23

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday! Last week classrooms began to enjoy the VERY hands-on and active science workshops brought to us by the Discovery Museum, thanks to the generosity of the Greenwood PTO and the Wakefield Educational Foundation! Kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade have had their turns…3rd grade and 4th grade programs are upcoming. It’s been fantastic to have parent volunteers joining us to support these workshops as well. We are so lucky to be part of a school community that provides these additional opportunities for fun and joyful learning!

Early Release - Wednesday, December 6th

Our next early release day for students is on Wednesday, December 6th. All students will be dismissed at 11:55 am in order for WPS staff to have professional development sessions in the afternoon. Please note: there will be a scheduled lunch block for students prior to dismissal.

School Safety Reminder - Doors and Visitors

You may have seen some recent news stories about unauthorized people attempting to enter school buildings in other towns. Just a reminder that for the safety of all, outer doors at Greenwood are kept closed and locked unless monitored by building staff. People wishing to access the building must ring the doorbell and be admitted by office staff. Visitors are to sign in and out of the building and wear visible during their time here. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation with these protocols!

Lost & Found

Has your child’s jacket gone missing? Are you wondering where their sweatshirt has gotten itself to? We have QUITE a collection of items in the lost & found (the fluctuations in temperature haven’t helped lots of sweatshirts and jackets left on the playground during recess). Feel free to drop by and check it out - let’s do some reuniting! Anything left in the lost & found when we head into December break will be donated.

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 regular 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

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: 11/27/23

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday! I hope everyone enjoyed their time off - before we know it, we’ll be wrapping things up and heading into the December break! That being said, we have a lot of learning to do around Greenwood over the next four weeks. We’re excited to dive back into it!

School Picture Retakes - Wednesday, November 29th

O’Connor Studios will be at Greenwood this Wednesday to do individual picture retakes for students who were absent or would like a new photo taken. Please have your child bring their original photos with them to school on that day.

Reporting Absences

Part of our office routine each morning is reviewing classroom attendance and cross-checking the list of absent students with the daily phone calls to the Child Safety Line. That can be quite the task, and it becomes much more challenging when families do not call in that morning. Even if you have notified your child’s teacher, please leave a message at 781-245-6646 so that Ms. Paiva knows your child’s attendance status for that day. Thank you for your support in this!

Winter Weather & Outdoor Recess

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, so please make sure students are dressed accordingly. And if any of your winter gear has already gone missing...please check the lost-and-found!

Lost & Found

Has your child’s jacket gone missing? Are you wondering where their sweatshirt has gotten itself to? We have QUITE a collection of items in the lost & found (the fluctuations in temperature haven’t helped - lots of sweatshirts and jackets left on the playground during recess). Feel free to drop by and check it out -let’s do some reuniting! Anything left in the lost & found when we head into December break will be donated.

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 regular 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

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: 11/20/23

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday! 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!

Early Release - Wednesday, November 22nd

Our next early release day for students is on Wednesday, November 22nd. All students will be dismissed at 11:55 am to begin Thanksgiving break. There will NOT be a lunch block during the school day. (See next blurb…)

Grab & Go Lunches - Wednesday, November 22nd

Last early release day for November! Once again, we will NOT have a scheduled lunch block during the morning on this day. However, we WILL be offering the opportunity for children to pick up a “Grab & Go” lunch before they leave the building. (The next blurb has a reminder - no afternoon Wakefield Academy on the 22nd!)

You must sign your child up if you want them to grab a lunch before they go - lunches will be prepared based on the number of sign-ups and teachers will have a list of who is signed up.

Lunch Signup for Wednesday, November 22nd - only if a school lunch is needed

This signup will also be sent out via School Messenger and must be completed before the end of the school day on Tuesday.

Wakefield Academy - Wednesday, November 22nd

The Wakefield Academy after-school program will be closed on Wednesday, November 22nd for Thanksgiving break. The Wakefield Academy before -school program will be open as usual on this day.

No School - Thursday, November 23rd and Friday, November 24th

All Wakefield Public Schools offices and school buildings will be closed on Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving break.

Lost & Found

Has your child’s jacket gone missing? Are you wondering where their sweatshirt has gotten itself to? We have QUITE a collection of items in the lost & found (the fluctuations in temperature haven’t helped - lots of sweatshirts and jackets left on the playground during recess). Feel free to drop by and check it out -let’s do some reuniting! Anything left in the lost & found when we head into December break will be donated.

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 regular 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

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: 11/13/23

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday! Is it just me, or is time flying by? I keep looking at the calendar and being surprised that we’re as far into November as we are - it was just Halloween a minute ago! It’s been great seeing so many families in the building for conferences - we love our Greenwood community, and the more we can connect, the better.

Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day - Tuesday, November 14th

Thanks to the efforts of a group of California elementary school students in 2018, Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day was created to honor the bravery of Ruby Bridges in integrating her elementary school in New Orleans. Here at Greenwood, we will have an assembly presented by “Wee the People” on Tuesday morning to learn more about Ruby Bridges and why she is recognized and celebrated. We’ll also have our own Greenwood School walk in honor of Ruby’s walk after the assembly. Wear purple to join in the celebration!

Early Release - Wednesday, November 15th

Our next early release day for students is on Wednesday, November 15th. All students will be dismissed at 11:55 am in order for scheduled conferences with families to take place. There will NOT be a lunch block during the school day. (See next blurb…)

Grab & Go Lunches - Wednesday, November 15th

As mentioned in my letter last week AND the week before, this month 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.

You must sign your child up if you want them to grab a lunch before they go - lunches will be prepared based on the number of sign-ups and teachers will have a list of who is signed up.

Lunch Signup for Wednesday, November 15th - only if a school lunch is needed

This signup will also be sent out via School Messenger and must be completed before the end of the school day on Tuesday. Because of shifting family needs, we will send a separate signup out for each week.

4th Grade Families - 2023 MCAS Score Reports

4th grade families should have, by now, received their child’s 3rd-grade MCAS score reports from Spring 2023 in the mail. Please let me know if you did not, and I will make sure you get a copy.

Notifications About Changes in Dismissal

Just a reminder that if your child is going to be dismissed in a way that differs from the usual plan, you should make sure their classroom teacher is aware. We’re all for playdates and social gatherings…and we’re also all for making sure children are getting to where they need to be safely! Thank you for your cooperation!

Lost & Found

Has your child’s jacket gone missing? Are you wondering where their sweatshirt has gotten itself to? We have QUITE a collection of items in the lost & found (the fluctuations in temperature haven’t helped - lots of sweatshirts and jackets left on the playground during recess). Feel free to drop by and check it out - let’s do some reuniting! Anything left in the lost & found when we head into December break will be donated.

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 12:00-1:10pm 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 llinked 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

Help Wanted - WPS Food Services

Looking for some part-time work? WPS Food Services is looking for part-time help at the high school starting immediately. Please see the linked flyer for more information.

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: 9/25/2023

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday! It was so wonderful to see the turnout at Back to School Night last Thursday! I hope that those of you who were able to attend learned a lot about your child’s classroom and day-to-day life here at Greenwood School. Communication between school and home is extremely important to us, so please do not ever hesitate to reach out if you have questions about anything!

Early Release - Wednesday, September 27th Our first early release day for students is on Wednesday, September 7th. All students will be dismissed at 11:55 a.m. in order for WPS staff to have professional development sessions in the afternoon. Please note: there will be a scheduled lunch block for students prior to dismissal.

District Assessments If your child happens to come home and say, “I did a reading activity with a different teacher today!” or “I logged into iReady to do math today,” that’s just a sign that we have entered the beginning of the year elementary assessment window. You may have heard about some of this from your child’s classroom teacher on Back to School Night - there are three times over the course of the school year where we benchmark information about students in reading and math to better refine our general classroom instructional needs, identify and form intervention/enrichment groups, and monitor overall student growth. We will be sharing this assessment information out with families as well - more to come about that soon!

Smartwatches/Cell Phones in School Technology is amazing and wonderful! However, it can also be a huge distraction in our learning spaces during the school day. At the elementary level, personal tech devices (cell phones, smartwatches, etc.) are not allowed to be in use during the school day. We understand that students may need access to these devices for family communication either before the school day begins or once school is out for the day, so we ask that all cell phones and smartwatches remain off and in backpacks during the school day. We appreciate your support in this!

Science Letter Regarding Allergies In order to keep families informed about organic materials being used in science classes, the linked letter was sent out via School Messenger on Friday morning. Any questions can be directed to me or your child’s science teacher.

Updating Parent/Guardian Contacts in PowerSchool The following message was sent out to WPS families by WPS Technology last Tuesday. It’s really important that we have updated contact information for your family in our PowerSchool system, as that is how we reach you with important information!

Attached are instructions on reviewing and updating the parent/guardian contacts for your student in the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

If you don’t have a logon to the Parent Portal please contact the school that your student is in. A list of who to contact at each building is on the last page of the attached document. If you can’t remember your username or password, click on the Forgot Username or Password link on the main login screen.

The URL to connect to the portal is: Wakefield.PowerSchool.com

If you have a Parent Portal Logon, you can add, delete and update contacts. You will need to email the school in order to change the order of the contacts if needed.

The technology department can not give you access codes of any students. You must go through the school that your child is attending.

Updating Parent/Guardian Contact information

Note: It may take several days before your updates/additions are approved and uploaded into Power School. Each change must be reviewed by a staff member before being approved.

Lunchroom Volunteers It’s a new year, and we are once again looking for adults to support students during lunchtime!

Do you have any free time between 12:00-1:10pm 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 end of September. 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