Green Wave Nation

"I am so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers!" — L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

• Nov. 1 - Grades close for 1st quarter at GHS and GMS
  
• Nov. 1 - GHS Field Hockey v. Clinton HS 4:30 pm
  
• Nov. 4 - AEL PTO meeting 4:00 pm in the library w/ SC Member Ann Childs from the Budget & Finance Subcommittee
• Nov. 4 - GMS PTO Meeting 5:30 pm in the GMS Cafeteria w/ SC Member Elizabeth Deneeve from the Budget & Finance Subcommittee
• Nov. 5 - No School - Teacher In-Service Day
  
• Nov. 6 - MIFFA Aid Night for juniors/seniors & families at GHS Lecture Hall 6:00 pm
  
• Nov. 9- Cross Country States in Wrentham, MA
  
• Nov. 12 - FSS PTO Meeting 3:15 pm in the FSS Library w/ w/ SC Member Ann Childs from the Budget & Finance Subcommittee
• Nov. 11- No School - Veteran's Day
  
• 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
  

Please join me and the GHS band at Mohawk Mall tonight 5:30 pm as we make our way to Energy Park for the Rag Shag Parade sponsored by the Greenfield Recreation Department. Hope to see you there!

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

Every child, every day, every seat!

Self-management is the ability to control one's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in a way that helps one achieve their goals.

What aspects of self-management can we start talking with our students about and model?

• how to problem solve
• how to reduce stress
• how to communicate clearly
• how to strengthen our mental and physical health

GHS students have been busy with some fantastic events! The marching band was invited to UMass Band day on Saturday, October 26, 2024 and had the time of their lives joining the UMass marching band on McGuirk Field. Then on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, Ms. Pollock hosted an amazing Comi-Con event from 3-6:30 pm at the GHS Library. Students who get involved in extracurricular activities as well as pursue their passions enhance students leadership opportunities, builds student confidence, and increases student joy and happiness! We are so happy that students have so many opportunities at GHS to get involved! 💚

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.

For your convenience, the next walk-in flu and COVID vaccine clinics will be held at Newton School tomorrow, November 1, 2024.

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!

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