Meadowside Elementary School

Greetings from the Office!

Dear Members of the Meadowside School Community,

I hope I’m not alone when I say that I’m feeling the crunch of the holiday season. The time between Thanksgiving and New Years goes by at such a frenetic pace, that I can’t for the life of me recall what I did, who I saw or how I felt! Hopefully in the coming weeks we can all take some time to step back, relax and enjoy this time of year.

That being said, as a reflection of this season of thanks and giving, the Meadowside staff is committed to working collaboratively in the best interests of your child. Our entire instructional team works together to ensure that we are providing an academic environment where your child can feel safe and work to their fullest potential. Children are not judged against each other but are expected to set a standard and work to the best of their ability. In communicating the message that school is important to your child, you are adding to the supports that will enable them to succeed. Open and honest communication can address any issues before they become serious enough to warrant reactive interventions. On our early release Wednesdays, our staff works in teams to identify areas in need of strengthening and sets forth a sound instructional plan to address these needs. Pre and post assessments are used to gauge the effectiveness of our instruction and adjustments are made as necessary. On-going assessment data provides us with timely information that will determine these focus areas. If warranted, interventions are put in place until progress has been noted and the student is able to perform at the expected level. This proactive approach not only benefits your child, it strengthens the home-school relationship and builds a trust that will enable us to do great things together.

Switching gears for a second - This week’s taste of winter weather is a reminder that our children need to attend school properly dressed for the elements; Warm coats, hats, gloves or mittens are essential at this time of year. Although the temperature may be 50 degrees at the bus stop first thing in the morning, things can drastically change by the time they are dismissed later in the afternoon. When in doubt – overdress them! More is better as they can always keep their hats or gloves in their backpacks or coat pockets.

Finally, on behalf of the entire Meadowside School staff, please accept our warmest wishes for a festive and restful holiday season and a healthy New Year. We hope you take the time to enjoy the beauty of winter in New England while at the same time creating new and lasting memories with family and friends.