Principal, Karen Lindquist - klindquist@maynard.k12.ma.us

Assistant Principal, Kate Murray - kmurray@maynard.k12.ma.us

School Nurse, Maria Bourgeios - mbourgeios@maynard.k12.ma.us

Main Office Line - (978) 897-8246

Absentee Phone Line - (978)897-0310

Kindergarten - Grade 3 Hours - 8:30 AM - 2:50 PM

• Students may arrive at 8:15 AM
• Breakfast is served 8:15 AM - 8:30 AM

Early Release Day Hours, Kindergarten - Grade 3 - 8:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Preschool Hours - 8:40 AM - 2:40 PM

8/16 - Class Placement available in the Aspen Portal

8/21 - Rising Grade 4 "Revisit Day" at Fowler

8/27 - Meet and Greet for K-3 Families, 2:00 - 2:30

8/27 - PTO Playdate for All Students, 2:30 - 3:30

8/28 - First Day of School for K-3, 2024-2025

8/29 - PreK Meet and Greet, 9:00 - 9:30 - Ms. Viros and Ms. DiLuca

8/29 - PreK Meet and Greet, 9:30 - 10:00 - Ms. Cohen and Ms. Gonsalves

8/30 - No School, Labor Day Weekend

9/2 - No School, Labor Day Weekend

9/3 - First Day of PreK, 2024-2025

9/13 - Early Release Day, GM dismissal 11:45 AM, No PreK

9/25 - School Picture Day

9/27 - Early Release Day, GM dismissal 11:45 AM, No PreK

9/26 - Back to School Night for Parents and Caregivers

August 9, 2024

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As you may know, all students in the District are able to receive free breakfast & lunch. This has led to an increase the number of students accessing our breakfast and lunch services. Over the past year we noticed that this caused a delay at the cashier when students have to enter their cafeteria codes at check out. This results in students having reduced time to eat their food before they have to get to class. In order to improve the efficiency of the school breakfast check out process, the District began piloting the use of a finger scan device that is a form of biometric ID management last Spring at Green Meadow. The following information provides some more detail about what this new technology is and what it is not.

Our school will continue implementing a biometric ID management system in an effort to provide accurate student identification and improve efficiency and security for our students and their accounts. We are using this new ID management system because we are held accountable for students and the accuracy of their records. This technology will help us reduce the costs and time required in managing student ID while providing an easy, fast and accurate way to identify students. This system will also ensure that no one but your child can charge items to his/her account.

What is biometric identification?

Biometric identification is an automated method of identifying a person based upon physical or behavioral characteristics. Our school has selected the identiMetrics System because it is secure, accurate, cost-effective and non-intrusive. You can learn more about the system at www.identimetrics.net.

How does biometrics work?

We will be using finger scanning biometrics similar to your smartphone. Using a finger scanner, the software scans certain unique points on the finger to create and store individual templates that identify each student. When the student returns, the software again scans the finger and looks for a match in the database. When a match is found, the student is identified. This all happens in about a second.

How does IndentiMetrics Work?

What about the privacy of our students?

The software scans the finger for identification. It does not store a copy of the fingerprints. Instead, the software creates a template of the unique points on the finger. The template is converted to a unique number and is stored in the school’s database with the same high level of security of all of our records. The templates are also protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA is the same Federal Law that protects all student records.

When your child graduates or is no longer enrolled in the school system, the templates are deleted. At no time is a fingerprint image stored.

It is important to understand that we are not fingerprinting students. In addition, fingerprints cannot be recreated or delivered to any agency - governmental or otherwise.

Opt-Out

If for whatever reason, you do not want your student to participate in using the IdentiMetrics scanner, you may opt-out. There is a form attached to this packet that can be used to inform us of your decision. Fill it out and return it to the Business Office and your student’s profile in the food service POS system will be updated with your opt-out request. Your student will use another form of identification (barcode, PIN, or ID Card).

Maynard Opt-Out Form

Formulario de exclusión voluntaria

Formulário de recusa

Thanks for your attention!

It is important to us that your child’s experiences in school are educational and rewarding. This new way of identifying our students is safe, easy, accurate, efficient and secure. If you have any questions or do not want your child to participate, please contact us.

Wayne White

Business Manager

Maynard Public Schools

We certainly do not want to wish away summer but we also know that many families would like to get back to school shopping done early. Below are lists by grade to help guide your shopping excursions. Grade 3 lists are by teacher but many of the supplies overlap.

Fowler School Grade-4 "Revisit Day" will be held on August 21, 2024, from 10:00-11:00. This day is an opportunity for our incoming 4th-grade class to tour the building and ask questions. A group of student leaders from our upper grades will present to help with the event.

Agenda:

10:00-10:15 Welcome

10:15-10:45

• Caregivers with Fowler Admin and
• 4th-graders with student leaders on a tour

10:45-11:00 Closing

As always please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Keith Kinney- Principal kkinney@maynard.k12.ma.us

David Snyder- Assistant Principal dsnyder@maynard.k12.ma.us

Calling All New Families - Check out our PTO website and join our email list to stay on top of news and events. We can't wait for you to get involved!

https://greenmeadowpto.membershiptoolkit.com/

See you next year!

ELPAC (English Learner Parent Advisory Council) Resources

SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) Resources

Multilingual Learner Resources

Families who would like to register for bus transportation should use the link below and follow the directions. If you have questions, please reach out to Colleen Andrade at candrade@maynard.k12.ma.us.

https://www.maynard.k12.ma.us/page/bus-information

MAynard Youth Soccer Fall registration opens June 17. For more information go to www.maynardyouthsoccer.org

Maynard Farmers Market Opens June 29

On Saturday, June 29 the Maynard Farmers' Market kicks off its 29th season. Hours are 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., rain or shine in the Mill Pond parking lot on Main St (near intersection with Sudbury St) in Maynard where it will run every Saturday until September 28.

Entertain the kids with activities under the Children's Tent 10am-noon. There will be Spin Art on June 29 as well as special visits from Mr Vic on July 13 and Mr Mark on August 17.

Weekly vendors include Applefield Farm (sustainably grown vegetables, herbs & flowers), Balance Rock Farm (grass-fed meats, chicken, eggs & specialty items from other local producers), Cookie Lady Treats (sweet and savory baked goods), FSG Baking (breads, rolls, pretzels & pastries in the German/European tradition), Hudson Hives (10+ honey varieties, lip & body balms, beeswax candles), and Muddy Water Coffee (coffee beans & freshly made coffee drinks). Each week the Market also includes a selection of periodic vendors, two or three artisans, local community group representatives and performances by local musicians at the Interlude Music Tent.

For the full season's schedules and vendor descriptions: www.MaynardFarmersMarket.com

For the latest updates follow the Market on Facebook www.Facebook.com/MaynardFarmersMarket.

MPY ANNOUNCES NEW PARENTING SOLUTIONS LIBRARY

Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is pleased to announce its new, free MPY Parenting Solutions Library. Parents can watch or just listen to experts who get right to the point solving big and small challenges. The 24 library presentations focus on the topics below. Each presentation includes a 10-minute videos and handouts. The Home Parenting Library may easily be accessed using the link on MPY’s home page (www.mpyinc.org). No log in or passcode is needed.

The Open Table Food Pantry (www.opentable.org; 33 Main St, Maynard) is open on Tuesdays, 3:30 - 6:30 PM and Thursdays, 1 - 4:30 PM and offers free bags of groceries 1x/week. Open Table also allows families to pick up frozen meals for family members weekly.

The Maynard Food Pantry (www.maynardfoodpantry.com; 82 Main St., Maynard) is open on Mondays from 10 AM - 12 noon 1-2x/month

Interested in learning more about the Maynard community and the many wonderful things happening around town? Check out the monthly Maynard Advantage Newsletters by subscribing at maynardadvantage.org

Learn what's happening at the Fowler School by clicking here.

Learn what's happening at Maynard High School by clicking here.