Goodyear Newsletter
January 25, 2021
Valentine's Day Activity & Food Drive: "Schools are the Heart of Our Community"
Since we cannot safely pass out Valentine cards or treats this year, all of Woburn’s elementary schools are celebrating Valentine's Day in a special way. Every one of our students is invited to create a heart and write a few sentences describing “What I love about my school” on the heart. You can color the heart with crayons, colored pencils, paint, etc. The hearts will hang on the front doors of our schools.
There will be a dropbox in front of each school for Virtual Academy students from Monday, February 8th to Thursday, February 11th. Hybrid students may turn them into their teacher. Please send in all hearts by Thursday, February 11th.
You can use the template link below or feel free to create your own. Please have your child write their name on the heart.
Heart of our Community Food Drive
At the front door of every school we will also be holding a Food Drive for the Council of Social Concern Food Pantry. When you come to school with your heart, please drop cans of food or dry food for the food pantry in the front vestibule. Students get one Y.E.S. Hour for every 5 items.
***Due to COVID precautions, we cannot allow students to share Valentine’s Cards or treats this year. Classroom teachers will communicate about any activities going on in their classroom for Valentine’s Day but it will not include items passed between students. We encourage everyone to do the activity above.
Weekend & School Vacation Extended Learning
Starting in February, the Goodyear is offering a virtual tutoring program at no cost to students in grades K-5. There will be two different options: Weekends (selected dates) and School Vacation (February & April).
The program is intended for any student who would like additional support in the academic areas of writing, reading, or math. We plan to offer the sessions during the morning. The dates/times will be determined once rosters are confirmed. To sign up for either of these programs, please fill out the Goodyear Extended Learning form.
In addition, we are working with community partners to offer individual tutoring in math. If you are interested in an individual tutor, please contact Mr. Kessaris (kkessaris@woburnps.com).
Early Childhood Program (Preschool) - Free Screening
Dear Goodyear families,
This flyer is intended to be shared with Woburn families and to serve as a reminder that the Woburn Early Childhood Program conducts screenings for children who have turned 3 years old by September 1, 2020 who present with concerns in one or more areas of her/his development.
What is Preschool screening? Pre-school screening is a brief assessment procedure designed to assess children's developmental levels and to identify children who, because of potential learning disabilities, or cognitive, communication and/or social challenges, may require a referral for a special education evaluation which is a more intensive level of diagnostic assessment.
Who is eligible for screening? Children living in Woburn who have turned 3 years old by September 1, 2020 are eligible to participate in the preschool screenings.
More information is available in English, Spanish (español), and Portuguese (português).
News from the School Nurse
Last week, Dr. Crowley sent notification of changes to the district's COVID-19 quarantine protocols. Letters with the updated information are available in English, Spanish (español), Portugese (português), and Haitian Creole (kreyòl ayisyen).
If you have been exposed to someone who is COVID-19 positive, please contact Nurse Doherty (kdoherty@woburnps.com) to review the protocols for attending or returning to school. In addition, you can find COVID-19 Testing Sites in Massachusetts here. Students who must quarantine or miss school due to medical reasons may participate in remote learning classes with the approval of the school principal. Contact Mr. Kessaris (kkessaris@woburnps.com) if you need more information.
All students in grade four must submit documentation of an up-to-date physical to the school nurse's office.
Massachusetts has updated its COVID-19 travel order. Use the link to access the current information.
Thank you for helping to keep our schools safe!
SEL News: January Trait is TRUSTWORTHINESS
The character trait for December was RESPECT. We recognized students for the character award last week and the video link below can be shared with students and families. Thank you to Mr. Dandrea and Mrs. Borselli for creating and editing the video.
The character trait for January is TRUSTWORTHINESS.
- be honest and reliable
- be loyal when loyalty is appropriate
- keep your promises
Would you like to help support our work on trustworthiness? Here is a good resource:
MCAS Update
Most importantly, DESE will significantly reduce testing time for students in grades 3 - 8 through a session sampling approach. In-school test sessions will be offered for fully remote students if they wish to participate. (MCAS cannot be done remotely).
We will continue to update families on the upcoming MCAS administration. More information can be found on the DESE MCAS site.
Woburn Community Education Foundation
The WCEF hosts many events throughout the year, including the Teacher Tribute, Woburn Hall of Fame, Women's Forum, and Holiday Door Decorating Contest.
The next event is the Winter 2021 Raffle that begins on January 18th. Tickets will be on sale through Friday, February 12th.
Please consider participating and thank you for supporting the WCEF and Woburn Public Schools.
Attendance Reminders
If your child is home quarantining due to a directive from the Woburn Board of Health, please contact Nurse Doherty (kdoherty@woburnps.com) If your child is home quarantining, they may join remote classes, but please email Mr. Kessaris (kkessaris@woburnps.com) and your teacher so we are aware.
If your child is staying home for any other reason and you wish for them to join remote classes, please email me directly for approval. I am prioritizing virtual learning for students who are quarantining we must maintain appropriate class sizes in remote classes in each grade.
Woburn Youth Soccer Registration 2021
The deadline for registration is Friday, February 5, 2021.
February Vacation: Free Environmental Science Camp
Free virtual environmental science camp for K-5.
Monday, February 15th - Friday, February 19th, 2021: 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. EST
Woburn Recreation Department
News from WPS Food Services
The Goodyear will provide free meals for all students between 11:00am and 12:00pm daily when school is open. Contact the school office if you have any questions. More information is available below:
News from the Art Department
News from the Music Department
Due to COVID-19, we will be unable to perform a holiday show at the school. Instead, elementary music teachers are inviting parents to participate in their child's music classes the week of December 14th. This will be an opportunity for students to demonstrate what they have been learning throughout the year.
Support for Remote Learning
Remote learning can be challenging for students and families for different reasons. Mr. Dandrea has created a resource for families to address common issues that make remote learning difficult: Support for Remote Learning. Please contact the school if we can help in any way.
- set up a work area with only the items you need for class
- keep any beverages or liquids away from your electronic devices
- know your schedule ahead of time so you don't feel rushed
WPS Snow Day & Remote Learning Schedules
The same schedules will be used in the event that a classroom, grade-level, or the school must switch to a full-remote learning model.
Goodyear PTO
The PTO is also asking 5th grade families for photos of the class from any year and for baby pictures of students to include in the yearbook.
President: Kristina Peitzsch
Vice President: Patrice O'Keeffe
Treasurer: Rachelle Packard
Secretary: Andrea Hanley
Member-at-large: Tricia Avery
Enrichment Chair: Sharon Crispo
You can help by downloading apps for the Target RedCard and Box Tops for Education.
Goodyear Enrichment: Change is Simple
Hybrid Learning Model Schedule:
Wednesday, November 4th
Wednesday, December 9th
Wednesday, January 27th
Wednesday, March 24th
Friday, November 20th
Friday, February 5th
Friday, April 9th
Friday, June 4th
Important January & February Dates
- Wednesday, January 27th: Change is Simple (hybrid)
- February 8th - 12th: Valentine's Hearts Activity and Community Food Drive
- Friday, February 12th: Trimester 2 Progress Reports
- February Vacation: schools closed February 15th - 19th
Contact the Goodyear PTO
Email: goodyearpto@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodyearPTO/
Twitter: @goodyear_pto
Contact the Goodyear
Email: kkessaris@woburnps.com
Website: www.woburnps.com/goodyear
Location: 41 Central Street, Woburn, MA, USA
Phone: 781.937.8237
Twitter: @GoodyearWoburn