Placentino School News & Updates

• Tuesday, September 15 - Preschool and Kindergarten Back to School Night for Parents/Guardians
• Thursday, September 17 - Grade 1 and Grade 2 Back to School Night for Parents/Guardians
• Monday, September 21 - No School - Yom Kippur
• Wednesday, September 30 - Placentino School Picture Day
• Order Online

* Please note: all of these dates and more can be found on the Placentino Family Google Calendar. *

Prior to each school’s Back to School Night, our new central office team, including Superintendent Dr. J. Kimo Carter, will host an optional Listening & Learning Session beginning 30 minutes before the main program.

Families are warmly invited to join this informal, collaborative conversation and share their perspectives, experiences, and hopes for the future of Holliston Public Schools. Your feedback will help inform the district’s long-term vision and priorities.

The team is especially interested in hearing your thoughts on a few key questions: What in the Holliston Schools do you want to keep? What would you like to improve? How do you envision the District over the next several years?

We look forward to welcoming parents and guardians to Placentino for Back to School Night! This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Placentino School, meet your child’s teacher, and hear about what your child will be learning and experiencing this school year.

The evening will begin in the Placentino cafeteria with a presentation. Parents and guardians will then visit their child’s classroom, where teachers will share information about classroom routines, learning, and what to expect throughout the year.

Please note: Back to School Night is designed for parents and guardians.

As is common every year in school settings, there have been a small number of cases of head lice reported to the school nurses. This is typical and should not alarm families. Please see the letter below from the Holliston School Nurses.

You can order photos online at www.coffeepond.com.

More details will be shared closer with families next week.

During the month of September teachers and students in preschool and kindergarten will engage in a read aloud of All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold.

All Are Welcome celebrates the many ways children and families can be alike and different while reminding us that everyone belongs in our school community. As students follow the children through their school day, they see a community where differences are valued, friendships are built, and everyone is welcomed and included. Through this story, we will talk with students about what it means to belong, how we can help others feel welcome, and how each person helps make our school community special.

Conversation Starters

• What are some ways we can help everyone feel welcome at school?
• What is something that makes you special? What is something special about a friend?
• How can we show someone that they belong in our classroom?
• What could you do if you notice someone who needs a friend or someone to play with?

During the month of September teachers and students in first and second grade will engage in a read aloud of Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen.

Our Class Is a Family explores the idea that a classroom can be a community where everyone feels safe, valued, and connected. The story celebrates the many ways families can look and reminds students that what brings people together is how they care for, support, and respect one another. Through this story, we will talk with students about belonging, appreciating our similarities and differences, and the role each of us plays in creating a classroom community where everyone feels welcome.

Conversation Starters

• What makes a family a family?
• What are some ways families can be alike and different?
• What helps you feel like you belong in a family or group?
• What can we do to make sure everyone feels like they belong in our classroom?
• The book says our class is like a family. What do you think that means?

Join SEPAC at Goodwill Park to connect with other Placentino families!

• Sunday, September 27th @ 12:00pm
• Wednesday, September 30th @ 2:30pm

Two opportunities to connect with SEPAC board members and other parents/caregivers!

• Coffee Haven 8:00 - 10:00 am
• Rushford & Sons 6:30 - 8:30pm

Stop by the Holliston SEPAC booth during Celebrate Holliston!

Saturday, September 19th 10:00am-3:00pm

We will be at Back-to-School Nights! Stop by the PTO table to say hello, ask questions, learn a little more about what we do, or just introduce yourself. We’d love to meet you!

Placentino School Picture Day is coming up on Wednesday, September 30, and we're looking for a few parent volunteers to help make the day run smoothly! Volunteers will help organize students, keep classes moving, and assist with the photographers. No photography experience is needed--just a friendly face and a willingness to help.

The State of Massachusetts provides universal meals to all public school students.

This means that both breakfast and lunch will be available to students at no cost this year. Food menus are available through HPS Food Services shortly and are posted on their website.

Below are the documents used to apply for free and reduced lunch. This application is important because if a family is eligible for free and reduced lunch they may also be eligible for free or reduced busing or other district costs.