GHS-Green Wave Nation News
April, 2021
“Although no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending.” -- Carl Bard
Updates from the Administration:
A Message from Karin Patenaude, Principal:
As we complete the 3rd quarter of the year today and look forward to our return to in-person learning on April 28, GHS is alive with activity. We are so excited to have students and staff returning to the building. As always, our focus is on the safety of students and staff while delivering a highly-engaging curriculum. Please see the "Return to In-Person" section of this newsletter for important information and answers to FAQs.
If there are any questions left unanswered, please do not hesitate to contact me at karpat1@gpsk12.org!
A Message from Jonathan Cavallo, Associate Principal:
I am looking forward to the days ahead as we welcome more students back to in-person instruction. The staff at GHS have been working diligently to ensure health and safety protocols are in place as well as preparing classrooms for optimal in person and remote instruction. We are in Quarter 4 of the school year and there is still plenty of time to catch up on work and improve your final grades. Whether you decide to return to school on April 28th or continue with remote learning, there will be a new schedule that you will need to get acclimated to, and I hope you will make the most of the final quarter of the school year.
I am here to support you in any way I can so please do not hesitate to reach out at joncav1@gpsk12.org.
A Message from Sarah Crawford, Assistant Director of Pupil Services:
Wishing all of you in the GHS community a happy spring! I have always loved spring as it symbolizes growth, positivity, and new beginnings. I am anxiously awaiting the day that I will hear the sound of students and faculty members outside of my office door once again. I know for some this change on the horizon may bring feelings of uncertainty and anxiety as we adjust to our new normal. As always, I will continue to be here to support and encourage all of you on this journey.
If you need to contact me, feel free to reach out at sarcra1@gpsk12.org. Thank you!
TASTE OF WORLD CULTURES VIRTUAL CELEBRATION!
One of the most celebrated events of GHS still happened, albeit virtually! If you missed this exciting event, you can still watch it at the following link:
Thank you to all those who participated by sending in videos or pictures to make this celebration one to remember! A big shout out to Mesa Verde, Bejing House, Tito's Tacos, and Big Y for supplying students and families with grab and go goodies to pick up and enjoy on the night of the event!
Keeping Greenfield Green - Earth Day Celebration!
Every year on April 22nd we celebrate Earth Day. Since 1970 this day has been used to educate and inspire people of all ages and backgrounds around the world to volunteer, engage, and make a positive impact in their communities. But protecting our environment isn't just about this one day on the calendar because we can find opportunities to make an impact in our daily lives. We can always be thinking about how we use water and energy, how we get from point A to point B, and if we are taking opportunities to use the three Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle. We always encourage our GHS students to be responsible citizens and community members when it comes to protecting our environment.
In the fall many GHS community members volunteer at the Green River Cleanup which is part of the larger Source to Sea event. We visit sites around Greenfield and Franklin County to pick up trash which helps protect our environment, the wildlife, and our watershed. This is especially important because Greenfield gets a portion of its drinking water from the Green River (you can read more about that here https://greeninggreenfieldma.org/water). Greenfielders will now have a springtime opportunity to help keep our city beautiful with a new event that is in the works, a companion to fall cleanup. Citizens will be encouraged to lend a hand and pick up litter and trash around town at various locations. Be on the lookout for information about this event and we hope GHS community members will join in!
If you want ideas on how to make a difference right away here are "51 Ways to Restore Our Earth" any day. https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-tips/
Thank you for helping keep Greenfield beautiful.
GHS Key Club
We sure had a busy March:
1. We sent handwritten notes to all of GHS schoolmates;
2. We celebrated Upstanders (students in our community who care for others and show kindness) and Trusted Adults ( adults in our community willing to help out when needed); and
3. We held another successful food drive that benefitted the Center for Self-Reliance in Greenfield. When folks donated to the drive, we handed out "GHS Cares" bracelets and still have some left that we hope to distribute as we begin to see one another in-person soon!
Our heartfelt thanks to the members of our community who helped in many ways to spread the message of kindness and inclusiveness in the GHS community and beyond.
Return to In-Person Updates
1. Survey - The deadline to commit to a return to in-person learning at GHS is Monday, April 5. Thank you to those who have completed the survey thus far. For those who are still deciding, the survey link can be found:
https://forms.gle/rdyS9GDCKmVDTewJ9
2. FAQ Sheet - this handout will provide answers to the most frequently asked questions Principal Patenaude has received to date.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OewYEj5k0AW0LoNI2VDpFpOYNBpCUXkHL-gkMNcQkn8/edit?usp=sharing
3. GHS Schedule - this is included in the above FAQ, but when GHS returns to an in-person model on Wednesday, April 28, the GHS schedule will revert to the modified long-block schedule. We will alternate modified long-block days and run a 1, 3, 5 and 7 on one day (beginning Wed. April 28) and a 2, 4, 5 and 6 block on the next day (beginning Thurs., April 29). This applies to remote learners as well. The current remote learning schedule will no longer be in effect as of Wednesday, April 28.
4. Arrival: GHS students can be dropped off beginning at 7:15 am at the Event Entrance only. All drop-offs, bus and parent/caregivers will use the back entrance. See this map for traffic flow patterns:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/196rCyEu0YoEPemXeWC4J4ZlOzWvdUcms/view?usp=sharing
Pick-up will also occur at the Event Entrance and a staggered dismissal will be implemented. Administration will all-call students (i.e., Bus 4 to dismissal, parent/caregiver pick up to dismissal, etc.) to eliminate congestion at dismissal.
Student Council Updates:
Willow Scappace, the Western Mass Regional Student Council president went to Middleboro High School earlier this month to help film parts of the conference that we will watch together on April 10. The students are excited for their first in-person meeting. Greenfield has submitted many awards for this conference and they are looking forward to being together to celebrate their accomplishments.
Lastly, GHS polar plunged the weekend of March 19th. The GHS community raised over $1000 for the Special Olympics of Massachusetts. Students, staff and families joined in the fun in a variety of ways. Some dove into the Green River while others were sprayed by a hose. Senior Danny Lenois ate a pint of ice cream as fast as he could. Freshman Ainslee Flynn let her mother throw a bucket of ice water at her (see photo above). Fun was had by all while raising awareness and funds for the Special Olympics.
Update on the Green Wave Athletics
Hello Green Wave Nation!
April has crept up on us and Fall 2 Athletics are in full swing! GHS is proud to be participating in boys and girls soccer, volleyball and football.
The football team is currently 1-0. Boys soccer is 1-0 with a nice win over a tough Mahar team. Girls soccer is 0-1 losing to Mahar.
Only parents or siblings are allowed as fans at outdoor games only. They will be required to submit their names to coach so they will be allowed to watch. This is true for home games and most away games; Fans at Smith Academy and Mohawk away games are prohibited.
All fans will be required to wear masks at all venues and social distancing will be enforced.
Spring season is slated to start April 26th which will include baseball, softball, boys and girls tennis and boys and girls track. Look for Family ID to open April 5th. Go Wave!
As always, if you have any questions please email Mike Kuchieski at mickuc1@gpsk12.org
GHS-- English Language Learners!
Our ELL students have been building their vocabulary, comprehension and fluency skills. They have been learning about current events around the world. We have also been discussing how different cultures celebrate events with food, drinks, dance, song, and family as part of our month long celebration for Taste of World Cultures!
Hope everyone's Spring is off to a good start! If you need anything, please feel free to contact Ms.Ortiz, ELL teacher, at fraort1@gpsk12.org.
How to Access E-Books and EAudio-Books via SORA:
GHS and District DESE Report Cards
As a public school in Massachusetts, we are required to share access to our schools' and district's annual academic performance report cards.
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) states, "Just as a student's report card shows how they are doing in different classes, school and district report cards are designed to show [families] and community members how a school or district is doing in different areas. Report cards highlight a school or district's strengths as well as any challenges that need to be addressed in order to make sure the needs of all students are being met."
The report card includes multiple measures of a school’s performance – more than just MCAS scores. It represents a new way of looking at school performance, by providing information on student achievement, teacher qualifications, student learning opportunities, and more.
As a school-wide Title I district, you also have the right to request the following information about the qualifications of your child’s classroom teachers:
· Whether your child’s teacher is licensed in the grade levels and subject areas
they teach
· Whether your child’s teacher is teaching under an emergency license or waiver
· The college degree and major of your child’s teacher, and
· Whether your child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.
- To access your child or children's school's report card, please click on this link or visit the school's webpage: report cards.doe.mass.edu
- Once you are on the site, type in the name of your child's school in the search bar.
- Once in your child's school or the district's link, click on the topics listed to access performance information and school demographic information.
- To understand how to interpret the information, there is a link on the right of the website in a variety of languages that will help: report cards.doe.mass.edu
- To understand more about the state's report card system, please click on: Frequently Asked Questions about School and District Report Cards
Updates from Ms. Pollock, GHS Librarian:
Library Club Book Discussion
The final book discussion will be held on Wednesday 6/2 at 2:15 p.m. and will happen in person, outside, masked, and socially distanced. The final book is to be announced, so stay tuned. Students who are interested in participating in the book discussion should email librarian, Jessica Pollock, at ghslibrarian@gpsk12.org
Poetry Slam
Due to the return to in person learning, the Library Club has decided to switch the Poetry Slam from a virtual event to a live one! On Wednesday, May 19th at 2:15 p.m. Library Club will host an in-person poetry slam, outside, masked, and socially distanced. Students, teachers, and staff are encouraged to come share a poem - an original or a favorite from someone else. Those who submitted videos will have their videos played at the live event, too. For more information, please email librarian, Jessica Pollock, at ghslibrarian@gpsk12.org
Book Returns
Anyone who wants to return library books before April 28th may do so by bringing them to the book return posted outside the main entrance of GHS. Students returning to in-person learning may return their books to the return bin in the hallway outside the entrance to the library at any time.
Library Services
While the library will not be open for typical library activity when GHS fully re-opens on April 28th, I am happy to help students find and obtain reading materials. Students may email me any time if they would like help selecting or borrowing books. I will check the books out to students and deliver them to their Advisory teacher. I am also happy to help with any other information, research, or tech needs, so please reach out to me via email at ghslibrarian@gpsk12.org
I am always available at ghslibrarian@gpsk12.org I look forward to seeing some of you soon!
A Note from Nurse Kelly Savitri:
Hello GHS families. There has been a whirlwind of activity around here as we prepare for the return of in-person learning. I’m happy to say that we have successfully accomplished two weeks of pooled testing for our athletic teams and current in-person students & staff. The process has been remarkably simple & efficient. The state has been so enthusiastic about the results of the pooled testing initiative that they have decided to continue to fund it through the end of the school year.
If your child is returning to school in-person this month, I encourage you to register for this program. If you have any questions or concerns, I am happy to address them for you.
Also, if your child is going to need any daily medication or other specific nursing services, please contact me so that we can set up a schedule and make sure you have all of the necessary paperwork. I can be reached at (413)772-1350 ext. 1137 or kelsav1@gpsk12.org.
Thank you!
About us:
Email: karpat1@gpsk12.org
Website: gpsk12.org
Location: 21 Barr Avenue, Greenfield, MA, USA
Phone: 413-772-1350
Twitter: @patenaude_karin