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CH School News & More - 2.11.25

CH School News & More - 2.11.25

Claypit Hill News and More

February 11, 2025

Hello Claypit Hill Caregivers,


Thank you to all of the families who supported curiosity and our budding young scientists through last week’s STEAM Fair. Our students were completely engaged during the event. Their projects were inspired. Our students spoke articulately about chemical changes, catalysts, and weather fronts. Thanks to our families, our amazing students, and our PTO, we had a record number of students turn out for this year's STEAM Fair. Many thanks to Heather Grimmett and her committee for inviting weather experts to enrich the event and to visit with our students during the school day, expanding upon our curriculum and inspiring our students to grow their interest in STEAM fields.


One amazing side story…there was an epic playdate before the STEAM Fair! One of our Wayland families invited three of our Boston resident students to stay after school and play and then all of the children attended the STEAM fair together. We are grateful for these family friendships that are growing and as a result, our students are benefiting from enriching experiences and opportunities to build beautiful relationships.


Thank you to the PTO for spoiling our faculty and staff with this week’s SOUPer Bowl luncheon. This teacher appreciation effort was truly well-received. The soups and accompanying treats were delicious and perfectly timed during this recent cold and snowy weather pattern. Thank you! Thank you!


We hope that all Claypit Hill families were able to access the developmental checklists/report cards this past week. We are hopeful that these assessment tools, along with the comments shared by teachers, provided a picture of your child’s academic and social development. Please reach out to your child’s teacher or to us if you have any concerns. March conferences are just around the corner. Please do your best to make time for these important parent/teacher meetings.


We wish you a safe and relaxing February break!


We truly appreciate your partnership.


Sincerely,


Marie, Kate and Naomi


Wayland Kindergarten Pre-Registration

February 1 - 14, 2025

Families with children that will be 5 years of age by August 31, 2025 may pre-register their child(ren) for Kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year.


The pre-registration link will be accessible on the Kindergarten Registration

website starting February 1, 2025. We request that you pre-register your child by February 14, 2025 so that we may start to determine school placement, class size, and transportation needs for the incoming Kindergarteners. NO registration documents are needed at this time.

Notes:

Families interested in the Spanish Immersion Kindergarten program still need to pre-register their Kindergarteners.



Families unsure of their Kindergarten enrollment decision at this time may still pre-register.

Wayland Bus Driver and Crossing Guard Breakfast

Bus Driver & Crossing Guard Appreciation Breakfast

Wednesday, March 12, 9:15-10:15 am; Happy Hollow Cafeteria

Help us thank our bus drivers and crossing guards for all that they do to get our students safely to and from where they need to go. Whether your child walks to school, rides the bus, plays sports, or has enjoyed a field trip on the bus – we couldn’t do it without these folks! This year Happy Hollow is hosting this PTO-organized event, and there are three ways that you can help:

  1. Sign-up here to contribute food, supplies or time on March 12th.

  2. Write a personal thank you note to your bus driver or crossing guard (from you or your child). These can be dropped off in the elementary school offices by the end of the school day on Monday March 3rd, or can be dropped off/mailed to Sarah Shtutin, 7 Old Farm Circle, Wayland, MA 01778.

  3. Consider a $10 donation, instead, to help offset the cost of the breakfast and the simple gift bags for each driver/guard. Please make a check payable to “Wayland PTO” and mail to Sarah Shtutin, 7 Old Farm Circle, Wayland, MA 01778

2025 Backpack Auction

Planning for the 2025 Backpack Auction has begun! The auction is the second (of two) fundraising events that directly supports all of Wayland’s elementary schools. The auction (to take place in March) has historically had a huge response across families and the Wayland community and we hope it lives up to its reputation in 2025! Our goal is to identify thoughtful and exciting bidding items to make this year’s auction a success!


That’s where YOU come in!


Please consider donating any of the following to the auction:

  • Your services or hobby or skill (sports or music lessons, hiking guide, photography, baking or cooking lessons, etc.)

  • Donations from a local business, virtual experiences, online subscriptions, outdoor activities, or even time in a vacation home

  • Cook & deliver a meal for a family

  • New toys, apparel or items for the home

  • Gift cards to your favorite restaurants and businesses


If you have a auction item to donate, please complete this Google form: https://forms.gle/H8deThuoLvGCHM6v6


Have questions? waylandbackpackauction@gmail.com


Did you know: The funding we raise for the PTO this year determines our 2025-26 budget and directly impacts what we’re able to do for our students next year--think of the back-to-school picnic, incredible field trips, and all of the other wonderful enrichment opportunities that the PTO enables through your generous support.


~Thank you from the Backpack Auction Team

Help Claypit Hill's 4th Grade Girl Scouts

The 4th grade Claypit Hill Girl Scout troop is collecting toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, combs) for families living in a nearby shelter. Please consider dropping off a donation at Claypit Hill or the following spots around town (Arte Salon, Btone, Joint Ventures or Wayland Library) between now and February 28. Thank you in advance for supporting the troop's service project and helping support families in need of these everyday necessities.

Claypit's Got Talent!

We’re thrilled to announce that the 2025 Claypit Hill Elementary School Talent Show is coming March 20th at 5pm. We’re looking for amazing performers like you to take the stage! Whether you sing, dance, act, perform magic, or have a unique skill, this is your chance to shine.


Registration is open through Friday, March 7th. Register here!


Please email Annie Matthews (anniematthews20@yahoo.com) with any questions.


Rehearsals will be held on Wednesday, March 19th. Participants will receive communication with details. Rehearsal is not mandatory but encouraged.

Save the Date! Wayland World's Fair!

Sunday, May 18
2:00–4:00 PM
 Loker School Back Field


Mark your calendars for the return of Wayland World's Fair, hosted by all three Wayland Elementary Schools!


Get ready for a fun-filled afternoon of culture, community, and connection! The Wayland World’s Fair is a fantastic event where families can explore traditions from around the world. From delicious food and traditional dress to dance, games, and crafts, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

Want to be part of the fun? Sign-ups to host a country booth or volunteer will open in March—a great way to share your culture and make this event even more special.

PTO Thank You

It was inspiring to see 130+ students share science fair projects last Wednesday evening - congrats to kids on their creativity and hard work on their projects! Thank you to parents for helping kids with their projects and supporting their curiosity!


Thank you to Janice Crager, Heather Grimmett, Gigi Shafai, Elaine Lin and April Vecchio for organizing this year’s science fair and in-class STEAM presentations. Extra thanks to our amazing presenters from MIT Lincoln Laboratory, New England Sci Tech and Boston Stormchaser for sharing their expertise with our students/families at the Science Fair. Also thank you to those who lent extra support during the event- Alexis Schayowitz, Jen Lux, Marie Brigham, Kate Narita and our HS and MS students, as well as our visiting scientists (Lauren Martens, Erik Ronzone, Anne Christiansen, Neelima Konda, Kaan Certel, Jessica Louie, Ari Friedland, Sami Fam, Kurt Chen, Laura Penders, Adam Schayowitz and John Pierciey).

Also, we are so thankful for the weather experts from the National Weather Service, MIT and MIT Lincoln Laboratory for coming to Claypit to teach each class/grade about weather in early February!

On Monday, our PTO staff appreciation team treated our Claypit staff to a warm and delicious soup and salad lunch – a welcomed treat on a cold day! Thank you to our staff appreciation team (Marissa Davis, Katie Harris, Allison Bellingrath, Jen Wright, Kristin Smith, Katie Leyden, Laura Mellen and Lindsay Hanson) for organizing and setting up as well as all the families who contributed delicious food or materials for the lunch!

MCAS Dates are Finalized

The MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) provides districts with a testing window. We have scheduled our assessments late in the window to provide for as much time for teaching and learning as possible before the assessments. As a result, there is little time provided for make up tests. It is imperative that travel not be scheduled during the MCAS testing days. Please support our school by planning accordingly.


3rd Grade

ELA - March 25th and March 27th

Math - May 13th and May 15th


4th Grade

ELA - April 3rd and April 8th

Math - May 19th and May 21st


5th Grade

ELA - April 1st and April 4th

Math - May 14th and May 16th

STE - April 30th and May 2nd

Upcoming Dates for Your Calendar

  • Feb 17 - Feb 21 - Winter Break - NO SCHOOL
  • Monday, Mar 10 - 5th Grade Field Trip, Ms. Moquin and Scarpulla
  • Friday, Mar 14 - 5th Grade Field Trip, Ms. Foley and Ms. Wales

  • Thursday, Mar. 20 - Talent Show

  • Wednesday, Mar. 26 - Art Show

  • Sunday, May 18 - World's Fair, Loker School

  • Tuesday, May 20 - 5th Grade Play

  • Wednesday, Jun. 4 - Spring PTO Meeting, 7:00pm

Carol Reynolds
Claypit Hill News and More