Dear Woodland Families,

Last week we awarded Ms. Giroux's class the CARES trophy for Exhibiting Effort! Her students worked exceptionally hard and it paid off with a trophy!

This month, we’re focusing on self-control—an important skill that helps children pause, think, and make good choices, even when it’s hard. Practicing self-control helps kids succeed socially and academically. Though we will be working on this at school, here are a few simple ways you can support self-control at home:

• Play games that build patience – Try "Simon Says," "Red Light, Green Light," or board games that involve taking turns.

• Model it – Talk out loud when you’re managing your own emotions. For example: “I really wanted to interrupt, but I waited my turn.”

• Practice waiting – Give your child small opportunities to wait for something, like a treat or screen time, and praise their patience.

• Create routines – Predictable schedules help children feel secure and make it easier to practice self-control.

Thank you for partnering with us to help your child grow!

Best regards,

Emma and Kayla

April 14-16 - Grade 2 Field Trips to Forest Park Zoo

April 14-17 - Spirit Week

April 18 - No School, Good Friday

April 21-25 - Spring Vacation

May 1 - Pedestrian Safety Sessions, Grades 1 & 2

This month, preschoolers will continue to learn about people in our community. They will learn about police officers, fire fighters. doctors and dentists. The children will continue reviewing all 26 letters and their sounds. We will continue to learn about Phonemic Awareness through our Heggerty Program. They enjoy the weekly nursery rhymes that are taught at the end of each lesson. The children will learn about the life cycle of a plant by planting bean seeds. They will start a plant journal documenting the growth of their bean plant. During math, the children will continue to review counting objects, practicing their numbers 1-10, and naming shapes.

Kindergarten will be moving onto the next ELA Module soon. This Module will have students exploring the essential question, how do plants become food?" Over the next month, we will read books about how food gets from plants to our plates. We will even take a look underground to find out about special animal helpers that work behind the scenes to make gardens grow. In writing, students will revisit the genre of "Opinion Writing" and write opinions about different topics with sentences that explain why they have that opinion. Phonics work will focus on s- blends, r- blends, and final blends. Word examples that fall in these categories are; slip, drum, jump, sink, hand.

For math, Students will be working with solid shapes. Specifically, the cone, sphere, cube, and cylinder. Students will use language to compare, contrast and describe these shapes. Fun activities such as scavenger hunts to find real world examples of these shapes will also be included in their work.

Kindergarteners have recently started their last science unit called "Our Earth." In this unit, students will learn how to take care of our earth, the importance of trees, and how plants grow. Students will plant their own bean seeds and spend the next few weeks studying their plant as it grows.

In first grade, we continue to grow as learners. We are wrapping up our reading module where we have been discussing what lessons we can learn from stories. We are writing personal narratives with a focus on a clear beginning, middle, and end. We are working on our long vowel sounds and have begun reading and blending words with vowel teams. After the April break, we are looking forward to beginning a reading, writing, and science unit all about plants!

In math, we have really stretched our math thinking as we worked hard on addition with two-digit numbers. We continue to practice adding and subtracting by tens from any number. We will be switching gears and starting a unit on measurement. We will explore measuring and comparing lengths of different objects.

In social studies, we are wrapping up our unit on maps. We have learned all about where we live, the continents, oceans, and landforms. We have explored different types of maps and can use the directional words north, south, east, and west to locate places on a map.

Second grade students are continuing to learn and grow! This month they will begin ELA Module 10: Many Cultures, One World. They will be learning about the different cultures and traditions of people all around the world. This module ties in well with our social studies unit on immigrants and ancestors. We will read about the ways that people celebrate and honor their heritage, and we’ll see a video of the different lunches that children enjoy in other countries. Children will also write a thank-you letter to someone who taught them something about his or her culture. Our important vocabulary words for this module are culture, harmony, and heritage. Encourage your child to think about these words at home by asking questions like the following: What culture would you like to learn more about? What are some ways we can all live in harmony with each other? What do you know about our family’s heritage?

In math, students are working on Unit 7: Adding and Subtracting within 1,000. In this unit, students use place-value understanding, the relationship between addition and subtraction, and the properties of operations to add and subtract within 1,000. You can support this work at home by asking your child to solve 3-digit math expressions, such as 568 - 231 and 425 + 362. Ask your child to show their thinking by drawing base-10 blocks or decomposing the numbers into hundreds, tens, and ones, and then solving.

Second graders are continuing their science unit on ecosystems and biodiversity. Next week, they will visit the Forest Park Zoo to learn more about animals and how they meet their needs in their habitats. To support this work at home, consider taking a walk with your child. Ask your child to name different plants and animals they see, or see signs of, and discuss how these living things meet their needs. You can also ask your child to talk about whether or not these living things could survive in a different habitat.

With the changing of the seasons, please take a moment to ensure that your child has a change of clothes at school that is both size- and weather-appropriate.

As you clean out your child’s closet, the nurse’s office is currently in need of gently used pants for students who may not have a spare set of clothes. If you’re able to donate, we kindly ask that you send only a few items—not full bags of clothing—as our storage space is limited.

Thank you for your continued support and generosity!

FIELD DAY

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Once again our annual field day is nearly upon us. Field day is a day of fun in which the students participate in 10 challenging events. It will be held on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 (rain date Thursday, June 5th.). The morning session will run from 9:40 – 11:00, and the afternoon session will run from 12:50 – 2:10. Volunteers will be accepted on a first come first serve basis. If you would like to assist us, please contact the school office at wes_office@stgrsd.org as soon as possible. We will contact you shortly thereafter with further details.

Safety first!

Students in grades 1 and 2 will learn the life skills of sidewalk, crosswalk, and parking lot safety with the Massachusetts Safe Routes to School program as part of their pedestrian curriculum. The classes will be on May 2 and are held in and outdoors.

After their presentations, consider quizzing your students on what they learned:

• What goes faster, wheels or feet?
• Why should we walk facing traffic?
• What is a crosswalk made of?
• How can we get the attention of traffic when at a crosswalk?
• Demonstrate a “Sneak & Peak.”
• In a parking lot, how can one tell if a car is about to move?

Dear Parent/Guardian,

We are excited to be working with local schools to bring preventative dental services and dental education directly to children. If you enroll your child in the program, he/she will be seen by J&S Smile Pros Licensed Public Health Dental Hygienists who will provide dental care and education that promotes healthy teeth and gums. Services include screening, cleaning, fluoride, sealants, education, and referral for additional treatment if necessary. Upon completion of care, each child will receive an Oral Health Report Form indicating services provided.

All are welcome! If your child currently sees a dentist, he/she is still welcome to participate. We will not duplicate services provided by your dental home.

Families are not charged for services, only MassHealth insurance companies if applicable. If you have MassHealth, we ask that you provide the insurance information on the consent form provided. Families with private dental insurance or no insurance can still see J&S Smile Pros for dental screenings, education, and fluoride treatment at no cost.

Instructions:

To participate, please download and complete the consent form (below) and provide your child's MassHealth information (if applicable). Please return the completed form to their school.

If you have any question or concerns, please email J&S Smile Pros directly at jands.smilepros@gmail.com or call (413) 459-2968.

J&S Smile Pros

Jennifer Hauschild PHDH

Sara Jambard PHDH

Boot season is (hopefully) behind us and sneakers are out! Help your child gain independence by teaching them how to tie their shoes. Here are THREE videos with different options for tying. No one way is best, so see which your child likes and go with it! (And for some of us, learn a whole NEW way of tying!)

Woodland School is excited to announce that enrollment for kindergarten for the 2025-2026 academic year is now open. Families with children who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2025, are encouraged to register their child by May 1, 2025. Early registration ensures eligibility for the Kindergarten Screenings, scheduled to take place on May 29 and 30, 2025.

How to Enroll To begin the enrollment process and learn more about the requirements, you can tap the picture above or visit the Woodland School enrollment page at:

https://www.stgrsd.org/community/enrollment

The enrollment page includes detailed information about necessary documentation and the steps to complete the registration process. Families are encouraged to complete all required forms promptly to secure their spot in this exciting program.

Don’t miss this important milestone in your child’s education! For questions or assistance with enrollment, please contact Woodland School at 413-569-6598 or WES_Office@stgrsd.org.

We look forward to welcoming your family to Woodland School and partnering with you in your child’s educational journey.

If you know families with kindergarten-aged children, please spread the word about this important opportunity!

Food services is looking for part-time substitutes in the school kitchens. Substitute positions may lead to permanent positions. If interested in applying, please email the Director of School Nutrition

Kkeady@stgrsd.org. We look forward to hearing from you.

Woodland School needs substitutes for the 24-25 school year. Being a substitute offers great flexibility, because you can choose the days you want to work! When teachers are absent, they leave the substitute a detailed lesson plan to follow. Interested? Have questions? Give us a call at 413-569-6598 or apply online: https://www.stgrsd.org/departments/human_resources/employment_opportunities.