Greenlodge Weekly Update 10/16/2020
#ReachForYourBest
Dear Families,
This week's newsletter contains A LOT of information! Please take some time to carefully read through it this weekend. Here are some of the topics included:
- Privacy and Communication survey - PLEASE Complete
- Info about Family Portraits
- PTO Dues - chance to win $100 gift card
- Dedham Flu Clinic
- Scholastic Book Fair
- Family Support "Let's Talk" - Dedham Youth Commission
I'm thrilled that next week we will be welcoming all of our 1st graders in cohorts C & D! Our cohort B students will be excellent role models for our youngest learners. They have done a fantastic job acclimating to the new routines and procedures!
Have a wonderful Autumn weekend!
~Ashley
Ashley Bodkins, Principal
Complete the Student Health Survey below if your child will be in person the week of Oct 19th
Attendance
- If your child is sick or will be out of school for any reason during REMOTE learning please call the attendance line. 781-310-4799 to report the absence.
- All students will be expected to attend all scheduled remote and in-person sessions.
- Attendance will be taken daily. Teachers will monitor and track student attendance for all scheduled remote sessions.
- If your child is required to stay home due to illness, they may attend school remotely. You must call the attendance line to report this, as well as notifying your child's teacher.
- The school will excuse up to 7 absences in a six month period. Students who are chronically absent will receive notification from the school.
- Please see the student handbook for full details regarding attendance.
Privacy and Communication Preferences
If you have not done so already, please take a moment to complete this form about your Privacy and Communication Preferences for this school year as soon as possible. If you have more than one Greenlodge student, please fill out a seperate form for each child.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Donna Gardner at dgardner@dedham.k12.ma.us or by phone at 781-310-4000.
Breakfast and Lunch... An update from Food Services
Click here for a comprehensive packet of information from Food Service Director, Jeanne Johnson. The following forms are included in the packet:
- Free and Reduced meals application (needed after Jan 1, 2021)
- Student allergy and special dietary needs
***Remote Tote Materials Exchange***
PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGES IN TIMES:
- Wednesday 12:00-1:15 PM
- Wednesday 2:30-3:30 PM
- Thursday 8:00-8:30 AM
Once your child returns to in person learning, you will NO LONGER need to pick-up materials. The exchange WILL CONTINUE for all remote learning families. If you are unable to pick-up these materials at one of these times, please call the main office 781-310-4000 to arrange an alternate pick-up.
Students will be required to have the new materials for class on Thursday.
Reach out to the PTO Board...
- Co-Presidents Stephanie Hansbury, Stephanie Toledano and Julisa Burgos
- Secretary Julie Titler
- Treasurer Stacy Kelly
Please reach out to any member of the Board with questions or interest in volunteering.
Grade Level Representative Volunteers...
Great news! At this time we have the following reps:
1st grade: Katie McClorey
2nd grade: Kelley Downey and Jen Parnell
3rd grade: Isa Howley, Cheryl Pratt, Erica Huff
4th grade: Carrie Yandresevits and Kara McDermott
5th grade: Isa Howley and MaryEllen McDonough
What will the PTO be doing this year?
- Welcome First Grade Parade and Remote Pizza Party - Thursday, October 29th 5PM
- Boosterthon Virtual and In Person Dance Fit Program - Kick-Off November 10th
- Virtual all school and/or grade level enrichment programs - monthly
- $300 teacher reimbursements for classroom materials
- Enhancing the selection of diverse literature in EVERY classroom library
- Teacher Appreciation Week of May 3rd
- 5th Grade Yearbooks and Promotion Activities
- School grounds beautification
- School wide Cultural Festival
Just to name a few things, but WE'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR IDEAS too!
PTO Dues
The suggested membership fee is $40 per family, or whatever you are comfortable with. You can pay in one of two ways:
You can pay using Venmo @Greenlodge-PTO (the last 4 digits of the phone number associated with the account are 7025, the picture is the Greenlodge logo)
You can pay with a check payable to Greenlodge PTO. Drop off at school with the bottom of this page in an envelope labeled “PTO”.
All dues received by November 13 will be entered into a raffle for a $100 restaurant gift card!
Fall Family Portraits
First Grade Pizza Party!
Mark your calendars! Details to follow.
Thank you Officer Sullivan, the Dedham Police Community and School Resources
DPS Remote Learning Resources for Families
The Remote Learning Resources Site provides access to skill-based video tutorials for the tools that students will encounter most frequently. Each of the videos provide an overview of the learning platforms as well as tutorials designed to help students and their caregivers access the technologies.
In addition to these "asynchronous" video based resources, Dedham faculty members will also hold a series of virtual office hours beginning on September 14th. You will find a schedule for these opportunities as well as registration information on the site.
DYC Holiday Meals and Gift Program
The Dedham Youth Commission will be providing holiday gift cards and St. Vincent de Paul (in collaboration with the Dedham Food Pantry) will be providing Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to families in need. Please contact Greenlodge's School Psychologist, Jessica Blais, at 781-310-4244 (private, direct line) or jblais@dedham.k12.ma.us with requests and/or questions.
The deadline for DYC's Holiday Gift Program is October 30th and the deadline for holiday meals is November 13th.
Notes from the Nurse...
Greetings from the nurse! It has been great to see students in the building this week. Please help us keep schools open by continuing to follow the COVID-19 symptom guidance.
If your student or a household member is diagnosed with COVID-19, or if your student is a close contact of someone with COVID-19 or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms themselves, please contact Principal Bodkins and myself. I cannot stress enough how important it is to follow quarantine and isolation instructions if asked to do so by contact tracers. During these periods, people should stay home except to receive medical care.
Please refer to this guide: Can My Child Go To School Today?
**Before your student returns to school:
Please make sure I have any updated medical/medication orders, asthma action plans, and allergy action plans. You can upload in SNAP (preferred), email them to kduckworth@dedham.k12.ma.us, or fax to 781-461-0034.
Please bring in your student’s medication/EpiPen. I am available Tuesday 10/13/20 at drop-off time and Thursday 10/15 from 7:45-8:30AM during material exchange (or by appointment) to accept medications. Please bring unexpired medications in the original container/packaging, no more than a 30-day supply. You can give me paperwork then, too.
Seasonal Allergies: With fall here, some students are experiencing symptoms of seasonal allergies. If your child does, please let me know what their symptoms are. It is important this year to also send in a letter from their doctor stating that the student has seasonal allergies.
Influenza Vaccine: The flu shot will be mandatory this year for all students by December 31st per state guidelines. You can send me a copy of their vaccination via email or upload it into the SNAP Health Portal.
Feel free to call 781-310-4248 or email me anytime to discuss your child’s individual health needs as we return to the building.
Library News from Ms. Bickel
Virtual Book Fair!
Start the year off right with some great new books! Our book fair is back virtually this fall! It will run from Oct. 19 - Nov. 1. Books will be shipped directly to your home. Proceeds from the book fair allow us to purchase more books for everyone to enjoy in the school library. Click here to start shopping!
Library Book Checkout Details
I’m so excited for students to be able to borrow books from the library! Students can borrow 2 books from the library at a time in two ways:
Search DestinyDiscover, our library catalog, to find books you want and put them on hold.
Students should click “Sign In with Google” from their Chromebook to log in without needing a password.
If you don’t know exactly what books you want, fill out the Book Request GoogleForm and I’ll pull some recommendations for you.
If students are learning remotely, I will send an email when the books are ready to pick up in the main office. If students are learning in school, books will be delivered to their classrooms to take home.
There is a bin in the main office lobby and in the library to return all library books. Please return plastic bags to quarantine and reuse as well.
The Greenlodge Library Website has more details about checking out books and other library news and links. Please reach out to me directly at sbickel@dedham.k12.ma.us with any questions. Thank you!
Dedham Parents/Caregivers - Let's Talk!
Date: Monday, October 26, 2020
Time: 7:00-8:00pm
RSVP for the October 26th support group by emailing adube@dedham.k12.ma.us OR aoseimensah@dedham-ma.gov by Sunday, October 25th. A link to participate will be provided to all interested parents/caregivers on October 26th.
Facilitated by:
Dr. Ashley Dube, PsyD, NCSP, LEP
DPS Director of Counseling Services, PreK-12
Angela Osei-Mensah, MSW, LICSW
Dedham Youth Commission
Dedham Covid Relief Resources
information with you all regarding the Dedham Covid relief fund. The Dedham Covid Relief Task force continues to meet regularly and has had a number of successful fundraisers over the spring and summer to raise money for this important fund. Please see the link below for more information. In general, residents can call 781-751-9126 and be connected to someone at town hall who can direct them to resources. Families have been impacted in a number of ways as a result of the pandemic and may be struggling with rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, food insecurity, childcare, medication costs and other difficulties. If you hear of families that may be struggling, please pass on the above phone number to them. Maria Antonuccio (the High School Nurse) and myself are part of the Dedham Covid Relief Task Force and we would be happy to answer any questions you may have. The link to the resource is here:
Box Tops
No more cutting Box Tops. Click here to learn more about scanning your store receipt to get credits for Box Tops.
Check-out the Greenlodge Homepage!
- Links to current and past newsletters and headlines
- Food service information
- Bus application
- Families Digital Support Page
- Counseling resources
- Coronavirus Updates
Other District Information...
Dedham Public Schools has translated resource pages:
Please click here for translated curriculum and resources.
Haga clic aquí para ver el currículo y los recursos traducidos.
Clique aqui para obter o currículo e os recursos traduzidos.
Пожалуйста, нажмите здесь для перевода учебной программы и ресурсов.
Ju lutemi klikoni këtu për kurrikulën dhe burimet e përkthyera.
الرجاء الضغط هنا للحصول على المناهج والمواد المترجمة.
There is also a Parent Support Group for Spanish speaking families.
Learn more here:Parent Support Group Flyer (Spanish)
Video Overview of Parent Support Group (Spanish)
Substance Abuse Support Group for Children: Please see this flyer for information about a virtual group to support children dealing with the impacts of a loved ones substance abuse.
About Us
Email: abodkins@dedham.k12.ma.us
Website: https://www.dedham.k12.ma.us/greenlodge
Location: 191 Greenlodge Street, Dedham, MA, USA
Phone: 781-310-4000
Facebook: facebook.com/GreenlodgeDedham
Twitter: @GLDGESchool