Gator Gallop 2024

Are you ready to run?

Our 2024 Gator Gallop is this Saturday, April 6th! Here's everything you need to know to have a great time.

Registration and materials.
If you’ve registered, great! You can avoid the lines and pick up your bibs during early check-in on Friday 4/5 from 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. in the back lot of the Greenwood School (inside the school if it's raining). Otherwise, you can grab your bibs on Saturday morning at the Lake.

Online registration for all runners closes Tuesday 4/2at 7 p.m. If you haven't registered yourself or your child by then, you’ll need to register in person the morning of the event. Registration the day of the event is $35 for the 5K and $10 for the 1-mile Kids Run.

• Greenwood Student Race Registration/Waiver

• Racewire registration (all non-Greenwood students, family, friends)

Do we need anything other than our sneakers?
>Greenwood students are encouraged to wear their Greenwood class t-shirts for easy identification during the 1-mile Kids Run (teachers will send them home this week). Kids will get a stick-on bib number that should be visible on their front. This may mean sticking the bib to a jacket if it’s chilly. Both shirts and bibs will help us identify the 1-mile race winners.

>We will have the Town of Wakefield Water Buggy again this year, so bring your refillable water bottles to fill up!

>You’ll also want to bring some cash or a credit card because our Gator Gallop Raffle is better than ever this year, thanks to our generous sponsors!

Tell me about the Logistics.
Check-in, the start and finish lines, music, raffles, and refreshments — all happen on the Lower Common (by the bandstand). Check out the schedule of events to view all the fun your family will experience.

Race Day Check-in starts at 8:15 a.m. The Kids Warmup is at 8:30 and the 1-Mile Run begins at 9:00. Students will run the 1-Mile race without parents. We will have parent volunteers on the course keeping a close eye on the kids and ensuring everyone finishes safely. Please refrain from running on the course! View the 1-Mile course map and volunteer needs here.

In order to correctly identify the student winners, we will have volunteers stationed at the finish line. Greenwood teachers will be a few feet behind these “judges,” awarding medals to the kids upon completion of the race. There will be photo opportunities elsewhere, so please do not enter the roped area and crowd the finish line. Instead, meet your children after they have received their medals.

The 5K begins at 9:30, and winners of both races will be announced, and prizes awarded, beginning around 10 a.m.

Raffle winners will be drawn starting at 10:45 - watch in person or on Facebook Live!

What about the Student Pledge Drive Prizes?
We know the kids are eager to get their incentives and find out if they won one of the top prizes. Winners of Principal for the Day, P.E. Teacher for the Day, and the class participation prize will be announced with in the week after the Gallop. Those who raised enough money for the incentives will receive their prizes in a few weeks once we have everything ready to distribute. Remember, online pledges are open through April 6th and every dollar raised counts towards incentives!

Do you still need help?
Yes! Race day volunteers are needed, especially for early morning setup, parent volunteers for the 1-mile run and setting up the refreshment station. Please email us with questions.

Support our Gallop sponsors.
We strongly encourage you to frequent our Gator Gallop sponsors--the companies that have made our fundraising event possible. Many of them have connections to Greenwood School families. Get to know our sponsors here.

From the Principal: 4/1/24

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday and happy April! Can it be possible that there are only two weeks before April break begins? The thing that makes it even more unbelievable is how jam-packed with events our calendars are between now and then!

Wakefield Visual & Performing Arts Day (VPAD) - Tuesday, April 2nd

On Tuesday, Galvin Middle School will host ALL of the elementary schools (on a rotating schedule) for an art tour and high school musical performance. All Greenwood students and staff will be taking buses to the Galvin together as a school for this “in-town field trip.” There will be an art walk beginning in the main Galvin corridor, winding through the library, and culminating in the hallway outside the auditorium.

Students will then enter to watch the HS performing arts department amaze everyone with their talent! Buses will pick up at Greenwood at 8:45am. Please make sure your child is at school on time! We will return to Greenwood around 10:30am.

Early Release - Wednesday, April 3rd

Our next early release day for students is on Wednesday, April 3rd. 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.

Greenwood Family Folk Dance Night - This Thursday!

On Thursday, April 4th at 6:00 pm, families will have the chance to learn and participate in various dances from different cultures, accompanied by live music performed by the teachers and any willing community volunteers. After a fun hour of dancing, snacks will be provided by the Wakefield Music Boosters. Come and join us!

Gator Gallop - This Saturday!

We are so excited for the Gator Gallop on Saturday, April 6th! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for good weather, although everyone has a great time no matter what! Check out the website for more information. See you there!

April 8th Solar Eclipse Information

Joanne Marks, the WPS Science Curriculum Coordinator for grades 5-12, shared a few informational links for families about the upcoming solar eclipse.

For Students/Families:

● WPS - Solar Eclipse Resources - April 8, 2024

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 April. Single days, multiple days, one timeslot, 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: 3/25/24

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday! How is it that we’re already at the last week of March? Didn’t we just get back from February break? When I look at the calendar for all the events taking place over the next three weeks leading up to April break, all I can say is, “Hold on - here we go!”

This Week’s All-School Meeting - 2nd Grade Hosting

We will have our 2nd grade-hosted All-School Meeting on Monday, March 25th starting 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 2nd grade parents/guardians to attend if you are able to do so. (Seating will be up in the balcony.)

Wakefield Visual & Performing Arts Day (VPAD)

On Tuesday, April 2nd, Galvin Middle School will host ALL of the elementary schools (on a rotating schedule) for an art tour and high school musical performances. Greenwood students and staff will be taking buses to the Galvin together as a school for this “in-town field trip.” We leave Greenwood at 8:45am and will return around 10:30am. Don’t worry - I’ll remind everyone again next week!

Greenwood Family Folk Dance Night

If you haven’t been to a Family Folk Dance Night before, you’re missing a good time put on by our fantastic elementary music teachers! On Thursday, April 4th at 6:00pm, families will have the chance to learn and participate in various dances from different cultures, accompanied by live music performed by the teachers and any willing community volunteers (I’ve always offered up my flute-playing skills...I’m doing it again! Musicians can sign up at the following link.). After a fun hour of dancing, snacks will be provided by the Wakefield Music Boosters. Come and join us!

WMHS Peer Leaders Visit

On Thursday, April 4th, the Wakefield Memorial High School Peer Leaders will visit Greenwood as part of their anti-bullying work at each elementary school. They will spend time in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade classrooms with small groups of students, as well helping to support some PE classes. They will also be here for the recess and lunch blocks for all grades. We always enjoy the time they spend here with us!

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 Aprill. 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: 3/18/12

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday! It was great to see so many families in the building last week for the first day of conferences. Don’t forget - communication between home and school is very important to us, so if you leave your conference and suddenly think, “Oh, I meant to ask about ________,” just reach out to your child’s teacher. We’re all here to work together!

Authorfest This Week

Thanks to the efforts of the Greenwood PTO, we are very excited to welcome some authors to Greenwood this week to share their books and writing practices with our students. Each class will have a separate session with the author in the library on their assigned day.

Tuesday, March 19th - Kindergarten - Author: Sarah Lynne Reul

Thursday, March 21st - 1st grade & 2nd grade - Author: Carol Gordon Ekster

Friday, March 22nd - 3rd grade & 4th grade - Author: Kristine Asselin

Early Release - Wednesday, March 20th

Our next early release day for students is on Wednesday, March 20th. All students will be dismissed at 11:55am 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, March 20th

This month we have two early release days (3/13 & 3/20) 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.

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, March 20th - 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.

No Afternoon Wakefield Academy - Wednesday, March 20th

The following message was sent out by Estelle Burdick to Wakefield Academy families at the end of January: “I am writing to inform you about a schedule change regarding our Wakefield Academy program in March. After careful consideration, we have decided to close Wakefield Academy’s after-school program at all four elementary schools and our Doyle ECC on March 13th and March 20th, which are the two parent-teacher conference days. This decision has been made due to shortages in staffing, which makes it unsafe to open on these days.”

Next All-School Meeting - 2nd Grade Hosting

It’ll be here before we know it! We will have our 2nd grade-hosted All-School Meeting on Monday, March 25th starting 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 2nd grade parents/guardians to attend if you are able to do so. (Seating will be up in the balcony.)

WPS Incoming Kindergarten Virtual Information Night

Do you have a Kindergarten student beginning in the fall of 2024? If so, please join us for our WPS Kindergarten Information Session via Zoom on Thursday, March 21st at 7:00 PM. Elementary Principals and other members of the WPS administrative team will lead an important information session on everything you need to know about your student’s transition to kindergarten. Please join if you can and spread the word! Zoom link is below:

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 853 8369 0487

Passcode: 981047

WMHS Senior Night Raffle

Want to win some Celtics tickets? And help raise money for the WMHS Senior Class? Please see the linked flyer for information about a raffle fundraiser to benefit Senior Night!

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 Aprill. 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: 3/11/24

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday! Did everyone remember to “spring forward” this weekend for the start of Daylight Saving Time? I guess we’ll know who missed it by any hour-late arrivals here at school on Monday morning…Hopefully, everyone will be back on track well before our conference days begin on Wednesday - we’re excited to welcome everyone back into the building to talk about our favorite subject - kids and learning!

Early Release - Wednesday, March 13th

Our next early release day for students is on Wednesday, March 13th. All students will be dismissed at 11:55am 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, March 13th

As mentioned in my letter last week, this month we have two early release days (3/13 & 3/20) 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.

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, March 13th - 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.

No Afternoon Wakefield Academy - Wednesday, March 13th

The following message was sent out by Estelle Burdick to Wakefield Academy families at the end of January: “I am writing to inform you about a schedule change regarding our Wakefield Academy program in March. After careful consideration, we have decided to close Wakefield Academy after-school program at all four elementary schools and our Doyle ECC on March 13th and March 20th, which are the two parent-teacher conference days. This decision has been made due to shortages in staffing, which makes it unsafe to open on these days.”

Wakefield STEAM Night

It’s time for STEAM Night! This fun event will take place on Thursday, March 14th from 5:30-7:00 pm at the Galvin. This interactive elementary math and science showcase will feature hands-on experiences from Curious Creatures, Caterpillar Lab, the Beebe Library, and many others, along with offerings from WPS staff members and PTO groups. It’s sure to be a good time!

Reminder 2024 MCAS Dates

Grades 3 & 4 These went out in a previous message, but just in case you missed them…MCAS testing for grades 3 & 4 will take place on the following days:

English/Language Arts - Tuesday, April 9th and Wednesday, April 10th

Math - Tuesday, May 21st and Wednesday, May 22nd

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. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

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 Aprill. 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: 3/4/24

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday! They say March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb, but I feel like the “lion” was tricked by the Leap Day and showed up early with that crazy wind! We’ll see what still lies ahead, but spring is certainly on everyone’s minds. It’s a little hard to believe that we’ve only been back from February break for one week - everyone is working hard, staying busy, and having fun - let’s keep it up!

No School - Tuesday, March 5th

Due to the use of Galvin Middle School for townwide voting, there will be no school for students on Tuesday, March 5th. This will be a professional development day for all WPS staff.

Upcoming Early Release Days - Change in Lunch Routines

This should sound familiar from the fall! During the month of March, we have two early release days for conferences (3/13 & 3/20) along with 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. While still free to access, families will have to sign up in order for their child to take a lunch on either of these days. I will be sending out a School Messenger with the sign-up link no later than the Monday before each early release day. Thank you for your cooperation and flexibility with this!

Wakefield Parent University

Wakefield’s 2024 Parent University will take place on Saturday, March 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Galvin Middle School. All parents and caregivers are invited to attend this free event featuring more than a dozen in-person workshops, a keynote session, and meet-and-greet opportunities with local organizations. Wakefield Academy will provide free on-site childcare.

The event will kick off with keynote speaker Mel Peirce. Peirce, a Certified Professional Coach and Parenting Mentor, has combined research with the most effective coaching tools to develop a parenting toolbox you can start using right away. If your child is easily frustrated, their emotions are all consuming, or if you’re often on edge because your child's emotions are unpredictable, her session will be especially insightful.

Following the keynote will be casual, interactive workshops facilitated by Wakefield Public Schools staff and community partners, that cover a variety of topics spanning all grade levels. From “Early Childhood Milestones” to “College Planning,” there’s something for everyone! Register for your sessions and sign up for on-site childcare at bit.ly/WakefieldParentU.

WEF is 35 Years Old!

Celebrate by Supporting WEF through its Online Auction! WEF’s annual auction to raise money for its annual grant process will run from March 1st (12 am) through March 15th (11:59 pm). Auction items are better than ever, including Bruins, Celtics and Patriots tickets, family fun activities in and around Boston, tickets to theater and live music, art and jewelry, gift cards to Wakefield restaurants and small businesses, and more. And new this year is lunch for your child and a friend with their elementary school principal--look in the unique experiences category! Please click this link and support WEF as it supports our school in providing additional enrichment activities for all students in Wakefield. Thank you from WEF!

Wakefield Human Rights Commission - International Women’s Day

On Thursday, March 7th, the Wakefield Human Rights Commission (WHRC) will commemorate International Women’s Day with a program that illuminates the UN Women’s 2024 theme, “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.” This will feature a panel of accomplished women who will share their experiences transforming challenges and barriers into opportunities. This special program will be presented from 7- 8:30 p.m. in the Wakefield Memorial HS theater. A reception will follow.

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 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: 2/26/24

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday! However you spent your time this week, I hope it involved fun, family, friends, and festive times! We’re all feeling refreshed and ready to welcome our Gators back!

Reminder - Report Cards

Report cards were emailed out as PDF documents to families on Friday, February 9th. If you’re still having trouble accessing your child’s report card, please let me know. (NOTE: The report card is accessed through the link in the email that was sent out, not by logging into PowerSchool.)

No School - Tuesday, March 5th

Due to the use of Galvin Middle School for townwide voting, there will be no school for students on Tuesday, March 5th. This will be a professional development day for all WPS staff.

Spring Conferences - March 13th & 20th

It’s just about that time again! Our first date for spring conferences is on Wednesday, March 13th, 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 Wednesday, March 20th, another early release day, and time slots for afternoon conferences will be available. 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!

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 Aprill. 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: 2/12/24

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday! We’ve survived the groundhog...we’ve flown past the 100th day...how is it already time for February break? This will be a busy week at Greenwood, starting off with some special visitors from the Wakefield School Committee and Wakefield Town Council on Monday. Greenwood is the next stop on their “school visit tour,” and we’re excited to show them what makes Greenwood a great place to be!

Report Cards

Report cards were emailed out to families on Friday afternoon. As mentioned in the “student ID” email, we were advised that there may be a PowerSchool issue where only one family member, despite the selected settings, may receive the report card. We’re hoping this will be remedied before the next sending, but in the meantime, please reach out if you still need access.

Monday’s All-School Meeting - 3rd Grade Hosting

We will have our 3rd grade-hosted All-School Meeting on Monday, February 12th starting 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 3rd-grade parents/guardians to attend if you are able to do so. (Seating will be up in the balcony.)

4th Grade Reminder - NAEP Testing

4th grade families received notification toward the end of January about NAEP testing for our 4th grade students on Thursday, February 15th. While there are no individual or school score reports as a result of this assessment, the information gathered through the randomly-selected schools who participate is used to provide information for “The Nation’s Report Card” each year. More information can be found on the NAEP website.

DIBELS and iReady Family Reports

Later this week, 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!

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!

Wakefield Police Department - RAD Kids Program

Please see the linked flyer about the WPD RAD kids program to be run during February vacation week.

WEF's Annual Online Auction

WEF's Annual Online Auction WEF's annual auction is one of its most profitable fundraisers, making it possible to provide more grant funding back to our schools. WEF is looking for items to auction from our community members. Do you have a business, or know of a business owner who might be willing to donate WEF with an item in the form of an experience, a gift card for a service, tickets to a sporting event or theater, or other item? We are collecting items from now until Feb 25th. Please send an email to either Cary Mazzone at carymazzone@gmail.com, or Melissa Holmes at melissa.holmes@rcn.com with details and any questions. Thanks for your support of WEF!

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!

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: 1/29/24

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday! I don’t know if any other Greenwood families had the opportunity to see the Galvin Drama Club’s production of “Legally Blonde, Jr.” this past weekend. I was able to go on Thursday night, and it was a complete delight! So many Greenwood alums gracing the stage in this show! I’ve said it to a number of people, and I’ll say it again - it is wonderful to be in a school district that promotes and celebrates the performing arts at all levels the way Wakefield does. I’m not just biased because I was a music major myself - it’s a wonderful thing to see!

Report Cards - FYI

I’ve had a couple of folks asking about the date for report cards - they will be sent home via email to families on Friday, February 9th. A letter will be sent home earlier that week with more information about the report cards, as there have been some updates since last year.

Snack Milk - FYI

I know Marie has sent out messages to families already, but it never hurts to have another reminder! Moving forward, if a student’s name is not on the official list that we receive from Food Services, they will not be able to get snack milk. To order snack milk for the second half of the school year, please fill out the linked form and return it to school with payment. Order forms are due back no later than 1/31/24. The second half of the School Year Snack Milk starts on 2/1/24.

Snack Milk order form 2nd 1/2 of School Year

All-School Meeting - 3rd Grade Hosting

Get out those calendars! We will have our 3rd grade-hosted All-School Meeting on Monday, February 12th starting 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 3rd grade parents/guardians to attend if you are able to do so. (Seating will be up in the balcony.)

WEF Adult Spelling Bee - Friday, March 15th

WEF is celebrating its 35th Anniversary this year, and we want you to celebrate like it's 1989! It's time again to brush up on your spelling and create clever costumes - WEF is hosting its annual Adult Spelling Bee on Friday March 15th. Remember, points awarded for best costumes. See linked flyer for more details, and be sure to sign up early--tables max out at 18 this year! The Bee will be hosted at the West Side Social Club.

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!

Tiffany Back

From the Principal: 1/22/24

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday!  After FAR too many days of indoor recess last week due to the cold, everyone here is hoping this week will treat us better.  It’s important to balance all that learning time in class with a chance to run around and work off some energy!  (Although there do seem to be a lot of indoor recess fans - I heard a few cheers when I would make the announcement.)  

“Vision of a Graduate” Survey

The Wakefield Public Schools invites student, family, and community partners to participate in the following survey as part of an effort in developing the district's Vision of a Graduate. A Vision of a Graduate is a collaboratively crafted statement that summarizes the skills and dispositions that graduates of the Wakefield Public Schools will have that will help them thrive in their lives. This effort is undertaken as part of the accreditation process with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).  The survey should take less than five minutes and will provide valuable data for this important work.

Snow and Outside Play

Not that we’re in a snow-filled pattern at the moment, but just a reminder…we’ve gotten some questions about what outdoor recess looks like when there is snow on the ground.  There are some parts of this we play by ear depending on the conditions, and decisions will always come down to what the adults on supervision duty believe makes more sense on a given day.  However, these are some basic guidelines that will always hold true:

• Students without boots will not be allowed on snow-covered areas.  This includes the fenced-in playground section.  

• Students are not allowed on snow banks/piles of snow during the school day.

• Snow and ice must not be thrown/tossed around.

Playing in the snow can be a lot of fun, but we don’t want anyone coming in from recess with wet clothes and/or feet.  That makes for an unpleasant rest of the school day!

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!

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: 1/8/24

Dear Greenwood Families,

Happy Monday! As I’m writing this, I’m still wondering which of the many weather forecasts will turn out to be the most accurate. I’m saving my shoveling for the early afternoon in hopes that the “second wave” doesn’t bring too much more snow - nobody likes Monday morning shoveling! (Okay, *I* don’t like Monday morning shoveling. Your mileage may vary.)

Greenwood All-School Meeting - Grade 4 Hosting

Just a reminder about our All-School Meeting on Monday at 9:00 am. Our 4th graders will lead us off to talk about “cooperation” 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!

NOTE: If there happens to be a weather-related delay, we will reschedule this meeting and notify everyone of the new date.

Early Release - Wednesday, January 10th

Our next early release day for students is on Wednesday, January 10th. All students will be dismissed at 11:55 am in order for WPS staff to have professional development sessions in the afternoon. Please note: here will be a scheduled lunch block for students prior to dismissal.

Reminder - Snacks

Right before the break we noticed a slight uptick in students who were coming to the office because they did not have a packed snack for their morning break. Please know that while school lunches are provided free of charge to any student who wants one, we do not have that same capacity when it comes to snacks. We appreciate your assistance with this!

2024 MCAS Dates - Grades 3 & 4

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, April 9th and Wednesday, April 10th

Math - Tuesday, May 21st and Wednesday, May 22nd

If you already have a known conflict with these dates, please let me know ASAP.

Fall 2024 Kindergarten Registration

Do you have a child who will be entering Kindergarten in the fall of 2024? 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 WPS social media and in the Wakefield Daily Item. Families will be asked to complete the online registration between January 16th and February 2nd. (The WPS website will be updated once it’s ready to go!) There will be a virtual WPS District Kindergarten Information Meeting with elementary principals for families - this is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, March 21st at 7:00 pm.

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.

From Wakefield Academy

The following note was sent out to all families last week by Estelle Burdick, Director of Wakefield Academy. Just in case you missed it:

“Happy New Year! We have exciting news! Our February Camp is now open for enrollment! We have such a great vacation camp scheduled for your child or children. Our February Camp is open to students PreK to Grade 4. All PreK activities take place on-site and include shows, activities, and lots of fun and games. Our K-4 students will enjoy field trips (yes, that includes our traditional trip to Altitudes and Prince Pizza!) as well as shows and activities on-site. Both camps have limited enrollment, so use the link here to see the details. Register today!

Our Winter Enrichment session filled up fast, but there are still openings in several programs such as Kids Test Kitchen at Walton, Wicked Cool Paws and Claws at Woodville, our Generals Ski Club and Art Club at Galvin...just to name a few! All of our Galvin Winter Homework Clubs grades 5 through 8 are now open for enrollment as well. Use the link here to check out our fantastic programs!

Save the date! Wakefield Academy WoW Summer Camp will be opening for enrollment soon! While we are still working out our costs, we do have the dates locked in. Our WoW summer camp will start July 1st and end August 8th. Our WoW Academic camp will begin July 8th and end August 8th. Both will be held at the Galvin Middle School. Our WoW PreK camp will run from July 8th through August 8th and will be held at the Doyle ECC. We will have lots of fun activities and themes for your child to enjoy! Thank you for your patience as we work out the final details!

Thank you for entrusting your children to us and we hope you and your family have a happy and healthy new year!”

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: 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