Placentino School News & Updates
Upcoming Important Dates
April 2026
- Tuesday, April 14 - Tropical Spirit Day (CARE Card Challenge Celebration)
- Wednesday, April 15 - School Safety Drill
- Monday, April 20 - No School - Patriots Day
- Tuesday, April 21-Friday, April 24 - No School - April Break
- Wednesday, April 29 - Grade 2 into Grade 3 Parent/Guardian Information Night
May 2026
- Wednesday, May 13 - Kindergarten and Grade 1 Student Showcase
- Thursday, May 21 - Grade 2 and Montessori 6-8 Student Showcase
- Monday, May 25 - Memorial Day - No School
Please note: all of these dates and more can be found on the Placentino Family Google Calendar.
School Safety Drill
Wednesday, April 15 from 8:10-8:30
On Wednesday, April 15 at 8:10 a.m., students in Preschool - Grade 5 will participate in a safety drill at the elementary school complex. This drill will take place within classrooms and is designed to help students practice important safety routines in a calm and developmentally appropriate way.
At the start of the drill, Dr. Slaney or Mrs. Cordero will make an announcement over the intercom to let students know that it is time to practice a safety drill. Classroom teachers will then guide students through two brief, age-appropriate scenarios to help them practice how to respond by following familiar expectations: Stop, Look, Listen, and Act. The focus is on building preparedness while helping students feel safe and supported.
Members of the Holliston Police and Fire Departments may be present to support the exercise.
🚫 Please note: There will be no dismissals or late arrivals during the drill. We kindly ask families to plan accordingly.
In preparation, on Monday or Tuesday of next week teachers will review safety routines with students. You are also welcome to preview the classroom slides at home, which reinforce key messages about listening to trusted adults, staying calm, and understanding that drills help keep us safe.
Following the drill, we will send a brief message to confirm that the practice has been completed.
Thank you for your partnership in keeping our students safe and supported.
CARE Card Challenge - Responsibility
We are excited to share that our school-wide CARE Card Challenge is well underway, with a special focus on Responsibility in both the cafeteria and the hallways!
Week 1 Winning Classes:
- Marilou Radcliffe
- Robyn McGovern
- Nicole Lovell
- Charlotte Smith
- Katie McGuinness
Week 2 Winning Classes:
- Lexi Maddox
- Kendra Sisson
- Katie Jackson
- Lauren Berman
- Bridget Lombardi
We have also been able to give out the Golden Spoon to every class in the cafeteria over the last three weeks! We are so proud of students' efforts!
CARE Card Celebration – Tropical Spirit Day!
Tuesday, April 14
We are excited to celebrate our students’ hard work with our CARE Card Celebration on Tuesday!
To mark the occasion, we will be having a tropical-themed spirit day. Students are encouraged to wear tropical colors and clothing to join in the fun.
Our cafeteria will also be transformed into a tropical luau, and students can enjoy a special themed lunch featuring:
- Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken
- Pineapple Spinach Salad
We look forward to celebrating together and recognizing our students for demonstrating CARE throughout the school!
Thank you for your continued support.
April Break - No School
Monday, April 20 - Friday, April 24
There will be no school Monday, April 20 - Friday, April 24 for April Break.
PTO Updates
Elementary Square 1 Art Fundraiser - Order Deadline Extended to 4/17!
- Turn your student’s artwork into keepsakes like mugs, magnets, and more—perfect for Mother’s Day gifts!
- Your participation helps fund grants for the Placentino & Miller art programs
- Your student’s catalog should have come home in their backpack (with FREE stickers!)
- Didn’t see it? Use the link to view your child’s artwork and order using their name: ORDER ONLINE
- Questions about ordering? E-mail: Jennaaloughlin@gmail.com
HEF Parents Night Out
May 9 from 6:00-10:00PM at Anthony’s on the Green
Come join for some BBQ, music, raffles & silent auction along with fun line dancing lessons - all in support of the Holliston Education Foundation, SEPAC, and our schools!
Register soon: $40 in advance, $50 after May 1st.
Sign up here Parents' Night Out Registration and pay by Venmo, Paypal, Credit Card or Check.
**Not a School-Sponsored Event**
Game Night
Where: Placentino/Miller Cafetorium
When: Wednesday, April 15th from 6:30-8:00PM
Come to game night! A community activity night filled with life-size board games, card games, and more!
For any questions, please contact Lexi Bowie at lexibowie09@gmail.com
Whole School Read Alouds 📖
Preschool and Kindergarten
During the month of April teachers and students in preschool and kindergarten will engage in a read aloud of One by Kathryn Otoshi.
One is a powerful story that uses colors and numbers to help young children understand bullying, inclusion, and the importance of standing up for others. It emphasizes that even one voice can make a difference and that we are stronger when we stand together.
Conversation Starters:
- What is your favorite color?
- Can anyone like pink? Can anyone like blue?
- What do you like to play with at school?
- What do you like to pretend to be?
- Is it okay for friends to like different things?
- How can we be kind if someone likes something different than we do?
Grade 1 and Grade 2
During the month of April teachers and students in first and second grade will engage in a read aloud of I Walk with Vanessa by Kerascoët.
I Walk with Vanessa is a wordless picture book that tells the story of a new student who is treated unkindly by a classmate. Another child notices what is happening and chooses to act with kindness by walking alongside Vanessa. Over time, more students join in, showing how small acts of support can grow into a powerful message of inclusion and empathy. This story helps students understand how to recognize unkind behavior and how they can be upstanders by including and supporting others.
Conversation Starters:
- What is happening to Vanessa at the beginning of the story? How can you tell?
- How do you think Vanessa is feeling? What clues in the pictures help you know?
- Why do you think the other student decided to walk with Vanessa?
- How did the actions of one student make a difference?
- What changed by the end of the story?
- What does it mean to be an upstander? How were students in the story upstanders?
- What is one small thing you can do to help someone feel included at school?