From the Principal-Aug 24

August 24, 2021

Dear Peirce Families:

I hope you all had a safe, pleasant, and restful summer. I would like to introduce myself and give you some information on my background. As some of you may know, after teaching for 12 years, I was a principal in Beverly for 3 years. For the next 17 years, I was a principal in Wellesley. Since my retirement, I have been working as an interim principal for the Newton Public Schools. I have been the interim at Lincoln-Eliot, Countryside, Mason Rice, Franklin (multiple years), Ward and Underwood. I am delighted to be at Peirce and to welcome you to the 2021-2022 school year! 

While we are still navigating a safe reopening in the midst of the pandemic, we are also planning for a joyful and welcoming start to our school year for children and families. These past 18 months have been trying and filled with adjustments to how we live and work. While we focus on safety, we also want to provide a structured, exciting, welcome back for the Peirce community. I am so eager to see you all! I have some important updates to share in this communication and will send out more in the coming days. 

Staffing 

Peirce will have 13 classrooms this year. Here is a list of our grade level teaching assignments and specialists for the 2021-2022 school year: 

  • Kindergarten: Melina Covino, Madison Psyhojos 
  • Grade 1: Breane Norvell, Erin Tracey 
  • Grade 2: Genevieve Salzsieder, Nicole Capodilupo 
  • Grade 3: Kathryn Beaulieu, Amanda Berneburg, Emily Donahue Grade 4: Katherine Busk, Laura DiSipio 
  • Grade 5: Anne Carey, Kelly Champagne 
  • Art: Georgia Smith 
  • Library: Morgan Harper 
  • Music: Olivia de Geofroy 
  • Physical Education: Gary Nye

You will be able to log in to Aspen on Friday, August 27th after 2pm to see your child’s teacher assignment for this year. The practice of sending Elementary class lists through email was discontinued, and you are asked to please find your child’s teacher through Aspen instead. All parents/guardians have the opportunity to review their privacy settings in Aspen. For more information about Aspen, you can visit this link. The district will notify you when privacy setting updates will be available. 

Teacher assignments are also final. As you know, class list development is a multi-step process that involves a variety of staff members as we consider a wide number of factors and needs. If you provided feedback about your child’s placement, please know that your comments and input were reviewed and considered by the teams as we engaged in our process. It feels important to acknowledge that sometimes children may be disappointed, for example, when they are assigned to a classroom separate from a good friend or do not receive the teacher they had hoped for. In such circumstances, we recommend that you acknowledge the disappointment, yet convey your confidence in your child’s ability to have a great year just the same. Your positive attitude and enthusiasm for the year ahead sends important cues to your child, and we appreciate your assistance in helping every one of our students to have the best start to the year. 

Arrival and Dismissal 

During the first week of school, all teachers will be outside to greet their students. Students should enter and leave the building by the same doors. 

K and Grade 5: 

Enter and leave using the door in the K hallway which is to the right of the main door. 

Grade 1: 

Enter and leave using the main door. 

Grades 2,3 and 4: 

Enter and leave using the back door. 

Back to School Health and Safety Plan and Information Sessions 

In the most recent communication from Superintendent Fleishman, he shared the 2021-2022 Back to School Health and Safety Plan. There will be a district information session for parents and caregivers to ask questions about the Plan on Wednesday, August 25 at 7:30PM. Details are below: 

https://newton-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/89490608033

Webinar ID: 894 9060 8033 

They are collecting questions in advance to be answered during the webinar. Please complete this form to ask your question. Please feel free to identify an area of concern for you and your family. Use this form to submit your questions and topic areas of concern: Google Form to Submit Questions and Topic Areas of Concern.

Additionally, I will host a virtual Peirce parent information session on Thursday, September 2 at 7:00 PM that will also focus on the plan and logistics for our community. I will share the login information closer to the date. 

Here is a calendar that you may find helpful for the start of the year. 

Aug 25 District Back to School Health and Safety Plan and Information Session at 7:30 PM https://newton-k12-ma-us.zoom.us/j/89490608033 Webinar ID: 894 9060 8033
Aug 27 Teacher Assignment available for families via Aspen (after 2pm)
Sept 2 Peirce Virtual Information Session at 7:00 PM (login information will be sent closer to the date)
Sept 9 First day for students (8:10am – 2:50pm)
Sept 10 Back to School picnic Yom Kippur (No School)
Sept 16 Yom Kippur (No School)
Oct 5Virtual Back to School Night (K-5) Time and details will be forthcoming 

School Hours and Schedule 

1. The first bell will ring at 8:10 AM. Students are not allowed in the building before 8:10 AM

2. The second bell will ring at 8:20 A.M. Any student entering the building after 8:20 A.M. will need to use the main door and check in with the office. 

3. Wednesdays will be short days for all students with classes ending at 12:20 PM. No lunch will be served 

4. All students will be dismissed from school at 2:50 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday. 

Absences: If your child will be absent from school for any reason, please call the Student Absence Line at 617-559-9650 before 8:00 AM. Also, please be sure that teachers have accurate information about dismissal routines for your child.

All students will be dismissed at 12:20 PM on the following All School Early Release days – no lunch will be served: 

  • Tuesday, November 2 
  • Thursday, December 9 
  • Thursday, February 3 
  • Thursday, March 24 
  • Thursday, May 12 

I am looking forward to a great school year. Enjoy the last days of summer! Sincerely, 

Elaine 

Helpful links: 

  • Peirce School Website: https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/31
  • PTO Website: https://peircepto.com/ 
  • Back to School Supply List : https://peircepto.com/school-supply-lists-by-grade/
  • Transportation: https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/214 
  • Family Tech Support Email: [email protected]
  • Aspen support: https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/3129