Green Meadow Weekly Update
May 16, 2024
Contact Us
Principal, Robert Rouleau - rrouleau@maynard.k12.ma.us
Assistant Principal, Karen Lindquist - klindquist@maynard.k12.ma.us
School Nurse, Maria Bourgeios - mbourgeios@maynard.k12.ma.us
Absentee Phone Line - (978)897-0310
Please remember to call the absentee phone line if your child is going to be absent for any reason.
Important Dates
5/23 - Green Meadow Art Show 5:00 - 6:15
5/24 - Early Release Day, 11:45 dismissal
5/31 - Kindergarten Family Picnic, 1:45 - 2:45
6/4 - Field Day (rain date, 6/6)
6/4 - PTO Family Movie Night
6/7 - Last day for PreK, regular dismissal
6/7 - Grade 1 Family Picnic, 11:00 - 12:00 (rain date 6/10)
6/10 - Last day for Kindergarten, regular dismissal
6/10 - Grade 3 visits Fowler, 9:30 - 10:30
6/11 - 6/13 - Kindergarten Screening, more information to come
6/12 - Grade 2 Family Picnic, 11:30 - 12:15
6/13 -- Grade 3 Moving On Celebration, 9:00 - 9:45
6/14 - Tenative last day for Grades 1-3, 11:45 dismissal
Curriculum and Assessment Updates
Art Show!
Please join us for the Green Meadow Art Show Open House on May 23, from 5:00 - 6:15 PM. There will be a lot of beautiful art on display!
Playground Reminders
The weather is getting nicer and it is wonderful to see so many families using our playground to gather and get to know each other. A few quick reminders as you supervise your children:
* Please remind children to respect the playground space and the people who are using it. Students take the Green Meadow pledge everyday to be Kind, Safe, Learners. We remind students that this is important even when teachers are not watching.
* The children are well-versed in our playground rules during the school day. If your child is using equipment in an unsafe way they can always be reminded to follow "school playground rules."
* During the school day, students do not play in the woods. This rule is in place for supervision purposes and because we are back in tick season. If your child plays in the woods after school we recommend you check them for ticks before leaving.
* Please ask children to return any big sticks or rocks to the woods before leaving the playground so it is ready to go the next day.
Thank you for your help! Please keep the outdoor play going during the last few weeks of school.
Preschool P.E. Open House
Our Preschool will be celebrating the end of the year with a PE Open House. Families are invited to attend one of the last physical education classes of the school year from 10:00 to 10:30 and participate in movement activities with their child.
Here are the dates:
- Monday, May 20th: V.Viros's class
-Thursday, May 23th: L. Paoletti's class
-Tuesday, May 28th: J. Cohen's class
-Wednesday, May 29th: D. Gonsalves's class
Families will arrive at 10:00 and leave at 10:30. AM students might be dismissed earlier on that day. PM students will be invited to attend gym class in the morning. Transportation for all students will be the responsibility of the families. The Preschool team will be in touch with additional details.
Welcome to the Counselor's Corner!
A busy Green Meadow school day is filled with academics, and by nature of the fact that we’re all learning together, it is also very social. Making social connections and having friends can be quite important to children, and for some, the process of forming friendships does not come easily. As parents, there are things you can do to support children who need a little help making friends. Knowing how children make friends can guide you in this process. Additional SEL resources can be found on the Green Meadow Social Emotional Learning Resources website.
Questions or feedback? Please contact Julie Danforth at jdanforth@maynard.k12.ma.us
Kindergarten Screening
PTO Updates
Get caught up on all the latest PTO news by visiting the Green Meadow PTO website! https://greenmeadowpto.membershiptoolkit.com/
This month the PTO meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 11, at 7:00 PM.
Field Day Volunteer Sign-up
We are looking for volunteers to help with our Field Day event in June. Kindergarten and Grade 1 will have their Field Day in the morning. Grades 2 & 3 will have their Field Day in the afternoon. If you are interested in helping, please sign up using the link below.
Family Movie Night
Please join the Green Meadow community for Family Movie Night at the Maynard Fine Arts Theatre, Tuesday, June 4. This year's feature is Migration. The doors open at 5:00. Tickets are required but the event is free. You can register for tickets at www.gmpto.org.
District Resources
Join SEPAC
Maynard Special Education Advisory Council is looking for new members and volunteers. There will be a virtual meeting on Wednesday June 5th at 12pm.
SEPAC Monthly Board Meeting
Wednesday, June 5 · 12:00 – 1:00pmTime zone: America/New_York
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/iyk-xjes-inr
Or dial: (US) +1 413-961-2458 PIN: 183 252 533#
College Savings Information
Saving for College
Would you like to get started with saving for college or would you like to learn more about it? Please check out these resources to get on track with planning for this future expense.
The Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) is hosting
Saving for College webinar on Tuesday May 28th at 12pm.
This webinar is for parents with children of all ages and will describe information and resources that families can use to put a college savings plan in place. MEFA will answer questions such as:
Why and how much should I save for college?
When and how should I start?
What is the best way to save?
How will saving affect college financial aid?
Sign up to learn how to prepare best for college costs. Live transcription will be available. MEFA records their webinars so a recording will be available after the webinar.
Estimate Future College Costs with the College Cost Projector
If you would like to get started right away follow these steps to open a 529 UFUND College Investing plan (managed by Fidelity-you can open a 529 in any state across the country however opening one in MA offers state tax advantages) :
Gather needed information
The account owner/You need
your Social Security number
date of birth
phone number
email address
legal/mailing address
For the child/beneficiary you'll need:
the name
date of birth
Social Security number
Apply by phone: (800) 544-2776 or
Apply online https://www.fidelity.com/529-plans/massachusetts
Click Open a 529 Account
Follow the instructions
Make it automatic
Set up automatic investments from a bank account- log back into your account 2 business days after the account is opened.
you'll need the account and routing numbers for the bank the money is coming from
MEFA Podcasts
Financial Advice on College, Debt, and Retirement
Saving for College with the UFUND
For those with newborns or newly adopted: $50 from the BabySteps Savings Plan
The BabySteps Savings Plan provides a $50 seed deposit into a U.Fund 529 College Investing Plan account for all Massachusetts residents in the 1st year they are born or adopted. Parents simply need to open a U.Fund account within a year of the child's birth or adoption to be eligible. https://www.mass.gov/babysteps
Community Resources
Plant Sale
The Maynard Community Gardeners Annual Plant Sale is Saturday, May 18th, 9AM - Noon. This event funds all of the organizations programs and beautification efforts around the town. Curious to join us? Members will be on hand all morning to answer questions about the club's activities, including volunteer clean-up in town, flower buckets around downtown Maynard, member garden tours and social events. If you have plants in mind to donate, please email our Digging Coordinator Steve Smith stevensmith@kw.com before May 5th.
Boys & Girls Club
BASEC Summer Program
Maynard Education Foundation Taste in Motion
Don’t Miss the 3rd Annual Taste In Motion on Sunday, May 19th from 2 - 5pm!
Whether you are a loyal Cafe of India fan, have been craving a delicious slice from Maynard Pizza and Bar, or have been dying to try Magnolia’s- this year’s Taste in Motion has something for everyone!
The Taste in Motion is a chance to sample food from your favorite local restaurants and eateries, listen to fabulous entertainment by Jae Mannion and the MHS Jazz Band, and enter to win raffle prizes. Come enjoy an afternoon with your friends and neighbors — all for a great cause!
This event is made possible by our sponsors, the restaurants, and folks like you who donate to MEF. All proceeds benefit Maynard Education Foundation’s grant program that funds new learning opportunities in the Maynard Public Schools.
When: Sunday, May 19th, 2 - 5 pm
Where: Mill and Main parking lot (across from 155 Main Street, Maynard)
Tickets: Buy online at www.maynardeducation.org $25 for individuals/$10 for kids (2-12) or at the event for $30 for adults / $15 for kids
Under age 2 free
Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth Resources
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.
Community Food Pantries
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
Maynard Advantage
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