The Roderick Review

Dear Roderick School Families,

I hope you’ve had a fantastic summer! As we begin the 2026–2027 school year, the Roderick staff and I are excited to welcome both returning and new families. We’re looking forward to supporting your child’s academic, social, and emotional growth throughout the year.

Roderick Elementary is a special place, home to dedicated educators, supportive families, and amazing students. Together, we continue to build a positive school culture rooted in respect, responsibility, and continuous growth and learning.

We’ve been working hard to prepare for a successful 2026–2027 school year and we can’t wait to see the Roderick School hallways full of energy once again. Please stay connected through the Roderick School monthly newsletters and the WPS website for important updates and events throughout the school year.

If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out.

All the best,

Dr. Kevin Martes
Principal

We are excited to welcome many new staff members for the 2026-2027 school year:

Roderick General Music – Megan Rees
Megan Rees joins us from the Cohasset Public Schools where she worked as a General Music teacher last year and is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island and Boston University.

WPS ESL Teacher – Abigail Varrichione
Abigail joins us after graduating from the University of New Hampshire and working as an EL paraprofessional in the Milford Public Schools last year.

Special Education ILC Teacher – Vanessa Creador
Vanessa joins us from the Attleboro Public Schools and holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Bridgewater State University.

Special Education ALC Teacher – Lisa Murphy
Lisa joins the Roderick School from the Norwood Public Schools and we are excited to welcome her to our special education team!

Special Education SLC Teacher – Mackenzie Whalen
Mackenzie joins us after working as an ABA Tutor at the Delaney School since 2024 and graduated from Framingham State University.

Paraprofessional – John Capaldi
John Capaldi returns to the Roderick School after serving as a long-term substitute last year and is a graduate of Rhode Island College.

Paraprofessional – Joyce McGhee
Joyce officially joins us after working as a long-term substitute paraprofessional at the Roderick School and brings more than 20 years of teaching experience in Georgia and Boston.

Paraprofessional – John Farrell
John recently graduated from Salve Regina University and joins us as a new paraprofessional.

Paraprofessional – Michelle Kallio
Michelle joins the Roderick School with more than 10 years of experience as a paraprofessional in the New Bedford Public Schools.

Adjustment Counselor Long-Term Substitute – Anne Jordan
Anne returns to Wrentham after serving as a long-term substitute school psychologist at the Delaney School during the 2024–2025 school year. Anne worked as a School Psychologist in the Uxbridge Public Schools and is a graduate of Providence College.

Assistant Principal – Courtney Harrison
Courtney joins us from the Randolph Public Schools where she served as an instructional coach and previously taught sixth-grade ELA.

Director of Curriculum and Instruction – Samantha Hinnant
Samantha joins Wrentham Public Schools from the Plainville Public Schools and previously worked in the Milford Public Schools.

On Wednesday, August 26th, Roderick Elementary students and their families are welcome to visit their new classroom between 9:00 and 9:45. Students can say hello to their teachers and classmates and drop off school supplies.

Our Wrentham Elementary PTO will have an ice cream truck for families to purchance treats in the bus circle during the Meet and Greet.

Please adhere to parking in the bulleted areas listed below that have been designated for this event:

• Delaney School Parking Lot

• Taunton Street (parking only on the school side of the street)

• St. Mary’s church parking lot

• Parking lots behind and adjacent to Sweatt Field

• While the bus circle will be blocked off, there will be some parking available on the road that leads to the Roderick School

• Please consider carpooling to reduce the number of cars.

Thank you for your support and cooperation to help make this a successful day.

Arrival Information

• The arrival time for students in grade 4 through grade 6 is from 8:10-8:20. Families may drop-off students at Roderick any time in that window.

• Roderick students will be dropped off at the Randall Road entrance to Roderick School, across from the Fiske Library. Please drop off your child only at the designated "Drop Off" area across from the Fiske Library.

• If you are dropping off your child as tardy, please park at the bus circle and walk your child into the building to sign your child in at the Roderick School Main Office.

Special Subjects

• Students will continue to have Art, Health, General Music, PE, and Technology for a 45-50 minute long block each week.
• Students will have an opportunity to check out library books every other week with Mrs. DeVore in the Roderick Library.
• Instrumental Music will be provided in the Roderick Band Room.

Early Dismissal Information

• Students may be dismissed from school for appointments and return to school after their appointment. It's important to write a note to the classroom teacher on the morning of the dismissal. Please also notify the school of the dismissal time and reason for the appointment by emailing the school at roderickdismissal@wrenthamschools.org. You may also complete the form on the website or complete the form on the WPS App. Please call the school office at 508-384-5430 when you arrive.
  
• No dismissals after 2:00 unless there is a family emergency.

Student Pick-Up Information

Families who pick-up students from school will have a school-issued placard in the vehicle windshield with the child’s name. Families will not leave their vehicles to meet their students.

• The dismissal time is 2:45

• Families who pick-up students from school will have a school issued placard to display in the vehicle windshield with their child’s name.

• Roderick families should line up in the designated "Pick Up" area on Randall Road and should not leave their vehicles to meet their students. Staff members will call for students to be dismissed as cars pull up in front of designated areas.

• Roderick students with siblings at Delaney will join the youngest sibling in their assigned locations so parents can pick up at one location.

Thank you to all families for your support in providing the needed information via our summer transportation survey so that we could develop accurate bus schedules for this school year. Bus routes are now posted on Wrentham Public Schools website. Please contact Mrs. Harrison with any questions or concerns at harrisonc@wrenthamschools.org

We would like to take this opportunity to remind all students of our school bus expectations so that everyone can enjoy a safe bus ride to and from school. Families are asked to review the bus expectations below with their student(s):

1. Follow your bus driver’s directions.

2. Use a quiet voice and school appropriate language.

3. Remain seated and face forward.

4. Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.

5. Keep food, drink, cell phones and electronics in your backpack.

We are looking forward to a wonderful and safe school year and we encourage all students to do their best on the bus but don’t be afraid to talk to their trusted adults if they have any questions or concerns.

Wellness Resources for Back to School and Beyond

The new school year can bring feelings of both anxiety and excitement as students transition into a new grade or perhaps even a new school. By working together we can create an environment where our children thrive. As a reminder, Care Solace partners with Wrentham Schools to provide 24/7/365, multilingual care coordination services to connect students and families to community-based counseling, therapy and more. Families can contact Care Solace directly, or a warm handoff can be made by school adjustment counselors or psychologists.

Care Solace Flyer

What to Expect After a Warm Handoff with CareSolace

Care Solace has shared Back to School TransitionToolkits with tips for taking care of your family’s mental well-being, signs that therapy may benefit your child, and a daily feeling check-in.

Back to School Transition Toolkits for Families (English)

Back to School Transition Toolkits for Families (Espanol)

Please visit our regional Family Wellness Website for resources related to food access, mental health, digital wellness, relationships, grief and more.

Our August and September breakfast and lunch menus are now available! We encourage families to review them together so students can plan their meals and look forward to their favorites. You can view both menus on the WPS Website.

Breakfast and lunch will continue to be free for all students. However, we strongly encourage families to complete the Free and Reduced Lunch application, as it helps support important school programs and services.

Universal Free School Meals for All Students

School meals will continue to be offered at no cost to all students.

Free and Reduced Cost Meals Application

Please note that even though meals will be free for all, it is very important for families in need to still complete the household Application for Free and Reduced Price Meals for the 2026-2027 school year. This allows districts to establish eligibility for other federal benefits and school programs. Families who have been eligible for Free and Reduced Meals in the past, must apply again for 2026-2027. Please know that the application is confidential with only the Director of Food Services and administrators having access. All students receive the same meals.

Wrentham Schools Free and Reduced Meals Application

For more information on the School Meals Program, please visit the food services page on the districts' website, Wrentham Schools Food Services Department.

Please contact Assistant Food Service Director Lisa Luce lucel@wrenthamschools.org with any questions.

Welcome back to another exciting school year! My name is Christina Monti and I am the school nurse here at Roderick. I am excited to welcome back your students for another great year! Here are some important back to school information:

1. Medication at School-If your student has an EpiPen or inhaler, a new allergy and/or asthma action plan is required for the school year. All medications at school are required to have a physician’s signed order, and brought to school in the original container with a label. Medications can be dropped off during the meet and greet on Wednesday, August 26th. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at montic@wrenthamschools.org.

2. Snacks and Water-Students should bring a refillable water bottle to school along with at least two snacks. There is a limited supply of water bottles and snacks in the nurses’ office.

3. Individual Healthcare Plans(IHCP)- If your student had a healthcare plan last year, new copies will be sent out this year for you to review and sign.

4. Physicals and Immunizations- Please drop off or email updated physicals and immunizations to the nurses’ as soon as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out!