Dear Greenwood Families,
Happy Sunday and welcome back! I hope that everyone is feeling thankful, well-rested, and excited for the next three weeks as we move quickly toward our winter break. It seems hard to believe that we’re already into December (even if just barely)!
Early Release Days - Thursday, 12/5 & Friday, 12/6
In order for teachers to hold conferences with families, Thursday, December 5th and Friday, December 6th will be early release days with student dismissal at 11:55am. Grab & Go Lunches will be available via signup as usual (survey will be sent out on Monday, 12/2). Please note - there will be NO after-school program for Wakefield Academy on either of these days.
Grab & Go Lunches - Thursday, 12/5 & Friday, 12/6
Due to the necessary adjustments to our instructional schedules on shortened school days, we will NOT have a scheduled lunch block during the morning on early release days (kids will still have snack!). 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 any early release day. I will be sending out a separate School Messenger with the sign-up link for both days on Monday, December 2nd. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions about this!
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
It’s getting to be that time of year…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 (see next blurb)!
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 never help…not to mention the fact that we have a lot of very warm-blooded children) This results in many sweatshirts and jackets left on the playground during recess). Feel free to drop by and check out the bin located across of the library, and let’s do some reuniting! FYI - anything left in the lost & found when we head into December break will be donated.
From the Wakefield Human Rights Commission - Student Participation Opportunity
The Wakefield Human Rights Commission invites all Wakefield students to creatively participate in the 2025 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CORETTA SCOTT KING DAY EVENT at the Galvin Middle School, on Monday, January 20th, beginning at 10 a.m.
How can you participate? Submit (WHRC@Wakefield.ma.us) poetry and photos of drawings, paintings and sculptures that illustrate the work, philosophy and vision of MLK and CSK that promote non-violence, peace and justice in the world. We would appreciate receiving these creative works by January 5th but no later than the morning of January 11th.
Participating students will receive recognition and prizes. Artwork will be exhibited at the event, on the WHRC website and all will receive WHRC certificates of appreciation. $25 gift cards will be awarded for Best in Show to an elementary school student and to a middle/high school student. Runner-ups will receive Cravings gift certificates. And, we are offering a special prize for a class project so get your crayons and paint ready.
Not an artist? Would you or your classmates like to present a reading or musical interlude at the event? Please contact sherrioken@gmail.com with your ideas and proposals and to volunteer.
All are invited to participate in this very special, annual event.
Lunchroom Volunteers
Keep the volunteers coming! Kids love to see everyone at lunchtime!
Do you have any free time between 12:00-1:10pm on school days? Looking for a way to help out at Greenwood? We are finally bringing back lunchroom volunteer opportunities! If you’d like to come in and help support students while they’re eating lunch, please see the linked Sign-Up Genius to select time slots through the month 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
Principal, Greenwood School