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

The first day of school for Grade K-3 is Wednesday, August 27!

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.

We can't wait to see students back at Green Meadow next week! There have been a lot of changes to the outside grounds of our school as part of the construction of our new school but don't worry, the inside is still filled with lots of heart! Come visit during our Meet and Greet on Tuesday, August 26, from 2:00 - 2:30 PM.

8/26 - Meet & Greet for K-3 Families, 2:00 -2:30 PM

8/27 - First Day of School for 2025-2026

8/28 - PreK Meet and Greet, 9:00 - 9:30 - Ms. Viros and Ms. DiLuca

8/28 - PreK Meet and Greet, 9:30 - 10:00 - Ms. Cohen and Ms. Gonsalves

8/29 - No School, Labor Day Weekend

9/1 - No School, Labor Day

9/2 - First Day for PreK

9/11 - Green Meadow Back to School Night (Parent/Caregiver Event), 6:00 - 7:30 PM

9/12 - Early Release Day, dismissal for PreK @ 11:35 AM, dismissal for K-3 @ 11:45 AM

9/23 - School Picture Day!

9/26 - Early Release Day, dismissal for PreK @ 11:35 AM, dismissal for K-3 @ 11:45 AM

We are anticipating changes to our arrival and dismissal procedures as the construction of our new school continues to move forward. Here are a few highlights but more details and visuals will be shared next week:

• We strongly encourage families to walk to school, carpool, or take advantage of the bus.

• Parking for families dropping students off or picking students up will continue to be very limited. Cars may not park along Tiger Drive or the entrance to Green Meadow FOR ANY REASON.

• Please do not park at Maynard Motors. They have been a wonderful neighbor and we would like to respect their space.

• Only School Buses and Vans will be allowed to enter the bus circle between the hours of 7:45 AM and 6:00 PM. With the temporary playground location now in the bus circle, cars may not drive into the bus circle for drop-off or pick-up.

• This year we will be offering a carline drop-off for arrival only for all students in grades PreK-3 starting at 8:15 AM. This drop off location will be on Tiger Drive, just past the staff parking lot. Tiger Drive will be ONE WAY for both Green Meadow and Fowler morning drop-off. Staff will accompany students to the building. Preschoolers can participate in the car line if they are able to unbuckle themselves or an older child is able to help them.

• We will not be offering a car line pick-up at dismissal this year.

• There will continue to be a handicap parking area next to the bus circle

• Students in Grades 1-3 will line up for school INSIDE the building this year due to the fact that the construction fencing will not provide enough space for an outdoor line-up. Preschool and Kindergarten students will continue to go directly to their classroom doors as they have done in previous years. PreK and Kindergarten teachers will send out more information about which door to use. These routines are familiar to students who attended Green Meadow last year. Staff will supervise students inside the building.

• Students who are picked up after school as a walker will still be dismissed from the LIBRARY doors. We ask that families pick up and go. Due to the construction we do not have space for after-school play and our buses and vans are still in the process of dismissal until 3:00 PM.

Families are welcome to walk to the Fowler Playground for after-school play. We recognize that this is a cultural shift as we wait for the new school to be complete but this is a great option to continue to foster community and outdoor free play.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As you may know, all students in the District are able to receive free breakfast & lunch. This has led to an increase the number of students accessing our breakfast and lunch services. Over the past year we noticed that this caused a delay at the cashier when students have to enter their cafeteria codes at check out. This results in students having reduced time to eat their food before they have to get to class. In order to improve the efficiency of the school breakfast check out process, the District began piloting the use of a finger scan device that is a form of biometric ID management last Spring at Green Meadow. The following information provides some more detail about what this new technology is and what it is not.

Our school will continue implementing a biometric ID management system in an effort to provide accurate student identification and improve efficiency and security for our students and their accounts. We are using this new ID management system because we are held accountable for students and the accuracy of their records. This technology will help us reduce the costs and time required in managing student ID while providing an easy, fast and accurate way to identify students. This system will also ensure that no one but your child can charge items to his/her account.

What is biometric identification?

Biometric identification is an automated method of identifying a person based upon physical or behavioral characteristics. Our school has selected the identiMetrics System because it is secure, accurate, cost-effective and non-intrusive. You can learn more about the system at www.identimetrics.net.

How does biometrics work?

We will be using finger scanning biometrics similar to your smartphone. Using a finger scanner, the software scans certain unique points on the finger to create and store individual templates that identify each student. When the student returns, the software again scans the finger and looks for a match in the database. When a match is found, the student is identified. This all happens in about a second.

How does IndentiMetrics Work?

What about the privacy of our students?

The software scans the finger for identification. It does not store a copy of the fingerprints. Instead, the software creates a template of the unique points on the finger. The template is converted to a unique number and is stored in the school’s database with the same high level of security of all of our records. The templates are also protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA is the same Federal Law that protects all student records.

When your child graduates or is no longer enrolled in the school system, the templates are deleted. At no time is a fingerprint image stored.

It is important to understand that we are not fingerprinting students. In addition, fingerprints cannot be recreated or delivered to any agency - governmental or otherwise.

Opt-Out

If for whatever reason, you do not want your student to participate in using the IdentiMetrics scanner, you may opt-out. There is a form attached to this packet that can be used to inform us of your decision. Fill it out and return it to the Business Office and your student’s profile in the food service POS system will be updated with your opt-out request. Your student will use another form of identification (barcode, PIN, or ID Card).

Maynard Opt-Out Form

Formulario de exclusión voluntaria

Formulário de recusa

Thanks for your attention!

It is important to us that your child’s experiences in school are educational and rewarding. This new way of identifying our students is safe, easy, accurate, efficient and secure. If you have any questions or do not want your child to participate, please contact us.

Wayne White

Business Manager

Maynard Public Schools

We are welcoming some new faces to Green Meadow this school year. Here is an update:

Norah Oyarzabal will be teaching our Kindergarten Spanish Immersion class. She will join our Kindergarten and Spanish Immersion Teams.

Jessica O"Halloran will be joining our team as a Special Education Paraprofessional.

Christine Kapopoulos will be joining our team as a Special Education Paraprofessional.

Previously Shared

Celia Nealon will be joining the Grade 1 team this year while Cassie Ramos is on maternity leave.

Greer Harnden will be covering for Amy Tierney in Grade 3. Amy Tierney will be taking a family leave until mid-March.

Lilly Massa will be starting the school year with Mackenzie Fournier. Mackenzie will be welcoming her first child in September. Lilly will be teaching music through December.

We are also excited to welcome Madeline Normand to our special education team. Madeline brings with her a lot of experience supporting the literacy development.

Monica Galdamez will be moving to Grade 1 to teach Spanish Immersion to ensure that programming remains consistent. We continue to work to find a Spanish Immersion teacher who will teach Kindergarten this year.

Shan Li will be joining our special paraprofessional team this year. Shan worked as a building sub in our preschool last year. Shan will be working across grade levels.

Families can see teacher assignments by logging into Aspen, our student information system. Please take a minute to make any updates to your contact information at this time. If you are unable to access your Aspen Account, please reach out to our Technology Department at helpdesk@maynard.k12.ma.us.

Maynard Public Schools

School Year 2025-2026

Parental Notification Regarding English Language Education

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s):

In order to comply with state requirements, school districts must inform parents of students whose home language is other than English of the rights they may have regarding English language education (ELE). The district will screen your child to determine if your child is an English learner. If your child is found to be an English learner and eligible for placement in an ELE program, you will receive further notification with your child’s English proficiency test results and program placement information.

If your child is determined to be an English learner, you have the right to:

• choose an ELE program among those offered by the district as described in state law and regulations;

• visit an ELE program in the district;

• attend available conferences or meetings to learn more about the ELE programs offered in the district;

• request a new ELE program in accordance with state law; and

• withdraw your child from an ELE program.

Available ELE programs include:

• English as a Second Language (ESL) - ESL classes provide direct English language instruction that focuses on developing speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in English. This is required for all schools in Massachusetts.

• Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) – an ELE program in which sheltered grade-level content instruction is used. Sheltered content instruction is content instruction that is modified so that an English learner can comprehend it and participate in the class at his or her level of English proficiency. All instruction and materials are in English.

• Dual Language Education or Two-Way Immersion (TWI) – an ELE program that develops students’ language skills in two languages (English and Spanish). This program includes native English speaking students and students who are native speakers of another language.

English Learner Parent Advisory Council (ELPAC)

Districts serving 100 or more English learners or in which English learners comprise at least 5% of the student population, whichever is less, are required to establish an English learner parent advisory council (ELPAC). Similarly, any school designated as underperforming or chronically underperforming and operating an ELE program is required to establish an ELPAC. Parents of English learners are encouraged to participate in such councils.

Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy

The Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy recognizes students who are proficient in English and one or more languages. The insignia is placed on the diploma and/or transcripts upon graduation to inform institutions of higher education and potential employers of the graduate’s multilingual skills. Maynard Public Schools does offer the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy to multilingual graduates.

For more information about the topics discussed in this notice, please contact: Deanna LeBlanc, Director of Curriculum, at 978-897-2222 x6103 or dleblanc@maynard.k12.ma.us. You may also obtain additional information about ELE programs offered by the district at upcoming English Learner Parent Advisory Council meetings, which will be posted on our website: https://www.maynard.k12.ma.us/

Please contact me with any questions or concerns that come up throughout the year.

Sincerely,

Deanna M. LeBlanc

Director of Curriculum, Maynard Public Schools

dleblanc@maynard.k12.ma.us

978-897-2222 x6103

Kaitlyn Angulo holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and a Master's Degree in Education from Rutgers University. She is presently the Assistant Principal at Merriam School in Acton, and worked as the Assistant Principal at the Florence Sawyer School in Bolton from 2016-2023. Kaitlyn served as a community member on the School Council from 2019-2020. Kaitlyn's son, Kai, is entering Kindergarten. Kaitlyn is eager to return to the School Council to support the school in its efforts for continuous improvement!

My name is Kristen Ferraro, I have two daughters in third grade and one in first grade. All three of my children also had the pleasure of attending the Green Meadow PreK program. I am a former elementary school teacher, and although currently out of the classroom, issues relating to education remain a passion of mine. I am going to be in my second year as a member of our SEPAC, and I enjoy working with both families and the district to make our community more inclusive and supportive of all learners. I am equally as excited for the opportunity to be on the Green Meadow School Council for year two to continue working together to strengthen our school and bridge the gap between parents, educators and administrators.

My name is Taylor Halley, and my son Camden will be entering his second year of pre-k at Green Meadow. My wife and I also have another son Archie who will be attending Green Meadow in a couple of years. I am currently an attorney at MGH, and I also work on grant management for the hospital. My wife and I moved to Maynard 5 years ago, and we have fallen in love with the town and the community. The reason I want to join the council is because my wife and I will have two children attending Green Meadow, and I want to be a part of making their experience and every other students experience the best it can. It would be an honor to be trusted by the Green Meadow community to join the council.

Hello, Green Meadow community! My name is Megan Huggard, and my son Bennett is a new kindergartener. I also have a younger daughter, Rory, who will follow her brother to school in 2027. I am interested in joining the school council because I love schools and teachers, and want to do whatever I can to make Green Meadow a place where students and teachers can thrive. I am a product of public education and education is the family business: my mother recently retired after 35+ years as a K-3 guidance counselor; ¾ of my grandparents were teachers; and my sister-in-law and several of my aunts and cousins are current classroom teachers. While I have never taught in K-12 myself, I did spend 8 years working at Teach For America working to recruit and develop new teachers, and I currently lead learning & development programs at a consulting firm in Boston. While I’m new to the Green Meadow community, I hope to quickly learn more about what makes the school unique, and hope to serve with the best interests of teachers, students, and families at heart.

My name is Julie Sutton, and I have lived in Maynard for the past 14 years with my husband, Andrew. We have three children in the Maynard Public Schools: Fiona (grade 8), Lorelai (grade 5), and Ollie (grade 2). As a K-2 educator myself, I am deeply committed to supporting and enhancing our educational community. I am excited about the opportunity to bring my experience and passion for education to the school council and work collaboratively to make a positive impact on Green Meadow School.

Hello! My name is Liz Travis and my family has lived in Maynard for just over 10 years. I am excited for my oldest child, Oliver, to be joining Green Meadow as a Kindergartener this fall. I have lived in Massachusetts my whole life, graduating from WPI with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. I currently work as an actuary at MassMutual in Boston.

I would like to participate in the School Council because I am interested in getting to know the teachers, administrators, and other parents at Green Meadow. I enjoy creating and reviewing budgets due to my background in mathematics. I am passionate about our children getting the best education possible and want to advocate for educational goals which will meet their needs.

Please consider volunteering this year. Here are some current volunteer roles to consider:

Green Meadow Sign Guru - This valuable role has been held by Mike Giarratano for the past two years. Mike is now a Fowler parent but he is willing to work with anyone interested in taking on the role. Please email Karen Lindquist, klindquist@maynard.k12.ma.us, if you are interested in learning more.

Green Meadow PTO - Our PTO works hard to support our school in so many ways, including sponsoring family events, supporting enrichment programs, supplementing programming with supplies here and there, and helping with school events. Please considering volunteering to help with either an event or a project. It is a great way to meet people and learn more about our school community. You can learn more by emailing kim@gmpto.org or liz@gmpto.org.

Green Meadow Library Volunteers - Our school librarian, Sarah Paisner, will be communicating with families once school starts about library volunteers. Come support our students curiosity about books and love of learning by helping out. You can reach out to Sarah by emailing spaisner@maynard.k12.ma.us

CORI Forms - All volunteers who will be helping at a school event or working directly with students must complete a CORI form. We will have these forms available at our Meet & Greet and at Back to School Night. The form is good for the school year so if you complete one now you will be all set for the year. Thank you for completing this task.

This week the construction team has been busy installing new temporary sidewalks from Crowe Park and from Tiger Drive. These sidewalks were disrupted over the summer and repaved to make it easier for families to get to Green Meadow. The sidewalk from Tiger Drive will be used by staff and students to move safely from the morning carline to the building.

This week information regarding the construction of the temporary playground is well underway! We are looking forward to opening it on Tuesday, August 26, for families during the PTO Playdate.

The summer sales hype is everywhere this month and we wanted families to be able to access our grade-level school Supply Lists. Green Meadow Staff intentionally reduced the ask for supplies this year in appreciation and recognition of the efforts families made to pass the override vote last May. Thank you for supporting our schools!

If any of the supplies on the list are a financial hardship, please reach out to Karen Lindquist by emailing klindquist@maynard.k12.ma.us for assistance.

Please note, the Grade 1 list has been modified to include one sturdy 1-inch binder with plastic sleeve front.

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.

If you are interested in working for our Food Services Department, please reach out to Sue Mitchell-Tang for information at smitchelltang@maynard.k12.ma.us. Whitsons is currently hiring cooks and food service workers. They offer flexible shifts. no nights or weekends, and summers off.

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/

ELPAC (English Learner Parent Advisory Council) Resources

Multilingual Learner Resources

SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) Resources

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

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 athttps://maynardvoice.com/

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

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