Green Wave Nation

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant!"

— Robert Louis Stevenson

• Nov. 8 - GHS Playoff Football Game v. Belchertown - Vet's Field 6:00 pm
• Nov. 9- Cross Country States in Wrentham, MA
• Nov. 11- No School - Veteran's Day
• Nov. 12 - FSS PTO Meeting 3:15 pm in the FSS Library w/ w/ SC Member Ann Childs from the Budget & Finance Subcommittee
• Nov. 12 - GHS School Council Meeting 5:30 pm in the GHS Main Office Conference Room w/ SC Member Kate Martini from the Budget & Finance Subcommittee
• Nov. 18 - Newton PTO Meeting at 4:30 pm in the Newton Library w/ SC Member Ann Childs from the Budget & Finance Subcommittee
• Nov. 18-22 - DESE District Site visit
  
• Nov. 18 - DESE Parent Virtual Focus Group 6:30-7:30 pm (registration required)
  
• Nov. 27 - Early Dismissal - Thanksgiving break
  
• Nov. 28 & 29 - No School - Thanksgiving break
  

For those families affected by the district's reassignment of streets for redistricting, the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent will be holding in-person informational sessions as follows:

• November 13 - 9:30-10:30 am Leyden Woods Community Center
• November 13 - 4:15-5:15 pm Oak Courts Community Center

Please join us for this informational session. Thank you!

For families who are affected by the redrawn lines for Redistricting in 2025-26, a letter has been sent home. This letter asks that you determine whether your child will age out of their current homeschool or if you wish for your child to enroll at their new homeschool for the 2025-26 school year. These letters need to be returned to the District by November 30, 2024 in order for us to plan accordingly for the 2025-26 school year.

The streets affected are: Aster Court, Bayberry Court, Heather Court, Iris Court, Juniper Court, Leyden Road, Lilac Court, Oak Courts. The list of all streets and assignment of homeschool is listed below.

The Superintendent will host informational sessions for any family affected by the redistricting changes, as follows:

In person: Wednesday, November 13, 2024 - 9:30-10:30 am at Leyden Woods Community Center

Wednesday, November 13, 2024 - 4:15-5:15 pm at Oak Courts Community Center

Virtual: Thursday, November 21, 2024 - 4:30-5:30 pm at the following link:

Join with Google Meet

meet.google.com/kpj-bcgu-tmr

Join by phone

‪(US) +1 857-309-5523‬ PIN: ‪270 880 618‬#

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has contracted with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) to conduct a district review of Greenfield Public Schools November 18-22, 2024. The purpose of the district review is to provide formative and actionable feedback on district practices, enabling district leaders to reflect on progress and strengthen staff and student performance. As part of this review, AIR will be conducting a virtual parent/guardian focus group on Monday, November 18, 2024 from 6:30-7:30pm EST to gather perspectives on communication with families, opportunities for family involvement and leadership, opportunities for students within the district, and more.

If you are interested in joining, please register ahead of time:

https://air-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYocuGtrzsjEtUh0rUicQwFZ0bkmBZMoXzG

Seven easy ways to improve your self-management skills:

• Embrace your strengths
• Adapt to challenges
• Nurture your relationships with others
• Set goals
• Understand your emotions
• Be patient
• Prioritize your well-being

Thanks to the Greenfield Police Department, Greenfield Middle School students had the opportunity to attend a "Bike Rodeo" where the GPD offered assistance on bike safety!

It is that time of the year again when cold and flu symptoms are prevalent. Sometimes these are unavoidable, but there are things you can do to reduce illness and keep everyone healthy. Here are some tips from the CDC on preventive actions to stop the spread of germs:

• Take actions every day to help stop the spread of germs. Getting a flu vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccines are most important.

• Take other preventive actions in addition to vaccination that may help reduce the spread of viruses like flu.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• If you are sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. For flu, CDC recommends that people stay home, for at least 24 hours, until both are true: your symptoms are getting better overall, and you have not had fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication)*. About Preventing Spread of Respiratory Viruses When You're Sick | What To Do If You Get Sick.

• After these two criteria are met, there are some additional precautions that can be taken to protect others from respiratory illness.

• These include taking steps for cleaner air and hygiene practices like cleaning frequently touched surfaces.

• More information is available about core and additional prevention strategies.

• Cover coughs and sneezes.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

• Wearing a mask is an additional prevention strategy that you can choose to further protect yourself and others. When worn by a person with an infection, masks reduce the spread of the virus to others. Masks can also protect wearers from breathing in infectious particles from people around them.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.

• You can improve air quality by bringing in fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors. Cleaner air can reduce the risk of exposure to viruses.

The Budget and Finance Sub-Committee chaired by the School Committee Vice Chair Kate Martini is looking for parents and families to have a greater voice in the budget development process of the schools. Please see the newly adopted FY26 Budget Development Calendar linked below for important timelines and meetings for opportunities to provide feedback and input to the sub-committee or full committee. You can also email feedback and input directly to the committee at schoolcom@gpsk12.org. Thank you!

Dear GPS Families,

The safety and security of all of our students, staff and schools is our number one priority. We

treat every incident that is reported to us seriously and investigate each one in full, cooperating

and collaborating with the Greenfield Police Department. Recently, we have had a number of

safety issues reported which warranted investigation by the school and the police. We

commend our students and staff for their vigilance and willingness to speak up and report.

Every incident - whether it is intended as a joke, a passing social media post, or bragging rights

- will be treated and investigated to the fullest extent. This includes cooperating with the police

and other authorities and imposing consequences for students as necessary on a case-by-case

basis.

Students need to understand that play fighting, toy weapons, video game references to

violence, and social media trends have no place in our schools. We need all of our families to

take this opportunity and work together with us to remind students that any unsafe statement or

action made, even as a joke, regarding the safety and security of our students, staff, and

community is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Karin Patenaude, Superintendent of Greenfield Public Schools

Todd Dodge, Chief of Greenfield Police

For your convenience, please find links to our school handbooks below..