Green Meadow Weekly Update

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

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

Administrative Assistant- Kathy Sullivan - ksullivan@maynard.k12.ma.us

Administrative Assistant- Nancy Dangelo - ndangelo@maynard.k12.ma.us

School Nurse, Maria Bourgeois - mbourgeois@maynard.k12.ma.us

Important Phone Numbers to Add to Your Contacts List

Main Office Line - (978) 897-8246

Absentee Phone Line - (978)897-0310

Regular School Hours

Grades K- 3: 8:30 AM – 2:50 PM, student drop-off begins at 8:15 AM

Preschool: 8:40 AM - 2:40 PM (full day)

8:40 AM - 11:10 AM (morning program)

12:10 - 2:40 PM (afternoon program)

Early Release Hours

Grades K- 3: 8:30 AM – 11:45 AM

Preschool: Students who attend our program on Fridays will be dismissed at 11:35 PM on an Early Release day.

Breakfast and Lunch menus will be available at this link:

https://www.fdmealplanner.com/

Type Maynard, Green Meadow to view the selections. Allergy information is available through this site and menus can be printed.

10/23 - Purple Pinky Day (Information below)

10/24 - Early Release Day, dismissal for PreK @ 11:35 AM, dismissal for K-3 @ 11:45 AM

10/31 - K-3 Autumn Walk, 8:45 AM (Information below)

11/4 - Election Day - No School for Students, All Staff Professional Development

11/6 - Picture Retake Day

11/7 - PTO Sponsored Veterans Day Coffee, 9:45 AM (following Fowler's event)

11/21. 11/24, 11/25 - Grade 3 Concord Museum Presentation (Teachers will share specifics)

11/26 - 11/28 - Thanksgiving Break, No School

12/4 - Preschool Open House, 5:30 - 6:30 PM (New families)

12/5 - Preschool Open House, 1:30 - 2:30 PM (New families)

12/5 - Early Release Day, dismissal for PreK @ 11:35 AM, dismissal for K-3 @ 11:45 AM

12/12 - Early Release Day, dismissal for PreK @ 11:35 AM, dismissal for K-3 @ 11:45 AM

2/6 - Green Meadow Winter Concert, Grades 1-3, 9:00 AM

4/8 & 4/9 - Grade 3 ELA MCAS Dates

5/6 & 5/7 - Grade 3 Math MCAS Dates

It’s hard to believe, but this Friday marks the 40th day of school! Regular attendance is essential for your child’s learning and success.

We understand that absences are sometimes necessary due to illness, doctor-verified appointments, family emergencies, legal proceedings, religious observances, or other extenuating circumstances approved by the Principal.
Please note that vacations are not excused absences, and families are encouraged to schedule routine appointments outside of school hours whenever possible.

If you’d like to check your child’s attendance record, you can view it in Aspen or call the main office for an update.

📞 Reporting an Absence

If your child will be absent, please call the Green Meadow Absentee Line at (978) 897-0310 before 8:30 AM.

Leave a message with:

• Your name

• Your child’s name and grade

• Classroom teacher

• Date and reason for the absence

The line is available 24 hours a day.
If your child will miss several days for the same reason, one call is enough.
A doctor’s note is required for absences of three or more days and may be requested in other cases.

📊 Chronic Absenteeism

Regular attendance is directly linked to academic success. If a student is absent more than eight times in a 60-day term, the school is required to reach out and provide support. Families may receive a call or letter if a student is at risk of chronic absenteeism.

Our team is here to help. Please reach out if your family is experiencing challenges that affect attendance.

Supports may include:

• Family meetings and check-ins

• School-based counseling or academic support

• Collaboration with community and mental health resources

• Special education evaluation when appropriate

K-3 Autumn Walk

The Green Meadow K-3 Autumn Walk is Friday, October 31, from 8:45 - 9:10 AM, and families are invited to attend to enjoy some seasonal fun. We have a new route this year due to the construction. Our students will exit the door in the Grade 3 hallway and follow the path along the kindergarten classrooms. Given the narrow walkway in this area, we ask that families leave this path clear for our students. From here, students will use our crosswalk to circle around the staff parking lot fence and re-enter the bus circle though the path. Students will walk along the bus circle to the Library entrance to return to their classrooms.

Families are invited to line up along the route, including the parking lot fence. Please see the map below. A student from each class will be carrying a class sign.

This event will be canceled if it rains. Students may still wear a costume to school. We will hold a student-only inside event. Due to spacing constraints, we cannot have families attend if the event is moved inside. We will communicate any changes that morning.

Preschool Autumn Walk

Our Preschool will be having their Autumn walk that Friday afternoon at 2:15 PM, and preschool families are invited to cheer students on. Parents will be asked to sign-in when they enter the lobby and then go to the courtyard through the doors near our cafeteria. Students will get in their costumes at school and follow their walking route from their classrooms. Parents will be able to dismiss their children at the end of the event. Teachers will communicate a plan in the event of rain.

Families must park in the Crowe Park lot or at Fowler School. Please do not park along Tiger Drive, in the Staff parking lot, or in the bus circle.

As we work together to ensure our students are healthy, energized, and ready to learn, we would like to remind everyone of the importance of packing nutritious foods for school. A balanced diet plays a key role in helping children concentrate, perform well academically, and maintain their overall well-being.

Here are a few simple guidelines for packing healthy snacks and lunches:

1. Include a Variety of Food Groups

• Fruits and Vegetables: Try to pack at least one serving of fruit and one of vegetables. Fresh, whole fruits like apples, bananas, or grapes are great choices. Baby carrots, cucumber slices, or cherry tomatoes are easy, healthy snack options.
• Protein: Include sources of lean protein like turkey or chicken slices, hummus, or yogurt. Protein helps sustain energy levels throughout the day.
• Whole Grains: Choose whole grain bread, wraps, or crackers. These provide fiber and help keep kids full longer
• Healthy Fats: Nut butters (such as almond or peanut butter) and avocado are excellent sources of healthy fats that support brain function.

2. Limit Sugary Snacks and Drinks

• Avoid packing sugary snacks like candy, cookies, or sugary drinks. Opt for water or milk as drinks, and consider natural snacks like fruit, yogurt, or granola bars.

3. Portion Control

• Keep portion sizes age-appropriate. Smaller, more frequent snacks are better than large amounts of food that might go uneaten. This will also help children avoid feeling overwhelmed or distracted by food during the school day.

4. Involve Your Child

• Encourage your child to help choose and prepare their meals and snacks. This fosters healthy habits and gives them a sense of ownership over their choices.

By providing your child with nutritious, well-balanced meals, you’re setting them up for success both in the classroom and in life. Thank you for your continued support in promoting a healthy school environment!

Many thanks to everyone who participated in Purple Pinky Day! Purple Pinky Day is a school or community event that raises awareness and funds to help end polio worldwide. The name comes from the practice in many countries where, after a child receives the polio vaccine, their pinky finger is dyed purple to show they’ve been immunized. Maynard Public Schools will continue to collect donations through October 31st.

Please remember that our school playground must remain closed during arrival and dismissal times each day to ensure student safety.

We have four buses and four vans that need to safely enter and exit the bus circle. When families use the playground during these times, other students often run over to join them, sometimes into the path of buses or vans. During dismissal, our staff’s full attention is on making sure all students are safely dismissed, so we ask that parents and guardians closely supervise children who have already been dismissed.

If you would like to enjoy some outdoor play after school, the Fowler School playground is available for families to use.

Thank you for helping us keep all students safe!

The Maynard Public Schools anticipates hiring Daily Substitutes for the 2025-2026 school year. This role provides flexibility. Daily Substitutes can determine which days, which grade-levels, and which of the three schools they would like to work in. For more information, please email Kate Murray, kmurray@maynard.k12.ma.us, or Colleen Andrade, candrade@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/

The Green Meadow PTO and students would like to invite veterans to join us on Friday, November 7, at 10:00, at Green Meadow for a special thank you and refreshments. Please RSVP to liz@gmpto.org.

ELPAC (English Learner Parent Advisory Council) Resources

Multilingual Learner Resources

Please click on the link to read the ELPAC newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/anm19

SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) Resources

OPEN HOUSE INFORMATION:

We will be hosting an Open House for the 2026-2027 school year on the following days:

Thursday, 12/4/2025 - 5:30 - 6:30 PM

Friday, 12/5/2025 - 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Enrollment Process

Complete an Application:

Applications are available at an Open House or from our main office.

Phone number: 978-897-8246

Applications will be accepted starting December 4, 2025. Priority will be given to applicants who apply by January 24, 2026.

Intent to Return forms for existing students should be returned by December 19, 2025.

Families who apply by January 23, 2025, will be notified of acceptance by February 13, 2025.

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

The Maynard Food Pantry offers a weekly Backpack Program for all students in PreK-Grade 5 that aims to offer food assistance to families. Each backpack is filled with nutritious, non-perishable food at no cost. Forms were sent home to families in backpacks last week. If you need a form, they are available in the Green Meadow main office. You can also request one by emailing Kate Murray at kmurray@maynard.k12.ma.us.

The Maynard Voice - https://maynardvoice.com/

The Maynard News Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting local journalism in Maynard, Massachusetts, and its surrounding communities. Our mission is to provide accessible, accurate, and non-partisan information to residents, business owners, and stakeholders. We believe local journalism is vital to maintaining a strong democracy and fostering civic engagement.

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

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